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Metro
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
6 GameCube games that need to come to Nintendo Switch 2 - Reader's Feature
A reader names the GameCube games he'd like to see come to the Nintendo Switch 2's online service, from Eternal Darkness to Super Smash Bros. Melee. The long-awaited announcement of GameCube games being added to the Nintendo Classics library, as part of their Nintendo Switch Online service, has been cause for rejoicing amongst fans. To finally play the console's iconic classics, as well as a few rare gems, on a modern system in HD is extremely exciting. But there are still some must-see titles missing from the currently confirmed line-up that I hope will be added in the near future. One of the most obvious omissions so far is the GameCube's own entry in the Mario Kart series. Double Dash is still one of the most unique Mario Karts to date, with its two drivers to a kart concept, character-specific power-ups, and some of the best tracks in the whole franchise. These features still make a great case for revisiting Double Dash all these years later, and with it supporting up to 16-players, additional online play would make for a chaotic experience! Kirby's often forgotten kart racer on the GameCube made for a great alternative to the Mario Kart formula. Utilising Kirby's mechanics in its racing, players inhale enemies around the track and use their gained abilities in lieu of power-ups, plus there was as an open-ended challenge mode. The game went under the radar and has become a rather rare title, but with the newly announced sequel for Switch 2 – called Kirby Air Riders – it would be great to experience the GameCube original alongside it. One of the most ambitious and unique horror games of its time, Eternal Darkness became an icon of the genre and one of the GameCube's most interesting exclusives. Telling a sprawling story across history, with three branching paths and touting its renowned *sanity effects* mechanic that range from subtle details to breaking the fourth wall, delivering at the time an incredibly effective and memorable psychological horror experience. It's sadly never been seen again outside of its sole GameCube release but now is a perfect opportunity for many to experience this terrifying masterpiece again. Arguably the superior version, when compared to the Wii port, Twilight Princess delivered the more cinematic and realistic Zelda experience fans had been clamouring for. Some incredibly memorable characters, a fantastic atmosphere, and some of the best dungeons in the entire series make it a standout and one that many would be glad to see return. If we'll never see the fantastic Wii U remasters come to Switch, then having them join the classic line-up alongside The Wind Waker would certainly be welcome. It was almost baffling to see Melee excluded from the launch line-up, considering its immense popularity, being arguably the best entry in the series. Melee has remained a fan favourite and mainstay within the competitive scene for good reason; its fast-paced nature combined with some of the most precise, responsive, slick, and varied controls and mechanics in any fighting game has allowed it to really stand the test of time. It seems like a no-brainer to eventually bring it to the Switch; combine that with the potential for online multiplayer, and you're onto a winner. This is a very personal pick and not even a GameCube exclusive, but I know for definite I won't be alone in this one. The Simpsons take on the GTA formula is as cult classic as it gets; not breaking any new ground but simply being an incredibly fun, nostalgic, and hilarious experience. More Trending Elevated by that Simpsons charm, exploring the show's world with the original cast and too many references to count. Demand for a remaster or simply any modern port has been immense; even a spot in the Classics line-up would be triumphantly hailed by many. By reader George Buckland The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Ghost Of Yōtei this week is where PlayStation officially gave up - Reader's Feature MORE: Nintendo Switch 2: the best and the worst of the new console – Reader's Feature MORE: Getting married won't stop me playing video games - Reader's Feature
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nintendo wasn't sure about Mario Kart: Double Dash's central 2-driver gimmick, so the devs made a single-driver version simultaneously as an "emergency escape hatch"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mario Kart pretty quickly became one of Nintendo's flagship franchises, to the point where Mario Kart World is now both the biggest launch title for Switch 2 and the subject of the publisher's first experiment with $80 games. The devs were feeling the pressure of that position as far back as 2003 with Mario Kart: Double Dash, and they were frightened enough of rocking the boat that they were developing two different versions of the game simultaneously. In an interview with the Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, which was published ahead of Double Dash's release and recently translated by Shmuplations, producer Shinya Takahashi said that it was a "monumental challenge" to build an innovative take on the series "while not destroying what makes Mario Kart unique." "Yeah, Mario Kart has turned into a flagship title for Nintendo, and each console has to have its own Mario Kart game," fellow producer Tadashi Sugiyama agreed. "'Well, of course it's going to sell big, it's Mario Kart!' - that pressure is huge." The innovation for Double Dash was, of course, the two-driver concept, where each kart is controlled by two different drivers who you can swap between during the race. That opens up a co-op mode where two players can work together, with one controlling driving and the other using items, swapping positions whenever you like. "You've got all these expectations, and you've got to add something new," Sugiyama continued. "The 'two drivers' concept, therefore, was something we came to at the end of a veryyy long process of brainstorming. We were a little worried about it though, so at first we were developing a single-driver version too, in parallel with the two-driver development." Takahashi joked that it was "our emergency escape hatch," but ultimately, the team settled on the two-driver concept, and the final year of development was entirely devoted to the two-driver version. Sugiyama said the "majority of our staff" just "really wanted to do something new." Double Dash will forever be one of the best GameCube games.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Instacart and DoorDash go head-to-head on ad tech
You can find original article here Supermarketnews. Subscribe to our free daily Supermarketnews newsletter. Competition in the grocery delivery industry remains hot, as rivals Instacart and DoorDash continue their race to build business partnerships with grocers and capture ad dollars. The two San Francisco-based food delivery tech companies made separate announcements on Tuesday, touting their advertising prowess and growing reach in the omnichannel grocery sector. Instacart continued its growing presence in brick-and-mortar stores, announcing that its 7,000-plus brand partners can now advertise on the digital screens of its AI-powered Caper Carts. The last-mile delivery service also announced Tuesday that it is partnering with Hy-Vee on its Carrot Ads function, which enables grocers to offer ads on their own ecommerce mobile and websites. The Caper Cart update means shoppable display campaigns will appear on both the Instacart Marketplace online and on the smart carts' digital screens at brick-and-mortar locations. The carts interact with shoppers as they make their way through the aisles, deploying digital ads as they approach the relevant products within the store. 'For example, Diana's Bananas can launch an Easter campaign through Instacart Ads Manager, showcasing its various flavors both online and in-store. Customers browsing the Instacart Marketplace can see the ad online, while in-store customers can see it on the digital screen of the Caper Cart. On the Caper Cart, customers can see the ad in the frozen aisle, add the item to their basket, and check out directly from the cart,' Instacart explained in the press release. Instacart's VP of Ads Product Ali Miller said the new tech, described as a 'one-stop advertising platform,' enables brands to create and deploy a single campaign across the Instacart Ads ecosystem. "Brands face the complexity of navigating hundreds of retail media networks, and we want to make that easier,' Miller said. The omnichannel campaigns aim to reach shoppers at every touchpoint, according to Instacart. Instacart has grown the presence of its Caper Carts across the U.S. grocery marketplace over the last few years, and the carts are now at grocery retail locations in more than 60 cities, such as Aldi, Kroger, Schnucks, and Wakefern. Meanwhile, Instacart continued the growth of its retail partnerships, announcing on Tuesday that West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee, along with its 300-plus grocery stores, will begin using Instacart's Carrot Ads. This gives Hy-Vee access to Instacart's consumer packaged goods (CPG) advertising platform, enabling advertisers to extend their campaigns on Instacart to Hy-Vee's ecommerce platform. Instacart noted that more than 220 retail banners now drive their retail media business via Carrot Ads. DoorDash also announced on Tuesday that it has further diversified its grocery retail ad capabilities through its DoubleDash service. DoubleDash encourages user to add items to their original order from multiple stores with no additional fee or order minimum. Its new ad format, Banner, offers a new touchpoint for advertisers to reach customers after they've checked out by encouraging additional add-on purchases, the company said. 'The categories currently available for Banner on DoubleDash are highly adjacent to restaurant orders, such as Drinks, Alcohol, Sweets, Snacks, and Pantry, with more coming later this year,' the delivery tech company said. Instacart noted that brands like Ben & Jerry's, Red Bull, Pepsi, and Mondelēz have seen sales lifts for their brands through its Sponsored Products function on DoubleDash. 'With an opportunity to complement their experience with more selection—from coffee to a late night snack, or even allergy medicine—DoubleDash is the most affordable and convenient way for consumers to order from multiple stores in one DoorDash order,' said Toby Espinosa, VP of Ads at DoorDash, in a statement. DoorDash also issued a press release on Tuesday touting its growth in grocery and retail delivery. The delivery service said its Valentine's Day wine sales grew by 95% year over year, and in 2024, one out of every four DoorDash users placed a non-restaurant order from a grocery, retail, alcohol, or convenience store. Sign in to access your portfolio
