Added: 04.04.2015 17:00 | 21 views | 0 comments

The scene: it's right after

I knew Lucina and Robin, the Fire Emblem amiibo, were coming for months. I had already missed out on Marth and Ike the first time around, because I was so swamped with life things that I missed pre-order windows. I eventually shrugged it off, thinking, "I don't need to spend $26 on these when I bills to pay." Right? RIGHT?

Back to the present. The morning after the Nintendo Direct I walk into work at nine. My desk neighbor, editor Peter Brown, tells me that GameStop pre-orders for the new amiibo start at noon. He already has the GameStop webpage open to the amiibo section.

As for that second point of blame, that's us. We did this. We did this to ourselves and we love it. We rail against Nintendo and retailers for squeezing us out of buying these toys, and we readily do it again and again and again. We allow this to happen. We stand in pre-order lines for hours, huffing and puffing about the wait and how we took off work to wait the entire time. We crazily refresh websites for hours, crashing an entire company system with our hunger for tiny Charizards. The amiibo fever exists because we make it so, passing it along to one another like kids on the playground pass mono. Stop placing your lives on hold to pre-order a plastic figure the size of your middle finger. That figure won't put bacon on the table or keep you warm at night. Stop waiting in lines for hours and just go to the store to get them when it's convenient for you; don't feed the hysteria.

But back to me. At 3 p.m. I gave up hope that I would get my Lucina and Robin amiibo. When Justin told me he was planning to get up at 4 a.m. for the Toys R Us online pre-orders, I sadly responded that I would not be joining him. In one day I had caught amiibo fever and completely burned it out, discouraged and disgusted at myself.

The day after the amiibo fiasco, I am exhausted. I don't own any amiibo and I don't know that I will ever consider purchasing one ever again, even if I think it's a cool addition to a game I own. I can't bring myself care as deeply as I know other people do, because the heinous, enthusiasm-killing atmosphere surrounding the amiibo market has driven me away.

Nintendo is limiting its amiibo market by limiting access to the amiibo people want; that's a lot of sad fans and a lot of dollars lost. People want certain amiibo because they love certain series, because Nintendo has created something that they enjoy and adore and they want to deepen their connection to that franchise. By deliberately making fans fight for a chance to buy an amiibo, you're dividing the community and your audience.

So please: don't get so riled up over amiibo. Although if anyone bought an extra Lucina, I will happily take it off your hands.

Added: 03.04.2015 22:18 | 11 views | 0 comments


Amanda French writes: "Well on March 10th, Chadrick succeeded in reaching his modest campaign goal of $200, and not just that, but doubling it. With those funds, the young indie dev renewed the domain for his website, set aside money for advertising his game, and also covered the Steam submission fee for Greenlight. All seemed well."

Added: 02.04.2015 23:30 | 13 views | 0 comments

1. Poro

Milynn Sarley dressed up as a lovable Poro begging for snax at San Diego Comic-Con.

2. Ahri the Nine-Tailed Fox

Ahri might be the most popular LoL character to cosplay as. This mobile assassin champion was spotted in the wild at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.

3. Rengar the Pride Stalker

Welcome to the jungle! We're pretty sure this cuddly cosplayer has already reached 5 Ferocity at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Jennika Ojala)

4. Darkflame Shyvana

French Cosplayer Galuren shows off her perfectly executed Darkflame Shyvana cosplay at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.

5. Firefox Themed Ahri

This cosplayer took a fun spin on Ahri by combining her with the iconic Firefox web browser icon. This photo was taken in a cosplay competition at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Gabriel Kulig)

6. The Sheriffs of Piltover

A couple of unique takes on Caitlyn come from this waitstaff at a League of Legends restaurant in Chongqing, China.

7. Caitlyn the Sheriff of Piltover

Here's a dedicated solo cosplayer's take on Caitlyn. Unlike the previous Caitlyn group photo, this undertaking was completely a fan enterprise at DreamHack Summer 2014. (Photo by Frederike Schmitt)

8. Akali

This Akali costume competed in a cosplay contest in Lyon, France. The shadow warrior Akali upholds the balance between light and dark, but she also has dance moves that rival Beyoncé.

9. Elise Spider Queen

Elise sacrificed her humanity to become the vicious queen of the spiders. We're pretty sure this cosplay required cool down nukes and crowd control at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Jennika Ojala)

10. Shaco, Akali and Annie

A trio of legends showed up for the Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. If you look closely you can even spot Annie's bear companion Tibbers!

11. Irelia the Will of the Blades

She may be cursed by a powerful necromancy, but Irelia is still our favorite melee champ, featured here at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Frederike Schmitt)

12. Miss Fortune the Bounty Hunter

Miss Fortune's strut is anything but passive here at this League of Legends event in Athens, Greece.

13. Orianna the Lady of Clockwork

In the line of glib and enticing AIs like GLaDOS, Orianna has an undeniable appeal. This cosplayer has an excellent take on her Bladecraft skin at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Gabriel Kulig)

14. Shaco the Demon Jester

Charley Lewis has an almost friendly take on the infamous death enigma Shaco at the London Comic Con 2013. He's pretty cunning though, so we still recommend keeping your distance.

15. Orianna the Lady of Clockwork

This painstakingly accurate evocation of Orianna was accomplished by Marina Shisterova, the winner of DreamHack Komplett.se Cosplay Championship at DreamHack Summer 2014. (Photo by Frederike Schmitt)

16. Jarvan IV

There's something so endearing about this fan posing for a photo with the formidable Jarvan IV in his full regalia outside of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. She's smiling like she has no idea his armor is made out of the bones of his enemies.

Added: 02.04.2015 23:30 | 6 views | 0 comments

1. Poro

Milynn Sarley dressed up as a lovable Poro begging for snax at San Diego Comic-Con.

2. Ahri the Nine-Tailed Fox

Ahri might be the most popular LoL character to cosplay as. This mobile assassin champion was spotted in the wild at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.

3. Rengar the Pride Stalker

Welcome to the jungle! We're pretty sure this cuddly cosplayer has already reached 5 Ferocity at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Jennika Ojala)

4. Darkflame Shyvana

French Cosplayer Galuren shows off her perfectly executed Darkflame Shyvana cosplay at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.

5. Firefox Themed Ahri

This cosplayer took a fun spin on Ahri by combining her with the iconic Firefox web browser icon. This photo was taken in a cosplay competition at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Gabriel Kulig)

6. The Sheriffs of Piltover

A couple of unique takes on Caitlyn come from this waitstaff at a League of Legends restaurant in Chongqing, China.

7. Caitlyn the Sheriff of Piltover

Here's a dedicated solo cosplayer's take on Caitlyn. Unlike the previous Caitlyn group photo, this undertaking was completely a fan enterprise at DreamHack Summer 2014. (Photo by Frederike Schmitt)

8. Akali

This Akali costume competed in a cosplay contest in Lyon, France. The shadow warrior Akali upholds the balance between light and dark, but she also has dance moves that rival Beyoncé.

9. Elise Spider Queen

Elise sacrificed her humanity to become the vicious queen of the spiders. We're pretty sure this cosplay required cool down nukes and crowd control at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Jennika Ojala)

10. Shaco, Akali and Annie

A trio of legends showed up for the Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. If you look closely you can even spot Annie's bear companion Tibbers!

11. Irelia the Will of the Blades

She may be cursed by a powerful necromancy, but Irelia is still our favorite melee champ, featured here at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Frederike Schmitt)

12. Miss Fortune the Bounty Hunter

Miss Fortune's strut is anything but passive here at this League of Legends event in Athens, Greece.

13. Orianna the Lady of Clockwork

In the line of glib and enticing AIs like GLaDOS, Orianna has an undeniable appeal. This cosplayer has an excellent take on her Bladecraft skin at DreamHack Winter 2014. (Photo by Gabriel Kulig)

14. Shaco the Demon Jester

Charley Lewis has an almost friendly take on the infamous death enigma Shaco at the London Comic Con 2013. He's pretty cunning though, so we still recommend keeping your distance.

15. Orianna the Lady of Clockwork

This painstakingly accurate evocation of Orianna was accomplished by Marina Shisterova, the winner of DreamHack Komplett.se Cosplay Championship at DreamHack Summer 2014. (Photo by Frederike Schmitt)

16. Jarvan IV

There's something so endearing about this fan posing for a photo with the formidable Jarvan IV in his full regalia outside of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. She's smiling like she has no idea his armor is made out of the bones of his enemies.