Nintendo E3 2014 - "Press Conference" - Post Show Discussion - #E32014

[Bolivar]

Man it's sad how hard 2015 dominated this E3 and Nintendo got hit the worst. They showed the fewest games and almost none of them are coming out this year.

The other two manufacturers both detailed robust relationships with indies and third parties so I was surprised that Nintendo had neither. I understand that's not "why people buy Nintendo consoles" but it is why more people buy Xbox Ones and PS4s instead.

I'm disappointed they stuck to the familiar faces with first party. Their show was very similar to Microsoft's in that way, that you would be excited if you're a longtime fan of their brand. But unlike Microsoft they didn't have anything new or ambitious like Project Spark and no third party or indie support to fill in the release schedule gaps.

This is only my personal take, I don't call doom for Nintendo, as they have enough money to weather numerous console generation droughts. No one can doubt they still make awesome games. It's just my experience with the 3DS convinced me Nintendo has stagnated too much for my tastes, so a conference like this is a step away from what I was hoping. I still raise a glass to you guys, standing on the platform as your hype train pulls away,

[NeoCracker]

The Eshop highlight real for 2014!

Games listed
Affordable Space Adventures (WiiU)
Thorium Wars: Attack of the Skyfighter (3DS)
Chariot (WiiU)
Ace Attorney Trilogy (3DS)
Swords and Soldiers 2 (WiiU)
Shovel Knight 2 (WiiU/3DS)
Stealth Inc 2 (WiiU)
6180 the moon (WiiU)
A.N.N.E (WiiU)
Armillo (WiiU)
Starwhal: Just the Tip (WiiU)
Cubemen 2 (WiiU)
Moon Chronicles ep. 2 (3DS)
One Piece Unlimited World Red (WiiU/3DS)
Pier Solar and the Great Architects (WiiU)*
Tappingo 2 (3DS)
WoahDave! (3DS)
Nihilumbra (WiiU)*
Gunman Clive 2 (3DS)
Tengami (WiiU)
Shantae and the Pirates Curse (3DS)
Wooden Sen'Sey (WiiU)
Siesta Fiesta (3DS)
Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL World Duel Carnival (3DS)
Blast em' Bunnies (3DS)
Chromophore: The Two Brothers Directors Cut (WiiU)
Citizens of Earth (WiiU/3DS)*
Teslagrad (WiiU)
Guacebelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition (WiiU)

Of those, Citizens of Earth I've already been aware of and am looking forward too, and I'm interested in both Pier Solar and the Great Architects and Nihilumbr.

Edit: @Bolivar: Yeah, it was mostly first party, but the Eshop at the very least is seeing a wealth of content this year, that entire list was what is to expect on that front for just 2014, and then there are DW guys brought in to work on Hyrule Warriors, giving us something completely different then what we expect from Zelda, while still incorporating Zelda Aspects into the DW mix.

I really don't see how you saw a bad conference here, it pretty much gave the WiiU everything it needed to this E3.

[Del Murder]

New Zelda looks great. I was half hoping to see Zelda under the cloak after he threw it off but oh well. Wouldn't it be cool to have a full Zelda game actually starring the titular character?

I'd like to see more of Xenoblade Chronicles X but if it's anything like XC then it will be great.

Yoshi's Wooly World looks super cute! And fun too. Maybe it will be a Yoshi game to finally compete with Yoshi's Island.

A Toad game? Awesome! Another cute one.

[Skyblade]

Edit: @Bolivar: Yeah, it was mostly first party, but the Eshop at the very least is seeing a wealth of content this year, that entire list was what is to expect on that front for just 2014, and then there are DW guys brought in to work on Hyrule Warriors, giving us something completely different then what we expect from Zelda, while still incorporating Zelda Aspects into the DW mix.

I really don't see how you saw a bad conference here, it pretty much gave the WiiU everything it needed to this E3.

Bolivar thinks the 3DS lineup indicates stagnant game design. He's clearly off his rocker, as I can list dozens of true innovations among each of the top games (no offense meant, buddy ).

I get the feeling that Bolivar now only cares about indie support, and doesn't value primary developer contributions at all.

Not that there's anything wrong with that perspective, but it doesn't match my view. Or, apparently, that of most gamers/customers.

[Sephex]

I am very impressed with most of what I have seen from Nintendo so far. They are going to raid my wallet in the coming months.

[NeoCracker]

Yoshi's Wooly Yarn
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Legend of Zelda
Splatoon
Captain Toads Treasure Tracker
Mario Party 10
Fantasy Life

All the Nintendo games I am going to be pre-ordering now.

Plus the two EShop titles I can't pre-order like Citizens of Earth and Pier Solar and the Great Architects. Four of the Pre-orders and one of the E-Shops I didn't know anything about, so that's five games Nintendo sold me on this morning.

[Dat Matt]

Edit: @Bolivar: Yeah, it was mostly first party, but the Eshop at the very least is seeing a wealth of content this year, that entire list was what is to expect on that front for just 2014, and then there are DW guys brought in to work on Hyrule Warriors, giving us something completely different then what we expect from Zelda, while still incorporating Zelda Aspects into the DW mix.

I really don't see how you saw a bad conference here, it pretty much gave the WiiU everything it needed to this E3.

Bolivar thinks the 3DS lineup indicates stagnant game design. He's clearly off his rocker, as I can list dozens of true innovations among each of the top games (no offense meant, buddy ).

I get the feeling that Bolivar now only cares about indie support, and doesn't value primary developer contributions at all.

Not that there's anything wrong with that perspective, but it doesn't match my view. Or, apparently, that of most gamers/customers.

There is a discussion going on at #EoFF around the new games. There has been some resistance to the Nintendo's lineup as they are only putting out sequels. While I see what they are meaning, I disagree. Most of the games in this lineup are either new approaches to old games (Yarn Yoshi, Hyrule Warriors etc) or are new titles/sequels to new franchises (Splatoon, Bayonetta 2, Xenobalde etc).

It's better than for example Microsoft that unveiled thinks like Halo HD, Gears 4, Forza 2. I know there was more things on the Microsoft panel, but these were not exclusive titles (Assassins creed, Battlefield, COD etc)

Nintendo may have a bad record of sticking to their franchises, but this time round they are evolving their franchises. A link between worlds is a great example of how a series evolves for new systems.

[Ayen]

There is a discussion going on at #EoFF around the new games. There has been some resistance to the Nintendo's lineup as they are only putting out sequels.

And that's why I don't go on #EoFF.

[Bolivar]

Edit: @Bolivar: Yeah, it was mostly first party, but the Eshop at the very least is seeing a wealth of content this year, that entire list was what is to expect on that front for just 2014, and then there are DW guys brought in to work on Hyrule Warriors, giving us something completely different then what we expect from Zelda, while still incorporating Zelda Aspects into the DW mix.

I really don't see how you saw a bad conference here, it pretty much gave the WiiU everything it needed to this E3.

Bolivar thinks the 3DS lineup indicates stagnant game design. He's clearly off his rocker, as I can list dozens of true innovations among each of the top games (no offense meant, buddy ).

I get the feeling that Bolivar now only cares about indie support, and doesn't value primary developer contributions at all.

Not that there's anything wrong with that perspective, but it doesn't match my view. Or, apparently, that of most gamers/customers.

It's not game design, although, sure, those games are getting shorter and easier, with their gameplay recycling mechanics more than anything else. There's nothing wrong with that except those franchises are old; it's hard to get excited for more Mario and Zelda when the remakes are better than the newer games coming out.

Which I tried to highlight is only my opinion. I never argued it wasn't an awesome conference for Skyblade and Neocracker tastes. If you want to argue that's the majority of customers, though, I guess the next few NPD reports will tell us who's really "off their rocker."

[NeoCracker]

Zelda may have been sticking with the same basic formula, but it has always added quite a bit to each game to shake things up. Ocorina brought the old style into a 3D world, Majora's Mask added in the various mask transformations and abilities, Wind Waker had it's expansive world and sailing Ideas, Twilight Princess added in the Wolf Form, Sword Tricks, as well as improved Horse based combat, and I can't comment on Skyward Sword as I've not played it.

This isn't getting into the handhelds of Zelda either.

Not to mention Mario games have had a huge variety of varience over the years as well, I don't think I've ever scene a company do so much with a single IP as Nintendo does with Mario.

So I really don't get where you, or people in general, get the Idea these two IP's are just a bunch of recycled Mechanics. (That said, I don't think I've enjoyed a single player Mario game since the N64 days. )

Also quite a few non Mario and Zelda Titles announced, such as Bayonetta 2 getting a date, as well as Xenoblade Chronicals X getting a date and some real information, (Though that is all next year), and the long list of Indies revealed I posted, many of which do include games from indie developers.

They led with their big guns, and gave us a lot more for those looking for something other then their main IP's. And since they did name quite a few games coming out this year they announced, and not just the EShop list (All of which is suppose to be this year).

Not saying that you should be hyped, just pointing out your points of 'no third party or indie support', '2015 heavy', and 'just recycled mechanics' are all kind of silly things.

[Depression Moon]

I understand definitely where people are coming from in regards to Zelda. When people are talking about recycled, they're talking the game's pacing, the dungeons, the world, the environment. Out of the ones I've played the structure of how the game progresses is always the same. The transformation masks in Majora's Mask are just a gimmick in the whole picture. They don't really change how you progress. Majora's Mask out of the old ones seemed to be the most free one, but you still had to tackle each dungeon in order because it required certain items to even get near the dungeon and you have to get those said items in order from those dungeons.

The dungeons in the games had become predictable to me. Whenever you get a new item in it you know that's what you're going to use to take out the boss. I also found money utterly meaningless in the Zelda games you can get practically everything you need for free in the games. You may actually need to use it once throughout the whole game.

A Link Between Worlds is acclaimed because it changes the pacing and exploration up. You can go anywhere from the jump, money is actually important, and I'm not sure about dungeon layouts and boss encounters, but at least you can complete them in any order you want to now.

[Freya]

All you Zelda Nay sayers are no longer my friends

[Aulayna]

Watching the Smash Invitiational right now. Good stuff.

[Bolivar]

Not saying that you should be hyped, just pointing out your points of 'no third party or indie support', '2015 heavy', and 'just recycled mechanics' are all kind of silly things.

Well, I'm not saying you shouldn't be hyped, just posting my two cents in a thread. If you want to argue in favor of their third party support, though, feel free to fall on your sword on that one. That's certainly a long list of eShop titles but that doesn't stack up anywhere near the efforts Microsoft, Sony, and Valve have been making to partner and promote the best and brightest indies. Maybe you truly feel Siesta Fiesta and Blast 'Em Bunnies will stack up to the No Man's Sky, the Devolver Digital games or Paradox Interactive titles; that's certainly your prerogative. As far as disputing their recycled mechanics, I just can't follow you down that road, dude, nor is it what I took issue with in my reply to Sky.

Regardless, I still think anyone with a Wii U or a 3DS has a lot to look forward to.

[Freya]

I hyped myself again. I was hyped with just the news but I watched the Zelda stuff. I"m more hyped.