eShop Ratings-Sales: April 2012

Due to PAX East postings, I had been too busy to make these articles.  However, I will be posting March and April's Sales-Ratings articles now that PAX East coverage is just about complete.  Now, onto the disclaimer.

The Nintendo eShop is Nintendo's online shop through the 3DS where people can download games from old Nintendo hardware, DSiWare games, and new download software specific for the 3DS. Because Nintendo does not disclose sales numbers, and developers are most likely barred from revealing them, we do not know how games are doing on the service.

But we might have at least a small hint.

After playing a game on the 3DS for over a hour, players are capable of rating these games via the eShop, and the totals are shown on each game page, showing up to five stars based on what the population thinks. At the very least, we now have minimum sales figures for the games, but with a very large disclaimer: these numbers represent the users who have done the following:

1) Purchased the game
2) Played the game for over an hour on the 3DS, and
3) Chose to rate the game on the eShop.

People who play the games on their DSi systems cannot rate games, nor can people who have not played the games for less than one hour. Since rating cannot be done outside of the eShop, some might have forgotten to or chosen not to rate said games. Also note that a rating does not necessarily correspond with a sale in the month in which it appears, only emphasizing the number of additional people who completed the above steps.

With that disclaimer in mind, check after the jump to see how everything did.

eShop Sales-Ratings: March 2012

Due to PAX East postings, I had been too busy to make these articles.  However, I will be posting March and April's Sales-Ratings articles now that PAX East coverage is just about complete.  Now, onto the disclaimer.

The Nintendo eShop is Nintendo's online shop through the 3DS where people can download games from old Nintendo hardware, DSiWare games, and new download software specific for the 3DS. Because Nintendo does not disclose sales numbers, and developers are most likely barred from revealing them, we do not know how games are doing on the service.

But we might have at least a small hint.

After playing a game on the 3DS for over a hour, players are capable of rating these games via the eShop, and the totals are shown on each game page, showing up to five stars based on what the population thinks. At the very least, we now have minimum sales figures for the games, but with a very large disclaimer: these numbers represent the users who have done the following:

1) Purchased the game
2) Played the game for over an hour on the 3DS, and
3) Chose to rate the game on the eShop.

People who play the games on their DSi systems cannot rate games, nor can people who have not played the games for less than one hour. Since rating cannot be done outside of the eShop, some might have forgotten to or chosen not to rate said games. Also note that a rating does not necessarily correspond with a sale in the month in which it appears, only emphasizing the number of additional people who completed the above steps.

With that disclaimer in mind, check after the jump to see how everything did.

Game On: Let's Play 3.10 - Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll

Game: Super Monkey Ball:      Step and Roll System: Wii Developer: Sega Publisher: Sega Player: Alex

Okay, so I expect the first thought regarding this episode to be typo-related.  This is not actually the case.  There exists an episode of Game On: Let's Play which will not be released online, as of this post.  The player requested that we do not release it, and we are honoring that request.  So, let's not talk about that episode and talk about the next one: Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll!

StreetPass Network PAX East Panel

After a bit of work, we are glad to provide the full panel and some Q&A from the StreetPass Network PAX East Panel.

Now unfortunately, the audio is not as good as it could be (thanks, acoustics!), and our camera died before we get the entire Q&A sequence completed.  Hopefully next time, our camera battery will be more formidable.

Thanks to everyone involved, and enjoy!  StreetPass you soon!

PAX East 2012: Post-Mortem

Well it's done.  No more.  Completed.  Over.  PAX East 2012 coverage has met its end, and with that, we now provide our final impressions and commentary for the event.  This includes our self-evaluations and discussion on our favorite games of the show.  We also briefly discuss what we are looking to do now.

Anyways, thanks to all the developers who took the time to be interviewed, and we look forward to seeing more of their games in the future.  Here's to another great PAX East! (oh, and good luck to those going to PAX Prime).

Don't forget to look at our comprehensive playlist of videos here!  Keep an eye out for a complete video of the StreetPass Network Panel, coming soon!

PAX East 2012: Crowman & Wolfboy

 
Amid the smaller developers showing off their wares at PAX East, we got to spot an upcoming developer showing off their unique take on the running platformer on iPad.  Wither Studios, based on Pittsburgh, was there to demonstrate Crowman & Wolfboy, and we took some time with Doyle of the team to discuss the game and what to expect when it finally releases.  Check out our preview after the jump.

PAX East 2012: Dragon Fantasy

 
In PAX East, people might have noticed the old-school RPG Precipice of Darkness 3, but if they looked just around the corner, they would also find another classic RPG in the works: Dragon Fantasy Book Two, courtesy of Muteki Corporation.  We got to speak with Adam Rippon, the company's Creative Director, about the project and the company.  Check after the break for a preview of the game.

PAX East 2012: Square-Enix

In PAX East, a number of larger third party developers showed off their lineups for the Summer and early Fall, and we were able to get a few clips of footage of some of those games from Square-Enix.  Unfortunately, we did not get to play too many of their games, as lines were a factor, and we did not get to interview anyone or get too much footage of any of the games shown.  So, rather than provide three very short videos, we have compiled them into one.

Square-Enix had a number of games shown off, though the three we have video footage of are United Front Games' Sleeping Dogs, Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, and Airtight Games' Quantum Conundrum.  We were not allowed to film any of Heroes of Ruin, which was a shame, but at least we got footage for the games we did.  I was able to get a few minutes with Heroes of Ruin, but the game does not lend itself to a showfloor playthrough, particularly with character creation, lots of reading, and looting.  On that note, enjoy the footage we got and stay tuned for our final PAX East videos next week!

Sleeping Dogs is slated for August for PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3.  Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy is slated for release early July for 3DS.  Quantum Conundrum is expected for digital release this Summer.

PAX East 2012: Rock Band Blitz

One of the most active booths at the showfloor belonged to one of the premiere game developers of the music genre: Harmonix Music Systems.  Between the active Rock Band stage and large Dance Central station stood the first playable builds of the company's newest product: Rock Band Blitz!

We got to play some of the game and film gameplay footage from the showfloor, and we were able to get some words from Brian Chan from Harmonix about the game and Harmonix in general.  Check out the interview after the break!

State of 3RM: May 2012 Edition

Well well, it appears we're at the start of another month, boys and girls and robots.  With that, we are off to take a look at what's in store for the month leading up to that magical time of game announcements, fanboy wars, and manly tears - the Electronic Entertainment Expo!

First things first, thanks to everyone who looked at our PAX East posts throughout April!  The traffic was effectively the most we had since the site was formed, and that means plenty of yays and woos from us over here.  Of course, when you have so much content, it tends to cause that, but regardless, it was great to see the reception of some of the posts.  As for videos on YouTube, some of the views were less than expected, but I might blame the articles for that.  Now, while we are talking about PAX East...

Our first step into May is to finish our PAX East coverage.  The show is nearly a month gone, now, but our output is almost finished.  We have finished our coverage of the Indie Megabooth, and we have a couple more videos and interviews to post.  Afterwards, we will post a montage video of various things at the showfloor we recorded not specifically focused on one game.  We also have plans to upload the StreetPass Network Panel, as per request.  That will not be posted on the PAX East playlist, but it will still be uploaded onto Youtube.  After all is said and done, we will do a post-mortem, discussing the games we played, wish we played, and are waiting to play.

Once that is done in a couple weeks, we will be only half a month from E3.  On that note, we will be doing our traditional predictions videos, followed by impressions videos in June after the event itself.  As for our other videos, I hope to get a Game On: Let's Play episode done in the interim, followed by a Third Rate Game Play episode.  Once E3 is past us, expect us to get back into the groove with those, as well as a couple specials far into the horizon.  And as for reviews, well, we are seeing what we can do next.  There are plenty of choices to make, that's for sure!

And for those data-crazy people wondering about Sales-Ratings Data for the last two months, I have them and will post articles about them before the end of the month.

Anyways, that sums up what to expect from us this May.  Enjoy yourselves and remember that May flowers bring Pilgrims and the Polio virus!

PAX East 2012: Super Time Force and Monaco

While we did get to cover many games at the Indie Megabooth, there were a few that we could not get our hands on nor speak with their developers.  This was partly due to constant activity for both us and the developers themselves, and that is a good thing for the lot!  Either way, we got to get some footage of two of the games which escaped our grasp this PAX East: Capy's Super Time Force and Pocketwatch Games' Monaco.  Enjoy the videos below as our send-off of the Indie Megabooth.  To those we did not cover, best of luck with those awesome games!

Super Time Force is scheduled for release at some point on XBLA, and Monaco has no release date, expected for PC, Mac, and at least one console.