At Nintendo’s indie showcase at GDC 2015, Engadget spoke with Damon Baker, senior manager of licensing at Nintendo. Baker was asked about a bunch of questions with regard to the company’s approach to indies. Read on below for comments about Nintendo’s relationships with indies, the company’s desire for exclusive features when a game comes out later on Wii U/3DS, and more.
Thanks to a listing on Nintendo’s website, it’s now confirmed that 3D Out Run is releasing on the 3DS eShop on March 12. You’ll be able to pick up the game for $5.99. Europe tends to get the SEGA 3D Classics on the same day, so it should be out next Thursday over there as well.
A message posted to the official Gamescom Facebook page confirms that Nintendo will be at this year’s expo.
Other companies attending Gamescom include Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, and EA.
Gamescom 2015 will take place between August 5 and August 9.
This month’s issue of Game Informer has an interview with Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma. Aonuma tackled several topics pertaining to Majora’s Mask, including the 5 stages of grief fan theory.
Here’s the full exchange between the two:
Game Informer: Some fans speculate that Majora’s Mask is a metaphor for the stages of grief. The towns-folk are in denial of the moon falling; the Deku King is punishing the monkey out of anger; the ghost in the snow temple is bargaining for a return to the world of the living; Lulu in the Zora Temple is battling with depression; and the final temple could be considered acceptance as it wraps up Link’s journey. Was this considered during development, or is this just a fan interpretation?
Eiji Aonuma: It’s certainly true that each one of these different episodes you talked about has a different emotional cast to it. One feels like it’s tinged with sadness, and another with anger – that certainly was intentional. But, I also want to point out that it’s not that each one of these episodes only has the one emotion that they are conveying. There are certainly other notes that we’re trying to hit as well, and the reason we did this is always to allow the player to experience that emotion – to give them a chance to hook into the emotional tone of this scene and react to it and feel like they want to accomplish something in the game as a result.”
Developer: 13AM Games (based in Toronto)
Genre: Party / Action / Platformer
Release Date: 2015
Platform: Wii U/Nintendo eShop
Players: 1-9 local
Website: http://runbowgame.com
ESRB: E (Predicted)
Price: TBDDescription:
Runbow is a fast-paced, action party game with a never-before seen color mechanic: Up-to nine players race against each other as platforms and obstacles appear and disappear when the background changes vibrant colors. Players can sprint against each other in Run, or go head-to-head in one of Runbow’s six additional modes, including Arena, King of the Hill, ColourMaster and The Bowhemoth.FEATURES
· Local Nine-player Multiplayer – The biggest couch-multiplayer experience to come to Wii U, ever!
· If You Can’t See It, It Doesn’t Exist! – Players must think fast as obstacles appear and disappear with the changing backgrounds.
· ‘60s Poster Art Aesthetic – Using the unique art style of Saul Bass and the Czechoslovakian New Wave, Runbow is not only fun to play, it’s fun to look at.
· Hundreds of Challenges – Runbow’s packed to the brim with challenging levels and endless permutations of color transitions and obstacles!
· Seven Great Game Modes – Challenge friends in King of the Hill, Arena, Run, Online, Bowhemoth, Adventure or become the ColourMaster and dominate Runbow’s colorful world.
· One Master to Rule Them All – Play against friends in ColourMaster mode, where challengers race against one malevolent ColourMaster who controls the colors and obstacles in the level.
· Master The Bowhemoth – Runbow’s toughest game mode, The Bowhemoth, has racers tackle more than 30 minutes of platforming challenges that will put the patience and skill of even the toughest players to the test.
· Tons of Unlockable Costumes – From Pirate to Zombie to Ninja, players can pick the runner that’s right for them.
· Challenges, Achievements, and More – Hours of replayability and unlockable content will keep gamers running back for more.
· Special Guests! (Announcing Soon) – What special guest characters will challenge Hue and Val in a race for glory? Find out next time on Runbow!
Name: Swords & Soldiers II
Publisher: Ronimo Games BV
Developer: Ronimo Games BV
Platform: Wii U
Number of Players: 1 (Campaign mode), 1-2 (Skirmish mode)
Release Window: Q2 2015
ESRB Rating: Rating Pending
Genre: Side scrolling strategy
Playable Factions: 3
Campaign Levels: 20 Story missions plus Skirmishes
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPtF9-vdgxAAbout Swords & Soldiers II
Swords & Soldiers II is the sequel to the award winning WiiWare game Swords & Soldiers, released in 2009 by Ronimo Games. Like its predecessor, the game is a side scrolling strategy game. It allows players to buy units, cast spells and build structures to overwhelm their enemy on a 2D battleground.
The Vikings make their return from the original game, once again led by their ever-hungry chieftain Redbeard. But this time they face two new enemy factions, the brutal and manaical Demons, and another as-of-yet unannounced faction. Joined by likely and unlikely allies it’s up to Redbeard to root out these new threats and restore peace to the lands.About Ronimo Games
Ronimo Games was founded in 2007 by 7 enthusiastic game developers. Utilizing the in-house developed RoniTech engine, Ronimo Games is focused on creating innovative, high quality 2D games that appeal to a wide audience. The studio released their first commercial game, Swords & Soldiers, in May 2009 worldwide on WiiWare and later on Playstation Network, PC, Mac and iOS. In 2012, Ronimo Games released Awesomenauts, a Sidescrolling Battle Arena Game. The studio is now 17 developers strong and very motivated to deliver awesome game experiences!
NIS America has announced that all first print copies of Rodea the Sky Soldier for Wii U will include the Wii version, creator Yuji Naka’s original vision. The offer applies to both North America and Europe. Note that this is exclusive to the retail release, and once the first printing is finished, the Wii title will no longer be included.
Source: NIS America PR
