Tag: Video games

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The future of Mario games on mobile remains unclear

Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has opened up about Nintendo’s approach to bringing the iconic Italian plumber to mobile.

During a broader discussion with Variety about The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the legendary game designer was asked about Nintendo’s mobile aspirations for Mario. In response, Miyamoto said, mobile “will not be the primary path of future Mario games.”

On the one hand, that’s pretty obvious considering Nintendo has a major hardware business and games like Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are some of its best-sellers. It’s also in line with what Nintendo has been doing.

In terms of a traditional Mario platformer, the company has only released Super Mario Run on mobile, which debuted on iOS in 2016 and Android in 2017 to fairly positive reviews. However, the game’s premium monetization model made it far less successful than other Nintendo mobile games, particularly the free-to-play Fire Emblem Heroes, which has made over $1 billion USD (about $1.3 billion CAD).

That said, Mario did find more success on the mobile front with Mario Kart Tour, a free-to-play racer that has grossed over $300 million USD (about $403.6 million CAD). A third Mario mobile game, Dr. Mario World, was released in 2019 and shuttered just two years later after reportedly only earning around $14 million USD (about $18.9 million CAD) in that time.

On the whole, Nintendo has largely seemed to move away from mobile games, with the company only putting out the relatively low-key Pikmin Bloom in the past two years.

Elsewhere in the interview, Miyamoto elaborated on both the difficulties and rewards of pursuing Mario on mobile. On the one hand, he said it was “challenging” to translate the platforming action to a touchscreen, but he also noted how mobile “expands the doorway for far more audience to experience the game.”

That said, he called Super Mario Odyssey “the ultimate evolution of a Mario adventure game on a typical 3D platformer,” suggesting an interest in pursuing more along that style of game. “We try to define what is the gameplay, what is the method, and then define what devices we go on,” he said of Nintendo’s process when beginning development on a new Mario.

Ultimately, he didn’t formally shut the door on future Mario mobile games, but he didn’t suggest any more were coming, either. Instead, he said, “please stay tuned for future Nintendo Directs” when asked when we could expect the next mainline Mario game. While we did get new 3D Mario action in the Bowser’s Fury expansion included with 2021’s Super Mario 3D World port, the last fully brand-new mainline Mario was 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey. Therefore, it seems like we’re due for a new entry sooner rather than later.

For now, though, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is finally playing in theatres.

Image credit: Nintendo

Source: Variety

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Mobile Syrup

Amazon Prime Gaming offering 15 free titles in April 2023

Amazon has announced all 15 games that will be free of charge to members of its Prime Gaming program this April.

The games will begin to be released throughout the month, starting April 6th. Kicking off the lineup will be the cult classic Wolfenstein: The New Order, a game from Bethesda Softworks.

Here is the full list of titles coming on Prime Gaming:

  • April 6 – Wolfenstein: The New Order
  • April 6 – Ninja Commando
  • April 6 – Art of Fighting 3
  • April 13 – The Beast Inside
  • April 13 – Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
  • April 13 – Crossed Swords
  • April 13 – Ghost Pilots
  • April 20 – Beholder 2
  • April 2o – Terraformers
  • April 20 – Metal Slug 4
  • April 20 – Ninja Masters
  • April 27 – Looking for Aliens
  • April 27 – Grime
  • April 27 – Sengoku
  • April 27 – Magician Lord

These video games come at no extra cost to Amazon Prime Gaming members.

Source: Prime Gaming Via: GamesBeat

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Mobile Syrup

Let’s talk about women in video games [SyrupArcade Cast 6]

March is Women’s History Month, which focuses on women’s contributions to history. On this week’s SyrupArcade Cast, the team chats about women/femme characters in video games, the women behind games, and the recent Game Developers Conference (GDC).

Brad Shankar and Dean Daley are joined by Rose Behar, MobileSyrup‘s former telecom reporter who currently works as a narrative designer at Superbloom.

As always, you can listen to SyrupArcade Cast below or find the podcast on your favourite streaming platform.

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Mobile Syrup

The Last of Us Season 2 will reportedly be filmed in Vancouver

The first season of HBO’s The Last of Us was filmed in Alberta, and now, it looks like the second might shoot in British Columbia, according to a recent report from Deadline.

The first season was shot in locations around Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore, Grand Prairie and more, but it’s unclear specifically where the second season will be filmed in Vancouver. That said, the area should serve as a stand-in for Seattle and other Pacific Northwest locations. HBO confirmed that The Last of Us is renewed for a second season at the end of January.

The first season stars Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel. The Last of Us series is an adaptation of the well-known 2013 Naughty Dog video game with the same name.

The second season of HBO’s TV show will be based on The Last of Us Part II game, which follows Ellie’s journey five years after the first game’s events. While HBO has only officially greenlit a second season, the creators are planning multiple seasons to fully adapt the sequel.

Image credit: HBO

Source: Deadline

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix rumoured to soon let you control games on your TV with your iPhone

Netflix is reportedly working on a feature that will let you use your iPhone to control games on your TV, according to a report from Bloomberg and MacRumors. 

Steve Moser, a contributing writer at MacRumors, recently shared Netflix app code regarding the upcoming feature (see above). According to Mosser, buried within the iOS Netflix app’s code is the phrase, “A game on your TV needs a controller to play. Do you want to use this phone as a game controller?”

It’s unclear how this would work, but it could hint that Netflix plans to expand to release games designed to be played on a television. It also might be related to its plans to release a cloud gaming streaming service at some point in the future.

Netflix opened its first video game studio last September. The streaming platform first launched its game service in late 2021 and has released 55 games so far, including notable titles like Spiritfarer, Arcanium, Valiant Hearts: Coming Home and more.

Source: MacRumors, Bloomberg

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox patent outlines gamepad with Wii U-like built-in touchscreen

A recently filed Xbox patent outlines a gamepad that allows players to save custom loadouts that can then be accessed via a touchscreen built into the controller.

According to the patent, the display can also track the player’s in-game performance and be used to access various social media features (likely posting clips of gameplay and other photos). Other potential features include audio settings, charge level and more. The patent also mentions that the hypothetical gamepad is compatible with smartphones through a mobile app.

In a sense, the gamepad sort of seems like a pared-down version of the Wii U’s GamePad or, if you’re old like me, the Dreamcast’s Visual Memory Card (VMU), only its display is designed to show very specific information. It’s worth noting that Game Rant strangely doesn’t link back to the patent link in its coverage and I wasn’t able to find it myself. However, the image looks legitimate and likely exists in a patent database somewhere.

Earlier this week, Microsoft revealed ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ Elite Series 2 gamepad Core colours, and a few months ago, the tech giant released a custom version of the Elite Series 2 controller.

As is the case with all patents, it’s important to point out that it’s unclear if this gamepad will actually be released. That said, the Elite Series 2 was released back in 2019, so a new version of Microsoft’s high-end gamepad could be in the works — especially considering the build issues the Series 2 has experienced (though the custom version of the gamepad seems to solve most of them).

Via: Game Rant

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Mobile Syrup

Nintendo’s Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom-themed Switch OLED model releases April 28th

During Nintendo’s Direct stream focused on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the Japanese gaming giant revealed a special edition version of the console alongside a lengthy look at the game.

The Tears of the Kingdom edition Switch OLED model is gold, white and green, and features designs inspired by the game, including the Triforce on the dock and several designs on its gold Joy-Cons.

The Switch OLED model The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition launches on April 28th, 2023, just ahead of Tears of the Kingdom’s May 12th release date. Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, but the console will likely cost $449.49.

Nintendo also revealed plans to release a Tears of the Kingdom-themed Pro Controller and carrying case.

During the direct, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma showed off roughly 10 minutes of Tears of the Kingdom in action, revealing several of Link’s new abilities, its world, a new system that allows you to combine weapons and more.

You can find the video below.

Image credit: Nintendo

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Mobile Syrup

MultiVersus Open Beta to go offline on June 25

Warner Bros. (WB) free-to-play crossover fighting game MultiVersus, featuring Warner Bros. characters such as Superman, Batman, Shaggy and Tom & Jerry, rolled out its first open beta back in July 2022.

Now, eight months in, the open beta is being shut down, and the game is going temporarily offline. Warner Bros. and game developer Player First Games are taking MultiVersus offline ahead of a planned relaunch in early 2024.

As shared by DigitalTrends, the game has lost steam. It experienced a significant drop in its active player base in 2023, with a 99 percent decrease reported at one point. As a result, the developers are taking the game offline while they work towards an official release for the title, with game director Tony Huynh explaining the move in a video FAQ.

”

There is still a lot of work to do, and we have a clearer view on where we need to focus, specifically on the content cadence of new characters, maps, and modes to provide more ways to enjoy the game, along with netcode and matchmaking improvements,” said Huynh in the video. “We’ll also be reworking the progression system and looking at new ways for players to connect with friends in the game … As part of this process, we’ll be pausing updates and taking the game offline as we prepare for the launch of MultiVersus, which we are targeting for early 2024.”

MultiVersus will be taken offline on June 25th, 2023. It’s worth noting that those who have already downloaded the game can still play it offline.

Whatever progress you’ve made in the open beta version of the title will roll over to the official release, including purchases and game and battle pass progression.  Further, in order to compensate for the open beta’s shutdown, MultiVersus’ Season 2 battle pass has been extended until March 25th. Users can also purchase Gleamium, the in-game currency, until April 4th.

Source: MultiVersus Via: DigitalTrends

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Mobile Syrup

What was your favourite Nintendo 3DS game?

With Nintendo shuttering its Wii U/3DS eShop on March 27th, we want to take a look back at the 3DS, arguably the better of the two systems. The 3DS’ life span lasted roughly ten years, with the handheld launching in March 2010 and being discontinued in 2020.

It offered a variety of critically-acclaimed games, including Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Sun and Moon, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and even Super Smash Bros., which includes Pokémon like Pikachu, Lucario, Greninja, Jigglypuff and more (can you tell I like Pokémon?)

Beyond Pokémon, the handheld featured such hits as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora’s Mask 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds, Metroid: Samus Returns, Fire Emblem Awakening, Mario Kart 7, Animal Crossing New Leaf and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. 

With this week’s community question, we’re asking: what’s your favourite Nintendo 3DS game? Mine is Pokémon X and Y, the first Pocket Monster game where you could change your clothes, hair and skin tone.

In the comments below, let us know your favourite Nintendo 3DS Pokémon game.

Image credit: Nintendo

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Mobile Syrup

Where to stream the Tetris movie in Canada

Over the past couple of months, you might have heard some buzz about a movie called Tetris. As the name suggests, it’s based on the iconic decades-old block-stacking video game.

But unlike HBO’s The Last of Us, Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog or even Netflix’s Arcane, Tetris isn’t an adaptation of an existing gaming universe. Instead, the Tetris film is actually inspired by the real high-stakes legal battle surrounding the rights to the massively popular game. Directed by Jon S. Baird (Filth), the film stars Taron Egerton (Rocketman) as Henk Rogers, the Dutch game designer and entrepreneur who helped bring Tetris to gaming consoles.

So far, the movie has garnered positive reviews as it’s screened at film festivals and the like. The trailers have also given the movie an amusing Cold War, political thriller-style vibe.

With all of this in mind, you might be wondering when and where you can watch it for yourself. Thankfully, it’s quite simple. As an Apple Original film, Tetris will begin streaming exclusively on Apple TV+ worldwide, including Canada, on March 31st. Apple TV+ is available on several platforms, including iPhone, Apple TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs and more, for $8.99/month.

Given all of the video game movies and shows in recent months, it’s interesting to get a title that offers more of a behind-the-scenes at the medium instead. It’s also not the only movie taking this kind of approach. On August 11th, Sony will release a film called Gran Turismo — based on a fan of its popular PlayStation racing game franchise — that follows a gamer who tries to become a real race car driver.

Image credit: Apple