Latest news with #GiantRobots
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Front Mission 3: Remake' Finally Comes To Switch This Summer
'Front Mission 3: Remake' is out this June on Switch. Followed by the already excellent remakes for Front Mission 1 and 2, the third game in the series will be getting the same treatment on Switch this June. Front Mission 3 is the last of the original PlayStation games. I had hoped we'd see a remake of Front Mission Alternative, but it's still great that the mainline releases have been remade in the first place. Personally, I've really enjoyed the remakes of the first two Front Mission games on Switch. They are very faithful to the original games, despite the graphic overhaul, and can be quite a challenge. The first two remakes have also received a lot of patches over the years, so the games are being supported in the backend, which is always reassuring. As for this game, many regard Front Mission 3 as one of the best games in the series. I somewhat agree with that, but preferred some of the later PlayStation 2 instalments. Whether we will get a remake of Front Mission 4 remains to be seen, but it would be interesting to see how it would be updated for modern hardware. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder In any case, Front Mission 3: Remake will be released for the Switch on June 26. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
03-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Recent Price Increases For Games Are Likely Coming From Publishers
What with the recent Switch 2 reveal and the subsequent increase in game prices, we've now seen something similar from Microsoft for the Xbox. While this may initially appear to be the fault of Microsoft or Nintendo, it's far more likely that this is coming from publishers to make up for their recent losses. In that, the massive and ongoing layoffs across gaming, with Electronic Arts announcing another 300 layoffs, of which a chunk were from a new Titanfall game, show that publishers are still in a very difficult position financially. This is because around a decade ago, publishers sought external funding for massive AAA games. With many of those games finally released and having spectacularly failed in terms of sales, publishers now have to pay that money back. That's what is driving this ceaseless need for layoffs; publishers need the money to pay back their investors. So when game prices take a noticeable hike, it's clear that publishers are behind this. For instance, the main reason Microsoft gave was that the increased prices are needed to pay for the 'rising costs of game development'. With most developers running on a skeleton crew following all these layoffs, it's clear these 'costs' are likely money needed to pay off disgruntled investors who were duped by publishers who promised a AAA pot of gold at the end of a gaming rainbow. Now, part of this increase has been attributed to gaming not keeping pace with inflation. However, I am sceptical that this is the root cause of what we are seeing. Yes, game prices have fallen behind inflation, but this isn't a new thing, and having it rectified alongside industry-wide layoffs is dubious at best. The point here is that getting angry at Nintendo and Microsoft is not going to help, simply because they aren't the ones who need this price increase in the first place. Platform holders take a 30% cut, on average, on every game sold on their system, so these price increases wouldn't help them as much as they would each of the respective publishers, who are now deeply in the red. In short, if you want to be constructive in your feedback to the industry, complain to publishers over these game price increases, as that is where this is coming from. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Future Boy Conan' Is Getting A Streaming Release On RetroCrush
'Future Boy Conan' is coming to RetroCrush. The classic anime Future Boy Conan will be coming to the anime streaming service RetroCrush later this month. Specifically, Future Boy Conan will be released on RetroCrush on April 18 for paid viewers. There will also be a free version supported with adverts available to watch April 20, 22 and 27. Future Boy Conan is arguably one of Hayao Miyazaki's finest works. Very loosely based on the novel The Incredible Tide by Alexander Key, Future Boy Conan deals with the titular boy Conan in a future world ravaged by the aftermath of a global war. However, there are people who survived the war who want access to the powers that caused it, and it's here where Conan and his new friend Lana come in and may be the only ones able to stop a second armageddon. The anime is also one of those series that is widely influential and cited by all manner of directors and writers. From the likes of Yoshiyuki Tomino, who also worked on Future Boy Conan, to make his own attempt with Xabungle. To directors like Shinji Aramaki. Even in recent manga and anime such as Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, Future Boy Conan is prominently featured. So, having such a classic series that is widely available via streaming is most certainly welcome. The series is also available on Blu-ray from GKIDS for $40.98, and you can read my review of that here. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Forbes
05-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Price Hikes For Games On Switch 2 Are Likely From Publishers
Since the reveal of the Switch 2, many have commented on the price hike for games on the system. The reality is that this is likely coming from publishers. While some have obviously pointed to inflation and shown that older Nintendo system game prices were equivalent to this price hike, the reality is that the cost of these games relative to the first Switch has increased substantially. However, the finger-pointing at Nintendo for driving this increase is not really accurate. Especially as what drives much of a platform holder's pricing comes from third-party publishers. The success of any gaming platform ultimately stems from its support from third-party publishers. Many of these publishers, especially the larger ones, subsequently have a big say in pricing policy on said platforms. As the Switch 2 is the first of the next wave of consoles, Nintendo has been tasked with starting the price increase according to what their third-party partners likely want. The reason why publishers are doing this is very simple: the last decade has resulted in catastrophic losses for most publishers worldwide. The constant layoffs have been the biggest and clearest symptom of this situation. However, these publishers need to start making their money back quickly, so a price hike on a new platform will, in theory, give them that cash injection they so desperately need right now. The fact that Nintendo is taking this full-on is also another trait of publishers often hiding their decision-making from public view, such as having Nintendo announce the price hike. Still, I sense Nintendo's hands are tied on this one. Unfortunately, as is often the case, gamers are being hit hard by the results of publisher management's poor decision-making. The sad thing, apart from the game price increases, is that they don't help the existential threat of the institutional knowledge being lost from all these developer layoffs. While it may stabilize the finances for publishers, the beating heart of gaming still needs to be resuscitated. Simply because without a wide array of financially healthy game developers, the future of gaming as a medium and as an industry looks very bleak. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
