ZeNfA Productions has outlined the upcoming update for ZaciSa’s Last Stand (ZaciSa: Defense of the Crayon Dimension! in Europe). Here’s a look at what’s ahead:
- Further Improvements to the gameplay performance.
- Up to 9 players can control a Drone now! This includes the person on the Wii U GamePad as well as extra controller support like Wii Classic Controller, Pro Controller and 2 people can use a Wii Remote & Nunchuk combo!
- Drones now can fire rockets at enemies! The game has a bit more action to it. Each drone will also have a new look Preview
- Even AI-controlled Drones will be able fire rockets, with setting of how often.
- Rockets do cost money, so will be powerful per shot.
- Two new maps! Both will be focused on the local Drone multiplayer. One of the maps will also be another Wii U indie crossover map! Like my BLOK DROP U and PING 1.5+ maps, this one will be interactive as well.
- Miiverse Stamps! There will be at least 8 stamps for the game in the update. Will act as a sort of Award/Achievement system. Preview
This new update will be made available for free sometime during the winter. We’ll be seeing it in either late 2015 or early 2016.
SmileBoom finally brought out SmileBASIC on the North American 3DS eShop this past week. Interestingly, the company has now revealed that a Wii U version is in development.
SmileBASIC for Wii U (PetitCom BIG) will support all creations from the 3DS version. Cloud-based saving will be included, which lets users make games on Nintendo’s handheld, save to the cloud, and then retrieve them on Wii U. This will work the other way around as well.
New features are also included in the Wii U version. It will be possible to create games that support the GamePad or Wii Remote, off-TV play is supported, and USB keyboards will be compatible.
We’ll be seeing this new Wii U version in Japan this coming spring. The application will also head west at a later date.
This isn’t all of today’s news surrounding SmileBASIC. The 3DS version will be receiving “Advanced Sound Unit” DLC this year, which provides the following:
“Advanced Sound Unit” empowers SmileBASIC to process audio signal with various methods. “Advanced Sound Unit” allows you to process audio signal in real time coming from the MIC input. You can process the signal by analyzing with a FFT algorithm or with a BIQUAD filer and put it into the playback stream to output. In short, you are able to create your own software synthesizer or guitar effectors on your Nintendo 3DS system.
Finally, while it only applies to Japan, SmileBoom is teaming up with Bandai Namco. Graphics and sounds from Galaxian, Galaga, Xevious, Pac-Man, DigDug and Mappy will be sold to SmileBASIC users in Japan.
Splatoon’s sixth European Splatfest is now up and running. This new competition will run for a full day, and the results will then be posted soon after.
In Splatoon’s latest European Splatfest, players can either be on Team Cat or Team Dog. This was actually the very first Splatfest in North America.
Update (10/17): Nintendo’s latest maintenance plans have been changed again. First, there will no longer be shop maintenance. Nintendo Network ID maintenance is still taking place at the times listed originally (see the very bottom of this post). Finally, Wii U and 3DS online features (rankings, etc.) will be down on Monday at the following times:
– 2 PM PT – 7 PM PT
– 5 PM ET – 10 PM ET
– 10 PM in the UK – 3 AM in the UK (Tuesday)
– 11 PM in Europe – 4 AM in Europe (Tuesday)
Update (10/16): Bumped to the top. The “All” maintenance we mentioned previously has now been updated to say “Using Nintendo Network ID”. So in addition to eShop maintenance, Nintendo Network ID will also be affected.
Original (10/14): Nintendo’s various online shops will be undergoing maintenance on Monday. That includes the Wii U and 3DS eShops, Wii Shopping Channel, and DSi Shop.
The maintenance period is planned for the following times:
– 1 PM PT – 5 PM PT
– 4 PM ET – 8 PM ET
– 9 PM in the UK – 1 AM in the UK (Tuesday)
– 10 PM in Europe – 2 AM in Europe (Tuesday)
For Wii U and 3DS, in addition to eShop maintenance, Nintendo listed “All”. I’m not quite sure what that means, but perhaps something else will be affected aside from the eShops.
XSEED Games is handling the localization of Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale. For the western release, the company decided to name one of the various cows in the game after PlatinumGames’ Hideki Kamiya. We’re not really sure how or why that happened, but XSEED apparently has some sort of story about the naming process. Maybe they’ll share it with us one day!
Ghost Police, a “a non-shooting shooter” with a retro art style, is already guaranteed to happen. However, the project just recently launched a Kickstarter in hopes of adding some extra bells and whistles. One stretch goal in the campaign would allow for a 3DS version.
In Ghost Police, players manipulate the world by using a special brush of sorts. Players will be navigating two ships simultaneous through two overlapping levels of obstacles and enemies, though power-ups – which increase the size of your brush and your timer gauge – will help you along the way.
Ghost Police’s main funding goal is £10,500, and if that goal is met, Jake Kaufman will be brought in to handle the soundtrack. The 3DS stretch goal lies further out at £100,000.
You can find Ghost Police’s Kickstarter here.
Next week, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes will be releasing in Japan (not to mention the west as well). Consumers can pre-order the game on Amazon for a triforce emblem keychain. You can get a look at the Japanese bonus above.
Niantic is the main developer behind Pokemon Go. Additionally, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are heavily involved with the project.
Niantic CEO John Hanke recently spoke with TechCrunch and talked about what it’s like working with the Big N. He said:
“Terrific. It’s an honor to have the support and insights of a company that has brought decades of joy to people through their IP, game design, technology innovation. They share our same values of using innovation and play to bring people together. We have so much respect for Nintendo, as well as The Pokémon Company and of course Google. We couldn’t ask for a better group of companies.”
A couple of days ago, it was announced that Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, and Google are investing $20 million in Niantic. This will allow the developer to continue work on Pokemon Go and expand the company overall.
Earlier this week, Atlus brought out The Legend of Legacy in North America. Check out the game’s first hour in the video below.
