Late Wednesday Update with Layton Twitter, 80 new Pokémon, Soldam on Switch, Monster Hunter XX × Grandpa Danger, Switch survey and more!

Enough news today to warrant a second update. Remember to check out my Medium page (https://medium.com/@japanese3ds) where I’ll be posting the daily updates from now on.

● Professor Layton is back in the news as he now has an official Twitter page (https://twitter.com/lonelylayton)!

● Pokémon GO will add more than 80 Pocket Monsters from Silver & Gold later this week with an update that also includes new evolutions, berries and wardrobe!

● Soldam: Mu Kaika Sengen is the name of the new game from City Connection revealed in this morning’s update. It’s a sequel to an arcade (and Game Boy!) game releasing on the Switch eShop at launch for ¥1,500.

● Monster Hunter XX × Grandpa Danger will see a collaboration event coming to Monster Hunter XX. Both Monster Hunter XX (demo) and Grandpa Danger (digital manga) saw releases on the 3DS eShop earlier today.

● Fire Emblem Heroes finally added Ephraim, Eirika, Seliph and Julia to the game plus a Family Bonds Paralogue Map with three battles under the Story Maps until 27 February.

● Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 3 Professional sold 115,673 at retail in its first week (about 1/3 of the original). The next best selling games this week were Pokémon Sun Moon, Super Mario Maker, Yokai Watch 3: Sukiyaki and Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World.

● Weekly Famitsu posted a Nintendo Switch developer survey today translated by Source Gaming (http://sourcegaming.info) with 24 game companies asked. I’ll post the excerpts SG posted below…

Are you developing any games for the Switch?

54% – Yes, we are developing for the Switch
25% – We are considering it
17% – We are not developing any games
4% – No response

Will you release a game on Switch at some point?

46% – Yes
46% – Under consideration
4% – Said they don’t think so right now
4% – No response

What are your thoughts on the Switch?

Surveyed opinions: The fact that they have a gimmicky controller instead of a standard one is very Nintendo-like | Being able to play home console level games on the go is like a dream machine | It’s next generation hardware that marries the portable and the home console, but whether that will translate to users is the biggest concern | There are unique functionalities like the HD Rumble and the IR camera, but I feel like the appeal of those functionalities isn’t being conveyed well to the consumer.

Do you think gamers are looking forward to the Switch?

50% – Yes
38% – I can’t say either way
8% – No
4% – No answer

How do you feel about the price?

67% – Just right
25% – It’s cheap
4% – It’s expensive
4% – No response

What are your thoughts on the paid online service?

41% – No problem with paid online
38% – Free would have been better
17% – Can’t say either way
4% – No response

What features or modes are you particularly interested in?


14 Votes – 3 modes of play
10 Votes – HD Rumble
9 Votes – Joy-Con
8 Votes – Being able to play local multiplayer with the Joy-Con
5 Votes – Motion IR Camera
4 Votes – The online service (including the mobile app)
2 Votes – Local Switch multiplayer
1 Vote – Screenshot function
1 Vote – No Response

What genres do you think are suited to the Switch?

18 Votes – RPG
18 Votes – Action
14 Votes – Simulation
14 Votes – Puzzle
14 Votes – Racing
11 Votes – Adventure
11 Votes – Quiz
10 Votes – Simulator
10 Votes – FPS/TPS
7 Votes – Shooting
1 Vote – No response

What does the Switch need more of?


34% – A full lineup
34% – A system seller
8% – Promotion
20% – Other
4% – No response

Please support Japanese Nintendo