May 2017 NPD: top 20 best-selling games in the U.S.
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U | 32 Comments
NPD Group has released a listing of the top twenty best-selling games in the U.S. for the month of May 2017. The results can be found below.
1. Injustice 2
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe*
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
5. Prey*
6. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands
7. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadow of Valentia*
8. NBA 2K17
9. MLB 17: The Show
10. Overwatch**
11. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
12. Horizon Zero Dawn
13. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
14. Call of Duty: Black Ops III
15. Mass Effect Andromeda
16. Farpoint
17. Battlefield 1
18. Nier: Automata
19. Minecraft
20. FIFA 17
*No digital sales
Metroid: Samus Returns development complete, Sakamoto on the wait for 2D Metroid, Other M criticism, more
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii | 61 Comments
Kotaku was one of several outlets that went hands-on with Metroid: Samus Returns at E3 last week. The site also spoke with some of the people involved with the game.
According to Tim O’Leary from Nintendo Treehouse, development is complete. Perhaps that not massively surprisingly given how it’s due out in just a few months. Still, it’s pretty interesting to hear.
Kotaku also shares some new comments from producer Yoshio Sakamoto. Sakamoto was asked why Samus Returns is on 3DS rather than Switch, why it’s taken so long for a new 2D Metroid, criticism of Metroid: Other M, and how the 2D / 3D Metroids are handled at Nintendo.
Continue on below for Sakamoto’s comments. You can find a few more on Kotaku here.
ARMS devs on the game’s prototype days, designing characters, plenty of lore coming, more
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 2 Comments
Glixel had a chance to speak with ARMS producer Kosuke Yabuki and art director Masaaki Ishikawa. They had plenty to say about the new Switch game, including how characters’ arms didn’t originally extended, approach to designs, plans for lore, and other topics.
We’ve gone through the interview and picked out excerpts below. Read the full discussion here.
More: Arms, interview, Kosuke Yabuki, masaaki Ishikawa, top
Big Pokemon GO update coming soon – new Gym features, Gym badges, Raid Battle, new items
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Mobile, News | 6 Comments
Niantic has pulled back the curtain on a substantial update coming soon to Pokemon GO. When it’s released, players will have access to number of new features.
Pokemon GO is seeing “a major facelift” to Gyms, such as spinning the Photo Disc at Gyms to obtain items similar to PokeStops. Gyms will also now feature “six permanent slots that can be filled by the controlling team’s Pokemon.” A motivation system is being added as well “that will significantly change how you interact with Gyms.”
Also new in the update are Gym Badges, a Raid Battle feature in which Trainers work together to take down a powerful Raid Boss, and new items.
Full details about the update are below along with screenshots.
The biggest update to Pokémon GO is nearly here! Very soon, Trainers around the world will be able to participate in a revamped Gym gameplay experience, including the opportunity to join together with others to battle against powerful Pokémon in the new Raid Battle feature!
New Gym Features and Updates: Starting soon, Gyms are undergoing a major facelift. You’ll soon be able to spin the Photo Disc at Gyms to acquire items just as you do at PokéStops—but that’s only the beginning. More updates to Gym battles are also just around the corner. Gyms are no longer based on Prestige and training. Instead, they now feature six permanent slots that can be filled by the controlling team’s Pokémon. Each Pokémon assigned to these slots must be unique. For example, only one Blissey can be assigned to a Gym at a time. In addition, opposing teams will battle the Pokémon in the order they were assigned to the Gym.
At the heart of the update is a new motivation system that will significantly change how you interact with Gyms. When a Pokémon is assigned to a Gym, a motivation meter will be displayed. Pokémon assigned to defend a Gym lose motivation over time and as they are defeated in battle. As a Pokémon loses motivation, its CP will temporarily decrease, making it easier for opposing teams to defeat. To help keep the Pokémon motivated and in tip-top shape for their next battle, Trainers can treat their team’s Pokémon to some Berries, which restore their motivation. If a Pokémon loses all motivation, it will leave the Gym and return to its Trainer the next time it loses a battle, so you’ll want to keep your team’s Pokémon motivated by giving them Berries frequently!
More: Niantic, Pokemon GO, top
Japanese Dragon Quest XI Nintendo Direct airing on June 21st
Posted on 8 years ago by Matt(@OnePunchMaz) in 3DS, News | 62 Comments
Nintendo has announced a new Japanese Nintendo Direct, which will air on Wednesday, June 21st, at 8 PM local time. The Direct, which will be 14 minutes long, will be all about Dragon Quest XI. According to the announcement, the Direct will be mainly about the 3DS version of the game and its exclusive features. It’s possible that the Switch version will also be shown off for the first time, though that’s not exactly a safe bet. Either way, we’ll know for sure in about 48 hours.
More: Dragon Quest XI, Japan, Nintendo Direct, Square Enix, top
Dragon Ball FighterZ dev says no Switch version isn’t due to a lack of power, open to porting if fans show interest
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 152 Comments
Bandai Namco is bringing Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 to Switch a few months from now. But at E3, the company announced the 2D fighter Dragon Ball FighterZ which is currently not planned for the system. Depending on fan interest, that could change.
French site Game Blog spoke with Dragon Ball FighterZ producer Tomoko Hiroki. Despite what some may say, the game not being on Switch isn’t a matter of the system’s technical specs or lack of power. Hiroki added that there hasn’t been any trouble porting over Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
It isn’t clear why Bandai Namco and developer Arc System Works skipped on Switch for Dragon Ball FighterZ. However, Hiroki did say that if fans show their interest, they could bring it over. Hiroki did caution that Dragon Ball FighterZ may not come to Switch the same time as other versions, but they’re open to considering it.
Thanks to Matthew M for the tip.
Splatoon 2 devs on Salmon Run’s difficulty, sharing art and messages, Splatfests, launch content, voice chat, music, more
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 16 Comments
Today, Game Informer put up a lengthy interview with Splatoon 2 producer Hisashi Nogami and lead programmer Shintaro Sato. Plenty was discussed here, including Salmon Run, letting players share art and messages, Splatfests, how much content will be available at launch, why voice chat is limited to friends / other familiar people, and music. There were other topics sprinkled in as well.
We’ve rounded up some of the noteworthy comments from Nogami and Sato below. You can read the full interview on Game Informer here.
More: Hisashi Nogami, interview, Shintaro Sato, Splatoon 2, top
Metroid: Samus Returns devs on decision to remake Metroid II, bringing back 2D Metroid, more
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments
Game Informer caught up with two of the developers working on Metroid: Samus Returns at this year’s E3. The site spoke with Nintendo producer Yoshio Sakamoto and José Luis Márquez of MercurySteam.
During the conversations, there was talk about why Metroid II is being remade and bringing back 2D Metroid. Sakamoto was also asked to clarify the story of making Samus female at the end of the original Metroid.
Continue on below for some excerpts from the interview. The full talk is over at Game Informer.
[Let’s Talk] E3 2017 reactions
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Let's Talk, Switch | 58 Comments
Just like that, another E3 is in the books. After weeks of hype and speculation, we now know of everything Nintendo had to show between its video presentation and hours of Treehouse streams.
For all of the talk about how long the presentation would be and how Nintendo would mainly be sticking to 2017 games, we arguably saw quite a lot. Not one, but two new Metroid games were announced. A core Pokemon title is in development for Switch. New Kirby and Yoshi titles are coming, not to mention Rocket League as well. Super Mario Odyssey looks fantastic and launches on October 27. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 releases this year despite speculation about it being pushed to 2018, and Fire Emblem Warriors is slated for the fall. 3DS saw some new announcements as well during the Treehouse stream between Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions and Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido.
So what did everyone think of this year’s E3? Did it live up to your expectations? Do you have any personal highlights? Let us know in the comments below.
Highlights from last week’s topic: E3 2017 hopes and dreams
Super Mario Odyssey devs on Captain Toad, changes in kingdoms, elements for Mario 64 players, newcomer help, more
Posted on 8 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 6 Comments
Game Informer went live with a new Super Mario Odyssey interview today. The site spoke with director Kenta Motokura and producer Yoshiaki Koizumi to learn more about the game.
Various topics were discussed, including Captain Toad, how kingdoms change while you play, and help for newcomers. Also teased were elements that will make players who played Super Mario 64 “happy”. Koizumi weighed in on how he’s becoming more of a face for Nintendo lately.
We’ve picked out the interesting excerpts from the interview below. You can read the full discussion here.
