Nintendo Direct Archives - myPotatoGames
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  • svgSep 16, 2020Event

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    Nintendo has announced that there will be a Mini Direct tomorrow showcasing games from their partners.

    Nintendo has been doing its best lately to keep gamers informed about the future of its current genre platform, no doubt due to all the hubbub from the two other major gaming producers.

    In an effort to not fall by the way side, Nintendo has announced that there will be a Nintendo Direct Mini on September 17th, and it will focus exclusively on games being made by their partners.

    Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda – Announced at the last Direct Mini

    The last Mini Direct was in July, and was pretty short and sweet. Nothing to big as far as myPotatoGames is concerned, so hopefully we will see a few games in this Direct that are a little more on the cutesy side!

    The Direct will air tomorrow at 7a.m. PT. You can use this article to view the direct, but it will also be streaming on Youtube, as well as the official Nintendo website.

    Nintendo Direct Mini

    More Ninten-news

    For more news about what Nintendo has been up to lately, check out my coverage of Marios’ 35th Anniversary.

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  • svgMar 26, 2020Quick Bits

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    Todays Nintendo Direct revealed Square Enix’s Bravely Default II, and it has a demo in the eShop.

    Square Enix has a reputation for making expansive and visually striking games, and it appears that the sequel to Bravely Default and Bravely Second – End Layer, Bravely Default II, will be no exception.

    At todays Nintendo Direct, we got a close look at what to expect from this epic sequel. We also get a chance to try the game for free on Nintendo Switch, as a demo has been made available in the eShop.

    Bravely Default II

    Bravely Default II Demo

    If history repeats, then the demo of Bravely Default II should function like its own small adventure, taking place outside the events of the main game. This gives players the chance to experience everything in store, without ruining important plot points.

    From the trailer, you can already tell that this title will be a much more visually pleasing game than its predecessors. A bit of the turn-based battle is shown, something which Square Enix has all but mastered at this point.

    It certainly appears that this new title will bring everything we would expect in sequel to this classic RPG series.

    Nintendo Direct Footage

    For more information about Bravely Default II, check out their new page on the official Nintendo website. That is also where you will access the demo.

    For more great games by Square Enix, check out my coverage of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles coming to Switch.

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  • svgFeb 25, 2020Animal Crossing

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    Animal Crossing: New Horizons have a few new features that show Nintendo are being more inclusive. Some of these new features are ones that fans of the franchise have been asking for for a while. However, there will also be some new inclusive features in New Horizons that will make it more enjoyable and relatable, that nobody really expected.

    Choosing Your Hemisphere

    New Horizons lets players choose their hemisphere. The real time clock in previous games was always set to the northern hemisphere. Now, players living in the southern hemisphere will be able to choose their hemisphere and experience appropriate seasons throughout the year. 

    Customisation from the start

    In previous mainline Animal Crossing games, the only way to have control of your character’s initial appearance was by answering the questions of Kapp’n or Rover with specific answers. Being able to customise your character from the start will allow players to create a character they truly identify with.

    Different Skin Tones + New Hairstyles And Hair Colours

    Initially introduced in Happy Home Designer, New Horizons will be the first mainline Animal Crossing game where players can choose from a variety of skin tones. Players of colour previously had to go through the annoying tanning process to get their player to have darker skin.

    Additionally, New Horizons will include a wider variety of hairstyles and hair colours for players to choose from. These additions will allow players to express themselves more freely and have characters they can relate too. This is especially the case with the introduction of hairstyles for people of colour.

    All Facial Features And Hairstyles Are Gender Free

    New Horizons will have two new nose types (round and square) in addition to the traditional triangle nose shape, and various mouth types and hairstyles to choose from. These are all gender free, so you can be who you really are.

    Animal crossing new horizons clothing

    You Can Change Your Look At Any Point In The Game

    Like in Pocket Camp, players will be able to customise their look at any point in the game. This is a great feature for many reasons. Whether you’ve dyed your hair, got a new haircut, or changed gender, you will always be able to have a character who reflects who you really are.

    Animal Crossing New Horzions clothing

    First Game In The Franchise To Be Localised in Latin American Spanish + An Introduction Of Mexican Elements

    Those of you who speak Latin American Spanish will know that it can differ to European Spanish slightly. Examples include idioms and alternative words for items. Therefore this is great news for Latin American Spanish speakers.

    Additionally, there will be elements of Mexican culture in the game. Clothing is a confirmed element, as a character can be seen wearing a “Vestido de China Poblana”, which is an outfit from the Mexican state of Puebla.

    Players Can Learn About New Cultures

    The recent Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Direct mentions “learning about new customs we aren’t familiar with”. The video then proceeds to show a character wearing a kimono. Whilst different cultures have been a part of previous games, an expansion on this with a wider variety of cultures being represented would be great.

    Animals’ Speech Bubble Colour No Longer Tied To Gender

    In previous games, an animal’s name in their speech bubble would either appear in pink or blue, depending on their gender. In New Horizons however, the colour will match the NPC’s colour scheme instead. 

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  • svgFeb 22, 2020Animal Crossing

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    Many Animal Crossing fans were inevitably disappointed last year when it was announced that Animal Crossing: New Horizons would be delayed. However, the recent New Horizons Nintendo Direct (which you can watch here) proved that the game is totally going to be worth the wait. With exciting new features such as terrain customisation and the introduction of an airport, as well as new animals, Nintendo have clearly been working hard. However, it’s the level of detail in the game that is truly impressive. Here are some examples.

    Shiny Hair

    Being the first mainline Animal Crossing game with HD visuals has allowed for a lot of aesthetically pleasing elements. One of these is how nice and shiny certain hairstyles look.

    Pay Me Tom Nook GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

    Hair Obeys The Laws of Physics

    The recent Animal Crossing Nintendo Direct really highlighted this new feature. Hair will behave a lot more realistically than in previous games. Examples include bobbing ponytails, swaying braids and the movement of bangs with certain hairstyles.

    New Horizons GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

    Clothing Has Physics

    Like hair, clothing in New Horizons will also obey the laws of physics. Examples include dresses blowing in the wind, and as shown below, the dress moving when the player twirls.

    Shoe Soles

    The larger variety of shoes to choose from in the game is great in itself. However, shoes now look a lot more realistic and you can even see patterns on the soles of the shoes.

    Knees

    Some fans were alarmed upon first seeing that players would have detailed kneecaps, (especially considering that they still have balls for hands…). Nonetheless, whether you love them or hate them, you can’t argue that they show attention to detail.

    Pupils

    As well as having a variety of face shapes, noses and mouths to choose from, depending on the eye type chosen, your player can now have pupils. This new feature could prove great for glaring at Tom Nook when he slaps you with that itemized bill.

    Items Look Wet When It Is Raining

    Another visual upgrade to look forward to in New Horizons is that items will look wet when it rains. This is yet another feature that will make the game more realistic and that little bit extra special.

    Nintendo Switch GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

    Raindrops Create Ripples In Water

    Another rain-related feature that shows attention to detail is how rain affects water. When it is raining, raindrops will leave ripples in both rivers and the sea.

    Cherry Blossom Petals Float On Water In Spring

    During cherry blossom season in the spring, you will be able to see cherry blossom petals floating in the air and landing in the water. This is definitely one of the most beautiful details in the game.

    Leaves Float Around In Fall

    In fall, players will be able to see autumnal coloured leaves floating through the air. This small feature alongside the cherry blossom petals in spring, shows just how much effort has gone into making each season special.

    Windy Weather

    During windy days on your island, the leaves on the trees will shake and you will hear them rustling. Weeds and flowers will also sway in the wind. As hair now seems to obey the laws of gravity, it’s quite possible that the wind will affect your hair too.

    Nintendo GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

    Flowers And Weeds Now Grow in Stages

    It’s pretty neat that players can collect just the buds of flowers whilst leaving the main plant in tact. The introduction of different types of weeds is also a nice feature, making gameplay more realistic. But did you know that they both now grow in stages? Additionally, you are now able to collect weeds and can even sell them.

    Detailed Shadows & Improved Lighting

    Another nice perk of the game’s HD visuals, as well as improved graphics techniques is detailed shadows and better outdoor lighting. Items, trees, characters and even clouds can have their own distinct shadow(s). These shadows will also change depending on the time of day and the weather.

    The lighting in New Horizons is significantly better than in previous games. Objects in the game are much better lit, light reflects more realistically on water, and the general ambience is simply awesome.

    Curtains And Blinds

    Curtains and blinds did first appear in Happy Home Designer, however they will be returning in New Horizons also, as can be seen in Fuschia’s home below.

    Curtains Can Be Seen Open or Closed From Outside

    A pretty cool little feature in New Horizons will be the ability to see whether curtains are open or closed from the outside.

    Paths Can Go Right Up To Your Door

    In previous games in the franchise, there would always be that one tile outside of your front door where you were unable to place a pattern. In New Horizons, this is no longer an issue. Additionally, players can now create paths that curve, something that also wasn’t possible in previous games.

    Phone Cases For Your NookPhone

    In the various different trailers and Nintendo Directs that have been released, different cases can be seen on NookPhones. This suggests that players will be able to choose different cases for their NookPhone.

    Animals Can Carry More Than Just Tools

    Although animals were able to carry various tools in previous games. Various trailers and gameplay footage shows that they will now be able to carry other items also. So far, they’ve been seen carrying resources, books and popsicles.

    Toe Beans

    A cute little feature appearing in New Horizons is that animals will now have toe beans, or foot pads.

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  • svgFeb 13, 2020Quick Bits

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    There has been a lot of rumor and hype around an upcoming Nintendo Direct since the last full fledged Nintendo Direct is now more than 150 days ago.

    Animal Crossing New Horizons is Nintendos next big game release and with the game merely one month away the big N does not have a lot of time left to make a big splash around the village simulator.

    February Nintendo Direct

    The last Nintendo Direct took place on September 4th that is more than 150 days ago, the longest gap between Nintendo Directs in the history of Directs!

    Nintendo held a Pokemon Direct in early January which revealed a lot of new Pokemon goodies such as Pokemon Home and the Pokemon Sword and Shield DLC.

    However, Nintendo fans are wondering what other games the company has in store for 2020 there have been rumors around Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 and more. Of course Animal Crossing fans are eagerly waiting for some more information about New Horizons!

    Nintendo Direct Playlist Updated

    Nintendo Direct

    Whenever a new Nintendo Direct is about to happen some things on Nintendos YouTube Channel as well as their official website get an update.

    That is exactly what happened today February 13th – the big N updated their YouTube Nintendo Direct Playlist. Last time this happened, a new Direct was announced only a few days later. This has been a steady pattern for multiple Directs in the past.

    The questions isn’t IF Nintendo will announce a new Direct the question is only when this announcement will happen. A February Direct is still very likely since we are only halfway through the month.

    Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a new Nintendo Direct or perhaps an Animal Crossing Direct in the very near future!

    Every Bit of New Horizons Gameplay footage!

    To make the waiting game easier, take a look at every piece of Animal Crossing New Horizons gameplay footage released so far!

    Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town English Translation Well Underway

    While waiting for Animal Crossing and a possible new Nintendo Direct, check out the latest on the Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town Western Release!

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  • svgFeb 8, 2020Animal Crossing

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    Nintendo have remained somewhat cryptic about Animal Crossing New Horizons *insert an angry Mr. Resetti image here*. However, with each new trailer and video posted about the game, more and more exciting details are given.

     This article will feature all the official Animal Crossing: New Horizons videos released so far, and the information that can be ascertained from each one.

    First Teaser Trailer From 2018:

    The first teaser trailer for Animal Crossing New Horizons was somewhat bittersweet. It was exciting to finally hear news on how the Switch addition to the franchise was progressing. However, the teaser trailer was just that. Nintendo teasing us. The only information given by Tom Nook, was that he had ‘business to attend to’ and needed ‘to make sure everyone has a nice, new place to come home to’. Naturally many fans were a little disappointed. However, there was excitement that Nintendo had finally begun talking about the game.

    E3 2019 Trailer:

    Fast forward to June 11th, 2019, during Nintendo E3, Nintendo released a more informative trailer. This trailer announced that New Horizons would be set on a deserted island and showcased major graphical improvements. The trailer also gave a sneak peek into new features that were unavailable in earlier Animal Crossing games, such as:

    • Being able to gather materials
    • Being able to craft tools
    • The ability to place furniture outside
    • The ability to make your own dirt paths without placing tiles
    • A handy tool that allows you to pole vault across rivers (which inspired a few memes ?)
    • Shinier hair for your characters that actually obeys the laws of physics and bounces ?
    • More realistic looking human characters with terrifyingly realistic kneecaps
    • The ability to make flower crowns for your players to wear
    • New items of clothing and new accessories
    • More diversity with new hairstyles and skin tones
    • Villagers actually being able to wear short sleeve tops and long sleeve tops! (adios tank tops)
    • The first hint towards the game supporting multiplayer

    E3 2019 – Nintendo Treehouse Livestream:

    Also released on June 11th, 2019, as part of E3 2019, was a Nintendo Treehouse Livestream containing Animal Crossing: New Horizons gameplay which showcased:

    • Some of the DIY recipes available to craft. These include tools, benches, bonfires, signs, laundry lines, etc. We also get a peek at the sorts of materials required to craft these items. A lot of materials required to craft these items are supposedly easy to gather on the island. An example of this is the ability to gather materials such as stone and clay by hitting rocks with a shovel. Different types of wood can also be obtained by using the ‘flimsy axe’
    • The ability to choose between northern and southern hemisphere when setting up your game/island means that the weather on your island is more closely matched to the weather that players across the world would experience in real life.
    • The ability to buy tools as opposed to gathering resources and crafting them.
    • The introduction of ‘Nook Miles’ (Similar to ACNL’s MEOW coupons), allows players to accumulate Nook Miles by completing various activites on the island. These include: crafting tools, pulling weeds, selling unwanted items, etc. Nook Miles can be exchanged for items and other activities, meaning that players are now being rewarded for completing tasks they would probably do anyway. Fun Fact: Nook Miles are called Tanuki Miles in the Japanese version of the game.
    • A first insight into local multiplayer using one console. You can call other players on your island by using your Nook Phone. (For more up-to-date information on how multiplayer will work in Animal Crossing New Horizons, click here).
    • More realistic features such as leaves blowing in the wind and the sound of the wind
    • The ability to change between leaders during one console co-op play. (The yellow flag above a players head shows that that particular player is the leader).
    • A brief insight into how multiplayer will work (8 people can visit one persons island at the same time)
    • The ability to take photos (hopefully better quality than ACNL screenshots ?)
    • Photo filters ?
    • The ability to acquire DIY recipes through other animals (similar to how players obtained Public Works Projects in ACNL maybe?)
    • The ability to dig up clams on the beach, which you can craft into fishing bait.

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Direct 2019:

    This promotional video aired on the 4th September 2019 during a Nintendo Direct. The video shows:

    • A yellow plane situated next to the building that manages it. The building has a sign on it that says ‘Dodo Airlines’, which given the name, could be managed by birds. The fact that the plane remains on the island, and has its own dedicated building, could mean that players can travel to different places.
    • Various different new weeds
    • A potential building modification system situated at Nook’s Services at the centre of the island. There are blueprints, paint and tools based here.
    • That players will need to keep up their energy to complete strenuous activities such as pulling up a tree. In the video, the player eats an apple and her energy increases.
    • Different ways to earn Nook Miles, such as: pulling weeds, collecting DIY recipes, greeting islanders a certain amount of times in a day, getting familiar with your new NookPhone, catching a bunch of fish in a row without any getting away, etc.
    • You can move whole trees
    • Windy weather is now a thing
    • Villagers can read books
    • Fish bait is a thing
    • Curved paths are a thing
    • You get your own workbench
    • Gigantic mushrooms exist

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Deserted Island Getaway Package Primer:

    On January 22nd 2020, a new advertisement for the game appeared. Although the video is rather short, one can learn the following:

    • Tom Nook is as greedy as ever
    • Tom Nook’s nephews are featured, and may return
    • The villagers/animals in the game are cuter than ever
    • Isabelle could be returning
    • What the game’s box art will look like

    Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing: New Horizons Edition:

    This advertisement shows the recently announced super cute Animal Crossing Switch Console. Although the video is brief, it shows a Nintendo Switch Console with:

    • Pastel green and blue joy-cons
    • A cute Animal Crossing print on the back of the tablet console
    • An adorably fitting Switch dock featuring Tom Nook and his nephews dressed for an island adventure.

    Nintendo Switch My Way – Animal Crossing:

    And finally, is the most recent Animal Crossing (related) advert. Which showcases local co-op play, and gives a wholesome insight into how whole families can enjoy the game together :3

    Many Switch owners are kicking themselves for not waiting for an Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch console. If you are lucky enough to not currently own a switch, but would love to own an official Animal Crossing Switch, you can pre-order one below:

    ?? United States

    ?? United Kingdom

    ?? Canada

    ?? Australia

    NB: The console has sold out in a few places online, but hopefully more will available soon.

    Animal Crossing New Horizons Decals!

    If you own an original Nintendo Switch which you’d like to make a bit more Animal Crossing-y, click here for some amazing Animal Crossing decals and cases 🙂

    What are you most looking forward to in ACNH?

    What are you hoping to see in ACNH?

    Animal Crossing Themed Mini Garden Kit!

    If you love to garden without a mess – this tiny garden kit features everything you to need to grow a Japanese Succulent or vibrant green Bermuda grass – grab yours right here!

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  • svgJan 1, 2020Animal Crossing

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    It’s been what feels like a century since the last Nintendo Direct in September 2019 but the latest GameStop SKU listing finally seems to be pointing an upcoming Nintendo Direct.

    As mentioned in earlier article I raised a few points on why I believe we will be seeing a January Nintendo Direct this year (2020), the latest game SKUs appearing in GameStops database could confirm just that.

    In recent years whenever GameStop “leaks” a photo of games appearing in their internal database, it has have often been hinting at an upcoming Nintendo Direct. The latest example took place on August 22nd where Game SKUs leaked through GameStop and a Nintendo Direct took place shortly after on September 4th with a matching amount of new games.

    While this might not mean that a new Nintendo Direct is imminent, a January Direct has been somewhat of a tradition in recent years and with Animal Crossing New Horizons being the next big game release for Nintendo its just a matter of time when we will get a new Nintendo Direct or an Animal Crossing Direct to reveal everything we still have questions about!

    New Animal Crossing New Horizons Gameplay Teaser

    Nintendo already started the new year with a bang by releasing a brand new teaser trailer for Animal Crossing New Horizons featuring some new gameplay and the box art for the physical version of the game. Check out the trailer, box art and Isabelle in an adorable Hawaiian shirt right here!

    Gamestop SKU Leak

    source: NintendoEverything

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  • svgDec 19, 2019Animal Crossing

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    It has been three and a half months since the Nintendo Direct featuring Animal Crossing New Horizons!

    Tomorrow marks the occasion of only three months until the release of Animal Crossing New Horizons. With Isabelle recently officially taking over the news on Twitter, we can see that the news of ACNH should start flowing at any moment, but when?

    If we look into the past just a bit, we can essentially predict the next direct. Animal Crossing New Horizons release was officially announced at the end of 2018’s E3 Conferenc with the infamous delay announced at this years Nintendo E3.

    Nintendos Media Recipe

    Let’s take a step back and look how Nintendo handled the Pokemon Sword and Shield media coverage. Three months was pretty much the sweet mark when Nintendo decided to flip the Switch and start rolling out Pokemon related news on the daily. There was no way to escape any social media platforms without reading something about Pokemon Sword and Shield – pretty much my dream for Animal Crossing!

    Animal Crossing – Magical Three Month Mark Approaching

    As mentioned earlier in this article the magical three month mark for Animal Crossing New Horizons will be crossed tomorrow on December 20th, 2020. In anticipation of this – we have seen the big N preparing eagerly to release some new information on the upcoming game.

    First Nintendo started an entirely new Twitter account for Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, essentially paving the way for New Horizons. Isabelle announced that she would be handling the official Animal Crossing Twitter and only focus on ACNH news going forward.

    With the official Twitter account being silent since then, I expect to see some Animal Crossing New Horizons related tweets and news to appear sooner rather than later.

    A few days after Isabelle went quiet on Twitter the first Nintendo Newsletter was sent out reminding fans that Animal Crossing New Horizons still exists and some news are coming our way very soon!

    Nintendo Direct In January?

    Nintendo has traditionally been very quiet around Christmas and New Years eve. The big N usually releases its major games in Fall and advertises new games and products through December. traditionally the quiet time is followed by a Big Bang with a Nintendo Direct in January!

    This has been the case for the past few years and is Nintendos way to show everyone who received a Switch from Santa to be excited for what’s to come next! Perhaps 2020 will follow the same format!

    Is Animal Crossing New Leaf January Direct Any Indication?

    Animal Crossing New Leaf received its own dedicated Nintendo Direct on January, 24th 2013 and Nintendo didn’t shy back to reveal as much as they could about the game back then.

    Animal Crossing New Leaf also received another Direct for the Welcome Amiibo Update just a month before its release – I would not be surprised if we will get plenty of Animal Crossing Directs and Mini Directs ahead of the release as well!

    Animal Crossing New Leaf Direct

    The Conclusion

    While these are all speculation and should be taken with a grain of salt, I personally believe strongly in an Animal Crossing New Horizons Direct in January. Nintendo does not want to take the focus away from the recently released Pokemon Sword and Shield as well as the Holiday Business for the Switch Lite and other products and therefore most likely holds back on new announcements until after the Holiday rush is over.

    However fans will start to wonder what is next for Nintendo Switch! We don’t really know what Nintendo games are currently in the works that haven’t already released. Pikmin 4 is one of the games we know about its existence… but that’s about it.

    There is not much time left to get everyone excited and informed about New Horizons so Nintendo will have to get started early in January to get as much hype build up as they can until Animal Crossing New Horizons releases on Nintendo Switch next year!

    When do you think Nintendo will lift the curtain on Animal Crossing New Horizons? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear what you think!

    I can’t wait to know more about the next game in the Animal Crossing series – I am still wondering how deserted the island will be?

    Animal Crossing Merch!

    If you are reading this you might be a die hard Animal Crossing Fan! What better way than to deck yourself in Animal Crossing Merch!

    Check out this Animal Crossing Bell Bag of goodies, featuring a Tote Bag, Bell Bag, Bookmark and more!

    I am also sharing a bunch of Animal Crossing Items with you over here!

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