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The Video Game Canon: The Sims
Dig deeper into the Video Game Canon as we contemplate the futility of determining the best-selling video game of all time and The Sims. Here’s a teaser…
What is the best-selling video game of all time? It’s a surprisingly hard question to answer as game publishers, unlike Hollywood film studios, refuse to release sales figures for their games on a title-by-title basis. But for years now, the conventional narrative has been that The Sims became the best-selling PC game of all time in 2002 after dethroning Myst, the graphical adventure game that sold more CD-ROM drives than every other piece of “multimedia” software combined.
Developed by Maxis, The Sims delivered a smaller, more personal, simulation that differed greatly from the macro scale of designer Will Wright’s previous games, SimCity and SimCity 2000. Instead of pulling the camera back, giving the “mayor” control of an entire city, The Sims moved the camera in close, allowing the player to interact with the day-to-day minutiae of a single family. Part Real World, part Demon Seed, and part Barbie Dream House, this approach allowed players to bypass the mayoral office and step right into the shoes of a god. However, it was a literal “Act of God” that encouraged developer Will Wright to create The Sims in the first place.
Visit VideoGameCanon.com to continue reading this article and to explore the complete Top 1000.
Nintendo of America sold 906,000 Switch consoles and 1.3 million copies of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in March
There’s been an electric feeling in the air since Nintendo’s launch of the Switch on March 3. Come on, I’m sure you can feel it too. Nintendo is back… and now we have the sales figures to prove it.
Yesterday afternoon, Nintendo of America announced that more than 906,000 Switch consoles were sold in the United States during the month of March. If that weren’t impressive enough, the consolemaker added that more Switch consoles were sold during its first month of availability than any other game system in Nintendo’s history.
Nintendo also revealed that they sold even more copies of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during the month. Zelda fans purchased more than 925,000 copies of the game on the Switch, as well as nearly 460,000 copies for the Wii U. With total sales of 1.3 million, Breath of the Wild is the “fastest-selling Nintendo launch game of all time, as well as the fastest-selling game ever in The Legend of Zelda series.”
But what about Breath of the Wild’s insane 102% attach rate on the Switch? Nintendo attributed the unprecedented sales success for Breath of the Wild to fans who purchased two copies of the game… a limited edition to keep sealed and a standard edition to play.
“Nintendo always strives to offer consumers something fun, new and different,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and COO. “With its various play modes and the innovative features of the Joy-Con controllers, Nintendo Switch provides unique experiences that people can take with them anywhere and share with anyone.”
Worldwide sales figures for the Nintendo Switch will be announced on April 27 during Nintendo’s annual financial report.
Posted in News, Switch, Wii U
Tagged The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Culdcept Revolt will be released for 3DS on August 29
NIS America got a few minutes to talk about their upcoming 3DS and Switch releases during Nintendo’s most recent Nintendo Direct presentation. Skipping right to the point, the niche publisher confirmed that Culdcept Revolt, a card-battling RPG that mixes concepts from Magic: The Gathering and Monopoly, will be released for the 3DS on August 29.
In case you missed it, NIS America unveiled an Announcement Trailer for Culdcept Revolt back in February.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Culdcept Revolt
Nintendo Download: Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, Mr. Shifty, Bye-Bye BoxBoy!, more
Nintendo added two surprising new 3DS games to the Nintendo eShop this morning…
Team Kirby Clash Deluxe is a standalone expansion of the “Team Kirby Clash” minigame included with Kirby: Planet Robobot. The game is free-to-start and features four different Kirbys battling it out with a series of giant boss monsters.
Also available to download for the 3DS today is Bye-Bye BoxBoy!, the conclusion to the black-and-white BoxBoy trilogy. This time around, Qbby has to overcome obstacles and rescue the Qbabies in this new side-scrolling platformer from developer HAL Laboratory.
Switch owners will get the chance to purchase several new games this week as well, and TinyBuild and Team Shifty added Mr. Shifty to their side of the eShop today. The overhead action game mixes will look familiar to fans of Hotline Miami, but Mr. Shifty is a thief with superheroic teleportation abilities and a penchant for “distraction and trickery.”
Finally today, Jackbox launched The Jackbox Party Pack 3 for the Switch, and it includes five new party-friendly games… “Quiplash,” “Trivia Murder Party,” “Guesspionage,” “Tee K.O.,” and “Fakin’ It.”
You can learn more about all of these games (and a few more new additions to the Nintendo eShop) after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U
Tagged Mr. Shifty
Nintendo is discontinuing the NES Classic Edition
This is surprising…
In a statement provided to IGN, Nintendo has confirmed that production of the NES Classic Edition will soon be discontinued:
“Throughout April, NOA territories will receive the last shipments of Nintendo Entertainment System: NES Classic Edition systems for this year. We encourage anyone interested in obtaining this system to check with retail outlets regarding availability. We understand that it has been difficult for many consumers to find a system, and for that we apologize. We have paid close attention to consumer feedback, and we greatly appreciate the incredible level of consumer interest and support for this product.”
“NES Classic Edition wasn’t intended to be an ongoing, long-term product. However, due to high demand, we did add extra shipments to our original plans.”
The NES Classic Edition was originally released on November 11, and came packed with 30 well-known titles from the Nintendo Entertainment System’s heyday. Fans fell in love with the microconsole and supply quickly exceeded demand. Even today, the NES Classic Edition is next-to-impossible to find on store shelves. So it’s a bit baffling that Nintendo is already doing away with such a successful product.
However, Nintendo also launched the Switch this past March, and the consolemaker has likely decided to pour their considerable marketing muscle towards this new platform.
You can currently purchase an NES Classic Edition from a third-party seller on Amazon for $220. I wouldn’t expect that price to drop any lower anytime soon.
Yooka-Laylee, Cosmic Star Heroine, Kero Blaster, more added to PS Store
Retro-inspired games once again rule the roost in this week’s PlayStation Store update.
In Yooka-Laylee, the king of the jungle isn’t a great ape or a ferocious bear, but rather, a chameleon named Yooka and a bat that goes by Laylee. Both characters will head out on an N64-style platforming adventure this week to find collectibles and stop the nefarious Capital B and Dr. Quack. Developed by Playtonic, Yooka-Laylee is now available to download for the PS4.
Also available this week is the latest addition to Sony’s Play Collective promotion… Cosmic Star Heroine. The PS4 RPG was developed by Zeboyd Games, and it features a gameplay style inspired by 16-bit RPGs like Chrono Trigger. Players will guide Alyssa L’Salle, an intergalactic superspy, across the galaxy as she’s forced to turn against her superiors at at the Agency of Peace and Intelligence to uncover the evildoers behind a horrible conspiracy.
Finally this week, the creator of Cave Story, Studio Pixel, is back with Kero Blaster, a new side-scrolling platformer for the PS4.
You can learn more about all of these titles (and the rest of this week’s additions to the PlayStation Store) after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PS4, Vita
Tagged Cosmic Star Heroine, Yooka-Laylee
Blaster Master Zero Review: Tanks for the Memories
The Nintendo Entertainment System was my first foray into real gaming. Granted, I played a lot of Atari and Intellivision back when I was a young ‘un, but the NES was a huge part of my childhood, and helped shape me into the gamer that I am today.
As a young hardcore gamer (did that term exist back in the day?), one of the things I loved doing was signing up for video game magazines. At Doc Lewis’s behest, I joined the Nintendo Fun Club. When I would get my allowance, I would head over to the local Woolworth and pick up the newest GamePro magazine. And yes, I was a subscriber to the short-lived Sunsoft Game Time News. I loved reading about their newest games, learning tips and tricks, and bugging my mom for $5.00 to order that Xenophobe T-shirt (I never did get it, though). One of the games that always piqued my interest in the Sunsoft newsletter was Blaster Master. It looked like a fun game, with lots of action and adventure.
Unfortunately, my only experience with the title was renting it once at the local movie rental shop. While it was a somewhat fun experience, I was pretty much lost and didn’t know what to do. I also never played it again, because I was knee deep in Mega Man, The Legend of Zelda, and Dragon Warrior. But I always regretted that decision, because Blaster Master has a reputation as one of the great games from the NES era. Well, fate as smiled upon me, as now I am able to play a new Blaster Master… and I don’t even have to hook up my old system! (more…)
Posted in 3DS, Reviews, Switch, Top Story
Tagged Blaster Master Zero
Rising Star Games will serve up Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop for the 3DS on May 16
Cooking Mama is back… and this time, she’s bringing dessert.
Set to be published by Rising Star Games and in development at Office Create, Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop will be available for the 3DS on May 16, and dozens of recipes and more than 160 minigames will be on the menu:
With over 60 different recipes to create, spread throughout 160 different minigames, players use the stylus to slice, stir, bake and decorate their creations – you can even use the microphone to blow and cool your delicacies! Create a wide assortment of delicious looking sweets and puddings, and serve customers in the shop to keep them happy. The more sweets you create and complete, the more your shop expands. You may even trigger a special event! Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop also features a competitive multiplayer mode for two to four players… challenge your friends and see who can make the tastiest treats. And just like always, don’t worry if you make a mistake… Mama will fix it for you!
For an appetizer, the first trailer for Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop has been embedded above.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop