Nintendo just politely gave the bird to generative AI and I'm glad they did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgNdowDj_VE&ab_channel=GameXplain

Generative AI basically steals from real artists by taking images found online and using them to make new ones. Instagram started going all in on that bullshit which is why I took my art down from Instagram and so did other artists I know. It's a breath of fresh air that Nintendo is standing against soulless AI "art".

Once again, the came around was really foreseeable when we got near the lastest Direct. Otherwise, not having any kind of talks for a successor until a later would've made less sense. 

The good about the lastest software showcase is that it also renewed my envy to play games on my Switch because they are obviously still focused on what's current and the near future for it.

Sure, they're also clearly focused on the sucessor and it's line-up but it's nice to know they don't have to handicap the current console to continue a smooth production process on their software. There's a clear difference between juggling 3/4 different systems at any given time against 1 or 2 at most.

Finished LM2 this weekend. Quite good. The first is still my favorite. I prefer the open mansion design, though the mission structure was better than I expected.

The open mansion design is why I preferred the third game.

I still find it amusing that Nintendo is pulling a Naughty Dog when it comes to the last 2 Donkey Kong Country games

Elaboration:
The Last of Us Part I (2013)
The Last of Us Part I Remastered (2014)
The Last of Us Part II (2020)
The Last of Us Part I Remake (2022)
The Last of Us Part II Remastered (2024)

Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010)
Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (2013)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Switch port (2018)
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025)



Like, does Nintendo really have no other ideas on what to do with Donkey Kong or something???? I'm really hoping that they have a brand new DK game getting lined up for both the launch of the Switch 2 and the launch of the Donkey Kong expansion at Super Nintendo World.

3 is the best overall with the best gameplay and a lot of single-player content plus it has a multiplayer mode and co-op.

1 still has the best vibes with the portrait ghosts (though there are similar ghosts in 3) and the darkest (dim, that is) mansion. 

LM3 is a superb coop game.  The entire series is wonderful.  LM4 on the switch 2 should look stunning from a lighting perspective.

^This, except DKC Returns and Tropical Freeze were better than NaughtyDog's needlessly depressing interactive movies.

But will we have King Boo as the villain yet again? Or will there be a crazy twist where he's usurped by an even scarier villain so he teams up with Luigi to get payback? The latter could lead to fun new gameplay mechanics. :) 

We got numbers for the release of Paper Mario TTYD in May over the US.

It performed around the same as Princess Peach Showtime(physical only). 

This isn't too surprising considering it wasn't gonna match Mario RPG which released in November during the Holidays push.

So yeah, it's probably posting around 1.5M-2M worldwide on its first fiscal quarter I believe 

I was hoping for a "Hail Mary" first week to hit around 2 million and already surpass the original. I know that was a tall order. Still, outselling the original in about a month to month and a half would be an amazing feat regardless.