In Like a Lion…

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supermarioodyssey_1987273Nintendo took to E3 2017 like a lion! Prior to the Nintendo Spotlight, which was followed by the Nintendo Treehouse Live, reports circulated about about the length of the presentation. Of course, these reports were met my some of the strangest reactions possible. In typical fashion, there were the usual complaints from this person or that, expounding on all of the “reasons” Nintendo was making a mistake, and already on the way to “losing” E3.

These sentiments, however, were wholly premature, as Nintendo absolutely showed off so much information on games that will be coming to the Nintendo Switch and a few to the Nintendo 3DS titles, as well. The Nintendo Spotlight was 25 minutes of packed details, and it was all about Nintendo Switch games coming very soon. Afterward, the Treehouse Live broadcast featured a few additional tidbits.

If you were unable to watch the Nintendo Spotlight, or would like to see it again, check it out below.

A few of the highlights from Day 1 include:

  • Xenoblade Chronicles 2 looks amazing and is due to release Holiday 2017
  • a brand new Kirby game is coming to the Nintendo Switch, due to release next year
  • a new core RPG Pokémon game is in development for Nintendo Switch, but may be more than a year out
  • Metroid Prime 4 is now in development for the Nintendo Switch
  • Yoshi is in development and due to be released next year
  • Fire Emblem Warriors is due to be released Fall 2017
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC Expansion Pass Pack 1 is due to be released on June 30 and is called The Master Trials; and Pack 2 is due to be released in Holiday 2017, and called The Champions’ Ballad
  • Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was shown off and is due to be released August 29
  • Rocket League was announced for Nintendo Switch and includes console exclusives, cross-network support, and in due to be released Holiday 2017
  • Super Mario Odyssey was packed with tons of surprising content, features amazing music and so many never-before-seen mechanics and abilities, and is due to be released on October 27

“Nintendo Switch provides everyone a ticket for a journey to new worlds and fun, exclusive experiences,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “This journey continues through all of 2017 and beyond, and it’s one that video game fans of all types won’t want to miss.”

Nintendo's E3 2017 Show FloorDuring the Treehouse Live, Nintendo showed off several minutes of game play footage for the upcoming Metroid: The Return of Samus, a new 2D Metroid title for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. This game is due to be released September 15. In addition, we were also treated to game play for the upcoming Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions, due to be released on October 6. Also, as many as 12 new amiibo were shown off, and should be available soon.

The Treehouse Live was then followed by the first of three phenomenal tournaments featuring different competitive titles from Nintendo. The Splatoon 2 World Inkling Invitational took place today, pitting 4 teams from around the world against each other in the new Splatoon 2 game that will be released July 21. The remaining 2 tournaments are today and tomorrow, Wednesday June 14 and Thursday, June 15, respectively.

Nintendo Treehouse: Live at E3 returns 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday. The day will include more live gameplay, game details and developer commentary, as well as two competitions. The 2017 Pokkén Tournament DX Invitational is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m., while the 2017 ARMS Open Invitational is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. PT.

There was just so much to like about Day 1 of Nintendo’s E3 showing, and it was just the first day. What else will they do?!

Which aspect of the day stood out most to you? Were you happy with what you saw? What was the biggest surprise of the day?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

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Nintendo Offers a Weapons Blowout for Splatoon 2

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Nintendo has given a huge amount of detail on many of the weapons that will be available to utilize in their newest iteration of the immensely popular Splatoon franchise. Splatoon 2, due to launch globally on July 21, is set to have a massive amount of content at launch, and even more in the weeks and months to follow, as well.

As we get closer and closer to the game’s release, Nintendo is giving fans a very good look at what will be available to use when the game comes out. Below is a slideshow of many of the weapons that are new and returning for Splatoon 2 on Nintendo Switch.

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Which weapons are you most excited about testing out? Do you see you main weapon from Splatoon in the group? Which changes do you think will have the most impact?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

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The Information Keeps on Coming In…

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Just as Nintendo prepares to create their latest E3 experience next week, the company is preparing to host 3 separate Invitational tournaments during the event. Of course, leading into the tourneys, Nintendo is giving fans an opportunity to know a little more about the games that will be shown off, competitively. One such game is, of course, Splatoon 2.

Last week, Nintendo of America released a Splat Chat video on their Official YouTube channel illustrating some of what it takes to play competitively well in the new game. They have released a second Splat Chat video today that talks about a few things like weapon choice, and even changes to certain maps.

The march to E3 2017 is officially on, and Nintendo is setting the table for some incredible activities over that 3-day period. It is going to be amazing seeing first-time footage and game play from upcoming games that we will have the opportunity to play very soon. Nintendo has already stated that their E3 coverage will focus on games that are coming in 2017. So that means like many times before, we will not be inundated by promises of long-off experiences. We will soon be able to enjoy them.

Also of note, Nintendo of America has created a new Twitter account dedicated to the competitive gaming scene called Nintendo Versus.

https://twitter.com/nintendovs/status/873228598236258304%5Bembed%5D

What are you most looking forward to from this year’s E3? Are you excited to see how the Invitational tournaments go? Would you like to participate if this becomes a continually competitive event at E3?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

Let the Games Begin!

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The annual event that most North American gamers look forward to, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is just around the corner, and it looks like Nintendo is more than ready to deliver an amazing and unique experience this year. Invitational Tournaments are going to take over the show, and fans at home will have a front-row seat for all of the action.

This year’s E3 promises to showcase several Invitational player tournaments, and the excitement can’t get higher. Not only has Nintendo announced there will be the Nintendo Spotlight, showcasing new details on the upcoming gaming landscape for the company, but there will be a Treehouse Live presentation to follow, that will allow us to see many of the games featured in the Spotlight in game play action. In addition, they will treat observers to a display of the competitive nature of many of the games that are bringing so much life to the Nintendo Switch. Splatoon 2, ARMS, and Pokkén Tournament each have their own Invitational Tournament where competitors will go head to head live during the show to see who will come out victorious.

Tournaments
Name: 2017 Splatoon 2 World Inkling Invitational
Date: Tuesday, June 13
Time: 2:30 p.m. PT*
Details: For the first time ever, competitors from four different global regions will compete for world dominance in Splatoon 2. The four-person teams – from the United States, Japan, Europe and Australia/New Zealand – defeated their local rivals and gained the chance to take on competitors at E3.
Format: Teams will battle in a round-robin Turf War tournament that will decide seeding for the next round. All teams will play one another and get a chance to scope out their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. In the next round, teams will battle in the game’s Ranked Battle modes, in addition to Turf War. The semifinal stage will be a best-of-five battle, while the championship will be best-of-seven
Prize: The winning team will win global bragging rights and its members will have their names engraved on a sweet Splatoon 2 trophy.
Casters: Jordan Kent, Ashley Esqueda and Nintendo of America’s Eric Smith

Name: 2017 Pokkén Tournament DX Invitational
Date: Wednesday, June 14
Time: 10:30 a.m. PT*
Competitors: Eight YouTube and Twitch stars
Format: Crew battle with four teams and two players per team. Random draft order. The first person in each crew must choose one of the new characters; the other person can choose one of the original characters.
Prize: Winners will each receive a Pokkén Tournament DX art piece signed by Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, and members of the development team.
Casters: Jordan Kent, D1 and VikkiKitty

Name: 2017 ARMS Open Invitational
Date: Wednesday, June 14
Time: 3:30 p.m. PT*
Competitors: Four professional competitive fighting game players (Alex “CaliPower” Valle, Kelsy “SuperGirlKels” Medeiros, Daniel “Tafokints” Lee and Marie-Laure “Kayane” Norindr) will take on four E3 attendees who rise to the top by competing in Nintendo’s booth.
Format: Single-elimination
Prize: The coveted 2017 ARMS Open Invitational Belt
Casters: Jordan Kent, D1 and VikkiKitty

It is utterly exciting to see Nintendo continue to embrace their competitive roots when it comes to their games and the esports landscape. Over two years ago, Triforce Johnson was often quoted as saying that through his observations, Nintendo was positioning themselves to seriously move back into the esports and competitive scene with many more of their games, beyond the Super Smash Bros. franchise. Shortly after that, Nintendo announced their Nintendo World Championships event at E3 2015. Now, more and more, we are seeing the company embrace their competitive gaming roots.

“Splatoon 2 and ARMS are games that lend themselves perfectly to tournaments, and E3 is an ideal venue to bring people together to compete,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “These friendly tournaments will highlight the fun, competitive nature of these games and the Nintendo Switch hardware for people at home and on the show floor.”

One staple that has grown to be a major fan-favorite that started at an E3 event and has returned for several key events, is the Treehouse Live presentation. This is where we fans tuning in to Nintendo’s E3 presence from home get the opportunity to get a lot of the insight into Nintendo, and of course, what they have to offer us in the coming days and months. That is why I am thoroughly excited about what we will get the opportunity to experience next week!

Nintendo Treehouse: Live at E3
What: Members of Nintendo’s Treehouse will once again delve into the details of the Nintendo Switch console and games for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, including Super Mario Odyssey and Pokkén Tournament DX. Viewers will get an in-depth look at gameplay and hear behind-the-scenes details about Nintendo’s lineup for E3.
When: On Tuesday, June 13, the show starts right after the Nintendo Spotlight: E3 2017 presentation about 9:30 a.m. PT. On Wednesday and Thursday, June 14-15, the show starts about 10 a.m. PT.*
Who: Treehouse members, as well as developers and other game experts, including Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company. Ishihara and development team members will talk about the upcoming Pokkén Tournament DX game for Nintendo Switch.

Will you be tuning in live next week for any/all of the Nintendo E3 2017 festivities? Which event are you looking forward to most (aside from the Nintendo Spotlight, of course)?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

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Flavorful Partnerships

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Nintendo is doing a lot of different and even remarkable things to promote their brand new console this Summer, and leading into the Fall/Winter seasons. As a large bulk of the company’s populace are moving into their Summer break from school, this unique promoting is to not only get the word out about the system, but also to generate more anticipation for it.

It is no secret that the demand is/remains extremely high for the Nintendo Switch, so having the opportunity to get your hands on the system is proving a little difficult for many. In situations like these, where supply and demand are quite effectively feeding each other, it is vitally important to make sure interest remains high throughout. That is where partnerships like the one that Nintendo has created with Pepsi/Frito-Lay play such a pivotal role.

Brand awareness is important, and connecting Nintendo Switch with staple brands like Pepsi and Frito-Lay are incredible, even for a “HOT” item like this because it goes a long way toward making sure that especially throughout this first year on the market, the company has its highest possible level of interest and enthusiasm for the console.

The next time you pick up a Frito-Lay Variety Pack, one of the flagship brands from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, you also might pick up a Nintendo Switch gaming system. Between now and July 8, Frito-Lay is giving away one Nintendo Switch system and a game every single hour! Specially marked Frito-Lay Variety Packs contain information about how U.S. residents can enter for a chance to win.

I like the way in which this type of promotion is coming at the start of Summer vacation, because as students are getting out of school, parents are buying snacks like these for the kids who are home a good majority of the day. Something to snack on is a necessity. So, why not pair the two and make it a win for both partners! Why not?!

“Nintendo Switch sprung out of the gate as the fastest-selling Nintendo home system in history,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “It’s no secret that snacks and video games have always gone together, and this is a great chance for people to get their hands on a Nintendo Switch and a game.”

Even for those of us who are “past school age”, we still like our snacks as well, and when you’re talking about the Frito-Lay brand, you can’t really go wrong.

Frito-Lay Variety Pack includes pre-portioned bags of everyone’s favorite Frito-Lay snacks, such as: Cheetos cheese flavored snacks, Doritos tortilla chips, Fritos corn snacks, Funyun’s onion flavored rings, Lay’s potato chips, Rold Gold pretzels, Smartfood popcorn and SunChips multigrain snacks. Variety Packs are available at retail stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.60 – $8.99. For additional details about the Frito Lay presents the Nintendo Switch Giveaway, visit http://www.flvpgamegiveaway.com.

It’s hard to argue with the logic that went into this decision, and I wouldn’t even attempt to because I really like the move. Whether I win a system or not, I do believe this promotion will be amazing for Nintendo and the Nintendo Switch. I remember back in the early days of Nintendo as a home gaming entity, and the number of promotions that went into making sure EVERYONE knew about the NES were astounding. In fact, many companies employed a lot of the same tactics…and they worked wonderfully well! I mean, to this day, I cannot eat Reese’s Pieces without thinking about ET: the Extra Terrestrial (and I love my Reese’s).

Of note: Nintendo and Pepsi also have another promotion for the Nintendo Switch that is also serving to help Pepsi promote their new flavor, Pepsi Fire (cinnamon flavored). For more details visit: Pepsi Fire Sweepstakes

What do you think of this latest promotion by the company with regards to the Nintendo Switch? Will you be trying to win a console? Do you like the snacks that come in the Variety Packs? Are you a fan of Pepsi products, in general?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

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New Pokémon Direct Tomorrow Morning

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Nintendo announced that the company will holding a Nintendo Direct in the morning. This Direct will be focused on Pokémon, and presumably the company’s plans for the rumored, yet unannounced, Nintendo Switch offering.

In one week, Nintendo’s E3 will kick off with their Nintendo Spotlight presentation, followed by the Treehouse Live streams, but it seems the company wants to lead into the event next week by sharing some potentially blockbuster news this week.

It will definitely be interesting to see what the company does with this 8-minute video presentation, and I look forward to seeing it all. The company has a track record of sharing big news leading into E3, with mixed results to follow, but with all that Nintendo has been doing to push forward their message and advance their momentum, I am supremely confident that their recent history will go a long way toward establishing a winning week ahead.

Are you a Pokémon fan? What do you expect to see during the Direct? Do you think this is foreshadowing for the coming E3 information?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

Splatoon 2 Tweaks the Rules for Ranked Battles

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If it has not been apparent before now, it should be coming clearer daily that the name of the game is competition. The Splatoon franchise is all about competition and that competition has levels. The main mode of competition is and has always been Turf War, in which the objective is to ink more turf than your opponent within the given time limit. The additional modes are found inside Ranked Battles, and that’s where the competition really heats up.

The new game coming to the franchise, Splatoon 2, will feature a few new changes to the Ranked Battle modes, and Nintendo was excited to share them with us. The first thing to not of course is the fact that the three modes we’ve grown so used to playing in Splatoon will be returning for the newest game on the Nintendo Switch. The adjustments that have been made to each of these modes is shown here, from the company’s Spaltoon Tumblr page.

https://www.tumblr.com/splatoonus/161351626195/just-in-new-details-of-the-ranked-battle-modes-in

https://www.tumblr.com/splatoonus/161351837353/in-tower-control-mode-teams-battle-to-move-a

https://www.tumblr.com/splatoonus/161352053871/in-rainmaker-opposing-teams-battle-for-control-of

In addition to the above information, Nintendo of America has also shared what may be a new segment on their YouTube channel, Splat Chat which features several Treehouse employees discussing these changes. Here’s hoping they continue with this on other aspects of the game, as well.

Nintendo is doing an incredible job of making fans aware of the things that they have in the works right now, and that is such a refreshing thing because it eliminates quite a bit of the “guessing” that people tend to do when it comes to the company’s intentions. It puts much more focus on the phenomenal content that they have on offer, instead.

What do you like most about these new adjustments in Splatoon 2? Were you a primarily Ranked Battles player in the original game? Which is your favorite mode?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

Nintendo Switch Online Coming in 2018

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Nintendo has finally given details on the highly anticipated paid online services coming to the Nintendo Switch. The service was mentioned at launch, with more details to come soon, and now we have those.

Several key aspects of the online service have finally been revealed, as they were definitely pieces of the puzzle that we needed to know. One thing to note immediately on this announcement is that the service is due to launch in 2018, not later this year, as was initially explained. This could quite possibly be due to delay with the smartphone app that ties the entire service together. I’m pretty sure the app was to be launched shortly after the launch of the console, but now a free, limited version is due in the Summer of 2017.

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Nintendo Switch Online features.jpg

We learned of the pricing plans that will be available in order to access the paid-specific features, we also learned of the Nintendo eShop deals that will be available solely to subscribers, and of course the smartphone app.

Nintendo Switch Online pricing.jpg

Nintendo eShop deals

Special offers for subscribers may include discounts on select digital games and content.

Online lobby and voice chat

Our new dedicated smart device app will connect to Nintendo Switch and let you invite friends to play online, set play appointments, and chat with friends during online matches in compatible games─all from your smart device.

A free, limited version of this app will be available for download in summer 2017.

As it stands now, we have a lot of new information, but we’re also being advised to check back for more details before the official launch in 2018.

It’s really exciting to see the full Nintendo Switch system coming together. As more and more of the features and amenities are fleshed out, the more and more attractive the console will be for even more people around the world. Nintendo is already setting personal records for sales with the Nintendo Switch, and as it becomes even better, it will appeal to the masses that much more.

Are you excited to experience the full scale online service? Are you pleased with the pricing model? Will you subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online service?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

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New Splatoon 2 Details Are Emerging

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As Nintendo continues to ramp up the promotion for new and upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch, it seems that every day presents some new bit of information. Splatoon 2, which is scheduled to release globally in July, is no exception to the release of new details, either.

In the first update, we learn a little more about the Octarian army and some of their weaponry.

https://www.tumblr.com/splatoonus/161245548821/the-octarian-army-is-a-legion-of-tentactled

The second update shares with us who appears to be a new boss character in Octo Samurai.

https://www.tumblr.com/splatoonus/161283243652/this-tough-customer-is-octo-samurai-he-brandishes

The continual updates and release of details about the upcoming Splatoon 2 are wonderful and go a long way toward ensuring that fans have a full opportunity to learn as much as they possibly can about the game. When the first game launched on the Wii U 2 years ago, it was known that the franchise was brand new with a minimal team, only powered by what looked to be a very good idea. Bolstered by the surprising excitement around the newly announced game during an E3 presentation, the company prepared to launch a completely new franchise with a very small amount of backstory. Now, the foundation for the Splatoon franchise is set, and the backstory for Splatoon 2 is leading the way to launch, and I believe that will only serve to help the game to do well on the market, because I am very confident in the developers and their ability to deliver yet another incredible experience.

What do you like most about these new Splatoon 2 details? Are you a fan of the first game in the franchise? Are you excited about this game’s coming arrival, and will you be picking it up at launch?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

Nintendo Scores BIG With ARMS Global Testpunch!

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Over the course of the last 2-3 years or so, Nintendo has subtly and even aggressively changed the ways in which they share their message with the fans, and the gaming audience, on the whole. Gone are the days of the confusing messaging; gone are the days of “is it a new console, or is it an add-on?”; and gone are the days of “when will Nintendo make a new IP?” The company is swiftly moving into the realm of “This is what we are doing now, and you are going to love it”…and they’re absolutely right!

During the Wii U generation, the company was forced to make some aggressive and even unprecedented moves to ensure their messaging was exactly where they needed it to be. A new advertisement firm was hired to get the word out about Nintendo and their products, new personnel were hired to lead Sales and Marketing, and overall, the company has just done an amazing job of getting their hardware and software into the hands of potential purchasers.

dasumihxgaef3qcThis past weekend (Memorial Day weekend in the US, by the way) Nintendo launched a Global Testpunch for their new and quickly-releasing franchise, ARMS. Similar to the Global Testfire held for the Splatoon franchise, the ARMS Global Testpunch allows Nintendo Switch owners to play a demo version of the game globally during set time slots. This not only allows fans to get an early look at/play of the game, but also give Nintendo an opportunity to stress-test the servers in preparation to launch the game next month.

Another wonderful side effect of these Tests is the opportunity to raise awareness and anticipation for new titles as they prepare to launch. ARMS is definitely benefiting from this treatment as it is climbing up the Amazon Best Sellers chart this weekend as people get a taste of the game and what it has to offer.

Amazon Best Sellers as of May 27 at 10pm

Amazon Best Sellers List for Video Games as of Saturday evening, May 27, just after 10pm EST.

Having avenues to continually connect with fans, gauge demand, and gain feedback is imperative for the company and it appears to be working wonders for them thus far. I am constantly remarking that this is an amazing time to be a Nintendo fan, and it seems that each week Nintendo keeps proving me right. The company’s mission to put more smiles on the faces of the people they come in contact with by the use of their strong and storied IP is only bolstered by their stellar performance in the marketplace right now, and the surprises that are sure to come over the next couple of weeks are sure to keep that performance going.

Were you able to participate in the ARMS Global Testpunch? What were your impressions of the game? Are you anticipating getting the full retail version? What do you like most of the Nintendo Switch, so far?

As always, gaming is meant to be fun, so keep gaming!!

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