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Nintendo Switch Presentation - January 12th

Ninja Dom

Member
Thought I'd quickly ask, I'm thinking of starting a 'Mario Community Thread' dedicated to anything and everything Mario (games, books, toys, lore/history, etc). Do you reckon it's worth doing?
 

maxcriden

Member
Thought I'd quickly ask, I'm thinking of starting a 'Mario Community Thread' dedicated to anything and everything Mario (games, books, toys, lore/history, etc). Do you reckon it's worth doing?

Yes, please. I'd love that. I spend a lot of time on Mario Wiki.
 

LordKano

Member
What if all the fools on the NX threads were right and the Switch is a rebranded Wii U, hence why its library is solely composed of Wii U ports ?

It even has a Wii U gamepad ! Theory confirmed.
 

Shikamaru Ninja

任天堂 の 忍者
Alright, you want development studios from Nintendo that needed outsourcing?

I guess the team for Mario Kart 7 doesn't count since Retro is a first party, so let's see.

The team for Mario Kart 8 listed BANDAI NAMCO Studios Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Games Inc. in the Special Thanks of the Credits so it's not well known what level of involvement they had.

Here we go, Star Fox Zero. Miyamoto couldn't get a large enough team for the game so they outsourced to Platinum Games to do most of the grunt work with assets and art.

The point I was getting at though is that Retro doesn't make system sellers so Nintendo isn't going to throw their weight behind Retro to increase their budget and get more staff for their game development including outsourcing.

Pokémon X/Y is a good example of this, Masuda said in an interview that they had 500 people working on the game, a large number of them were for localisation for their worldwide release because Pokémon is a system seller. Hence, Nintendo threw their weight behind Game Freak.

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/20...s_pokemon_x_and_y_mega_evolutions_and_the_2ds

The point was Retro Studios themselves don't outsource. Because, they aren't asked to deliver 3-4 games every two years to 4 publishers to pay the bills. All Japanese developers outsource, PG is one of the more notorious ones though. They have it down to a science with about 10 companies cooperating in every one of their games.

-BTW, Nintendo outsourced the Star Fox Zero art to PG, who then mostly outsourced it themselves ;)
 

ggx2ac

Member
The point was Retro Studios themselves don't outsource. Because, they aren't asked to deliver 3-4 games every two years to 4 publishers to pay the bills. All Japanese developers outsource, PG is one of the more notorious ones though. They have it down to a science with about 10 companies cooperating in every one of their games.

-BTW, Nintendo outsourced the Star Fox Zero art to PG, who then mostly outsourced it themselves ;)

Funnily enough, Platinum Games received more work from Nintendo for the Wii U than Retro did.

The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 1 & 2 and Star Fox Zero. (4 games, one of them being a port.)

All Retro had was DKC: TF and environmental art support for Mario Kart 7 for 3DS. (1 and a half games.)(I'll say 2 games because I realised I sounded mean there about Retro's work.)

Again, all that tells me is that Nintendo doesn't care about expanding Retro or having them handle more than one project at a time by having them outsource work. It looks like NCL is just keeping the status quo with Retro Studios.
 
I love Platinum, but we also have to consider that most of their games use the same basic design. I mean, the combat systems in Bayonetta 1&2, Transformers, TMNT, Korra, even TW101 are very similar. A lot of enemy types are the same too. Not trying to shit on P*, but their big output this last years is possible thanks to them reusing many game systems and mechanics.

I wouldn't say TW101 is all that similar. It's pretty damn different. Same with Vanquish. Rising is more comparable, though that too has a flavor of its own.
 

radcliff

Member
The point I was getting at though is that Retro doesn't make system sellers so Nintendo isn't going to throw their weight behind Retro to increase their budget and get more staff for their game development including outsourcing.

I believe Monster Games assisted Retro Studios with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
 

Haganeren

Member
I love Platinum, but we also have to consider that most of their games use the same basic design. I mean, the combat systems in Bayonetta 1&2, Transformers, TMNT, Korra, even TW101 are very similar. A lot of enemy types are the same too. Not trying to shit on P*, but their big output this last years is possible thanks to them reusing many game systems and mechanics

Hum.... My original comment was about defending Retro Studio but since they only have two serie which reuse the engine each time (Metroid Prime & Donkey Kong) and Platinuum Game has stuff like Madworld being nothing alike Bayonetta, being nothing alike Infinite Space, being nothing alike The Wonderful 101. (Yeah, they are REALLY different) With a lot of "similar but with unique twist" kind of game like Metal Gear Rising or Vanquish.

I think Platinuum game doesn't reuse that much stuff actually...
 

correojon

Member
I wouldn't say TW101 is all that similar. It's pretty damn different. Same with Vanquish. Rising is more comparable, though that too has a flavor of its own.

TW101 and Bayonetta share a lot of basic systems of their combat system: one button evades (there´s even an accessory that grants Witch Time in TW101), directional parries, Jump->Attack to perform a launcher, shoot in Bayo/send teammates out in TW101 to keep combos from dropping while you position yourself, many weapons (whip, hammer, sword, claws), levels divided in small missions which are scored individually...I agree that the systems have evolved into very different things, but I also think that they share a common base from which they were built. This is not a bad thing and I´m not trying to shit in P* in any way, but I think it needs to be considered when gauging their output by numbers. I mean, they seem to have focused on "pure" character action games lately, instead of different things that have to be built up completely from scratch.
 

LordRaptor

Member
I mean, they seem to have focused on "pure" character action games lately, instead of different things that have to be built up completely from scratch.

I think its possible its just that you can draw pretty much a straight line from Capcoms arcade titles through to DMC through to Clover through to Platinum in terms of their game design heritage more than specific or conscious mechanics reuse.
 

KAL2006

Banned
I really think Retro has something cooking for Switch for its first year. So I'm expecting a Retro Game for Switch in 2017

The following teams have had enough time to make a new game for Switch within 2017.

Mario 3D World Team and we know we getting new Mario
Retro were the last game made was Tropical Freeze
Zelda team and we know we getting Breath of the Wild
Pikmin 3 team and we know Pikmin 4 was rumoured

Then we have Mario Kart team
Smash Bros team
Splatoon team

Which all can reuse the engine and assets to make a semi sequel port within the first year.

That's literally a potential 7 AAA games within the first year of Switch that we could have from Nintendo alone. I think Nintendo knows they need to have a string launch year or else they are in trouble so they have decided to prep all the above games for Switch. This isn't included 3rd party debs that Nintendo publish such as Hryle Warriors 2 or even something new like Fire Emblem Warriors.

I haven't even included 3DS software teams as I think they may take a while to adjust to HD development or help out with the above studios. Perhaps 2018 we will start seeing 3DS dev teams like Mario and Luigi and etc for Switch.

Like I have said before Nintendo just need a dee enter gamed line up and competitive price. Of the Switch launched for $250 and had the above line up it would be quite successful.
 

correojon

Member
I think its possible its just that you can draw pretty much a straight line from Capcoms arcade titles through to DMC through to Clover through to Platinum in terms of their game design heritage more than specific or conscious mechanics reuse.

I really think P* has some kind of "basic action engine" they reused and tweaked to make both Bayonettas, TW101, MGR, Korra, TMNT, Transformers...some games use more of this basic engine and others use less, but still, there is a lot of work necessary to make an action game they can reuse in every game, like the timings for animations, sound cues, hitbox activations...Nailing all of those takes a lot of time, so it´s work they save with each new game (which is great, they shouldn´t have to reinvent the wheel every time).
 

LordRaptor

Member
I really think P* has some kind of "basic action engine" they reused and tweaked to make both Bayonettas, TW101, MGR, Korra, TMNT, Transformers...some games use more of this basic engine and others use less, but still, there is a lot of work necessary to make an action game they can reuse in every game, like the timings for animations, sound cues, hitbox activations...Nailing all of those takes a lot of time, so it´s work they save with each new game (which is great, they shouldn´t have to reinvent the wheel every time).

I dunno... I think a lot of that can just be put down to the fact that the directors for these games have internalised a lot of "game feel" variables because they've worked on so many of these titles, that they can very quickly get 'close enough' because they know exactly which levers to tweak to get where they want to get, then build from there.
 

jmizzal

Member
So whats the speculation on rather the WiiU pro controller working on the Switch?

That wouldnt be hard to do right

Also what about the game pad, that may take much more programming
 
I don't understand. Is it official that the switch game library only consist of WiiU ports?
When was this confirmed?
We're speculating. Hard to speculate on new, original games without leaks. Ports make sense and are easier to guess.
But, no, "only" is very incorrect.
So whats the speculation on rather the WiiU pro controller working on the Switch?

That wouldnt be hard to do right

Also what about the game pad, that may take much more programming
If the pro has gyro or other buttons the old pro may not be compatible
 

MoonFrog

Member
Still confused as to why we should trust the way Nintendo uses talent to judge its quality rather than the games they've put out with the team they've had to do it...
 

correojon

Member
I dunno... I think a lot of that can just be put down to the fact that the directors for these games have internalised a lot of "game feel" variables because they've worked on so many of these titles, that they can very quickly get 'close enough' because they know exactly which levers to tweak to get where they want to get, then build from there.
Maybe, but it feels like a waste having all that perfectly reusable work go to waste (as an aspiring dev just thinking about it makes me shiver). So it would be the most logical thing to do, specially for the on-demand projects like TMNT and Transformers, in which Kamiya & co. may not be as personally invested as in Bayonetta or TW101. At the same time Miyamoto said that even now Nintendo still takes some time adjusting Mario´s basic movement variables with every new game so it may go one way or the other.
 

shingi70

Banned
So consdering this event is happening in Japan what time to do you think it will coincide for America. I'm still contemplating if I should call that day off or not.
 

Danthrax

Batteries the CRISIS!
Hum.... My original comment was about defending Retro Studio but since they only have two serie which reuse the engine each time (Metroid Prime & Donkey Kong) and Platinuum Game has stuff like Madworld being nothing alike Bayonetta, being nothing alike Infinite Space, being nothing alike The Wonderful 101. (Yeah, they are REALLY different) With a lot of "similar but with unique twist" kind of game like Metal Gear Rising or Vanquish.

I think Platinuum game doesn't reuse that much stuff actually...

Platinum basically has two game types that it reuses:

The Bayonetta/Metal Gear Rising/Wonderful 101/Korra/Transformers game type
The MadWorld/Anarchy Reigns/TMNT game type

Vanquish is a third game type that Platinum so far hasn't revisited (sadly).

Infinite Space is a totally different sort of game and it wasn't entirely a Platinum game — it was more of a Nude Maker joint that Platinum helped out on. Kinda like StarFox Zero.

Platinum does make small changes to these game types to fit each intellectual property, but most of the hard work already has been done — each game is just tweaked a bit outside of art assets.
 
R

Rösti

Unconfirmed Member
I had a look at other recent press conferences taking place at the International Conference Room of Tokyo Big Sight. One example is Adobe Max Japan 2016 which happened on September 2, 2016, 11:00 - 20:00 JST.

http://www.event-web.net/adobemaxjapan/
http://www.adobe.com/jp/creativecloud/events/maxjp-video-archive.html

keynoteczk9s.png


It seems like a good venue for a press conference. Nintendo could definitely do a great show there.
 

LordKano

Member
Rösti;223584471 said:
I had a look at other recent press conferences taking place at the International Conference Room of Tokyo Big Sight. One example is Adobe Max Japan 2016 which happened on September 2, 2016, 11:00 - 20:00 JST.

http://www.event-web.net/adobemaxjapan/
http://www.adobe.com/jp/creativecloud/events/maxjp-video-archive.html

keynoteczk9s.png


It seems like a good venue for a press conference. Nintendo could definitely do a great show there.

The screen on the first press conference listed is actually different from the one you posted a while back :
 

Roo

Member
Btw I've seen some people say what if Tantalus is the one porting some of these games like Mario Kart to Switch?

I highly doubt those games are being handled by an external studio.

If they were straight ports (with just the obvious visual improvements) I'd understand but we're supposedly getting brand new content with those ports so I'm sure they're being handled in-house (or with Namco in Kart and Smash's case)
 

maxcriden

Member
On the outsourcing topic, when I was watching the Color Splash credits go by, I was surprisingly see how many additional companies assisted with the games. Plenty I'd never heard of. As I think Shikamaru mentioned, Nintendo has definitely gotten on board with hiring outside contractors for HD development assistance this gen.

The only title I will accept as a bundle is Metroid Prime 4.

I thought you wanted Nintendo to make better business decisions this gen. XD
 
I highly doubt those games are being handled by an external studio.

If they were straight ports (with just the obvious visual improvements) I'd understand but we're supposedly getting brand new content with those ports so I'm sure they're being handled in-house (or with Namco in Kart and Smash's case)

Yeah, that makes sense.
 

Plum

Member
Rösti;223584471 said:
I had a look at other recent press conferences taking place at the International Conference Room of Tokyo Big Sight. One example is Adobe Max Japan 2016 which happened on September 2, 2016, 11:00 - 20:00 JST.

http://www.event-web.net/adobemaxjapan/
http://www.adobe.com/jp/creativecloud/events/maxjp-video-archive.html

keynoteczk9s.png


It seems like a good venue for a press conference. Nintendo could definitely do a great show there.

Lets just hope they utilise their time properly and not just have it be an information dump. One of the last things the Switch needs right now is its presentation to be as boring and uninspired as the Wii U's near-launch event and the recent PS4 Slim/Pro Meeting.
 
R

Rösti

Unconfirmed Member
Rosti, Nintendo will lose the eternal darkness trademark this year right?
It will most likely be abandoned sometime in December this year. Nintendo can of course file a new application though.
 

ggx2ac

Member
The only title I will accept as a bundle is Metroid Prime 4.

Yep, because when I think of system sellers I don't think of what appeals to the mainstream like Animal Crossing, Mario Kart or Pokémon.

I think of the one spin-off series which its predecessor on the 3DS did horrendously bad in sales, is despised by fans of the series and didn't even grab the attention of the mainstream consumer.
 

Haganeren

Member
Platinum basically has two game types that it reuses:

The Bayonetta/Metal Gear Rising/Wonderful 101/Korra/Transformers game type

The MadWorld/Anarchy Reigns/TMNT game type

Vanquish is a third game type that Platinum so far hasn't revisited (sadly).

Metal Gear Rising don't have the same system as Bayonetta at all, not the same camera, not the same kind of concept and it was made from the ground up. It's as different from Bayo than Vanquish...

Same with Wonderful 101, it has a evade move... Yeah...... That's cool... But it's not the same kind of move, it invented a new way of doing thing with the number of hero, the fact you can change weapon, the fact you can make another hero have a weapon and a lot lot lot of other stuff.

I don't even know why TMMT is on the "Mad world game type". I SUPPOSE Anarchy Reign is made with the same stuff as Madworld but with the multiplayer element, it feels like it could not have been the case. Same with TMMT, Transformers and Korra, i suppose they took Bayonetta as an example yeah but those were budget title anyway.

But for the general rule, it doesn't reuse assets like you said... Or at least for a lot less game than you think.
 

ggx2ac

Member
Quoting this again.

At least Retro are consistent in quality......

This "consistent quality" Retro has is a double-edged sword. Since Nintendo hasn't expanded the studio, they can't have teams to work on more than one game at a time. So you end up with the infamous, "Retro is making fucking Donkey Kong" thread. Which Retro being limited in size is why Next Level Games were given a Metroid project to work on.

So imagine if Retro is working on a new IP, but that IP isn't spectacular on reveal that there is more fan backlash. It really doesn't help that Nintendo doesn't expand the studio or have Retro outsource work to work on more than one project at a time seeing how rabid the fanbase can be ref: reaction to Metroid Prime Federation Force.

Edit: Oh I forgot again. Retro outsourced to Monster Games to help work with them on DKC: TF. It's too bad they still couldn't get a second team to work on another game during that because they're bound by NCL's orders.
 

jwj442

Member
Sure, it's easy to say "Nintendo should expand Retro." But large-scale expansions and the reorganization and added bureaucracy that go with it can really change the culture of a team or company. Maybe Retro has stayed small because working on one game at a time helps ensure their high quality. We don't really know how they work internally.

(But I do agree Nintendo needs to work more on western studios in general).
 
Hey so the world is going to shit but best games journalist Laura K has come through.

https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796241335850323968
Switch getting Smash Bros port. Not launch day. Not confirming other Wii U ports. Bayonetta / Cloud Amiibo held for 2017 Switch port launch.

https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796241478410498049
The reason we're not seeing a 2016 release for those remaining 2016 Smash Amiibo is they are being held for Smash port release.

https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796242528639062016
I repeat, not confirming any other Wii U to Smash ports. I am not saying any ports on launch day.

https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796242921716645889
Not heard any info about new Smash fighters being added for Switch release.

Side note: I might need Nintendo and their happiness machine now more than ever.
 

cw_sasuke

If all DLC came tied to $13 figurines, I'd consider all DLC to be free

Roo

Member
Hey so the world is going to shit but best games journalist Laura K has come through.

https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796241335850323968


https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796241478410498049


https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796242528639062016


https://twitter.com/LaurakBuzz/status/796242921716645889


Side note: I might need Nintendo and their happiness machine now more than ever.

Bayo and Cloud amiibo being held for the Switch version of Smash was pretty much expected at this point, no surprise here.
Not being a launch title isn't surprising either.

As for characters, I don't expect we'll know anything about those until they're ready to announce them officially.

Good stuff.
Based Laura, save us.
 
Rösti;223584471 said:
I had a look at other recent press conferences taking place at the International Conference Room of Tokyo Big Sight. One example is Adobe Max Japan 2016 which happened on September 2, 2016, 11:00 - 20:00 JST.

http://www.event-web.net/adobemaxjapan/
http://www.adobe.com/jp/creativecloud/events/maxjp-video-archive.html

keynoteczk9s.png


It seems like a good venue for a press conference. Nintendo could definitely do a great show there.


It's gonna be a great venue. I hope Nintendo adds some pizzazz to the space, but it's already a classy choice.
Just about two months left.
 

correojon

Member
Metal Gear Rising don't have the same system as Bayonetta at all, not the same camera, not the same kind of concept and it was made from the ground up. It's as different from Bayo than Vanquish...

Same with Wonderful 101, it has a evade move... Yeah...... That's cool... But it's not the same kind of move, it invented a new way of doing thing with the number of hero, the fact you can change weapon, the fact you can make another hero have a weapon and a lot lot lot of other stuff.
The basic movement system is almost the same. Then you have an evade move (which also triggers Witch Time with an item in W101), the Spike Ball is W101´s version of Bayo´s Panther Within, launchers work the same in both games (Jump then attack and won´t work on big enemies unless you first stun them), you have stinger type moves in both, circular AOE type moves in both, the parry system is exactly the same, energy mimics Bayo´s magic system for instant Wicked Weaves...changing weapons is done with a button in Bayo and by drawing in W101, but it´s the same principle. And then you have other stuff like the level being structured in small isolated challenges that grade you independently, a shop to unlock moves with the money you earn thanks to those grades...
I´m not saying they´re clones, there are a lot of differences between both games, but the more you play both games the more evident it becomes they share a lot of things, to the point of glimpsing a shared core. It also becomes more apparent that the way you have to play them is very different and that both combat systems have been developed in totally different directions. Even if I like more Bayo´s combat mechanics, I think W101´s are the work of a genius. Every little move in W101 has secondary effects which make it perfect for very specific situations and not only when attacking, but when doing the simplest stuff like just moving around.

I don't even know why TMMT is on the "Mad world game type". I SUPPOSE Anarchy Reign is made with the same stuff as Madworld but with the multiplayer element, it feels like it could not have been the case. Same with TMMT, Transformers and Korra, i suppose they took Bayonetta as an example yeah but those were budget title anyway.
I haven´t played TMNT, but I´ve watched videos and analysis of it and I agree with this: it seems much closer to Bayonetta than to Mad World.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
With all these political turbulences that drive financial instability Nintendo might have drawn again the shortest stick for the Switch launch. There's a good chance that the exchange rate might hurt them again.
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
Going by their own guidance, they expect the exchange to be 1 USD = 100 Yen and 1 Euro = 115 Yen as of March 2017. Right now, the day of the dis-err, the election result, the former is still higher than the forecast and the latter is basically at the level of the forecast, with some improvements compared to some hours ago. We'll have to see how things go in the next few weeks though.

It sickens me to even have to discuss exchange movements based on this thing actually happening
 

blu

Wants the largest console games publisher to avoid Nintendo's platforms.
And here we thought brexit was idiotic.
 
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