Game Freak says it wants to introduce big Pokemon changes gradually
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield finally let players control the camera in the Wild Area. Although this isn’t present throughout the entire experience, it’s a step closer to letting fans explore the world in a full 3D area.
Speaking with Metro, when asked if splitting the game between having a fixed camera and a more modern open-world-type game, director Shigeru Ohmori had this to say:
Game Freak: Pokemon Snap 2 would need “a very unique twist”
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Despite fans clamoring for a sequel, Pokemon Snap 2 has never happened. After the original game landed on the N64 many years ago, the idea hasn’t been revisited since.
In an interview with Metro, Game Freak’s Junichi Masuda (and Shigeru Ohmori) said that there isn’t any interest in creating “the same thing again.” A follow-up would require “a very unique twist,” he said.
More: Game Freak, interview, Junichi Masuda, Pokemon Snap 2, top
Game Freak on why new features disappear from Pokemon games
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Pokemon games tend to have a habit of introducing new features with each entry, only for them to be abandoned when the next games are introduced. Mega Evolutions and Z-Moves didn’t stick around long, for example. Having Pokemon follow the player as they’re exploring has also never been consistent.
While speaking with Pokemon Sword/Shield director Shigeru Ohmori, Metro decided to ask why this happens. Ohmori had this to say when asked if Dynamax will stick around in the long-term:
More: Game Freak, interview, Pokemon, top
Animal Crossing: New Horizons devs on the decision to start on an island, new features, multiplayer, more
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
This week, Nintendo published a new interview with Animal Crossing: New Horizons producer Hisashi Nogami and director Aya Kyogoku. The two developers discussed why they’re having players start on an island, new features, multiplayer, and more. They even throw some sympathy at Tom Nook.
Here’s the full interview:
Fire Emblem: Three Houses devs on the weapon triangle, what Switch allows that wasn’t possible on 3DS, playtime length, amiibo support
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
With Toshiyuki Kusakihara and Genki Yokota appearing at Japan Expo, a few outlets have shared interviews with the Fire Emblem: Three Houses developers. Jeuxvideo was one site that was able to speak with them and commented on the future of the weapon triangle, taking full advantage of Switch, the amount of time to complete the game, and amiibo support.
Below are those excerpts, courtesy of Serenes Forest:
Fire Emblem: Three Houses devs on how the work was split by Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Koei Tecmo is working on Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but it sounds like the game was mostly done by Intelligent Systems. Nintendo director Genki Yokota told VG247 that Intelligent Systems was primarily responsible for the main plot, the game system, ideas, and gameplay mechanics. Meanwhile, Koei Tecmo assisted on the programming side of things.
Intelligent Systems director Toshiyuki Kusakihara said that Three Houses “wouldn’t have been possible” without Koei Tecmo’s help. Yokota was more optimistic, but said that not having Koei Tecmo would have required much more development time.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses director unsure why Awakening was so successful
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 0 comments
It’s been well-documented just how important Fire Emblem Awakening was to the series. If that game hadn’t been successful, the franchise could have been in jeopardy. Thankfully, all went well, and Fire Emblem Awakening even achieved huge popularity in the west.
In an interview with VG247, Fire Emblem: Three Houses director at Intelligent Systems Toshiyuki Kusakihara was asked about what made Awakening so successful. Funnily enough, he’s completely unsure. Kusakihara said that the team “didn’t make any change to our philosophy to make Awakening be liked outside of Japan” and doesn’t know “why it’s so popular.”
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath still planned for Switch, creator teases big Switch plans for 2019
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath was announced for Switch last September, but then sort of disappeared. We haven’t heard anything about its status since then.
Fortunately, the port is still in the works. And on top of that, it sounds like some very big news about the series overall could be announced in the near future.
Atelier sales on Switch catching up with PS4 in the west
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Switch is really the first time that Koei Tecmo and Gust’s Atelier series has been prominent on a Nintendo console. Atelier Lydie & Suelle got things started, followed by the Atelier Arland trilogy, Atelier Lulua, and the upcoming Atelier Ryza. Despite the franchise not really being associated with Nintendo platforms until this generation, the IP seems to be gaining some traction on Switch.
In an interview with GamesBeat, Gust’s associate head of development Keisuke Kikuchi said that Switch sales are “catching up with the PS4 version due to constant growth”. However, Steam “dominates sales” in Asia. Japan is where Atelier sells the most on the whole. Kikuchi also mentioned in the interview that the console versions of Atelier “have almost had the same performance throughout the years, but the best-selling title overall would definitely be Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book.”
More: Atelier, Gust, interview, Keisuke Kikuchi, Koei Tecmo, sales
Game Freak feels that Dynamaxing will let every Pokemon shine in battle
Posted on 5 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield are introducing a new Dynamax feature. With it, Pokemon can become huge during battle, and also receive a big power boost. Trainers can only Dynamax their Pokemon once per battle, and after three turns, they return to their normal state.
Pokemon Sword/Shield director Shigeru Ohmori had a bit to say about Dynamaxing in an interview with Kotaku. In his view, the feature will allow for “every Pokemon to shine in battle.”
