Nintendo planning unconventional software for Switch
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 182 Comments
A new interview with Nintendo’s Shinya Takahashi has appeared from a recently-published Japanese magazine. In it, Takahashi talked a bit about software for Switch.
Takahashi said that Nintendo is preparing new IP one after another. There is / are title(s) in development that take advantage of the Joy-Con.
The interviewer asked if there are revolutionary out-of-the-box titles like Brain Age on the way. To that, Takahashi said he can’t discuss any details, but of course they are planning it. He also stressed the importance of indie games like Snipperclips for Nintendo.
Note that Takahashi isn’t saying Nintendo is working on a Brain Age successor or sequel. Rather, there is something out-of-the-box (unconventional) planned.
More: interview, Shinya Takahashi
Inti Creates: Switch is “very easy to work with and developer-friendly”
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 5 Comments
Switch is “very easy to work with and developer-friendly,” Inti Creates CEO Takuya Aizu has said. Aizu spoke about developing for the new system as part of an interview with DualShockers. Inti Creates was at Switch’s launch this month with Blaster Master Zero.
When asked about working on the new hardware, Aizu said:
“When we started to develop Blaster Master, we were using our own in-house engine because we originally planned to release the game on Nintendo 3DS. Once we decided that we were going to do a Nintendo Switch version, getting the stuff from the in house engine over to Switch only took a few months. In terms of just a general feeling, the Switch is very easy to work with and developer-friendly from our experience. Then you have the ability to use the Switch functionality for your game, such as the Joy-Cons or the multiplayer feature we added to the Switch version of Master Blaster.”
Aizu also mentioned in the interview that Inti Creates has “two big projects coming up”. However, it’s unclear whether or not these will be on Nintendo platforms. The first will be announced in early summer while the other “will be closer to the end of the year.”
More: interview, Inti Creates, Takuya Aizu
GameStop: Breath of the Wild “reinvigorated” Wii U sales – many pre-owned systems and new Zelda copies
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 39 Comments
Switch isn’t the easiest thing to find at retail right now. Due to that as well as the strong response to Zelda: Breath of the Wild, pre-owned Wii U sales have been “reinvigorated,” according to GameStop senior director of merchandising Eric Bright.
Bright told GameRant that GameStop has been moving many pre-owned Wii U systems and new copies of Zelda. The situation overall “completely racked up the Wii U market.”
Bright said:
“With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild coming out, we’re seeing great results in our pre-owned Wii U sales. We’re selling a lot of pre-owned Wii U consoles along with brand new Wii U copies of Zelda. Breath of the Wild has reinvigorated sales of the Wii U with Nintendo Switch being sold out at so many retailers. The Switch launching and Zelda launching completely racked up the Wii U market.”
More: Eric Bright, GameStop, interview, top
Former SEGA America CEO on Japan headquarters resenting original changes to Sonic
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 9 Comments
Sonic the Hedgehog wasn’t always the character that we know of today. Originally, series artist Naoto Ohshima came up with a design and concept that was more dark and aggressive.
SEGA America ended up pushing for a change over concerns about Sonic being unable to connect with a global audience. Because of this, Sonic lost his fangs, his girlfriend Madonna, and his band. However, SEGA Japan was apparently dissatisfied with Sonic’s updated design and pushed back when possible.
Speaking with Polygon,
“[I] think they resented the fact that we changed him from being aggressive, and having fangs and [a] very sharp personality – and to some degree a menacing personality – to being soft and friendly. I think they resented that. But I don’t know [if] I’d carry it so far as to why they didn’t do the things that should have been done. I think it might have been part of it, however.”
More: interview, SEGA, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tom Kalinske
GameStop: Switch initial sales phenomenal, could “possibly eclipse” sales of Wii
Posted on 7 years ago by Zack in News, Switch | 64 Comments
In a recent interview with Gamerant.com, Eric Bright had a lot of positive things to say about the Switch. Bright, who is the the senior director of merchandising at GameStop, says that the Nintendo Switch is off to such a strong start that it could end up eclipsing the sales numbers the Wii achieved. Additionally, the console has seen some of the highest attach rates for software and accessories for any device “in a long time.”
“The Nintendo Switch is off to a start right now that it could possibly eclipse the Wii. Initial sales on this have been phenomenal. I can’t give straight numbers, but I can say we’re seeing one of the highest attach rates of software and accessories to a device that we’ve seen in a long time.”
Video: Reggie appears on Fox Business to talk and show off Switch
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 30 Comments
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime is still showing up at various places for interviews. Recently, he stopped by Fox Business to chat about Switch and show off the system. While he touches on many of the same topics we’ve heard before, it’s almost worth a watch just for the awkward play of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
More: interview, Reggie Fils-Aime
Limited Run Games hope to bring out first game for Switch this summer
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 20 Comments
Back in January, Limited Run Games spoke about wanting to go “all-out” with support for Switch. We may begin to see that in just a few months from now.
Gaming Trend asked Limited Run Games co-founder Douglas Bogart about plans for Switch. To that, he said: “It’s looking very positive and we hope to have our first title out this summer, fingers crossed!”
The company hasn’t yet given any sort of idea about the kinds of physical games we could be seeing on Switch. Limited Run often partners with indies, so we should probably look forward to something in that space.
More: Douglas Bogart, interview, Limited Run Games
Zelda: Breath of the Wild director inspired by Minecraft and Terraria, talks developing for Switch
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 14 Comments
In the past, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has spoken about being inspired by games such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in creating Breath of the Wild. But what about the game’s director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi?
Fujibayashi cited two games while speaking with EDGE this month about games that inspired him: Minecraft and Terraria. He told the magazine:
“I was rather inspired by playing Minecraft and Terraria. I was able to learn from the gameplay and the possibilities found in. I could learn from the sense of adventure, exploration and how it inspired curiosity.”
As for real life inspiration, Fujibayashi is involved with an adventure club with other Nintendo staff in which they participate in outdoor activities:
Level-5 CEO talks Lady Layton
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 3 Comments
Even though Lady Layton was announced last July, we haven’t heard much about it since then. Famitsu catches up with Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino for an update of sorts this week.
Famitsu starts off by asking what parts are new compared to past entries. Hino points out that the protagonist has changed from Professor Layton to his daughter, Katrielle. Because of that, this game will have a female touch while keeping the series’ atmosphere intact. Hino hope the game will show a brand new side of the franchise.
More: Akihiro Hino, Famitsu, interview, Lady Layton, top
Zelda: Breath of the Wild team on dev approach, difficulty, speedrunners, concept art, Shrines, bugs, and more
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 9 Comments
The Verge recently chatted with Zelda: Breath of the Wild director Hidemaro Fujibayashi, art director Satoru Takizawa, and technical director Takuhiro Dohta. Tons of topics were discussed in the new interview. Among them include how the team approached development, the game’s difficulty, speedrunning, the crazy concept, designing Shrines, and making the experience as bug free as possible.
We’ve rounded up notable excerpts from the interview below. You can read the full discussion on The Verge here.
