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Facebook's latest big Twitch steal is 'Smash Bros.' streamer ZeRo
You can add Gonzalo "ZeRo" Barrios, one of the most popular Smash Bros. players, to the list of high-profile Twitch streamers who recently jumped ship. ZeRo has entered an exclusive streaming rights deal with Facebook Gaming, which now also serves as the home of former Twitch streamer Jeremy "Disguised Toast" Wang, known for League of Legends among other games. According to ESPN, he will continue posting videos on YouTube, but he'll no longer be on Twitch.
Nintendo adds a Labo VR view to 'Super Smash Bros. Ultimate' (updated)
It looks like you'll soon be able to beat up your friends in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate from an entirely different perspective. It seems the hit Switch fighting game is getting a virtual reality mode via the Labo Toy-Con VR Goggles, according to a Twitter bot for SSBU patch notes (which has a track record of revealing them around 12 hours before Nintendo does).
Super Smash Bros. Wii U update opens 15 more 8-player levels [Update]
Nintendo updated Super Smash Bros. for Wii U today, adding new levels to the game upon which fans can kick the crap out of their loved ones. The update gives players 15 new levels for free, each one for the game's eight-player Smash mode. Nintendo of Japan listed the new stages on its site: Normal: Mario Circuit (X) Luigi's Mansion Pyrosphere Norfair Lylat Cruise Pokemon Stadium 2 Animal Crossing: Town and City Animal Crossing: Smashville Wii Fit studio Omega: Mario Galaxy Mario Circuit (X) Kirby: The Great Cave Offensive Lylat Cruise Pokemon Stadium 2 Town and City The publisher revealed its latest sales numbers this week, noting that the Wii U's lifetime sales reached 9.2 million consoles. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U sold 3.39 million copies by the end of 2014, topped only by Mario Kart 8's 4.77 million units as the system's best seller last year. Update: Thanks to a translation error on Nintendo of Japan's page, some of the stages were incorrectly named. We've updated the list. [Image: Nintendo]
Smash Bros. sells over 490K on Wii U in three days
Super Smash Bros. is the fastest-selling Wii U game to launch in the United States, according to a press release issued by Nintendo today. The publisher says it sold more than 490,000 copies of the game from its launch on November 21 through November 23. The figure represents sales at retail as well as digital copies of the game. The sales data pairs well with the portable version of Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, which reached over 3.22 million copies sold as of late October. Those that own copies of the game on both platforms will receive the Pokemon character Mewtwo as a playable fighter down the road, though Nintendo may also opt to offer the fighter as premium DLC as well. Nintendo also launched its line of NFC-capable figures on the same day as Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Amiibo, which can become pretty dastardly in the fighting game. The publisher did not offer any early sales data for Amiibo. [Image: Nintendo]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U video review: Fight club
We concluded our written examination of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U last evening, but with a discerning absence of gifs within our review, we had to find another way to heed our fondness for moving pictures. The above video review offers a visually-oriented breakdown of Smash for Wii U's leading features, including eight-player battles, the Smash Tour board game and customizable special moves, but a general breakdown is also included for anyone just tuning in to Nintendo's hectic mascot fighter. [Image: Nintendo]
Super Smash Bros. hints that Mario's extra lives are clones
Descriptions for items within Super Smash Bros. for 3DS have already discussed Metroid protagonist Samus' inability to crawl. Another meme-referencing bit of text surfaced this week, this time providing a theory for Mario's extra lives. According to the description for 1-Up Mushrooms in the European version of the game provided by NeoGAF user SalsaShark, an extra life means "a whole extra version of you." The bit of text within Super Smash Bros. pondered the meaning of Mario's clones and whether "making more copies of yourself the real goal of any adventure" before imagining "a bunch of Marios getting together to discuss it." The North American version rephrases the same notion, which recalls a video of the double cherry power-up in action in Super Mario 3D World, found after the break. Do you have any favorite Easter eggs from Super Smash Bros. on 3DS? If so, share them with us in the comments! The Wii U version of the game will launch November 21. [Image: Nintendo, Imgur]
Jam to Smash Bros. 3DS tracks on the go in Sleep Mode
After Super Smash Bros. Brawl's extensive, impressive recollection of Nintendo's musical heights, Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and 3DS has a lot to live up to. If the incoming soundtrack resembles the quality of its predecessor, the 3DS version could be a prime opportunity to revisit incessantly-catchy stage themes on the go. The Smash Bros. team is apparently thinking the same thing, as Director Masahiro Sakurai's explains that Smash Bros. 3DS will have a "Play in Sleep Mode" option in its playback mode. Once activated, players can listen to tracks and character voices with their 3DS closed, using the L and R buttons to navigate a playlist. Sakurai also noted that tracks displayed with a pink remix label (seen above) were freshly composed for this version of Smash Bros., whereas songs with white remix labels are encores from previous soundtracks. We can't start unlocking Smash's full playlist until October 3, but at least the official site offers a few samples and a list of contributing musicians. [Image: Nintendo]
Smash Bros. 3DS gets a few more single-player hooks
Nintendo has previously discussed single-player content for Super Smash Bros. on the 3DS, including the replacement for Adventure Mode, Smash Run, a battle for powerups that concludes with stat-boosted brawls. Savvy fans might have caught every detail between Smash director Masahiro Sakurai's updates and the news avalanche that is E3, but today's batch of details offer a tidied, accumulative look of what fans can take a swing at while alone and on the go.
Super Smash Bros. 3DS XL pack is black, white and red all over
A limited edition Super Smash Bros. 3DS XL pack is due out on October 3 in Europe, Nintendo of Europe announced this morning. The pack includes the special 3DS XL with the Super Smash Bros. crew on the front, and the game pre-installed. There's no word on a price or stateside launch for this ruby red baby. Super Smash Bros. is due out on October 3. What a happy coincidence for this bundle. [Image: Nintendo of Europe]
Super Smash Bros. gets NFC figures, Mii support
Super Smash Bros. on Wii U will include support for NFC (near-field communication) figurines called "Amiibo," as Nintendo demonstrated during its E3 2014 livestream today. Additionally, players will be able to bring their Mii characters into battle, lending their likeness to their fights. Mii fighters are divided into three classes: Mii gunner, Mii brawler and Mii sword-fighter. They will also get to pick four special moves among 12 different options. As for the NFC figures, the Skylanders-esque physical toys will summon characters to the battlefield and enhance your fighter. Nintendo noted that Amiibo will interact with multiple games, including the previously-released Mario Kart 8. [Image: Nintendo]
Become the People's Champion, take on a Smash Bros. champ
Unlike a live stage presentation from Nintendo, The Super Smash Bros. Invitational tournament will take place in the Nokia Theater during E3. Up to 3,000 fans will be allowed to watch the brawls unfold in the upcoming Super Smash Bros., so the event is bound to have some energy to it. If you're eager to prove your Smash-based skill set and still haven't received your invitation, there's hope for you in the form of Instagram: Nintendo will fly the victor of its "People's Challenger" contest and a guest to E3, with the People's Challenger winning the right to duke it out with one of the Invitational's champions. People's Challenger entrants must convince Nintendo that they're worthy of the opportunity in a video under 15 seconds in length. We suggest you check out the full details before starting on your entry though, as one of the general guidelines advises against even pretending to harm others. That masterful, intense bout of choreographed fisticuffs you were daydreaming about is probably out, then. Judges will pick a winner based on three aspects: how well a video displays an entrant's enthusiasm, demonstrated creativity and the entry's overall artistic quality. Nintendo will accept entries until 10 AM PT on May 27, all of which must follow the title format of "My name is <FIRST NAME> and this is my submission for the Super Smash Bros. People's Challenger Contest. #SmashChallengerApproaching #NintendoContestEntry." Entrants must live in the United States or Canada (except for you, Quebec) and must be 18 or above their state or province's age of majority. Even if you get rocked by the Invitational champ, at least you'll have two three-day passes for the E3 show floor. No more living vicariously through E3 attendees for you! [Image: Nintendo]
Smash Run replaces Adventure Mode in Super Smash Bros. 3DS
In lieu of the classic Adventure Mode, the upcoming Nintendo 3DS Super Smash Bros. sequel will feature Smash Run, a new gameplay type announced during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast. According to director Masahiro Sakurai, Smash Run pits four players against each other in a cross between a platforming marathon and standard Super Smash Bros. combat. The initial section of each game will see players racing through a labyrinthine dungeon stocked with power ups where they must use each character's individual skills to navigate obstacles and defeat AI-controlled enemies. Players will plumb these depths for five minutes, then they face off in combat, using the power ups they have collected. Sakurai fails to mention how many stages will be available for Smash Run, though the map shown during the broadcast appeared quite large and complex. Smash Mode is exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS Super Smash Bros., though Sakurai made no mention of what might takes its place in the Wii U version of the game. Edit: Originally this piece described the new mode as "Smash Mode" when it is actually called "Smash Run." We apologize for any confusion and have amended the error. [Image: Nintendo]
Rosalina, Luma to pummel little ones in Super Smash Bros.
Rosalina will bring along a Luma to help her knock around other Nintendo characters in Super Smash Bros., this morning's Nintendo Direct revealed. Footage showed her controlling Luma from afar with her wand as well as fighting along beside it.
Harada 'pulling back' on idea of Tekken characters in new Smash Bros.
Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada is "not really sure" if Namco Bandai should include Tekken characters in the next Super Smash Bros., he told NowGamer. Namco is co-developing Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS with Nintendo, and the title is a "big priority for the company," Harada says.Namco has "a lot of people" from many of its franchises developing Super Smash Bros., but fans have been most curious about Tekken staff involvement in the new game, Harada says."The fans, rather than asking about Tales or Gundam or some of our other franchises, the fans abroad saw Tekken as one of the key words and took off on that," he says. "We're not really sure at this moment but when thinking of the playerbase who is playing Smash Bros., maybe Tekken characters is something they wouldn't want, so I've been pulling back on that a bit. But I don't know."One of Tekken's characters, Heihachi Mishima, has been confirmed for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Sony's take on a Smash Bros.-style game. Namco's main staff is currently focused on finishing Tekken Tag Tournament 2, but it will support Super Smash Bros. in some capacity, Harada says. If any of the Tekken characters do make it into Super Smash Bros., we're personally hoping it's this one.
Nintendo: Wii U online functionality will be free
Nintendo President Satoru Iwata doesn't believe there should be a fee for connecting Wii U consoles to the Nintendo Network.According to a translation of Nintendo's annual shareholder meeting via Andriasang, Iwata said that having all users able to freely access the network will help spread the service's offerings through word of mouth. This tactic, his translated commentary suggests, is thought to lead to greater hardware and software sales.Iwata also revealed that external developers were brought onboard with Wii U at about the same time as internal studios, which he hopes will counter lagging third-party performance. To prove Nintendo's renewed focus, Iwata reportedly pointed to the upcoming Namco Bandai collaboration behind the new Smash Bros. coming to Wii U and 3DS.
Sakurai: 3DS/Wii U 'dual support' is 'key' for next Super Smash Bros.
The Smash Bros. franchise has remained relatively unchanged for the most part since 1999. Each iteration adds new stages, characters and graphical improvements, but the core gameplay remains effectively identical in almost every way that counts. This strategy has worked well enough over the last 13 years, but apparently its sustainability is on the wane."There is a certain dead end we come to if we just expand the volume of the game," said Smash Bros. creator and Nintendo legend Masahiro Sakurai during an interview with IGN. "I intend to change direction a little as we go ... The key to that's going to be its dual support for 3DS/Wii U."Sakurai corroborated previous statements that the next Smash Bros is still quite a ways away, saying that he's "really just getting started" and that development is still going to take time. "But," he concludes, "I'll come up with something that uses that link as the game's central axis, so I hope you're looking forward to it."
Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS 'several years' away, Sakurai says
When Nintendo announced that Smash Bros. was en route to its Wii U and 3DS systems, longtime fans of the fighting series may have, in elation, momentarily forgotten how much time elapses during the announcement and launch. As creative lead Masahiro Sakurai explains in his weekly Famitsu column (translated by 1UP), the next game is "several years" away from completion. "It makes me cringe," he laments, referring to the two game projects being added to his plate. "And I'm not sure it's the smartest thing to make gamers wait for several years, but the early announcement was made chiefly in order to attract new team members." Apparently all of his studio's resources are currently being poured into Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS. "We've got no plans whatsoever -- we've got two new games out there in the open when there's no extra time to work with them at all." At least with these games, Sakurai knew ahead of time. With the Wii's Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Nintendo head Satoru Iwata announced the game before Sakurai even knew it was a project he would be working on. "With previous projects I had a game design document in place before forming a team, but with this I don't have the time for that. I won't be able to look at every aspect of the game and balance out all the characters by myself this time," he writes. Before the Wii U announcement Sakurai's studio, Project Sora, "had intended to make a 3DS Smash Bros.," but doubled up after seeing the Wii U. "If we went solely for the Wii U, the HD graphics would really bump up the visual effects, but then we'd be stuck in another arms race. If we made this game another extension over the previous one, we'd have to cut out the new things we could possibly do on the 3DS hardware and compete with ourselves again over the size of the character roster and the amount of gameplay we can put in it." If your heart stops every time Iwata takes the stage at a press conference, just imagine how Mr. Sakurai reacts.
Smash Bros announced for Wii U and 3DS
Nintendo has announced that once Masahiro Sakurai is finished with Kid Icarus: Uprising that he'll be working on a new Smash Bros title. The game will be for Wii U and 3DS and work together "in some fashion." Details pending.
Sakurai describes 'grueling development' of Smash Bros. Melee
If you own a GameCube, odds are you probably have a copy of Smash Bros. Melee, arguably the platform's greatest game. It sold like it was, anyway -- over seven million copies were moved worldwide. Those sales were the fruit of what Sakurai says was a "grueling development cycle," very different from how he crafted the follow-up, Smash Bros. Brawl. Honestly, he's kinda underselling it. "I worked on that game for 13 months straight, after all, without a single Sunday or holiday off that whole time," Sakurai recalls in a Famitsu interview translated by 1UP. "During parts of it, I was living a really destructive lifestyle -- I'd work for over 40 hours in a row, then go back home to sleep for four," he added. Putting himself through the grinder like this stemmed from concerns about spearheading the massive undertaking, which Sakurai called the biggest project he'd ever worked on. Today, he looks back on it as "the sharpest game in the series," adding that it's "speedy all around and asks a lot of your coordination skills." To him, "it just felt really good to play" and was the most hardcore entry to date. As for his latest, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it was more an attempt to find some middle-ground and present a more accessible game -- and to finally help us solve one of gaming's greatest debates, of course.
Original Smash Bros. rated by ESRB for Wii
North American Wii owners, the wait may soon be over. After years of patient, patient waiting -- and watching the game land on both the European and Japanese Virtual Console -- the original Smash Bros. should soon be winging its way to American Wiis. The evidence: The game has been rated for Wii by the ESRB, hopefully signifying that a release is imminent. In case you were wondering, the game received an E rating, ostensibly making it suitable for everyone. We'll just have to wait and see how Grandma takes it when she gets a Star Rod to the dome.
