Nintendo Pokémon Direct: Short And Not So Sweet

Nintendo gave us a Pokémon-themed Direct today, and, well, it was a little bit bleh.

Only three things were announced, and one of them is the biggest cash grab I have ever seen.

Up first: Pokkén Tournament DX for the Nintendo Switch.  Much like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe before it, this is a port of the Wii U title with a few new things added.  For Pokkén, the additions are five new fighters and a 3-on-3 Team Battle.

At the end of the trailer for Pokkén, they show a couple kids sitting in the background playing on their 3DS systems.  It zooms in to show them playing Pokémon Sun and Moon, only it isn't.  They are actually playing Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Yes, these are the next new Pokémon games being released for the 3DS.   They feature alternate stories from Sun and Moon, and some new Pokémon forms or something.

The final announcement is Pokémon Gold and Silver on the 3DS Virtual Console on September 22.

And that was it.

Yawn. 

E3 2016 - Nintendo Treehouse/Demo Predictions and Live Reaction

Hey everyone! This is Sherry (aka: Linksliltri4ce) here doing the live blog reaction to this year’s Nintendo E3 Event!

We're going to start off with some predictions that I'd at least like to see this year.  Now we all know Nintendo's current press schedule:

June 14

• More of The Legend of Zelda in Miitomo: Miitomo will continue its celebration of The Legend of Zelda with a themed Miitomo Drop game that will give players the chance to win The Legend of Zelda-themed in-app gear for their Mii character. Players will also be able to use Miitomo coins inMiitomo to purchase The Legend of Zelda collaboration items. An additionalThe Legend of Zelda collaboration gift will be available on the My Nintendo website, and players can exchange their My Nintendo Platinum Points for this item.
• Nintendo Treehouse: Live – Day 1: Nintendo’s kickoff to the E3 trade show begins at 9 a.m. PT, with an introduction by Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime and the world’s first look at live gameplay of The Legend of Zelda game for the Wii U console. Viewers can also catch the first live gameplay of the Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon games. Watch Nintendo Treehouse: Live via Nintendo’s channels on YouTube and Twitch, as well as on  http://e3.nintendo.com.
• Nintendo eShop sale: Starting at 11 a.m. PT until 8:59 a.m. PT on June 21, Nintendo is offering discounts on some of its most popular games as a special treat for fans. My Nintendo members who are signed in will also get a special bonus if they buy select games included in the sale. Anyone who hasn’t signed up for My Nintendo yet is encouraged to do so now to avoid the E3 rush. To get the extra discount, My Nintendo members must link their Nintendo Account to their Nintendo Network ID and access Nintendo eShop on their device at least once before they make a purchase. The discounted games can be purchased in Nintendo eShop or at http://e3.nintendo.com. Details about the discounts can also be found athttp://e3.nintendo.com.                                        

June 15

• Nintendo Treehouse: Live – Day 2: Starting at 10 a.m. PT, the Nintendo Treehouse: Live programming will showcase upcoming Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games, including Monster Hunter Generations from Capcom, Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. The day will start with a special Pokémon GO developer Q&A. Watch all of Nintendo’s action from the E3 show floor via Nintendo’s channels onYouTube and Twitch, as well as on  http://e3.nintendo.com.

For more information about Nintendo’s activities at E3, visithttp://e3.nintendo.com.

While I, for one, am super stoked about seeing SOMETHING on the new Zelda title for the WiiU (and possibly the console known as the NX), I would hope Nintendo is planning on showing us a little more than Zelda and Pokemon Sun and Moon on the show floor.  Nintendo's Day 2 Treehouse lineup is looking over some upcoming 3DS titles.  Knowing Nintendo they haven't told us all their plans for the two events just yet.  I am hoping to see snippets or teasers of other possible upcoming WiiU titles (just because I don't want to see the WiiU die just yet.)  Nintendo has made it clear that there will be no news on the NX, even though it's been hinted that the new Zelda title will launch in March 2017 alongside the NX.  This year is the 30th Anniversary for The Legend of Zelda and compared to its 25th Anniversary, this year has been a little lack luster.  I would like to some news possibly on Metroid, Splatoon, or even a new IP.  We shall see!  The event starts at 9AM Pacific Standard Time (it will be 12PM here in Eastern Standard Time.)

September 2015 Loot Crate Unboxing: "Summon"

Here is September's "Summon" Loot Crate. Stay tuned for October's "Time" Loot crate.

If you're interested in subscribing to Loot Crate, click here.

Nintendo Direct February 13

Today's Nintendo Direct started out with a bang.  Or I guess a blamm.  Right off the bat, we got conformation that Little Mac will be one of the new characters in Super Smash Bros.  We were also told that the game would be out this year for both the Wii U and the 3DS.

Other highlights from the Nintendo Direct:

• Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) comes out on May 30
• Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS) and Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS) both release on May 2
• Yoshi's New Island (3DS) releases March 14
• Steel Diver Sub Wars (3DS) is a FPS version of the Steel Diver series. You can get a free version or a paid version with more subs and single player.  Available now.
• Rusty's Real Deal Baseball (3DS) comes out in April. You have to buy each mini-game separate, but you can actually haggle over the prices of the games, and buy them at a lower price.  Sounds weird. 
• Pokemon Battle Trozei (3DS) comes out March 20
• Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (3DS) is out February 28
• Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (3DS) comes out in early 2015 (SO FAR AWAY)
• NES Remix 2 (Wii U) comes out April 25
• We also got a look at Bayonetta 2 (Wii U) and X (Wii U)

You can check out the entire Nintendo Direct below.

Nintendo Direct December 18: Nintendo Insanity Edition

Nintendo had another fantastic Nintendo Direct today.  And while I say fantastic, I also think Nintendo has started to lose their mind.  I mean that in the best possible way, too.

Here is a quick list of things that were announced and shown today:

• Hyrule Warriors (a.k.a. Dynasty Warriors Zelda, made by Tecmo Koei )
• Yoshi's Island DLC for Sonic Lost World (available now for free), with Legend of Zelda DLC heavily hinted at
• NES Remix (like WarioWare for classic NES games)
• Yoshi's New Island
• Kirby Triple Deluxe (sounds like a very delicious burger)
• Chibi-Robo: Photo Finder (on 3DS on January 9)
• Information on Pokemon Bank and Poke Transfer (like the fact that if you try the service, you get a free Celebi)
• An outstanding trailer for Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze with Cranky Kong
• Bravely Default getting a demo on January 2 that counts as a side-story to the main game
• Golf is now available for Wii Sports Club, and with it, another free 24 hour trial of all three games
• Dr. Luigi (for the Year of Luigi)

To see some of the insanity for yourself, you can watch the entire Nintendo Direct below.

Nintendo Download - Nov. 8

Compared to last week, Nintendo's offerings are a bit better. I'm still torn on where to count Freakyforms Deluxe and Paper Mario: Sticker Star though, because they are released on Sunday.  I think we have to say that Freakyforms Deluxe was released this week, and Paper Mario: Sticker Star is released next week.  That's okay though, because that just means there is at least one good game coming out next week.  Even though it is included in this week's download list.  It's so confusing.

Aside from the digital versions of retail releases, we also got a NEO-GEO game on the Wii Virtual Console this week!  Nothing else for the Wii though.  On the DSi/3DS side of things, we got the crazy priced Pokedex 3D Pro ($15!!!!), four other new releases today, plus a demo of Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.  And, of course, Paper Mario: Sticker Star is out on Sunday.  Hit the jump for the full list!