Nintendo Direct General

**Seahawk** · 01-24-2013, 02:49 AM

Dumping ground for the series of Nintendo Directs.

Official USA region archive

Now for the latest, 1/23/2013:
Official Site
Youtube

TL;DR:
1:00 - 2:24 = General discussion of Miiverse

2:24 - 4:00 = Sample of ZombiU players asking for and receiving help on Miiverse, and commenting on experience

4:00 - 4:40 = Sample of Nintendo TVii users commenting on football/handegg game (NCAA: Alabama vs. Notre Dame, also, go SEC!).

4:40 - 5:09 = Sample of using in game screenshots to send messages (Scribblenauts Unlimited)

5:10 - 5:45 = Examples of great Miiverse hand drawn art. "Everyone at Nintendo was surprised that there are so many people that are good at drawing."

6:00 - 7:30 = Explanation of 'verified' Miiverse accounts. Mr. Takemoto, director of NSMBU, has used Miiverse to post super play videos of the game.

7:30 - 8:15 = Plans for two system updates, one in spring, and one in summer, to speed up OS speed and add new features.

8:16 - 10:37 = Plans to launch Wii U Virtual Console service after spring update. The entire lineup on the Wii WILL NOT be available when the Wii U service starts. Wii U VC titles are being newly and specifically developed for the Wii U. You will be able to save, play on the GamePad only, and access Miiverse. Plans to add new platforms, Gameboy Advance specifically cited. If you already own the Wii version of a VC game, AND transferred it to Wii U, then you can purchse the Wii U version for a very reduced price, 80% off (Specifically cited: $1 for NES, $1.50 for SNES).

10:37 - 13:23 = 2013 is the 30th anniverssary of the original Family Computer in Japan. New Virtual Console trial campaign, one NES or SNES title will be available for purchase each month, until July. Titles promoted before April will be available for play BEFORE the official VC service starts. Titles are available for 30 cents on sale for 30 days. You DO NOT need the Wii version of a VC title to get this special price. Prices return to normal after the 30 days are over, whether at the transferred Wii VC price, or normal Wii U price.
Schedule:
Jan. - Balloon Fight (NES)
Feb. - F-Zero (SNES)
Mar. - Punch Out! Mr. Dream (NES)
Apr. - Kirby's Adventure (NES)
May - Super Metroid (SNES)
Jun. - Yoshi (NES) (protip - not worth 30 cents)
Jul. - Donkey Kong (NES, not arcade)

Balloon Fight is available at the time of this post.

13:24 - 15:17 = Discussion of sharing moments with others across Miiverse. Cited Pikmin 3 which will come with screenshot utility. Wii Fit U will support closed ID communities.

15:17 - 17:19 = Discussion of how Miiverse can have features added easily and be tweaked on the fly (as demonstrated here in the day zero patch that disabled the debug menu). Plans are for user created communities, more than one community per title, 'usability improvements', and post filters. Also plans for ability to browse Miiverse from smartphones, first as browsers, then as native smartphone apps. Nintendo Network ID/pw required to access. More details later.

17:28 - 19:00 = No new Wii U titles from Nintendo in Jan. or Feb. Typical "quality games take time". Iwata apologizes for lack of new titles, promises titles in March onwards. Game & Wario, Wii Fit U, Lego City Undercover, The Wonderful 101

19:08 - 20:27 = The Wonderful 101 footage

20:30 - 20:47 = No info on Bayonetta 2 yet.

20:50 - 22:20 = Video from inside Platinum Games studio

22:21 - 23:30 = Previous "Iwata Asks" focus on individual internal Nintendos games and hardware. Now moving to interview to discuss "game development studios and its culture and philosophies". First one will be Platinum Games, already done, "Please wait for its release soon". Also interviewed Hideki Kamiya.

23:30 - 24:12 = No new info on new Smash Bros. game. "Game development is on track". Sakurai says that screens will be ready at E3.

24:13 - 25:00 = New unannouced Nintendo titles. Nintendo EAD Tokyo (Galaxy 1,2, 3D Land) is working on new 3D Mario game. Also working on Mario Kart title. Playable demos at E3.

25:00 - 26:30 = Wii Party, for summer release. Uses gamepad, Wii remotes to encourage cooperation between players.

27:00 - 27:54 = New Yoshi game by Good Feel. Supervised by Takashi Tezuka (Yoshi's Island/Yoshi's Story director). 15 years since last console Yoshi game.

28:00 - 29:22 = Shin Megami Tensei + Fire Emblem crossover with Atlus. The scope of games are getting too large for Nintendo's old development approaches, expect more partnerships like this.

29:30 - 34:00 = Details on new Zelda.
Eiji Aonuma (Zelda producer): Already 1 year since 25th anniversary. No footage or details yet. "Our mission in developing this new Zelda game for Wii U is to rethink the conventions of Zelda." Cited expectations such as doing dungeons in order, and playing alone. More details later. Announced Wind Waker remake for Wii U.
Wind Waker available by fall. Aimed at players who didn't get to play "because the Nintendo Gamecube didn't have a large install base". (OUCH)
Will support Gamepad play, Miiverse, etc.
Need more time for more concrete annoucements

34:00 - 34:16 = New game from Monolith Soft (Xenoblade)

34:16 - 35:23 = Footage of new title, only called "X".

35:23 - 36:07 = Closing, bye, thanks.

**Kugyince** · 01-24-2013, 04:08 PM

Side note: Takashi Tezuka is the single greatest developer in Nintendo. He is the brain behind everything Miyamoto takes credit for. If he is working hands on with Good Feel, which is already a very talented platform developer, expect amazing things.

**Seahawk** · 02-01-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platinum Games

http://platinumgames.files.wordpress...er_012213s.mov

That is the 60FPS version.

I'm sending an email to our web people now about the video player doing some conversions we don't want.
OP

Platinum Games has posted a download link for a 60fps version of The Wonderful 101 trailer that was shown during the Direct. It is lot better than your typical crapstream/Youtube quality.

**Razeluxe** · 02-01-2013, 07:37 PM

smt and fire emblem.
oh sorry, lemme try that again.

MUTHA FLIPPIN SMTxFE. get hype.
but no really. yes.

**Seahawk** · 02-13-2013, 02:37 PM

New direct tomorrow at 9am EST/6am PST.

**Kugyince** · 02-13-2013, 05:40 PM

NoA/NoE only. Most likely damage control and nothing too interesting.

**Seahawk** · 02-13-2013, 07:29 PM

Maybe Reggie and Shibata will both announce their resignations.

**Kugyince** · 02-13-2013, 07:31 PM

Nevermind, soon after I posted that, Nintendo of Nippon announced one as well.

**Seahawk** · 04-15-2013, 03:13 PM

Next one announced for 7am PDT on April 17. It looks like it will be 3DS focused.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/...30016217600000

**Kugyince** · 04-17-2013, 11:14 AM

**Tails** · 04-17-2013, 11:32 AM

Holy crap, LTTP sequel and DKR3d!!!!!!!!!!!

**Slime Slayer** · 04-17-2013, 12:32 PM

Wow, now that's a Nintendo Direct!

**Dudebro** · 04-17-2013, 01:01 PM

Hate to be that guy but if that game list was from any other system you guys would be lamenting the death of gaming. Talk about no new ideas. Rant over.

**Seahawk** · 04-17-2013, 01:17 PM

Damn this sounds exciting. I have to wait until after work to see it though.

**Kugyince** · 04-17-2013, 02:08 PM

I'm very excited as well. Leaving work soon, watching this will be the first thing I do when I get home.

**CrispyChicken** · 04-17-2013, 05:28 PM

Mario Party, LTTP sequel, Mario & Luigi: Dream Team, and Pikmin 3 are all must gets for me. Good thing I'll have a lot of free time this summer

**DrunkN** · 04-17-2013, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenser

EarthBound Confirmed for North American/European Release* - News - Nintendo World Report

**TheDeadpoolOwns** · 04-17-2013, 06:57 PM

I honestly don't like RPGs, so Earthbound wasn't big news to me, but I am excited for the new Mario Party.

**Slime Slayer** · 04-18-2013, 05:24 PM

Looks awesome:
Zelda: A Link to the Past 2 - 13 Minutes *Direct Sound* Gameplay in perfect Q - YouTube

**DrunkN** · 04-18-2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDeadpoolOwns

I honestly don't like RPGs, so Earthbound wasn't big news to me, but I am excited for the new Mario Party.

I don't care for the SNES title that much either. I am, however, deliciously tickled at what I perceive to be going on here.

After continuing pleas from Western fan communities that have been active for over a decade, Nintendo could only be bothered to give a rat's ass to stand up to any issues they had with a US re-release of Earthbound because the Wii-U needed another exclusive. (and some attention in general)

**Seahawk** · 04-21-2013, 04:23 PM

People are excited.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeeQ9iqVyDg"]EarthBound Fans Worldwide Thank Nintendo - YouTube[/ame]

**Kugyince** · 04-23-2013, 11:21 AM

Here's my take.

Ninty did an excellent job on the Direct. The only people who watch and care about the Nintendo Direct is their core group. This Drect was aimed squarley at it's target audience with no deviation at all. It served well in highly exciting the core fanbase, the hype train is full steam ahead.

That being said, nothing shown will remarkably increase hardware sales in the west. Those who watch these directs most likely already have a 3DS and have or plan on purchasing a Wii-U in the future. These are not the games that drastically increase hardware sales.

The 3DS has Pokemon X/Y coming out in October. This game alone has the potential to double the hardware sales in North America. This needs to be a critical showcase event at E3 in June. Lets not forget, E3 is a purely western expo that is directly aimed at western mainstream media and not just the rabid, mouth-breathing neck-beards of the gaming world. Showcasing Pokemon X/Y will solidify the 3DS occupying the grubby little hands of children across North America. Nail in the coffin.

Besides that Ninty needs not one but two great western show-stoppers for the Wii-U at E3. Wii-U Fit and Let's Dance 4 just will not cut it. What games could possibly do this I don't know. Except for Wii Sports Nintendo has pretty much failed at capturing anything but it's core market when it comes to consoles in the last three cycles. If this is not accomplished though, the Wii-U will fall into the same pit that the N64/NGC/WII fell into.

**Slime Slayer** · 04-23-2013, 03:03 PM

The new Smash Bros. will account for 1 of those much needed WiiU titles. I don't think there is any concern about the 3DS anymore, it's been consistently the best selling handheld or console for months now, and is currently outpacing the hugely successful DS, although the DS did have a huge spike in sales around this corresponding time of it's life cycle due to the DS lite, and the 3DS has already played that card. I am a little curious as to why so much support for the 3DS, when it's the WiiU that needs some attention, perhaps they are just being patient with it. Regardless it's Nintendo, all they need to do is release Mario Kart WiiU and the system will be fine.

**Seahawk** · 04-23-2013, 03:22 PM

3DS is pretty set for the rest of the year.

E3 needs to be used to push the Wii U, there is no choice.
Nintendo screwed up tremendously in not having the machine and software ready in any timely manner, with "launch window" games being cancelled or delayed beyond oblivion (Pikmin 3, Rayman, etc). Nintendo is on a hiring spree and is constructing new facilities for development and R&D in Japan, I take it as a sign that the staff is probably stretched thin by having to do both 3DS and Wii U development. Regardless of the situation they need to clear whatever hurdles they're having internally and get games out because they have really let the system sit idle for almost a year. Both third parties and retailers are pissed at its nonperformance, and Iwata's job is now on the line for the next fiscal year.

They can turn it around. The DS languished for its entire first year until Mario Kart DS came out. The 3DS underwent a similar period which was also turned around (albeit at heavy cost unlike the DS). Whether or not they actually do it, only time will tell. But it has to happen this year, otherwise any good news for the system will simply be lost in the PS4/Xbox Durango noise.

**Kugyince** · 04-23-2013, 05:20 PM

@Steven: You're right, Smash Bros. has the potential to count as one of the showcases. It has an identity with a very large gaming base and not just Nintendo fanboys. Of course this all dependant on Smash Bros. being ready to be shown at E3.

I suspect the Nintendo Direct was aimed at the 3DS so that Ninty could focus on the Wii-U at E3.