Tag: Nintendo

Nintendo Treehouse Localiser Fired

by The_acz

Well this is some sad news. Nintendo of America Treehouse localiser Chris Pranger appeared last week on a podcast called Part-Time Gamers to talk about his work at the company. During the podcast, Pranger talked about why certain games weren’t being localized among other things. Seems like Nintendo didn’t take too kindly to all the press he was getting  and decided to fire him. While reasons for this are unknown and haven’t been specified yet, it’s sad to see someones hard work and love for the company he works for be his downfall. We wish Mr. Pranger the best and hope that he can find another exciting and fulfilling job.

Nintendo & DeNA Announcing First Mobile Game Soon

by The_acz

DeNA mobile

Exciting news for Nintendo fans. According to twitter user @serkantoto, Japanese mobile company DeNA have revealed that in their Q1 report that they are currently in plans to finally reveal their first joint project with the Kyoto based company. This was announced and reported on back in March, but now it seems like we could be seeing an official reveal soon. Are you excited for this partnership?

Nintendo Reveals Details On Their Upcoming Amiibo Releases!

by Josh Jackson

Just as you thought you could take a break from the hunt, Nintendo pulls you back in!

In a recent press release, Nintendo announced that a variety of new Amiibo figures will launch on September 11th to coincide with the release of Super Mario Maker. Including the retro colored 8-Bit Mario, the Smash Bros line of figures, including Dr. Mario, Zero Suit Samus, and Olimar to name a few, pre order plans will be set by the individual retailers at a later date.
The full list of announced figures is as follows:
  • 30th Anniversary Mario Classic Color
  • Zero Suit Samus
  • Ganondorf
  • Olimar
  • Bowser Jr.
  • Dr. Mario

Amiibo September Screen 1

In addition, the much rumored Retro 3-Pack was confirmed for September 25th, bundling R.O.B., Duck Hunt and Mr. Game and Watch in one package. The Mii Fighter pack on the other hand, was officially pushed to November from its original September launch window, but was also confirmed as a three character bundle. As for the modern colored 8-Bit Mario, Mewtwo, the Chibi Robo set, and the Yoshi Yarn plushies, details will be released on a future date.

The best news of all? While it wasn’t explicitly stated, it seems like none of the figures mentioned above are store exclusives! That means we can choose where we decide to throw away a good evening camping out for these guys! Which ones are you going to pick up in lieu of valuable time with friends and family? Sound off below!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 39 – ‘Congratulations China!’

by GeekscapeStaff

Join Derek, Josh, Juan and (eventually) Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

This Week:

China lifts bans on video game consoles.

ZombiU getting ported to PS4 and Xbox One.

Hulk Hogan removed from WWE2k16 over racial remarks.

Terminator special character added to WWE2k16.

Paul London Hero of The Prophecy.

Nintendo TVii service stopping.

Square Enix announces DragonQuest XI PS4 and 3DS.

Castlevania Pachinko machine from Konami.

Smash Bros. update releases in US.

Valve insider speaks about the state of Half-Life 3.

Mark Laidlaw emails with Fun Haus.

Del Toro and Kojima wish to work on future projects together.

Hatoful Boyfriend.

Destiny.

This Week’s Listener Mission Objective:

What game should a Chinese citizen play first?

Listen to Shane DJ Live on KNBA Monday August 3rd at 9 PM PST!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Follow us on Sound Cloud!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

Follow us on Twitter!

@dkraneveldt

@InuJoshua

@TheKingOfMars

@shaneohare

Nintendo Adding 3 New ‘Kirby’ Titles To The E-Shop In Honor of Its Birthday

by The_acz

 

Looks like Kirby fans are in for a treat. According to their Twitter profile, The company will be releasing 3 Kirby games on July 30th to coincide with the pink puffball’s 23rd birthday. As of right now, the 3 games are currently a mystery, but we should be in for a nice surprise come Thursday!

While we wait to celebrate, check out this old commercial for Kirby Superstar on Super Nintendo.

Which as-yet-unreleased Kirby titles would you like to see on the eShop?

‘Pokken Tournament’ Location Tests Are Coming To Dave & Busters!

by Josh Jackson

Did you think we were going to have to wait longer to play Pokken Tournament outside of hoping on a plane to Japan? Thanks to Namco Bandai and Dave & Busters, experiencing the game just became a little more manageable.

During a Reddit AMA with Kevin Bachus, the Senior Vice President of Entertainment and Game Strategy at the restaurant, bar and game chain, confirmed that the highly anticipated Pokemon fighting game from the team behind Tekken will be coming to their arcades as a location test for the states.

From the AMA:

Yes. We will be testing Pokken. Candidly both NAMCO and I are more optimistic about that title and our typical guests than Tekken.

Obviously, details are lacking, but it’s good to know that it’s coming. Still, when will it arrive? Which locations will carry it? And does this location test mean they’re testing releasing more arcade units, or are they measuring overall interest to see if its worth porting over the inevitable console version? Either way, more Pokken is a great thing as far as I’m concerned, and you know we’ll be in those inevitable long lines when it starts popping up.

Check out the latest trailers, including the reveals of Charizard and Weavile, here. Do you plan on camping out and pushing past all the drunks to play? Sound off in the comments!

SDCC 2015: Release Date And Details Announced For ‘Disney Infinity 3.0’

by Josh Jackson

Disney Interactive has announced that their upcoming Star Wars themed Toys to Life title, Disney Infinity 3.0, will hit stores on August 30th. Aside from the game itself, the studio plans to release close to a dozen new figures to go with it, so we hope the next month is enough time to get your cash together!

Aside from the Starter Pack, (which includes the Twilight of the Republic Play Set, Anakin Skywalker and Ashoka Tano,) day one will see the release of Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi’s standalone figures, Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, and Zeb Orrelios from Star Wars Rebels, and a set of Star Wars Power Discs. Of course, if you want even more goodness from a galaxy far far away, Playstation owners can also purchase the Star Wars Saga Starter Pack, which gives them early access to Luke, Leia, the Twilight of the Empire Play Set, and Boba Fett.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Toy Box Screen 1

Outside of the Jedi, Disney won’t leave themselves in the dust. In addition, the Inside Out Play Set will release on day one as well, (which is bundled with Joy and Anger,) with Sadness, Disgust and Fear releasing as standalone toys. If you want your Toy Box characters outside of the Play Sets, Disney also has you covered with the releases of Mickey, Minnie, Mulan, Olaf, Sam Flynn and Quorra, alongside a Tomorrowland power disc pack to customize your Toy Box with.

I know, this is already a huge amount of toys to buy on day one, but the last release can be free of charge! If you pre-order, each person who does walks away with early access to the Toy Box Takeover, a multiplayer expansion normally priced at $19.99. Serving as an action adventure mode supporting 2 players locally and 4 players online, players will be able to take any toy from the previous or current game and travel across multiple Disney, Marvel and Star Wars worlds in their quest to stop Syndrome. Later this Fall, Toy Box Speedway, a Kart racing expansion, will also release, but you’ll have to pay for that one.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Toy Box Screen 2

Here’s the full press release:

Disney Interactive Announces North American Release Date for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition,

Offers Toy Box Takeover Expansion Game as Pre-Order Incentive

 

New Information and Assets Released for Toy Box Expansion Games

 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – (July 8, 2015) Disney Interactive today announced that the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack, featuring the Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set, will be available in North America on August 30, 2015. The following will also be available at launch:

  • Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set (Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano figures included) for players who choose to digitally download the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Software; additional standalone figures (Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Power Disc Pack
  • Star Wars Rebels™ figures (Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, and Zeb Orrelios)
  • Star Wars™ Saga Starter Pack
  • Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out Play Set (Joy and Anger figures included) and additional standalone figures (Sadness, Disgust and Fear)
  • Disney figures (Mickey, Minnie, Mulan, Olaf, Sam Flynn and Quorra)
  • Tomorrowland Power Disc Pack

Additional Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Play Sets and figures will be available throughout the fall.

Fans who pre-order a Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack at participating retail stores will receive an early copy of the Toy Box Expansion Game, Toy Box Takeover, an action-adventure valued at $19.99, featuring multiplayer gameplay allowing players to use all of their favorite Disney Infinity characters across Star Wars™, Marvel, Disney and Disney•Pixar.

Toy Box Takeover is one of two new Toy Box Expansion Games available to play in Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition.  The second will be Toy Box Speedway, a kart-racing game, also set for release this fall. Toy Box Expansion Games unlock additional hours of gameplay inside Toy Box 3.0.  Players place a Toy Box Expansion Game Piece on the Disney Infinity Base to unlock pre-built games that instantly take them into the action, mixing and matching characters from across The Walt Disney Company and using unlocked toys and gadgets to complete missions.

 

Toy Box Expansion Game Overviews:

 

Toy Box Takeover

When Syndrome gets his hands on Merlin’s magic wand, it’s up to the player to stop him.  Using their favorite characters in Disney Infinity, they must battle across multiple worlds, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Marvel’s Upper Manhattan, The Old West, or The Incredibles Volcano Lair to defeat the bad guys before they ruin the Toy Box forever. Players can complete missions with family and friends via two-player local co-op or four-player online.

 

Toy Box Speedway

Players can join their favorite Disney, Disney•Pixar, Marvel’s and Star Wars characters and vehicles in an action-packed kart-racer.  With nine franchise-themed tracks to choose from – Sugar Rush, Frozen, Tatooine, a classic Star Wars location, San Fransokyo, Agrabah, Monsters Inc., Halloween Town, Gravity Falls or Marvel’s Knowhere – they can choose from three different game modes including Time Trial mode, Race mode and Combat mode.   Players put their driving skills to the test as they attack opponents with gadgets and weapons and earn trophies across three challenge cups.

Rated E10+ by the ESRB, the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack available in North America on August 30, 2015 for $64.99, includes the Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set, the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Base, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker character figures, and a web code card that unlocks content for PC and mobile devices.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Video Game and Base are required to play the Toy Box Expansion Games.  Toy Box Takeover and Toy Box Speedway will be sold separately at the suggested retail price of $19.99 each later this fall.

All figures and Power Discs from the 1.0 and 2.0 editions of Disney Infinity will be compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition in the enhanced Toy Box 3.0.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Toy Box Screen 3

We were lucky enough to try out the Play Sets and the Toy Box Speedway between E3 and Comic Con, which you’ll be able to read about really soon! Until then, let us know if Disney has you hooked and what content you’re planning on buying! And don’t forget, follow our Twitter feeds @geekscapedotnet and @geekscapegames to find out how to win a Darth Vader figure in advance!

‘Pokken Tournament’ Adds Two New Fighters And A Rad Opening Trailer

by Josh Jackson

It’s been a few months since we’ve heard any major news on Pokken Tournament, the upcoming Pokemon fighting game developed by the Tekken team at Namco Bandai. As if to make up for this travesty, the game received three new trailers, two of which reveal new fighters, and the third which serves as the opening to the game.

First is the introduction of Weavile, the Dark/Ice type that evolves from Generation II favorite, Sneasel. Using its sharp claws and powerful ice attacks, this Pokemon is often associated with the bad guys of the game’s universe. In Pokken, it puts its high attack and speed stats to great use, dodging opponents attacks and getting up close with ease.

Next, the Generation I favorite, Charizard, was more of a certainty than most. Still, seeing it in action has us all the more excited for the final game. Its powerful wings, claws and fire breath serve as reliable tools for putting the hurt on the enemy, which have carried this Pokemon through nearly two decades of battle. If that’s not enough, its Mega Evolution changes it into the black clad Mega Charizard X, which aims to finish off opponents in intimidating style.

Finally, the best news of all is that the game is right around the corner. Hitting Japanese arcades on July 16th, it wont’ be long before we’ll be able to see the full game in action. Console releases or localization plans haven’t been revealed yet, but considering that it’s Pokemon, it would be ridiculous for it to be passed up.

Tell us who you would like to see in the upcoming fighter! Which Pokemon would be a perfect fit in the Pokken arena? And why would it be Hawlucha?

Source: the-newshub.com

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Passes Away

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo of Japan has released a statement with the unfortunate news that Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo and CEO of Nintendo of America, has passed away due to complications from a bile duct growth. He was 55.

As the person who guided Nintendo through their most recent string of releases, Iwata is best known as the person who led the charge in releasing the Nintendo DS and Wii families of systems, as well as revolutionizing the way company news was delivered through the company’s much praised Nintendo Direct presentations.

We will update the story as it develops.

E3 2015: Worlds Collide Once Again In ‘Project X Zone 2’

by Josh Jackson

The original Project X Zone took us by surprise, becoming one of our favorite games of 2013. While Strategy RPG’s are usually the bane of my existence, PXZ‘s unique fighting game inspired battle system and its huge cast of characters from different Capcom, Sega and Namco Bandai worlds helped it leave a huge impression on me. After its sequel was announced and confirmed for a Western release a few months back, Project X Zone 2 promises a bigger cast from more of our favorite games, but after experiencing it at E3, we were relieved to find out that everything we loved about the game play of the first is still here.

Project X Zone 2 E3 Screen 2

Each party member in PXZ consists of a team of two, such as Ryu and Ken from Street Fighter, newcomers like Kazuma and Goro from Yakuza: Dead Souls, and even X and Zero from Mega Man X make their return, still serving as the closest we’ve got to a 3DS Mega  Man game. Seeing as the demo was in the early portions of the game, each team was restricted to three attacks per turn. Either a neutral attack, side attack or up attack triggered a different combo, acted out with some stylish, 2D sprite based animations. If you can link attacks against your opponents right before they touch the ground, your party delivers extra damage, rewarding you for your perfect timing. As you can probably tell, unlike most games in the genre, the battles are hardly passive.

With each attack delivered to and received by some of the biggest foes of each universe, (including Juri and Dural making their comebacks, with newcomers like Sigma on the front lines,) each unit builds their XP meter. This allows them to guard, become invulnerable for the turn, or counter attack, with the hopes of defeating the enemy during their own turn. By pulling off long string of combos and not overspending the meter, playing well will allow the meter to fill up passed 100%, which comes in handy when pulling off their ultimate attacks. As visually impressive as ever, it’s amazing watching so many iconic moves pulled off to do huge damage, especially when the old characters were given new moves to keep things fresh.

Project X Zone 2 E3 Screen 1

Overall, PXZ 2 is almost identical to the original, (which you can find out more about in our review,) but more of a good thing is never bad. Combining these updated teams and attacks with new support characters, (like Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil,) and it looks like we’ll have another addicting love letter to long time gaming fans.

Project X Zone 2 is set to launch this fall exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS.

E3 2015: Donkey Kong And Bowser Make Incredible Skylanders! Here’s How To Buy Them

by Josh Jackson

In late 2014, rumors swirled around the idea that Nintendo and Disney were in negotiations for some type of collaboration, one that many of us thought would be cross compatibility between the hard to find Amiibo figures and the house of mouse’s own Toys To Life franchise, Disney Infinity.  As it was  revealed at E3, they were definitely in talks with someone, but Activision’s Skylanders: Superchargers ended up as the home for Nintendo’s guest stars. Featuring Skylanders themed versions of Donkey Kong, Bowser, and their own vehicles, we were able to see them in action on the show floor, with some surprising new abilities for hardcore fans of all things Ninty.

Starting with Turbo Charge Donkey Kong, the iconic ape heads into Skylands with a snazzy, new jumpsuit to go with his trademark tie. Featured as a Life Element Skylander, not only using his brute strength to defeat Kaos’ evil forces, but DK also digs deep into his old bag of tricks when fighting off enemies. This includes throwing oversized barrels at enemies, attacking them with girders ripped straight out of the 80’s, and a Donkey Kong Country inspired barrel that launches him into the sky, (and on top of his helpless foes.) His vehicle, the Barrel Blaster, gives the Skylanders their own over-sized motorcycle to cruise along with. When DK uses it himself however, he Supercharches it and provides some powerful upgrades, which includes an appearance from Diddy Kong, who pops up out of the side car! Needless to say, it’s clear that Donkey’s portrayal goes above and beyond the levels of fanservice we would have expected, so much more appealing to own!

Skylanders Superchargers Amiibo E3 Screen 3

Not to be outdone, Hammer Slam Bowser arrives with his own special abilities, both new and old. As the name implies, the king of the Koopas comes equipped with his own golden hammer, which he uses to smash enemies with his standard attacks. As you would probably expect, Bowser serves as a fire element Skylander, with his fire breath in tow. When he wants to leave the action to his minions, he can call upon his Koopa Troopas to walk in a straight line. If this works as well as it does against Mario, Bowser can mimic his rival by jumping on his own minions and knocking their shells into enemies. If you want to get morbid with it, burning them with his fire breath turns them into Dry Bones. That’s not to say that the villain can’t take care of himself, especially when his new form comes into play. As Magma Bowser, the already imposing figure grows larger, spews lava, and somehow manages to become even more imposing than he already is. Throw in his Clown Cluster plane that’s designed around his trademark Koopa Clown Car, and you have a fearsome ally on both the land and in the skies. When Supercharged, the clown design gets replaced with something closer to his likeness, taking the form of the king’s flying fortress.

Skylanders Superchargers Amiibo E3 Screen 1

Sounds awesome, right? The only catch is that these two WILL NOT be sold individually to help avoid confusion with the other versions, since they’ll only work on Nintendo platforms. If you want Donkey Kong, you’ll have to pick up the Wii U starter pack. For Bowser, the 3DS version will be the version for you. While understandable, this is still disappointing for those who don’t typically buy the Wii U version. Traditionally, portable Skylanders games have been drastically different from their console counterparts, so picking that copy up isn’t so bad. For someone like me who owns the home versions on other consoles however, it makes things a lot more complicated to say the least. It’s safe to say that boosting sales of the Nintendo versions is the goal though, so mission accomplished? Oh, and why do they both come with Stealth Elf? I foresee a ton of trade ins in her future.

Skylanders Superchargers Amiibo E3 Screen 4

Either way, both characters are worth doing what you have to to get them. Aside from their new designs and amazing in game abilities, twisting their base switches between Skylander and Amiibo modes, allowing them to function as both. But most importantly, is this enough to sway you? Give us your thoughts on this new collaboration, and look out for a full preview of Skylanders: Superchargers in the coming days.

E3 2015: We’re Going To Have To Wait A Long Time For ‘Xenoblade Chronicles X’ To Come Out.

by Josh Jackson

One of the reasons why the Nintendo Digital Event felt so underwhelming was the surprisingly late release dates that some of the expected 2015 releases received. First, Yoshi’s Wooly World was given a release date of October 16, which is very odd considering the game launches in Europe in about a week. Last I checked, our regions spoke the same language, so the release was likely delayed to fill gaps in the vital holiday season. More understandably, (but just as disappointing,) it was also revealed that Xenoblade Chronicles X, the RPG epic that follows in the footsteps of the critically acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles for the Wii and New 3DS, won’t launch until the end of the year, on December 4th.

Using a similar turn based battle engine as its predecessor, but focusing on a new universe and cast, the previews we’ve seen in the past show off an incredibly vast world that can be explored on foot or by mech. Primarily taking place in the colony of New Los Angeles, the few remaining humans are tasked with establishing their new home after Earth was caught in the crossfire of warring alien races, all while fighting to survive as other races seek their destruction.

With so much dialogue to translate, dub and convert over to our region, it’s no surprise that the game would take so long to release, Still, that doesn’t mean the news isn’t disappointing. Based on the first game and what we’ve seen of this one though, and I’m willing to bet it will be worth the wait.

What do you think of Xenoblade Chronicles X, or any other title Nintendo revealed for E3? Let us know below, and keep checking back for all your E3 goodness!

 

E3 2015: Nindies@Home Lets Gamers Test Drive Nintendo’s Top Indy Titles For A Limited Time!

by Josh Jackson

Did you want to play the games featured during E3, but weren’t in Los Angeles, or didn’t win one of the hundreds of raffles giving away badges this year? Well, Nintendo hopes to alleviate some of that disappointment by bringing E3 to you! Aside from their Best Buy events that have let the general public demo their biggest games at select stores for the past few years, this time, the company is releasing demos of their nine most talked about indy titles for the week of E3!

Until June 22nd at 8:59 Pacific, the Nindies@Home program will offer the following titles to try before you buy:

• Extreme Exorcism from Ripstone: In this paranormal Wii U platformer, every move players make comes back to haunt them. After each round players survive, a ghost will appear to mimic their every move from the round before. The longer a player survives, the more extreme the game becomes. The game offers 20 ghostbusting weapons, 50 challenges and co-op or deathmatch battles for up to four friends. The full game is scheduled to launch in Q3.
• forma.8 from Mixed Bag: In a distant future, the small exploration probe forma.8 is stranded alone on the surface of an alien planet. Players must explore a huge open world to help the probe acquire 10 different power-ups and recover a powerful energy source deep under the surface. The game includes an area exclusive to the Wii U version. The full game is scheduled to launch this fall.
• Freedom Planet from GalaxyTrail: Players fight their way across the celestial world of Avalice, where cats are green, motorcycles drive up walls and monster girls do most of the butt kicking. This cartoony, combat-based platform Wii U adventure pits a spunky dragonoid and her friends against an alien attack force. The full game is scheduled to launch in August.
• Lovely Planet from tinybuild and QUICKTEQUILA: This first-person shooter gun ballet for Wii U is set in a cutesy abstract world. Players jump and shoot their way through five worlds full of treacherous enemies with your trusty semi-automatic. The game offers 100 levels to master and five worlds to discover, with multiple secrets hidden deep within each world. The full game is scheduled to launch in December.
• Mutant Mudds Super Challenge from Renegade Kid: This platformer picks up right where the original Mutant Mudds left off. The game, which is exclusive to the Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, includes 40 new dimension-bending levels and epic boss fights designed for super players. The full game is scheduled to launch this summer.
• RIVE from Two Tribes: This metal-wrecking, robot-hacking Wii U shooter combines old-school gaming values in a new-school execution. With intense 360-degree shooting and platforming action, players learn to alter the behavior of their robotic enemies by collecting and uploading hacks. The full game is scheduled to launch in November.
• Runbow from 13AM Games: Up to nine players can join in the colorful chaos in this Nintendo eShop exclusive. The world transforms before players’ eyes with each swipe of color, so think fast to stay alive. Go head to head in Run, Arena and King of the Hill, or play as the ColorMaster and manipulate the environment on the Wii U GamePad controller. Players can take on challenges alone or with friends in Runbow’s Adventure Mode. The full game also features guest characters from other Nintendo eShop titles. The full game is scheduled to launch in Q3.
• Soul Axiom from Wales Interactive: Soul Axiom is a haunting cyber-thriller, combining elements of exploration and puzzle solving with a compelling storyline. In first-person, the player will explore more than 40 unique locations, using powers to interact with cryptic logic puzzles and making psychological decisions to unlock the secrets of your identity, your story, your mystery. The full game is scheduled to launch in December.
• Typoman from Headup Games and Brainseed Factory: Change Words, Change Worlds! Typoman is a two-dimensional puzzle platformer distinguished by a unique game world. Be the HERO and set out on the journey to become whole and gain the powers you need to defeat the giant evil demon that rules the world you are trapped in. The full game is scheduled to launch exclusively on Wii U in Q3

If you like what you play, each demo downloaded will result in a 15% discount if the full game is purchased within its first month of release. Do any of these games catch your eye, or are there any you’ve already played that you would recommend? Give us your thoughts, and keep coming back for more E3 coverage!

The First North American ‘Splatoon’ Splatfest Has Been Postponed Due To Matchmaking Issues!

by Josh Jackson

Seems like we’re going to have to wait a little longer to find out if dogs or cats are the superior pets.

Based on a message from the official Splatoon Tumblr page, the first North American Splatfest, which was supposed to take place during the weekend of June 20th, has been postponed due to matchmaking issues that made finding games during the Japanese event unreliable.

The official post reads:

Unfortunately, a matchmaking issue was discovered in the first Japanese Splatfest that resulted in long wait times and players unable to join matches. We have been working on a solution but will need a little more time to resolve the issue. In order to ensure that fans have the best possible experience and can enjoy the fun they’ve come to expect from Splatoon, we have decided to postpone the first North American Splatfest. We’ll have details on a new date soon!

Who knows, maybe this is for the best? After all, we’re still recovering from E3, and Father’s Day is the same weekend. I mean, I’m sure your father would have loved to watch you pretend to vandalize public spaces with infinite amounts of ink in the pursuit of pet superiority while he’s neglected on his special day, but maybe this could be a great opportunity to actually bond with the guy!

Still, the news is disappointing to say the least. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a few free Sea Snails out of it? We’ll be sure to let you know when the event is rescheduled, but let’s hope it won’t be long before we get to partake in our overdue Splatfest with strangers across the continent.

E3 2015: Hands On With ‘Yoshi’s Woolly World’

by Megan Haley

Despite what many deemed a lackluster E3 conference, Nintendo still has a solid lineup for 2015.  One of their best titles at the show this year is Yoshi’s Woolly World. Developed by Good-Feel, the same company that brought us Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, Wario Land: Shake It!, and the Streetpass games Mii Force and Battleground: Z, Woolly World brings the same family-friendly story, gorgeously creative visuals and adorable characters we’ve come to expect from a Yoshi title, along with solid platforming, exploration and collecting.

One of this game’s most fun features is it’s multi-player aspect (1-2 players). I’m always looking for games with a solid local multi-player with a good challenge such as Donkey Kong: Country Returns or Donkey Kong:Tropical Freeze. That being said, this game definitely fits the bill, with some surprisingly difficult stages to enjoy with a friend, (or a Yoshi amiibo if human interaction isn’t your thing, but more on that later.)

Yoshi Wooly World E3 Screen 1

I was able to run through a stage of coop with our very own Josh Jackson. Fans familiar with previous games featuring Yoshi will recognize the feel of the control scheme right off the bat. You have your usual tongue abilities; eating enemies and throwing them or creating balls of yarn that vary in size and strength (like the eggs in previous games), throwing said balls of yarn, and the ever-useful flutter jump and ground-pound abilities. One of the main aspects of the game is to create the world around you by gathering yarn from blocks and by eating enemies and using them to fill in the gaps in the stage to create platforms and discover secrets. You have the ability to eat some of the world around you to uncover more coins, lives and secrets.

The stage we played was pretty straight forward, classic platforming. You can throw the yarn balls at blank outlines to fill them in and create the stage around you to progress. You also have the ability to use your teammate as an impromptu projectile by eating them and making them into an egg to hit far-off buttons and such. If you enjoy playing as fast-paced as we like to, some of the most fun bits will come from near falls and saves using your yarn on the fly. However, keep in mind that friendly fire is on, so watch where you shoot! Also, if you leave each other behind, the slower teammate will be teleported to the other, which makes active team work an important piece of effective gameplay. Flutter-jump mastery is also the key to finding secrets that may be out of reach and maneuvering around the woolly world efficiently.

Yoshi Wooly World E3 Screen 2

On top of the game’s very own woven, plush amiibo, there will be an array of amiibo support for characters from other games. The Yoshi amiibo create a CPU controlled partner for coop stages. In addition, Nintendo has teased that you can use all of your other amiibo besides the Pokemon to outfit your Yoshi with different patterns based on the chosen amiibo.

Yoshi’s Woolly World will be available on the Wii U October 16th in America. Feel free to check out our preview of last year’s demo, and make sure to check out the trailer below!

 

E3 2015: ‘Star Fox Zero’ Soars Through Familiar Territory In Our Hands-On Test Flight!

by Josh Jackson

We’ve asked, we’ve waited and now it’s almost here. After eight years without a new journey into the Lylat System, Star Fox Zero will get us reacquainted with Fox and his band of mercenaries. Stepping onto Nintendo’s show floor at E3 this year showed that this title was their main focus, with multiple demo kiosks, model Arwings hanging from above, and a cockpit set up for eager gamers to experience the demo in. As the title that I was most eager to check out, we made sure to jump in and catch up with the crew.

Consisting of two stages, Corneria and Area 3, each one provided a very different take on what piloting the Arwing would require. First, Corneria feels very familiar to the Star Fox 64 version of the stage, complete with sets of three to five enemies conveniently bundled up to fit in your charge shot’s blast range, bridges, arches and mountains to fly through on your way to the city itself, and giant red robots twirling girders in your way. Once in the city, the team switches from the on rails shooter style to All Range Mode, which allows us to dogfight in a 3D space. New enemies take advantage of new features, namely the walker mode for the Arwing, which allows it to battle and access hidden areas on the ground. Adapting to this change, some enemies can only be destroyed when damaged from above, so properly managing these two forms is a must if you expect to survive.

As expected from the series, the stage closes out with a giant boss fight, where Fox must damage certain weak points that are identified by the returning Peppy Hare. And when we say big, we really mean it, since this ship was large enough to run on with the land form, allowing us to attack from different perspectives. A new, third play style exclusive to this section fixes the camera in a more cinematic perspective on the TV, requiring you to focus on the Gamepad exclusive Cockpit Mode. Fixed in a first person perspective, these portions aim to put you in the fight, with each explosion, bogie and hit being as in your face as possible.

Moving on to Area 3, this stage looked to mirror the large scale All Range battles that some of Star Fox 64‘s best moments took place in. Here is where your maneuvering skills become key, and when the biggest changes in the control scheme comes into play. With no C-Buttons to press, most of those moves have been mapped to the right stick. Tilting up and down still boost and brake respectively, while flicking the sticks up and down or vice versa uses the summersault and U-turn moves, for when you need to outrun enemies on your tail. The lean and barrel roll functions have been moved from the shoulder buttons to the right stick as well, so holding the direction will lead to faster turns, while a double tap will deflect enemy fire. The biggest change however, comes with the Game Pad’s gyro functionality, where rotating the control will move your ship’s reticle. This ability to fine tune your aim is a welcomed one, since aiming no longer requires moving your whole ship. A controversial move to be sure, some might have problems with their aim getting thrown off. To me however, it worked like a dream, only improving the experience when trying to take out Star Wolf’s self-proclaimed ace pilot, Pigma.

IMG_3542.JPG

Not quite sequel and not quite prequel, Star Fox Zero feels like the reboot the series has desperately needed. By reuniting the old team and taking us to familiar locales, it was easy to see that the series is back in top form. There were a few small issues, namely getting used to the new control mapping, some camera rotation issues, and perspective problems on land, but nothing to take away with how amazing Star Fox is on such a larger scale. But with so many answers comes a few questions, namely, whether or not Krystal will make an appearance. All in due time, I suppose.

What say you, gamer? What do you hope to see from Star Fox Zero when it arrives this holiday season?

 

E3 2015: ‘Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water’ Scares Its Way Onto The Wii U This Fall!

by Josh Jackson

Why this wasn’t featured in the Nintendo Digital Event, I’ll never understand, but not only is Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water heading to the West as previously reported, but it turns out its release isn’t too far off!

Announced for the fall, Maiden Of Black Water is the first time the Fatal Frame series has had a Western release in nearly 10 years. Using the Game Pad and its gyroscopic controls as a camera for your in game character, you must photograph ghosts before they can drain the life out of you, all while trying to solve the mystery of the titular maiden. Chances are she might be one of those dark water pirates we’ve heard so much about, but then again, maybe not.

Watching the E3 trailer brings up a few questions. One, why does something that looks so awesome almost not make it here? Two, can we get the unreleased Wii games if this does well? And three, where the hell is Pokemon Snap!?

Oh well, we’ll take what we can get. Check out the spooky trailer below and tell us how excited you are over the return of Fatal Frame!

E3 2015: We Climb The Totem With ‘The Legend Of Zelda: Triforce Heroes’

by Josh Jackson

One of the few surprise announcements from Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event was The Legend Of Zelda: Triforce Heroes. As a semi revival of the Four Swords series of multiplayer Zelda games based on the Link Between Worlds engine, this 3DS title promised to give us a more fleshed out experience, focusing more on cooperation rather than competition. When I got the chance to pick up Link’s latest adventure with two complete strangers, we put this notion to the test.

First off, each dungeon starts off with various costumes that Link can choose to wear, each of which give him different advantages in the game. From the standard tunic, to a samurai inspired spin attack outfit, and even Zelda’s dress, how your link will play can have a huge effect on being able to progress, especially if the dungeon being explored needs certain tools to advance with.

From there, the three of us had to constantly work together to conquer the challenges of the Kokiri Forest, primarily through the new totem mechanic. In order to reach tall enemies or higher paths, the three Links can pick each other up, being able to stack all three on top of each other. Whichever hero is on top is responsible for attacking, while the bottom one controls movement, so without proper communication between the two, it’s really easy to struggle against enemies. If you get stuck as the one in the middle, it sucks to be you. As of now, he couldn’t do anything. Which might be better off  since the wrong move can lead to the death of the team, considering that all three of you share the same health bar. Oh yes, I can see friendships being destroyed.

After solving a small set of puzzles in each room, the team can only advance by standing on one piece of the Triforce, which greets players at the end of the area. Side weapons such as the bow and bombs have to be discovered in the dungeon you’re in, but ammo never becomes a problem since this game borrow’s LBW’s meter system. From the little that we played, it teased our brains quite a bit trying to figure out how to solve certain puzzles, leading to the final boss that required us to stack the right amount of characters to reach its changing weak point. Oh, and when you win, don’t forget to tap your cheering emoticon on your list of reactions on the bottom screen! It does nothing except look adorable, but what else do you need?

Triforce Heroes may be short the fourth sword, but it’s shaping up to be another solid co-op effort from Nintendo. Featuring both local and online multiplayer, would-be heroes will be able to team up from all around the world when it releases this fall. What are your impressions from what you’ve seen so far?

Geekscape 370: The E3 2015 Preview Episode!

by Jonathan

E3 2015 is upon us! To help us sift through all of the biggest announcements, we’re joined by Geekscape Games co-host Joshua Jackson and videogames insider Steve Selnick to talk about the latest news! The Last Guardian has returned! Final Fantasy 7 finally has a proper HD remake! Bethesda makes all of the Fallout fans happy! The Oculus Rift will only work on the XBox with a PC? And what is the Hollow Lens? Shenmue 3 raises a whole crapton of money on Kickstarter and a new South Park game is announced! ALSO! Is ‘Jurassic World’ as good as the original, we say goodbye to Christopher Lee and The Punisher has been cast! Enjoy!

Subscribe to Geekscape on Soundcloud!

Subscribe to the Geekscape podcast on iTunes!

Subscribe to Geekscape TV on YouTube!

Geekscape’s E3 2015 Liveblog: Nintendo

by GeekscapeStaff

It’s finally Tuesday, which mean’s that it’s Nintendo’s turn to take the digital stage, and announce their myriad of games, Amiibos, and experiences for the upcoming year.

Will we hear about their first mobile game? How many new Amiibo will we see? Will the NX be revealed (probably not), tune in at 9am PST to find out!

E3 2015: Reggie Fils-Amie Gets Destroyed; Humiliated At The Nintendo World Championships During A ‘Smash Bros’ Showdown!

by Josh Jackson

The challenge was issued last year when Nintendo of America COO, Reggie Fils-Amie, famously told pro Jigglypuff player, Hungrybox, that he would “kick his ass,” at Smash Bros. After so much time has passed, it gave the Reginator enough time to practice to a point where he could hold his own against someone so prominent in the Smash community.

Okay, maybe not so much.

After saying that he would give H-Box a job if he wins, last year’s champion arrogantly stated that he is an engineer and didn’t want his job. From there, it was clear that Reggie’s body wasn’t ready for what was about to happen. After diving off the stage within the first few seconds as the recently released Ryu, (a character that’s more complicated to use compared to the rest of the cast,) what took place on stage could only be described as a massacre, showing that just because you run a company that promotes games doesn’t mean you’re good at them.

Reggie Smash Image 1

In the end, it was all in good fun, and it was great seeing a COO put himself in a position like that. Sure, he bit off more than he could chew, but it was a great moment for an eventful night. Too bad he didn’t showcase Ryu too well, which I’m guessing was the intention of choosing him.

What were your Nintendo World Championship highlights? Sound off below!

E3 2015: ‘Blastball’ At The Nintendo World Championships!

by Josh Jackson

The Nintendo World Championships promised to test the skills of gamers from across the country at games that spanned generations. But what happens when they are forced to play a game that no one’s played before?

Blastball filled this role, with teams of three going at it in a futuristic sport that combines the style and first person shooting mechanics reminiscent of Metroid Prime Hunters within the confines of soccer. Players can shoot opponents, shoot the ball into opponents, and shoot the ball into the goal. Each score made causes that team’s goal to shrink, making it harder to tally subsequent points. Throw in power ups, an increasingly dangerous ball as time goes on, and an opposing team who looks to undercut you with every shot, the game felt like it had a ton of potential to be a great 3DS multiplayer title.

As it was mentioned during the show, it seems like mixing guns with soccer is the only way to get Americans to care! No details have been mentioned about a release, price or features for Blastball, but we’ll keep an eye out on the show floor as E3 week continues!

E3 2015: ‘Earthbound Beginnings’ Brings The Original ‘Mother’ Title To The Wii U!

by Josh Jackson

Fans have begged for it for years, and Nintendo has heard us. After what felt like forever, it seems like the company has finally acknowledged our pleas for a Western release of Mother 3. That’s right! Following their recent trend of surprise releases, a trip to the eShop shows that we’ll finally be able to play the game we’ve been waiting for! It’s…

Mother 1!?

That’s right, the EarthBound game that no one asked for is now available on the Wii U eShop! Following Ninten, a boy with psychic powers, he’s tasked with traveling the world in search for the hidden melodies that will help fight off an alien threat. Originally released for the NES exclusively in Japan, the newly dubbed EarthBound Beginnings gives us the chance to experience the game that started the cult favorite for the first time!

I said it before, but it’s worth saying again. Between this announcement and the Smash DLC shown off earlier in the day, if this is Nintendo’s pre-E3 showing, what could they possibly have in store for the actual show? Could Mother 3 actually make an appearance!?

Let the speculation continue! Tell us what you hope to see, and if you plan on giving this title a chance, crushing difficulty and all! Until then, keep checking back with us for all your E3 news!

Every ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Character Is Getting An Amiibo, Next Wave Revealed!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Ouch, my wallet.

This morning’s pre-E3 Super Smash Bros. focussed direct confirmed yesterday’s Roy and Ryu rumours, and surprisingly enough, those characters, along with the previously-announce returning fighter Lucas, are available right now (more on that in another post).

Also revealed, more of my favourite and most hated items in the entire universe, Amiibo.

During the stream, the big N revealed that every Super Smash Bros. character will receive and Amiibo figure. This includes Roy, Ryu and the other DLC characters, and… I’m going to go freaking broke.

The next wave of Amiibo figures was also revealed, and include R.O.B., Mr. Game and Watch, Duck Hunt, and Falco. They’ll join the previously announced Bowser Jr., Dr. Mario, Zero Suit Samus, Ganondorf, and Olimar this September. This is terrifying. Wave 4 was hard enough to acquire, and Nintendo doesn’t seem to be getting any better at stocking these things, so with an even bigger wave on its way, I really don’t know what I’m going to do. As you can see from the video, the Mr. Game and Watch Amiibo has various poses, which is a cool distinction that we haven’t seen in the other figures.

Are you still on the Amiibo hunt? Who are you missing so far? Are you planning to collect the entire Smash series? Sound out below!

A New ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Direct Set Just Ahead Of E3!

by Josh Jackson

June 14th is turning out to be an eventful day! Between the Nintendo World Championships, the release of Lucas, a new stage, and character costumes for Super Smash Bros., and our very own Geekscape picnic, it’s not as if we needed more plans for that day! But when it comes to new Smash news, I’m sure we’ll find a way to spare 20 minutes.

Starting at 7:40 AM Pacific, Nintendo will broadcast a new Nintendo Direct, hosted by Masahiro Sakurai himself. The only thing being promised at this point is new content, so while I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high out of fear that the previously announced DLC will be all that is discussed, I can’t help but feel that something big is coming, especially just outside of E3. And if new characters are announced separately from the main E3 Direct, how amazing will Nintendo’s presentation be on the 16th if Smash of all things got bumped?

Will we see Roy return? Or will the rumored Ryu be confirmed? Will Chibi Robo get in in light of its newly announced game!? Let the speculation begin! Tell us who you want to see, then come back and compare your predictions after the Direct wraps up!

Paint The Town With The New Ink Brush In ‘Splatoon”

by Josh Jackson

Following its first content update, which added an NES Zapper, ranked battles and a new stage to the online combat, Splatoon has received yet another addition in the form of the Ink Brush.

As part of the Ink Roller class of weapons, the Ink Brush is primarily focused on short range combat, allowing Inklings to paint the floors in front of them while splashing bursts of ink in front of them. Yet, in order to be effective with this newest tool, you’ll have to rethink the way a roller should be played.

Typically, rollers cover large amounts of ground when charging forward, whereas the short burst shots cover a short distance in front of them with a concentrated splash, (similar to a shotgun in other shooters.) With the Ink Brush, its width is greatly reduced, making painting the ground less viable for coverage, but gains heightened running speed in return. However, when firing, the splash it creates is much wider, covering huge areas with the mashing of the trigger while holding off would-be foes. Throw in the sprinkler sub weapon for sustained painting, and the Ink Strike special weapon to rain terror on the enemy from above, and you’re left with an exciting, fast paced weapon. Maybe Bob Ross was on to something!

Having fun with Splatoon so far? Tell us about your greatest battles, favorite weapons and overall impressions below!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 32 – ‘Why Don’t You Go Play Shovel Knight, You Dick!’

by GeekscapeStaff

Join Shane, Josh, Derek and Juan as they discuss the last week in video games!

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Subscribe with another program!

This Week

Fallout 4.

Adam Sessler & Morgan Webb hosting Bethesda conference.

ScreenSavers return!

Leo Laporte shows off dick pics.

Chibi Robo Amiibo and 3DS game.

Monster Hunter X announced.

Nathan Drake Collection details, and Josh’s new game of the year!

Juan has a run in with pretentious douchebag gamer.

Persona 4 Dancing All Night.

This War of Mine iOS edition announced, kinda…again.

Hitman: Sniper released.

Steam Machines go up for preorder.

Splatoon.

Puzzles & Dragons.

Destiny: House of Wolves.

Senran Kagura Shenobi VS.

Chiller Arcade.

Neptunia Victory.

Walking Dead Season 1.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

Hatred.

This Week’s Listener Mission Objective

What is your favorite of E3 past? It could be an event, an announcement or otherwise.

Subscribe to us in iTunes!

Follow us on Sound Cloud!

Subscribe with another program!

Subscribe to our Twitch Channel!

Follow us on Twitter!

@dkraneveldt

@InuJoshua

@TheKingOfMars

@shaneohare

‘Splatoon’ Receives First Content Pack, Adding A New Stage And Weapon

by Josh Jackson

As Nintendo’s first full forray into the competitive shooter genre, the title has been receiving praise across the board for its creative take on the squad based combat. Yet, the one consistant complaint that keeps popping up is its lack of content, launching in a somewhat barebones state. Nintendo was open about this fact, detailing how the game would be slowly expanded throughout the summer until it receives a huge content update in August. This week, the first bit of content trickled into the confines of Inkopolis in the form of a new weapon and stage.

First, the N-Zap 85 Rapid Shooter should look familiar to anyone who grew up playing Duck Hunt as a kid instead of going outside. Featuring a familiar design, this gun shoots at a heightened pace with greater ink efficiency at the expense of power. Even then, with the Echolocator special weapon and splat bombs as its secondary, Inklings equiped with this set will be able to cover ground quickly while identifying enemies on the map and bombing them with instant detonation.

In addition, Port Mackerel is the latest map to make its way into the online turf war, bringing the total up to six. For those who have reached level 10 and beyond, ranked matches in the form of Splat Zones can now be accessed as well. Ranked plays different from Turf War, with the goal is to capture certain spots on the map as opposed to filling the arena with paint. This more traditional mode makes frags more viable with a different set of strategies required to win. Think you can adapt?

While still light on the content, this is a good first step in what is sure to be a Splatoon filled summer. What are your thoughts on the game so far? Be heard in the comments, and make sure to look out for our full review very soon!

https://youtu.be/-vMDMimtxDY

‘Project Treasure’ Brings Couch Co-Op Back To The Wii U

by Josh Jackson

When not busy cosplaying his own characters, Katsuhiro Harada usually spends his time making some amazing games. Known as the man behind the long running Tekken series as well as having his hand in Soul Calibur, his reputation as a solid gaming mind has grown with each successful release. This is why gamers attention piqued when he mentioned his next project; a four player co-op title exclusively for Wii U, known only as Project Treasure. Details were scarce until now, but with the release of its first preview trailer, the game is looking like it could be one to watch.

Featuring four different characters, each of which wield different weapons as they raid temples for loot. Using twin katanas, a giant hammer, pistols and heavy artillery to tear through hordes of monsters, each character looks like they would fulfill a unique role on the team. As expected from the history of the development team, these features are further highlighted by some great looking character models and color coded attacks. The idea of pairing up with three other friends and raiding dungeons in this manner feels both nostalgic and fresh, which might just be what they’re going for!

Based on the little we’ve seen, I can’t wait to find out more about what Project Treasure has in store. With E3 around the corner, we’ll be sure to uncover what we can on Harada’s latest project! Let us know what your impressions are below, and check back with us as more information is released.

‘Monster Hunter X’ Is Heading To Japan In 2015!

by Josh Jackson

Talk about surprise announcements!

If you thought it was safe to put down your Great Sword, you might want to think again. During the latest Japanese Nintendo Direct, it was revealed that Monster Hunter X is not only a thing that exists, but it’s headed to the 3DS in Winter 2015 for Japanese owners!

Hot off the heels of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate‘s international success, X, (or Cross,) looks to carry that same momentum into a brand new title. Now taking place in a more lush, rainforest-esque hub world, hunters will travel across a variety of locales while attempting to defeat monsters new and old. Using fan favorite weapons such as the Insect Glaive, Charge Axe, Heavy Bow and Gunlance to name a few, each weapon comes with a new twist. New, over the top super attacks give us all new tools to tame the strongest beasts we come across, devistating our potential prey. Still, the question must be asked; if the hunters are so much stronger, what about the monsters? Either way, you haven’t lived until you’ve vaulted off of a monster’s back.

X may be around the corner for our friends in the East, but it might be awhile before we get our hands on the newest entry in the now lucrative franchise. Still, now that it’s a proven seller around the world, will we get the 4 treatment and be passed over until the inevitable “Ultimate” edition is released? Or will we have the chance to be “upgraded” too? From what we’ve seen, I don’t want to wait longer than we have to. I mean, come on! You can pet alpacas!

Check out the trailer below and find yourself in shock and awe like we were, and check back with Geekscape in the coming weeks as we learn more details during E3 week and beyond!