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Nintendo DS News is a News and downloads site for All Nintendo Handhelds and Consoles including the Gameboy, NES, N64, Snes, Gamecube, Wii, WiiU, NDS, 3DS, GBA and Snes, We have all the latest emulators, hack, homebrew, commercial games and all the downloads on this site, the latest homebrew and releases, Part of the
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August 18th, 2013, 21:23 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index....ic,7662.0.html
Nickname: Relminator
Project Name: Fuzed
From: Philippines
Division: Game
Platform: NDS
Original Enter: Yes
Support Motion: No
Open Source: Yes
In a past NEO Compo this project won in the top 10: No
Project page:
http://rel.phatcode.net/index.php?ac...&item=Fuzed-DS
Direct download:
http://rel.phatcode.net/junk.php?id=127
Quote
Game Type:
- Puzzle Platformer
- Inverse of New Super Mario Bros.
* NSMB is 3D entities on 2D background.
* Fuzed is 2D entities on 3D background.
Gameplay:
- Rescue all the Pink Snipes and go to the exit.
- You're a blue-bombing-magic-wielding-beer-bellied-bad-ass-creature.
- Magic can only be used after collecting it.
- Bombs can only be used after collecting it.
- Use the different types of blocks to solve levels.
- Try to run the demo to see the gameplay.
- Basically a bastard son of Solomons's key, Moai Kun, Mario and Bomberman.
Controls:
- <A> Jump
- <B> Normal Short range Attack
- <B + DOWN> Place Bombs
- <X> Cast terrain following magic
- <X + DOWN> Cast gravity based magic
- <Start> Pause
* Pause mode:
- <ARROWS> Survey the level
- <Shoulder R> Zoom out
- <Select> Give up on a level
Notes:
- Choose "Run Demo" on the title screen to see the gameplay.
- Some Enemies are not killed by your normal attack
- All enemies can be killed by either:
- Bombs
- Magic
- Blocks falling or blocks being thrown
- Use Blocks to solve the puzzle
- 4 types types of special blocks
Type 1 = Soft (Light Orange )
Can be destroyed by normal attack
Can be destroyed by bombs
Cannot be pushed
Not Affected by gravity
Type 2 = Soft (Light Brown )
Can be destroyed by normal attack
Can be destroyed by bombs
Can be pushed
Affected by gravity
Can destroy enemies by falling on them
Type 3 = Hard (Dark Red )
Cannot be destroyed by normal attack
Normal attack throws them left or right
Cannot be destroyed by bombs
Can be pushed
Affected by gravity
Can destroy enemies by falling on them
Can destroy enemies by being thrown on them
Type 4 = Vanishing (Dark Green )
Cannot be destroyed by normal attack
Cannot be destroyed by bombs
Cannot be pushed
Not Affected by gravity
Vanishes 1 second after you step on them
Enjoy!
BTW, if you find any bugs or a gameplay suggestion, I would like to hear from you.
Source is a mess (except for the engine class). ;*)
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August 18th, 2013, 21:21 Posted By: wraggster
via http://www.neoflash.com/forum/index....ic,7664.0.html
1.0 Readme
GNUBOY64 is a port(read:hackport!) of the original GNUBOY-x86 version and -heavily optimized- for mips architecture,
which means that most of the vital parts had to been re-written from scratch in order to achieve the highest possible performance.
Also , additional work has been done into reimplementing all the features of the x86 version , including save states,sram,rtc and even
the ability to take screenshots and save them directly to the SDC(The image format is very simple though ~ uncompressed 16bit or 32bit(depends on FB mode) targa).
Compatibility is also the same with the x86 version but with just one exception : 8MB games are NOT supported unless your flashcart
has extended ram that can be mapped directly and the source tree is built with special flags in order to make use of this (already-implemented)feature. (HINT: Expansion pack IS highly recommended)
Performance-wise , its running at fullspeed in GB mode and very close to fullspeed in GBC mode for most games , and that's because the interpreter is not written in assembly....But some other time i might re-write the cpu in asm aswell for +15-20% speed boost.For now i had to do the LCD first since it had much higher priority .  ....
And well, that pretty much sums up everything within 4 paragraphs.For more detailed info just check sections 1.1(Features) & 1.2(Differences from the x86 version).
Have fun.
 
1.1 Features
+Supports Neo Myth64 flashcart(You can implement more drivers if you like.All are set already...just add the missing bits)
+Opensource : http://code.google.com/p/gnuboy64/ (Code should be available by 20/8/2013)
+GB & GBC support (except 8MB games , but if you plan to add driver for other flashcarts that have extended r/w RAM you
can implement the (already integrated) extended ram mode)
+Automatic SRAM + RTC backup/restore ( Stored in /gnuboy/saves/ )
+Save states(up to 999) ( Stored in /gnuboy/saves/ )
+Ability to take screenshots ( Stored in /gnuboy/screenshots/ )
+Dual immediate rendering modes : 256x240 1xscale , 512x480 2xscale
+Support for multiple FS drivers & wrappers
+GUI
 
1.2 Differences from the x86 version
+~85+% of lcd code has been rewritten in mips assembly
+Added more cpu precomputed lookup tables&improved original code
+Almost 1MB of rom data are precomputed lookup tables (Yikes!!!)
+Wrote an improved algorithm for vram pixel data updates that reduces the linear complexity of the original
+Implemented mem_map_ptr for direct HDMA mapping & mem_read_range & mem_write_range for unmap-able addresses
+Added lookup table for precomputed vram flags
+Added lookup tables for precomputed sprite flags(gb&cgb)
+Added r8g8b8/r5g5b5a1 palette 3268*sizeof(u32) precomputed lookup tables (32bit mode is not used as it doesn't "offer" anything
other than wasting more ram.Make custom builds of the code if you want that feature...)
+Improved sprite sorting code
+Sound mixer was heavily optimized
+Sound wave frequency is calculated using a constant reciprocal table that replaces some divisions with a fraction mult..
+Improved sound reg reads/writes
+Improved loader code (Re-allocations for alignment are replaced with header fetching + one allocation)
+Implemented file system wrappers & drivers (other flashcarts can be supported aswell)
+Implemented custom low level non blocking audio driver
+Fixed memory leaks found in the original code
+Made countless tools
+Uses the most recent GCC sdk toolchain version(4.8.1)
+Many other changes over the last 2 months that i forgot......................
 
1.3 Installation
1.Download & extract the archive
2.Copy "gnuboy64.v64" AND the directory "gnuboy" on the root of your SD cart
3.Put your GB/GBC games(uncompressed!) in the directory /gnuboy/games/
4.(Optional)If you have save files(rtc,sram,states) put them in /gnuboy/saves/
5.Launch "gnuboy64.v64" as your would do with any homebrew app
 
1.4 Browser controls
Up/Down : Go up/down one item
L/R : Switch to prev/next page
A : Launch game in low-res mode(Recommended)
B : Launch game in hi-res mode
START : Re-load & sort rom list (useful for switching sd cards...)
Cr : Take screenshot ( Will be saved in /gnuboy/screenshots )
 
1.5 Emu controls
Dpad : Dpad
A: A
B: B
START:START
Z:SELECT
L:Save state
R:Load state
Cu:Increase save slot number
Cd ecrease save slot number
Cl:Exit menu(You can either return to emulation mode or exit to the browser screen...)
Cr : Take screenshot ( Will be saved in /gnuboy/screenshots )
1.6 Contribute to the code
If you would like to apply your own changes to the source code tree(ie implement fs drivers for other flashcarts)
feel free to ask for svn commit access anytime...
1.7 Compiling the code
TODO
1.8 Special thanks
I would like to thank the following people for their contribution to the retroscene :
1.ChillyWilly : For implementing the initialization/sd fs code for NeoMyth flashcarts series & also for beeing a very kind &helpful person
2.Shaun Taylor : For his great efforts in putting together a fine opensource SDK for the N64 platform.You can checkout his work here :
http://www.dragonminded.com/n64dev/
(NOTE : The libdragon included in the source code is a modified version and does things very very differently(read:in very hackish way & mainly for initialization)...If you would like to start coding for the n64 platform use this version instead : http://github.com/DragonMinded/libdragon)
3.The original authors of the x86 version of gnuboy
4.Neoflash for hosting yet another retro-powered contest
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August 18th, 2013, 11:17 Posted By: wraggster
This HP hack is intended for rookies, who just don’t have the skill to play (or finish) Zelda3 hacks. You can apply the patch to original ALTTP or any Zelda3 hack which has no header (patching to any headered ROM will corrupt it, without the possibility to fix it again).
You can choose between 10 or 20 heart containers, Armor3, the brand new “fire sword” and the new “super sword”. The first one has the power to burn enemies with the spin attack (if the sword is level 3 or 4), the second one makes level-1, 2, 3 swords stronger, while adding the fire effect to all swords, if you use the spin attack. However, if you use the stab attack (hold the sword and walk into the enemy) they will freeze.
The HP hack was released specially because of the many complaints of Parallel Worlds being too frustrating and Goddess of Wisdom being too difficult; while Parallel Remodel (which is quite easy in my eyes and fairly easy according to majority of players) has turned someone into a “frothing madman”.
So if you are a 12 year old kid, an ultra rookie, a Zelda3 newbie, or just want to have fun while playing, this is the hack for you.
http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/1529/
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August 18th, 2013, 01:56 Posted By: wraggster
 A BMO-themed Collector's Edition of Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! will be released for the 3DS version of the game, alongside its standard edition counterparts on the 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC when the game arrives this fall.
The Collector's Edition, which will run for $39.99, comes in a limited edition BMO SteelBook case and includes a DVD that features voice actor interviews, show creator Pendleton Ward's storyboard artwork "and more," in addition to "Finn and Jake's Dungeon Guide," a full-color manual with bonus artwork.
The standard editions of the Wii U and 3DS versions also have a bit more in-game BMO than the other ports. In the Wii U version, BMO's adorable little computer face will chill on the GamePad's screen, dispensing commentary via 300-plus voice clips, in addition to contextual clues and hints about boss weaknesses. The 3DS version features similar functionality on the touch screen, sans voice clips.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/15/ad...t-know-collec/
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August 18th, 2013, 01:47 Posted By: wraggster
Infinity Ward executive producer Mark Rubin tells Joystiq that adding playable female soldiers in Call of Duty: Ghosts was to recognize the franchise's complete audience. Women have been added as part of the multiplayer customization in Ghosts, set to arrive on November 5.
"Honestly, adding female soldiers to character customization wasn't about trying to lure more people into the game. It was actually just about acknowledging the people who already play our game," Rubin says.
Enngine limitations were another contributing factor in the franchise's lack of playable female soldiers.
"It wasn't until we rewrote the way character memory is handled - that we could do 'Create-a-Soldier,' that we could do customized characters - that the possibility of having female soldiers really came to fruition," Rubin explains.
"Bringing female characters into Call of Duty: Ghosts wasn't something that was limited generation, it was limited by the engine itself."
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/16/ca...out-appreciat/
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August 18th, 2013, 01:12 Posted By: wraggster
LEGOformers: Ultra Hexacon and Tetragon, the transforming Nintendo 64 and controller, along with their transforming game pak minions Hot-Shot, and Mecha Kong! These original LEGO models are made in near-perfect size and proportions to authentic N64 components, and can transform completely - by "transform completely", I mean each robot can transform from N64 accessory to robot and back without detaching/removing parts, with the exception of Tetragon's controller cord. Ultra Hexacon is to this date, my most durable and articulated Transformer model built, with great flexibility and joint strength; he can also stand and be posed without falling over or having pieces break off. With the exception of the custom stickers/labels, every single piece in these toys are 100% LEGO - bricks, plates, slopes, tiles, wedges, and Technic parts. No glue, paint, cutting, nor 3rd party custom pieces.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ming-lego-n64/
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August 17th, 2013, 01:17 Posted By: wraggster
Capcom presently has no plans to brings Street Fighter to Wii U.
Capcom executive producer Yoshinori Ono responded to a fan question via Twitter, apologizing before confirming "we don't have plan[s]" for a Street Fighter game on Wii U "at this moment".
 Capcom announced Ultra Street Fighter 4 at the EVO event in July, a major new update for Super Street Fighter 4 that will introduce five new characters, six new stages and new modes and features.
The update is due for release in "early 2014," Capcom said, and will release as both a full boxed title and DLC.
Existing Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition owners will be able to download the update for $14.99. Alternatively, a physical disc version of SSFIV will be released with the new update included, along with "all DLC costumes for all characters released until now" and "future content" to be confirmed later for $39.99.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ii-u-says-ono/
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August 16th, 2013, 01:51 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo has released this week's confirmed list of new eShop content in North America.
Ubisoft's latest stealth entry Splinter Cell Blacklist is the headliner, with retro classics Donkey Kong and Galaga bolstering the selection of Virtual Console titles on Wii U and 3DS respectively. You can check out ourSplinter Cell Blacklist review here.
 Here's the full official list:Nintendo eShop on Wii U
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist - The United States is being threatened with a terror ultimatum known as the Blacklist, a series of deadly escalating attacks. Sam Fisher is the only agent with the authority to hunt down these terrorists by any means necessary. The countdown has begun. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist, the next entry in the critically acclaimed Splinter Cell series, is available on Aug. 20.
Virtual Console on Wii U
Galaga - In this arcade classic, move right and left to defend against the missiles and attacks of the Galaga aliens. Aliens attack in formations using a variety of attack patterns. Rescue a captured fighter to combine with it, forming a Dual Fighter with twice the firepower. Earn perfect bonuses more easily by using a Dual Fighter on the Challenging Stages.
Nintendo eShop Sale
BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien - To celebrate the recent release of the Good Friends Character Pack DLC for Runner2, which introduces six new characters to the game, Gaijin Games is dropping the price of BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien for the Wii U system. Download the game at a discounted price of $11.25 until 9 a.m. PT on Aug. 29.
Trine 2: Director's Cut - Trine 2: Director's Cut is a gorgeous side-scrolling action game for the Wii U system that features physics-based puzzles using fire, water, gravity and magic. Download the game at a discounted price of $7.99 until 9 a.m. PT on Sept. 5.
Also new this week:
- Donkey Kong (Virtual Console on Nintendo 3DS)
- 10-in-1: Arcade Collection (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
- Barbie: Groom & Glam Pups (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
- Heavy Fire: Black Arms 3D (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
- My Western Horse 3D (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ell-blacklist/
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August 15th, 2013, 23:56 Posted By: wraggster
Judge cuts payment to former Sony inventor 50% to $15.1 million; Nintendo to appeal further
[h=3]Nintendo[/h]nintendo-europe.com
Nintendo this week won a partial victory in a patent suit brought by a former Sony inventor over its use of 3D technology in the 3DS. As reported by Bloomberg, a US District Court judge ruled that a $30.2 million jury award to the inventor, Seijiro Tomita, was unreasonably large.
"The jury's damages award was at least twice as large as the amount a reasonable jury could have awarded based on the evidence presented at trial and thereby must have involved the degree of excessive speculation that shocks the judicial conscience," the judge wrote in his decision.
Tomita has the option of accepting a $15.1 million award or going through a new trial to determine damages.
While the judge's decision went in Nintendo's favor, it didn't go far enough to satisfy the 3DS maker. A representative told Bloomberg that the company would be appealing the jury's verdict as well as the reduced damages award.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...patent-dispute
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August 15th, 2013, 14:15 Posted By: wraggster
Knytt Underground, the curious game of subterranean exploration, will come to the Wii U eShop, courtesy of indie publisher Ripstone. Originally developed by Nicklas 'Nifflas' Nygren for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, Knytt Underground borrows and occasionally mocks the structure of games likeSuper Metroid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and other victims of their pervasive portmanteau.
Ripstone has also announced a downloadable Wii U version of Pure Chess, a classic game in which two dueling kings send out L-shaped horses and cylindrical rookies until a "gotcha" is declared. It's been a while.
Knytt Underground and Pure Chess will be available on the Wii U's eShop near "the end of 2013/start of 2014."
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/13/kn...o-wii-u-eshop/
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August 15th, 2013, 14:13 Posted By: wraggster
Black Forest Games' Wii U port of Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams twirls into Europe and Australia's eShops on August 22, but remains date-less in North America for now. The German studio told us it was bringing the sororal platformer to Wii U this month, but this week's announcement notes US andAPAC dates are as yet unconfirmed. We've reached out to Black Forest Games for more info.
Those who like their platforming semi-portable will be pleased to know the Wii U version supports off-TV play, as well as featuring a new easy mode – don't be fooled by the cutesy look, Twisted Dreams can be a tricksy hobbit when it wants, even on Normal mode.
Meanwhile, the game's Steam version is getting new DLC in September. The punfully titled 'Rise of the Owlverlord' includes seven levels, new music, and an owl commander boss to take down, all of which sounds like a hoot. It comes to Steam in September, priced $4.99, a DRM-free version due sometime after.
If you're wondering, Black Forest Games hasn't forgotten the game's Kickstarter roots. Backers who pledged $25 towards the Giana Kickstarter get the Owlverlord DLC for free, as do those who put $15 towards Ravensdalefundraiser, despite the extreme likelihood it won't achieve its goal.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/14/gi...ope-australia/
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August 15th, 2013, 13:51 Posted By: wraggster
Nintendo's range of Skylanders-esque Pokémon is now available at UK retailer GAME.The figurines are used with Wii U downloadable spin-off Pokémon Rumble U, which launches as an eShop download this week.Nintendo was previously unsure whether the toys would make the leap to the UK. Today - the day of the game's release - is the first we've heard of the offer.Each figurine costs £3.99 and comes in a random Gacha Ball pack - so you won't know which you've bought until you open it.A GAME-exclusive special edition of Pokémon Rumble U is also available. It includes a download code for the game, a poster, one standard figurine and a limited edition character.The standard range of toys is shown below. There are also a number of secret "shiny" versions of certain monsters, and legendary critters Black Kyurem or White Kyurem for inclusion in the special editions.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...s-reach-the-uk
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August 14th, 2013, 01:23 Posted By: wraggster
It's a Hyrule of life: Time changes everything. Here's a new GameXPlain video comparing SNES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past with footage of 3DS follow-up A Link Between Worlds, showing some of the ways the games' overworlds are similar and not so.
Beyond predictable things like different enemy placements, touched-up environments, and aspect ratios, it's interesting to note some of the more structural ways in which Hyrule has changed. For example, where once there were rivers in the dark world, now there are great big chasms of nothingness - and there's a bridge missing for that matter.
As Nintendo discussed in a , A Link Between Worldstakes place in the same world as A Link to the Past, but is set a long time after the original game - which would explain the changes. While the overworlds remain similar, the dungeons are very much different, featuring new puzzles centered around new mechanics. Nintendo showed Link's power to transform into a wall etching, able to cross over gaps and slip between cracks in walls. Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata also teased the presence of a shadow triforce in A Link Between Worlds, as evidenced by the game's logo.
Zelda's return to the same-but-not-quite-the-same Hyrule of A Link Between Worlds is scheduled for sometime this November.
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/13/li...ch-ch-changes/
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August 14th, 2013, 01:21 Posted By: wraggster
Gamestop's inventory of pre-owned Xenoblade Chronicles copies seemed to inflate overnight on August 10, when the game showed up at previously dry retail locations and online for $90 a pop. Xenoblade is a famously hard-to-find Wii role-playing game that was sold only via Nintendo and Gamestop on first printing, and until now it seemed retail stock teetered on nonexistence.
We contacted Gamestop when Xenoblade was resurrected last week, and today the company issued a response:
"Gamestop regularly receives feedback from our PowerUp members regarding old titles they would like us to bring back, such as vintage games likeXenoblade Chronicles. We were recently able to source a limited number of copies of this title to carry in our stores and online.
"In fact, we have sourced several more vintage titles that will be hitting stores in the coming months, including Metroid Prime Trilogy.
"As always, our pricing for these games is competitive and is based on current market value driven by supply and demand. PowerUp Pro members always receive a 10 percent discount and earn PUR points on pre-owned purchases."
There's no word on the source of Gamestop's fresh copies. Nintendo has yet to respond to our requests for clarification, regarding whether this is a reprint or simply a surprising windfall of pre-owned games. Really, all of this comes down to one, simple question: How much is five stars worth to you?
http://www.joystiq.com/2013/08/13/ga...-trilogy-bein/
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August 14th, 2013, 00:31 Posted By: wraggster
The American arm of Nintendo has introduced a new way for consumers to get their hands on a cut-price 3DS.
The NoA site has begun selling refurbished 3DS consoles. Prices start at $119.99 for a standard 3DS and $169.99 for the 3DS XL.
Refurbed DSi’s are available for $99.99.
“Some Nintendo Products are now available as Authentic Nintendo Refurbished Products only from Nintendo,” the official blurb reads. “These products have been cleaned, tested, and inspected to meet Nintendo’s high standards. They come with our standard one-year warranty – the same as brand new products.
“Although Authentic Nintendo Refurbished Products may have minor cosmetic blemishes, they are guaranteed to be fully functional. We think you will find the standards for Authentic Nintendo Refurbished Products are VERY high.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ninte...rdware/0120066
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August 13th, 2013, 23:55 Posted By: wraggster
Earlier this month, Ghostlight launched an unusual appeal to help bring DS RPG Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2.
The UK publisher stated that if it could generate 1,800 pre-orders for the game through its online store, it would be able to afford the manufacturing costs.
It’s a campaign reminiscent of the wave of Kickstarter and other appeals that have spread across the internet for the past 18 months. But Ghostlight’s PR man Ross Brierley says the difference is that this project, unlike most crowd-funding initiatives, is not being funded from scratch.
“We have the game ready and we’ve localised it,” he explains. “Unfortunately with the 3DS being out for a while now, the DS is coming to the end of its life and there’s just not much shelf space for DS games – quite understandable.
“So we couldn’t get enough orders for retail. But we’ve done all the hard work and people are asking for it, so we would like them to be able to play it. As long as we can cover our costs for the manufacturing, we can get it out to them.”
Given the state of the market right now, it may seem easy to blame problems like this on economics but another publisher explained to MCV that DS manufacturing costs are genuinely still quite high, even this late into the handheld’s lifecycle.
"We've done all the hard work and people are asking for
Devil Summoner 2. As long as we can cover our costs
for the manufacturing, we can get it out to them." Ross Brierley, Ghostlight
Nintendo requires all DS games to launch with a minimum run of 4,800 copies. If you factor in production of both the box and the cartidge, distribution, applying for age ratings and the myriad of other costs involved in manufacturing a game, you rack of a bill close to the £100,000 mark.
That’s £100,000 just to get your game out of the door, and if you don’t sell all 4,800 copies, you’ve lost money. A considerable amount of money if you’re a smaller publisher like Ghostlight.
Put into perspective, this actually makes the firm’s appeal seem more reasonable. It’s only asking for 1,800 pre-orders. Even if every consumer opts for the cheaper £24.99 SKU, that only generates around £45,000, suggesting Ghostlight is still footing as much of the bill as it can.
And Ghostlight isn’t alone. Other publishers have told MCV they have multiple DS games ready for release, but are unable to afford production.
But why should consumers fund any of the manufacturing when that is essentially the role of a publisher?
This is the first time an appeal has asked gamers to fund a game already promised a retail release, and from an established publisher rather than an independent developer or start-up.
Our publishing expert is not too comfortable with Ghostlight’s venture: “We’re in the market to make games for consumers to play, not to make them for consumers to pay for the right to play,” said one publisher. “To ask fans to pay for it up front, that just doesn’t sit right with me.”
But Brierley is keen to point out that Ghostlight has no problem funding other niche releases from the same series: “We managed to release Devil Survivor Overclocked on 3DS through retail normally. But there’s just not much shelf space for DS games.”
"We're in the market to make games for
consumers to play, not to make them for
consumers to pay for the right to play."
Publisher source
Space issues are a conscious choice of the UK’s games retailers, of course. It’s understandable that stores need to focus what limited space they have on the more current formats, particularly given that 3DS has dramatically gained momentum in the last year.
But given the slow state of the market right now, can retailers afford to turn away any physical release – especially on a format that still sells well. In July, more DS games were sold than for Wii U and Vita combined.
The alternative for Ghostlight is to concentrate on online retailers such as Amazon – one DS publisher claimed it could easily secure half of the 4,800 sales required through online purchases alone.
But Ghostlight says demand for Devil Summoner 2 has been promising, warranting a physical release.
“Our website has been struggling under the load,” Brierley says. “The response seems to be really positive. One guy told us on Twitter that he had been trying for eight hours before he managed to pre-order a copy – so clearly he was quite keen.”
Ultimately this is not the first time small publishers have struggled to secure shelf space for cult Japanese games, nor will it be the last. Back in 2009, Rising Star boss Martin Defries hit out at the High Street for ‘dumbing down’ games retail by not stocking acclaimed Wii title Muramasa: The Demon Blade
True, Muramasa, Shin Megami Tensei and other such titles are never going to rake in the level of sales that other Japanese exports like Final Fantasy and Pokémon do. But crucially, they do still sell – just look at the success Namco Bandai has had with the likes of chart-topping Ni No Kuni and Tales of Xillia, which is No.4 in this week’s charts.
Is Ghostlight’s Kickstarter-esque appeal to fans the optimum way to bring these titles to market? Perhaps not – whether or not a publisher should ask consumers to fund game manufacturing is a grey area at best. But it’s a sign of the lengths determined small publishers will go to if bricks and mortar retailers don’t invest in a more diverse range of titles.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/analy...s-game/0120013
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