Eshiro said the digital-only release was due largely in part to the game’s development schedule.
Much has been made about Capcom’s decision to release Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destines as a digital download. This is the first time that a core entry in the series will not be available at retail.
Speaking about the move, producer Motehide Eshiro said:
“The reason we are releasing the game as digital only is not primarily due to a lack of retail support. One of the main reasons we went for a digital version is it will be more convenient for the users. We felt that if someone will be interested in Dual Destinies they will want to get it right away, and if we offer a digital version, instead of going to a store however many miles away, they can just download it directly to their 3DS.”
Eshiro additionally noted how Capcom was looking to reduce the time it would take to release Dual Destinies overseas. Because of the game’s tight development schedule, dropping the retail version was necessary. Eshiro said that he wanted to avoid having fans wait a long time for Dual Destinies’ arrival, unlike past entries.
“We didn’t want to have too much lag time between the Japanese and American versions. Offering a downable version was one of the ways to cut down that lag time.”
The hope for a retail version of Dual Destinies isn’t completely dead. According to Eshiro, Capcom will consider a physical release if there’s enough of a push from fans.
Eshiro lastly commented on the possibility of bringing past or future Ace Attorney games for consoles. This isn’t in the cards currently, Eshiro says:
“The series is popular as handheld games. In Japan, everyone takes the train to work so it’s easy for someone to start up the game and play for a little bit while they’re on the train. In North America it’s a bit harder because everyone drives to work. That’s something we would have to think about at [Capcom] and see if it’s a viable solution for the series.”
This week’s Famitsu review scores are as follows:
Sayonara Umihara Kawase (3DS) – 8/9/9/8
Kuma Tomo (3DS) – 8/8/8/8
STORM LOVER 2nd (PSP) – 9/8/7/8
Winning Post 7 2013 (PSV) – 8/7/7/8
Koibana Days (PSP) – 8/7/7/8
Kami Jigen Idol Neptune PP (PSV) – 8/7/7/7
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun: Sakura-hime to Karyu no Himitsu (3DS) – 7/7/7/6
Ro-Kyu-Bu! Himitsu no Otoshimono (PSP) – 7/7/6/7
Wii U sales haven’t been up to snuff these past few months, but Nintendo doesn’t sound concerned. Senior communications director Charlie Scibetta believes that the system’s games will lead to increased momentum.
GameSpot asked Scibetta if Nintendo stands to see a difficult holiday season against the likes of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. To this, he said: “the short answer is no.”
“If you’re a consumer going in and you have these options; we know what the price points are now from the competitors, we know what the games are from the competitors; and we know now what the Wii U is going to offer. We feel good about where we stack up. It’s the software that’s going to motivate them.”
“We saw with the Nintendo 3DS, it got off to a slow start, but then when software started rolling in, sales have done really well.”
Satoru Iwata isn’t ready to hang in the towel for the Wii U just yet. In spite of the doom and gloom surrounding the system, Iwata feels that “there is plenty of opportunity left”. It’s much too early for Wii U’s fate to be decided, he feels.
Iwata told The Wall Street Journal:
“I think there is plenty of opportunity left for the Wii U. We don’t think anything has been decided in the first six months.”
A new visitor has joined the StreetPass Mii Plaza. If your 3DS is connected online, you should be receiving a SpotPass notification about the arrival of Eiji Aonuma, the producer of the Zelda series.
More Brand-New Pokémon Also Introduced at Nintendo’s Developer Roundtable at E3
BELLEVUE, WA—June 11, 2013—Junichi Masuda, Director at GAME FREAK inc., joined Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company, at Nintendo’s Developer Roundtable at E3 on Tuesday evening in Los Angeles to discuss Pokémon history and share new features debuting in the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y video games when they launch worldwide October 12, 2013 exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS system. Mr. Masuda revealed a new communication feature debuting in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y—Player Search System or PSS. He also showcased two new battle scenarios players will come across when exploring the Kalos region—Horde Encounters and Sky Battles. These new ways to battle will require Pokémon Trainers to plan accordingly and build a Pokémon party that can withstand a multitude of Pokémon or take on flying Pokémon high in the sky.
The PSS allows players to connect, battle, and trade with other players nearby and around the world. The PSS makes it easy to find other people playing Pokémon X or Pokémon Y near you or even on the other side of the world. When the new communication feature is on, the PSS alerts players when someone nearby is playing Pokémon X or Pokémon Y and gives you the option to battle or trade with them wirelessly. Players with a wireless Internet connection can also connect with Pokémon X and Pokémon Y players anywhere in the world via the PSS, making it easy to battle or trade with others close by or thousands of miles away.
When Pokémon like Houndour, Axew, Tauros, and Miltank appear en masse in the wild in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, players will be facing a Horde Encounter. In past Pokémon titles, Pokémon battles have always involved the same number of Pokémon on both sides, like a regular one-on-one match or a Triple Battle. Horde Encounters take battling to a new, intense level that forces a player to battle against multiple wild Pokémon that attack all at once—with only a single Pokémon on the player’s side. Players will need to ensure their Pokémon has moves that can attack multiple Pokémon at once or they may quickly find themselves on the losing end of the battle.
Select Trainers you encounter in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y will challenge players to Sky Battles—fierce battles that take the action high above ground. While players traverse the Kalos region, Trainers standing high on cliffs or in other distant places will want to battle, but players can only participate if they have certain Pokémon in their party that can fly. The Sky Battle is a visually stunning battle scenario and an exciting new addition to Pokémon video games.
Never-before-seen Pokémon made their debut at Nintendo’s Developer Roundtable at E3:
•An evolved form of the recently announced Fletchling, Talonflame, is a Fire- and Flying-type Pokémon that gains a whole new level of speed and firepower. Reaching speeds of up to 310 mph when diving for its prey, Talonflame can attack its foes with devastating kicks while embers spew from its body as it zooms through
the sky. Talonflame knows Brave Bird, one of the strongest Flying-type moves. Use Brave Bird carefully, though, because the incredible strength of this move also does damage to the user.• The Water Gun Pokémon Clauncher uses its one oversized claw not only to seize prey but also to shoot condensed water at others as a projectile. This capability is so intense that it can crack a boulder! A Water-type Pokémon, Clauncher can also use its giant claw to crush opponents with the powerful Water-type move Crabhammer, which is more likely to land a critical hit. Critical hits against opposing Pokémon will do twice the usual damage.
•Some would say that the Poison- and Water-type Pokémon Skrelp appears to be nothing more than a rotting piece of kelp, but don’t let its appearance fool you. Using its unique look to its benefit, Skrelp pretends to be a piece of seaweed, and when prey wander past it, Skrelp bathes them in poison so they can’t struggle when it attacks. Skrelp uses the Poison-type move Sludge Bomb, a move that can leave opposing Pokémon poisoned. A poisoned Pokémon will slowly take damage over the length of a battle.
It was also revealed that Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are the first Pokémon titles that allow players the choice to play the game in one of seven languages: English, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Korean, or Spanish.
Pokémon X and Pokémon Y will carry a suggested retail price of $39.99.For more information about Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, including new images and gameplay video featuring information announced today, please visit pokemon.com/xy.
Source: Nintendo PR
