Episode 116: The Year Takes Shape
If our last episode was all about what we think will happen in 2016, then this episode is all about what’s beginning to actually take shape – oh, and eShop gems BOXBOY! and PictoParty. We first kick off the show with a full breakdown of Pokemon’s 20th anniversary plans, from the surprise of a Super Bowl commercial to the sooner-than-expected launch of Pokken Tournament. We then shift our focus to a variety of Nintendo’s other plans for the year, including new details on the 3DS RPG renaissance and what’s next for in-game amiibo integration. We also cover the recent wave of crazy NX rumors, the possibility of a new Paper Mario for Wii U, and Nintendo’s December sales numbers, all before concluding the show with our BOXBOY! and PictoParty impressions.
Which 2016 game are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below. If you liked the show, consider leaving a review (and subscribing!) on iTunes and follow us on Twitter @RandomNintendo so you don’t miss any future site updates.
As always, we’ve included links below for more information on the news and games discussed in this episode. Each link also lists a time stamp so you can easily find the segments that most interest you. Enjoy!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:11:21 — 60.5MB)
News
- [0:01] Pokemon Celebrates 20th Anniversary with New 3DS Bundle, Super Bowl Commercial (IGN)
- [0:21] Pokken Tournament hits Wii U on March 18 (Destructoid)
- [0:33] Nintendo provides new details about upcoming RPGs for Nintendo 3DS (Nintendo.com)
- [0:48] Sega bringing Sega 3D Classics Collection to 3DS in North America (Polygon)
- [0:52] Mario and Sonic Racing to 3DS March 18 (Nintendo World Report)
- [0:55] Nintendo brings new amiibo figures and functionality to games in early 2016 (Nintendo.com)
- [1:08] Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge Headed To Wii U And 3DS (Siliconera)
- [1:20] Nintendo in 2016: NX Details, Anime, and More Coming (IGN)
- [1:28] Market Research Surveys Aren’t Leaking the NX (Nintendo World Report)
- [1:33] Rumor – New Paper Mario Game Coming to Wii U (GoNintendo)
- [1:38] December 2015 NPD: Call of Duty, Star Wars, Fallout end the year strong (VentureBeat)
Games
- [1:53] PictoParty (Nintendo.com Game Page)
- [1:58] BOXBOY! (Official Site)
- [0:07] Pokemon Red and Blue Versions (Pokemon.com Game Page)
- [0:21] Pokken Tournament (Official Site)
- [0:34] Fire Emblem Fates (Official Site)
- [0:38] Bravely Second: End Layer (IGN Game Page)
- [0:42] Dragon Quest VII (IGN Game Page)
- [0:48] Sega 3D Classics Collection (Official Site)
- [0:52] Mario and Sonic at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games (Nintendo.com Game Page)
- [0:56] The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (Nintendo.com Game Page)
- [1:08] Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (IGN Game Page)
From The Archives
Episode 165: Is That A Campsite In Your Pocket?
Hey Jason and Angel!
Thanks as always for another fantastic show! With all the recent Nintendo news and confirmations of things, it was very nice to have a re-cap of everything thats happened over the last week or so. So thank you very much. All your hard work and podcast-time is very much appreciated!
I just have to say, in regards to Pokemon, that I would have never imagined as a kid that someday Pokemon would be a Super Bowl ad. Thats actually pretty cool. Its goes to show just as a medium how much video games have not only grown, but been accepted in general culture over the last 20 or so years.
Now. I just want to apologize to you Jason, I told you when I picked up Final Fantasy Explorers I’d let you know what I thought. That said, now I’m not so sure if I’m going to get it. Not that I don’t love Final Fantasy games, its just the reviews have not been overly-favorable to the game (ranging in the 6-7’s) and what I thought would be a social thing I could play with some of my friends, everyone else decided they weren’t getting it. In part because we can play Final Fantasy XIV which has a very similar mechanic. So I’m very sorry, I feel really bad about it actually. So yeah, if I do get it, I’ll let you know, but I’m not sure. Again, I apologize, really sorry.
Now in regard to the other 3DS RPGs this year. I’m still really excited for Fire Emblem! Although I will admit I’m a bit miffed at the FE new 3DS XL. I’d waited for months to see if they were going to put one (why I hadn’t bought a new 3DS yet) and the Special Edition (of the game) got announced and months came and went. So I finally went and bought a new 3DS, the smaller model with the faceplates, imported some faceplates from Japan and everything. The day all my stuff came in was when they announced the FE new 3DS XL. So yeah, I was a little irritated with Nintendo over that one. You would think they’d have announced the hardware at the same time as the Special Edition of the game. All that said, I do like the faceplates I have, I’ve got the 8-bit pixel Super Mario Maker plates and the black Legend of Zelda plates. The new 3DS XL does look really nice though with the two-tone black and white. But Fire Emblem can’t come out soon enough, I’m counting the days! I’m also really excited to play Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, but for at least the foreseeable future, Fire Emblem’s my game. I even just today went and ordered Ike and Marth amiibo so I have the full set of currently available FE amiibo characters to use in Fates.
Oh and I really liking what I’m hearing about the possible features of the NX. Now granted, I’m sure a lot of it is just guessing and some things are just way too out there to be real. I’m just definitely excited to find out what the system really is/does. Now the comment about it interfacing withe PS4 did get me thinking. A while back there was a rumor that Square wanted to put Final Fantasy XIV out on NX, if that was the case, I could see the NX “interfacing” with the PS4 in that NX. PS4, and PC players can all share the servers. It would have to be something to that effect otherwise the NX player base would be almost too small to have a group to play with on a regular basis. Just seems like Nintendo needs to start talking about the NX now. Even today there were more rumors including a possible port of presumably Wii U Smash to NX as a launch title. (I’m totally okay with that by the way.)
Finally even if there is a new Paper Mario game and a few other surprise games, given the look at Nintendo’s December sales numbers, the Wii U’s had its day, it seems like 2016 is the time for the NX in one form or another. It has to be…right?
Anyways, 2016 has me really excited for Nintendo, I just hope they deliver. Thank you again for a great show! Can’t wait for the next episode!
Thanks, Satoshi! No worries about Final Fantasy Explorers, I saw the same mixed reviews and totally get why you’d hold off.
Nintendo’s always seems to release new 3DS variants at the wrong times. I remember Angel got his Smash Bros. 3DS XL *right* before the New 3DS XL was announced. But hey, I’d argue that having those cool custom faceplates is almost better than just waiting for the Fire Emblem edition XL. Sure, the regular New 3DS is a little smaller and not Fire Emblem-y, but you now have the flexibility of changing the look of your system whenever.
I also think you’re on to something with your Final Fantasy XIV/NX theory. Perhaps those reports of NX interfacing with other platforms really mean just a way to expand the number of online players NX has access to. Small online communities have been the downfall of third-party games on Nintendo platforms in the past, so this would resolve it pretty easily.
Hey Jason.
Just wanted to thank you for understanding about Final Fantasy Explorers, I really appreciate it, thanks so much!