Latest news with #Switch2
Metro
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Zelda: The Wind Waker is still an amazing game that can inspire future sequels
A reader enjoys The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker on Switch 2 and suggest its ocean odyssey could be template for a post-Tears Of The Kingdom game. I'm sure I'm not the only mid-30s nostalgia hunter who bought a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch purely to replay The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Whether this says more about the dearth of launch titles or about how important The Wind Waker is to my generation of Zelda fans is hard to tell. But now that I'm more than halfway through the game, I'm reminded of what sets this game apart from all the other Zelda games: the sea. I can still remember the controversy over this change in setting: no land means no horse and no horse means it's not a Zelda game. Never mind that it was only the two previous games that featured a horse. Link was a land-based hero, plain and simple. Once people played The Wind Waker the debate was quickly settled. The world seemed huge for the time, but to say the larger, more open world feel to the game is what makes the game immersive I think misses the point. This game doesn't just trade land for water, the sea is what gives the game its narrative depth. After all, what separates a medieval grail quest – the archetypal structure Zelda is built around – from an odyssey? Possibly nothing more than being on the water, that huge undulating canvas that The Wind Waker captures so beautifully. On land, we expect things to come down the road, but on the sea every meeting feels like a surprise – there are, after all, no roads, just silhouettes of distant land masses and whoever you spot rolling over the waves. Of course, there's nothing random about Zelda games – fate and repetition are pervasive themes – but more than any other Zelda the narrative plays on the idea of chance meetings, starting with a case of mistaken identity when Link's little sister gets swooped up by a giant bird. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. It then runs with this idea, with odd outposts (Tingle's Tower) populated by strange and humorous characters. But more than anything, it's the feeling that you've only run into these characters by chance that amplifies the joy of the encounters. The map also benefits from not having a spiritual centre for the first half of the game. In the latest Zelda titles, Hyrule Castle is perpetually shrouded in evil, and you can see it from almost anywhere on the map. This orients the entire game in one direction, towards one objective. In Wind Waker the ultimate objective isn't given to you, nor can you see it on the map. Then the game changes: the Tower of the Gods rises up and you descend down to flooded Hyrule – without a doubt a sequence that is a high point in the series. The world all of a sudden feels less random. When you see a statue of another Link in the sunken castle, chance becomes fate. It's this moment of realisation that many entries in the series miss out on, by spelling out that Link is the hero early on, and it's a realisation that is only possible because the creators built the story around the sea. More Trending When discussing the possibilities of where the series could go after 2023's gargantuan Tears Of The Kingdom, there's a running joke in the Zelda community that space seems as likely a setting as any other. As one who skews towards enjoying the traditional aspects of the series, I used to balk at this idea, but now that I'm replaying The Wind Waker, I'm not so sure. What is space after all, but a very large ocean? By reader Robert Yurchesyn 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: I wish Bethesda didn't make Fallout and The Elder Scrolls - Reader's Feature MORE: I've given up on getting a PS5 and I've already got real concerns about PS6 – Reader's Feature MORE: Competition does not drive innovation in video games, talent does – Reader's Feature
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Switch 2 user warns about accidental ban after playing preowned game cards
You might have to be extra careful who you buy your used Nintendo Switch game cards from if you don't want to get mistakenly banned. A Nintendo Switch 2 owner posted on Reddit that they got banned after downloading patches for a few Switch game cards that were bought off Facebook Marketplace. Reddit user dmanthey said they inserted each game into their Switch 2 to patch, but found out that their online services were restricted the day after. The Switch 2 user contacted Nintendo support and discovered they were banned, but provided proof of purchase and was unbanned shortly after. The Redditor said the "whole process was painless and fluid," but this reactionary banning protocol may be an alarming precedent for anyone looking to save a few dollars by buying used games. To understand why this happened, it's important to note that Nintendo attaches unique codes to its Switch game cartridges to prevent piracy. However, bad actors can copy games onto a third-party device, like the MIG Flash, and then resell the physical game card. Once Nintendo detects two instances of its unique code being online at the same time, it will ban any accounts using it. Anyone pirating Nintendo's software understands this is a potential consequence, but it would come as an annoying surprise to oblivious second-hand buyers. After proving they bought the Switch games, Redditor dmanthey said they were told the cartridges were fine and even able to be resold. This anti-piracy policy isn't new — Nintendo has long had a reputation for fiercely combating any type of piracy – but it has become relevant again thanks to the recently released Switch 2, which offers backwards compatibility with original Switch titles. The company even recently amended its user agreement to allow itself the power to brick a Nintendo Switch that's caught running pirated games or mods.
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Economic Times
Switch 2 user temporarily banned after using preowned game cartridges
A Nintendo Switch 2 user reported a temporary ban after using preowned Switch 1 game cards bought from Facebook Marketplace. Nintendo's anti-piracy measures flagged the cartridges, but the user was later unbanned after showing proof of purchase. The incident highlights potential risks tied to second-hand Nintendo Switch game purchases Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Nintendo Switch 2 owner has reported being banned after inserting preowned Nintendo Switch game cartridges into their console. According to a Reddit post by user dmanthey, the game cards were purchased through Facebook Marketplace and triggered a restriction on online services shortly after installation and patch user stated they had inserted several game cards one by one to download necessary patches. The following day, they noticed that their access to online services had been suspended. Upon contacting Nintendo support, they were informed that their console had been banned due to a violation of usage policies. After providing receipts and proof of purchase for the used cartridges, Nintendo lifted the read: Super Mario Strikers brings football action to Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Classics Library on Nintendo Sw 'The whole process was painless and fluid,' the Redditor reported. Although the issue was resolved, the incident underscores the risks associated with second-hand Nintendo Switch game cards, particularly for new Switch 2 assigns a unique identifier code to every Nintendo Switch game cartridge as a piracy countermeasure. When a cartridge is inserted into a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 console, its identifier is verified against Nintendo's servers. If the same identifier is detected on multiple devices simultaneously, the company may impose a ban on the affected consoles or scenario can occur when bad actors use a third-party cloning device, such as the MIG Flash, to duplicate a game's data and distribute it illicitly. In such cases, the cloned cartridge and the original both circulate, but Nintendo's system will flag the duplicate usage. In dmanthey's case, the preowned game cards may have previously been involved in such activity, despite appearing the user presented proof of a good-faith purchase, Nintendo support confirmed that the cartridges were authentic and could still be resold. This policy raises concerns for consumers who buy Nintendo Switch games through unofficial or second-hand marketplaces, where prior use history may not be read: Nintendo Switch 2 launch draws eager fans Nintendo has long maintained strict anti-piracy protocols. These measures have become increasingly relevant with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, which features backwards compatibility with first-generation Switch titles. The company has also recently updated its user agreement, granting itself the authority to disable or "brick" consoles caught running pirated or modified content.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Switch 2 user temporarily banned after using preowned game cartridges
Switch 2 ban linked to used Nintendo game cards A Nintendo Switch 2 owner has reported being banned after inserting preowned Nintendo Switch game cartridges into their console. According to a Reddit post by user dmanthey, the game cards were purchased through Facebook Marketplace and triggered a restriction on online services shortly after installation and patch downloads. The user stated they had inserted several game cards one by one to download necessary patches. The following day, they noticed that their access to online services had been suspended. Upon contacting Nintendo support, they were informed that their console had been banned due to a violation of usage policies. After providing receipts and proof of purchase for the used cartridges, Nintendo lifted the ban. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Also read: Super Mario Strikers brings football action to Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Classics Library on Nintendo Sw 'The whole process was painless and fluid,' the Redditor reported. Although the issue was resolved, the incident underscores the risks associated with second-hand Nintendo Switch game cards, particularly for new Switch 2 users. Live Events Nintendo's anti-piracy system flags duplicate cartridge codes Nintendo assigns a unique identifier code to every Nintendo Switch game cartridge as a piracy countermeasure. When a cartridge is inserted into a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 console, its identifier is verified against Nintendo's servers. If the same identifier is detected on multiple devices simultaneously, the company may impose a ban on the affected consoles or accounts. This scenario can occur when bad actors use a third-party cloning device, such as the MIG Flash, to duplicate a game's data and distribute it illicitly. In such cases, the cloned cartridge and the original both circulate, but Nintendo's system will flag the duplicate usage. In dmanthey's case, the preowned game cards may have previously been involved in such activity, despite appearing legitimate. After the user presented proof of a good-faith purchase, Nintendo support confirmed that the cartridges were authentic and could still be resold. This policy raises concerns for consumers who buy Nintendo Switch games through unofficial or second-hand marketplaces, where prior use history may not be verifiable. Also read: Nintendo Switch 2 launch draws eager fans Nintendo has long maintained strict anti-piracy protocols. These measures have become increasingly relevant with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, which features backwards compatibility with first-generation Switch titles. The company has also recently updated its user agreement, granting itself the authority to disable or "brick" consoles caught running pirated or modified content.
Engadget
11 hours ago
- Engadget
Switch 2 user warns about accidental ban after playing preowned game cards
You might have to be extra careful who you buy your used Nintendo Switch game cards from if you don't want to get mistakenly banned. A Nintendo Switch 2 owner posted on Reddit that they got banned after downloading patches for a few Switch game cards that were bought off Facebook Marketplace. Reddit user dmanthey said they inserted each game into their Switch 2 to patch, but found out that their online services were restricted the day after. The Switch 2 user contacted Nintendo support and discovered they were banned, but provided proof of purchase and was unbanned shortly after. The Redditor said the "whole process was painless and fluid," but this reactionary banning protocol may be an alarming precedent for anyone looking to save a few dollars by buying used games. To understand why this happened, it's important to note that Nintendo attaches unique codes to its Switch game cartridges to prevent piracy. However, bad actors can copy games onto a third-party device, like the MIG Flash, and then resell the physical game card. Once Nintendo detects two instances of its unique code being online at the same time, it will ban any accounts using it. Anyone pirating Nintendo's software understands this is a potential consequence, but it would come as an annoying surprise to oblivious second-hand buyers. After proving they bought the Switch games, Redditor dmanthey said they were told the cartridges were fine and even able to be resold. This anti-piracy policy isn't new — Nintendo has long had a reputation for fiercely combating any type of piracy – but it has become relevant again thanks to the recently released Switch 2, which offers backwards compatibility with original Switch titles. The company even recently amended its user agreement to allow itself the power to brick a Nintendo Switch that's caught running pirated games or mods.
