Wii U update version 5.5.1 out now
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 65 Comments
Nintendo has come out with a new firmware update for Wii U. As of now, version 5.5.1 is available worldwide. No new features have been introduced, but Nintendo says today’s update makes improvements to overall system stability. Other minor adjustments have also been made to improve the user experience.
There are a couple of ways to grab today’s update. You can head to system settings or wait until your console downloads it automatically. Note that 47MB of free space is required.
More: system update, top
Sonic’s 25th anniversary will be celebrated thoughtout the year, movie still happening
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 39 Comments
A new advert for Sonic the Hedgehog’s 25th anniversary has been spotted in the latest issue of ToyWorld Magazine, which is posted above. Information about SEGA’s plans is also included. It doesn’t reveal too much, but there are a few interesting takeaways.
Here’s the main highlight:
“2016 will be a a celebration of Sonic’s 25th birthday throughout the year. New Style Guides and new collaborations across toy, gift apparel, branded events and bespoke retail events initiatives will be on offer throughout the year.”
In other Sonic news, the previously-announced movie is still happening. That information comes from writer Van Robichaux, who told one fan the following on Twitter:
@MudHuntr Still in the works but I can't comment beyond that!
— VAN™ (@VanTheBrand) January 10, 2016
More: SEGA, Sonic the Hedgehog
Nintendo is now on Tumblr
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 17 Comments
Nintendo has joined plenty of social media sites over the years, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. The Big N is now on Tumblr as well. If you’d like to keep up with their posts, visit Nintendo’s page here.
More: Tumblr
Oculus founder says Virtual Boy “hurt” the VR industry, praises LED display
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 146 Comments
During a Reddit AMA yesterday, Oculus founder Palmer Luckey was asked for his thoughts about the Virtual Boy. Luckey was mostly down on the system, but had a positive comment regarding its LED display.
Luckey personally doesn’t consider the Virtual Boy to be a VR device. He finds this to be a “shame”, as he says Nintendo’s product “hurt the industry in the long run.” Luckey also acknowledged the Virtual Boy’s LED display – the first in a consumer device – and noted that it was “probably the best contrast of any display up to that point”.
Below are Luckey’s full comments:
“Not really a VR device, IMO. No head tracking, low field of view, essentially a monochrome 3DTV.
A real shame, too, because the association of the Virtual Boy with VR hurt the industry in the long run.
It did have the first LED display in a consumer device, though – probably the best contrast of any display up to that point!”
More: Oculus, Palmer Luckey, Virtual Boy
Longtime Rare developer officially joins Playtonic
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 7 Comments
Kevin Bayliss was at Rare for over 20 years. Now he’s with Playtonic, the developer behind Yooka-Laylee. It actually sounds like he’s been assisting the team for some time, but he’s joining them in an official capacity.
Bayliss was one of Rare’s first employees. As graphics director, he helped come up with characters for well-known titles such as Battletoads, Killer Instinct, Diddy Kong Racing, and Star Fox Adventures. Bayliss also worked with Shigeru Miyamoto to create the modern Donkey Kong and sidekick Diddy for Diddy Kong Country.
More: Kevin Bayliss, Playtonic
Log Games bringing Epic Dumpster Bear to the Wii U eShop
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U eShop | 6 Comments
Log Games has announced Epic Dumpster Bear as its next game for the Wii U eShop. The action-platformer takes inspiration from the 16-bit era and has players taking on the role of a dumpster bear with a chip on his shoulder. After an evil corporation destroys his forest – forcing him to eat dumpster food to survive – it’s now the bear’s turn to take out the trash.
Log Games promises over 70 levels containing bosses, secret exits, and unlockable puzzle levels. Here’s a rundown of the title’s features:
– Classic platforming action
– Smooth 60fps gameplay and precise control
– 7 worlds and over 70 levels to complete
– Off TV play
– Bonus levels that take advantage of the Wii U GamePad
– Unlockable Miiverse Stamps
Epic Dumpster Bear will be released on the Wii U eShop in North America, Europe, and Oceania this spring. Watch a trailer below.
More: Epic Dumpster Bear, indie, Log Games
Juicy Beast disappointed with Toto Temple Deluxe’s sales
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U eShop | 10 Comments
In a new developer blog, Juicy Beast stated that Toto Temple Deluxe “didn’t sell very well”. The developer shared some potential reasons as to why the game didn’t perform as well as the studio had hoped.
Here’s a notable excerpt from the piece:
There’s a good possibility that the game didn’t have good enough “hooks” to captivate people’s attention. Sure, “fighting your friends to put an egg-laying goat on your head” sounds funny and weird, but it doesn’t really give you a clear idea of what it’s like to play Toto Temple Deluxe.
At the end of the day, we think the biggest factor is because it’s a local-multiplayer game with no online play. The game is aiming at a pretty niche audience by requiring actual human friends to play, and we can’t ignore the impact it has on sales. A quick look at comments on YouTube, Reddit and such, and it’s obvious that a lot of people are simply not buying the game for this very reason (that along a lack of solo experience).
On top of all this, we also think the game came out almost 2 years too late. Back in 2014, when the local-multiplayer boom was happening, Toto Temple Deluxe’s development felt more logical. Today, it feels a bit out of place, as we think a lot of player might have bought popular local-multiplayer games in the past, then realised that they would play them less and less frequently. We definitely can’t blame them, since it’s pretty much the same for us.
There’s plenty more about the creation of Toto Temple Deluxe in Juicy Beast’s post. You can read the full thing right here.
More: indie, Juicy Beast, sales, Toto Temple Deluxe
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games for 3DS out in North America on March 18
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 6 Comments
The 3DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will arrive in NOrth America on March 18, Nintendo has announced.
A new tweet just published on the company’s Twitter account reads:
Mario & Sonic have victory in their sights when #MarioSonicRio launches for #3DS on 3/18! pic.twitter.com/XEuBCTYIlW
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 11, 2016
It’s not yet known when Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be available for Wii U. However, it should release sometime this year (thanks DJMusicClues).
Mario and Sonic are back for another round of intense competition in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, launching for Nintendo 3DS on 3/18 and Wii U later this year!
Posted by Nintendo on Monday, January 11, 2016
Word Puzzles by POWGI hitting the European eShop on January 28
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Wii U eShop | 0 comments
Lightwood Games announced today that Word Puzzles by POWGI will be available on the European eShop on January 28 (North America to follow). The title was only previously confirmed for 3DS, but a Wii U version has now been revealed as well. It’ll be launching for both platforms on the same day.
Word Puzzles by POWGI features a collection of six different word games and allows users to generate custom puzzles by tapping an amiibo. This marks the first independent game to support every single amiibo figure and card.
Below are trailers for the two versions:
Source: Lightwood Games PR
More: Europe, indie, Lightwood Games, Word Puzzles by POWGI
Lucas, second wave of Animal Crossing amiibo up for pre-order from Nintendo UK
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 2 Comments
Nintendo UK’s store has started taking pre-orders for the Lucas amiibo and second wave of Animal Crossing amiibo. All of the upcoming figures can be reserved here. They’re all due out later this month.