Nintendo on Monday officially unveiled the SNES Classic, confirming a rumor that began circulating earlier this morning. You better start preparing now, because this thing is going to be a very hot commodity when it launches in September.
Many of Nintendo’s classics are accounted for, including Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Punch-Out!!, and F-ZERO. And, surprisingly, the mini console will also include an unreleased sequel to Star Fox, Star Fox 2.
Soon after the NES Classic was introduced last year, many Nintendo fans immediately begged the Japanese company to release a version for the SNES. Now, our dreams have come true. In all, the SNES Classic will feature 21 games and come with two controllers out of the box.
Technical details a still scarce, so we’re not sure how long the controller cables are. And, sadly, they’re still not wireless, which means this is very much an old-school console experience. Now, just in mini form with some of your SNES favorites.
If you’ve never experienced the joys of the Super Nintendo, you’re in for a treat. For how exciting the Nintendo Switch is, the nostalgia factor will no doubt make the SNES Classic one of this year’s most sought after products. Hopefully, Nintendo can keep up with demand, because it’ll likely be even higher than what we saw from the NES Classic last year.
The SNES Classic will launch on September 29 for $79.99.
Nintendoand the Switch are flying right in the faces of the trends that theXboxOne X andPlayStation4 Pro are trying to set in thegamingworld. At a sacrifice of power and performance,Nintendo, as usual, is aiming for the largest audience with the most widely appealing games.
The Nintendo mission is to reach as many consumers as possible and to have them engage and have fun with our [intellectual property]. That’s what we try and do. So inherently, we go for a more mainstream audience. Inherently, we want our products to be affordable. We want our products to be easy to pick up and experience, low learning curve. We want our IP to shine as we deliver these experiences.
That’s the way we approach it. And so, what that means is, a sweet spot of $300 for the Nintendo Switch, a platform that has Mario and Zelda and Splatoon. Going against a more limited consumer pool, a higher price point, requiring investments in other ways — 4K TVs, what have you — that is a strategy that for us, candidly, is a bit too limited.
In other words, cheaper technology at a lower price for a larger audience. That’s about as typical as a Nintendo strategy gets, and it resonates with every other piece of hardware it has made over the last forty-some-odd years.
The company is also willing to share its viewership data with Hollywood.
Facebook Inc is in talks with Hollywood studios about producing scripted, TV-quality shows, with an aim of launching original programming by late summer, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.
The social networking giant has indicated that it was willing to commit to production budgets as high as $3 million per episode, in meetings with Hollywood talent agencies, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Facebook is hoping to target audiences from ages 13 to 34, with a focus on the 17 to 30 range. The company has already lined up "Strangers", a relationship drama, and a game show, "Last State Standing", the report said.
Facebook could not be immediately reached for comment.
The company is expected to release episodes in a traditional manner, instead of dropping an entire season in one go like Netflix Inc and Amazon.com Inc, WSJ reported.
The company is also willing to share its viewership data with Hollywood, the report said.
Apple Inc hired co-presidents of Sony Pictures Television, Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, earlier this month, to lead its video-programming efforts.
Apple began its long-awaited move into original television series last week, with a reality show called "Planet of the Apps", an unscripted show about developers trying to interest celebrity mentors with a 60-second pitch on an escalator.
The company's future programming plans include an adaptation of comedian James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke" segment from his CBS Corp show that will begin airing in August.
You can have whatever opinions you want about the quality of Final Fantasy XV, none can debate that it’s the not most outlandish and gutsiest major release over the last ten years. With the basic package, we were given a janky game that is far weirder than it is good, and yet, it still managed to resonate through its murky and rushed creative decisions.
The first DLC expansion, which starred strong man Gladiolus, was met with middling reception since it felt a little safe and dull for a game of such absurd reputation. Square Enix, looking to quell these complaints, is now turning to Prompto’s DLC pack for the craziest use of Final Fantasy XV yet!
Prompto goes full-on Inception here, Bazookas, snowmobiles, sniper rifles, third-person shooting, Magitek armor, Behemoths, daddy issues, and of course, Prompto’s call to fame: selfies!
Can Persona 5do this?
I’ve seen a festering rivalry between the Final Fantasy XV andPersona 5 crowd, and while I’m not prepared or even going to join either one of them, I still have some observations to make. The general consensus is that Persona 5 is a much better video game. I wouldn’t know because I haven’t played it yet.
However, the Final Fantasy XV crowd stands by its game because it is unapologetic in its wackiness, and despite Persona 5’s incredibly liberal interpretation of the series’ lore, even it can’t stand up to the likes of this.
Seems like a fun balance to me. I only wish I had 90 hours to see if it were all true.
Final Fantasy XV’s Prompto DLC will launch June 27 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The sale comes just before the government is scheduled to roll out new indirect tax regime- The Goods and Service Tax. While Amazon terms it end of season sale, it is believed that the company is planning to sell its stocked products before GST kicks..
Mumbai, June 20:To sell off a lot of its existing inventory before GST is rolled out on July 1, e-commerce giant Amazon India is all set to open 12 temporary stores in metro cities across the nation. In a bid to popularise its fashion sale event coming up this weekend, Amazon India will open 12 stores in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru and Mumbai. With this, customers can now get the look and feel of the product and can try them which is otherwise not possible on Amazon.
The sale comes just before the government is scheduled to roll out new indirect tax regime- The Goods and Service Tax. While Amazonterms it end of season sale, it is believed that the company is planning to sell its stocked products before GST kicks. With GST, the taxation structure would change along with the change of prices on products. Arun Sirdeshmukh, head of Amazon’s fashion business, was quoted by TOI saying that the e-commerce firm has tied up with the biggest tech parks in the country. “These will act as activation and promotion for our sale. For our young consumers at these parks, this will be a good opportunity to step out and experience fashion at physical outlets”, Arun added.
To woo customers with deals and big discounts, the US retailer will offer 50-80% discount on 3 lakh units across 1,500 brands. The e-commerce giant will also come up with lucrative discounts, gifts and cashbacks. The end of season sale by Amazon India comes in close heels with similar sales from Jabong and Myntra, which are Amazon’s rival Flipkart’s fashion subsidiaries.
In the last month, Amazon had announced its Great Indian Salewhere the retailer offered up to 50% off on Mobile & Accessories and Electronic gadgets while 40% – 80% off on Fashion products and Up to 70% off on Home and Kitchen appliances. Amazon India became the second largest online marketplace in the country in last few months after moving ahead of Snapdeal and has emerged as the fastest growing players in India among top horizontals.
Published Date: June 20, 2017 5:07 PM IST | Updated Date: June 20, 2017 5:08 PM IST
That avatar you like is coming back in style soon. This fall, in fact, as Microsoft is looking to bring back its Xbox Live avatars with a whole new look and variety of new options. These avatars took a back seat with the release of the Xbox One and its Kinect-focused interface, but we’ll soon be seeing them again. This time, though, Microsoft is going for a far more inclusive feel that should let you make yourself into an avatar regardless of what you look like or wish you looked like.
Avatars offer things like vehicles – includingwheelchairs– as well as prosthetic limbs, and they don’t force cosmetic items onto any one gender. The avatars of the previous generation worked for many of us, but quite a few gamers were left in the cold when they felt like they couldn’t make themselves appear in this digital mirror.
Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have been trying to get us to connect personally with their consoles and online infrastructures for years so that the idea of switching platforms will become distasteful. The more of an identity we establish on a platform, the harder it is to move away from it. Achievements, gamertags, and even gamer portraits are all ways to do this. Each company tried an avatar-based system as well, to varying effect. Sony’s Home application was perhaps the most interactive but least popular of the various options, and Home has since been decommissioned. Nintendo’s Miis are the most iconic, and people were getting pretty creative with them. The company tried to revive them with the Miitomo social networking app, but they seem to have fallen away.
Microsoft’s avatars were, for the most part, a way to see yourself and your friends on your dashboard. They popped up in a couple games, but never saw a huge amount of use. Their prominence in the Xbox 360 dashboard, however, ensured that they were always front and center. Games often offered avatar items as achievement rewards, and licensed items from properties like Star Wars and Voltron were popular, at least on my dashboard. I’m looking forward to seeing avatars come back, though I’m not sure how they’ll fit into Microsoft’s optimized Xbox One interface.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a new Xbox One interface this fall when the Xbox One X launches, with these avatars taking a higher profile role.
As we continue to develop Clash of Clans, we will be releasing updates, features, balance changes, and new content for both the Builder Base and the Town Hall. While we are proud of our accomplishments with the Builder Base, rest assured we are not forgetting about the Town Hall – in fact this update is primarily focused on your Town Hall (although there is a much requested feature for the Builder Base listed at the end!). So check out what we have in store for your Town Hall below!
New Defensive content updates
NEW: Cannon level 15 (TH11)
Cannon levels 10-14 upgrade time or cost has been discounted
NEW: Archer Tower level 15 (TH11)
Archer Tower levels 9-14 upgrade time or cost has been discounted
NEW: Inferno Tower level 5 (TH11)
Inferno Tower levels 2-4 upgrade time or cost has been discounted Inferno Tower level 4 multi-mode damage has been increased Inferno Tower single-mode 1st stage damage has been changed to match multi-mode damage
New Offensive content updates
Conversely, we have also added additional levels along with balance updates to the following Troops to ensure additional offensive power is available as well.
NEW: P.E.K.K.A. level 6 (TH11)
P.E.K.K.A. upgrade time or costs have been discounted across ALL levels
NEW: Wizard level 8 (TH11)
Wizard levels 6-7 upgrade time or costs have been discounted
NEW: Healer level 5 (TH11)
At last, the long-awaited new Healer level is here!
NEW: Miner level 5 (TH11)
Miner upgrade time or costs have been discounted across ALL levels Miner level 3 is now available at Town Hall 10 (was at TH11) Miner levels 2-5 hitpoints have been increased
NEW: Wall Breaker level 7 (TH11)
Wall Breaker upgrade time or costs have been discounted across ALL levels
Dragon levels 4-6 hitpoints have been increased
Hog Rider levels 6-7 hitpoints have been increased
Builder Base
NEW: Watch Live!
We have heard your requests and we agreed it was a feature much needed! Similar to the Live Replay function in the Town Hall, if you complete your Builder Base attack before your opponent, you can now watch your opponent’s attack and see how well your Builder Base defenses perform.
That’s all for now, Chief! But rest assured we are still working on new stuff for both your Town Hall and Builder Base. So stay tuned as we continue to develop more exciting content!
Dreamcast games seem like a mighty fine fit on the Nintendo Switch. While Sony was scarfing up RPGs and single player experiences in 1999, SEGA began scrounging up arcade action and multiplayer games left and right, making its beloved yet short-lived console a bastion for those who love both local and online multiplayer. It’s these games which would have the best chance of thriving on the Nintendo Switch thanks to its unique multiplayer capabilities. Play them online, play them with a friend in your house, play them with your friends’ Switches for a good old fashioned LAN party.
As brethren in the “mid-generation” console gang, the Nintendo Switch and the Dreamcast go hand in hand. Here’s what we would like to see make its way to the Nintendo Switch over the coming years.
The most obvious selection of the bunch. SEGA’s skating and vandalism game still resonates today with its fans, and its rebellious nature could thrive easily in a video game industry that is defined by big titles demanding conformity and colorful indie games inspiring all sorts of wacky ideas. Jet Set Radio falls into the later, and with a few tweaks to its multiplayer capabilities and graphical output, it could find a solid home on the Switch.
Its soundtrack alone is enough to be worthy of a comeback. Jet Set Radio is a game that dared to be different, and that’s a theme that matches with the Switch’s ambition of flying in the face of the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.
While SoulCalibur remains the defining “best” fighting game on the SEGA Dreamcast, Power Stone is a better choice for a Nintendo Switch port. If we were to get a SoulCalibur build, it would most likely be the remastered HD version, which fans believe misses the point and falls way short of the masterpiece original.
No question, Power Stone is the better choice. It supports up to four players and had endless possibilities for a night of good times. It’s a game that won’t be overshadowed by the barrage of excellent 2D fighting games from the SNK catalog thanks to its unique overhead perspective on combat, and it somewhat falls into the same category as Super Smash Brothers in the amount of mayhem it allows.
Both the original and its sequel came to the PSP in fine fashion, but the problem is not many gamers, in North America at least where Monster Hunter hadn’t caught on yet, played their PSP with multiplayer in mind. The re-release flopped and Capcom is not likely to ever look at it again. That’s a shame because Power Stone is exactly the kind of game that would thrive on the Nintendo Switch.
Here’s a game that I will love until the end of my days, no matter how dead and buried below the ground it currently lies. Phantasy Star Online is very much a product of its time. It’s an early online console RPG that blends action and dungeon crawling with the raids you see in most modern MMORPGs. The difference, aside from SEGA’s pristine and classic presentation, is that this game came out before online gaming became a mainstay of the gaming world.
Those who gamed on it during the Dreamcast and even the GameCube eras got a look at how civil and friendly an online community could be. Advanced gamers would drop rare items just because they had no use for them, not demanding any money or trades in return, and everyone just seemed to get along. Phantasy Star Online felt like more like a game and less like a second job like most online MOBAs and MMORPGs have become these days. No clans, no teams, no in-game economy, no vile competition. It was the nicest, tightest online community you’ll ever find.
Probably because players couldn’t talk to each other and could only communicate through emojis.
SEGA is not likely to ever put this officially online again, but with a group of friends huddled around four Switches, it could be an excellent LAN game for old time’s sake.
Tough call here between Ikaruga and Crazy Taxi, but Ikaruga’s native multiplayer is the deal breaker. This game is a masterpiece of its genre, and fans hold it in the highest of regards. Ikaruga is often referred to as a thinking man’s SHMUP, as in it relies more on your ability to strategize and react to tight situations with your color swap ability rather than your tight reflexes.
Plus, I remember when the game came to the GameCube that players all tried to turn their televisions on their sides. This is because we weren’t yet used to vertical shooters in the Western world. Now, with the flip of your Nintendo Switch, the dream is entirely possible! It’s so easy to just turn the thing, much easier than turning a 60-inch television vertically, that’s for sure.
As IGN so eloquently put it so many years ago “our FROTHING DEMAND for this game INCREASES.” Well, as much as we like to poke fun, even in 2017, that statement has never been truer thanks to the Switch.
Not every game we’d play on the Nintendo Switch has to be arcade action or a multiplayer extravaganza. Skies of Arcadia is perhaps the most beloved of all the SEGA Dreamcast’s cult-hits, and it’s a JRPG! Let’s not forget that it is a very good one as well. I’m not going to call it a masterpiece like some will, but with the ability to play it in a boosted screen resolution and a few tweaks to its loading times and random battle encounters, it could be retooled into something much more fitted for the modern age.
Heck, why not take the Dragon Quest route and just do away with random encounters altogether. Fans wouldn’t mind one bit!
Sadly, the most accessible version of this game currently resides on the GameCube, but that only means it is automatically nominated for a Virtual Console port if Nintendo ever gets around to putting GameCube games on the Switch. Oh! Joyous day if that were ever to occur for Skies of Arcadia.
As expected, Square Enix didn’t bring Dragon Quest XI to E3 2017, but that didn’t stop it from showing off a hilarious new trailer during the show’s duration. *HINTHINT!*
Now, Puff Puff is a code word that only Dragon Quest fans will understand. Nobody is quite sure what Puff Puff is exactly since the games always fade to black before the actual act occurs, but in the world of Dragon Quest, it involves a blindfold, a bunny girl, and a slime monster. Your imagination is left to take over the rest.
What, you thought these were JRPGs for kids? Think again, fools! This series is created by a man who has a love for all things seedy, especially gambling. This is why every Dragon Quest game has a casino.
Square Enix’s recent trailer stars Japanese actor and singer Takayuki Yamada as he waxes nostalgic about his youth with Dragon Quest and loses himself to Dragon Quest XI on a brilliant HD television screen. Indeed, in the trailer, he comes closer to learning what Puff Puff is than any other Dragon Quest fan in history.
Consider me a jealous man. I’m dying to know!
Dragon Quest XI will be released for the Nintendo 3Ds and PlayStation 4 in Japan on July 29. A Nintendo Switch version is also in development. No localization news has been confirmed… yet.
To conclude its E3 2017 press conference,Sony showed off an extended look at Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man. After the action packed showing, Sony confirmed that the game would be released in 2018. No month or quarter was provided.
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknownshowed up at E3 2017,fresh off of its delay into 2018, with a brand new trailer that forgot one of the most important elements of the series; the planes!
Bandai Namco’s trailer this year is very plot heavy, dealing with those who work behind the scenes of the war rather than the fighter jets who partake in it from the skies.
Ace Combat has traditionally done a marvelous job setting up drama to give your dog fights much-needed context. The last game in the series to truly hit a home run was Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, which released nearly a decade and a half ago.
A few missteps over the years has left it up toAce Combat 7to get the series back up into the sky high expectations that fans have for the series. I wish I could say a plane the size of a football field soaring through the skies would be enough, but it’s really not. Ace Combat’stales are wonderfully anti-war and have sparked millions of imaginations over the years. Goofy, ironic fun is not enough to make Ace Combat 7 work.
Ace Combat 7: Unknown Skies will be released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2018.
During its E3 2017 press conference,Xbox confirmed both the price and release date of the recently unveiled Xbox One X console. The latest and the greatest of the Xbox One family will set gamers back $499 this coming November 7.
Piling onto its supremacy as the most retro friendly gaming company at the moment, Microsoft announced intentions to starting bringing original generation Xbox games to the Xbox One during its E3 2017 press conference.
The backwards compatibility list is about to grow with fan-favorites like Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, which Xbox boss Phil Spencer threw out there as an example.
Naturally, the crowd reacted with cheers and applause at the announcement since deep down, everyone loves old video games.
The only awkward moment came from Spencer when he thought to label these as “OG Games,” obviously short for “original generation.” Even Spencer seemed to irk a little at the name when he said it, and I think that label needs to disappear as quickly as possible. How gross.
Microsoft threw its weight behind Ubisoft during its E3 2017 presentation this year, giving a few minutes to the latest game in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. After leaking all week, Assassin’s Creed Origins is finally official, and as expected, it is taking us way back to ancient Egypt.
The series took a much-needed break over the last few years, but this latest game promises to bring the series back to the forefront of the video game world. Expect to see more at Ubisoft’s press conference later this week.
As we pointed out a few hours ago, Activision has recently revealed the full line-up of games that will be present at E3 2017. In a statement posted on the official blog, however, there is another interesting information. Activision during today shared an interesting statement, dedicated to the franchises of Crash Bandicoot. From what has been communicated by the company it shows that, despite Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is available for pre-order, they will have a special announcement on Crash during the upcoming E3 2017. The publisher clearly alerts gamers to keep their eyes open during the event at Los Angeles as there will be a “special announcement” on Crash. Note how the phrase refers specifically to the character, and not to the whole title of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Recall that recently Vicarious Visions has not ruled out the possibility of developing an entirely new title dedicated to the crazy marsupial. What will Activision have in store for us? Will it be a very important announcement? To find out, we still have to wait a few days.
