Pokémon Sun & Moon
The Pokémon Company recently released a trailer and some initial information about Pokémon Sun & Moon. More specifically, they share information about the three starters – Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio – and showed us a first look at part of the region, some characters and the box legendaries.
You can find the complete announcement below, followed by some artwork of the starters and the game boxes. Also included are the trailers released for each region, and a video shown on CoroCoro’s channel with some extra seconds of new footage. Finally, you can find the international website for the games here, and the Japanese website here.
London, UK– May 10, 2016 – The Pokémon Company International has unveiled the first details of the highly anticipated titles Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, starting with a first look at three new first-partner Pokémon and the packaging. Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will launch in Europe on November 23, exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
Following in the tradition of previous games in the Pokémon series, players choose one of three special Pokémon to be their first partner. These are among the first Pokémon players will encounter in the game. In Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, players will be able to choose between the newly discovered Grass- and Flying-type Pokémon Rowlet, Fire-type Litten, and Water-type Popplio.
For a Pokémon Trainer, knowing the Pokémon types and how they match up against one another in battle is vital. Grass-type Pokémon are strong against Water types, but weak against Fire types. Fire-type Pokémon are strong against Grass types and weak against Water types. And Water-type Pokémon are strong against Fire types, but weak against Grass types.
Meet the three new first-partner Pokémon that will join Trainers on their adventures in the upcoming Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon games!
Name: Rowlet
Category: Grass Quill Pokémon
Height: 1 ’00 ”
Weight: 3.3 lbs.
Type: Grass/Flying
Starting Move: LeafageThe first of the potential partners is the highly adaptable Grass Quill Pokémon, Rowlet. This Pokémon can fly silently through the skies, sneaking up on its opponent without being noticed. It can attack its opponents using powerful kicks, and it can also attack from a distance using the razor-sharp leaves that form part of its feathers. Rowlet can survey its environment and turn its neck nearly 180 degrees from front to back, so it can see directly behind itself. When in battle, Rowlet turns its head to face its Trainer when waiting for instructions.
Name: Litten
Category: Fire Cat Pokémon
Height: 1 ’04 ”
Weight: 9.5 lbs.
Type: Fire
Starting Move: EmberThe cool-headed Fire Cat Pokémon, Litten, is the next choice for a first-partner Pokémon. Litten’s fur is rich in oils and is immensely flammable. It constantly grooms itself by licking its coat, collecting loose fur into balls. It then ignites these hairballs to create fireball attacks. When the time comes for Litten to molt, it burns off all of its fur in one glorious blaze.
Name: Popplio
Category: Sea Lion Pokémon
Height: 1 ’04 ”
Weight: 16.5 lbs.
Type: Water
Starting Move: Water GunThe third possibility is the acrobatic Sea Lion Pokémon, Popplio. Popplio can create balloons made of water from its nose and utilize them to create a variety of different strategies and attacks in battle. This Pokémon is better at moving in the water than on land, and can swim at speeds over 25 mph. On land, it uses the elasticity of the balloons it creates to perform jumps and acrobatic stunts.
A brand-new trailer that showcases these three new partner Pokémon, brand new game play in action and the package art can be found here: http://bit.ly/1VRCJ25
More information and details about Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon will be unveiled throughout the course of 2016.
The website also mentions that Rowlet learns a new grass type move called Leafage. Presumably, it’s another grass type version of Ember and Water Gun, since it wouldn’t make much sense for Rowlet to know Vine Whip instead.
CoroCoro’s latest issue, didn’t really have any new information aside of what is mentioned above, but teases an exclusive scoop for next month’s issue, and claims itself to be the Main Source for Pokémon news.
It did have a feature on the new movie Volcanion and the Ingenious Magearna, with new art and various clips from the trailer, as you can see from the scan below:
Finally, Pokénchi showed off a bit of footage from the game, where we can clearly identify some bystanders in the background while the battle is going on. Check it out in the screenshot below:
Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
The Pokémon Company has confirmed that Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire have collectively sold over three million units across Europe since launching in November 2014.
To celebrate, a special Shiny Machamp will be given out at the European National events. It’s similar to the one used by last year’s Senior Division Video Game World Champion.
Fans can watch the Pokémon National Championships as they happen starting this weekend. There will be three separate streams with English commentary from each of the main events: the Pokémon Trading Card Game National Championships, the Pokémon Video Game National Championships, and the Pokkén Tournament Championship Series. These streams will be available for the following events:
- 14–15 May: Liverpool, UK (Exhibition Centre Liverpool)
- 21–22 May: Kassel, Germany (Kongress Palais Kassel)
- 11–12 June: Milan, Italy (Mediolanum Forum, Assago MI)
Pokkén Tournament
In a recent issue of Famitsu, an interview with the developers behind Pokkén Tournament was published.
The magazine spoke with director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada, director Haruki Suzaki, and producer Masaaki Hoshino, and they discussed topics like the reception of the game’s Wii U version, trying to make the game approachable to everyone, and how important player feedback was, among other things.
You can find a translated summary of this interview over here, at Nintendo Everything.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
Nintendo has recently announced some concrete information about its DLC plans for Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE in the west.
At launch, players will be able to grab five additional content packs for the game. They are as follows:
• Costume Set: Get new costumes for Itsuki, Tsubasa, Touma and Kiria.
• Tokyo Millennium Collection: Participate in a fashion show and get extra outfits for Tsubasa, Kiria and Eleonora.
• EXPeditious Hunter: Battle through a dungeon filled with enemies that yield experience.
• Masterful Hunter: Gain materials used to level up weapons by fighting enemies in this dungeon.
• Savage Hunter: Defeat difficult enemies in this dungeon to earn rare items.
Nintendo also said that the EXPeditious Hunter, Masterful Hunter and Savage Hunter DLC will be purchasable together for a reduced price via the Hunter Support Quest Pack.
All the DLC released in Japan is listed abover, with the exception of the Hot Springs add-on content, which was comprised of extra swimsuits and programs that could be viewed on a television featuring the characters in the new costumes. Probably another case of censorship, but let’s wait and see if it shows up eventually.
Furthermore, we have videos of two of the game’s musical performances, Kiria’s “Reincarnation” and Tsubasa’s “Feel”, and some footage of a sidequest featuring Tiki, which you can find below:
Hyrule Warriors Legends
Koei Tecmo recently released a trailer for the first DLC pack for Hyrule Warriors Legends. The trailer shows off Medli, the new Adventure Mode map, which is the “Master Quest” version of the Great Sea map found in the base game, and several new outfits for both characters and My Fairy. In Japan, the DLC pack is being released next week, on May 19th. Nintendo of Europe already has confirmed the same release date for that region via Twitter, so possibly it’s going to release worldwide on the same day.
You can find the trailer below:
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
The Japanese Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games website recently went live, and contains some new content, like a look at a new bundle which contains a pair of Wii Remote controllers. You can access it here.
The entire character roster and the events in which they can participate as also been revealed. Here’s a list:
All events
Mario
Luigi
Peach
Yoshi
Daisy
Wario
Waluigi
Bowser
Bowser Jr.
Donkey Kong
Sonic
Tails
Amy
Knuckles
Blaze
Shadow
Silver
Dr. Eggman
Metal Sonic
Hector
Specific events
Diddy Kong (Rugby Sevens and Rugby Sevens Duel Event)
Nabbit (100m)
Wendy (100m Freestyle Swimming)
Larry (Equestrian – Jumping)
Rosalina (Rhythm Gymnastics)
Toad (4x100m Relay)
Dry Bowser (Javelin Throw)
Jet (Soccer and Soccer Duel Event)
Rouge (Beach Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Dream Event)
Wave (BMX)
Espio (Triple Jump)
Zavok (Boxing)
Sticks (Archery)
Zazz (Table Tennis)
Furthermore, we have some new footage from the Japanese website, and some new screenshots from the European website, which you can find below:
Super Mario Maker
A new Event Course has been added to Super Mario Maker, called “Popo & Nana’s Climbing Challenge”, which lets you unlock a Mystery Mushroom costume for Popo & Nana.
You can find all the details and footage about the course and costume below:
“The retro world of Ice Climber comes to Super Mario Maker! Smash your way upward through the blocks, but beware of enemies blocking your path – ascending this perilous peak won’t be a simple task! How quickly can you reach the summit?”
Besides that, Polygon has released another video in its “Devs Make Mario” series, this time featuring indie developer and “Cibele / How Do You Do It” creator Nina Freeman making a level in the game. You can watch it below:
Splatoon
Scans from the latest issue of CoroCoro indicate it will be getting a collaboration with Splatoon. The magazine shows that three new pieces of gear, all emblazoned with the CoroCoro logo, will be coming to the game. These are a Splat Roller (which has the stats of the regular Splat Roller, but comes with a Splash Wall and Inkzooka), an orange cap (with the Damage Up ability), and an orange parka (with the Cold-Blooded ability). These items will arrive in-game early in the summer. Furthermore, more weapons should arrive at the same time, as the next volume of the Sheldon’s Picks. You can find the scans bellow, and the first piece of official art for the collaboration.
Furthermore, Nintendo has announced it will be producing a series of playing cards with art based on Splatoon. The cards are set for a July release in Japan, and will come in three different varieties, which you can see in the gallery below:
Besides that, the first worldwide Splatfest is now over. You can find the results below:
Worldwide (14th Splatfest) – Fancy Party vs. Costume Party
– Votes – 52% / 48%
– Wins – 51% / 49%
– Final Results – 358 / 342 – Fancy Party Wins
It has also been made known that Splatoon is actually the most-successful console IP launch since the Wii series of games (Wii Sports, etc.).
Splatoon is sitting at around 1,357,000 copies sold in Japan, and the Wii U itself has moved around 3,165,000 units. By the time Wii U is phased out, the tie-in ratio could end up at 50%.
Star Fox Zero
USGamer has published a new interview with Yugo Hayashi and Yusuke Hashimoto, the two directors of Star Fox Zero. In it, they discussed the workload split between PlatinumGames and Nintendo, reactions to the game, and putting the focus on single-player, among other things. You can read the full interview over here.
2DS Price Drop, Style Savvy: Fashion Forward and Disney Magical World 2 coming to North America
Nintendo has announced it’s dropping the price of the 2DS in North America. The system will be reduced from $99.99 to $79.99 on May 20. Some systems also come with a pre-installed copy on Mario Kart 7.
A pair of titles is also announced to be coming to the North American 3DS. Style Savvy: Fashion Forward is launching on August 19, while Disney Magical World 2 is being released on October 14.
You can find the full announcement below, containing some information about the new games, a commercial for the 2DS price drop.
REDMOND, Wash., May 11, 2016 – The entry point to Nintendo 2DS and Nintendo 3DS games and franchises has never been more affordable. On May 20, Nintendo will lower the price of its kid-friendly portable Nintendo 2DS system to a suggested retail price of $79.99, a remarkable savings from the previous suggested retail price of $99.99. Some systems even come pre-installed with the universally popular Mario Kart 7 racing game, making the new value price even more appealing for parents who are looking for an entry-level gaming system for their young gamers.
Nintendo 2DS launched in October 2013 and is part of the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. The system comes with fun built-in entertainment options and applications to take photos and videos, plus wireless access to Nintendo eShop for those with Internet access. The unique design is built to make it easy for smaller hands to hold. The system includes two screens (including a touch screen) and plays Nintendo 3DS games, plus nearly all Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games in 2D. For details about Nintendo 2DS, visit http://www.nintendo.com/2ds.
“Nintendo 2DS is the best value available for a portable dedicated gaming system and is great for gaming on the go,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “The system has a library full of high-quality games for purchase, some in our Nintendo Selects category for less than $20 each, featuring Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi and Zelda.”
Kids can soon check out the new game in the Kirby series, Kirby: Planet Robobot, which launches June 10, as well as two new kid-friendly games coming later this year: Style Savvy: Fashion Forward and Disney Magical World 2.
Style Savvy: Fashion Forward, the third game in the Style Savvy series, gives players a sense of accomplishment by putting them in charge of one of five exciting professions. Players can immerse themselves in a world of fashion by owning a boutique, designing clothes, styling hair, applying makeup or becoming a model. When players make themselves look good, customers who visit their boutiques might start adopting the player’s style. The game includes over 19,000 different articles of clothing, items and accessories to choose from. Players can also learn real-world fashion tips from the Fashion 101 guide. To access Nintendo character-themed clothing and accessories in the game, players can tap select amiibo figures to a Nintendo 2DS, Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo 3DS XL system using the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer accessory to trigger an event. Once the event is completed, players can get the special items. The amiibo and Reader/Writer accessory are sold separately. The New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL systems feature a built-in NFC reader for amiibo. Style Savvy: Fashion Forward launches Aug. 19.
Disney Magical World 2, the follow up to the popular franchise, lets players enjoy a variety of new adventures in six Disney-themed worlds, such as exploring the world of Disney Frozen, dancing with Disney princesses or soaring through special Magical Dream events. Players will encounter and interact with well-known characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Ariel, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck. The game launches Oct. 14.
In the meantime, the Nintendo 3DS family of systems has a library of great exclusive games for every type of player, including New Super Mario Bros. 2, Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. Some of Nintendo’s other big hits in the Nintendo Selects category are also available for a suggested retail price of only $19.99 each. The Nintendo Selects line includes great games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Mario Party: Island Tour and Yoshi’s New Island.
Lime x Black and Pink x White New 3DS colors coming to Japan
Nintendo has revealed a new pair of color options for the New 3DS in Japan.
From June 9 forward, consumers will be able to pick up the Lime x Black and Pink x White colored New 3DS’. Each console is priced at 20,304 yen.
You can take a look at them in the gallery below:
Virtual Console
New SNES titles are coming to the New Nintendo 3DS in Japan. They are as follows:
– Kirby’s Dream Course
– Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem
– The Legend of the Mystical Ninja
– Super Street Fighter II: The New Challenger
Besides that, two Super Famicom-themed prepaid cards have been revealed. In the picture below you can see both. The one on the left is being sold at 7-Eleven, while the one on the right is offered by Lawson. There are limited quantities of both.
Finally, we have the usual recently released Virtual Console trailers for both New 3DS and Wii U titles. These are all for Japan, this week. Check them out below.
Super Mario Kart (SNES, New 3DS)
Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES, New 3DS)
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 (DS, Wii U)
Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing apps will be free-to-start
DeNA has come forward regarding the operational model for the Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing apps.
Chief executive Isao Moriyasu told The Wall Street Journal that Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing will be free-to-start apps. A Nintendo spokeswoman confirmed this to the publication as well.
Moriyasu additionally mentioned that the new mobile titles are more “pure-game apps” compared to Miitomo.
Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle Results
The Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle ended on May 10 after running for two weeks. It definitely surpassed last year’s Humble Nindie Bundle, and the final stats are quite impressive. Take a look at the results below:
Total payments: roughly $1,576,000
Number of purchases: ~162,000
Average purchase: $9.74
Top three contributors: Anonymous ($300), 13AM Games ($251), Nintendo’s Damon Baker ($250)
How does that stack up to the Humble Nindie Bundle? Let’s see:
Total payments: roughly $750,000
Number of purchases: ~82,500
Average purchase: $9.18
Top three contributors: Nintendo’s Damon Baker ($500), PlayEveryWare ($225), Choice Provisions ($200)
Looking at the stats, the Humble Friends of Nintendo Bundle sold about two times more than the Humble Nindie Bundle. So overall this is excellent news for all parties involved, I guess.
Famitsu Award 2015 Winners
The 2015 Famitsu Award ceremony was held in Japan on May 10. The full lineup of winners in now known, including Game of the Year which went to Splatoon. You can see the entire list below, including some other Nintendo games.
Game of the Year
- Splatoon (Nintendo)
Excellence Prize
- Bloodborne (SIE)
- Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below (Square Enix)
- Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (Square Enix)
- Fallout 4 (Bethesda Softworks)
- Fire Emblem Fates (Nintendo)
- Granblue Fantasy (Cygames)
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (Konami)
- Monster Hunter Generations (Capcom)
- Monster Strike (Mixi)
- Shironeko Project (Colopl)
- Super Mario Maker (Nintendo)
- Tokyo Xanadu (Nihon Falcom)
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Spike Chunsoft)
- Yakuza 0 (Sega)
- Yo-kai Watch Busters Red Cat Team / White Dog Corps (Level-5)
Male Character Voice Award
- Akio Otsuka
Female Character Voice Award
- Miyuki Sawashiro
Movement Award
- Touken Ranbu Online (DMM Games & Nitroplus)
Innovation Award
- Splatoon (Nintendo)
- Super Mario Maker (Nintendo)
Best Hit Award
- Monster Hunter Generations (Capcom)
Favorite App Award
- Puzzle & Dragons (GungHo Online Entertainment)
Rookie Award
- Dragon’s Dogma Online (Capcom)
- Ensemble Stars! (Happy Elements)
- Shiro to Dragon (Asobism)
- Splatoon (Nintendo)
Best Character Award
- Snake (Konami)
Best Game Maker Award
- Square Enix
MVP Award
- Hideo Kojima (Kojima Productions)
Kids’ Game Awards to include Nintendo on advisory board
Geoff Keighley started The Game Awards a couple of years ago, and now another show will be produced towards the end of this year. In addition to that, Keighley will now be producing the Kids’ Game Awards.
Variety shares the following news about it:
In October, DreamWorksTV, the kid-focused multichannel network that AwesomenessTV launched in 2014, will stage the Kids’ Game Awards, an interactive, all-digital show that will let viewers vote on their favorite video games (in the vein of Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards). The Kids’ Game Awards show will feature special appearances by celebrities, gamers, digital influencers and musical guests. For the Kids’ Game Awards, led by producer Geoff Keighley, AwesomenessTV has also lined up an advisory board that includes Activision, Nintendo and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
More news about the two Game Awards shows should be coming in the future, so stay tuned for more.