I'm surprised that Kirby's Epic Yarn is coming up so soon, I thought it would be out by December. At least we got release dates, and I'm glad about that.

It didn't register with me when I first read it, but that means Kirby's Epic Yarn is coming out two months from today. Hopefully we'll start seeing it advertised sometime soon.

Wow, Shantae exists! And it's being pegged for A FULL YEAR after its initial release date (holiday 2009).

I think Nintendo learned from Wii Music.  Wii Party's release is such that if you were not interested in it you're still fine.  Kirby is the same month and then DKC is a month later.  It isn't like Wii Party gets the big Christmas slot and there is nothing else around and if you don't get it you're shit out of luck for months.

The release schedule looks like Nintendo acknowledges that there are two different audiences here that may not be interested in the same game so you can get Wii Party or DKC Returns or both if you want.  But the important thing is there is something new regardless of which audience you belong to.

My concern with targetting non-gamers was that the non-games would spread Nintendo's resources thin and it would create gaps in the release schedule with Nintendo releasing a non-game in a core game's slot.  I feel at times that has happened.  But this time it isn't.  This is how it should work.  I can take the non-game, pretend it doesn't exist, and the release schedule appears unaffected.

Quote from: Ian

I think Nintendo learned from Wii Music.  Wii Party's release is such that if you were not interested in it you're still fine.  Kirby is the same month and then DKC is a month later.  It isn't like Wii Party gets the big Christmas slot and there is nothing else around and if you don't get it you're shit out of luck for months.

The release schedule looks like Nintendo acknowledges that there are two different audiences here that may not be interested in the same game so you can get Wii Party or DKC Returns or both if you want.  But the important thing is there is something new regardless of which audience you belong to.

My concern with targetting non-gamers was that the non-games would spread Nintendo's resources thin and it would create gaps in the release schedule with Nintendo releasing a non-game in a core game's slot.  I feel at times that has happened.  But this time it isn't.  This is how it should work.  I can take the non-game, pretend it doesn't exist, and the release schedule appears unaffected.

This idea, however appropriate, also works completely against Nintendo's own "take as much time as is needed" approach to game development. Something was inevitably due for release last year and got pushed back in the cycle causing the big hole and they had to get their PR bods to "elevate" Wii Music to "everyone will like it status".

Cultural requirements must meet business demands somewhere otherwise we wind up with last years holiday season. The test really is to see what happens NEXT christmas, as the games that started development in that lull period last year should release around then - if they don't then they haven't learned anything at all.

Nintendo is just unloading onto November.

Wow, wallet apocalypse confirmed.

Quote from: Plugabugz

Quote from: Ian

I think Nintendo learned from Wii Music.  Wii Party's release is such that if you were not interested in it you're still fine.  Kirby is the same month and then DKC is a month later.  It isn't like Wii Party gets the big Christmas slot and there is nothing else around and if you don't get it you're **** out of luck for months.

The release schedule looks like Nintendo acknowledges that there are two different audiences here that may not be interested in the same game so you can get Wii Party or DKC Returns or both if you want.  But the important thing is there is something new regardless of which audience you belong to.

My concern with targetting non-gamers was that the non-games would spread Nintendo's resources thin and it would create gaps in the release schedule with Nintendo releasing a non-game in a core game's slot.  I feel at times that has happened.  But this time it isn't.  This is how it should work.  I can take the non-game, pretend it doesn't exist, and the release schedule appears unaffected.

This idea, however appropriate, also works completely against Nintendo's own "take as much time as is needed" approach to game development. Something was inevitably due for release last year and got pushed back in the cycle causing the big hole and they had to get their PR bods to "elevate" Wii Music to "everyone will like it status".

Cultural requirements must meet business demands somewhere otherwise we wind up with last years holiday season. The test really is to see what happens NEXT christmas, as the games that started development in that lull period last year should release around then - if they don't then they haven't learned anything at all.

I hope you're meaning two years ago.  Last Holiday was a smashing success with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. 2008 was the one with Wii Music and Animal Crossing.

For easier reading

Nintendo (Wii)
Metroid Other M - August 31
Samurai Warriors 3 - September 27
Wii Party - October 3
Kirby's Epic Yarn - October 17
PokePark Wii - November 1
FlingSmash - November 7
Donkey Kong Country Returns - Nov 21

3rd Parties (Wii)
New Carnival Games - September 21
NBA Jam - October 5
Just Dance 2 - October 12
Goldeneye 007 - November
Sonic Colors - November 16
Epic Mickey - Undated, "holiday season"

Nintendo (DS)
Professor Layton 3 - September 12
Pokemon Ranger 3 - October 4
Art Academy - October 25
Mario vs Donkey Kong 4 - November 14

3rd Parties (DS)
Super Scribblenauts - October
Final Fantasy: The Four Heroes of Light - October 5
Rock Band 3 - October 29

WiiWare
And Yet It Moves - August 23
BIT.TRIP FATE - Fall
Super Meat Boy - Holidays

DSiWare
Need for Speed Nitro-X - September 20
Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Holidays

The lack of a solid release date on Epic Mickey concerns me.  I have a bad feeling that game's not going to make it before Christmas.  As for the rest of the lineup, I might pick up Donkey Kong Country Returns in November but that's about it for me.  Nice to see some digital games given approximate release dates.

No Golden Sun!!!!

Where the hell is La-Mulana? I thought that WiiWare game was supposed to be out in June.

Quote from: OneTwenty

Where the hell is La-Mulana? I thought that WiiWare game was supposed to be out in June.

Nicalis is doing it. Remember how long Cave Story took?

It'll be worth it when we get it, but I'll just bide my time until it actually hits the Shop Channel.

Quote from: Deguello

Quote from: Plugabugz

Quote from: Ian

I think Nintendo learned from Wii Music.  Wii Party's release is such that if you were not interested in it you're still fine.  Kirby is the same month and then DKC is a month later.  It isn't like Wii Party gets the big Christmas slot and there is nothing else around and if you don't get it you're **** out of luck for months.

The release schedule looks like Nintendo acknowledges that there are two different audiences here that may not be interested in the same game so you can get Wii Party or DKC Returns or both if you want.  But the important thing is there is something new regardless of which audience you belong to.

My concern with targetting non-gamers was that the non-games would spread Nintendo's resources thin and it would create gaps in the release schedule with Nintendo releasing a non-game in a core game's slot.  I feel at times that has happened.  But this time it isn't.  This is how it should work.  I can take the non-game, pretend it doesn't exist, and the release schedule appears unaffected.

This idea, however appropriate, also works completely against Nintendo's own "take as much time as is needed" approach to game development. Something was inevitably due for release last year and got pushed back in the cycle causing the big hole and they had to get their PR bods to "elevate" Wii Music to "everyone will like it status".

Cultural requirements must meet business demands somewhere otherwise we wind up with last years holiday season. The test really is to see what happens NEXT christmas, as the games that started development in that lull period last year should release around then - if they don't then they haven't learned anything at all.

I hope you're meaning two years ago.  Last Holiday was a smashing success with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. 2008 was the one with Wii Music and Animal Crossing.

Oops. It was the year before. Looks like my theory has been safely debunked.

We have a date for FlingSmash, but is there an official price for it yet?

I'm jealous of Kirby's slot in this release schedule. We in the UK will be waiting for it in the New Year, sadly.
All in all, you guys in North America should be pretty pleased with what's on offer over the next few months. There's three franchise big hitters on Wii and some potential in the third party line-up. The DS list seems to be missing a few notable titles though - Golden Sun, Ghost Trick and Monster's Tale, all supposedly slated for 2010, spring to mind.

Quote from: NWR_Neal


Nicalis is doing it. Remember how long Cave Story took?

It'll be worth it when we get it, but I'll just bide my time until it actually hits the Shop Channel.

Too true, Neal. I suppose I could pass the time by downloading Cosmonaut Games' Icarian: Kindred Spirits or Dive: The Medes Island Secret.

I thought FlingSmash was being reworked as a WiiWare title? Or is that how it started? So confusing.

Epic Mickey should be delayed. They need to work on that game's visual presentation.

Good point on Golden Sun. That one seemed to be a lock for this fall. Could still jump out in December.

Cosmonaut didn't make Icarian: Kindred Spirits (also known as NyxQuest).

Quote from: Jonnyboy117

I thought FlingSmash was being reworked as a WiiWare title? Or is that how it started? So confusing.

Epic Mickey should be delayed. They need to work on that game's visual presentation.

Good point on Golden Sun. That one seemed to be a lock for this fall. Could still jump out in December.

Cosmonaut didn't make Icarian: Kindred Spirits (also known as NyxQuest).

A Nintendo exec said back during GDC that FlingSmash was always going to be a retail release because it was too big to fit within the 40MB filesize of WiiWare.

Also, "Icarian: Kindred Spirits" was the old name of the game. They changed it while in development, but I am sure you knew that. One Twenty, NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits was developed and published by Over The Top Games.

Yup. The link between NyxQuest (Over the Top) and Dive (Cosmonaut) is that the two games share the same engine, which is honestly pretty obvious if you've played them both.

So here's my shopping list for the year:

Nintendo (Wii)
Metroid Other M - August 31
Kirby's Epic Yarn - October 17
Donkey Kong Country Returns - Nov 21

3rd Parties (Wii)
NBA Jam - October 5 (used/$20 new)
Goldeneye 007 - November
Epic Mickey - Undated, "holiday season"

Nintendo (DS)
Art Academy - October 25

3rd Parties (DS)
Super Scribblenauts - October
Final Fantasy: The Four Heroes of Light - October 5

WiiWare
BIT.TRIP FATE - Fall

Eep. Maybe it's for the best that Golden Sun's not on the list.

Quote from: NWR_Neal
No Golden Sun!!!!

Oh man, I completely forgot about this game. It's like Nintendo doesn't want me to know that it's not coming out yet...

I was reading the press release at work and I noticed the lack of Golden Sun.  I think the expletive I let out may have been audible to those around me.

FYI, I believe it was released as Icarian: Kindred Spirits in some other territories.

Over the Top developed the engine and game for NyxQuest. Then, Cosmonaut used the engine for Dive and OtT helped out with the development, most likely helping Cosmonaut with the engine.

Quote from: insanolord

We have a date for FlingSmash, but is there an official price for it yet?

I think I saw a $30 or $40 MSRP.

Quote from: NWR_Neal

FYI, I believe it was released as Icarian: Kindred Spirits in some other territories.

Possibly, but North America/Europe/Japan each use the NyxQuest name. I would be shocked if they kept the old name in places like Africa and South America.

Hahaha, well the bottom line is that I simply forgot that Icarian: Kindred Spirits' name had been changed to NyxQuest. And I knew it and Dive: The Medes Island Secret were somehow related, I just made the assumption that they were both developed by the same studio. Thanks for helping to clear all that up.

I haven't seen such a flood of first-party titles that generally seem promising all bunched together in quite some time. Nintendo seems to be riding their momentum from E3 quite well.