Nintendo

This isn't about "generative AI".

Procedural asset generation lets developers create base 3D models, textures and defined rules to create an algorithm. This can then be used by software to automatically generate numerous assets that follow the same rules.

For example, a developer could create the 3D model and textures for a tree, then define the parameters of what a tree should look like, and the software will then generate a number of trees that all look different but follow the developer’s set guidelines.

If you know Japanese, actual interview link: https://cgworld.jp/special-feature/202505-monolithsoft.html

Quotes shared in the article:

In an interview with Japanese publication CG World, map model designer Yoichi Akizuki, support engineer Mitsuhiro Hirose and programmer Takashi Shibahara discussed the studio’s gradual inclusion of procedural generation tools in software like Houdini into its development process.

“The main reason for the introduction [of procedural asset generation] was to cope with the increasing volume of assets required for games,” he said (via machine translation). “This has had a particularly significant impact on our game titles, which feature the exploration of vast and diverse fields.”

“In the past we managed to produce 1,000 to 2,000 assets manually, but now that number has increased to 100,000, which is impossible to keep up with manually.

“The conventional method had limitations in terms of cost and schedule. So we replaced the placement process with a procedural one and automated it, allowing us to focus our development resources on the actual game creation. We had been conducting basic research on Houdini for some time, but it was with Xenoblade Chronicles 3 that we were able to put it into practice for the first time as part of our asset placement system.”

When asked specifically what parts of development were made easier by procedural tech, Akizuki said it helped not only with the creation of assets, but also the collision detection.

“We have been able to significantly reduce the amount of work involved in placing detailed assets,” he said. “It is also being utilised in the basic collision processing that is unique to games. Collision is the ‘final key’ in game adjustment, so manual final adjustments are essential. So we automated 70% of the process using procedural techniques and adjusted the remaining 30% manually, which led to a significant reduction in man-hours.”

He added: “The more we reduce these man-hours, the more resources we can allocate to gameplay and visuals, which ultimately contributes to Houdini’s ability to enhance the value of the game.”

Shibahara also pointed out that Houdini software in particular lets technical artists and designers make tweaks to the world without necessarily having to get a programmer involved.

“With conventional automatic generation tool development, it was common for programmers and designers to be tied up for long periods of time,” he explained. “But now, with Houdini’s procedural foundation, the technical artists and designers can make adjustments directly. This frees up programmers to work on improving the environment, which is a win-win situation.”

Hirose then explained that Monolith’s R&D team was looking into more ways to use automatic generation, including the ability to create cityscapes.

“Designers only need to place grey boxes, and pressing a button automatically generates buildings,” he said. “Houses are constructed by arranging modules, and the system automatically calculates the appropriate number of floors based on the height of each module and the height of the boxes, then arranges them accordingly. Roofs are also assembled using modules, and the data is output in a format optimised for games.”

Four additional titles are coming to the Game Boy – Nintendo Classics library!

• SURVIVAL KIDS
• GRADIUS THE INTERSTELLAR ASSAULT
• Kirby's Star Stacker
• The Sword of Hope  

Not the Nintendo I grew up with, with the Wii and Wii U.

A phone number to use vice chat on switch what is this Twitter 2.0?

sources: https://www.theshortcut.com/p/nintendo-switch-2-gamechat-only-works-if-you-register-your-mobile-number

https://www.indy100.com/gaming/nintendo-switch-2-gamechat-requirements-phone-number

Releasing September 5

By the creator of Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka

Game already released.

Releasing June 5

Releasing July 17

It's a 4 part interview. Some interesting tidbits about development:

• They started prototyping in March 2017, and development at the end of that year.
• The game was originally planned for Switch 1, but they couldn't do everything they want on it.
• When Booster Pack released, it gave them some extra time, and that's when moving it to Switch 2 possibilities opened up.

There's also lot more info about development and how the chose the characters to add or designed the courses etc.

Go behind the scenes with Koei Tecmo Games as they dive into Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Discover what’s in store when this action-packed adventure arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.​

Missile Command Delta is launching on July 8th! You and your friends are trapped in a mysterious bunker and you must find your way out. Solve terminals, explore the twisting environments, and uncover the real story.

A lot of people who have repaired a Switch or the Joy Cons have likely had a similar experience to me when opening the main rear tri wing screws - they slip, cam out, or the heads get destroyed with not much force, even with a good screwdriver. Many of the replacement screws you can find online also have similar problems. Therefore, I have tried out some generic stainless steel machine screws (Torx T4 M1.4x6mm to be precise) and they work far better than the originals as they simply go in with no fuss. As a plus, I could get them without the black coating, which means I can have a nice contrast of silver screws on the black back. Torx headed screws I would especially recommend due to fitting better onto the screwdriver and allowing more force without cam out.

I would highly recommend anyone who needs to open their Switch or Joy Cons for any reason to change out the screws while you are doing the work, as it will save you a ton of time and effort trying to extract broken tri wings in case you need to open it again and the screws cause problems.

I do hope Nintendo use better quality screws on Switch 2, as this is a problem that has likely caused no end of problems for repair technicians. I have repaired a Wii before and its screws were of a far higher quality.

Looks like "Paper Spiritfarer".

Haven't seen the reviews yet but going to add it to my list.

Releasing June 17

It would be helpful in my opinion

Playing Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Not much new here, doing some side content while waiting for FrontNav minerals to give me what I need. Did some side quests, also finally found the dog, so was able to do tons of heart-to-heart.

Finally got the required mineral last night and went to start Chapter 7, when I realised I haven't surveyed Oblivia enough! facepalm I remember checking it before and was sure I meet the required number, so I either it read the requriement wrong or my survey percentage wrong.

Anyways, with Skell, it shouldn't take too long to do it. Also, got all my characters to level 30, so can buy Skells for them. Haven't done that yet though, will do it soon.

The Surge time was pretty productive, completed the third area, and got some good upgrades, then went back to second area (that's how the game flows), and now am stuck at the boss.

I am bit confused about this boss. It has two phases, I have gotten down first one now, can do it without losing much health, or sometimes, any health. The second phase has 4 robo-arms on the side walls, which keep attacking you when you are attacking the mail pillar / boss. You can destroy those 4 arms, but if kill the boss without destroying the arms, you get a very good weapon.

So, that's where I am stuck, I want to kill the boss without destroying those arms, to get that weapons, but I am not sure if I am good enough to keep track of 5 different things and attack the boss while dodging them. Going to try a few more times, if it didn't work out, will just destroy the arms.

Also got Street Fighter 6

I am more of a casual fighting game player, but still enjoy them every now and then, with a soft spot for Street Fighter and Soulcalibur games. So, just got it to play few rounds every now and then. Thinking about seeing if I can get anywhere in ranked, but not too concerned about it.

Ilandar mentioned PlanetSide 2 last week, and after looking it up, I wanted to give it a try. Plan to check it out over the weekend. I am not much of a MMO fan, so not sure how much I will actually play, but want to take a look.

What about all of you? What have you been playing and/or plan to play?

List below.

Depending on the game it's resolution/framerate improvements, HDR support, mouse controls or gameshare/gamechat support.

• ARMS
• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
• Game Builder Garage
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Pokémon Scarlet
• Pokémon Violet
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
• Super Mario Odyssey
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

I've been doing some experimentation lately with my Switch, and have replaced the thermal paste on all layers (under the copper heat spreader, under the heat sink, and on top of the heat pipe). I used a combination of Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet (for heat spreader and heat sink) and K5 Pro (for heat pipe) if anyone is curious. I am running a Switch with the original SOC (higher heat and power) that I bought in about late 2018.

I wasn't expecting much if anything, but in games they seem to have had a bit of a performance improvement, especially in docked mode. The two games I especially noticed were Fire Emblem Three Houses and Pokemon Violet. In Three Houses, the loading sections in explore mode (so fully in game, with everything still showing on screen) took far less time than I remember (1-3 seconds compared to 5-10) along with a higher frame rate during the loading, and in Violet the frame rate seems a decent bit more stable. Unfortunately, since my Switch is not modded, I do not have any hard performance numbers to back up these perceived improvements. I have heard that the Switch will prioritise CPU clocks over GPU when loading due to thermal restrictions, but I cannot find anything about it being able to boost both if it has the thermal headroom. The outside of the Switch is definitely exhausting more heat, which could suggest more heat is being taken away from the SOC and consequently cooling it down.

Does anyone have any experience with doing this, and have you gotten a similar result? I am curious to find out if this is just placebo, or if this is genuinely a way to increase performance even just by a little bit.