No excuse. Xbox One has to launch worldwide

July 1, 2013

By Nick Tricome

At the conclusion of Microsoft's E3 press conference it was announced that Xbox One would launch this November in 21 countries across the globe, rather than having a worldwide release.

A big reason why the new console will see a limited release around the world is because of Microsoft's original online strategy, where the console would have to connect to the internet at least every 24 hours.

A week later, after much feedback, Microsoft put their online strategy on the back burner, yet the 21 country launch is still in place.

It probably is too late to get the Xbox One out to the entire world by the 2013 holiday, but at the very least, Microsoft has to get their new console launched worldwide as soon as possible.

The big takeaway from E3 2013: Don't fix what isn't broken

June 19, 2013

By Nick Tricome

Update: On Wednesday, it was announced that Microsoft's policies on sharing and reselling games have been reversed.

There will be no fee to pay for used games, no restrictions on sharing a game with others and no required connection to the internet every 24 hours to play a game offline.

It's a good thing that Microsoft wised up and took away these restrictions, but according to Don Mattrick's statement, they did it after going over tons of feedback from fans

"Since unveiling our plans for Xbox One, my team and I have heard directly from many of you, read your comments and listened to your feedback," Mattrick wrote. "I would like to take the opportunity today to thank you for your assistance in helping us to reshape the future of Xbox One."

"You told us how much you loved the flexibility you have today with games delivered on disc," Mattrick continued. "The ability to lend, share, and resell these games at your discretion is of incredible importance to you. Also important to you is the freedom to play offline, for any length of time, anywhere in the world."

The fact that Microsoft took away their planned restrictions for the Xbox One only reinforces the fact that people like having the freedom to share games in any way they see fit, and that there was nothing that needed to be changed in the first place.

Original
The dust has settled, E3 2013 has come to an end and enough time has passed to let it all sink in.

This year's show offered a lot to talk about, from the expected (more details and a price for both the Xbox One and PS4) to the unexpected (Kingdom Heart 3).

But what was the big takeaway from this year's E3?

Simple, don't fix what isn't broken.

Nintendo Direct, E3 2013: The Real Problem With Nintendo’s Franchise Obsession

June 19, 2013

By Kevin Shirley

“This isn’t trying to be an asshole or anything, but can Nintendo make a game with a character they didn’t make 30 years ago?”

Our glorious leader, Nick Tricome, posed that question to us in a Facebook chat on the day of the Nintendo Direct conference. But, he is not the first one to say such a thing. 

The hardcore gaming community always seems to bash Nintendo for rehashing the same games over and over again. I find myself puzzled that Nintendo is always getting the flack for franchise milking in an industry where most of the successful games coming out seem to be sequels, an industry where Activision sculpts majestic mountains of dollar bills by cranking out a new Call of Duty each year, an industry where series that we were told were going to end at the trilogy mark are now getting fourth installments. 

Obviously, Nintendo isn’t the only company that loves to continue franchises.

What makes Nintendo a bit special is that they have been able to extend franchises for several decades, going back to the 1980s. 

Since the time a plumber first tried to save his girlfriend from that giant ape in 1981, Nintendo has developed characters that they would bring back again and again in series of sequels. 

Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby: these are just a few of the heroes that made “the big N” into the powerhouse that is today. Yet, many people complain that Nintendo is too reliant on milking its old franchises and is resistant to creating something truly new. 

At the recent Nintendo Direct Conference, the franchise fury appeared to be in full force. 

There was a new Super Mario, a new Mario Kart, new Donkey Kong, new Pokemon, and new Zelda. The event was bound to attract only more criticism of Nintendo refusing to retire its classic characters.

But, do I want the house of N to retire these characters? Do I want Mario to check into the Sacred Mushroom Retirement Home? Do I want Link to disappear into the Kokiri Forest, never to return? Do I want to wake up from Kirby’s Dreamland and never go back to sleep? My answer is an uncompromising “no.” 

I love Mario. I love Donkey Kong. Would I like to see another game starring Donkey Kong? Yes!... I just wish it didn’t look so much like the last Donkey Kong.

Tim reflects on Phoenix Wright series, figuratively yells at younger self

March 19, 2013

By Tim Haight
Follow @TimJH215

When I first read about the Ace Attorney series in a Nintendo Power magazine, I initially tossed it aside as a shallow series from Japan with little depth.  

Sometimes I wish I could slap my past self in the face, but that isn’t the point here.  Instead, I’ll just say one word to the naive child who did not even want to give the games a try: