Switch is Spain’s best console launch in history
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 29 Comments
According to a new report from Vandal, Switch is now Spain’s best console launch ever. The PlayStation 4 was the previous record holder, but the torch has been passed to Nintendo’s system having sold 45,000 units in its first three days.
Switch seems to have sold through almost its entire batch of stock in Spain. Roughly 50,000 units were shipped to the country, resulting in a very high sell-through rate. More units should be making their way to out Spain in the weeks ahead.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild devs on having total freedom, difficulty with the engine, missing Iwata
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 21 Comments
In making The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, director Hidemaro Fujibayashi tells The New Yorker that the team had total freedom. He told the publication about how Nintendo approached development:
“They said, ‘Change anything you want.’ So we wrote down all of the stress points, the things that make Zelda games less enjoyable, and we replaced them with new ideas.”
The New Yorker also spoke with technical director Takuhiro Dohta about Breath of the Wild’s chemistry engine. This is built on top of the physics engine, and allows for all sorts of antics like cooking, fire spreading on grass, and much more.
Putting it together wasn’t easy though. “At many times in the process, there were things that just weren’t functioning at all,” Dohta said. “We’d have to remove everything and build back up again.”
Rime pushed back slightly on Switch, physical version confirmed
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 29 Comments
Originally, Rime was targeted to launch for Switch in May alongside other platforms. However, it’s now seeing a slight delay.
Grey Box, Six Foot, and developer Tequila Works announced today that Rime’s primarily launch is set for May 26. It will ship shortly after on Switch.
The delay is a bit disappointing, but on the bright side, Rime is officially getting a retail release. We’ve included Rime’s boxart below.
The one strange thing here is Rime’s price. Today’s announcement mentions that the game will cost $39.99 / €44.99 / £39.99 on Switch, while other versions are $29.99 / €34.99 / £29.99.
Source: Grey Box PR
Reggie says video apps for Switch “will come in time”
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 29 Comments
Right now, Switch doesn’t offer any video apps. The likes of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon currently aren’t offered on the system. However, it’s only a matter of time before that changes.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime stated that the company is talking with the aforementioned video providers about supporting Switch. Their apps “will come in time,” according to Reggie.
He said:
“What I would say is this: We built the Nintendo Switch to be a world-class gaming device, meaning we want you first and foremost to play games on the system and have an incredibly fun experience.
We’re talking to a range of companies about other services, companies like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon — things that will come in time. In our view, these are not differentiators. What differentiates us is the way you play with the Nintendo Switch and what you can play. And that will continue to be our focus into the future as we continue driving this platform.”
More: interview, Reggie Fils-Aime, top
Media Create sales (2/27/17 – 3/5/17)
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS, Switch, Wii U | 47 Comments
The latest Japanese hardware sales from Media Create are as follows:
Switch – 329,152
PS4 – 31,065
New 3DS LL – 18,433
Vita – 9,889
PS4 Pro – 6,742
2DS – 4,147
New 3DS – 1,268
PS3 – 615
Wii U – 565
Xbox One – 147
For comparison’s sake, here are the hardware numbers from last week:
PS4 – 37,008
New 3DS LL – 15,984
Vita – 10,704
PS4 Pro – 6,481
2DS – 4,303
New 3DS – 1,254
PS3 – 505
Xbox One – 469
Wii U – 464
And here are the software charts:
More: charts, Japan, Media Create, sales, top
[Review] Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!
Posted on 7 years ago by Jakob Vujovic(@jakovujo) in Reviews, Switch eShop | 24 Comments
System: Switch (eShop)
Release date: March 3, 2017
Developer: SFB Games
Publisher Nintendo
In most cases I find it exhausting when reviews for launch games go on and on about the new piece of hardware it’s on. With that said, it’s unavoidable to mention how well suited Snipperclips is to the modularity and modes of the Switch and its Joy-Con. On top of being an excellent puzzle game on its own, Snipperclips is the Switch’s premier local multiplayer showcase.
More: highlight, Snipperclips, top
Breath of the Wild director on cut items / ideas, rearranging for Switch, wanting to make the next best Zelda
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 54 Comments
Kotaku has more comments from Zelda: Breath of the Wild director Hidemaro Fujibayashi. His remarks are pretty darn interesting, as we’re able to hear about some of the ideas that were cut during development – including the Hookshot and Beetle from Skyward Sword. Aside from that, Fujibayashi spoke about having to rearrange the game when Switch came into the picture, and always wanting to make the next best Zelda title.
Read up on Fujibayashi’s comments below. You can check out Kotaku’s full article here.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild director on having fun with falling and dying
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 32 Comments
Many would agree that Breath of the Wild is the toughest Zelda game in years. That’s something the development team accepted early on.
Last week, director Hidemaro Fujibayashi spoke about the game’s difficultly with The Verge. Nintendo observed that many players were falling off of Hyrule’s towers while development was ongoing, resulting in deaths. The team ended up making some tweaks, but in the end, they accepted the fact that many players would fall and die.
Fujibayashi said:
“When we saw that, we also didn’t see it as something negative. There’s actually kind of a fun to be had from falling and dying. You learn to be careful and to be cautious. And we felt that that gave a lot of players the emotional preparedness to take on the rest of the world. So we ultimately decided that we should let them die.”
Switch sells 105,000 units on release date in France, best launch for a console in history
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 17 Comments
Sales data is in for Switch in France. According to Le Figaro, the new system sold 105,000 units when it released last Friday.
Similar to the Americas, Switch had a record-breaking launch in France. It’s not only the best result ever for a new Nintendo console, but also the biggest launch for consoles as a whole.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was picked up by nearly all new Switch owners in France having sold 96,000 copies. Given that number, it’s an attach rate of over 91 percent. Breath of the Wild also sold 34,000 copies on Wii U.
Europe: Switch sells more in its launch weekend than any other Nintendo hardware in history
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 45 Comments
Nintendo has sent out an official notice about Switch’s performance in Europe. During the system’s launch weekend, it sold more than any other Nintendo hardware in history.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild also performed well. It’s the biggest-selling Nintendo launch title ever in Europe, outselling Wii Sports in first weekend sales.
Source: Nintendo PR
