Welcome again to the Nintendo Life Mailbox. It’s mid-July, so it’s time to delve into our digital mailbag and see what’s on the minds of the loveliest individuals in all of gamedom – Nintendo Life readers!
Got one thing you need to get off your chest? Gaming-related, ideally, however we obtain all kinds of issues. Want to get our tackle The Discourse™? Ask Ollie about his favorite 3D Sonic? Find out Alana’s ideas on pineapple on pizza or Jim’s favorite socks? That’s a bit bizarre, however okay – we’re prepared and ready.
Each month we’ll spotlight a Star Letter, the author of which is able to obtain a month’s subscription to our ad-free Supporter scheme. Check out the submission pointers on the backside of this web page for info on have your brief, sharp correspondence drop on our digital doormat.
Enough ado. Time to crack out our Master Sword letter opener…
Nintendo Life Mailbox – July 2023
“Keyword stuffing” (***STAR LETTER***)
The Nintendo eShop has been in unhealthy form for years now in the case of shovelware. The downside is compounded by the truth that the “New Releases” tab is totally cluttered each week with re-re-re-re-releases of the identical F-tier video games, bundled or repackaged as “final version” or “definitive version.” I assume doing so provides the writer a brand new SKU within the eShop, so Nintendo treats it like a brand new recreation. For instance, the notorious “AAA Clock” app has now been launched an astounding *34 occasions* on the North American eShop!
The different massive downside I see is what I name “key phrase stuffing,” because it mimics the problem of the identical title with respect to SEO. Shovelware video games are popping out with absurd, prolonged titles akin to “Real Truck Simulator USA Car Games – Driving Games, Parking Sim, Car Speed Racing 2022” (I want I had made that up. It is an actual recreation, on the market proper now.)
I’m annoyed that Nintendo permits these practices to proceed unabated. I want to see Nintendo Life and different influential retailers name Nintendo out for ignoring the actions of bad-faith publishers, whereas the eShop has turn into a cesspool of rubbish with a couple of pockets of fine and respectable video games.
Thank you for studying!
JJtheTexan
It’s miserable to see genuinely nice video games buried within the eShop scroll as publishers do what they’ll to recreation the system and acquire any scrap of visibility. RedDeer, the AAA Clock writer, has a very unhealthy monitor file of this observe.
It’s clear to each gamers and builders that Nintendo’s present ‘open-door’ coverage is a great distance from excellent, even when policing and curating the whole lot opens a can of worms. From Nintendo’s viewpoint, is it proper to exclude, say, Farming Simulator – Farm, Tractor, Experience Logic Games Nintendo Switch Edition or The Last Hope from the eShop simply because they’re annoying and clogs up search outcomes?
It’s a troublesome one. You would hope that honest, severe thought is being dedicated to the design of its subsequent storefront, particularly to visibility, discounting, and shutting loopholes that permit publishers resubmit the identical software program dozens of occasions. – Ed.
“Crusty”
I admit that I’m a crusty previous fogey. Not certain the way it occurred but it surely did. Maybe that’s what makes me say this however “STOP WITH THE OPEN WORLD GAMES”. I simply don’t have the time, vitality or endurance for them. The unhealthy factor is that the whole lot goes that means. Mario Odyssey, Zelda, Lego Racer.
I simply need to go from A to B bouncing on turtles heads, begin at a begin line, and end at a end line. Start on the backside of a mountain, seize Bob-omb by the tail and get a star.
Let some video games be open world for certain however not ALL of them. I don’t bear in mind a time the place each single style is obsessive about being “open world” and I began with the unique Space Invaders.
Please – we’d like extra selection.
norwichred
I agree up to some extent. Not the whole lot must be open-world. Odyssey struck an excellent stability for me, and I’m not satisfied personally that the Bowser’s Fury-style path many individuals are determined for the subsequent 3D Mario to take is the one means ahead. Give me Galaxy 3 and a sandwich and I’d be made up. Fogeys ftw!
HOWEVER, I’d additionally argue that there is by no means earlier than been extra selection in video games. And whereas the largest studios are inclined to lean in the direction of open worlds (Street Fighter 6 is a good latest instance), there are such a lot of video games being made by groups giant and small that there is not any scarcity of linear experiences in the event that they’re your desire. Same if you happen to’re uninterested in Metroidvanias or cosy farm sims or harrowing private narratives or retro-styled pixel platformers — it may be overwhelming when so many groups are racing to tick the identical buzzword checkboxes, however with so many different video games to research, there actually is one thing for everybody. – Ed.
“Where’s my Delorean”
Dear Nintendo Life,
Thank you at all times for repeatedly offering me with an limitless stream of content material to maintain me coming again each day.
Anyways, my query at this time stems from the ever growing prices of traditional bodily video video games. What truly drives the costs up or down? Who truly determines the precise greenback quantity these are price? I’ve been figuring it may very well be the quantity produced throughout stated video games life cycle, the window it was launched and if it was on the finish of a console’s life span or maybe it is simply the encompassing buzz and cult standing of sure video games that drives the value to abhorrent prices. For instance; Little Samson on the NES can promote unfastened for a mean of $1,000! Now in my view, this recreation is not even all that nice. And it was launched in 1992 together with many different video games that late within the NES life cycle, so what makes this one so particular towards different low-cost releases that yr akin to TMNT3: The Manhattan Project or Dragon Warrior 3? Both higher in my view.
In conclusion, the ever-increasing price of traditional bodily video games and the truth that replica video games are getting much more convincing to the untrained eye together with nearly nobody incomes a residing wage anymore makes recreation accumulating an especially luxurious interest. Where’s my Delorean so I can return to 10-year previous me and kick my very own arse for throwing away all that plastic and cardboard gold!
nymbosox
$1000 for Little Samson, unfastened cart. Oof.
Ultimately, it is provide and demand. A late-period NES launch possible solely received one print run, so there are fewer copies within the wild within the first place. The market determines their price, and it solely takes one particular person to tug the set off on that high-priced, ever-relisted copy on eBay for the common value to rise.
But how many individuals are truly paying a grand or extra for a unfastened NES cart? A minuscule handful of fanatic collectors. Anybody genuinely determined to pattern the delights of Little Samson will discover different means to play the sport. And when it will get to the really astronomical figures well-known video games have fetched in sealed and graded situation at public sale, there are different allegedly nefarious elements at play there. Thankfully, that racket appears to be dying out, but when somebody with extra money than sense has $1 million to spend on a mint SMB, they’ll discover a snake oil service provider. – Ed.
“It’s not Sonic 06”
Do you hate Metroid: Other M? As a Metroid Autistic Fan, it’s very disrespectful to me when individuals say Other M nearly killed Metroid. While it will not be a traditional, there’s lots of Other M that I beloved and favored that Sakamoto would carry over to in Samus Returns. While I do agree that the script & story might’ve been higher, it’s not Sonic 06.
I imagine there’s nothing improper with Samus having PTSD or being on the Autism Spectrum. And I imagine Other M deserves a second probability on Nintendo Switch. If Skyward Sword will be on Switch, why not Other M? Please don’t hate me as a result of I like Other M. Thank you.
Marshall Gordeuk
Confession time: I’ve by no means performed Other M. However, I do personal Other M, as a result of I fell in love with the Japanese field artwork and needed to have it! One day I’ll get round to truly enjoying it. Probably simply earlier than they announce a remaster.
It feels self-evident, however trying across the web it is easy to assume in any other case: Nobody ought to hate somebody as a result of they like (or don’t love) a online game! Keep on flying the Other M flag, and do not forget that you are in good firm — we gave it a 9/10 again in 2010. – Ed.
“Once extra”
Hey Nintendo Life,
Which video games do you imagine must be higher candidates for remasters and remakes than others? Could it’s video games which can be trapped on a single console which have lengthy since been discontinued with little to no ports to trendy consoles akin to Fire Emblem: Path Of Radiance and F-Zero GX on GameDice, or Kid Icarus Uprising and Super Mario 3D Land on the 3DS? What about video games that from Nintendo’s stance may very well be seen as worthwhile and will doubtlessly promote even increased numbers as a remaster/remake than the unique model? I’m referring to common video games akin to Metroid Prime and Resident Evil 4 getting the remaster remedy and promoting excessive numbers and making fairly a bit of cash. You know, stuff like that. Once extra, which video games do you assume are higher certified for remasters/remakes than different video games?
TheBigBlue
The most worthwhile ones will little question already be within the pipeline, so I’d at all times personally advocate for introducing treasures from the again catalogue to a brand new viewers. A remake (or plainer Pikmin 1-style re-release/remaster, even) of Path of Radiance could be improbable, and I’d like to see these 3DS video games you talked about reworked. I’ve at all times thought it could be extra fascinating to remake video games that would most profit from trendy design tweaks. – Ed.
Bonus Letters
“Your mileage *will* fluctuate” – Agent P
It’s not the mileage, it is the yea—no, that is not proper. – Ed.
“2023 goes to be an excellent yr in gaming! Don’t you agree, Nintendo Life?” – TPS1234
Yes! – Ed.
“How do you’re feeling concerning the new Purah as a personality? Are you detached or are you a significant fan: to the purpose the place you modify your profile image to her?”
– Professor_Plumber
Would it’s bizarre to have simply her footwear as a profile pic? (That’s a rhetorical query. We received a number of Purah-based correspondences…) – Ed.
“How would you see Nintendo making a digital actuality headset?” – Hot Goomba
Preferably with a lot of crimson plastic and a migraine-inducingly low decision. – Ed.
“Nintendo Life ought to have a minipage or one thing the place you possibly can vote to your favourite online game track/band! I might love if you happen to guys did that.” – Gamergirl4
We do like a VG tune round these components. It is likely to be robust to wrangle a vote that broad, although now we have taken nominations and checked out our favorite Nintendo music up to now. We’ll have a assume. – Ed.
“What is your guys favourite Xenoblade 2 character? Aaaaand is it Nia?” – Snatcher
Over to Ollie and PJ, simply two of our resident Xenoblade followers:
- “Nia’s good, I assume..? I’m a fan of Morag. I like Rex too, although.” – Ollie
- “I’m a giant Vandham fan. And Zeke. And Morag.” – PJ
“Was it foolish, even shallow, for a recreation announcement to make me really feel so significantly better? Maybe, however life has many peaks and troughs, and for me, Nintendo has at all times been there.” – Uncle_Franklin
Hear, hear! Making it by way of these troughs is hard, however there’s a lot to stay up for, digital and in any other case. – Ed.
“Here’s the 15 issues I need for a subsequent 3D Sonic Game.” – Scott
And #16 – To be good. – Ed.
“I might similar to to make a easy request for everybody who reads this to play Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective.” – Fizza
Request granted. – Ed.
“Hello Nintendo, is it potential that you can do some retro colections like Atari, Capcom, Namco and others did, along with your traditional video games, and releasing it in volumes in trendy platforms?” – DS
No downside, I’ll carry it up with Shigsy within the Monday meet. – Ed.
That’s all for this month! Thanks to everybody who wrote in, whether or not you had been featured above or not.
Got one thing you’d wish to get off your chest? A burning query you want answered? A correction you possibly can’t include? Follow the directions beneath, then, and we stay up for rifling by way of your missives.
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