The original Zombies, Run! [appprice url="http://appshopper.com/healthcare-fitness/zombies-run"] has been free since 2015, and if you’ve never tried it and have any interest in running, you really should. Instead of how a lot of running apps will just have you running and walking based on timed intervals with chimes and maybe some voiceover to tell you what to do next, Zombies, Run! does basically the same thing but it’s cleverly disguised through an in-game narrative where you’re running around inside of a zombie apocalypse. It’s hard to really capture in a trailer, but check this one out to get an idea of what it’s like:
While Zombies, Run! is more of a general workout app, Zombies, Run! 5K Training is a targeted training app with the goal of getting you running a 5K in 8 weeks. (Similar to the bazillion Couch to 5K programs out there.) The idea behind a Couch to 5K program is gradually advancing time splits. On the first day you’ll be mostly walking with a few short bursts of running, and before long you’re primarily running, taking a few breaks walking, then eventually just running non-stop. If you stick with a Couch to 5K program, the progress you see feels a little magical.
Personally, what always makes me eventually get bored of these different running programs is it’s hard for me to find things interesting enough to listen to while running that it distracts me from the fact that I’m running for 30 minutes plus. The way Zombies, Run and Zombies, Run! 5K Training attack this problem is by structuring workouts with gameplay elements and an evolving storyline. So you’re not just running to fill in a checkmark for that day’s workout, you’re running to find out what happens next in the world of Zombies, Run!.
A 2.0 update just hit for the Zombies, Run! 5K Training app, which primarily rejiggers how you pay for it. Now, you can give it a download, and try out the first three weeks of the program totally for free. The end of week three, from experience with these 5K trainers, is when the rubber starts to meet the road when it comes to feeling like you’re making progress. I’d be super surprised if you make it three weeks in Zombies, Run! 5K Training that you wouldn’t flip out the four bucks to keep going.
Anyway, Zombies, Run! is super cool, and if this is the first time you’ve heard of it, definitely give it a look. The original is a great all-around workout app and the 5K trainer has a more focused goal. Both are now free, so, decide what direction you want to go and give it a shot.
Er, why doomed? Bit of a cliff hanger, why don't you tell us?
Nintendo is doomed.
Because someone somewhere on a message board says it is - and therefore it must be true!
So is Apple, by the way.
Is it 2018 already?!
In Nintendo's financial year, it is.
I don't get it. Clearly I'm no financial expert cause that just doesn't make any sense.
Making a statement like Nintendo is doomed in bold? Not sure how I feel about his article. Or TouchArcade reviewing in general anymore. Look at the stories lately. I've seen maybe 2-3 reviews in the last 1-2 weeks. What's happening?
People stopped reading reviews when most games went free. It takes less time to just try them yourself. Traffic stats show people are way more interested in news, guides, Twitch streams, and the other types of content we've been focusing on. When you're funded by a shoestring budget, you've got to be smart about where you spend those resources.
The only real purpose reviews seem to serve anymore is giving people a reason to argue.
That's very disappointing. Reviews may get low view counts, but I check the site regularly mainly for reviews, and read the other content incidentally. I suspect many others feel the same. I've gone from checking out the site daily to just a couple times a week, and the lack of reviews are probably why.
We still review bigger premium games, but I'm with you. It's super disappointing the way content consumption on the internet in general is trending. I'm still working on replacing Carter, so review output should increase once that happens but there's not our main focus anymore at all. The fact remains, I can post ten "Hey this game is cool check this out" news stories in the time it takes me to write one review, and those ten stories will all individually perform better than the review will.
Carter is gone ??? I did not even know ! What happened ?
He found a company that can pay him more than our Patreon can- Another reason I wish we could somehow convince more than 0.03% of the people who visit TouchArcade to support the site. If you care about game reviews, contributing to our Patreon is the best way to make them happen.
Unfortunately, none of the people who find themselves constantly complaining about the content we post are ever actually willing to contribute anything but those complaints.
Carter left, my day job became busier, and the two of us were by and large the only ones foolish enough to regularly take on what is basically the worst ratio of hours worked to dollars earned available around here. :P
Your reviews and my watch list are the two main reasons I stick by this site. I'll go do the amazon prime thing with Twitch TV and send some more money your way. I like the other content, but i come across it more by accident. The time, detail, and depth you put in to your game reviews has been a big part of why I am an iOS gamer. Thank you for all the great content your create, and for sharing your insight into the mobile gaming experience, especially as it relates to RPG players of all walks. The one genre to rule them all!
In case nobody notices realizes... I'm pretty sure the "Nintendo is doomed" phrase is a joke related to how so many Nintendo critics would call their doom just for Nintendo to bounce back.
Just realized noticed I made a redundant phrase. Oh well.
Bingo! Even beyond the joke, I'd hope the incessantly positive article plus the 'don't let their unbridled and unprecedented success suggest otherwise' would give it away, but *shrug*
One thing Nintendo is doing wrong is not having enough supplies to keep up with demand on their mini classic consoles. Personally I don't understand Nintendo's plan to release classics with no intention of fulfilling demand.
I agree. Nintendo fails to meet demand consistently. It's just missed profit.
There is, apparently, method to their madness. I don't get it either, but there are a number of articles that discuss why they might be doing it.
This article has made me so happy. I know that Nintendo ISN'T doomed, but it's sometimes hard to stay optimistic in the internet echo chamber. For instance, it had just "seemed" to me that Switch was kind of a flop. It's really super nice to have empirical data. Thanks!
I totally agree - with all the horror stories of stock shortages, and the fact I live in both a country and an area that isn't particularly huge on games (I've seen one other Switch in the wild to date), it's easy to be sucked into the narrative that the situation isn't as rosy as it may seem. I'm equally glad that these stats disprove that, and hopefully it means Nintendo can keep on making profound and incredible experiences such as BOTW for many years to come :)
Doom... Doooooooom!!! *insert ghostly voice*
Nintendo is off to a fantastic start with mobile and a new gaming system. The switch shortage has clearly impacted both system and game attach sales, so we can expect great momentum into the next quarter.
However, Nintendo will make or break based on the future software both in mobile and the Switch. If Nintendo can translate additional IP into solid mobile experiences, it will continue to make strong revenue and reinforce brand awareness in a very strong way. If they find a way to cross pollinate between the platforms in some innovative way (using Amibos, codes, or something else) they could really build up a strong revenue pipeline. However, their Switch new game release pipeline through end of year isn't as strong as it could be (which isn't unusual for year 1 of a new system), but at least they have some strong heavy hitters out there in the form of Zelda and Mario.
Great article, very informative with a toothbrush duh of humor at the end.
My worry is them not meeting the demand before people get disinterested. I hope they can up their manufacturing game, as otherwise their software/hardware/marketing sides are all as strong as they've ever been, and it definitely looks positive for Nintendo, especially in an era that many assumed would be the death of dedicated gaming consoles. Definitely is a big few years ahead for them, but all signs look good for them to make the most of it! And thanks for the kind words :)
I've been saying for years that Nintendo needs to go mobile.
Fanboys screamed: "Noooooooo!"
Now they have. Congratulations on joining us in the year 2017.
$145 million profit is "unbridled and unprecedented success?"
Okay.
Also the highest share price since the days of the Wii, I believe. An entirely new and massive income stream from mobile. A console they literally can't produce fast enough, featuring one of the highest rated games of all time. And a "print money" SNES Classic round the corner. Yeah, they're doing OK.
Well, they're profitable, so that's good. And doing okay? Agreed.
I think the faithful are indulging in serious hyperbole when they characterize a recovery from prolonged decline and loss as anything more than a modest positive.
-- Highest share price
Yes, this is good. But it also means an upturn after almost a decade of decline.
-- Massive income stream from mobile
Hardly. But it's nice.
-- Console they can't produce fast enough
That's a failure of production. Not necessarily a sign of success. I know it gets spun that way, but it's still peanuts compared to mobile.
-- Highest rated games
Sure. Zelda is a winner by all standards. I'm even tempted to buy just for that one game. But the other more glaring side to that is it's just one game. That's a problem Nintendo has had many times before. A few good games, then nothing else.
-- Print money SNES
We know what happened with NES Classic. We'll see if Nintendo can avoid that.
In the end, any profit is good and nice to see Nintendo on the path to health. But this is because they finally, finally, FINALLY were dragged to embrace mobile. If they make the mistake of pivoting back to their hardware strategy, they'll continue to sink. They have a nice little model where they sell hardware to the shrinking nostalgia market, but growth is in mobile.
Fire Emblem Heroes has been really fun and they are always giving away orbs so f2pers like me who don't really spend on mobile games have some chances to get good units (have azura,chrom,sanaki,spring melon tiki as 5* draws) and also just got xander to 5* lvl 40 (camus will be my next ghb to get to 5* lvl 40 followed by Legion)