Sakurai clarifies why he left HAL Laboratory, doesn’t feel “stuck in a rut doing similar things”
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Masahiro Sakurai started out at HAL Laboratory where he directed several Kirby games. About a decade later, he left the company and now operates on more of a freelance basis.
Sakurai spoke with EDGE this month about a variety of topics, including why he left HAL. He noted that it had nothing to do with losing interest in creating Kirby games. As far as Smash Bros. goes, he says it lets him make “something with more value and wide-reaching effects.” Sakurai added that he doesn’t feel like he’s “stuck in a rut doing similar things.”
More: HAL Laboratory, interview, Masahiro Sakurai, top
Nintendo still believes Switch will reach 100 million in software sales, but less sure on 20 million hardware target
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Japanese publication Kyoto Shimbun recently spoke with Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa. During the discussion, Furukawa mentioned that Switch and its games have done well so far this holiday season. Also, the company still expects to hit 100 million units in software sales by March 2019.
From April to September alone, Switch software sales were around 42 million. The rapid release of titles helped for the increased demand this holiday season. Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Party, and Pokemon: Let’s Go have all proven popular.
Furukawa also briefly addressed Nintendo’s current goal of selling 20 million Switch consoles sold this fiscal year. He did acknowledge that it’s not an easy goal to meet, and it can’t be predicted how the new year will go. However, Furukawa hopes that the Switch’s playstyle and its portability will keep attracting people, and Nintendo will continue to release new titles.
More: interview, sales, Shuntaro Furukawa, top
Square Enix’s Masashi Takahashi wants to do more Octopath Traveler, Bravely series, and a new series
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Switch | 0 comments
Famitsu caught up with a bunch of different developers in its latest issue this week to reflect on 2018 and look forward to the future. Octopath Traveler producers Tomoya Asano and Masashi Takahashi were among those who participated.
Asano started out by teasing that Square Enix Business Division 11 “is moving forward with the development of several games.” Meanwhile, Takahashi has expressed interest in doing more with Bravely, Octopath Traveler, and an entirely new series.
More: Masashi Takahashi, Square Enix, Tomoya Asano, top
Nintendo Download (12/20/18, Europe) – Fitness Boxing, Donut County, Sundered, more
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Switch eShop | 0 comments
This week’s European Nintendo Downloads are as follows:
Switch Retail
Fitness Boxing – €49.99 (available December 21)
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European “Festive Offers” eShop sale – week 2 deals – more than 600 games on sale
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Switch eShop, Wii U eShop | 0 comments
Nintendo kicked off a new “Festive Offers” sale across the eShops last week. More deals were promised soon, which have now gone live.
More than 600 games have been discounted on Switch, 3DS, and Wii U. Here’s the full lineup:
Nintendo Download (12/20/18, North America) – Battle Princess Madelyn, Donut County, more
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 0 comments
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate becomes the fastest-selling Nintendo console game in Australian history
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 0 comments
Much like in North America and Europe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is also making history in Australia. It’s been announced that the new Switch title is the fastest-selling Nintendo console game in Australian history. The game is also the fastest-selling eShop release.
Five out of the ten best-selling Nintendo home console releases have been on Switch, including Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu / Eevee, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Smash sold 80% better than Super Mario Odyssey at launch while also beating the sales of Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8.
More: sales, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, top
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe introduction trailer
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Switch, Videos | 0 comments
Nintendo just posted a new introduction trailer for New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe on its Japanese YouTube channel. Watch it below.
More scrapped Pokemon designs revealed
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Earlier this year, we got a look at many scrapped Pokemon designs after a 1997 Pokemon Gold demo leaked online. Several months later, we have even more designs that were never used.
Japanese TV channel NHK recently aired a program that showed off a number of Pokemon, including ones that have never appeared in-game. We can see the likes of Lapras and Blastoise, a very-different Scyther, and even the original concept for Gengar and Rhyhorn that fight in the opening credits of Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow.
Below are the new images:
Media Create sales (12/10/18 – 12/16/18)
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Switch | 0 comments
The latest Japanese hardware sales from Media Create are as follows:
Switch – 281,213
PS4 – 62,580
PS4 Pro – 19,014
New 2DS LL – 14,510
New 3DS LL – 5,132
Vita – 2,647
Xbox One X – 847
2DS – 395
Xbox One – 204
For comparison’s sake, here are the hardware numbers from last week:
Switch – 281,222
PS4 – 50,450
PS4 Pro – 24,046
New 2DS LL – 10,021
New 3DS LL – 3,631
Vita – 2,484
2DS – 620
Xbox One X – 117
Xbox One – 32
And here are the software charts:
