Last week’s official Japanese sales figures are in and once again the Nintendo 3DS has stamped its authority as the number one games system in Japan at the moment. We already knew courtest of Satoru Iwata that Animal Crossing had sold over 600,000 copies but the hardware figures are just as impressive...
With so many games fighting for players' attention and interest losing out over time, time sink games are at risk of eventually losing steam.
It was worrisome to begin with.
It's a niche genre with only a handful of hits that can stand the test of time.
Only a few will catch on. You need a perfect storm to be successful in GaaS and a bit of luck on top of that. But a potential cash cow will keep them trying and some will go out of business because of it.
Helldivers 2 manages just fine…
Keep production costs low… don’t just make custscenes until the mechanics and enemies are perfected first.
Make so much content that you can drip extra content for years, and the game already feels complete without them.
Most importantly: make weapons, enemies, levels, and mechanics that will stand the test of 1000 hours. This might require more devs embracing procedurally generated leveled, which I think separates Helldivers 2 from Destiny’s repetitiveness.
Nameer from eXputer: "Some exceptions aside, I don't think the battle pass is a net positive for gaming with how they're implemented in most live service titles."
I like the way Helldivers 2 does battle passes. It allows you to make purchases on each level of the battle pass and gives you the option of choosing which item to unlock first. The more purchases you make using medals the further you progress. There is no timer and you can earn medals towards purchasing stuff via personal orders and Major orders.
I haven't played much live service games that have battle passes but I remember some games that have battle passes where you progress through it linearly using an exp system. What makes it really bad is that the battle pass will have like 50 or more levels with the cooler stuff being closer to the end. They also have an in-game shop that sells exp boosters so you can reach the end of the pass before it refreshes. Everyone ilse will have to grind their way through.
battle pass in fortnite is perfect; buy one and it buys the rest for every other season as it gives you more money than the first cost. so 8.50 and season ends with you getting 13.00, it pays for the next and you have some pocket change to save up for cash shop. All of which is optional
Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."
Wii outsold both 360 and PS3 too, yet the Wii is rubbish PS360 gave the best gaming experience and online.
3DS is your choice if you just want to play 1st party decades old rehashed IP's. If you want adult games and more new surprising IP's then PSVita is the way to go.
A gamer plays games, not sales.
Not sure how the 3ds is better.
Japanese games are rubbish most of the time, not impressed with the 3ds library at all.
It's not hard to understand 3DS has the edge support wise..
Sony isn't doing itself job properly. Japan would swallow Vitas if there are some killer apps.
Vita is superior tech but Sony is failing to support it properly