News
69 CommentsEmulation isn't a dirty word, and one man thinks it can save gaming's history
Frank Cifaldi, head of restoration at developer Digital Eclipse, took to the stage at this week's Game Developers Conference for an hour-long talk about game preservation. Emulation — a software process by which programmers are able to make one computer pretend to be an entirely different kind of computer — is the best solution for keeping games in print, Cifaldi said.
But the clock is ticking. Games are being lost right now, and something needs to be done about it if the video game industry is to avoid the same fate as the film industry.
"According to the Film Foundation, over half the films made before 1950 are gone," Cifaldi said. "I don’t mean that you can’t buy these on DVD. I mean they’re gone. They don’t exist anymore." For films produced before 1920, Cifaldi said, that number...
News
26 CommentsNintendo cuts prices on favorites with Nintendo Selects line
Nintendo will launch a line of Wii, Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games at reduced prices, the company announced. Starting March 11, a number of popular releases will be rebranded as Nintendo Selects and cost $19.99 at retail, according to a press release.
Games available as part of the program's first wave include Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.
Nintendo games typically maintain their value years after launch, with many stores continuing to sell titles at full price. Games with more limited prints, like Ocarina of Time 3D, can often fetch even higher prices post-release.
For the full line-up of the games getting a price cut next month, see the list below.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Super Mario 3D World
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of...
Cover Story
Issue
19
May 25, 2016
Designing Mirror’s Edge: The making of a franchise
Go behind the scenes with DICE on the creation of Mirror’s Edge and Mirror’s Edge Catalyst.
Read moreNews
15 CommentsA Boy and His Blob is bringing hugs to Xbox One (update)
Cuddly Wii platformer A Boy and His Blob is heading to Xbox One on Jan. 19, a listing on the Xbox Marketplace reveals. This confirms a re-release of the former Wii exclusive, which was first suggested when current-gen ratings popped up on the European PEGI board back in October.
The PEGI ratings reveal that PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Windows PC ports are also in the works. Unlike the Xbox One version, however, these releases are not yet listed on the system's respective marketplaces or Steam.
Despite A Boy and His Blob — which is a re-imagining of classic NES title A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia — launching on Wii back in 2009, Majesco has not filed for a Wii U re-release of the game. Thankfully, the Wii U retains backward compatibility with its predecessor, so if...
Culture
5 CommentsGamer beats Super Mario Galaxy — with a Dance Dance Revolution dancepad
Some guy beat Super Mario Galaxy using a Dance Dance Revolution dancepad.
I realize this is the second straight "some guy" lede I've written today, but you readers deserve plain-spoken facts and that's what they are right here. Some guy — aka YouTuber PeekingBoo — hooked up a full-blown Dance Dance Revolution carriage to his Wii (or something emulating this Wii game, anyway) and stomped his way through it all.
As an open-world game, gameplay estimates for Super Mario Galaxy vary but it's safe to say he was doing this for a few hours. The video above is the final six minutes, where Bowser finally gets a boot to the kisser. Perfect justice!
PeekingBoo has done other games with a DDR pad. His YouTube page promises "full-length GameStomp Replays" and he's done Splatoon, Shovel Knight...
News
28 CommentsSuper Mario Galaxy comes to Wii U Virtual Console tomorrow
Super Mario Galaxy, one of the best games ever made, will be released Dec. 24 on Wii U Virtual Console for $19.99, according to Nintendo's website.
The re-release was suggested by a recent ESRB listing for a Wii U version of Super Mario Galaxy. Owners of the Wii original, which launched in November 2007, have always been able to play it on Wii U via backward compatibility.
Super Mario Galaxy will be available for Wii U through the system's Virtual Console. That's different from its sequel, 2010's Super Mario Galaxy 2, which was ported over as a native Wii U title and released on the Nintendo eShop this past January. That port also costs $19.99.
Wii U Virtual Console games support some of the Wii U's built-in features, such as off-TV play on the GamePad. However, the Wii U port of S...
News
12 CommentsTrauma Team heading to Wii U eShop tomorrow
Trauma Team is coming to the Wii U eShop tomorrow, Dec. 3. The Virtual Console re-release will cost $19.99.
The 2010 Wii game is Atlus' most recent entry in the Trauma Center franchise, which debuted on Nintendo DS with Trauma Center: Under the Knife.
Trauma Team first hit the eShop in August over in Japan. Unlike many of the console's last-gen digital re-releases, however, this one will be heading overseas — making it the first third-party Wii title to hit the service.
Nintendo announced it would be including Wii games among its downloadable offerings during a Nintendo Direct back in January. The first of these titles, Super Mario Galaxy 2, launched shortly after the presentation, and was quickly followed by Metroid Prime Trilogy and Punch-Out!!.
While other games, like Pandora's...
News
19 CommentsSuper Smash Bros. mod Project M ceases development
The team behind Project M, the popular Super Smash Bros. Brawl mod which rebalances the game to play more like its predecessors, has announced it will no longer be working on the project.
In an update to the Project M website, the Project M Development Team explains that after six years of releasing new versions of the fighting game alteration, it's decided to move on to other ventures.
"We've learned so much in the process of making Project M," the team writes, "but there's only so far we can take those skills in a volunteer project."
Calling it quits on Project M means the team will now have time to pursue original work, "built from the ground up."
"Rather than splitting our focus, many of us want to dedicate ourselves to this new venture fully," the farewell continues.
The group...
Culture
164 CommentsWhat are your favorite games of all time? Here's a fun tool to help you figure it out
In the 40 or so years that video games have existed as consumer products, a lot of them have come out. An awful lot. Most of us reading this have probably played dozens; some have maybe even played hundreds. So how do you dig through all those memories and pick out your favorites of all time?
As it turns out, GameFAQs is hosting a "Best. Game. Ever." showdown that involves pitting classic games against each other and choosing which you like more. Someone out there has created a tool for doing your own personal voting to help you determine your favorite games ever (based on GameFAQs starting list of 128 games).
You'll choose your favorite games in various one-on-one match-ups. After as many as 448 of these "battles," the tool will present you with a numbered list of your favorites...
Black Friday
5 CommentsNintendo Black Friday Deals 2015: The official best prices on Wii U, 3DS and games
We've been tracking the best Nintendo deals from the leaked retailer ads, but today Nintendo has released its official list of Black Friday deals and sales on software. These are the deals Nintendo is pushing and, while we knew about most of these, there is still some neat stuff.
Straight from Nintendo:
Smash Splat Wii U Deluxe Set
(This is the bundle that comes with the 32 GB Wii U system, a digital copy of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Splatoon.)
The suggested retail price is $279.99 but Target and Walmart will have it for less than $250.
New Nintendo 3DS XL
Save $20 off the suggested retail price of $199.99 at Best Buy, Target, Toys R Us, GameStop and Walmart.com.
Nintendo 3DS XL
Bundle with a download code for the Super Mario 3D Land game at a suggested retail price of...
Black Friday
24 CommentsWii U Black Friday deals: best prices on Nintendo consoles, 3DS and games
Updated on Nov. 13
Black Friday is the perfect time to finally pick up that Wii U or 3DS you've been thinking about, and retailers are certainly competing for your dollar. You'll find the best deals on Nintendo systems and games in this post, and we'll be updating with the very best deals as we get closer to Black Friday.
If you want to compare the best Nintendo deals and plan your strategy of attack, this is where you want to be. Good luck, and be sure to check back often as we update the deals and list the best ones here! While many of these ads are taken from scans and leaks, Nintendo has announced many of its deals officially. We've updated the post accordingly.
Wii U
The best Wii U bundle deal right now can be found at Walmart: $249.99 gets you a 32 GB system with digital...
Opinion
67 CommentsNintendo didn't create the next Wii — Apple did
The Nintendo Wii was an unqualified success, so popular that even the console's creator was unable to duplicate it with its successor, the Wii U.
Barely three years after Nintendo's latest console went on sale, the company is already hard at work on the NX. What form it will take is less important that Nintendo's tacit acknowledgement that it's time to move past the Wii U.
It's difficult to pin the Wii U's troubled life on any one feature, but contrasting it with the Wii is instructive. The success of Nintendo's former console was largely dependent on price and ease of use. It didn't require dexterity or years of gaming experience. All you had to do to play its killer app, Wii Sports, was move your arm. And that meant that pretty much everybody could play.
Must Read
Apple TV...
News
16 CommentsClub Nintendo is dead, long live new rewards program My Nintendo
Nintendo shuttered its Club Nintendo program earlier this year, but the company has crafted something of a successor with My Nintendo, a new rewards program that will also offer gifts and discounts for buying games but, unlike its predecessor, will also reward playtime.
The program was unveiled by Nintendo during its semi-annual financial results briefing.
My Nintendo will award players with points for purchases made on both Nintendo platforms and purchases of Nintendo's forthcoming mobile software. In addition, by playing those games, My Nintendo members will earn more points.
The Japanese publisher said that My Nintendo points can be used to "obtain digital add-on content, which will make the game you are playing even more fun, original merchandise or a coupon, which can be used as...
Minimap
0 CommentsMinimap Sept. 14: Nintendo, Tecmo Bowl, Smash Bros., Metal Gear, StarCraft, Dark Souls
Welcome to Polygon Minimap, a podcast about the biggest news of the day.
Subscribe on iTunes
Subscribe to the podcast (RSS)
Download this episode directly as an MP3
Minimap is your daily audio tour through the world of video games, related technologies and pop culture like comics, movies and TV.
Thanks to Loot Crate for sponsoring today's episode. Go to Lootcrate.com/minimap and enter the code "minimap" to save on the subscription box service with $40-plus worth of geek, gamer and pop culture gear, collectibles, apparel, comics and more.
Here's what we're covering today:
THE BIG STORIES
Nintendo appoints a new president amid corporate reorganization
Two NES football classics get you ready for the NFL's new season
Powerful mod adds replay feature to Super Smash Bros....
News
9 CommentsPowerful mod adds replay feature to Super Smash Bros. Melee
A modder has hand-coded a replay feature for Super Smash Bros. Melee, and it will work with the game — playing either on GameCube or Wii — simply through a memory card. No additional modding, homebrewing or other advanced methods necessary.
The replay feature is part of Dan Salvato's 20XX Tournament Edition for Super Smash Bros. Melee, which he will release in November for free. It's not like a replay camera common to many sports video games. The replay not only records the entire match, it allows a player to re-enter the match and take control of it at any point. As Salvato points out, this is of great benefit for practice and training.
Super Smash Bros. Melee launched in 2001 for the GameCube but remains a significant event at fighting game tournaments, including most recently EVO...
News
24 CommentsPikmin 4 is 'very close to completion,' according to Miyamoto
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto made a rather surprising announcement to Eurogamer during an interview in July, saying that a new game in the Pikmin franchise is on the way.
"It's actually very close to completion," Miyamoto told Eurogamer. "Pikmin teams are always working on the next one."
Nintendo confirmed in a later statement that the game was in development, but declined to give any more details. The last Pikmin game was released in August of 2013 for the Wii U.
News
32 CommentsNintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto explaining World 1-1 is the best game design lesson of the week
The level design of Mario games often seems simple, while gradually and invisibly teaching the player what they should be doing and how they should be doing it. Ideas are introduced in a safe space, and then the safety nets are removed so the player can put those lessons into action before the challenges become more complex.
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto himself walks you through World 1-1 in this video, and you get to see that design philosophy in action. This is possibly one of the most famous levels in the history of video games, and hearing Miyamoto explain the thought process behind the placement of damned near every pixel is a great way to learn a bit about what great level design can achieve.
Now go put those concepts to work in Super Mario Maker.
News
9 CommentsNintendo games now available through Amazon digital store
Starting today, Nintendo games are now available for digital purchase through the Amazon online store. Amazon will offer a selection of popular Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Virtual Console games, as well as some downloadable content, for purchase through its digital marketplace.
Amazon offers digital codes for 61 Nintendo games, ranging from the upcoming Super Mario Maker, to Virtual Console classics like The Legend of Zelda (on the 3DS) and Super Metroid (for the Nintendo Wii). Each game is offered at full MSRP, as are DLC packs for Mario Kart 8.
Customers can complete their transaction through Amazon, after which they are prompted to log into the Nintendo Network website. There, the content code for their new digital purchase will automatically be plugged in, sending the game...
Deals
6 CommentsThe winner for best Disney Infinity deal is...
Disney Infinity 3.0 has launched alongside a lengthy list of Star Wars, Marvel and classic Disney characters. Collecting the figures can get expensive quickly with each figure costing $13.99 a piece at retailers who aren't increasing the prices to take advantage of the initial rush.
Looking at you, Toys R Us.
You can find plenty of sales during launch week, but you have to spend the time and look at how much you're paying on a per-figure basis. Toys R Us may be offering a "buy one, get one 50% off" sale, but with the inflated price you're still paying $11.24 per figure.
The best place to go for Disney Infinity figures this week is Target by a landslide. You can pick any two figures for $20, which means your per-figure cost is only $10. That sale is good for every single toy they have...
Active Discussions
Polygon Daily: May 25, 2016
in Off-topic by James Elliott
Question about using a TV as a PC monitor
in Windows by TWO . P
Polygon Daily: May 24, 2016
in Off-topic by James Elliott
Pokégon Discussions - Aloha! Meet Your Starting Lineup!
in Pokémon Sun/Pokémon Moon by KajunBowser
Anime! Cartoons! Comics! Plight Vol 4. No 5. Preview Edition!
in Off-topic by Woady