Nintendo dev says they don't create games just "to make Mr. Miyamoto happy"
Miyamoto is great, but all voices are important
As far as Nintendo goes, there’s no bigger name inside the studio than Shigeru Miyamoto. He’s pretty much the man that built modern Nintendo, coming up with the ideas for Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong and so on. His contributions to Nintendo in general and the game industry at large are almost incalculable, and he’ll no doubt go down in history as one of gaming’s greatest icons.
While Miyamoto is still very active at Nintendo, he’s been surrounded by rising stars over the last few decades. There are a litany of major players in the company now, and many help steer Miyamoto’s creations to their next evolution. Of course, those people toiling away on the next Mario or Zelda still look to Miyamoto for input, but his suggestions aren’t the be-all/end-all when it comes to creating experiences.
In an interview with Game Informer, chief and programming director Yuji Kando noted that Miyamoto still makes other devs nervous and his input is certainly valued, but when Nintendo’s teams are building games, they’re not just setting out to appease the legendary dev.
I always feel honored to be able to work with Mr. Miyamoto. With that said, I hope people don’t take this the wrong way, but we don’t work on a game with the goal of “to make Mr. Miyamoto happy.”
The important thing is how deep of a discussion we can have about the game, and those discussions are the times when we see how thoroughly we thought through the game design. So in that sense, yes, we do get nervous going into a discussion with Mr. Miyamoto.
Nintendo explains the long wait between Pikmin 4's announcement and release
Just a little off base with that comment
All the way back in 2015, Shigeru Miyamoto mentioned that Pikmin 4 was “very close to completion,” which was very exciting for franchise fans. It was also pretty surprising, as Pikmin 3 released just two years earlier in 2013. Those fans waited for word on when Pikmin 4 would come along, and that wait went from days, to weeks, to months, and then years.
What in the world happened between 2015 and 2023, you ask? How could the game have been close to finished in 2015, only to take 8 years to come about? Game Informer spoke to Nintendo’s chief and programming director Yuji Kando to find out.
After the development for Pikmin 3 ended, we started development for Pikmin 4 as a small team. As we made several attempts and tried out various things, there were moments when we could see the game take shape, but since we had to prioritize other projects, we weren’t able to create the development team framework needed to complete the game. But the fruits of our labor during that time lead to the result of what Pikmin 4 is today.
KFC gets thousands of people from 17 countries to recreate their secret recipe in Zelda with 'The Recipe Run'
Finger-Linking good
KFC has challenged gamers to recreate its secret fried chicken recipe in the new video game ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’ after players discovered that the new game features the possibility of cooking fried chicken for the first time. KFC launched the challenge and got that thousands of gamers from 17 different countries to compete in ‘The Recipe Run’, the first brand-created speedrun to see who could cook their own KFC-style chicken recipe the fastest in Zelda TOTK.
In order to complete in ‘The Recipe Run’, users had to elaborate its own version of KFC’s secret recipe in the video game by gathering chicken, oil and 11 herbs and spices of their choice from all those scattered throughout the virtual world of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.
In addition, KFC partnered with SRE (@SpeedrunEspanol) to make ‘The Recipe Run’ a global competition, in which amateur gamers from 17 countries around the world competed to make the recipe in record time and win a gold trophy in the form of a chicken thigh valued at €11,000. The winner of this competition was Keuss, and you can see their complete run here.
In parallel, KFC also challenged users to share on Twitter the video clip recreating their secret fried chicken recipe in the video game. Within a few hours, the hashtag #TheRecipeRun was trending, representing 27% of the total conversation in the campaign period. In total, more than 145 million impressions in social media and more than 100 hours of organic content globally have been generated. All users that achieved the challenge received codes redeemable for a five-chicken strip menu on the KFC Spain app and website.
In a single week, KFC Spain had more than 2,500 participants in the action. As a result, web traffic increased by 58% during the days of the action and 44.5% of orders were placed via desktop, which contrasts with the 12% average of this type of orders in the previous five months. This data reveals that KFC managed to get its fried chicken cooks in the video game to also become consumers of its fried chicken.
Fan reimagines Super Mario Bros. Wonder as an NES game in a faux retro commercial
Now you're playing with Wonder!
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is less than 3 weeks away! Mario fans the world over will soon be able to dive into Mario’s latest, greatest 2D adventure, and it looks to be one of his most amazing yet. That said, this outing is still very much rooted in the 2D goodness Mario pioneered decades ago.
Sure, something like Wonder would have been impossible from a visual standpoint in the 8-bit days, but the gameplay could definitely translate! That’s exactly how Mario superfan LUIZ felt, which is what inspired him to take a stab at what Super Mario Bros. Wonder might be like if it were on the NES.
Instead of building a demake, LUIZ put his animation skills to use by coming up with a fake NES commercial. This spot imagines a time when Super Mario Bros. Wonder were seeing release on the NES, and the quick gameplay snippets he put together look fantastic. Marry that with the 80s-style advertising approach Nintendo used and you have a recipe for a pitch-perfect tribute.
This kind of stuff makes me wish Nintendo would tackle a demake of their own some day. We hope you’re listening, Nintendo!
Game-breaking bug discovered in Pokémon Scarlet/Violet Ver. 2.0.1
Be careful, trainers
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet recently received a Ver. 2.0.1 update to introduce the Teal Mask DLC and a host of other features, but we now know this version also included a completely unintended bug as well. Worst of all, this bug can hit you during the final boss battle.
When taking on the final fight with the Paradise Protection Protocol, you’ll have to use the Legendary Pokémon that’s been at your side since the start of the adventure. This would be Koraidon in Scarlet or Miraidon in Violet. If that Pokémon happens to be registered to your Pokédex, and your cursor hovers over the fourth, fifth, or sixth slot in your party, the game will crash instantly.
Pokémon Co. is no doubt aware of the issue and working on a fix, but what can players do while they wait for the update? You could make sure you have 3 or less Pokémon in your party when heading into the fight, or you could click up to go straight to your Legendary, which would keep your cursor far away from activating the bug.
Overwatch 2 'Season 7: Rise of Darkness' launches Oct. 10th, 2023
Overwatch out, Diablo content is coming!
Just about every Game-as-a-Service title is celebrating Halloween in one way or another with a month of spooky content. Overwatch 2 is no different, and today brings us a sneak peek at the scary celebrations that are set to kick off very soon. You can see a tease of what’s to come in the video above!
Overwatch 2 fans should mark down Oct. 10th, 2023 on their calendars, as that’s when Blizzard is launching Season 7: Rise of Darkness. As the teaser shows, Overatch will see a special crossover with Diablo this time around. Fans can expect a version of Moira modeled after Diablo 4’s Lilith, a revamped version of the Junkenstein’s Revenge game mode, a Diablo-themed skin for Wrecking Ball and more.
Remember, we also know that Season 7 is going to include the new Samoa map as well. We’ll learn more details about this upcoming season in general, including the Halloween content and Samoa map, as we inch closer to the Oct. 10th launch.
Pokémon Co. celebrates Mismagius with a month of special features
Giving up the Ghost-type
Like many Ghost-type Pokémon, Mismagius is known for making mischief. For more than a decade, the vivid purple Pokémon has loomed large in the imaginations of Pokémon fans and Trainers. While it first appeared in the Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games, Mismagius has enjoyed countless adventures since, playfully terrifying Trainers in Pokémon the Series, haunting the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and starring in an animated short.
With Pokéween just around the corner, Pokémon Co. has said it’s time to celebrate Mismagius’s legacy as we continue to Discover Pokémon Together.
Beyond the Pokédex: Mismagius
More than 1,000 Pokémon have now been discovered, so there’s always more to learn, and the Beyond the Pokédex video series is committed to making that learning fun. Pokémon enthusiasts Spruce and Maple have taught fans about Sobble, Oddish, and Pachirisu. And in the newest episode, they dive deep into Mismagius’s mesmerizing presence.
Pokémon: Path to the Peak: Celestine & Mismagius
The four-episode limited series Path to the Peak tells the story of a girl named Ava and her evolving love for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. She trains hard, making plenty of friends along the way—including her school’s previous Pokémon TCG champion, Celestine, whose partner Pokémon is Mismagius. While Celestine and Mismagius are an intimidating duo, Celestine proves to be a good friend to Ava on her own path to the peak.
All Path to the Peak episodes are now available on Pokémon TV and the official Pokémon YouTube channel. Catch Celestine and Mismagius in action today.
Twitch Marathon: Mismagius
Mismagius has played an antagonistic role in Pokémon the Series, haunting Trainers with bizarre illusions. But that’s not all it’s capable of. This Pokémon appears in Gym battles, Contest Battles, and in the wild, adding a touch of mischief and chaos wherever it goes. As part of our Mismagius celebration, it stars in a special Twitch marathon taking place October 3 at 2 p.m. PDT on Twitch.tv/Pokemon.
Steal Mismagius’s Style
Share your love for this sassy Ghost-type Pokémon with the world. Just in time for Pokéween, Mismagius T-shirts are available on Amazon. Choose from several spooky styles, or surrender to your darker impulses and add them all to your wardrobe. It’s what Mismagius would want.
Watch Classic Pokémon: Master Quest Episodes Later This Week on Pokémon TV
Can't beat the classics
Ash, Pikachu, and their friends have reached the final stretch of their adventure through the Johto region, and you can join them on their travels in Pokémon: Master Quest—coming soon to Pokémon TV.
This fifth season of Pokémon the Series follows our heroes as they compete in the Whirl Cup competition, confront a villainous Team Rocket scientist, and battle powerful Gym Leaders. Ash even makes it to the Johto League Silver Conference, but can he defeat his old rival Gary Oak? And, of course, there are also loads of Pokémon to be found along the way!
When you tune in to watch Pokémon: Master Quest, remember you can visit watch.pokemon.com or load up the Pokémon TV mobile app and enjoy these classic episodes on the go!
Learn All About Mismagius in a New Episode of Beyond the Pokédex
The perfect Pokémon for October
Do you consider yourself a Pokémon expert? With more than 1,000 Pokémon, there’s always more to learn, and Beyond the Pokédex is a video series committed to making learning about Pokémon fun. In this new episode, Pokémon enthusiasts Spruce and Maple are ready to uncover the spooky history of Pokémon #0429—the Magical Pokémon, Mismagius.
Whether you’re a casual fan of Pokémon or a die-hard expert, “Beyond the Pokédex” is the perfect series for you. With their in-depth knowledge and engaging presentation, Spruce and Maple will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about your favorite Pokémon. Tune in for new episodes every month!
Mismagius’ cry sounds like an incantation. It is said the cry may rarely be imbued with happiness-giving power. Mismagius is entry #429 in the Pokédex.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 'Ember' Spotlight Video
Ember sets hearts ablaze
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a platform-based action fighting game developed by GameMill Entertainment. Featuring a unique cheer meter, Ember Mclain joins Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 with far reaching guitar attacks and strong abilities.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 lets you duke it out with the series’ biggest and best fighting character roster yet, including all-new characters like Squidward Tentacles, Jimmy Neutron, and more to be announced. Choose your favorite brawlers, master their unique move sets, and use brand-new powerful Supers to land the finishing blow. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will launch with its own single-player campaign featuring roguelike elements, voice acting for all playable characters, and full crossplay on all game systems.
Rebuilt and reimagined from the ground up, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 redefines what a Nickelodeon fighting game can be with new and revamped visuals, audio, animations, modes, stages, mechanics, taunts and move sets, competitively tuned for all levels of play.
Lift Your Spirits with the Pokémon Center’s Halloween 2023 Collection
Pokémon Halloween 2023 merch is here!
Orange you excited for Halloween? If you’re not yet, you certainly will be after checking out the treats the Pokémon Center’s dishing up in anticipation of the spookiest night of the year. Jump scares—or rather the film genre that inspired them—take center stage this year with the Cinema Scares line. The Haunted Pokémon Village is back and better than ever. And you can dress to impress—and intimidate—with the Marvelous Misfits collection.
Here’s a taste of what you can expect from the Pokémon Center’s 2023 Halloween boo-tique:
The Haunted Pokémon Village is a Halloween classic that just keeps getting better. With four creepily cute figures to add to your collection, there’s no end to the spook-tacular antics. If you look closely at the Roserade Spooky Cinema, you might think you’re experiencing deja-boo, as some of the artwork from the posters is also available in the Cinema Scares collection. Rotom, Dedenne, Yamper, and their friends are having an electrifyingly good time at the Rotom Power Plant. Judging by Pikachu’s dazed expression, the Mr. Mime Fun House might have overdelivered on the fun. And the Lycanroc Howling Hill will inspire you to head outside to bay at the next full moon.
Horror movies are a cornerstone of Halloween. And the Cinema Scares line pays homage to the classic experience of watching a scary movie on a dark and stormy night. A flash of lightning, and Trevenant appears, lumbering toward you menacingly, claw outstretched! Bring home six original art pieces inspired by a classic pulp horror movie aesthetic and starring Trevenant, Muk, Lycanroc, Mismagius, Dusclops, and Haunter. Share the scares by bringing home this original artwork as posters, giant pins, metal wall art, short sleeve T-shirts, or pullover sweatshirts. You can even pick up the entire poster set so you won’t have to choose between Lycanroc’s eerie “Howl” and Muk’s toxic “Venom Drench.”
If you’re a fan of feeling comfortable while looking tough, you might just be one of the Pokémon Center’s Marvelous Misfits. Halloween’s the hottest holiday of them all, and you’ll want to look the part. Cozy knit sweaters featuring Snorlax, Umbreon, Muk, and more are perfect for watching some of those movies that inspired the Cinema Scares line. Look gourd-geous as you visit your favorite pumpkin patch wearing cool flannel shirts with Pokémon sporting some serious ‘tude. And you can stay warm on cool autumnal nights in our punk-inspired denim jackets.
No one wants to watch scary movies alone. Never fear, these plush have your back, boo. Fuecoco, Gengar, Greavard, and Pikachu all appear to be going trick-or-treating, and their costume choices say a lot about their personalities. Fuecoco, who is known for being food motivated (no judgment—candy is essential to Halloween) is wearing a taco costume. Gengar also appears to have gone with a food theme, serving up a chef costume. Meanwhile, Pikachu and Greavard both went with a seasonal classic and appear to be having a gourd time dressed as pumpkins.
Transforming your haunted house into a haunted home takes effort, and the Pokémon Center is with you every step of the way. You’re going to need light to showcase all your spooky swag, and the Pumpkin Snorlax ceramic tea light holder delivers just the right amount. We all know that ghouls just want to have fun, so if you happen to find yourself entertaining a ghostly gathering, our themed plates, cups, serving bowls, and tablecloths will certainly come in handy. And you can share your passion for Pokémon and Halloween with the whole neighborhood with eerie-sistible garden statues featuring Munchlax, Pichu, and Spinda.
Persona 5 Tactica "Sergeant Morgana's Second Marvelous Tactical Training for New Recruits!" video
You're Morgana love it!
Atten-tion! Sergeant Morgana is back and ready to continue your training in the second installment of the tactical training series! Learn how you can use melee attacks and skills to get a “One More” and gain the upper hand on your enemies in today’s tip!
After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves wander into a bizarre realm where its citizens are living under tyrannical oppression. Surrounded by a military group named Legionnaires, they find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary named Erina rescues them and offers an enticing deal in exchange for their help. What truth lies behind Erina and the deal she offers to the Phantom Thieves?
Persona 5 Tactica features an all-new story, the return of fan-favorite characters, and brand-new allies and foes. Join the group as they lead an emotional revolution in this thrilling combat adventure!
Tiny Agnes, Tiny Vu and Tiny Jens are back and they’re on a very important journey to Minecraft Live! Will Tiny Jens’ shortcut work? Will the Tinies make it to Minecraft Live in time? And will they meet some new mobs along the way? Keep your eyes on Mojang’s YouTube channel, and find out…
If you’ve never watched the epic, once-a-year Minecraft livestream before, then you are in for a treat. Not only do Mojang spend an hour talking about Minecraft (their favorite topic), but they dive into news from Minecraft and Minecraft: Legends; share snippets of what you can expect in the future, and reveal the winner of the hotly anticipated mob vote!
That’s right, the mob vote is making a triumphant return this year, with three new mobs for you, the wonderful community, to choose between! Watch Minecraft Live on the Minecraft YouTube channel or on Minecraft.net on October 15! The show starts at 1pm EDT.
Cricket 24 Developer Diary reveals more about the most heavily licensed cricket game
License to bowl
Big Ant Studios invites you to step behind the curtain and join them for a look into Cricket 24! Get ready for an exclusive peek into the development process with updates to licensed teams and kits. Cricket 24 will release on will see release on Switch Nov. 2023.
Set to feature more licensed content than any other cricket video game before, Cricket 24 will include teams and nations from all around the globe, creating the most complete video game simulation of cricket seen to date. Create and take your player from club cricket to international fame in Career Mode or challenge your friends online regardless of platform via cross platform multiplayer support, all taking place in over 50 highly detailed and official stadiums.
Cricket 24 will feature the biggest rivalry in cricket – The Ashes. Detailed cutscenes put the user into the moment as gamers get the chance to play out their very own Ashes journey. Feel a part of the team with press conferences and team training sessions. Unique commentary allows for complete immersion. Experience The Ashes playing as a single player, or as a member of the Australian or English teams.
Train Valley 2 delayed to Nov. 22nd, 2023
Running out of steam
Train Valley 2: Community Edition was originally slated to release on Switch Oct. 17th, 2023. Today, the developers have announced that the game is being pushed back by a month, and will now arrive on Nov. 22nd, 2023.
This decision was made due to technical and polishing reasons, based on feedback obtained from players in the recent international (Gamescom) and national (Indie Dev Day) events. BlitWorks Games management team aims to improve all the adaptations and ensure the game arrives in the hands of the players in the best possible version for each platform. At a price of $24.99, this edition of Train Valley 2 includes the DLCs Passenger’s Flow, Myths & Rails and Editor’s Bulletin and a selection of 158 community made levels carefully curated by the developers.
Drive forward the industrial revolution in Train Valley 2 Community Edition, build railroads, upgrade your locomotives, and keep your trains on schedule without delays or accidents to meet the ever-growing demand of the cities and industries in your tiny valley. Take your railroad company from the days of the Industrial Revolution and into the future, meeting the needs of the valley’s cities and industries.
If you’ve ever wanted to solve complex logistics and transportation problems, fancied yourself as a bit of a train mogul, or you just love solving puzzles - there is a lot for players both new and old. Even if you’ve never played the original, there’s a lot to do in Train Valley 2: Community Edition!
