What’s up everybody and welcome to the Nintendo News Roundup. Did you miss any of the news regarding Nintendo this week? Well, look no further. Here you’ll find the important news, not so important news, and Nintendo things that are just news to me.
New Pokémon Salandit Unveiled
Adding to the nine new Pokémon Nintendo showed off last week; here comes another. Nintendo unveiled Salandit. A new Poison/Fire type Pokémon with the brand new ability “Corrosion”. The Corrosion ability makes it possible for Salandit to poison any type of Pokémon. This may cause many professional Pokémon players to step up there meta-game. Here’s the official description from Pokémon.com and Salandit’s reveal trailer below:
Salandit emits toxic gas, together with flames, from the base of its tail. This poisonous gas has a sweet smell, and anyone who unknowingly breathes it in will become dizzy. Salandit is not a very powerful Pokémon, but its cunning nature allows it to battle fiercely by throwing its opponents off balance.
Salandit females not only release toxic gases, they can also emit pheromones that attract males of all species, including Pokémon and humans. Inhaling these pheromones may cause opponents to be controlled by Salandit’s will.
Salandit has the Corrosion Ability, a new Ability that no other Pokémon has possessed before. With the Corrosion Ability, it becomes possible to inflict the Poisoned status condition even on Steel- and Poison-type Pokémon.
Nintendo has a Grand New Idea for the Nintendo NX
The Nintendo NX was a no-show at E3. This was not surprising considering Nintendo flat out said they would not be showing it off, but now we may have an idea of why they didn’t. In an interview with the Associated Press, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said through an interpreter:
In terms of NX, there’s an idea that we’re working on…That’s why we can’t share anything at this point, and I don’t want to comment on the other companies. If it was just a matter of following advancements in technology, things would be coming out a lot quicker.
It seems from that quote Nintendo is certainly holding their cards close to the chest, but why? With Sony and Xbox having a power arms race (plus VR (Virtual Reality)), what could Nintendo’s new idea possibly be that could make anyone take notice or even copy it? Could it be so profound that both Sony and Microsoft and the world at large stop dead in their tracks and take notice? I sincerely doubt that. I love Nintendo, but as I watch the path they’ve chosen to walk; I’ve become more skeptical, critical, and cynical. Just being a console/handheld hybrid isn’t enough to do it. The PS4 and PS Vita already do a good job at it, granted they are two different devices, but the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U can’t touch them as far as communication between the two.
So what could it possibly be? I can’t think of it. Everyone and their mother is working on VR. Microsoft, Nintendo, and numerous other companies are working on AR (Augmented Reality). Motion controls have come and gone and dual screen gaming has only worked on the Nintendo handhelds. Unless it’s full dive VR like in Sword Art Online I remain skeptical. All I have to say about this new idea is that it better wow me. I think the only thing that Nintendo can throw at me that could catch me off guard is if they went the traditional route and take the plunge back into that “red ocean” and take Sony and Microsoft head on. What I do know is Nintendo doesn’t have the luxury of failing one more time.
Nintendo’s Original Wii U Sales Projections were 100 Million Units
During a recent shareholders meeting, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima, shared that the original internal sales projections for the Wii U was 100 millions units. With the current sales sitting at 12.80 Million, it can safely be said that the Wii U “under-performing” is quite the understatement. I guess that 100 million projection isn’t that silly considering the Wii sold over 100 million. I guess they figured why not? President Tatsumi Kimishima’s quote, courtesy of IGN, says as much:
In an internal sales representative meeting, someone projected that we would sell close to 100 million Wii U systems worldwide…The thinking was that because Wii sold well, Wii U would follow suit.
Nintendo Patent Filed for New Handheld
Found by Twitter user ZhugeEX, Nintendo has patented a new potential handheld. It is just a patent filing so people shouldn’t put to much stock into it, but it does give some insight into what could potentially come to a new handheld if Nintendo chooses to release one. Published June 30 of this year, the U.S. Patent shows off two different style handhelds. One with physical buttons and one without.
You can look at the patent right here and do a little digging on your own.
Notable game releases this week (via Nintendo Press Room)
Wii U Virtual Console:
Baseball Simulator 1000 – Originally released for the NES, this fun baseball game lets you play a full-length season with six teams in a race for the pennant. You can even auto-simulate the game and edit your team’s players. And if you’re tired of the traditional baseball dynamics, use Ultra Plays to make your pitches disappear, make your hits explode or knock down opposing fielders.
Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll – Set off on a journey to complete the mystical Mandara Seal and activate its magical powers in this NES action game. Face tough challengers and use six different types of fighting techniques to your advantage. Work your way to the World Tournament and defend the world from the legions of darkness
Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console:
Legend of the Mystical Ninja – In this Super NES classic, take control of Kid Ying and Dr. Yang in an action-adventure through feudal Japan. Overcome 10 levels of the Dragonbeast to save Princess Yuki, battling through stages of intense 3D and 2D zones filled with zany characters and fun mini-games.
That isn’t all the Nintendo news stories, but those are the important ones to me. If you feel like I’ve missed anything Nintendo related that happened this week that is important or just important to you, please feel free to share them in the comments below.
