Nintendo Switch is not a replacement for 3DS; Also “can’t say no” to possibility of VR support in the future

Posted on October 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

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Nintendo’s Tatsumi Kimishima recently sat down with Bloomberg to talk about his first year as company president after the untimely death of Satoru Iwata, as well as what the future may hold for the 3DS, Switch, and virtual reality.

When discussing the Switch, Kimishima said that it wasn’t designed as a successor to the Wii U or the 3DS, instead referring to the hybrid console as a “new experience.” He also promised that the 3DS will continue “in its own form” because of growing sales:

Bloomberg: Will you discontinue the 3DS?

Kimishima: Thanks to our software, the 3DS hardware is still growing. So that business still has momentum. And certainly rather than being cannibalized by the Switch, we think the 3DS can continue in its own form.

Nintendo made similar comments back when the DS first launched (calling it a “third pillar”) and said it shouldn’t be looked at as a replacement for the Game Boy line. However, that’s exactly what happened, so Kimishima is possibly being diplomatic about the future of the 3DS.

The President was also rather diplomatic about Nintendo’s attitudes towards virtual reality, refusing to confirm that they have a Switch-compatible headset in the works, while also admitting that he can’t say it could never happen:

Bloomberg: Will Switch have VR capabilities? Are you developing VR that will connect to Switch?

Kimishima: If you asked as if this might be possible in the future, certainly we can’t say no. In terms of how it can be used for gaming, it’s something we must consider. It depends on the system specifications.

The Nintendo Switch will be released in March 2017, and Nintendo will fully unveil the console during a special presentation on January 12.

Posted in 3DS, News, Switch |

Koei Tecmo will bring Nobunaga’s Ambition franchise to Nintendo Switch

Posted on October 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

tecmokoei-logoKoei Tecmo was one of the first publishers to pledge support to Nintendo’s Switch, all the way back in April when they revealed that at least one game was in the works for the console.

While many fans were hoping for a Hyrule Warriors sequel, Koei Tecmo’s Kou Shibusawa recently confirmed that the company’s first project for the Switch will be a game Nobunaga’s Ambition. The strategy franchise has a long history with Nintendo consoles, and previous entries have appeared on the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy. Though in more recent years, it’s found a home on the PC, PS3, and PS4.

The news was delivered during a Historical Simulation Game Day livestream (translated by Gematsu) with Shibusawa, who couldn’t confirm if the franchise’s Switch debut will be a new entry in the series or a port of a previously-released game.

The most recent game in the series, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension, was released for the PC and PS4 earlier this week.

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Weekly Warp-Up: Let’s Switch Things Up… and Keep Talking About the Nintendo Switch

Posted on October 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…

Nintendo officially unveiled their Switch console last week, but kept talking about it this week, confirming the Switch won’t offer a “second screen” option like the Wii U, but that it will support Amiibo figures. After that, Nintendo went silent, eventually saying they would unveil the launch date, games lineup, and price for the Switch on January 12.

So in the meantime, it’s back to the rumor mill for us, including a report stating the Switch will feature a multi-touch touchscreen. Also, a pair of indie adventures, Monster Boy and Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas, were announced for the Switch.

Elsewhere on Warp Zoned this week, we got ready for Halloween by looking back at one of the most important horror games from the late 90s. Prepare yourself, because… It Came From 19XX: Silent Hill.

More news from the rest of the week can be found after the break.

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Posted in News |

New Retail Releases: CoD Infinite Warfare, Mario Party Star Rush, SteamWorld Collection, More

Posted on October 30, 2016 by John Scalzo

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After the Battlefield franchise brought the fight all the way back to World War I, Activision decided to take the Call of Duty series even further into the future with this week’s release of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Developer Infinity Ward has fully embraced the science fiction genre this time around with lasers, robots, space battles, and a whole lot more.

This pivot to the future shouldn’t be that surprising as the Call of Duty franchise first broke through in a big way with the release of 2007’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. PS4 and Xbox One owners will get a chance to relive that seminal entry in the entry if they purchase Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Legacy Edition, which includes access to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.

A different kind of war will take place this week in Mario Party: Star Rush for the 3DS. Nintendo’s series of Mario-themed board games has always provided plenty of multiplayer shenanigans, and Star Rush will likely be no different.

Finally this week, a handful of games that were previously only available as digital downloads will be released in special retail version this week. Image & Form will package together SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Heist in SteamWorld Collection for the PS4 and Wii U. 13AM Games will release a Runbow: Deluxe Edition for the Wii U. And Bandai Nacmo will bring Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 + Arcade Game Series to the Xbox One.

The full list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break.

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Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , , , , ,

Mario Kart 8 sells 8 million copies as Nintendo updates their best-selling Wii U and 3DS titles

Posted on October 28, 2016 by John Scalzo

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Nintendo fans are absolutely giddy with excitement about the company’s upcoming Switch console, but we shouldn’t forget about the Wii U and 3DS. Earlier this week, the consolemaker updated investors on their best-selling titles for the Wii U and 3DS, as of September 30, 2016.

As the biggest-selling Nintendo-published game on the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 recently tallied total sales of eight million copies. The game’s success was measured using worldwide numbers for retail sales and digital downloads. While Mario Kart 8 is far and away the most popular game for the Wii U, Splatoon’s sales (4.57 million copies) are pretty impressive for a new franchise. Here’s the full top ten:

Best-Selling Nintendo-Published Games on the Wii U

  • 1. Mario Kart 8 — 8 Million
  • 2. New Super Mario Bros. U — 5.45 Million
  • 3. Super Mario 3D World — 5.19 Million
  • 4. Nintendo Land — 5.13 Million
  • 5. Super Smash Bros. For Wii U — 4.99 Million
  • 6. Splatoon — 4.57 Million
  • 7. Super Mario Maker — 3.73 Million
  • 8. New Super Luigi U — 2.74 Million
  • 9. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD — 1.98 Million
  • 10. Mario Party 10 — 1.94 Million

Over on the 3DS, Pokemon X/Y proved that the RPG franchise is still first in the minds of Nintendo fans, with total sales of 15.64 million copies. Once again measured using worldwide numbers for retail sales and digital downloads, it finished slightly ahead of Mario Kart 7, which almost lapped its console-based big brother with total sales of nearly 14 million copies. Here’s the full top ten:

Best-Selling Nintendo-Published Games on the 3DS

  • 1. Pokemon X/Y — 15.64 Million
  • 2. Mario Kart 7 — 13.94 Million
  • 3. Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire — 13.18 Million
  • 4. Super Mario 3D Land — 10.98 Million
  • 5. New Super Mario Bros. 2 — 10.6 Million
  • 6. Animal Crossing: New Leaf — 10.34 Million
  • 7. Super Smash Bros. For 3DS — 8.35 Million
  • 8. Tomodachi Life — 5.3 Million
  • 9. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon — 5.03 Million
  • 10. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D — 4.52 Million

The Wii U has struggled on store shelves since it was released in late 2012. The console currently has an install base of just 13.36 million, which is just a shade over 10% of the Wii’s final sales total. Meanwhile, the 3DS can claim an install base of 61.57 million, which is impressive, but still a far cry from the record-breaking sales of 154.02 million units for the DS.

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Daily Scoop: October 28, 2016 – Halloween Sale starting at Steam!

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Nicole Kline

I’m super excited to be holding a copy of Titanfall 2 in my hands right now! It’s hard to type while holding it, but I just can’t put it down. I can’t wait to dive into this single player campaign!

There’s lots of cool stuff on sale at the Humble Store! Soma is $11.99, Through the Woods is $17.99, and The Secret World: Ultimate Edition is $20.39. They’re also doing a cool new thing called “Happy Hour,” where they offer a game for free for a week. You get 60 minutes to play it, and if you decide to buy it, you can pick up right where you left off! This week’s Happy Hour game is Mini Metro.

Steam is also having a big Halloween sale right now! Get Amnesia: The Dark Descent for $4.99, Resident Evil 5 for $6.99, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is $7.99, among many others. The Daily Deal is Space Run Galaxy, which is just $9.99.

Hit the jump to see today’s t-shirts!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

Xbox Store Today: Titanfall 2, Skyrim Special Edition, ClusterTruck, more

Posted on October 28, 2016 by John Scalzo

“Big” is the key word for today’s Xbox Games Store update…

Let’s start with Titanfall 2, a game with massive walking mechs that players can jump in and out of as they wage war on the opposing team. I think that certainly qualifies as “big.” Developed by Respawn and now available to download for the Xbox One, Titanfall 2 is even bigger than the original game thanks to the addition of a single-player campaign and lots of new multiplayer options.

“Big” can also be used the describe the gigantic game world and towering dragons that players will encounter in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Special Edition. Rebuilt for the Xbox One with “remastered art and effects,” Skyrim Special Edition will also include mod support on consoles for the first time.

Finally, ClusterTruck is also available to download today for the Xbox One, and it asks players to catch “big” air as they jump from truck to truck on the world’s most insane highway.

More details about all of these games can be found after the break.

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Frank West gets in the Halloween spirit in the latest Dead Rising 4 trailer

Posted on October 28, 2016 by John Scalzo

Frank West has never said no to a good costume. The gaming world’s favorite photojournalist is also a bit of a tinkerer and he loves turning useless junk into badass weapons. Thankfully, neither of those things are going to change in Dead Rising 4.

Capcom released a new trailer for the latest entry in their other zombies series today, and Frank West is delivering glad tidings and having a jolly old time. In just 90 seconds, he hosts an impromptu fashion show, and then heads back to his workshop to fill his Christmas slay with a few new toys for all the good ghouls and boys.

Dead Rising 4 will be released for the PC and Xbox One on December 6 as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.

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