This information comes from Asif Khan of Panoptic Management Consultants…
“Miyamoto is a perfectionist and does not want to make a bad or mediocre Mario title. It is entirely possible that Project Cafe will launch without a Mario title. They can afford to do it as long as there are some titles to attract early adopters. Management has indicated that 3rd party releases will be more of a focus going forward. I would expect that we will hear about some Nintendo exclusives from the likes of Rockstar, Epic, or Valve going forward. This would draw in the hardcore gamer demographic that was MIA during the Wii console cycle. Nintendo has the cash hoard to secure such deals.”
This information comes from Billy Pidgeon of M2 Research…
“Mario is great IP, but there are no single game system sellers anymore — it will take a pipeline of great games for any system to gain significant share. Project Café may well launch without Mario. We won’t know more until next week, but a Mario launch title on its own won’t be sufficient to make or break a new system.”
This information comes from Jesse Divnich of EEDAR…
“I believe Nintendo’s strategy to release a Mario based title well after launch has to do with marketing sizing. With Mario being a key pillar for Nintendo, it may be best to launch a Mario title when enough of an install base exists. Typically, the first 12-month sales of any console is directly tied to the appeal of the key differentiating technology features and not necessarily the software. Software, however, drives the console sales long-term, hence why Nintendo has typically chosen to launch some of their key branded titles well after launch.
This information comes from Parks Associates analyst Pietro Macchiarella…
“In the case of the 3DS I think that they wanted to appeal to a more general customer base than the traditional Mario fan base by betting on more hardcore titles. Apparently that only partially worked. As for Project Café… If I were Nintendo I would not time Mario’s release too far off from the hardware launch. If they need to build momentum on the new platform, they might need their best IP.”
At the very least, I don’t think we’ll be seeing a 3D Mario adventure at launch. Because some of EAD Tokyo’s resources are being taken used for Super Mario 3DS, it’d be much more difficult to create a top-notch product. 2D is more likely if you ask me, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was no Mario platformer at launch.
Nintendo Power has an exclusive look at Sonic Generations for 3DS. A ton of information is provided in the magazine, which we’ve posted for you below.
– Classic Sonic: Simplified platforming-heavy approach
– New enemy (mysterious lifeform) erased time and space
– This sends modern-day Sonic back to the past
– Modern-style Sonic gameplay is comparable to the Sonic Rush/Sonic Colors DS titles
– This is different than the 3D gameplay for the console versions
– Sonic taps his foot impatiently and will lie down if you leave him idle too long
– Different levels than console version
– One such stage is casino Night Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog 2
– Gameplay faithful to the Genesis era
– Physics feel more authentic than Sonic 4
– Only move is Spin Dash (besides running and jumping)
– All environments come from previous titles
– Stages themselves are brand new in terms of layout
– Modern Sonic: Action more kinetic than in the classic stages
– Full set of moves available for Modern Sonic
– Grind rails, slide under obstacles, jump off walls, use a homing attack, collect rings to fill boost gauge
– Extra “gimmicks” including ziplines and pads
– No major aesthetic differences between both versions of Green Hill Zone
– Modern Sonic stage has a jazzy remix of the original tune
– Modern remixes of classic tracks
– Big Arm boss: controlled by Dr. Robotnik
– Robotnik appears in his form from the Genesis games
– Robotnik controls the robot a bit differently now: rotates into the background and thrusts Big Arm’s fist towards you
– All unique bosses for 3DS version
– Unlock special challenges with StreetPass or Play Coins
– Two-player race mode via local wireless
– Some story differences between the 3DS version and the console versions, but they’re basically the same
– Directed by Tetsu Katano (Sonic and the Black Knight director)
– Co-developed by Sonic Team and Dimps
– Physics made from scratch
– 3DS version will only have characters who are integral to the story
Thanks to Jake for the tip!
This was a neat little thing of Nintendo of Europe to do. And it’s great to see the game being localized somewhere… let’s pray for a North American announcement at E3. By the way, I don’t live in Europe, but I still voted for the art above anyway!
Assassin’s Creed Revelations
Call of Juarez: The Cartel
Driver San Francisco
Rayman Origins
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier
From Dust
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online
TrackMania2 Canyon
The Adventures of Tintin
MotionSports Adrenaline
Rocksmith
Upcoming new Raving Rabbids
Upcoming new Just Dance
Upcoming new Your Shape
Source: Ubisoft
01. / 00. [PSP] Akiba’s Trip (Acquire) {2011.05.19} – 58.150 / NEW
02. / 00. [3DS] Dead or Alive: Dimensions (Koei Tecmo) {2011.05.19} – 23.078 / NEW
03. / 01. [NDS] Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 – Professional (Square Enix) {2011.03.31} – 19.290 / 494.793 (-7%)
04. / 00. [PSP] Gungnir: Mayari no Gunshin to Eiyuu Sensou (Atlus Co.) {2011.05.19} – 16.355 / NEW
05. / 05. [PSP] Patapon 3 (SCE) {2011.04.28} – 11.458 / 95.341 (-12%)
06. / 00. [PS3] Portal 2 (Electronic Arts) {2011.05.19} – 8.942 / NEW
07. / 06. [PSP] Pro Baseball Spirits 2011 (Konami) {2011.04.14} – 8.032 / 160.066 (-21%)
08. / 11. [WII] Wii Party (Nintendo) {2010.07.08} – 5.043 / 1.891.324 (+8%)
09. / 14. [NDS] Pokemon Black / White (Pokemon Co.) {2010.09.18} – 4.767 / 5.181.982 (+9%)
10. / 03. [3DS] Steel Diver (Nintendo) {2011.05.12} – 4.583 / 21.991 (-74%)
11. / 09. [PS3] Pro Baseball Spirits 2011 (Konami) {2011.04.14} – 4.401 / 151.465 (-33%)
12. / 10. [PSP] Dai-2-Ji Super Robot Wars Z: Hakai-hen (Bandai Namco) {2011.04.14} – 4.100 / 403.064 (-35%)
13. / 12. [PSP] Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (Capcom) {2010.12.01} – 3.902 / 4.474.713 (-15%)
14. / 04. [PSP] Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsuisou (Bandai Namco) {2011.05.12} – 3.758 / 18.711 (-75%)
15. / 00. [PSP] Elminage Original: Majo to Megami to Kamigami no Yubiwa (Starfish) {2011.05.19} – 3.625 / NEW
16. / 18. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) {2008.04.10} – 3.562 / 3.228.399 (-2%)
17. / 02. [PS3] Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsuisou (Bandai Namco) {2011.05.12} – 3.529 / 22.360 (-81%)
18. / 08. [PSP] Final Promise Story (Image Epoch) {2011.04.28} – 3.518 / 89.054 (-49%)
19. / 00. [360] Portal 2 (Electronic Arts) {2011.05.19} – 3.468 / NEW
20. / 16. [3DS] Nintendogs + Cats: French Bulldog / Shiba / Toy Poodle & New Friends (Nintendo) {2011.02.26} – 3.192 / 221.708 (-13%)
PSP – 30,463
3DS – 17,240
PS3 – 12,935
Wii – 6,269
DSi LL – 5,176
DSi – 4,938
Xbox 360 – 2,186
PS2 – 1,129
DS Lite – 158
PSP go – 65
For comparison’s sake, here are the hardware numbers from last week.
PSP – 34,655
3DS – 18,324
PS3 – 13,789
Wii – 6,336
DSi LL – 5,358
DSi – 5,292
Xbox 360 – 2,763
PS2 – 1,319
DS Lite – 208
PSP go – 171
Burlingame, CA, May 25, 2011 – Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that Reel Fishing Paradise 3D for the Nintendo 3DS has gone gold and will be released on June 28, 2011. Reel Fishing Paradise 3D will retail at an MSRP of $29.99 and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
“Reel Fishing Paradise 3D delivers an experience that couldn’t exist on any system but the Nintendo 3DST,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. “With gorgeous 3D environments and fish that leap off the screen at you, this is a fishing game like none you’ve ever seen before!”
EB Games will be offering an exclusive “Ocarina Edition” of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for Australian gamers who pre-order the game. Included in the package is the title, a Tri-Force ocarina, and a couple of song sheets. Want to learn how to play Zelda’s Lullaby on the ocarina? Now’s your chance! It’ll only cost you $68… and you’ll need to be in Australia.
1. [PSP] Akiba’s Trip
2. [3DS] Dead or Alive: Dimensions
3. [DS] Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 Professional
4. [PSP] Gungnir
5. [PSP] Patapon 3
6. [PSP] Pro Baseball Spirits 2011
7. [PS3] Portal 2
8. [3DS] Steel Diver
9. [Wii] Mario Kart Wii
10. [DS] Pokemon Black/White
