We already know most of the 2017 stuff. So let's just assume that we know all of it.

How would you guys arrange the 2018 Nintendo first/second-party software schedule to maintain and build on Nintendo's current momentum? Let's assume about ten medium to big first/second-party games. And you can throw in a bit of third-party strategy, as well.
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Try to think more from a business perspective and less from a wish fulfillment perspective. And keep it semi-realistic. Like, don't say 10 sequels to BOTW. Think about a plausible use of Nintendo's current resources, and consider which studios (Retro, for example) have had the bandwidth to release a title in 2018.

(3 roundtables in one day, baby!)

Anand said:

Try to think more from a business perspective and less from a wish fulfillment perspective. And keep it semi-realistic. Like, don't say 10 sequels to BOTW. Think about a plausible use of Nintendo's current resources, and consider which studios (Retro, for example) have had the bandwidth to release a title in 2018.

This thread is no fun and I refuse to endorse it.

( I clicked intending to fill the year with Zelda releases and then I see this nonsense in the OP. Uncool)

Great question! I won't be the best at sticking to realism probably but hell, I'll give it a go. It's also a bit challenging because some of this could even be potentially 2017, we just need to hear from E3. I also didn't tap much into what's going on in the indie scene because I don't know which games are in development for that year-frame.

Well lets see…. leading up to 2018 you'll have this happen…

Splatoon 2 and Arms have been out for months, with monthly (minimum) updates to the content.
Super Mario Odyssey is out as are both of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's DLC's. So… in general…

Splatoon 2 and Arms content continues to pour out as mentioned above. The SNES Classic is enjoying it’s more stocked and better prepared run.

January
Animal Crossing Nation - The new Animal Crossing for the Switch which utilizes a classic single home console experience but also has functionality found in the handheld AC series games.

February
Luigi’s Mansion: Switch Off - A Luigi’s Mansion title for the Switch which expands the ever-growing series.

March
PilotWings Switch - Going back to the non-Wii Sports version of Pilotwings.
Mother 3 - Finally on the Switch, it’s Mother 3.

April
Picross eS - Picross comes to the Nintendo Switch! (and maybe the 3DS). Tons of puzzles! I know a lack of stylus might make it less desirable on Switch but hey, Mario Picross exists!

May
Nintendo Golf - A new Mario Golf title which merely embraces what makes the series great but with Nintendo characters not just from the Mario series. Also now with a make your own course mode for the creative types and more unique characters from the Nintendo library.
2D Metroid for Switch - Enough said. A 2D-style Metroid game for the Switch. Could see it having a 3DS release as well.

June
Pokemon Stars - The third game in the Pokemon Sun/Moon series has great connectivity with the 3DS counterpart but now includes a Pokemon Stadium style battle view.

July
Super Duper Ghouls and Ghosts - Some kind of sequel/reimagining to the original.

August
Pikmin 4 - A new, true to series, Pikmin game on the Switch.

September
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (on Switch) - Remastered and refined in true HD and with smoother motion controls.

October
Super Mario Maker Switch - More items and an easy to use motion-controls-based interface makes level creation a breeze.

November
Metroid Prime 4 - Finally the series gets a new beautiful and engrossing space thriller!

December
N64 Classic - That’s right! 30 games, well stocked, more hype.

@Shadowlink
I'll allow 10 more BotW DLC packs, with the stipulation that at least half need to be Tingle-based.

@DrFinkelstein
Mostly plausible, and pretty stacked (but no Smash or new IP?). Haha, are you a big Ghosts'n'Goblins fan? Where did that come from? I love that series.

One of my third-party strategies would be leveraging the success of Bomberman and (hopefully) USF2 to sweet talk old-school third-parties into making tons of exclusive updates to classic franchises.

DKCR, Kid Icarus Uprising, and Luigi's Mansion remasters would also probably givery a good return on investment.

Platinum has also been quiet for a while, and I wonder if Wii Sports can be successfully resurrected...

@Anand

No new Smash because I just presumed that'd be this year. If not, I don't know when I'd expect it to show. No new IP because I can't think of them and I didn't want to just put "New IP". The context of the IP matters a lot I think for what the release date would be.

I'm not a fan of G&G but I figure there will be a resurgence of some SNES fav soon.

Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid Metroid

@deathly_hallows

Federation Force 2

@DrFinkelstein
It could be, but where would they even fit it in? Especially with Mario Kart 8DX, ARMS, and Splatoon 2. I can't see Nintendo firing another of their biggest multiplayer guns into that crowd.

Maybe they'll take a bit of time and add a decent amount of stuff over the base Wii U+3DS packages.

Release Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past BS (that one in Japan you played on your TV for an hour a week) on Virtual Console
Cost: $0 (It already exists)
Who Would Buy This?: Everyone
Profit: Millions

Release 16-bit style Update of Zelda 2 Link's Adventure
Cost: $200 to pay someone on deviant art to update the sprite sheets
Who Would Buy This?: Everyone
Profit: Millions

Release Mother 3 in English
Cost: $700 translation fee
Who Would Buy This?: Almost Everyone
Profit: Millions

Release Smash Bros Wii U on Nintendo Switch with all DLC and throw in the Smash Run thing from the 3DS version. Add 2 new characters. Like Tails and WaLuigi or something:
Cost: $10,000
Who Would Buy This?: Everyone who already bought Smash on Wii U would bitch about the obvious cash grab, but inevitably buy it anyway
Profit: Billions

@Anand

Well then take our my SG&G and put in Smash, lol. I dunno. I wasn't truly trying to predict Nintendo, just saying what I'd do. If it were me, Smash would be out already, or something. I dunno.

Sin and Punishment 3
Mother 3
Geneology of the Holy War Remake on 3DS (Maybe throw in Thracia 776 too?)
Legend of Zelda Maker
New 2D Metroid on 3DS
Publish Devil May Cry 5
Pikmin 4
Pomemon Star
Retro Studios finishes their DKC trilogy
Majora's Mask style sequel to Breath of the Wild reusing existing resources
Same for Mario Odyssey
Kid Icarus Uprising Sequel

Maybe I would be happier if Nintendo did go third party so they could make muh precious niche games without having to worry about whether they can sell systems. A lot of these don't have the mainstream appeal of a Mario or Zelda, so it comes down to either trusting their niche audience to provide enough support, or bridging the gap for the casual fan who bought a switch for Zelda and convincing them to try something new now that they already have the machine.

I would dissolve the company, give out $100 million as grants to indie developers to stimulate creativity in the game industry in Nintendo's absence, and donate the rest to fight poverty and illness in developing countries.

@DapperDave
I was just Jonesing for an SNES-style update/sequel to Zelda II the other day. So underrated.

@Hero_Of_Hyrule
I thought that only Grant would include 3DS stuff!

@Secret_Tunnel
You're fired.

Winter - Switch Wars
Spring - Sin & Punishment 3
Summer - F-Zero Next (after working hard to get Amusement Vision back together)
Holidays - Metroid Prime 4
Mixed in everywhere else - Some brand new stuff

@DapperDave I'm still hoping Mother 3 hits THIS year but 2018 wouldn't be bad either.

GameDadGrant said:

@deathly_hallows

Federation Force 2

Fine with me! If it's addition to a real Metroid game. But if they were going to do another multiplayer spin-off I'd rather see Hunters 2.

@deathly_hallows

Nope, you'll get another Metroid Prime Pinball game, and that's all we'll see from the franchise for the next 10 years.

Anand said:

Maybe they'll take a bit of time and add a decent amount of stuff over the base Wii U+3DS packages.

Maybe the Switch version will have everything from BOTH the Wii U build *and* the 3DS build. Except for Street Smash of course. That will always be exclusive to the 3DS, for better or worse.

GameDadGrant said:

Maybe the Switch version will have everything from BOTH the Wii U build *and* the 3DS build. Except for Street Smash of course. That will always be exclusive to the 3DS, for better or worse.

Oh, I'm assuming that it will. They need a reason to call it Smash Bros. 4 DX!

Maybe they'll add a single-screen multiplayer Street Smash mode? I hope they blow out Smash Run with new stages, enemies, etc.

Ick, a third part Nintendo is a smaller Nintendo that leans heavier on trusted ip and much less on smaller projects. No thank you.

@Koovaps

To be fair, Nintendo has been way more experimental with their trusted IP than their smaller projects lately. Look at Super Mario Maker, Breath of the Wild, and even Splatoon (not trusted but still huge) compared to all the 2D platformers and Mario RPGs they keep churning out for 3DS.

A few things I'd do:

- Port Uprising to the Switch / Sequel
- Release a new Dillon's Rolling Western game in a less niche genre.
- Cast Charlize Theron in a Metroid movie
- BotW DLC, big time
- Metroid game that uses BotW engine
- Mother 3
- Turn Urban Champion into a Street Fighter knockoff just because I'm crazy