darkSpyro

Quote: defpally

Ahem, Skylanders Trap Team is third party licensed shlock ... none of the portable Skylanders games can be even mentioned in the same breath as the $50 3DS titles, or even most of the $40 ones which is usually the first party stuff.

I'm not sure you understand how "Licensed" works. Activision owns the Skylanders Franchise and Activision publishes the Skylanders Franchise. They don't need to license it out (which is what they would do for, say, Skylanders Monopoly when they license the brand to Hasbro). It's an original franchise, owned and published by Activision. They may contract titles out to various second-party (and, previously, third-party) developers, but that's not a license.

Quote:

That's a good thing, the game needs to stand on its own merits and not dangle a "exclusive" figure just to move units.

Funny, the console versions dangle exclusive figures in their packs...

Quote:

The characters are really not balanced, some have abilities that are really only useful if you had a second player to "tank" them, but since everything just charges you it doesn't work out.

Which Skylanders 3DS game did you play where you could use a second player?

the one with Wicked Thumpback

Quote: UncleBob

I'm not sure you understand how "Licensed" works. Activision owns the Skylanders Franchise and Activision publishes the Skylanders Franchise. They don't need to license it out (which is what they would do for, say, Skylanders Monopoly when they license the brand to Hasbro). It's an original franchise, owned and published by Activision. They may contract titles out to various second-party (and, previously, third-party) developers, but that's not a license.

Funny, the console versions dangle exclusive figures in their packs...

Which Skylanders 3DS game did you play where you could use a second player?

I meant "third party licensed game", not they licensed Skylanders from someone else. Activision is a Nintendo licensee. But still, third party games typically run 29.99-34.99. Some exceptions, obviously.

The console version is, in general, considered the "base" version. I know there are some out there that only get the 3DS version, but it is an outlier. They pretty much expect anyone that plays Skylanders to have the console version. And the console versions DO stand on their own merits, they don't need the exclusive pack ins to sell it to Skylander fans.

Pretty much any ranged based character who has a primary attack that hits at a distance and a secondary attack that isn't designed to used repeatedly. Practically every enemy just runs right up to your face. Shroomboom is one of the worst, because he really doesn't have a great "up close" move to do damage. I love Shroomboom, but he was borderline unplayable on the 3DS. On console 2 player, he works well - my son can tank and I rain down damage - one of my favorite things about the game is discovering a good synergy between two characters. Punk shock also suffered a bit, as well as Prism Break and a few others. I don't condemn the game because of just that, you can just tell that some work much worse than others - which would be a bigger deal if you don't have a large selection of figures.

Our definitions of "third party licensed shlock" vary greatly. By your definition, games like Call of Duty, Destiny, Titanfall, Grand Theft Auto, Disney Infinity and even the console Skylanders titles fit. I'm talking more about stuff like "licensed kids game based off kid's movie/TV show of the month".

Perhaps Activision feels that the 3DS version is good enough this time around that it doesn't need an exclusive figure? (Yeah, I don't think that's the case either...)

They definitely have my gratitude. Buying the 3DS version has been a significant extra expense at launch time each of the past three years. I can hold on to that money without any further question or thought, now!

Quote: Balphagor_

Quote: defpally

Eh, the previous 3DS versions are entertaining albeit overly straightforward games. They were worth it for the unique figure they contained if you could find it on a really good sale. I'm not sure it is worthwhile anymore now that it doesn't have anything unique. At least they learned and brought the retail down for the Starter, but they also leave out content. For $10 you get a console version, a regular figure instead of a Mini, two traps and the new portal. I wonder if they intend for Barkley to remain exclusive to the 3DS Starter.

Scaled down game, scaled down pack-ins. Price should be lower than $64.99.

It's already known that Barkley isn't unique to the 3DS version.

In my opinion now though, all they need to do is announce that it is the same game as on consoles, and they will lose 99% of all of their pre-orders.

I have been wondering about this. If the 3DS version will not be the same game as the console version this time (but without the need of the traps to capture the villains). I mean, can Beenox really work on 3 different ports and still have time to make a completely different game for the 3DS?