Nintendo UK recently published an interview with Christian Stewart from Cardboard Robot Games, developer of the upcoming Switch 2D retro fighting game Pocket Rumble, on their website. Make sure to read the full interview here if you’re interested; below are some interesting excerpts:

On why the game is designed like a Neo Geo Pocket Color game:

Two buttons was a big, big thing about Neo Geo Pocket. Somehow SNK got really complex, complicated fighting games that felt close to the Neo Geo arcade games in portable format, with two buttons. There was some magic there that we wanted to replicate in which we could make a game that has only two buttons, but still have the complexity that something like Street Fighter, with six buttons, could have.

On why the game is a natural fit for the Switch because of its local multiplayer capabilities:

Right, that’s exactly why we need to be on Nintendo Switch! This is the first time a handheld has really had the feel of playing on one console in local multiplayer. It’s perfect. We didn’t know anything about the Nintendo Switch when we were first designing the game but as soon as we heard about its capabilities we were like “this is perfect, this is exactly what we need to be on. This is a local, multiplayer, portable console and here we have this very important local multiplayer game that’s focussed on portability.” So it was a perfect fit!

On the challenges of making a game with the limitations of a Neo Geo Pocket Color-inspired art style:

The resolution of those sprites is very, very small. It is very hard to convey certain things. Subtle nuances are very difficult to convey at such a small resolution. It’s absolutely worth it, because I think the Neo Geo aesthetic on top of the nostalgia just complements what the game is trying to do very well.
We’re trying to get rid of a lot of executional barriers and keeping things to their bare fundamentals, but those fundamentals are still very complex because they’re the inherent mechanics of 2D fighting games.
We’re simplifying as much as we can. So those simple, lower resolution graphics and limited colour palettes work really well with how much we’re focussing on the core combat mechanics.

Source

More: Cardboard Robot Games, indie, interview, Pocket Rumble

Switch eShop charts (4/13/17)

Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 3 Comments

This week’s Switch eShop charts are as follows:

Software

1. Snipperclips
2. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
3. FAST RMX
4. Snake Pass
5. Graceful Explosion Machine
6. Has-Been Heroes
7. ACA NeoGeo Metal Slug
8. Zelda: Breath of the Wild
9. The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+
10. LEGO City Undercover
11. 1-2-Switch
12. Blaster Master Zero
13. ACA NeoGeo Metal Slug 3
14. ACA NeoGeo The King of Fighters ’98
15. Mr. Shifty

* Note: similar to our usual Wii U and 3DS eShop charts, the data above is based on North American sales.

Source: Switch eShop

More: charts

An hour of Mr. Shifty footage

Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch eShop, Videos | 0 comments

Our video coverage of Mr. Shifty has mostly come to an end, but we’re sharing one last, lengthy gameplay video. Watch an hour of footage below.

More: Mr. Shifty, Team Shifty, tinyBuild

tinyBuild goes in-depth about bringing Mr. Shifty to Switch, should be patched to improve frame rate

Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 3 Comments

Mr. Shifty made it to Switch today. The game itself has been fairly well received, but some players have been reporting issues with the frame rate, which can be irregular at times.

After some confusion surrounding the situation, tinyBuild CEO Alex Nichiporchik has promised to personally oversee “the patch submission process”. When an update is made available, players should hopefully find an improvement with the frame rate.

Nichiporchik went in-depth about bringing Mr. Shifty to Switch in a Reddit post:

More: Alex Nichiporchik, Mr. Shifty, Team Shifty, tinyBuild

Graceful Explosion Machine devs on initial sales, future plans, HD Rumble implementation, more

Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 9 Comments

Over on Reddit, developers from Vertex Pop have been conducting an AMA about its recently-released Switch game Graceful Explosion Machine. Initial sales, potential plans for more content in the future, how the team implemented HD Rumble, and more were all discussed.

Notable responses from the AMA about these topics and more are below. You can catch up on the full AMA here.

More: Graceful Explosion Machine, interview, Vertex Pop

Mr. Shifty launch trailer

Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch eShop, Videos | 0 comments

Mr. Shifty can now be download on Switch as an eShop download. For a look at the game’s launch trailer, view the following video:

More: Mr. Shifty, Team Shifty, tinyBuild

The Jackbox Party Pack 3 launch trailer

Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch eShop, Videos | 0 comments

The Jackbox Party Pack 3 is out now on the Switch via the eShop. View the game’s official launch trailer below.

More: Jackbox Games, The Jackbox Party Pack 3

Switch will also be getting Neo Geo games Last Resort, Sengoku

Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 2 Comments

Nintendo highlighted Hamster’s Arcade Archives series during the latest Nintendo Direct. King of Fighters ’99, Galaxy Fight, and Shock Troopers 2nd Squad were among the confirmed games.

However, two were left out from the Japanese presentation. Last Resort and the first Sengoku should be heading to Switch at some point. It’s unclear why the overseas Nintendo Direct lacked these games, but it’s probably not something we should be too worried about.

Source, Via