Messages

1176

TalkBack / Re: Rayman Origins Review

« on: December 12, 2011, 08:16:26 PM »

Kind of a shame that Ubisoft has such a bad reputation on Wii. While I understand how it happened, I don't think it's entirely deserved - they were responsible for publishing some fine games, after all.


Shaun White Snowboarding World Tour, No More Heroes 1&2, Dawn of Discovery, Broken Sword, Rabbids Go Home, Rayman Origins, Prince of Persia and Red Steel 2 were all worth playing. Other games like Tenchu and TMNT Smash-Up were good diversions, despite being more "miss" than "hit" for some gamers. Add in the Rabbids party series, Just Dance, and some good efforts in the fitness genre and I think that Wii would've been significantly worse off without their support.


Does that make up for the crap? Or the fact that some games with real potential weren't as great as they should've been? No... but gamers who blindly write off the company are missing out on good games.  It's not hard to think of other publishers *cough*ACTIVISION*cough* that didn't offer nearly as many good Wii games over the life of the console.

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General Gaming / Re: What is your most recent gaming purchase?

« on: December 12, 2011, 07:56:23 PM »

EB Games suckered me in with some price drops. Broken Sword Director's Cut (Wii) for $3

Was this a limited time sale? The game is listed at $10 on their website, has it just not been updated yet?

Appears to be Canada only for now. $5 new (if you can find a copy) or $3 used. Not the best point-and-click adventure, not even the best one on Wii... but easily worth $5.


http://www.ebgames.ca/browse?nav=16k-Broken+Sword+Shadow+of+the+Templars

1178

Nintendo Handheld Discussion / Re: Official 3DS video camera discussion?

« on: December 12, 2011, 01:04:29 PM »

I agree that the 3DS camera is very nearly useless... but (to some degree) that depends on your expectations and what you want to accomplish.


The photo quality isn't good enough that I would use it for anything serious. But it's not bad for snapping low-quality photos for Twitter purposes (note: Twitter works well with the built-in web browser) or taking quick impromptu videos to laugh at friends or entertain children. So as a camera it fails, but as a toy it's just barely passable.


Personally, the grainy video seemed more entertaining than barely-recognizable photos... surely that's worth something?  It does make you wonder why Nintendo didn't spring for better camera hardware.

1179

Nintendo Handheld Discussion / Re: Freakyforms Formee QR Code Collection

« on: December 12, 2011, 05:29:03 AM »

As soon as I unlock the ability to share QR codes, you can BET I will!

And you can all guess what they're going to be.

Quick tip:
If you are waiting for something to unlock and be announced, you might already have the ability to export as QR codes. View your Collection and look at the My Formees screen. The Save to SD Card button will let you save a picture of your favorite Formee where you choose the background and whether or not to include the QR Code.


Edit:
A few unimpressive Formees to get things started. Anyone have something interesting or familiar or funny worth sharing?

1180

TalkBack / Re: Monster Hunter 3 (Tri) G Impressions

« on: December 12, 2011, 05:23:14 AM »

Hope the demo comes to NA. I missed out on the Wii demo disc (stupid Canada) and have been itchin to see what the fuss is about. From descriptions, I do not think this is a game for me but I am willing to let a demo attempt to convince me otherwise.

The Wii demo was available in Canada: you could order one (for free) directly from Capcom, although I'm not sure if they were given out at EB Games stores. Don't worry if you missed it though. The demo seems to work best for people who are already familiar with the game, because dropping you into a timed battle without first teaching you how you how to fight isn't necessarily a great experience. Later I tried playing the real game, and even though it starts off very slowly it is much more engrossing after you put some time in to learn how the world works. Ended up being my most played Wii game...

1181

Nintendo Handheld Discussion / Re: The Nintendo Zone...

« on: December 10, 2011, 12:30:56 PM »

Thanks very much!   


According to that tool, there are some local hotspots available. Looks like I'm going to have to visit McDonald's for the first time in a long time.

I went back into the Nintendo Zone application to try and find the link to the "Find a Nintendo Zone near you" thing... couldn't find it at all.  Weird.

So, went through my 3DS's browser history and snagged it.  Here's the URL.

http://www.nintendo.com/mobile/hotspot/

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General Gaming / Re: What is your most recent gaming purchase?

« on: December 09, 2011, 08:24:25 PM »

EB Games suckered me in with some price drops. Broken Sword Director's Cut (Wii) for $3, the beautiful Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword (DS) for $2, and finally a hefty $8 for Final Fantasy IV (DS)...  They were all used but in excellent condition. Not a bad haul for under $15 - but I really need to start playing more games instead of buying them.

1183

TalkBack / Re: Nintendo Downloads - December 8, 2011

« on: December 09, 2011, 08:00:05 AM »

Also Netflix app got an update.

Any comment on what changed? Updates to the Wii version of Netflix have made it considerably slower and less attractive (although the search feature is faster than it used to be). I'm not sure that I want to upgrade my 3DS Netflix based on that experience...

1184

TalkBack / Re: The Last Story Coming to Europe in February

« on: December 09, 2011, 07:56:26 AM »

Breaking news: The Last Story coming to select North America locations in March!  (Would be February, but I'm assuming it'll take at least a week to import. In this case, "select locations" means my house.)
 


If NoA confirms a release date here in North America before the European release occurs then I'll consider waiting...  but there is absolutely no reason to wait otherwise. Given their cautious approach to Xenoblade, waiting to confirm that it was profitable and even then doing a limited North American release, I'm not optimistic.

1185

Nintendo Console Discussion / Re: Official Club Nintendo Thread

« on: December 09, 2011, 06:54:50 AM »

*wants Skyward Sword posters*

 

Edit:  Looks like you waon't be waiting that long.  From the Club Nintendo site, in the news column:

12-09-11  New rewards and games available for Coins coming soon. Please stay tuned!

1186

Nintendo Console Discussion / Re: Official Club Nintendo Thread

« on: December 09, 2011, 06:25:03 AM »

Club Nintendo is back up for me. No sign of a coins-for-games reward, at least in Canada. Hoax? Internal test for Nintendo that accidentally went public too soon?


Maybe we'll see this happen, but don't hold your breath.

1187

TalkBack / Re: New 3DS System Update Available Now

« on: December 08, 2011, 11:29:25 AM »

eShop loads way faster for me now.

Same here.

1188

TalkBack / Re: New 3DS System Update Available Now

« on: December 08, 2011, 09:21:37 AM »

Small changes that mean a lot to me: In the eShop, when you buy something from your Wish List there are a number of improvements. First, your entire Wish List is displayed at one time instead of being broken into multiple pages. Second, you have the option to download a purchased title right away or to wait and download later (in the background). Finally, you now return to your Wish List after buying something instead of being kicked back to the main screen.

[Edit: The abilities to add only the required funds for a purchase and save password-protected credit card information directly on the system are also great.]

I know the update didn't do anything amazing... but it has added some neat functionality and made using my 3DS even easier and more enjoyable. Nice.

1189

Nintendo Handheld Discussion / Re: The Nintendo Zone...

« on: December 08, 2011, 06:43:24 AM »

..., according to Nintendo's little "find a Nintendo Zone" locator, they have a Nintendo Zone...

Could anyone post a link? I've tried a couple searches to find this tool, but keep coming up with blanks. Not sure if there are any "Nintendo Zones" in Canada, and can't find any concrete information so far...

It's in the Nintendo Zone application.  It launches the 3DS Web Browser, so I assume there's a real world link somewhere, but I don't know off hand what it is.

Weird. I can't find a link like that in my version of the Nintendo Zone application.


When I go in, there are the following options:
- Search for Nintendo Zone (never returns anything except Error Code 013-9203)
- What is Nintendo Zone (description, no clickable links)
- Menu
-> Save Pages (nothing here)
-> SpotPass Messages (none available)
-> Wrench icon (SpotPass settings)


So I have no idea where to look for a Nintendo Zone, or if there even are any in my country/province. Online searches didn't do anything to help either. Pretty lame. Maybe things will improve later though.

1190

Nintendo Handheld Discussion / Re: The Nintendo Zone...

« on: December 08, 2011, 05:51:24 AM »

..., according to Nintendo's little "find a Nintendo Zone" locator, they have a Nintendo Zone...

Could anyone post a link? I've tried a couple searches to find this tool, but keep coming up with blanks. Not sure if there are any "Nintendo Zones" in Canada, and can't find any concrete information so far...

1191

Nintendo Console Discussion / Re: Official Club Nintendo Thread

« on: December 08, 2011, 05:49:48 AM »

CN just got a redesign for North America - and a Zelda poster set - AND DOWNLOAD GAMES.

3D Classics Xevious, Mario Kart and Fluidity are on the list, the selection changes monthly. Notice they put download code support in the 3DS update? This is probably why.

That is awesome news - sadly, when I went to check the site was down for maintenance.  Do you know what pricing is like for the downloadable games?


This is pretty much the best case scenario for Club Nintendo in my opinion. Makes me wish I hadn't spent my coins on mediocre merchandise.

1192

Nintendo Console Discussion / Re: Fortune Street

« on: December 07, 2011, 06:30:35 AM »

It wouldn't be surprising if this game gets a limited release. It's sort of like Mario Party except with all the mini-games (and most of the player interaction) removed and a system where players buy property and invest virtual money in a property-based stock market while they race around the board trying to accumulate the most wealth. Not a bad premise if you enjoy virtualized board games, and close enough to monopoly that it will appeal to some... but probably not a big seller for kids who want something to play at parties.


The full Mario Party game that is coming out will probably sell much better and should appeal to a wider audience.




(Personally I'm more excited about Fortune Street. But I'm a geek.)

1193

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 269: Doin' It Like We Do

« on: December 07, 2011, 06:20:06 AM »

Nintendo have fixed bugs before by releasing new versions at retail. ...

Reminds me of early release versions of Maniac Mansion on the NES. That game saw quite a few changes and censored "fixes" - yet somehow they missed the microwavable hamster. Not really a bug... but quite funny to be able to roam the house as a ghost. Actually, a funny game no matter how you slice it.


Quite interested to see the unequipped sword bug in Ocarina of Time. Never heard about that before.
 

1194

TalkBack / Re: StreetPass Mii Plaza Puzzle Swap Puzzles

« on: December 07, 2011, 06:03:28 AM »

Yeah... those purple tiles are a bit of BS for us unlucky rural people.  I've only received about 10 StreetPass hits in 4 months of owning a 3DS. That will hopefully pick up over time, but trying to fill in all of those purple pieces with StreetPass matches is a fool's errand at the moment. Not as bad as the Pokedex 3D situation... but still not cool.

1195

Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 269: Doin' It Like We Do

« on: December 06, 2011, 11:14:48 AM »

ejamer - Just saying ... what percentage of folks do you think have experienced those game-breaking bugs? less than 10? less than 5?

The percentage is probably very small, but what is the "acceptable number" for bugs that are truly game-breaking?


I'm not really trying to be negative. Just pointing out that even great games have occasional bugs and issues that make it out into the real world. Allowing and supporting patches is a good thing. Relying on post-release development to clean up games that intentionally get released too early to take advantage of (for example) the holiday season isn't good at all.

Neal - When it comes to Madden, couldn't that be one of the few times when paid DLC makes sense? In other words, what if instead of selling you a full-priced game that is essentially a roster update, they sold $5 or $10 roster updates every year?  They could wait to release a full game until the technology or programming could allow them to make something truly new.

I think 5 or 10 bucks from every Madden fan would still make them a boatload of money if they didn't have to pay hardly any production costs.

I also wish they would starting doing this, but Neal is right: there is simply too much money on the table for new releases.


Too bad they don't offer both: a new game that costs more but includes new features and improvements, and a roster update service that costs less but leaves players with older versions of the game. I suppose that would split the community though, and make new releases more risky in case reviews and online opinions ever suggest skipping the new release and just updating old versions.

KDR - As Jonny said, any game can have bugs.  Even small-budget games.  Again, the time when people are justified in being upset is when a company that has the resources chooses not to use them for silly reasons like: "eh, we can do it later, let's go have a beer" or "the foolish execs would rather it be out by Week X than work well" or whatever other lame scenario you can imagine.

I suspect that the "foolish execs" scenario you mention happens very often. Game development is a business first and foremost, and striking a balance between cost and quality isn't always easy.

1196

Nintendo Console Discussion / Re: Rayman Origins (a.k.a. Sleeper Hit 2011)

« on: December 06, 2011, 11:00:46 AM »

Nope, pretty sure that I pass. "Tried out a demo" doesn't equal "played the game" in my books, and the rest of your points (in both posts) supporting why this game should be limited to a downloadable release with pay-to-download DLC level packs are a jumbled mess of nearly-inconsequential comparisons.


Luckily, I'm also pretty sure that you aren't worth arguing with, so if you want to say I can't read that's fine. Wave that e-Dick and be proud.



Rayman Origins deserves more attention than it's receiving because it's a tremendous game - more beautiful and creative and interesting than most platformers this generation. Anyone who enjoys the genre should give it a chance, especially if you enjoy multiplayer action similar to what is in New Super Mario Bros Wii or the recent Kirby game. But hey, that's just one opinion.

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Nintendo Console Discussion / Re: Rayman Origins (a.k.a. Sleeper Hit 2011)

« on: December 06, 2011, 05:59:56 AM »

...  Honestly, it was a big mistake for Ubisoft to expand this out into a full retail title.  This game started as a downloadable title, and there it should have remained.  A $15 price tag and 4-5 hours content w/ DLC levels would have probably sold much better.


...

I agree with Killer_Man_Jaro - stating that this game should have been limited to a downloadable title is a total BS opinion that is made even worse when you admit that you haven't tried the game.


WarioLand: Shake It! suffered from the same foolish stigma, and was further punished because the base game was easy if you didn't try to unlock and uncover the many hidden secrets. Like that game, Rayman Origins will surely become a cult favorite among gamers who look past silly assumptions of what a game "should" provide to deserve a retail release.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 269: Doin' It Like We Do

« on: December 06, 2011, 05:47:23 AM »

Hmm... A few additional thoughts about patches and bugs: Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, Other M.  Three major games that all have potentially game-breaking bugs, with no way to patch or fix the issue.  Not having any way to fix these games is a real shame.


Not trying to compare Bethesda games (which consistently are accepted and praised for their scope despite being buggy messes) to Nintendo games (which tend to be much more focused and include few meaningful problems)... just agreeing that having a way to patch games is awesome, but having developers count on releasing regular patches for many months after release is a ridiculous business model for gamers to support.

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Podcast Discussion / Re: Episode 269: Doin' It Like We Do

« on: December 05, 2011, 12:55:59 PM »

Count me in with the camp who prefer to see games released as finished products (even if that means delays) instead works in progress. Patching games to fix unexpected issues isn't a bad thing, but the culture some companies have fostered of releasing software before the QA process has finished is shameful.

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TalkBack / Re: Fortune Street Review

« on: December 05, 2011, 09:27:58 AM »

Still excited about this game, but not sure it will outdo Dokapon Kingdom as my personal "definitive Wii board game experience".