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theclarkystuff-blog · 7 years

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Star Fox 2 - A New Hope

Star Fox, Star Wing, Lylat Wars, whatever you know it by has always had a weird relationship with publisher Nintendo, being a flight combat game with a cast of cute furry woodland creatures taking the fight to monkey emperor Andross in 1994, developers Argonaut impressed many with it’s groundbreaking polygon graphics on Snes provided by the SuperFX chip, built into the cartridge the chip basically treated the Snes as a pass-through device allowing it to render visuals which may have been impossible on the original hardware, although this early implementation of 3D graphics would come at the cost of basic looks, terrible draw distance and an inconstant frame-rates, although the emulation scene and even modders had success to overclock these chips many years later leading to better performance.

Argonaut continued working on it’s hardware leading to the SuperFX2 chip alongside Star Fox 2 designed to showcase new abilities of the chip, although that honor would end up going to Doom and Yoshi’s Island as Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto wanted to a clean break between 3D graphics on games consoles and worried about comparisons to 3D games on more powerful systems at the time like the PlayStation or Sega Saturn. Star Fox 2 aimed in to bring a whole host of new ideas such as all terrain mode, new pilots Fay the dog and Miyu the lynx, rivals the Star Wolf team, walker mode for Arwings, multiplayer modes and a single player with multiple endings, these ideas would later be re-used in later Star Fox titles. Nintendo EAD would take up development on the next Star Fox on Nintendo’s upcoming N64 resulting in a retelling of the original but with impressive smooth 3D graphics, all terrain battle mode, fully voiced cast, multiplayer modes, new vehicles like tanks and submarines, most importantly though pay have been rumble support. The game being bundled with the Rumble Pak it would help make a gimmick into an industry standard with Sony and Sega releasing there own versions.

Easily becoming an N64 classic it would appear Nintendo somehow managed to miss what made Star Fox 64 as loved as it was with the next entry in the series being a Star Fox skinned GameCube remake of unfinished Rare Ware N64 game Dinosaur Planet. Rare’s effort with the IP would be closely compared closely to The Legend Of Zelda - Ocarina Of Time and garner positive reviews, this entry would also introduce new pilot, Kat. Q-Games, who had been founded by original Star Fox programmer Dylan Cuthbert would develop Star Fox Command for the NDS, being a combination of strategy and flight combat, including multiple endings and horrid stylus controls that would drag down what may have been an interesting concept, Command would gain mixed reviews. The last Gamecube entry would be Namco’s attempt with Star Fox Assault, a sequel set after SF64 which returned to flight combat on rails and managed to include horrible third person on foot sections and level designs which just didn’t manage to meet the same standards of SF64.

After mixed reactions to these games in 2011, Q-Games alongside EAD would both return to the Star Fox series remake Star Fox 64 as Star Fox 64 3D for the 3DS, including new visuals, re-recorded dialog, gyro controls and 2 modes that catered to a more classical experience or a new mode balanced towards the gyro controls and 3d effect. The remake reviewed well despite lack of online play and lack of the original rumble feedback SF64 had but reminded people why Star Fox 64 was a solid fun game. The success of this remake would lead to the development of 2 new Star Fox games on the Wii U, Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard. Star Fox Zero would be another reboot of the series, with Miyamoto stating he wanted the presentation to be structured episodically, drawing inspiration from television series Thunderbirds, featuring classic and experimental levels and ideas. Despite having this entry co-developed with Platinum Games the game would be reviewed negatively due to a reliance on using the Wii U Gamepad gyro controls and having to switch between the Gamepad screen and TV to see some targets. While I personlly found Star Fox Zero to be a good entry a lot of public outcry seemed to focus on the issues the game had as major ones and tower defense pack in Star Fox Guard was mainly viewed as being a low budget extra.

By this point it would be hard to not assume that Nintendo may have been ready to give the Star Fox series a rest in a similar fashion to F-Zero after new IP like Splatoon have managed to connect more with an audience based on its artistic direction and strong online community, it comes as shock when the biggest surprise from the Snes Mini Classic announcement is that Star Fox 2 will come included in this unit alongside the Snes original, assuming that Nintendo and Argonaut have finally overcome rumored legal issues over patent of the Super-FX chip in regard to emulating it, which is what may have prevented the original Star Fox and Yoshi’s Island releasing on the Virtual Console. Cuthbert has stated in an interview Nintendo Life conducted in 2015 that Nintendo had given access him to a finished ROM of Star Fox 2 which had been reviewed and debugged by Mario Club and that this build contained many elements not seen in a leaked earlier prototype which many fans maybe familiar with. Many will argue in this age of digital gaming where the idea of being able to release old games, prototypes or even un-translated games shouldn’t be an issue with only minimal work needing to be done to make it a commercial product available to fans, as seen by Nintendo releasing a NES translation prototype of Mother on Wii U as Earthbound Beginnings or like Sega with Monster World IV bringing it with a new translation after 18 years to Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network.

With NOA actually saying with the Switch that they had been trying to listen to customers more and actually read comments on popular sites like Neo-Gaf it actually seems like they may actually mean it and not using it as a PR piece. With the announcement of 2 new Metroid games, going region free with the switch, cross-play between Xbone and PC gamers, a Netflix style subscription based service of its back catalog with added online play, it is actually starting to feel like some of the impossible dreams could happen, Mother 3 which has been an outcry for its release in English ever since it’s 2006 release on Game Boy Advance, could we finally see that happen now with the eShop and the Switch? or if more outrageous ideas like Marvelous, For The Bell The Frog Tolls, Fatal Frame 2 or 4 or maybe even Captain Rainbow? While I won’t be placing any bets on any of those games coming out anytime soon or at all the announcement of Star Fox 2 actually being released officially by Nintendo still feels like part of a crazy dream and makes me wonder if bigger or better surprises are in store? With the subscription service Nintendo has planned lacking in solid details right now I can only ponder at the potential this service may hold.

#snes mini #star fox 2 #nintendo #mother 3

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pete-and-pete · 6 years

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30 Best Gifts for 13 Year Old Boys: Your Ultimate List (2018)

Gift-giving is much easier for some than others; we all know someone who is harder to find the right gift for. And, typically speaking, it’s common for the dad of the family to be the toughest to buy for.

However, anyone with a boy between the ages of 12-15 years old knows that they are just as tough to buy presents for. When it comes to finding the best gifts for 13-year-old boys, it’s especially hard because they’re at the age where they want to be…cool.

That’s it, really — 13-year-olds just want people to think they’re cool. As newly minted teens, they’re still searching for what that “cool” really is. So, I’m here to help you point them in the right direction — towards the cool.

Whether you’re looking for their birthday, Christmas, or any other occasion, here are the top 30 best gifts for 13-year-old boys in 2018:

1. Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII 25-key USB Drum Pad

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The Akai MPK MIni MKII is a great starter musician’s tool that I keep recommending time and time again. This Midi Drum Pad and keyboard will allow them to create their very own music with their computer, and it’ll also present them with a brand new hobby: making music.

Don’t let its price tag fool you, though. While there are other much more expensive midi keyboards on the market, the Akai MPK MKII comes packed with features. It has 25-synth-action mini-keys, 8 touch-sensitive drum pads and eight controllable/assignable knobs that all work in conjunction with their computer and the included software (as well as other, more advanced software options like FL Studio or Ableton Live). It comes with Akai Pro MPC Essentials, SONiVOX Wobble 2, AIR Hybrid 3, and preset editor software.

The MPK Mini MKII is also highly portable, fitting in most 15″ backpacks with ease. See the video below to see exactly what it can do:

Price: $99

Buy the Akai Professional MPK Mini here.

2. HyperX Cloud Revolver S Gaming Headset

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Gaming without a headset should be considered a crime, especially if you’re playing a competitive video game like Overwatch, Call of Duty, Battlefield 1, or Halo. And, even if your teen doesn’t play those types of games, having a headset on while playing any game helps with immersion.

If they don’t already have a headset or they’re still using the one that came with their game console, the HyperX Cloud Revolver S headset is a great upgrade. It’s a versatile headset that works with virtually anything with a 3.5″ jack: the PC, PS4, Xbox One (although you may need an adapter), Mac, and even their smartphone and tablet. When it’s plugged into a PC, it has full Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, which is pumped through its 50mm drivers for unrivaled quality in the price range.

The headset, itself, is extremely comfortable and stylish, and it’s made with a durable steel frame so that you don’t have to worry about them breaking it a week after you bought it for them. This is the gaming headset I use nightly, and the fact that it works with pretty much all of their game consoles is a HUGE plus.

Price: $149.99

Buy the HyperX Cloud Revolver X here.

3. Nintendo Switch

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The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo’s newest console, bringing a home console/handheld hybrid to your living room. It’s an impressive video game console that’s on pace to outsell the 3DS with ease, and its popularity is likely due to the fact that it can be played right in your hands OR on a big screen when connected to a TV.

There are already so many great games on the Nintendo Switch, including Game of the Year contender The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 2. What’s more, one of the biggest video games of the year is releasing exclusively for the Switch later this year when Super Mario Odyssey hits retailers.

The console is appealing to parents because of its handheld capabilities, which means your kids won’t be hogging the living room TV with their gaming.

Price: $299

Buy the Nintendo Switch here.

4. Super Mario Odyssey

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The most anticipated game of the year happens to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive, and we’re expecting another GOTY contender with Super Mario Odyssey, which is set to release in late October. The game will revolve around Mario trying to (yet again) save Princess Peach from Bowser, but this time, he brings some new tricks and mechanics. He’ll travel across many worlds (in the style of Mario 64) on a hat-shaped ship named the “Odyssey”, and the hub world is set in New Donk City (which looks unlike anything we’ve seen in a Mario game before).

What’s more, Mario will have a sentient hat that gives him new abilities as he traverses these new worlds.

Price: $58.88

Buy Super Mario Odyssey here.

5. LIFX Wi-Fi Smart LED Bulb

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If your thirteen-year-old is into cool tech, check out the LIFX Smart LED Light Bulb. With this bulb, they’re able to illuminate their room in any color that they want (as long as it’s one of the 16 million colors this light is capable of). The light is controlled with their smartphone or tablet, and it works with a program called IFTTT (If This Than That) that will allow their light to react to different events from other apps (for example, when their weather app sends them a notification that it’s raining out or when they receive a new tweet).

It also works with Amazon’s Alexa, so they’re able to set it up to do things like dim the lights when they turn on Netflix.

What sets it apart from similar LED smart lights like the Philips Hue is that it doesn’t require a hub, so the price is drastically reduced.

Price: $49.99 (17 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Lifx Wi-Fi Smart LED Bulb here.

6. Create Your Own Comic Book Kit

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Is he an artist? Do you see him frequently holding DC or Marvel’s latest comic books? Check out the My Comic Book: Make Your Own Comic Book kit. This is a super interesting idea for his age group because it’ll harness their artistic ability and creativity.

With this kit, they’ll be able to make their own comic and have it professionally printed. They’ll simply design their comic with the provided pages, pens, and markers, and then they’ll send it out to the company with a pre-paid envelope. In just a few weeks, it’ll return professionally printed.

Price: $29.93

Buy the Create Your Own Comic Book Kit here.

7. Elgato Game Capture HD60 S

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If they want to stream their PS4 or Xbox One gameplay on Twitch or YouTube they’ll need a game capture card. The best option is the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S, which is incredibly easy to set up, thanks to its USB plug n’ play capabilities.

They’ll simply plug their game console into one of the ports, and an HDMI cable from the card to their PC monitor, and they’ll be able to stream and record their gameplay with ease.

Also, if they’re not into streaming, they’ll be able to record and edit their gameplay clips.

Price: $179.94

Buy the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S here.

8. Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Open Ear Bone Conduction Wireless Headphones

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Looking for something really “cool”? These Aftershokz Trekz Titanium headphones don’t actually cover the ear, but instead, they use bone conduction technology to create mini vibrations that send sound through their cheekbones directly to the inner ears.

That means that when he’s running or skateboarding in the street, he’ll still have open ears to hear what’s going on around them — whether it be a car driving by or someone trying to his attention.

Or if he’s in his room listening to music, he’ll still be able to hear you calling him down for dinner.

The technology is super cool and super useful, and it has a battery that lasts for 6 hours of playback. They’re available in bright green, blue, pink, and slate grey.

Price: $111.00 (15 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Aftershokz Trekz Titanium Headphones here.

9. Arrma Senton 6S BLX 4WD RC Super Duty Truck

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Don’t go to Toys R’ Us or Walmart for your RC needs, because frankly, they only carry toy RC cars that aren’t impressive at all, meant to be a cheap gift come Christmas time. Instead, get him an RC car that’s a bit more formidable and impressive, like the Arrma Senton 6S BLX 4WD RC Super Duty Truck. This baby has speed and control that will shock him, and he’ll be the envy of all of his friends.

This RC truck can really take a beating, thanks to its durable design that includes a tough roll cage and durable wheels. It comes ready to run, and thanks to its brushless 2050kv motor, it certainly CAN run.

This thing is lightning quick and can reach speeds over 40 MPH with ease.

What’s more, it’ll also potentially fuel his need to take things apart and put them back together, as it has a lot of potential repairs, upgrades, and tweaks. These types of RC cars are a tinkerer’s dream.

Price: $479.99

Buy the Arrma Senton here.

10. Fender Acoustic Guitar Bundle

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Looking to harness their love of music? You simply won’t find a better name brand than Fender, and that’s why we highly recommend this starter Fender Acoustic Guitar Bundle. It comes with a beautiful (albeit simple) 20-fret rosewood hardwood guitar that has a laminated spruce top and a full-size body for a full, rich sound. It comes with extra strings, some picks, a strap, a bag, and an instructional DVD that they’ll never use (because, let’s face it, who likes to be told how to do something at that age).

Price: $139.99

Buy the Fender Acoustic Guitar Bundle here.

11. Akaso EK700 4K Action Camera Waterproof

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Teenagers love for others to think they’re cool, and one way for them to get feedback from their friends is with an action camera. The Akaso EK700 4K Action Camera is your best option if you’re looking for quality that won’t break the bank. It records impressive Ultra HD 4K video footage, it’s entirely waterproof, and it comes with a wireless wrist remote control. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and HDMI output so that they’ll be able to share their footage with friends in just minutes.

It comes with two rechargeable batteries, with each battery lasting 90 minutes when recording. With this, they’ll be able to capture tons of awesome footage no matter what they’re into — skateboarding, surfing, mountain biking, hiking, etc.

Price: $74.99 (25 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Akaso EK700 4K Action Cam here.

12. AOMAIS Sport II Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (Waterproof)

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Give your 13-year-old the gift of sound on the go with a well-made wireless bluetooth speaker. Take the AOMAIS Sport II Portable Bluetooth Speaker, for instance, which is waterproof and has a stereo pairing. This thing is HIGHLY durable, thanks to a rugged and tough design. Of course, it also sounds great, pushing out 20W. It has a rechargeable battery that’s long-lasting.

Thanks to its rugged design, he’ll be able to take it with him outside without worrying about breaking it.

Price: $49.99 (71 percent off MSRP)

Buy the AOMAIS Sport II Portable Wireless Speaker here.

13. LEGO Architecture Studio Building Blocks Set

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LEGOs aren’t just for kids — there are some great LEGO Star Wars sets as well as some LEGO Architecture kits that are made for the older crowd. Take this LEGO Architecture Building Blocks set, for example, which comes with 1,210 pieces.

It’s not made for them to create some dinosaurs or cars or other types of typical LEGO creations — although they can make those with this kit too. Instead, this kit is intended to harness their interest in architecture, with 1210 white and transparent LEGO bricks and a 272-page guidebook for inspiration. If your thirteen year old has shown any interest in buildings and other architecture, this could make a really great and thoughtful gift.

Price: $146.97

Buy the LEGO Architecture Studio Building Blocks Set here.

14. Skateboard

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Of course, skateboards aren’t a novel idea, by any means, but it’s really worth mentioning the importance of getting them a quality skateboard instead of buying them a cheap one from Wal-mart or Toys R’ Us. At 13, they’re likely ready for a pro-worthy deck, like something from Toy Machine or Enjoi. More specifically, with all of the available deck designs and artwork, find them a deck that fits their personality. My universal pick of choice is this Toy Machine Mustachio board.

Price: $84.95

Buy a Toy Machine Skateboard here.

15. Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam

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With kids these days turning their backs on traditional careers in favor of internet fame, this is the time to help harness their interest. In fact, a recent study of a thousand children revealed that 3/4 of young people want a career in online videos.

So, if your 13 yr old has mentioned interest in streaming on Twitch or creating their own YouTube videos, check out the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam. It comes in at under $85, and it’s a great, high-quality webcam that will allow them to create quality video content, even if they’re just sharing it with friends and family.

This webcam is capable of streaming full 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps, and it’s specifically designed with social gaming and entertainment streaming on sites like Twitch and YouTube.

More importantly, though, is that it comes with unique background replacement technology that really works well. Instead of having to purchase a green screen, the Logitech C922x Pro Stream uses scanning technology to separate you (in your chair) from the background behind you, allowing you to replace the background with an image or video with ease. This type of technology makes video game streaming much easier for the streamer, which is why the Logitech C922x is our webcam of choice.

Price: $80.43

Buy the Logitech C922x Pro Stream here.

16. Nike Mens Pullover Hoodie

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At 13, they’re likely starting to develop their own fashion sense and style. But, also at 13, it’s super difficult to get quality clothes because, as Will Smith said best, “Parents Just Don’t Understand”.

Get him a quality Nike Mens Pullover Hoodie that both looks greats and will keep him warm on cooler days. These pullover hoodies are equal parts style and comfort.

Price: $29.99+

Buy the Nike Mens KO 3.0 Pullover Hoodie here.

17. Fire HD 8 Tablet

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Amazon’s all-new Fire HD 8 Tablet is an incredible Android-based tablet that won’t break the bank, and it has enough power to run every app and game I’ve thrown at it. Whether they want to play the recently released Albion Online or any of their streaming apps, the Fire HD 8 Tablet can handle it.

It also comes with Alexa, meaning they can control their Echo or Echo Dot (if they have one) with this tablet.

Price: $79.99

Buy the Fire HD 8 Tablet here.

18. Creative Motion Supernova Color Changing Sphere

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Give them the power of having a cool light show right in their room with the Creative Motion Supernova Color Changing Sphere.

It has 9 LED bulbs within, and it has 6 modes of operation for different lighting effects. This little globe will change the vibe of their entire room thanks to the cool lighting.

Price: $28.25 (11 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Supernova Color Changing Sphere here.

19. Catan 5th Edition

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Thirteen is the right age to get them started (and hooked-on) Settlers of Catan. Check out the 5th edition of this popular board game, which has new graphics, board design, and cards, as well as an expanded rulebook. It’s a game that’s competitive and fun, with players gathering resources and trading with other traders. It works best with 3-4 players, and each game will vary in length (typically takes about an hour or so to find a victor). There are also plenty of expansions that add new wrinkles after they’ve played enough of the original.

Price: $28.99

Buy Catan 5th Edition here.

20. Parrot BeBop 2 Drone

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While the Parrot BeBop 2 drone isn’t as advanced as some of the year’s best new drones (like the DJI Mavic or Spark, for example), it comes in at the right price and is one of the easiest drones to fly. This makes it the perfect option for novices to the hobby.

The BeBop 2 can shoot full HD 1080p videos and 14MP stills, and it has 3-axis digital stabilization for smoothness. It also has 25 minutes of battery life per charge, thanks to its high capacity battery. I’ve found that the BeBop 2 is equally fun to fly as it is recording footage.

Price: $499 (29 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Parrot BeBop 2 Drone here.

Check out more of the best gifts for 13 year old boys here.

21. Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series AlphaHawk

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One of Nerf’s hottest new toys is the AccuStrike Series AlphaHawk, a ridiculously cool shooter with the look of a futuristic shotgun. It has a pop-out barrel, and it’s a bolt-action blaster that shoots darts that are specifically designed for greater accuracy. It comes with 10 darts.

Price: $39.99

Buy the Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series AlphaHawk here.

22. Kanjam Ultimate Disc Game

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Kanjam is a great new game to play with friends or family at the beach or in the yard. It comes with two goals (small cans) and a Kanjam frisbee. It’s played in two teams of two (like cornhole), and there are many ways to score points. You can get 3 points for a slam dunk, 2 points if you hit the can, 1 point if it’s deflected and it hits the can, and then an instant win if you happen to throw your disc into the little slot in the front. Games are played to 21, and it’s incredibly fun. Your 13-year-old will love the competitive game, and he’ll love having something to play with his friends.

Price: $39.99

Buy the Kanjam Ultimate Disc Game here.

23. Destiny 2

One of 2017’s most anticipated games is Destiny 2 for the Xbox One, PS4, and PC. It’s an action shooter that highly suggests playing with friends. It’s heavy on the sci-fi, complete with laser rifles, spaceships, and alien races. And, trust me when I tell you, all of his friends are going to be playing it.

Price: $59.99

Buy Destiny 2 here.

24. Overwatch Figure

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Overwatch has become much more than just a video game; it’s now a cultural phenomenon. What better way to celebrate their love for this incredibly popular game than to get them an Overwatch figure. There are many different types available, with some of the lower tier ones (Funko Pops) starting at $9.50.

Price: Starting at $9.50

Buy an Overwatch Figure here.

25. Laser X Gaming Set

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Laser tag is always incredibly fun for young teens, and that’s why the new Laser X Gaming Set makes a great gift for 13 yr olds. This two-player starter pack comes with two laser guns and two targets, and they have a 60-meter range on them. With the Laser X kit, they’re able to play an intense game of laser tag right in the yard.

Price: $49.99

Buy the Laser X Gaming Set here.

26. Acer Aspire VX 15 Gaming Laptop

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Dropping $1,000 on a gift might not be ideal for some, but for others, getting them a high-quality gaming laptop is a great option. The Acer Aspire VX 15 gaming laptop is a great deal for $1,000, as it comes with everything they’ll need to run the hottest new games. It has an i7 Intel Core CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB SSD. While it might be considered a mid-tier gaming laptop, it has more than enough oomph to run the latest games in glorious Full HD.

Price: $999.99 (5 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Acer Aspire VX 15 Gaming Laptop here.

27. Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Wireless Speaker

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Harman Kardon is an audio company well-known for its super high quality, and their Onyx Studio 3 Wireless Speaker makes for a great gift for teens. It isn’t intended to be a portable speaker like the AOMAIS speaker above, as this one focuses on delivering high-quality sound. It connects via Bluetooth to virtually any device, and it has a charge that lasts for 5 hours. Each speaker has its own woofer and tweeter, and it pushes out impressive lows and highs.

Price: $131.99 (71 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Harman Kardon Onyx Studio 3 Wireless Speaker here.

28. Xbox One S 1TB Madden NFL 17 Bundle

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Whether they already have the original Xbox One or they have yet to dip their toes into the water, the Xbox One S 1TB Madden NFL 17 Bundle is a great option. The Xbox One S looks better, is smaller, and is more powerful than its predecessor, and the upgrades don’t go unnoticed when jumping from the original to the Xbox One S.

This Xbox One S 1TB Madden NFL 17 Bundle comes with the most anticipated sports game of the year, and it comes with seven Madden Ultimate Team Pro Packs.

Price: $302.98 (13 percent off MSRP)

Buy the Xbox One S 1TB Madden Bundle here.

29. LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon

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If he’s a lover of all things Star Wars, one of the best LEGO Star Wars sets for sale is the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon. It’s aimed at ages 9-14, and it comes with 1,329 pieces. With those pieces, they’ll be able to build a replica Millennium Falcon, the most popular ship in the galaxy. It also includes 6 mini-figures and a BB-8 figure.

Price: $115.99

Buy the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon here.

30. GameStop Gift Card

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While I typically like to avoid giving gift cards as much as possible, picking out video games for someone else can be a nightmare. Kids are very particular about the types of games they want to play, so getting them something like Call of Duty when they’re a Battlefield 1 player won’t go over well. So, why not let them pick? Get them a GameStop Gift Card and put whatever value you want on it. It’ll save you the headache of trying to determine their most wanted games, and it’ll save them the disappointment.

Price: $5.00-75.00+

Buy a GameStop Gift Card here.

See Also:

100 Cool Toys for Boys

100 Cool Gifts for Boys

Heavy, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. Our product recommendations are guided solely by our editors. We have no relationship with manufacturers.

source https://heavy.com/gifts/2018/10/gifts-for-13-year-old-boys/

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barbosaasouza · 6 years

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Nintendo Direct March 8 Recap: Super Smash Bros., Splatoon 2 3.0, and More

Nintendo sure knows how to set low expectations. On Wednesday, the company announced what sounded like a modest Nintendo Direct. Oh, they'll talk about some 3DS games, some Switch games, and Mario Tennis! Yes, Mario Tennis! And maybe a surprise or two.

A surprise or two.

Yeah, this Nintendo Direct was full of surprises, but perhaps you might have missed it. If so, let's recap the whole thing.

WarioWare has offered a rich library of micro games across its entire series. Now a chunk of those games are getting bundled into one giant collection. These games will include multiple control schemes that can pop up at any time, so expect to tilt the system or turn it sideways at any given moment. WarioWare Gold is set to hit Nintendo 3DS on August 3.

Heroic armadillo Dillon returns for another adventure on the Nintendo 3DS. This is a follow-up to 2012's Dillon's Rolling Western titled Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers. This adventure focuses more on action and tower defense. The game will feature a lot of enemies, so Dillon can recruit allies in the form of Mii characters. Look for Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers to hit the Nintendo 3DS eShop on May 24.

It seems that developer AlphaDream has needed a break after Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, because the studio has been focused more on remaking its past efforts. Following last year's Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, the team is now looking to remake the third chapter in the series. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story was first released on the Nintendo DS in 2009 and it looks like a 3DS remake will be ready for its tenth anniversary.

Like last year's remake, this will have something a little extra in the form of an all-new side story. Bowser Jr.'s Journey will follow Bowser Jr., who was conspicuously absent in the original game. He'll follow his big bad father around and get into his own mischief along the way. Look for Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey to arrive in 2019.

Speaking of old-school classics, let's welcome back Luigi's Mansion. There's still no GameCube Virtual Console to speak of, so the masses haven't had a chance to experience this game since it first launched on the GameCube. Now they'll get to check it out on the Nintendo 3DS, which also played home to the 2013 sequel. This remake will include a few more 3DS-exclusive features, like a mansion map for the bottom screen and a new boss rush mode. Look for this updated Luigi's Mansion to arrive on Nintendo 3DS later in 2018.

Kirby Star Allies has a few new friends to add to its roster. By picking up the Dream Rod, Kirby will be able to call forth a few special allies, including King Dedede and Meta Knight. But that's not all. Kirby will receive additional allies through free DLC set to arrive after the game releases. These are all old allies that Kirby has met over the course of his adventures on the Game Boy and Super Nintendo. So while Kirby Star Allies arrives on March 16, the first of the free updates will arrive on March 28. There's also a free demo up right now for those looking to try it out.

Okami is back! After getting an HD upgrade on current-gen consoles and PC, the Nintendo Switch is next on the docket. And yes, the Switch version will feature touchscreen controls, allowing players to use the Celestial Brush the way it was meant to be used. Joy-Con motion controls will also be an option, for those looking to practice their painting motion. Okami HD is set to release on the Nintendo Switch this summer.

Get ready to chuck as much raw fish as you can, because Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido is heading to Nintendo Switch. In a world where sushi has been outlawed (you read that right, just follow along with me), it's up to Musashi to stand up to the Empire and overthrow their vast sushi monopoly. Got that? Then get ready to engage in action-RPG battles that involve the flinging of fish, with up to four characters in your party. Look for Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido to hit both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS on June 8.

The floor was given to Square Enix's Masashi Takahashi for some news about Octopath Traveler. Players were treated to two new characters: Merchant Tressa and Apothecary Alfyn. Like the other characters in the game, they have distinct abilities and base jobs. However, those base jobs can be mixed with other jobs to open up entirely new attacks and abilities. Octopath Traveler now has a release date. It's set to arrive on July 13, alongside a special edition that features a number of physical goodies, including a pop-up book. There's a free demo available right now on the Nintendo eShop for those looking to try it out.

Travis Touchdown's adventures have been eccentric, but this one's just downright weird. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes puts Travis inside a full-blown game console world and has him fight his way across multiple genres of games. Each of these game genres will have its own distinct boss at the end. But while each game type is different, Travis will still have his katana in hand ready to slice and dice his way to the end. There's also local co-op, in case a friend wants to lend a hand. Travis Strikes Back: No More Heroes is a Switch exclusive and will launch in 2018.

By now, most people have tried their hand at Dark Souls. But those who haven't are in for a treat. Bandai Namco looks to be going all-out for Dark Souls Remastered and will launch a Network Test in the very near future. On top of that, there's a new Solaire of Astora Amiibo which performs the Praise the Sun gesture. Both Dark Souls Remastered and the Solaire of Astora Amiibo will release on May 25. The game will go for $39.99, while the Amiibo goes for $15.99 exclusively at GameStop.

Mario Tennis Aces may not have been the feature attraction by the end of this Nintendo Direct, but there was still plenty to talk about here. Players can expect to see 15 playable characters, along with some new features like the Special Energy gauge and Special Shots. A single-player story and online multiplayer will also be available, with the latter including online tournaments that reward special outfits and new characters. A pre-launch tournament will test player mettle before Mario Tennis Aces officially releases on June 22. No word on when the tournament will take place, but stay tuned.

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As is frequently proving to be the case with Wii U games, they were pretty great titles that released to an audience of few. So now's a chance to give another Wii U game a new lease on life, as Captain Toad Treasure Tracker is set to release on both the Switch and 3DS. The Switch version will include a co-op mode that has a second player flinging turnips at enemies and obstacles, along with an entirely new stage set in New Donk City from Super Mario Odyssey. The 3DS version will feature 3DS visuals and touchscreen controls. Both versions are set to be released on July 13.

Do you like Earthbound? Well, Nintendo didn't announce one of those. What was announced was the next best thing. The fantastic Earthbound-like Undertale was announced for Nintendo Switch. When's it coming? That's not so clear. Undertale only confirmed its existence on the Switch, but the release window was only set to "eventually." So don't expect this anytime soon.

It's always wild to see Nintendo make nice with old rival mascots. Over a decade after Sonic the Hedgehog first graced a Nintendo platform, now it's time for Crash Bandicoot to do the same. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is now set to hit Nintendo Switch with all three Crash games intact. Look for this collection to arrive on July 10.

Acclaimed indie puzzle platformer Little Nightmares is making its way to Nintendo Switch. For those who missed the original, they'll get to catch up with the full game plus all of the post-release content. That means playing both the Six story and the Kid story. Switch owners will even get a special outfit with the Pac-Man Amiibo. (Now aren't you glad you saved that thing?) Little Nightmares: Complete Edition will arrive on May 18.

Two days after hearing about the new Casa Bonita DLC, it looks like South Park: The Fractured But Whole will be coming to Nintendo Switch. The game's first two DLC packs will also be available for purchase on day one, as will the Season Pass. South Park: The Fractured But Whole hits Nintendo Switch on April 24.

The Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition was first announced during the previous Nintendo Direct Mini, but now it has a release date. The game is set to release on May 18, with all of the content from both the Wii U and 3DS versions. Remember that new Breath of the Wild outfits will also be included.

Serious Arms fans will be excited to hear that there's a new tournament seeking out the best players in the world. Players can seek to qualify during a ten-day period starting today. Simply jump into Ranked Match and play at least 50 matches from now through March 18. The top eight players will proceed to the Online Finals on March 31, which will be streamed live.

As for those who haven't discovered Arms yet, I'd like to confirm that, yes, you are late to the party. By quite a bit. But still, there's another Arms Global Testpunch set to begin on March 31, which will run for three days.

The Splatoon 2 3.0 update is set to be a big one. It'll feature over 100 new outfits and a handful of new stages. Those stages are:

Piranha Pit

Camp Triggerfish

Wahoo World

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The best of the best will also be able to rank up all the way to Rank X. Not many details were offered about that one, but expect more information soon.

But the most exciting announcement was the one regarding Splatoon 2's first paid DLC. It centers around an entirely new single-player campaign called the Octo Expansion. Players will take the role of Agent 8, who looks like an Octoling but has lost her memory. She'll look to get to the bottom of a sinister cloning plot across eight different testing facilities. A full-blown story filled with lore is being promised, as is the ability to play as an Octoling in multiplayer upon completing this expansion. The Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion is set to release during the summer for $19.99.

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So it looked like that was going to be it. The Nintendo Direct looked like it was going to conclude with a Splatoon sizzle reel.

Then this happened.

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Yes, Super Smash Bros. is coming to Nintendo Switch. But in what form exactly? Is this an all-new game? Is this an updated Wii U version with new characters? Does "2018" mean it's coming in 2018 or does it mean we're getting new information in 2018? There are a lot of unknowns and variables, but right now, all we know is, there is a Super Smash Bros. game headed to the Nintendo Switch. And for now, that's more than enough to get excited about.

What excited you the most about today's Nintendo Direct? Be sure to join the conversation and let us know in the comments.

Nintendo Direct March 8 Recap: Super Smash Bros., Splatoon 2 3.0, and More published first on https://superworldrom.tumblr.com/

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game-refraction · 7 years

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Game Review: ARMS (Switch)

ARMS, for all its comparisons, is a boxing game. If the colorful and vibrant characters of something like Overwatch were to exist in an equally colorful and vibrant version of Nintendo’s own Punch-Out, then it might look a little something like this. Nintendo has been breaking free of its comfort zone of producing countless Mario titles with the plump little plumber partaking in a variety of sports, party games, and laps around the track, to break into genres not normally particularly known for the publisher. Splatoon was their attempt at creating a tactical multiplayer shooter, and ARMS is Nintendo attempting to get a piece of the more traditional ‘one on one’ fighting genre, while still feeling entirely different than their own Smash Bros franchise.

ARMS delivers a very light jab with its content, a ten-round Grand Prix with no story to go along with these ten wonderfully designed characters. It’s the same issue I have with Overwatch, a game bursting at the seams with some of the most well-conceived characters in gaming, minus the narrative; it’s style over substance and it’s unfortunate.

The ten fighters that you can choose from will grow with future DLC, but what we have here is a selection of fighters that all have a little something that separates them from one another. Each fighter has special abilities that will assist in complimenting your style of play. Ribbon Girl can jump multiple times in the air to gain some height and distance away from your opponent. Ninjara, who can warp around as he dashes can also break free of grabs if you are fast enough. Master Mummy can take regular punches without even flinching, or retreat back and heal while blocking. There is also Min Min and her devastating Dragon Arm attack that can deal out some pretty decent damage.

The simplistic nature of how ARMS plays is reminiscent of fighting games during the Street Fighter II era, where it was simply who can get a few solid hits in and survive the match. The back and forth attacks weren’t dressed up in super flashy specials or learning complex controls. ARMS is at its core, Rock, Paper, Scissors. Its triangle system of Punch, Grab, and Block is essentially what it all comes down to. It’s rather hard to button mash in the game due to how this system works, making it more a game of reading your opponent and waiting to strike. Max Brass, the final boss in the Grand Prix mode, and the next free DLC character, was challenging until I notice certain movements he did that left him open for a grab, of which was his downfall. Charging in and trying to beat him on the offensive was the bad play, you need to be patient with him, wait to strike, and he’s yours.

While ARMS is being promoted with a heavy emphasis on motion controls, the game is still fully playable, and quite enjoyable, without them. I’ve played through the game’s Grand Prix mode entirely with motion controls and several times without, and I have to say that while the motion controls do add much to the game’s boxing premise, as motion controls are literally a ‘hands moving in the air’ type mechanic, they don’t quite nail the precision of playing with a controller. My recommendation of playing ARMS with a controller aside, there is one controversial element to motion controls vs controllers that needs to be addressed.

ARMS is clearly something that Nintendo wants to see join the ranks of other e-sports fighting games, and it easily looks the part. The problem with this is that motion controls and the more traditional controller setups don’t share the same way that curved throws are handled. Using a controller, the moving and curve throws are mapped to the same analog stick, meaning that if you want to throw a curved punch, you almost have to slow down or stop moving to do so, but this isn’t the case with motion controls at all. The reliance on a controller can leave you at a partial disadvantage, and given the fact that most e-sports bouts can see one player win by pulling off a move that is literally a frame of animation ahead of their opponent, it can be a serious issue in this case, but maybe not a deal breaker to those just looking to play some video games.

Apart from the curve punches, I do vastly prefer playing the game with a controller and have opted to leave motion controls behind for the time being. I found my punches a bit more precise and exceedingly more responsive with the use of an analog stick than the spotty waving around of my Joycon’s. The motion controls themselves are performed by holding the Joycon’s in a thumb’s up position, with the system connected side of them away from your palms. This way of holding the controllers has you punch with each fist, perform blocks, and unleashing special moves, jumps, and dashes, with the top buttons.

The core combat of ARMS is throwing punches with your left and right fists, or together to perform a throw. You can block incoming blows, or dash out of the way to target that much-needed opening. You can also jump, giving you a bit of a height advantage, with Ribbon Girl easily having a clear advantage there. A lot of mastering the game comes with learning the animated ‘tells’ of certain characters. These are moments when the character is performing an idle animation, or about to attack, giving you a split second to take advantage of it. There are far more elements to battle like parry attacks, charged moves and air dashes that take a while to learn and a long time to master.

The levels themselves have a bit of character as well, and often are supplied with various bits of cover; cars, pillars, and various box-like objects that are placed around the level to help in dodging an attack, or using it as a platform to get some decent height from. There are other types of levels that have breakable floors, floating platforms and are usually tailored around the characters themselves.

The cast of ARMS can swap out different ARMS, hence the name, to add variety to how silly and goofy the game can be. There are dragon-head ARMS that shoot lasers, spinning blades that fly back to you, and snake-like ARMS that almost look to seek out their prey. There are dozen’s of different types and you can mix and match to find a combination that works for you. Each character starts with three different types, giving you a small sample of what to expect, and considering that each character on the roster has a slightly different set than the others, it’s easy enough to try out a character that has that ARMS setup that you may want for your main, keeping it in mind that you’ll need to unlock that style for each character; ARMS are not universally shared.

Unlocking ARMS is a slow and grindy process, and is solely a game of chance. You will earn coins during each of the modes the game offers, but at such a snail’s pace that it makes me wonder if this game was even tested during development. It takes either 30, 100, or 200 coins to enter into a mini-game that allows you to unlock items. Most matches will award 1 or 2 coins, with the odd match awarding 3. The mini-game itself has you clearing targets to have gift boxes enter the playing field. Once you’ve knocked them down and earned your prize, the round continues until the timer reaches zero. You can extend the time should you hit the clock items that will randomly appear. The items you earn are for every character in the game, so finding that set of ARMS for a character you want, can be a time-consuming challenge. I have to really compliment Nintendo on not opening this game up to microtransactions, a move that nearly any other publisher would have made without blinking an eye.

ARMS, like Splatoon, will dish out more content sometime after launch, giving us more reasons to jump back into the game after we’ve moved onto the next. This new content will be new characters, new stages, and more, all at no cost. While this promise of new content should make people excited, the content we have now, at launch, is fairly thin. I’ve talked briefly about it so far, but let’s get into exactly what we get.

The Grand Prix is a 10 round battle that is announced by Bif, a small character with a fist on his head. In a previous Nintendo Direct, this character had a comical voice and had some very well delivered lines and it was rather shocking that the character in-game is mute, with any and all dialogue in the game needing to be read. He will make jokes and comments about the pairings of fighters and some of them are rather fun to read but would be far more effective if fully voiced, especially the puns.

There is the standard versus mode that will pit you against another character, either in regular battles, volleyball, basketball or break the target. Volleyball has you simply punch a ball back and forth to the other side of the court, with points scored if your opponent can’t get it over the net. Basketball has you dunk your opposition into a net with the grab mechanic, and is probably my favorite mode in the game. Break the target has you competing to break popped up targets in succession, earning more points should you hit multiple targets in a single punch. There is also a 1 vs 100 mode that has you trying to take on waves of generic enemies one after another.

The online portion of ARMS has worked perfectly so far with not a single dropped match or any sort of issue that normally comes with launching a game designed around online competition. When you enter an online lobby, you’ll share it with other players, each of them selected to join various matches around you. You’ll be randomly put into a match, whether it’s a one on one fight, a tag-team battle, or you and two other players taking on Hedlok, a six-armed beast that can take you down several pegs with just a glimpse. These matches are intense, thrilling, but frustrating if you can’t catch a break. Otherwise, the same matches that you have offline are here, just with other players.

I did find that the 3 player and 4 player matches that are free-for-alls, and even the team battle modes for that matter, are almost too frantic, making the ‘tell’ reading nature of this game absolutely not matter and it becomes something of a frenzy of people punching at random and getting cornered or attacked from behind as you are trying to play somewhat strategic against another player. It’s a bit of a hot mess, but I am not sure how this sort of match could be improved.

ARMS is a gorgeous title that runs a solid 1080p and 60 fps either docked or on the go. This will obviously lower once you hit 2 players (900p) and 4 player battles (900p 30fps) to keep a solid flow in battle. The detail given to each fighter is stunning with nice little details throughout the entire roster like Master Mummy appearing to be wearing some sort of sports jersey, or that Min Min has these small little flowers on her shoulder. Even expected things like the bouncing of character’s ARMS and hair, everything is so wonderfully animated that it makes it even more unfortunate that these characters have no story mode to flesh them out. Audio is fairly limited to the hits and music, as characters have very minimal audio. There are victory cheers and a few rare quips, but that’s about it. The theme song is incredibly catchy and will stick with you long after you’ve turned the system off.

ARMS is a fun and enjoyable experience that has all the makings of a great franchise, but just not yet. Once more modes and characters are added then I can see this game gaining a bit of traction. It is blissfully fun but can become a bit tedious in how stingy the coins are earned to unlock new ARMS. The initial cast of characters are really well done, without a single poor choice among them. The sheer variety in their move sets, arm selection, combined with the nuance of mastering grabs, parry attacks and charged strikes, ARMS has a lot to master.

ARMS was reviewed and played via a purchased retail copy for the Nintendo Switch.

Game Review: ARMS (Switch) was originally published on Game-Refraction

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omarboulakjar · 7 years

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: 9.7-inch #iPad Pro $150 off, iTunes Disney/Pixar Movie Sale, PDF Expert 2 for Mac $25, more

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geeklyreport · 7 years

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Nintendon't Give a Fuck

So, March 3rd then. If you’ve pre-ordered you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. This is of course the date Nintendo’s new home/handheld combo console is unleashed worldwide onto the gaming public, and, for nearly all of those gamers who’ve pre-ordered, this is when the real excitement builds. Even those who aren’t at all interested can at least accept that they know the feeling well; the anticipation on the way to the store, finally getting your hands on your new beautiful box of gaming, hurrying home, the unboxing - oh the unbridled joy of the unboxing - and then the hookup, the final power button on, then at last! Wait what the shit are these fucking updates? Fuck you! How long to completion? Fine, I’ll go make a sandwich….. Then at last! You come face to face with the home screen and the real fun can begin. As a long time gamer who’s gone through this with the master system, an Amiga 500, an n64, a dreamcast, a ps2, 3 and 4, all the Xboxes, a Gamecube and both Wii’s, not to mention countless handhelds, the above process is something I’ve experienced and very much enjoyed quite a lot, and the reason I watched the Nintendo switch event with baited breath. I was already sold. Then it all came crashing down. Nintendo seemed intent on nuking all the goodwill and excitement they’d accumulated in the preceding weeks and months; unchecking all the boxes they’d previously ticked. I should probably reiterate at this point that I’m getting on a bit and use gaming as a form of relaxation. A lot of my friends have had kids, prioritised other things over gaming and nearly all live in a different time zone (I moved to Canada 4 years back). I have a wonderful partner who encourages my gaming hobby, yet doesn’t venture much beyond the free games she can get on her iPhone. Armed with this information, my opinion on what we’ve seen on the Nintendo Switch should make a little more sense. I don’t think I’m alone either, based on the reaction elsewhere. We’re people who’ve grown up with Nintendo and enjoy gaming as Nintendo originally provided it. And it appears they’re throwing us aside (once again), kicking us when we’re down and then spitting in our faces while they take a big steamy dump on our chests. While there are people into Nintendo defacating all over them, that's just not for me. Do you like Nintendo exclusive games? Of course you do! Well how about a game that you really want and can buy on our previous console (which we prematurely killed off because we fucked quite a lot up with it)? We’ve got you covered! Want to see what our console is really about and experience all the new tech Nintendo incorporated? Pick up 1-2 Switch! It’s a full price mini game compilation that they should definitely have packed in. You’ll likely play for a few days before casting it aside as it offers no replay value! It also makes you look like a tit and can simulate masturbation! If you look like a tit and there’s no one else around to see you, are you still a tit? Most definitely. Hey older gamer! You remember how much fun Bomberman was right? Well we’ve got a new one! The single player is still bunk but the multiplayer is still super fun, super simple and that’s right, definitely worth full price! So what if it has been surpassed in terms of depth by flash and mobile games on the last decade? How about some retro and indie games that, given you’re an avid gamer, you’ve already bought and played at least once on different consoles?! Why not rebuy them and play them on our new console while we get our shit together! I mean come on, there's no way to transfer that world of goo purchase from the Wii, so why not give Nintendo your money again? And that, along with a dancing party game and a plastic toy collect-a-thon, is the launch lineup. Done. Nothing else. Before you say it, I know consoles don’t traditionally have massively strong catalogues of games on day 1. I didn’t expect the switch too either. I did however want to see a couple - just two would’ve been enough - worthwhile unique experiences that I could sit down and enjoy. That alone would justify a console purchase for a grumpy twat like me. ‘80 plus games this year!’ I hear you cry. Ok but how many of those are games that I’ve already bought and enjoyed though? And how many are likely to perform better on those other consoles? If I want to play Skyrim, world of goo and the host of other older games that make up a significant portion of that 80, I just need to fire up my older consoles and save myself having to rebuy them. Even the upcoming Nintendo exclusives have managed to irk me (Mario admittedly does looks great though). I loved Splatoon, absolutely adored it. So much so that I played it to death less than two years ago. Two years I might add, is a very short time in Nintendo sequel terms, with good reason. Nintendo likes to give themselves more time than most to perfect their games, nurturing the things that work and tweaking until they’re just right. Releasing Splatoon 2 so soon smacks of desperation to have enough content on a new system, and leads me to believe it’ll likely be closer to an upgrade than a true sequel. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe asks those who’ve likely already bought the original to re-up, in order to play on their shiny new console. One of the main selling features being an upgrade to my former favourite game mode, battle, which Nintendo completely ballsed up for this iteration on Wii U. They’d previously refused to acknowledge they’d made an error with the originals battle mode, yet here they are trying to sell you the same game, on a new console, based on the fact that they’ve fixed the chuffing thing we complained about three years ago! To date Nintendo haven’t announced this as DLC for the Wii U version, which I’d totally buy, or any kind of upgrade program. I don’t expect either to materialise, which is a huge shame (for me). Let’s get this straight; most of the switch early adopters likely own a Wii U. Nintendo aren’t re-releasing games out of the goodness of their hearts. This is an easy way to flesh out the line up and make more money. Nintendo, like 99.9 percent of businesses, exist to make money, and given the state of the launch lineup and incoming game, it’s been suggested that this has been rushed out to hit the end of the financial year. It's a hard point to argue with, especially given the lack of online details. Nintendo are finally moving with the times in charging for online – a move that I don’t actually mind despite the ridiculous rent-a-rom-a-month system – you’d think, however, that they would probably catch up with the competitors in other areas, such as linked accounts and transferring purchases right? Wrong. Nintendo have a penchant for getting avid fans to rebuy games over and over but in today’s market, that just doesn’t fly. When your main competitors have systems in place to allow their customers to retain purchases and to transfer games from old systems to new, you really have no excuse. Nintendo’s silence on the virtual console element of Switch doesn’t bode well either, so expect to rebuy all those same virtual console games for the convenience of having them all in one place. I’d love to be proved wrong on this, I really would. Given Nintendo’s history in successfully fleecing gamers repeatedly in this regard, I wouldn’t hold my breath. Now I know this is all very negative, but I’m not making this shit up and I genuinely wish things were different. The consoles price, while a little higher than I’d have liked especially given that there’s no pack in, is in line with launch prices for competitor’s consoles, if not with the GameCube or the Wii. Hands-on reports have it that the console itself feels wonderful, like a sexy new piece of tech. Once you get it in your hands you apparently can appreciate why it costs what it does. Brilliant. This is something we all wished we had for the Wii U and I’m genuinely pleased to not have plasticky feeling components or compromised touchscreen tech. However, I do feel that there are other tech elements that they’ve put into the joycons which shunt need to be there and are responsible for accessories being priced extremely high as well. Nintendo truly appear to have taken a break from shitting on customers, so they can throw as much against the wall in the hope that some will stick. Getting a new set of joycons will set you back a chunk more than a dual shock 4 or new Xbox one controller, so if you want to play Arms, which looks like a wonderfully Splatoonish treatment of punch out, you’re talking $500 Canadian plus $80 for the game, which is a huge outlay, given the innards of the console itself. Additionally, if you’re like me and want to play games in the classic manner (on your arse in a comfortable chair) and don’t intend on using the portability features too much, you’d likely want a pro controller (the Wii U one won’t cut it from what I’ve heard); that’ll be another $90 please, which dwarfs the sweet spot cost of controllers that we’ve become accustomed to. HD rumble sounds intriguing and I hope we get to see enough innovative uses of the technology to justify its inclusion. Realistic wanking mini games won't cut it and if this tech doesn't end up changing traditional games much beyond what we currently have, the gamble of having it included everywhere wouldn’t have paid off. The less said about the ‘gesture sensor’ the better; I have an unkind hand gesture ready to be read. Again, the tone of this opinion piece is so negative, in part I think that’s down to my anger at how Nintendo shattered my expectations. If you pick one up at launch you’ll likely have loads of fun with it but I’m just so disappointed. Given what Nintendo showed us last year, it would’ve been so easy to get right. Having all of Nintendo’s internal developers beavering away on one machine, sharing knowledge is a fantastic idea. A portable console with a boost to specs and performance when docked would’ve been wonderful! Instead I’ve read that performance actually suffers when docked. W. T. F. I would’ve been perfectly ok with the additional console cost associated with the joycons. The ethos behind them is sound. If they were just well made, detachable controllers that enabled multiplayer on the go, that would be fine and justifiable. But no, Nintendo have to throwback to the Wii’s success again (seriously just let it fucking go) and make them arm waggling enablers with potentially unnecessary tech included. The worst thing potentially about the new technology I might add, is that Nintendo will feel they need to include it in games, whether it adds anything or not, in order to justify its inclusion in the console. Sigh. Just let the devs make great games! I don’t need to give the game a thumbs up or tap a plastic model to it to get maximum enjoyment, or to get content that should be in the game in the first place. If anything, that shit reduces my enjoyment and amplifies my inner grumpy gamer. Given all this it should be pretty clear that, despite still feeling that new console pull, I won’t be grabbing a Switch at launch. Every time I get the urge and think ‘well maybe it’ll be worth it’, I just remind myself of what my minimum expectations are for a new console, and the urge passes. I will still inevitably pick one up, either at the first price drop, or when the there’s a few more must have (true) exclusives, but I can’t help but feel like this is a huge missed opportunity for Nintendo. We were there for the taking but they had to go and Nintendo the fucking thing. Oh, the neon red and blue looks fucking ridiculous too...

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nerdzandwordz-blog · 7 years

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Nintendo Switch Slated for an Official Release Date

Finally.

We now know that the Nintendo Switch is to be slated for a March 3 release date of this year. There was more revealed about the system and what it has to offer as well and I am about to break it down for you. So buckle up and let’s SWITCH over to breaking down this dense presentation.

(And if you want to watch the 1:40 Presentation in full, you can find it here)

Release, Price, & Online Services

As mentioned before, this system is slated for a March 3 release date which is not far away. It will be released simultaneously in Japan, the United States, Canada, major European countries, and “other territories” that day.

For the United States the price point for the system has been set at $299.99. What does this include? Well this was not covered until much later in the presentation but I will spoil it a bit and fill you in. The product at sale will include: the console, left and right joy con controllers, wrist straps, a grip that turns the joy cons into one controller, the dock, hdmi cable, and an AC adapter. What they are deeming as a “pro controller”, think clunkier version of a classic playstation controller, will not be included. There will also be two separate systems for sale- one with two colored controllers (neon red and neon blue) and one with both matte black controllers. The pricing will not differ. This is another detail that was not mentioned until muuuuuuch later in the presentation so you are quite welcome.

The online services portion is quite interesting. There will be online multiplayer gaming, but that is not the interesting part. To communicate, invite, chat, and connect there will be capability to use a smart phone device. I have never seen this done before and Nintendo will be offering this service for free after launch. They did warn the viewers though that the service will become a paid service in fall of 2017, so they encourage users to test it out before then.

And they briefly mentioned that region locking would not be applied to the Nintendo Switch software.

Nintendo Switch Software and Development

The next portion of the presentation was led by Shinya Takahashi who is the head of all Nintendo software development. He emphasized that the Switch has “inherited DNA” from the old Nintendo gaming systems and proceeds to break down the timeline of all the systems that Nintendo has developed and what they introduced to gaming during their respective times.

This is the portion that felt more like a tutorial on the Nintendo Switch. Do not get me wrong, it is a necessary part of their presentation, but it did feel like a tutorial video.Takahashi discussed the Switch’s three “play styles”-

Tv Mode- the typical console to television set up

Tabletop Mode- stand the console up with the kick stand out of the dock and detach the joycons. In this mode players can separate controllers for multiplayer functionality.

Handheld Mode- attach the joy con controllers for handheld play. Players can still play while the console is charging out of the dock and devices in handheld mode can connect to each other over wifi allowing device to device play for up to 8 devices.

And let me take this moment to appreciate the strong pun game that these guys incorporated into all their transitions. Especially this one- “Let’s SWITCH over to [insert speaker here]”. Some may find this cheesy but I absolutely loved it. The more cheese the better.

At this point Yoshiaki Koizumi was introduced. Koizumi is the head of development and all things Nintendo Switch. He is also the king of puns and I appreciate that.

Koizumi first introduces the joy con controllers. On the controller there are joysticks, like typical controllers, but these push in as a button as well. There is also a reader on the controller that will be able to read the “Amiibo” figures that can be used in some games (usually for younger children. I mean why not advertise extra characters that you have to buy in order to use in the game and make the lives of parents suck?) The controllers will also allow screen capturing so that gameplay can be shared over social media.

But, one of the cooler things about these new controllers is the new sensing and motion technology- I will get to that in a bit. Trust me...it is awesome.

Each joy con also has small L and R buttons so that they operate like regular controllers. I would also like to add that their cheesy pun game was strong in how they addressed separating controllers for multiplayer gameplay- they describe ti as “sharing the joy”. Get it? Joy con...joy? Sigh. I love these guys.

Now, as I promised- the sensing and motion technology. Each controller has an individual motion controller so that the console can sense the direction each is going. The right controller also has what they called a “motion IR” sensor. This sensor can tell distance of a hand away from the sensor as well as the difference in a hand’s motion between something like rock, paper, scissors. That is not even the coolest part! These controllers have “HD Rumble” capability which allows feeling in the controller to convey something as subtle as putting ice in a glass and then pouring water. These controllers will be able to simulate the feel of that and other in game sensations through this new rumble feature. IS YOUR MIND BLOWN?! Because mine sure was.

Two New Games Made Possible by Joy Con

The first is titled, “1, 2, Switch”. This is game is different in its concept- you don’t play facing a screen, you play facing the other player. The main example of a game that they used was quick draw like in the Wild West (the example they chose actually). They want this game to stand out as one of strategy, face-to-face gameplay, and movement. The creator of the game created this keeping in mind his goal of having this become a staple for parties. Just 1) stand the Switch up 2) grab controllers and hand to a friend and Switch it up. I am not sure how well this will be received with how different the concept is in comparison with all the more visual features of the console. Who knows, maybe this will be the next party ice breaker.

The second game is one that will not actually be released in tandem with the March 3 release date, but rather will be released later this Spring. This game is called “Arms”. Yes, just...Arms. But the game itself looks really cool. The concept is essentially integrating the motion and sensor capabilities into a fighting game of sorts where each turn of a controller can either move a character, curve a punch, battle it out, and more. The players are equipped in game with gloves on the end of what seem to be spring loaded arms. It is a kooky yet fun looking game. Again, this will not be released with the Switch, but rather months afterward.

Game Introduction

This is where things got weird but it was so worth it. Weird how? Splatoon 2 weird. Hisashi Nogami takes the stage to tell the viewers about the second installment in the Splatoon games.

But he doesn’t just take the stage in a suit, he arrives in full character and fully immersed in the world that Splatoon takes place in all the way down to the weapons and lab coat. I love this guy. Nogami explains to the audience that he is a scientist studying squids that can take on human form and he is here on behalf of the Squid Research Lab. I do not think you understand how far I spit my water out from laughing when this guy stole the spotlight.

Nogami aside, Splatoon 2 looks like a really fun multiplayer game. Splatoon 2 is scheduled for a release sometime this Summer (2017).

Transitioning out of this game a brilliant pun was employed that I must acknowledge- “What squid you think?” Whoever wrote these lines today, bless you.

Next on the gaming list was a new addition to the Mario franchise called “Super Mario Odyssey”. Koizumi, the head over Switch also headed up this game as well and explains (while dressed like Mario might I add) that Mario’s hat is a character of its own in this game (as indicated by the eyes on his hat seen here.)

This will be the first time since Super Mario 64 and Mario Sunshine that a new world has been created for the Mario universe. The release of this game is anticipated for the holiday season at the end of this year (2017).

Then games started to briefly be mentioned including titles such as, Xenoblade 2, Dragon Quest X and XI, EA Sports FIFA, and Skyrim. And in a montage game titles such as Dragon Ball Z, a new Mario Kart, Tetris, Minecraft, and some indie games are flashed across the screen.

There are over 80 games in production for this upcoming console and a good amount are third party providers.

The nature of these new controller systems has opened the door to “new forms of entertainment,” according to Nintendo.

Future Plans and Breath of the Wild

The presentation ends with messages from the heads of Nintendo Europe and Nintendo America in regards to what happens in their respective countries after this presentation. Reggie Files-Aimé, the face of Nintendo America addresses us last by announcing that we will have a chance to test out the Switch system prior to the March 3 release by attending any one of the six major city locations that will hold mini conventions and events for people to play. They will happen over the course of six Sundays up until the release.

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And FINALLY, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is mentioned and elaborated upon. There is a gorgeous video played first that shows just how vast and breathtaking this game truly will be for all the senses. The launch date for Breath of the wild is...March 3 (the same day as the release of the Switch, but not included with it).

If you are interested in watching the playlist of videos that Nintendo has posted you can follow the link to their Youtube page where you can watch the presentation in full or choose to just watch the videos on the individual games. Thanks for reading!

Phew. And that was the presentation. What are your thoughts? Reservations? Excitement?

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