Ubisoft announced delays for two of its biggest upcoming games today: Watch_Dogs and The Crew. As a result, the company has revised its financial forecast, with a loss now expected for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

According to Ubisoft:

“Watch Dogs and The Crew, previously planned for release in fiscal year 2013-14, are now scheduled for 2014-15. The revision of targets for 2013-14 is principally a reflection of these changes. The Company now targets sales of between €995 million and €1,045 million and a non-IFRS operating loss of between €(70) million and €(40) million. Prior targets were sales of between €1,420 million and €1,450 million and non-IFRS operating income of between €110 million and €125 million.”

Wondering what the above is in USD? Here’s the breakdown: total sales of around $580 million USD lower and an operating loss between $54 million and $94.5 million.

Source, Via

Games analyst speculates that uninformed retail staff are partially to blame for poor Wii U sales

Posted on 11 years ago by Austin(@NE_Austin) in General Nintendo, News, Platforms, Wii U | 4 Comments

“There was nothing that you could put in front of everybody that said, ‘This is what the experience is.’ I think one of the things that was a real indicator of that was just, anecdotally, if you went into a retailer and you talked to somebody in the games department, they didn’t even understand what it was. I did the secret shopper kind of thing, and they would say, ‘Well, there’s no difference between the Wii and Wii U.’ I’m standing there, looking at them, going, ‘Wow!’ I think that right there was an anecdotal piece of evidence [showing] that people didn’t get it.
“There should have been a Wii Sports-type game that let everybody get it. Those huge franchises would have gotten the loyal Nintendo person, but it was Wii Sports that got all the people outside the Nintendo world to look and say, ‘This is a really, really neat, fun thing to do.’

“I think there was something really special about the Wii and the way that whole thing happened that they didn’t even know was going to happen. I don’t think there was the possibility that the Wii U was ever going to repeat that. I’m not sure they expected that [either].”

– IHS Electronics & Media’s Senior Games Analyst Christine Arrington

Arrington does not give any details on her research, and the only concrete evidence she brings to the table is anecdotal. This appears to be purely speculative.

Benzinga, Via NintendoLife

Aonuma: where A Link Between Worlds fits into the Zelda timeline, Yuga not a Gerudo, triforce, bracelet usage, more

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments

Interviews with Eiji Aonuma stemming from his appearance at the New York Comic Con continue to pour in. IGN was yet another site that managed to sneak in a few questions about the series, and more specifically, A Link Between Worlds. Topics addressed in IGN’s talk include the game’s position in the timeline, Yuga, the triforce, why the bracelet was picked as the means of transitioning between Hyrule and Lorule, and more.

You can find a Q&A roundup below. IGN’s full piece is located here.

Ubiquitous Entertainment makes its Javascript framework compatible with Nintendo Web Framework

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

Ubiquitous Entertainment’s smartphone Javascript framework “enchant.js” is now compatible with the Nintendo Web Framework. “Glandarius WingStrike” is one upcoming Wii U title based on the technology. Those who sign an agreement with Nintendo will receive access to the plugin.

Source, Via

Aonuma: Zelda film would have to “change what a movie is”, would be more interactive

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories | 1 Comment

A Zelda movie may not be out of the question. At the very least, series producer Eiji Aonuma says he’s “talked about” the subject with creator Shigeru Miyamoto.

If we were to see a Zelda film, it wouldn’t be your typical viewing event. Aonuma told Kotaku that Nintendo would to “make it more interactive, like you’re able to take your 3DS into the theater and that leads you into participating in it somehow.”

Aonuma added, “We wouldn’t want to make it the same as any other movie. We want to somehow change what a movie is.”

“This is something that me and Mr. Miyamoto talked about. If we were to make a Zelda title, if we had interest in doing that, I think really what would be most important to us is to be able to play with the format of a movie, make it more interactive, like you’re able to take your 3DS into the theater and that leads you into participating in it somehow. We wouldn’t want to make it the same as any other movie. We want to somehow change what a movie is.”

Source

Ancel says Nintendo’s greatest strength/weakness is innovation, Big N comes out with “biggest surprises”

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Wii U | 6 Comments

Ubisoft’s Michel Ancel shared a few words about Nintendo while speaking with ONM this month.

According to the Rayman creator, innovation is the company’s greatest strength as well as its greatest weakness. This goes hand in hand with risk-taking, he believes.

Ancel also said that “the biggest surprises seem to come from Nintendo.” Miiverse and the GamePad were both pointed to as examples.

Ancel’s comments in full:

Nintendo’s greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is innovation. It’s a company that takes a lot of risks. Few people understand that innovation involves risk-taking, because you don’t control everything on the market.
Today, the biggest surprises seem to come from Nintendo. People may like those surprises or not, but that’s a fact. Miiverse was a surprise, the GamePad was a surprise. What will come next? I can’t wait!

Thanks to joclo for sending this our way.

Video: An overview of Nintendo at NYCC 2013

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, Videos, Wii U | 3 Comments

Aonuma will “say more” about Zelda Wii U at E3 2014, talks overworld openness

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in GameCube, General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories, Wii, Wii U | 7 Comments

A few months ago, Eiji Aonuma stated that Nintendo was considering showing Zelda Wii U at this year’s E3. It now sounds like we’ll be waiting for next year’s expo for a look at the new title.

When Mashable asked if Aonuma could say anything about Zelda Wii U, Aonuma replied: “I’ll say more at E3 2014.”

Aonuma’s comment was part of a larger interview about A Link Between Worlds and the series in general. He shared some rather interesting comments when it comes to openness in Zelda’s overworlds:

Aonuma on changes for the Zelda series, will “think about” returning to cel-shading, why Link isn’t as well-known as Mario, more

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

Kotaku has a mix of comments from Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma pulled from his session at the New York Comic Con and a follow-up interview. His remarks cover changes for Zelda, returning to cel-shading, why Link isn’t as well known as Mario, and more. Kotaku also followed up with Aonuma about the Majora’s Mask connection in Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

All of Aonuma’s comments are posted below. You can also check out Kotaku’s piece here.

More photos from the Pokemon X/Y launch event in Rockefeller Plaza

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, Images | 1 Comment

Photo One:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, devoted fans dress in Pokémon themed costumes and gather at Nintendo World in New York on Oct. 11, 2013, to celebrate the arrival of the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the new Nintendo 2DS.
Photo Two:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Pokémon fans gather at Nintendo World in New York on Oct. 11, 2013, to participate in Pokémon activities including a costume showcase, interactive on-stage events and game sampling to celebrate the launch of the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the new Nintendo 2DS.
Photo Three:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, eager fans wait at Nintendo World in New York on Oct. 11, 2013, to be among the first in the U.S. to purchase the newest Pokémon video games: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the new Nintendo 2DS. At the special launch event, attendees had the opportunity to purchase the games and participate in activities inspired by the Pokémon franchise.
Photo Four:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Pokémon fans wait in line at Nintendo World in New York on Oct. 11, 2013, to be among the first in the U.S. to purchase the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the new Nintendo 2DS.
Photo Five:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Zoe A. from New York, NY, becomes the first consumer at the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y Launch Celebration event at Nintendo World in New York to purchase the Pokémon Y video game for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on Oct. 11, 2013.
Photo Six:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, fans gather at Nintendo World in New York on Oct. 11, 2013, to play the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the new Nintendo 2DS.
Photo Seven:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, the first wave of Pokémon fans eagerly await their chance to purchase Pokémon X and Pokémon Y at Nintendo World in New York just after midnight on Oct. 12, 2013.
Photo Eight:
In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Debbie G. from Long Island, NY says yes to Jeff W. from Long Island after he proposes to her at the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y Launch Celebration event at Nintendo World in New York on Oct. 11, 2013. Jeff and Debbie are both avid Nintendo fans who co-founded the Long Island StreetPass group together. The Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games are playable on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including the new Nintendo 2DS.