Mailbox: eShop Closures, Comedy, The Physical Future

Image: Nintendo LifeWelcome back to the Nintendo Life Mailbox. As football fever grips England with headlines such as National Team In Not-Crap Shocker top the tabloids (probably), it’s time to relax a little and sit back with our monthly letters page.

Got something you want to get off your chest? We’re ready and waiting to read about your game-related ponderings.

Each month we’ll highlight a Star Letter, the writer of which will receive a month’s subscription to our ad-free Supporter scheme. Check out the submission guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Grab a cool beverage and let’s see what surprises the postie’s brought us this month…

Nintendo Life Mailbox – July 2024
“evil spiteful move” (***STAR LETTER***)

I’m curious. I notice how a lot of people are angry about the Wii u and 3DS eshops and online servers being closed down, some acting as if this is one “evil spiteful move” on Nintendo’s part. And perhaps it is, I ain’t a mind reader.

But my question is, what exactly are Nintendo supposed to do? They can’t leave these services up forever, its costs money! And unlike the Nintendo switch, the online for these systems is not a paid service. And with presumably only a relatively small number of players using the servers and purchasing from the eshop, I ask, what are Nintendo reasonably supposed to do about it?

Am I missing something? Would players have been happy if Nintendo were like “we’ll keep them running if you’ll pay for the server upkeep?”

From Alpha008, the gullible optimist

I agree that the numbers don’t add up from a business standpoint. Throw in security issues and the small number of people actively using those services and, no, you can’t expect Splatoon 1’s online to be active for decades. The same with other services. Miiverse was a beautiful thing, and we miss it – but it was never going to last forever.

However, for those of us fortunate enough to be buying and playing the latest games, it’s easy to forget that people are still playing last-generation systems. Not many, perhaps — certainly not enough to make it worth Nintendo’s time setting up a payment system to charge for servers that used to be free — but the number of younger gamers still using a 3DS (perhaps before inheriting a hand-me-down Switch) isn’t zero. They can’t play Mario Kart 7 online anymore.

For me, online aside, it’s shutting down the legitimate pathway to a library of games, many of which you just can’t buy elsewhere, that’s the kick in the teeth. If I pick up a secondhand 3DS for my kids and want to show them Pushmo or Attack of the Friday Monsters or HarmoKnight, those games are gone. Yes, there are other avenues to access them, not to mention extraordinary homebrew efforts to restore lost functionality on dead consoles, but many people aren’t willing or able to go down that rabbit hole – or even know it exists.

There’s no easy answer here that’ll satisfy everyone — publishers, players, historians — but with each piece of software that becomes accessible only through illegal means, fewer people are likely to experience it and the cultural heritage of the medium seeps away, little by little. That’s what should make people angry. Meaningful engagement from big companies to ensure the preservation of the games, the documentation, and the firsthand stories of their development would be a good first step to taking the sting out of closures like this. – Ed.

Image: Nintendo Life
“a very pleasant experience”

Hi Nintendo Life!

I’ve recently found that I spend more time watching people on YouTube talking about video games than actually playing video games. The problem was easily solved, as last night I booted up Crimson Shroud from when the closing eShop spooked me into buying random stuff on the 3DS and it was a very pleasant experience. I guess I wanted to know, do you guys at Nintendo Life find yourself talking about video games more than playing them? Or the other way around?

MarkSeteth72

I don’t think there’s anyone on staff who wouldn’t like to play moar — there’s just so much, and so much which is fantastic. Getting as broad a sampling of the gaming spectrum as possible is a big part of the job right now, and even for an outlet focusing on a single platform at the end of its lifecycle, it’s a challenge. Sometimes a quick YouTube vid or a podcast in the car is the only personal exposure I’ll have to a particular game. It’s just how it goes.

Still, even with life limitations, I find I experience more of those little realisations and rediscoveries these days — those times when you finally get to play something and sit back thinking, Wow, video games are pretty great, aren’t they! Despite all the negativity and awfulness to be found in the industry, there’s so much beauty and talent, too, and it’s a pleasure to discuss games with like-minded folk here. Whether I’ve played the thing or not. – Ed.

“Switch 2 onwards”

Hello, Nintendo Life! I was wondering what you think of the future for physical gaming on Nintendo’s part? It’s been getting tricky to find them for Sony/Xbox games that aren’t more than a couple months old. At least here in Kuwait. Nintendo is fairly reliable though, especially first-party wise. Which is why I collect for them more. (Currently owning 20 games and counting!).

Do you perhaps believe this availability will be maintained on Switch 2 onwards? And do you think there’s hope Nintendo will ever re-introduce a program to give legacy titles permanent price cuts? It’s been sorely missing this gen.

Yousef

Of the big three, Nintendo will be the last to leave the physical arena. It’s tough to say past Switch 2, but I think it’ll be a good decade or two before you can’t walk into a store and pick up a Nintendo game off a shelf. An eShop card is fine, but there’s still magic in getting a gift you can’t put in an envelope.

Given the regular sales with first-party games getting a 33% discount, I don’t see Player’s Choice returning. I never could stand the box art, anyway. – Ed.

Spot the parasitic cuckoo in this line of warblers — Image: Gavin Lane / Nintendo Life
“exposing yourself”

If video game development around the globe were to suddenly stop and you could only play games that have already been released, how would you handle this? Would you get bored of games if they weren’t progressing technologically at all? Do you think you’d enjoy exposing yourself to genres and series that you wouldn’t normally play? How would you focus your gaming time?

Daniel

Personally, my present backlog would probably see me out. There are entire series I’ve never touched, so while I’d be disappointed never to ride the zeitgeist of a new release again (and who doesn’t love the smell of new hardware?), there’s such a rich history of games to experience — and so many Banjo replays to enjoy — I’d get along just fine. – Ed.

“being picky”

To whom it may concern,

I love Joy Mech Fight. It’s a great fighting game, and on the NES (well Famicom if we’re being picky) no less. Only recently got around to playing it, and I had a realisation. 3 of my top 5 NES games are from 1993.

There was still life in the old man before they put him to sleep, and what great life it was!

If you’re wondering (you probably aren’t) this is my ranking:

Top 5 NES games

1. Mr Gimmick (1993)

2. Kirby’s Adventure (1993)

3. Ufouria: The Saga (1991)

4. Dr. Mario (1990) (yes, I do like it this much)

5. Joy Mech Fight (1993)

From,

Casey

Very nice – a couple of underplayed Sunsoft gems there. 1993 was a good vintage. And thank you for reminding me to check out Joy Mech Fight on NSO. – Ed.

A Nintendo fighting game that’s not Smash? A rarity indeed — Image: Nintendo
“satirical such as”

Hello there!

I would like to know why there isn’t a ‘Comedy’ video game genre. I would say that there are plenty of games that are satirical such as: Untitled Goose Game, Stanley Parable, Portal, and there are probably more. So why isn’t comedy a genre of games as it is movies?

OswaldTheLuckyGamer

Probably because it’s so difficult to pull off. Timing is crucial with comedy, and controlling that is incredibly tricky in an interactive medium without just funnelling players into an on-rails ‘ride’ or switching to a cutscene. You could have the funniest script in the world, but if the line is delivered a fraction too early or late, or overlaps with the trigger for the next, it’s all for nothing.

The Stanley Parable and Portal are probably the best examples ever made and they repeatedly use deft little distractions and sleights of hand to make dialogue feel spontaneous or call your attention to something you could totally miss if you were looking the other way. Those games are illusory marvels in how they deliver their comedy. Weaving that into a video game takes magician-like showmanship and total design mastery, and most devs just don’t have the necessary talent and flair for it. – Ed.

“quite bad”

Square Enix’s new release strategy aims to develop high-profile games for as many platforms as possible. At the same time, games like FF and KH always go for the best possible graphics available. With Nintendo going their own path (likely with a weaker hardware than the competition), do you think there’s a chance that we might play the next numbered FF and KH on Switch 2? Personally, I have doubts. They certainly resonate with Nintendo audience, but hardware demanding 3rd party games often look quite bad on Switch.

RenanKJ

I wouldn’t be surprised to see numbered entries in those franchises appearing on future Nintendo hardware, although recouping investment on existing games will mean ports that weren’t viable on the current console first, I’d imagine. PC is the easier audience to chase, but if Switch 2 blows the doors off like Switch did, SE will want to be there for it. – Ed.

“complete dreary silence”

Do you know why I still love my 3DS and Wii U more than the Switch, even though the Switch is arguably the most popular console ever? Well, I have one word for you: PERSONALIZATION.

I will never not miss the abundance of themes, the carefully crafted piece of music for every different screen, the Miiverse, the catchy e-shop tunes that “encouraged” you to spend more time looking for fun games… and the Switch has none of it! Good luck spending hours in the Switch e-shop in complete dreary silence.

I honestly cannot believe that we’re at the end of the Switch’s lifecycle and yet, when you open the theme selection, you can only choose from white and black… Bro, that just ain’t it… Oh, and while on the subject, the touchscreen on the Switch is so underused, it’s insane!

Le Grumpy Potato out!

Agreed on all fronts. Homescreen needs a Spice Orange theme. eShop needs a bop. – Ed.

All the GameCube colours — Image: Nintendo Life
“a friend in the country”

Hi NL team!

I was wondering if there are any plans to extend Nintendolife eshop codes/credit outside of the current regions? I’m based in New Zealand (hello 2am Nintendo Directs), and would love to support the website via commission! Just the push I would need to buy more eshop credit and hopelessly fill my backlog…

P.S. I know about region switching, but I have game sharing set up with a friend in the country and don’t want to accidentally lock them out

SkywardPumpkin

Having looked into this, the regions available are dictated by where Famehype (NL’s partner for code sales) operates, and an NZ option isn’t something we’re likely to see soon, unfortunately.

Silver lining: you might just finish your backlog one day? – Ed.

“inverse proportion”

Hello! To the best of your recollection, which Switch games have been the most well-received (in terms of sales, Metacritic scores, etc) in inverse proportion to how they were hyped beforehand in official company showcases and such?

The answer would be more reflective of the marketing behind a game rather than the quality of the game itself, but it could be informative in the context of resource allocation and how some good games can get overlooked, especially when considering the effort that goes into producing something like a Nintendo Direct.

Keep up the good work!

ZZalapski

Tough question. First-party-wise, everything that’s well-received critically tends to get a similar marketing push. I can’t think of a single Nintendo game that was brilliant without them telling everybody so. Advance Wars Re-Boot Camp, perhaps, although for obvious sensitivity reasons. They kept Everybody 1-2-Switch pretty quiet — as you would — but great games? You’re never going to get a good Nintendo game that people sleep on these days.

Beyond first-party stuff, it felt like Balatro came out of ‘nowhere’ this year. More accurately, it failed to grab my attention in the pre-release buildup. I could retire to a private island if I had a dime for every email with ‘roguelike deckbuilder’ in the subject line, and card games are rarely trailer-friendly, so it took a while before I went back and it finally broke through for me. Hell of a game, but it was a case of, ‘Hmm, okay, we might have missed something here.’ – Ed.

Bonus Letters

“If a nuclear disaster were to happen hundreds of years from now that took out the world’s population, would a new Mario game still release?” – HotGoomba

Almost certainly. I thought the industry had finally cooled it on zombie games, but Nintendo is often late to the party. – Ed.

“Sonic Frontiers 2 might introduce a new hedgehog character.” – scottdevine48

Isn’t there enough misery and suffering in the world already? – Ed.

“my hope is that Nintendo Life is not Pro Old-School Nostalgia & Anti New Ideas, New Directions, & Accessibility.” – Marshall Gordeuk

Can we not have some of Column A and ALL of Column B? – Ed.

“I’ve been playing Superstar Saga lately and just finished Joke’s End. The music made it much more painful than it needed to be – a 5 second loop played continuously for an hour long dungeon.

What kind of amateur composer would make something like- Yoko Shimomura?! – Munchlax

After listening to this, I’ll include it at the end to lighten my burden and share the pain with everyone reading. You’re welcome. – Ed.

That’s all for this month! Thanks to everyone who wrote in, whether you were featured above or not.

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