These days, Nintendo fans want only two things: more details about the Switch 2 and a spot in the Playtest program. Unfortunately, there's still nothing official about the next console, and the registration window for Playtest closed on October 15. Yet some users couldn't resist... and they've already shared a lot of data. Needless to say, Playtest is not a final build, but everything suggests that Nintendo wants to step into one of the most demanding video game genres.
The rules Nintendo set for participating in the Playtest program were clear from the start: you must be 18 or older, have a Nintendo account, be a member of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, and reside in Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Japanese participants would enter a lottery (depending on the number of applications), while international users would be accepted under a "first-come-first-serve" mechanic. It is estimated that under these rules, the company enabled about 10,000 players, but the real question is... players of what?
The first details about Nintendo Playtest
The terms of service for Playtest include a clause that seeks to limit information shared online, but that is not equivalent to a non-disclosure agreement. Nintendo has already taken down some posts on Twitter, focusing mainly on profiles that revealed images. Perhaps the company wants to limit expectations (good luck with that), or it's just a placeholder (far from the final idea), but judging by the available information, this would be the initial step toward creating an MMO, the first in Nintendo's history.
The official description states that the player's objective is to "work with others" to develop a massive and expansive planet, using all their creativity and "cultivated resources" (read "farmed resources"). As the player advances, they will discover "new lands, enemies and resources," using beacons that purify and develop the terrain under their light. Each player has absolute control within their beacon, moving, raising, and editing items. Players cannot modify others' beacons (and vice versa), and each one functions as a sort of private environment. Everything outside the beacons is public, and anyone can work there.
The social component emerges with the "Dev Core," a space separate from the planet where players can interact, level up their characters, and obtain special items to continue the game. How do you level up? By developing the planet, players receive "Dev Points," which in turn are used in the Dev Core. There's also a "Connection Level" that increases with the consumption of "Connex Points." Those points are earned by interacting with other players and unlock access to "community items."
Finally, Nintendo mentions UGC support, "User-Generated Content," but warns that before generating content, players must receive a UGC license, available through an exam to demonstrate they understand "the importance of respectful communication." This is accompanied by a report function, with which they aim to identify "problematic players and/or inappropriate content."
The web is making comparisons with Minecraft and Roblox, but no one can confirm whether the plan is to create a new franchise or prepare the ground for one of the existing universes. Nintendo Playtest will run until November 5, 4:59 PM (PST).
(Oops, I dropped it...)
Source: The Verge
