Wednesday, February 1, 2017

News:: River City Ransom: Underground gets a launch trailer and release date

I guess early 2017 is going to be the time for retro inspired beat-'em-ups to get launched, as River City Ransom: Underground is set for a release on February 27. This is hot on the heels of Double Dragon IV, but has been anticipated for much longer. The Kickstarter campaign for this officially licensed follow-up launched in 2013 with an original release date of September 2014. Three years isn't so bad, though.

The only platform the game is currently slated for is PC. The Kickstarter failed to reach any of the stretch goals that included PS4 and Vita ports, but I guess if the title were to do well enough, we could see an eventual console release. For now, we'll just have to make due with this trailer.

River City Ransom: Underground gets a launch trailer and release date screenshot

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News:: Nintendo's first-ever Super Bowl ad is for the Switch, of course

When you consider the fact that Nintendo and its mustachioed mascot are household names, it's a bit strange to realize the company has never run an advertisement during the Super Bowl. That's about to change. A new video on the company's YouTube channel touts itself as the extended cut of the company's first-ever Super Bowl ad. The commercial highlights the portable and home console modes of the Nintendo Switch to an intense soundtrack -- but this is more than your average peek at the company's next game console. It's a five million dollar investment toward the Nintendo Switch's success.

Source: YouTube



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News:: Would you pay $32 for a mobile game?

There's an ongoing discussion right now about Nintendo, Super Mario Run, and its decision to price the game at $10. For some, that's too much considering the final product. For others, it's worth it to have a game that works well with no ads and no microtransactions. The same conversation is had every time Square-Enix re-releases something from its vault for as high as $20. It's not a conversation that's going to end anytime soon, but it is bound to change over time as the prices keep climbing higher and higher.

Would you pay $32 for a mobile game? screenshot

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News:: Someone is translating the Mega Man X novelization, but they need help

Capcom just released the Rockman X novelization in Japan, and if their track record is anything to go by, it'll take years to see a western release, if at all. One fan by the name of skycompass is trying to change that, and has taken it upon themselves to translate it into English.

Right now only the prologue and the preface are completed, and skycompass is currently asking for help. Who knows how long this thing will take, but odds are it'll be finished before we actually see this novelization overseas. This project was just only recently released in Japan ahead of Mega Man X's 25th anniversary (in 2018), and it's written by Tsubasa Todoroki, and illustrated by Yoshiro Iwamoto.

Considering that I constantly discussed fan theories with friends over how the X series stands in the overall series canon, I'd easily pick this up.

Mega Man X [Google Docs via Rockman Corner]

Someone is translating the Mega Man X novelization, but they need help screenshot



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News:: Slithering 3D platformer Snake Pass is hitting Nintendo Switch

I have the distinct feeling we're going to be reading a lot of "so-and-so confirmed for Switch" stories these next few weeks leading up to the system's launch. Why, look at that! There's one right here.

Sumo Digital is bringing its puzzle-platformer Snake Pass to Nintendo Switch in "early 2017," right alongside the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions. Just look at these snake physics:

Slithering 3D platformer Snake Pass is hitting Nintendo Switch screenshot

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News:: Fresh PlayStation VR bundles are incoming

While not every PlayStation VR game necessitates owning a PlayStation Move controller, much less two, it's good to have them around if you're committing to the platform. With that in mind, as well as the fact that 1) used or otherwise old Moves can be hit or miss at holding a charge and 2) the PlayStation Camera is required for PSVR, buying a bundle is recommended over piecemeal purchases.

Sony is bringing back its $499 USD / $699 CAD bundle that was previously offered as a pre-order before PlayStation VR launched. It comes with the headset, Camera, two Move controllers, PlayStation VR Worlds, and the meaty PSVR demo disc. That's everything you need and then some.

Fresh PlayStation VR bundles are incoming screenshot

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News:: Jackbox Party Pack 3 is headed to the Switch

Jackbox Games confirmed earlier today that its most recent collection of party games, The Jackbox Party Pack 3, will soon be available for the Nintendo Switch. This will be the first Jackbox game available on a Nintendo platform, since the previous entries in the series skipped the Wii U.

The Jackbox Party Pack 3 seems like a perfect fit for the Switch, since the portable nature of the console will make it easy to bring along to friends' houses or family gatherings. I've tried bringing a laptop with earlier Jackbox games installed to a friend's house, and it was a big hassle trying to figure out how to connect it to his system. This could potentially be a way to interest new players in the Switch as well, though it's safe to assume that the Switch version will still require every player to use a smartphone or other device with online capabilities in order to play. 

There's no word on a date for the Switch version, and  no mention of earlier titles in the series being ported to the Switch just yet. The Jackbox Party Pack 3 was one of my favorite games from last year, so I'm glad that more people will get the chance to experience it on Nintendo's new hardware.

JackboxGames [Twitter]

Jackbox Party Pack 3 is headed to the Switch screenshot



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News:: The Azure Striker Gunvolt anime is coming next week on the 3DS eShop

A lot of eastern game properties are getting their own anime adaptations these days, and I love it. Even if it's just in the form of an OVA or a movie, it's nice to be able to see another slice of something across a new medium.

That's just what Inti Creates is doing with Azure Striker Gunvolt: The Anime, which will launch worldwide next week on February 9. The short OVA will cost you $2.99 on the 3DS eShop, and will allow for both English and Japanese voiceovers.

You can get a feel for both languages by checking out the trailers below. I think I'll stick with Japanese for this one -- the voices, especially Gunvolt, are a lot more dramatic and tense.

Gunvolt [Inti Creates]

The Azure Striker Gunvolt anime is coming next week on the 3DS eShop screenshot

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News:: Pour one out for Nintendo's Project Giant Robot

For some time now, it has seemed unlikely that Project Giant Robot would ever see the light of day. Were any of you keeping hope alive for the clumsy robot brawler? You can abruptly stop that now.

Nintendo has confirmed to Polygon that the experimental Wii U title, first shown at E3 2014 and notably demoed by Shigeru Miyamoto, is no more. In a statement, a representative said the decision came about "after considering our overall product and development strategy."

It's a shame. I mean, I didn't think the game looked particularly good in its limited E3 showing, but the concept itself -- skyscraper-sized bots banging against each other, with the player peering through the Wii U GamePad for a first-person point of view -- was something. The kernel was there.

Pour one out for Nintendo's Project Giant Robot screenshot

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News:: SmuggleCraft is an ambitious racer, but needs some tweaking

I'm a huge fan of racing games. I'm terrible at them, but I've always loved driving around at high speeds with my friends. Throw hovercraft into the mix and I'm sold from day one. Games like F-Zero, Diddy Kong Racing (I know they were watercraft but I will fight you), and Wipeout added an extra layer of fun when wheels aren't dragging you down. 

SmuggleCraft is the latest hovercraft racer (of which there aren't enough of), and seeing its polygon-infused style I hoped I'd have fun with it. I did, but not as much as I wanted. 

SmuggleCraft is an ambitious racer, but needs some tweaking screenshot

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News:: Review: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (3DS)

In order to finish this review, I've done pretty much nothing other than play Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (DQVIII) for the past several days and nights. It's a testament to the quality of this title that all I really want to do right now is turn my 3DS on and get right back into it.

In my review in progress for Dragon Quest VIII, I wrote about its early hours, and if you haven't already, I'd encourage you to read that article. To sum it up, DQVIII was a masterpiece on the PlayStation 2, and the translation to handheld hardware adds far more than it takes away. 

I wanted to make sure I tried out all of the new features added for the 3DS version before writing the final review, little realizing that this would mean sinking about 85 hours into the title. You can finish the game in considerably less time than that, but several of the new features are actually post-game content. As such, it'll be difficult to discuss some of them without delving into spoiler territory. I'll do my best to keep them light, but if you haven't played DQVIII before and want to be surprised, stick with the review in progress.

Review: Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (3DS) screenshot

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News:: You have a second chance to get a Genesect in Pokemon X & Y or ORAS

If you're at all interested in picking up Genesect and missed him the first go-around in 2016 (or before that, even!), you still have another chance.

If you own Pokemon X/Y or ORAS, just use the code "GENESECT20" if you're in North America, or "GENESECT2016" if you're in Europe. You can get it by way of this code method until February 28, 2017, and if you already picked up the creature from the anniversary giveaway last year, you can't acquire him again.

Game Freak has mastered the art of "weird ass distribution methods." They've even gone so far as to give out Mega Stones this way, much to the ire of the community.

Pokemon XYORAS [Serebii.net]

You have a second chance to get a Genesect in Pokemon X & Y or ORAS screenshot



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News:: 'Super Mario Run' now has an easy mode

Super Mario Run isn't exactly a difficult game, though it may take some real work to master it and get every special coin scattered through every level. Which makes the new feature Nintendo added to it a little odd: The game now features an "easy mode." With easy mode turned on, you'll get unlimited lives. When you die in Super Mario Run, you reappear in a bubble and float back in the level a bit before you regain control. In normal mode, you can only die a few times, but easy mode means you'll never have to worry about running out of bubbles.

Via: The Verge



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News:: Review: Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea

When I first picked up Atelier Shallie Plus for my review in progress a while ago, I never thought I would ever get into a game that was mostly about making stuff and other secondary activities that lead to even more stuff making.

Now I am in this cycle because of a game that had some cute anime girls on the cover. No complaints here since I'm loving every bit of it -- the anime girls and the item creation.

Review: Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea screenshot

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News:: Nintendo is gearing up for more mobile games, plans 2-3 per year

Super Mario Run may not the most successful game around, but it has still drawn in a decent chunk of paying customers. The best thing about the title is that it isn't loaded with microtransactions, but the company seems to be changing its focus with the upcoming Fire Emblem Heroes, which features a limited energy based system. If you feel that sucks, then you'll probably really hate this story.

As reported by Reuters, Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima told investors during a press conference that the company is looking to expand more into the mobile market and release two or three different titles each year. That isn't exactly market saturation, but it probably comes as a shock to long-time fans who remember Nintendo saying it would stick to a console-only strategy.

Along with that information about the heightened move into the mobile market, Kimishima also stressed that 70 different developers were making around 100 different games for the Switch. That almost sounds like a desperate plea for attention, but I really do hope Nintendo can recover some of its lost charm with this new console. Third parties tend to love handhelds and since the Switch is basically a handheld, it should find some kind of popularity with developers not currently employed by the Big N.

Nintendo plans to release two or three mobile games every year [Reuters]

Nintendo is gearing up for more mobile games, plans 2-3 per year screenshot



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News:: Resident Evil 7 tops Japan sales charts but pales in comparison to Resident Evil 6

When Resident Evil 6 first released back in 2012, it sold over 634,933 copies in its first week. With Capcom reporting that 2.5 million copies of Resident Evil 7 have shipped worldwide, it seems to be doing just fine for itself. However, only 187,306 of those were sold in Japan thus far, less than a third of the last numbered entry. That was still good enough to land it the top spot in sales this past week, followed by an otome game (granted, a popular one).

Look, I may weaboo enough to learn Japanese and live in Japan, but I'm not so far gone as to spend 5,000-8,000 yen on cheaply made visual novels. Especially not when I can be spending that money on Costco sized packs of bacon and waffles.

Resident Evil 7 tops Japan sales charts but pales in comparison to Resident Evil 6 screenshot

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News:: Oculus to pay $500 million after ZeniMax lawsuit ends

ZeniMax is triumphant in its lawsuit against Oculus over alleged technology theft... well, sort of. A Texas jury has determined that Oculus must pay $500 million to ZeniMax over claims that Palmer Luckey didn't comply with a non-disclosure agreement he signed with the game publisher. However, what didn't happen is more telling. The jury found that Oculus didn't steal trade secrets from ZeniMax when it hired John Carmack. In other words, one of the cornerstones of the case didn't hold up.

Source: Polygon



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News:: Hello Neighbor is a horror game for cowards

When I arrived at TinyBuild's PAX South booth for my Hello Neighbor appointment, hoping to either get a hold of somebody or hop on a station myself, I noticed something that both piqued my interest and got me a little worried: a lot of kids were playing the game. And I'm only 21 years old, so you know that when I say "kids," I mean "actual children."

To me, that meant that either Hello Neighbor was a kid-friendly game or a popular YouTuber had gotten their hands on it. Or both! (See also: Minecraft.) Turns out I was right -- the "stealth horror" title is fairly popular on YouTube, as you'd expect from a video game that feels like it owes more than a little to the Slender craze. According to TinyBuild CEO Alex Nichiporchik, that is absolutely intentional. "Our target demographic is the 'Minecraft Generation'," Nichiporchik said to me at PAX South.

If my reconnaissance told me anything, the team was absolutely successful in targeting young players. The kids I saw playing Hello Neighbor seemed like they were having a blast. It's not hard to see why -- the game has all the mechanical trappings of a YouTube-friendly survival horror game, but it's been designed to avoid potentially frightening jump scares and has been endowed with a cartoony aesthetic that feels more Toontown than Resident Evil 7.

Hello Neighbor is a horror game for cowards screenshot

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News:: Jury awards ZeniMax $500 million in lawsuit with Oculus

After almost three days of deliberation, a Dallas jury has reached a decision based on three weeks of testimony. The jury awarded ZeniMax half a billion dollars because it concluded that Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey violated a non-disclosure agreement that he was bound to.

As reported by Polygon, the North Texas jury's verdict is in favor of the plaintiff, but interestingly enough, not because of the crux of the lawsuit. ZeniMax originally filed a complaint alleging that Oculus misappropriated trade secrets in developing its Rift virtual reality headset. The jury did not find this to be true.

While it was awarded $500 million, ZeniMax asked jurors to consider a $4 billion verdict -- $2 billion in compensation for misappropriated trade secrets and an additional $2 billion in punitive damages. The jury obviously didn't find the need to excessively punish for intentional wrongdoing. (However, there is a case to made based on the fact that the judge granted the motion to ask for punitives in the first place.)

What immediate effect this has on both companies is relatively unclear at the moment. As Polygon notes, Oculus parent company Facebook is set to announce its quarter four earnings after the market closes today. Facebook obviously has a lot of money, but $500 million is still a substantial hit.

This probably isn't the end of the Oculus and ZeniMax drama. Oculus is almost certainly considering an appeal. If that happens, Oculus will be likely be forced to post a substantial bond upon appeal -- a guarantee of sorts that the money will be there for the plaintiff in the event that the appeal also goes ZeniMax's way. Or, as we saw in the Gawker and Hulk Hogan matter, there's a significant chance that they settle first, thus mitigating the risk for both parties and cutting down on the cost of continued litigation.

Oculus lawsuit ends with half billion dollar judgment awarded to ZeniMax [Polygon]

 

Jury awards ZeniMax $500 million in lawsuit with Oculus screenshot



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News:: Playing 'Zelda' in real life is a lot like doing grade-school homework

Anyone who grew up playing The Legend of Zelda has found themselves daydreaming about adventures on the plains of Hyrule. What would it really be like to traverse the lands of Zelda's kingdom, travel through time to solve puzzles and defeat an evil overlord with nothing but your own wit and bravery? It's an exciting fantasy, but temper your expectations. If escape-room designer SCRAP's Defenders of the Triforce experience is any indication, the reality of a real-life Zelda adventure involves a lot of paperwork.



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News:: Final Fantasy XV's VR...thing is still alive, director 'happy' with sales

Enough time has passed to reflect on Final Fantasy XV, and to facilitate that process, Famitsu recently interviewed director Hajime Tabata, who provides some thoughts on a number of different topics.

Tabata says that he's "happy" about sales in North America, Europe, and Japan, and explains that there's a "whole lot" of sales on the digital front. In terms of reaction he says the open world concept has been very positively received, but anyone who has a higher priority on story, including a lot of Japanese players, weren't as thrilled (I thought it was more about personal relationships than a core narrative myself, as the story merely served as a catalyst to see the group grow).

He also explains that nothing "particular" was cut from the story, and that he's still thinking about how to implement a replay chapter function, given the upcoming Chapter 13 overhaul. In terms of the VR front "development is progressing," but he has nothing new to report. As far as new stuff goes "it would take a year to make," but Tabata muses on letting us see those glitched areas, or even the city of Insomnia.

Finally, he talks about putting XV out on PC as a "technical attempt" (which sounds like Early Access, but will probably be something similar to a short video, like they did with Final Fantasy XIV's benchmark), and doesn't shut down the idea entirely. If it came a year or two down the line as a GOTY edition, it would probably boost sales from the wait and see crowd.

Final Fantasy XV [Hachima Kikou via Gematsu]

Final Fantasy XV's VR...thing is still alive, director 'happy' with sales screenshot



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News:: Review: Pokemon Duel

One of the big challenges of getting a competitive free-to-play game just right is making sure it never feels like someone can simply pay-to-win. As a person who isn't totally against buying a microtransaction or two, I want to make sure that it's skill, determination, and perhaps a little luck that decides the victor, not who spent the most cash.

Pokémon Duel sits right on the bubble of feeling quite unfair to anyone who doesn't care to pay up, but launch issues have kind of evened the playing field.

Review: Pokemon Duel screenshot

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News:: PlayStation Plus' lineup for February is pretty decent

For a couple of months now, Microsoft has been outdoing Sony on the front of free games for subscribers. While the February lineup for Xbox Live Gold is decent, Sony actually managed to pull out the stops and provide a better month for its users. Color me surprised, but I'm probably going to play most of these titles.

Almost all of the games included are available on PS4 via Cross-Buy, but the heavy hitters this month are LittleBigPlanet 3 and Not a Hero. Along with those titles comes STARWHAL on PS3 and PS4, Anna - Extended Edition on PS3, Ninja Senki DX on Vita and PS4, and TorqueL on Vita and PS4.

PlayStation Plus' lineup for February is pretty decent screenshot

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News:: Nintendo will charge under $30 for Switch multiplayer in Japan

When Nintendo announced that the Switch would have a more robust online multiplayer network than previous consoles, fans were split. The new console's online service promised voice chat and online multiplayer, but like Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus, it was going to cost an annual fee. Fans worried Nintendo wouldn't provide enough value to warrant the price of entry can breathe easy -- Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima says the new console's online features will cost less than a new 3DS game.

Source: Nikkei



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News:: After playing the Nintendo Switch, I'm excited for the games, not the hardware

[For impressions from Japan, check out Cory's hands-on with the Switch.]

I first played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild back at E3 2016. You don't need me (the "there are only 5 good Zelda games" guy) to tell you that Breath of the Wild looks fantastic. I was sold from the moment the world opened up, so it was only a matter of choosing which version to purchase. The Wii U demo I played got a little frame-y every so often, so I decided the then-unannounced Nintendo Switch would have to be more powerful, and thus would be endowed with the superior port.

Turns out I was only slightly correct. The Nintendo Switch version does look better and runs a little more smoothly, but that may be the extra six-odd months of work talking -- it still has its share of choppy moments. That was fine, I had long since come to terms with the Switch's comparatively weak guts and Breath of the Wild still felt like a killer survival & exploration game with the added benefit of that now-trademark Nintendo polish and wonder. But when my demo guy instructed me to pop the Switch off its dock and try out the handheld mode, I was surprised to find the game actually ran better. That sounds wrong, right? Isn't part of the Switch's hook that games will have stronger performance when the system is plugged into the dock? I know Nintendo has been cagey on that front, but unless they print that in plain text right on the box, I guarantee you people will just assume that's the case. And even then it's not a guarantee; I met someone last year who swore up and down the Xbox One didn't let you play used games.

That anecdote sums up my time with the Nintendo Switch fairly well: really exciting games tied to a system with a lot of curious and often counter-intuitive design choices, all seemingly made in service of turning a profit with each unit sold.

After playing the Nintendo Switch, I'm excited for the games, not the hardware screenshot

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News:: Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Valentine's Day costume is one of the risque-est yet

Sometimes I can't believe that Dead or Alive Xtreme is still around. It feels like forever ago that I played the original and listened to Christina Aguilera's "Come On Over" on loop, but Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 is almost a year old now and is still getting costume DLC.

One add-on that's coming for Valentine's Day can barely even be called a costume at all is on the way -- a ribbon. Yes it's literally a ribbon, and you can grab it now on PS4 or Vita if you're so inclined, for free. Once you associate it with your account you'll have to pick up any of the nine variations in-game with either the standard or premium currency.

Dead or Alive [PSN via Dualshockers]

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Valentine's Day costume is one of the risque-est yet screenshot

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News:: Review: Tales of Berseria

When I first wrote about Tales of Berseria, I held the belief that while the game wasn't particularly groundbreaking or innovative, it nonetheless provided a highly polished and consistently excellent experience. At the time, I'd only put 21 hours into the game, which means that while I was approaching its half-way mark, I wasn't quite at that point yet.

Now that I've seen the story of Tales of Berseria draw to a close, checked out some of its post-game content, and had a quick look at its predecessor -- Tales of Zestiria -- does my opinion of the game remain just as consistent as my initial impressions would have me believe? For the most part, yes.

Review: Tales of Berseria screenshot

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News:: Nintendo still working on shipping more NES Classics, but it sold 1.5 million units

The NES Classic is a decadent, but fantastic piece of hardware for collectors. If you can find one.

In its 2016 fiscal year report, Nintendo brought us up to speed with how the 'lil guy was doing, and it turns out that it sold quite well. The publisher is reporting a global sell-through of 1.5 million units, which is basically their entire allotment.

Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima also stepped in for a few words: "We apologize to our consumers and retail partners for the inconvenience caused by product shortages. Some parts require time to procure, but we are working to increase production. We also see the nostalgic interest in these products as an opportunity to draw consumers’ attention to our latest game system, Nintendo Switch."

This lines up with what Reggie from the US branch said recently. Let's see if they actually follow through, or if they ship one or two units at a time to retailers, only to be picked off by scalpers.

Corporate Management Policy Briefing [Nintendo]

Nintendo still working on shipping more NES Classics, but it sold 1.5 million units screenshot



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