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Eurogamer: Nintendo Switch to get Pokémon Sun and Moon third version: Pokemon Stars

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So this must have connectivity with Sun and Moon, right? Like being able to trade and battle?

It would seem weird of Game Freak to release a single game on a system where everyone has the same avaialablity of Pokemon
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
Don't you think it would be key to have the January event be the beginning of strong momentum which is supported by Directs throughout the year and an excellent E3 showcase? If Nintendo announced absolutely EVERYTHING in January, and then showed up at E3 going, "nope, that's it, we have no more announcements for the whole year" that would instantly kill their vibes they had spent so long to build up. Bad move. It's important to time announcements and marketing strategically.

Even at their E3 this year they managed to have completely new announcements despite their anemic lineup. Inspiring consumer confidence is a long-term, continuous process.

On top of all that January is just not long enough after Sun and Moon's original release. I really can't see a situation where a third version is announced for the Switch on that short notice and doesn't create controversy. They're going to wait long enough so the announcement can come at just the right time when the "but I JUST bought that" period is over and people are legitimately interested in something new from the series.

If in the January event they will show just the launch games and the first 3 months or so the backfire will be spectacular.

Nintendo has to fight against an image that they made for themselves. Them going "Here are 6 games and we will show more games in the next Direct." will be immediately translated into "There will be droughts". I don't even want to imagine what the media titles would be if they do that.

I think you don't understand what expectations are set when you organise a live event like this. Just look at the lukewarm reception of the PS4 Pro event.
 
If in the January event they will show just the launch games and the first 3 months or so the backfire will be spectacular.

Nintendo has to fight against an image that they made for themselves. Them going "Here are 6 games and we will show more games in the next Direct." will be immediately translated into "There will be droughts". I don't even want to imagine what the media titles would be if they do that.

I think you don't understand what expectations are set when you organise a live event like this. Just look at the lukewarm reception of the PS4 Pro event.

I don't think not showing Pokemon is the same as only showing the first 3 months of games... Pokemon is in a weird position because it just came out 2 months prior to the event, yet makes a statement that you need to buy a Switch to get your typical Nintendo handheld games. So I can see it going either way.

But they do need to hold onto some big announcements, especially for E3. They've shown a reluctance to announce games that are too far out recently (barring Zelda of course) so I'd expect some big holiday games to be shown off at E3 2017. They can certainly show SOME holiday games at the January event (as well as 2018 games) but they can't show off literally everything now and have no new surprises throughout 2017.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
I don't think not showing Pokemon is the same as only showing the first 3 months of games... Pokemon is in a weird position because it just came out 2 months prior to the event, yet makes a statement that you need to buy a Switch to get your typical Nintendo handheld games. So I can see it going either way.

But they do need to hold onto some big announcements, especially for E3. They've shown a reluctance to announce games that are too far out recently (barring Zelda of course) so I'd expect some big holiday games to be shown off at E3 2017. They can certainly show SOME holiday games at the January event (as well as 2018 games) but they can't show off literally everything now and have no new surprises throughout 2017.

E3 is three months after Switch's launch. If holding games for E3 means not talking about the big Holidays 2017 hits, they will show just 3 months of Switch games plus some fill in. That's underselling your own console by a lot.

I don't understand this mentality, really. Is having big E3 surprises more important than the actual success of Switch? I mean, earlier this year E3 wasn't even important anymore for Nintendo going by a lot of people around here.

Edit: and I damn hope Nintendo has some big games coming in Q1 and Q2 2018 that can qualify as decent surprises for E3.
 

Dominator

Member
So this must have connectivity with Sun and Moon, right? Like being able to trade and battle?

It would seem weird of Game Freak to release a single game on a system where everyone has the same avaialablity of Pokemon
I doubt they will have the ability to trade and battle. The only thing I can think of is Pokemon Bank making its way to the Switch.
 

oti

Banned
I couldn't care less about E3 when it comes to Nintendo at this point. They should change the Nintendo Direct format instead.

One Direct announcing games coming out in the next 3 months, followed by a Direct for each game. One per month maybe? Make it an event, like the PS+ and GwG announcements. And add in some Ninja Directs to bring even more hype.
 
I don't think not showing Pokemon is the same as only showing the first 3 months of games... Pokemon is in a weird position because it just came out 2 months prior to the event, yet makes a statement that you need to buy a Switch to get your typical Nintendo handheld games. So I can see it going either way.

But they do need to hold onto some big announcements, especially for E3. They've shown a reluctance to announce games that are too far out recently (barring Zelda of course) so I'd expect some big holiday games to be shown off at E3 2017. They can certainly show SOME holiday games at the January event (as well as 2018 games) but they can't show off literally everything now and have no new surprises throughout 2017.

Nintendo will show everything that they can that is remotely ready for a public showing. They are trying to sell the system and what its future will look like in terms of games, they won't hide something big just for the sake of it or to save something for E3. If something becomes far enough along by the time E3 rolls around they will show it then, but they won't hold games back from the January presentation.
 

Mr-Joker

Banned
I think one big reason NoE is apparently in meltdown mode right now is the TPC. TPC must be super pissed right now. Like, super mega Z-move pissed.

As a salty European The Pokémon Company can suck it, they have always treated Europe as an afterthought and clearly don't care about their European customers.

And despite them delaying Sun and Moon release date to prevent the game from leaking the damn game got leaked regardless and it had nothing to do with Europe but yet we still have to wait an extra 5 days.

That's not the point. Ubisoft is not owned by Nintendo. Bethesda is not owned by Nintendo either. Nor EA. But all of them supposed to follow Nintendo's marketing schedule towards the big January event. I don't understand how you can have a Pokemon game launching in the first year of the console and not be at least announced at the big reveal event for that console. It's absurd.

You're forgetting one important factors about Pokémon, it's a global franchise meaning that when they announce a new game in the series it needs to be in sync with their merchandising such as toys, the animé, TCG, etc.

Which is why Nintendo lets The Pokémon Company and Game Freak march to the beat of their own drumbeat as it seems to be working and raking in the money for them.

Yes and TPC nda here in EU are pretty hard too

Not surprised, they hate Europe with a passion.

So this must have connectivity with Sun and Moon, right? Like being able to trade and battle?

It would seem weird of Game Freak to release a single game on a system where everyone has the same avaialablity of Pokemon

That's what I am wondering as well as Game Freak take great stride in ensuring connectivity within the same generation.

I doubt they will have the ability to trade and battle. The only thing I can think of is Pokemon Bank making its way to the Switch.

They wouldn't do that though, as they severed connection at the start of gen 3 due to hardware limitation but they didn't do this here and bank doesn't fix the problem of Sun and Moon players trading and battling with "Pokémon Star" players and would just result in splitting the fan base.

Perhaps the 3DS can connect with the Nintendo Switch so trading and battling is still possible.

So when is Pokemon Stars rumoured to come out Summer or next Christmas?

Roughly around this time next year.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
You're forgetting one important factors about Pokémon, it's a global franchise meaning that when they announce a new game in the series it needs to be in sync with their merchandising such as toys, the animé, TCG, etc.

Which is why Nintendo lets The Pokémon Company and Game Freak march to the beat of their own drumbeat as it seems to be working and raking in the money for them.

Is TPC owning a part of Nintendo or Nintendo owning a part of TPC? Is TPC's drumbeat more important than Nintendo's future?
 
They are not going to deliberately take out the legs of Sun and Moon less than two months after they launch, no matter what.

Nintendo's going to be looking to have a strong salvo of announcements in January, but a Stars announcement makes absolutely no sense, for them or for TPCi.
 

Waji

Member
I'm sure we'll see 2018 games (at least one or 2 big projects) on January.
I don't think announcing a game is always the only thing that matters.
The way it's advertised is too.

They could use 95% of their surprise for January without it being a problem for E3.
I remember how people didn't care at all for Mario 3D world when announced, but got some far bigger hype when a new bigger trailer came out months after.

January has to show the future, that's how Nintendo will spread the message :
"This time it's going to be different, prepare yourself, because we are prepared".

Going with : "Hey, here's the line up and oh ! One surprise !" is not enough.

Though I have no idea if pokemon would be part of the show.
 
If in the January event they will show just the launch games and the first 3 months or so the backfire will be spectacular.

Nintendo has to fight against an image that they made for themselves. Them going "Here are 6 games and we will show more games in the next Direct." will be immediately translated into "There will be droughts". I don't even want to imagine what the media titles would be if they do that.

I think you don't understand what expectations are set when you organise a live event like this. Just look at the lukewarm reception of the PS4 Pro event.

Did I say they should show "just the launch and first three months"? I said don't show everything. Look at how the January 2013 Wii U direct dropped a ton of bombshells.

That year's E3 still had Smash Bros, 3D World, Tropical Freeze, and Mario Kart 8. It's just a matter of spacing out their reveals.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
Did I say they should show "just the launch and first three months"? I said don't show everything. Look at how the January 2013 Wii U direct dropped a ton of bombshells.

That year's E3 still had Smash Bros, 3D World, Tropical Freeze, and Mario Kart 8. It's just a matter of spacing out their reveals.

January 2013 Direct was a panic reaction to the total failure of Wii U post launch. And what they showed wasn't enough to save anything out of the situation. Them having a decent E3 while having a huge drought didn't help either. But great spacing of the reveals, right? It worked wonders for Wii U.

At least we got to see a great E3 while waiting for the games, which is what matters. /s
 
January 2013 Direct was a panic reaction to the total failure of Wii U post launch. And what they showed wasn't enough to save anything out of the situation. Them having a decent E3 while having a huge drought didn't help either. But great spacing of the reveals, right? It worked wonders for Wii U.

At least we got to see a great E3 while waiting for the games, which is what matters. /s

You seem to be taking away the exact wrong things from everything I'm saying rather than the main points I'm making, so I'm done with this conversation.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
You seem to be taking away the exact wrong things from everything I'm saying rather than the main points I'm making, so I'm done with this conversation.

What are your main points? Let's try to find a common ground for discussion.

Do you think E3 2017 is more important than the January event? Do you think that having surprises for E3 is more important than having a healthy launch (i.e. selling constantly well past March 2017)? Do you Wii U launch and post launch (which includes the emergency January direct and E3 2013) is an example of good communication from Nintendo's side?
 
What are your main points? Let's try to find a common ground for discussion.

Do you think E3 2017 is more important than the January event? Do you think that having surprises for E3 is more important than having a healthy launch (i.e. selling constantly well past March 2017)?

A) No.
B) Having surprises at E3 does not preclude a healthy launch. You need to save certain announcements and plan them strategically in order to maintain awareness, attention, and interest. If Nintendo has 15 games for 2017 and 10 games from 2018 to announce, and three events from January - June (let's say: Switch reveal, April Direct, and E3).

Let's say there's two options.

- Reveal every single game in January.
- Split things up, so say: 12 2017 games in January. 1 more in the Direct. E3 gets 2 last holiday 2017 games, 6 2018 games, and trailers for the remaining 2017 games that aren't out yet. Give the January reveal a roaring start but make sure there's no slouch the rest of the year either.

Which situation will allow Nintendo to:

- continuously dominate the gaming news cycle
- maintain interest during one of the busiest times of the year for new announcement
- prevent people who just bought a 3DS and Sun/Moon from feeling like they got ripped off (instead of their money's worth)

Remember situations like:

- people tuning out games like Yoshi's Woolly World that were featured in virtually every Direct/E3
- people lamenting the lack of new announcements in the recent September direct

The absolute most I can see Pokemon Stars getting in January is a tease. The full reveal will probably be in spring just before E3.
 

LordKano

Member
I think they won't announce Pokémon during the 13th January event solely because they don't want to kill the Pokémon Sun/Moon legs too early and they will wait until E3 for the announcement.
 
I could see Nintendo/GameFreak totally ignore the Pokemon Stars rumor and not show Stars in January, sure that could happen.

But it makes more sense that Nintendo wants the Switch to have a very strong first software showing so they may show everything including things that are like 4 years away with just a title screen like Zelda on WiiU and Xenoblade X shown super early.
 
I could see Nintendo/GameFreak totally ignore the Pokemon Stars rumor and not show Stars in January, sure that could happen.

But it makes more sense that Nintendo wants the Switch to have a very strong first software showing so they may show everything including things that are like 4 years away with just a title screen like Zelda on WiiU and Xenoblade X shown super early.

My guess is Nintendo will show most of their 2017 lineup in January, with the possibility of teasing a handful of big projects releasing in 2018. But they'll also save some stuff for 2017 Nintendo Directs and E3. I think one of the announcements they'll save for later in the year is Pokemon Stars.
 

rekameohs

Banned
I think they won't announce Pokémon during the 13th January event solely because they don't want to kill the Pokémon Sun/Moon legs too early and they will wait until E3 for the announcement.
They may make some sort of vague "Game Freak will be making a holiday Pokémon" statement to show that yes, indeed: software teams have merged on Switch. Then do the big blowout at E3, with all the buzz over the first home console Pokémon, the first HD Pokémon, etc.

I do highly doubt they'll specifically reveal Stars in January, though.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
A) No.
B) Having surprises at E3 does not preclude a healthy launch. You need to save certain announcements and plan them strategically in order to maintain awareness, attention, and interest. If Nintendo has 15 games for 2017 and 10 games from 2018 to announce, and three events from January - June (let's say: Switch reveal, April Direct, and E3). What sounds smarter of the three?

- Reveal every single game in January.
- Split things up, so say: 12 2017 games in January, 1 in the Direct, and 2 at E3 along with 6 2018 games.

Which situation will allow Nintendo to:

- continuously dominate the gaming news cycle
- maintain interest during one of the busiest times of the year for new announcement
- prevent people who just bought a 3DS and Sun/Moon from feeling like they got ripped off (instead of their money's worth)

April 2017 Direct sounds very redundant. Anything that could be shown there should be shown in January. Rather than that, they should do monthly game Directs.

January event should provide a long term vision for Switch. Which mean most of 2017 (there can be some surprise for late 2017, but nothing big). It should show at least a game releasing every month to provide the info that Switch won't be a repeat of the previous mistakes. And that not just for the first 3 months. 12 games in January already means 9 months of Switch life.

E3 should focus again on the medium term, Q1 and Q2 2018, because this is the biggest issue of Nintendo. Plus show more detailed trailers and maybe some surprise info about the Q3 and Q4 2017 games already announced in January. Nobody cares there are no new games announced for 2017 or just one if the line-up is full enough already. E3 is about future anyhow.

Monthly games directs, E3 at 3 months after launch and another Direct in September and being to show sales number in the press releases will be enough to dominate the gaming news cycle. Not having good sales numbers makes the other less relevant, as Wii U has shown.

People who in January are in a position to just have bought a 3ds and S&M while there is an official Switch event announced since 4 months and Pokemon Stars has already leaked 2 months before have no right to feel ripped off. Their money's worth is the game and system they bought. Especially since Pokemon is anyhow an yearly event in the recent history.
 
My guess is Nintendo will show most of their 2017 lineup in January, with the possibility of teasing a handful of big projects releasing in 2018. But they'll also save some stuff for 2017 Nintendo Directs and E3. I think one of the announcements they'll save for later in the year is Pokemon Stars.

They don't have to go in detail with every game they can save stuff for E3 and Directs throughout 2017 but you must remember 3DS had a horrid start (causing a price cut and ambassadors games) and Wii U failed hard. This is the hybrid hardware after both of those I feel Nintendo has no choice but to aim for the best launch possible.

I am pretty sure there will be things they hold back like what Retro is working on but the big ones like Pokemon, Smash, Xenogame should be shown before launch get those pre-orders up.

'
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
They don't have to go in detail with every game they can save stuff for E3 and Directs throughout 2017 but you must remember 3DS had a horrid start (causing a price cut and ambassadors games) and Wii U failed hard. This is the hybrid hardware after both of those I feel Nintendo has no choice but to aim for the best launch possible.

I am pretty sure there will be things they hold back like what Retro is working on but the big ones like Pokemon, Smash, Xenogame should be shown before launch get those pre-orders up.

'

Really. Despite the PR talk, Switch is the only basket for their eggs. They have to kick it out of the park. If Switch is a big success and has a great line-up, they can do the E3 by just showing sales graphs and "January event make of".
 

Waji

Member
My guess is Nintendo will show most of their 2017 lineup in January, with the possibility of teasing a handful of big projects releasing in 2018. But they'll also save some stuff for 2017 Nintendo Directs and E3. I think one of the announcements they'll save for later in the year is Pokemon Stars.
That would be the safest and probably best thing to do.

As I said, they can tease to begin the hype (like with the Switch 3 minute commercial) and then throw the awesome big trailers at the next event.
 

LordKano

Member
But will it finally allow multiple saves or am I still going to have to buy 3 copies just so both my kids and I can play it.

Technically if the account system is like on Wii U, you could make 3 different accounts on your console, with each have its own save.
 

flozuki

Member
You don't need to be psychic to know if you have no interest in third versions of pokemon games.

Since we officially don´t know anything about the switch version I think it is uncommon to know if I want something or not. If others are able to say so without knowing anything at all that is fine of course.
 
I was considering getting both versions of Sun/Moon, but now I'll just stick with Moon and hope that this third versions comes around in the next year or so.

I just hope the rumors of the Switch's battery life are low (or the battery is longer on less graphics intensive games like Pokemon Stars probably will be), because Pokemon is one of the few games I play on portables for long stretches of time.
 

Oddduck

Member
I'd say Nintendo needs Eurogamer a bit more than Eurogamer needs Nintendo though. So I don't think they'll blacklist them from any events if that's what you were suggesting.

It wouldn't be a very smart move by Nintendo to start a war with Eurogamer.

Eurogamer, US Gamer, VG247 and Nintendo Life are all part of the same company/network.
 

Calvero

Banned
If 0.5% of the 10 million copies shipped at launch are not bought because of this news (and just sample how many in this thread have canceled their orders), then that's 500,000 lost sales.

It causes damage.

uhhhhh....

edit: oh you saw the mistake already nevermind
 

Zalman

Member
I think the ideal time to announce this is May or at E3 in June. Pretty standard for the Pokémon series. Nintendo have to save some surprises for E3 to get the hype up again post-launch, and this game is ideal for that to avoid cannibalizing Sun/Moon sales. Announcing it in January makes no sense, especially considering Eurogamer makes it sound like a holiday game.
 
I think the ideal time to announce this is May or at E3 in June. Pretty standard for the Pokémon series. Nintendo have to save some surprises for E3 to get the hype up again post-launch, and this game is ideal for that to avoid cannibalizing Sun/Moon sales. Announcing it in January makes no sense, especially considering Eurogamer makes it sound like a holiday game.

Since when was making Pokemon announcements at E3 standard?
 

sphinx

the piano man
is there a link to see how NoE is pissed with the leak?

or is it just hearsay?

EDIT: ok that came out wrong lol but you guys know what I mean
 
Wait, where did the narrative that TPC/Nintendo delayed Pokémon in Europe to avoid a leak start? That's the first I've heard of it.

Wasn't it rumored the leak still happened in Europe btw? It came after European Press got their review copies, which NOA didn't send out for like a week later
 
So this must have connectivity with Sun and Moon, right? Like being able to trade and battle?

It would seem weird of Game Freak to release a single game on a system where everyone has the same avaialablity of Pokemon

The mainstream pokemon games aren't pokemon unless you trade with other people. I would not be surprised if this third version releases on 3ds as well.
 

Mr-Joker

Banned
Wait, where did the narrative that TPC/Nintendo delayed Pokémon in Europe to avoid a leak start? That's the first I've heard of it.

Wasn't it rumored the leak still happened in Europe btw? It came after European Press got their review copies, which NOA didn't send out for like a week later

For what I got is when they did a worldwide launch for X and Y stores in Europe broke street date and sold copies early and the Pokémon Company decided to delay European release date by a week.
 
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