Mario Kart 8 Deluxe becomes the fastest-selling game in franchise history

Posted on May 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Nintendo Switch continues to be a source of success for the consolemaker, as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe became the fastest-selling game in franchise history.

Fans in the US purchased more than 459,000 copies of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on its first day of availability (April 28), smashing the previous record set by Mario Kart Wii nearly a decade ago. These sales figures include both retail copies and Nintendo eShop downloads, and according to Nintendo, “nearly one in two Nintendo Switch owners in the US purchased a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the first day it was available.”

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an updated and expanded re-release of 2014’s Mario Kart 8, and Nintendo considers it the “definitive” version of the game. These additions include both downloadable expansions that were originally available to download for the Wii U, as well as Switch-exclusive content including new characters, new weapons, the ability to carry two items at the same time, and a brand new Battle Mode.

Nintendo has announced plans to launch nearly a dozen Switch-exclusive games in 2017, so it seems likely they’ll be setting even more sales records before the year is out.

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Daily Scoop: May 1, 2017 – New Games With Gold and a few nice Weeklong Deals at Steam

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Holly Scalzo

New week, y’all. But sorry, still same me subbing in for Nicole. Maybe the great game deals and shirts make up for it? No? Well, that’s a little surprising. Anyhow, haven’t heard from Nicole since her postcard from last Friday, but we trust her mysterious adventure is going well and that the jungle hasn’t come alive and tried to eat her… yet. Let’s get down to the sales!

On the Humble Bundle front today, just a quick reminder that there is only one day left for the “Wild Frontier Bundle,” so don’t miss out! And in the Humble Store, they’ve got a special today on the Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition for $12.49.

May’s newest free games for Games With Gold on the Xbox Games Store are sure to please. Available for the duration of May to Xbox One Gold members is Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – Director’s Cut, and from May 16 – June 15, members can download Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris for free as well. For the Xbox 360, beginning today and ending May 15th is Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. Taking over on May 16th is Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, which will be available for the rest of the month until May 31st. The Force is strong this month!

Steam has several Weeklong Deals to check out including the cool 20XX for $11.99, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for $5.99, and Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime for $6.74. They also have Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide on sale for 66% off, as well as its expansions Schluesselschloss, Drachenfels, and Karak Azgaraz for 15% off each. These deals are good through May 8th.

And ending May 5th, they’ve also got a sale on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition for 51% off.

And now, for something completely different… and yet the same as always: shirts!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

Retro-styled Breath of the Wild fangame will remove Zelda characters after takedown notice from Nintendo

Posted on May 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

As expected, Nintendo has dropped the hammer on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of a NES, a retro-styled reimagining of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The takedown notice was issued to developer Winter Drake by Nintendo’s lawyers over the weekend, and it’s available for public viewing on Twitter.

Even though this is a huge setback for Winter Drake, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of a NES will continue in an altered form. The developer has vowed to remove every reference to Nintendo’s franchise, and replace them with original characters and designs. Winter Drake even posted this encouraging message on the game’s Itch.io this morning: “Nintendo has asked me to take stop hosting the game. The project will live on, just not with Zelda characters.”

And speaking to Kotaku, Winter Drake revealed that the new vision for Breath of the NES will include “32-bit sprites” and “a rich soundtrack”:

As for what Breath of the NES’s spiritual successor will look like, Winter is planning on 32-bit sprites working with musicians to put together a rich soundtrack. Substituting improved gameplay and originality for the 8-bit nostalgia powering the original project won’t be easy though, meaning we probably won’t see a new trailer or playable demo for some time. “Ideally I’d like to make the final game a big cross-platform release on Steam,” Winter said. “I may even start a Kickstarter once I can show off what the new game will have to offer.”

As before, Winter Drake will be providing additional updates on the progress of Breath of the NES’s successor on Twitter.

Posted in News, PC, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

Square Enix offers a quick look at new features in Secret of Mana Collection

Posted on May 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

Square Enix’s Seiken Densetsu Collection (also known as the Secret of Mana Collection) will be available exclusively for the Switch on June 1st. Unfortunately, the publisher has yet to announce if the compilation will launch outside of Japan, and as of right now, it seems unlikely that English-speaking audiences will never get a chance to play it.

However, with just one month before its Japanese launch, Square Enix has released a trio of short videos showcasing some of the Seiken Densetsu Collection’s new features.

With “Screen Change Mode,” players will be able to customize the screen setting to their liking, as well as add Super Game Boy color palettes to the first game in the series, Final Fantasy Adventure. Players will also have a “Quick Save” option to pause the action and return to the game at a later date. Finally, a “Music Mode” will let players listen to each game’s soundtrack right from the title screen.

You can view all three videos after the break, and don’t forget to let Square Enix and Square Enix Europe know if you want to see the Secret of Mana Collection released outside of Japan.

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Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Shovel Knight: Official Design Works officially announced by Udon Entertainment

Posted on May 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

It looks like the rumors are true… Udon Entertainment will release a Shovel Knight artbook this August.

Shovel Knight: Official Design Works will include an in-depth look at the early concept art that allowed Shovel Knight to become a Kickstarter darling and indie sensation, as well an exclusive interview with the development team:

Udon has worked very closely with developer Yacht Club Games to ensure that Shovel Knight: Official Design Works is every bit the definitive Shovel Knight art book that fans deserve. Within its pages you’ll find character art, developer commentary, rough illustrations and concept art, background development images, comprehensive sprite sheets, full-page promotional illustrations, and more – including an exclusive interview with the game’s development team!

The 184-page book will also include content from the game’s first expansion, Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows.

If you can’t wait until August, you can view a selection of preview pages at the the publishing company’s official website right now.

Posted in 3DS, Etcetera, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged ,

New Retail Releases: Prey, Guardians of the Galaxy Season Pass Disc, FlatOut 4

Posted on April 30, 2017 by John Scalzo

We’ve got three new games for the last Retail Release Report in April 2017…

Even though the new Prey has nothing to do with Human Head’s bizarre first person shooter from 2006 or its canceled sequel, Bethesda will release a new entry in the franchise this week for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Players will assume the role of Morgan Yu, a crew member on the Talo I space station. The the aliens show up and humanity becomes the “prey” of the title.

Also also available on store shelves this week is the Season Pass Disc for Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy adaptation. Just in time for the theatrical opening of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, the PS4 and Xbox One disc will include the game’s first episode, Tangled Up In Blue, and downloadable access to all four upcoming episodes.

Finally this week, developer Kylotonn will bring back the destruction-heavy FlatOut franchise with FlatOut 4: Total Insanity for the PS4 and Xbox One.

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back soon with a look at this week’s new additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Xbox Store Today: Little Nightmares, Alpha Mission II, Lost Grimoires

Posted on April 28, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s almost quitting time on this nifty Friday afternoon, and Microsoft has updated the Xbox Games Store ahead of the weekend.

Little Nightmares, Bandai Namco’s spooky puzzle platformer about “corrupted souls looking for their next meal” aboard a mysterious vessel, leads things off on the Xbox One today. Xbox One owners will also be able to download Alpha Mission II, an overhead shooter originally released for the NeoGeo in 1991; and Lost Grimoires: Stolen Kingdom, another hidden object game from Artifex Mundi.

You can learn more about all three games after the break.

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Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

Get your first look at The Joker and Darkseid in these new trailers for Injustice 2

Posted on April 28, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Joker is sporting a completely new look for his Injustice 2 debut, but the supervillain’s fighting style should look familiar to anyone who played Injustice: Gods Among Us. The real question is… how is he still alive? The “Introducing Joker” trailer (available after the break) doesn’t have an answer, but we did get to see the Clown Prince of Crime deliver a beatdown on Robin with a crowbar and smack Superman in the face with a canister of Joker Venom.

The Joker is joined by a new trailer for Darkseid, Injustice 2’s first downloadable character. Players who pre-order the game will receive access to the ruler of Apokolips for free, but everyone can enjoy his “Introducing” trailer after the break.

Injustice 2 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 16.

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