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All Articles: Splatoon
Splatoon has sold more than one million copies according to Nintendo
Brace yourself, I think the next few months will eventually become known as the Summer of the Squid. This morning, Nintendo announced that more than one million copies of Splatoon have been sold since the game’s launch in late May. Counting both physical and digital sales, the publisher was even helpful enough to break it down by region…
- The Americas: 476,000+
- Japan: 368,000+
- Europe: 230,000+
- Australia and New Zealand: 20,000
“Ever since Splatoon launched on May 29 in the United States, we’ve seen thousands of people go online to have fun in this colorful, chaotic competition,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime.
Splatoon is already a very different game today than it was just three weeks ago. Nintendo has added a wide variety of new maps and weapons to the game, and plans are in place to release a major update (with new game modes) in August.
Technical problems have forced Nintendo to postpone Splatoon’s first Splatfest
Bad news for Splatoon fans, technical problems have forced Nintendo to postpone the game’s first Slatfest event in North America.
The “Cats Versus Dogs” Splatfest was originally scheduled to take place tomorrow, June 20, but Nintendo has revealed that a “matchmaking issue” during the first Splatfest in Japan resulted in lengthy wait times and restricted players from joining matches. The consolemaker said they are “working on a solution,” but a little more time is needed to get it working perfectly. The Splatfest will be rescheduled for a later date, which will be announced “soon”:
We have decided to postpone the first North American Splatfest. We’ll have details on a new date soon!
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 19, 2015
Even though tomorrow’s Splatfest has been postponed, Nintendo still plans to add the Bluefin Depot map to the game at 10:00 PM (Eastern Time).
Splatoon’s first Splatfest (Cats Versus Dogs) will take place on June 20
UPDATE: The first Splatfest will now take place on July 4.
This week is the E3 Expo, the busiest and most exciting seven days for the entire game industry. Nintendo wants that excitement to last a few extra days as the publisher has scheduled Splatoon‘s first U.S. Splatfest for this upcoming Saturday, June 20.
During a Splatfest, players will pledge allegiance to one of two sides. The first Splatfest pits people who love man’s best friend, the dog, versus those that side with a witch’s constant companion, the cat. You can make your selection now at the Splatfest kiosk in Splatoon’s Plaza. Your character will even receive a temporary t-shirt to help show your support. To promote this major event, Nintendo has created a music video starring Callie and Marie, the Squid Sisters. The hosts of Inkopolis TV bring the freshness by rocking out on top of an awesome-looking nighttime map that I hope is available in Splatoon soon.
The winning side will receive a pile of Super Sea Snails, items which can be given to Spyke to enhance or customize your gear. So don’t forget, the “Cats Versus Dogs” Splatfest begins on Saturday, June 20 at 9:00 AM (Eastern Time) and goes on for a full 24 hours, ending on Sunday, June 21 at 9:00 AM (also Eastern Time). Good luck to all.
And when choosing sides, remember, your cat would eat you the first chance it gets.
The Witcher 3 hunts down the top spot as May 2015’s best-selling game
The NPD Group has published their monthly report on the financial state of the video game industry and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has emerged as the best-selling game of May 2015.
The Witcher 3’s victory was assured after the game leapfrogged both of April’s big releases including Mortal Kombat X (#2) and Grand Theft Auto V (#3). The only other May release to make the list, Nintendo’s Splatoon, swam its way into the fifth spot. Though Splatoon should get extra notice for being the only platform-exclusive title in the top ten.
All told, retail sales for games, hardware, and accessories were down 13% versus May 2014. However, Mario Kart 8, Watch Dogs, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and the continued success of TitanFall more than explain the sales gap. The drop-off might have been even bigger if it weren’t for a new wave of Amiibo figures. According to NPD’s Liam Callahan (speaking to GamesIndustry.biz), accessories rose 20% year-over-year, with a 73% increase for “interactive gaming toys.” Callahan also confirmed that the PS4 was the best-selling console of the month.
The complete top ten list of best-selling games for May 2015 can be found after the break. (more…)
Splat or be Splatted in the Splatoon launch trailer
The paint flies fast and furious in the Nintendo UK launch trailer for Splatoon, which is available in stores worldwide today.
If you’re still unsure about Nintendo’s first wholly original property in years, this trailer makes a pretty compelling case for shooter fans. Especially if you’re interested in the 4v4 online fights found in Turf Wars… or the one-on-one local duels in the Battle Dojo… or the single-player story campaign… or the game’s three Amiibo figures.
Just don’t get splatted.
Nintendo Download: Splatoon, Don’t Starve, Mega Man Zero 3, more
A large number of new releases were added to the Nintendo eShop today, but one game stands above all the others and it actually won’t be available until tomorrow. Are you ready… because Splatoon is finally available for the Wii U.
Nintendo’s take on the team-based shooter involves human/squid hybrids known as Inklings fighting for turf using paint guns. Use your squid powers to swim through the ink and use your human powers to blast other Inklings while claiming territory for your team. if multiplayer gaming isn’t your thing, there’s also an extensive single-player story mode that offers more towns to paint red (or yellow or purple or blue).
Also available for the Wii U this week is Don’t Starve: Giant Edition, a survival game from Klei. The game’s description says it all: “Fight, farm, craft, scavenge and do whatever it takes to survive in a wilderness filled with science, magic and things that go bump in the night.” Best of all, players who purchase Don’t Starve will receive a giftable bonus code to give to a friend.
Finally this week, Capcom is closing out Mega May with three classic Mega Man titles, all of which were originally released for the Game Boy Advance. Mega Man Battle Network 4: Blue Moon and Mega Man Battle Network 4: Red Sun continue the saga of Lan and Mega Man within the computer world, while Mega Man Zero 3 closes out Zero’s story in one of the hardest platformers ever produced.
More details on all of these games, and a few others, can be found after the break. (more…)
New Releases: Splatoon, ArcaniA: The Complete Tale
If you plan to visit your local game shop this week, you’ll only find two new titles on the shelves, and both of them won’t be released until Friday.
This week’s big new release is Splatoon, Nintendo’s entry into the team-based shooter category. But instead of gruff military guys, Splatoon is populated by kids who have the ability to transform into squids. They use this power to literally paint the map and the object isn’t to get the most kills (though you can still do that), but to cover more of the floor with your team’s color. It’s a crazy idea, but if anybody can make it work, it’s Nintendo.
Also available this week is ArcaniA: The Complete Tale. The PS4 RPG is an enhanced remake of the PC/PS3/Xbox 360 game of the same name. In addition to prettier graphics and more detail environmental effects, ArcaniA: The Complete Tale also comes packaged with the game’s “Fall of Setarrif” expansion.
Be on the lookout later this week for posts detailing new games available on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop. Both of these titles will be available to download alongside digital-only releases like Ultra Street Fighter IV, the fourth episode in Telltale’s Game of Thrones adaptation, and more.
Nintendo will host a second Splatoon Global Testfire on May 23
Did you miss last weekend’s “Global Testfire” for Splatoon? Get out your painting clothes, because Nintendo has announced a second round of testing will take place next weekend on Saturday, May 23 at 6:00 PM (Eastern Time):
Download the #Splatoon Global Testfire software in the #WiiU #eShop to play some multiplayer Turf War action on 5/23 from 3-4 p.m. PT!
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 15, 2015
Warp Zoned’s Mike Ryan had a blast during the original beta test, so be sure to download the demo today. Those that do will receive a 10% discount on the Wii U eShop edition of Splatoon when it launches on May 29.