ARMS devs on the game’s prototype days, designing characters, plenty of lore coming, more
Posted on 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 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 6 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.
Rumor: Super Nintendo World concept art, details on what’s planned and cut
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Images, Rumors | 8 Comments
Unconfirmed concept art, renderings, and details surrounding Super Nintendo World are making the rounds. Parkscope has since published a report with apparent insight into what’s staying and what’s been scrapped since those images were created.
Here’s what we know based on the site’s article:
– General layout and original entrance to Super Nintendo World shown
– Enter through Peach’s castle (located roughly where Animal Actors is now) into a large indoor area
– The indoor area would feature a Nintendo World Store, a Pokemon area (not elaborated on), Luigi’s Pizza (don’t think too hard about what they’d do with the other Luigi’s Pizza), a small tea cups like ride with Koopas, and a Bullet Bill TTA-like rid
– Going clockwise around the land is a Kirby young kids area with one ride and a kids wet/dry play area
– Kirby area has apparently been cut
– Donkey Kong Island takes inspiration and setting from the Donkey Kong Country series
– The first attraction is a large kids play area tree fort similar to the one Donkey Kong has at the beginning of each game
– The second attraction is an outdoor coaster using the boom coaster patent
– This coaster will be a new attraction and not a retheme of the Woody Nuthouse coaster
– At this point the coaster is remaining in the final plans
– Unclear if the kids play structure remains
– Mario Kart ride concept has evolved since the initial proposal
– The ride will retain the same scope and scale as the concept art
– There’s a debate about the use of projections and “AR” glasses in the ride to replicate the battle items during racing
– AR will be used to show the shells, bananas, and other items on the track
– Bowser’s Airship ride and Luigi’s Mansion interactive play area shown in concept art
– These concepts seem to be sacrificial lambs for Mario Kart
– When the budget restraints hit these will be the first attractions removed so the Mario Kart ride doesn’t get touched
– Hyrule/The Legend of Zelda area apparently cut from the final plans
– In prior released images you can see a preshow with Princess Zelda and the implementation of the ‘puzzle moving theater’ patent
– Other famous areas from the series like the Great Deku Tree and Kokiri Village show up in the land along with an “interactive area”
– What is not leaked, but expected to be coming to the land, is the Yoshi dark ride
– The Yoshi dark ride will be an all ages ride aboard Yoshi ride vehicles
– Refocus on Mario and Donkey Kong only for Phase 1 the Zelda area
– Smaller attractions, and Kirby area have been jettisoned to future expansions in other parks
And the images in question:
More: Super Nintendo World, top
Monolith Soft on Xenoblade X western changes, Nintendo Europe handling Xenoblade 2, Nintendo’s localization process
Posted on 6 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 144 Comments
Kotaku has a very interesting article up covering the localization of Xenoblade Chronicles X, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and Nintendo’s localizations in general. The site spoke with Monolith Soft CEO Tetsuya Takahashi, Nintendo’s Genki Yokota, and Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.
Takahashi himself commented on the changes that were made for Xenoblade Chronicles X in the west, like removing a bikini for one of the characters (Lin). We also have confirmation that Nintendo of Europe is handling Xenoblade Chronicles 2 like the original Wii game instead of Nintendo of America. There’s talk here about Nintendo’s localization process as well.
Find comments from Kotaku’s article below. You can read the full thing here.
