Justin Nation – N64HQ Associate Editor

Hey folks, just figured I'd drop a relatively quick line since you can still find plenty of my opinions in assorted places... I still haven't "retired" like Scott and some other folks. Hard to believe it has been such a long time since the HQ closed but then again it probably feels like it has been even longer than it chronologically was in terms of "Net time" (I approximate Net time works approximately out to 1 net minute = 20 normal seconds).

Since the HQ closed I generally followed up on the plans I put in my closing thoughts... made a new site called The 64 Source and it has since died along with the 'interesting' N64 market. Unable to keep

myself from my fix for doing web stuff though I now run OperatioN2000 which ended up being the first real dedicated solely to the next console (gee, where would I get the notion that sometimes it helps out to be the first? Hehe)... though now there is a comfortable glut of sites on the matter as can be expected. As for me I'm still as long-winded as ever, just wrote up a 4,000+ word editorial last week... some things never change. Great to see the reunion happen, can't wait to see what the other old timers said. See ya!

Bill Berghammer – N64HQ Contributing Editor

Well what am I doing now? Obviously this site, but I also contribute once in a while over at OperatioN2000. It’s a very cool bunch of people, some who used to work for the HQ or the 64 Source, and some new people as well. I think Justin has put together an incredible site. And I think it’s going to be one of the best (if not the best). I’m currently in the process of moving. I have just moved to Minneapolis and work Part-time at Zone 105 as an On-Air Personality (DJ). I am also looking for other work as well at this time, probably in the computer/Internet field. Basically a job to pay for my radio habit. As well as games J

I have quite a few favorite N64 Games, and many I am looking forward to in '99 and beyond. My N64 favorites list would have to be Wave Race, NFL Blitz, Tetrisphere, Bust-A-Move '99, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart, Wetrix, Rogue Squadron, F-Zero X, and 1080°. I think that's it, but I'm sure there's more I can't remember. Nintendo 64 games I am looking forward to in 1999: Blitz 2000, Perfect Dark, Gauntlet Legends, Excitebike 64, Mario Golf, Riqa, Jet Force Gemini, Donkey Kong 64, Pokemon Snap, and whatever the next incarnation of Zelda on the N64. How many of those I will actually purchase or rent I am not sure.

As far as the Dolphin, there are many different things I’d like to see come out of the next generation Nintendo machine. My feelings on the Dolphin are pretty obvious seeing is that since you are reading this, you probably read parts of the site once in a while. I try to keep my biases aside, and just report the facts, but obviously through editorials, and posting the articles I find, you can generally get a gist of what I’m looking for. Obviously I think this baby is going to be unbelievable. I am confident Nintendo will deliver another absolutely intense gaming experience. With what specs we know, and this new console team of IBM, Matsushita Electric, ArtX, and NEC, it just makes you want to drool.

Graphically I think Dolphin should be able to provide visuals as intense if not better than today’s fastest Voodoo 3 or TNT 2 chipsets. I am looking forward to seeing what Art-X has been brewing up. Nintendo has always seemed to have no problem with impressing us visually in the past. I can still remember the time I practically had a heart attack the first time I saw Mario 64. I’m sure the next incarnation will be just as awe inspiring. With this next generation of consoles, I am also hoping issues like slowdown and pop-up become a thing of the past. As far as I am concerned, I want Dolby Surround Sound on all of the games. Seeing is that this is DVD technology, I think it should be completely mandatory. Granted not everyone has a surround set up, but I think it would be nice. I think Nintendo fans everywhere deserve it after being somewhat deprived with the N64.

Games I think are the most important factor in this next generation console race. If Nintendo wants to regain it’s stature on top, they are going to have to get the developers. Do I think Square is that important to Nintendo? In Japan yes, but in the US sort of. Final Fantasy is obviously a big hit here in the states, but that’s about it for Square. I would agree they would make a great game developer to have though. I would also like to see Nintendo go after companies like Namco and Capcom and get a decent fighting game. I am not that big of a fan of fighting games, but Smash Brother is the best fighter (imo) that the N64 has, and it’s not a real fighter. You can almost expect the upgrades to the normal Nintendo gaming line up. Some of my favorites that I hope they choose to revamp and improve on the Dolphin: Mario 64, Wave Race, Goldeneye, Tetrisphere, Bust-A-Move, 1080°, Zelda, F-Zero, Mario Kart, Smash Brothers, Blitz 2000, and Metroid.

Networking is a must for Dolphin as far as I am concerned. Granted if you are a regular of this site you may have seen my editorial ONline 2000. That is still pretty much how I feel about what I'd like to see from Nintendo. I would like to see the Dolphin online in a BIG way. I don't believe a 56k modem will do the trick either. But what Nintendo should really do to make a standard I don't know. Hopefully Nintendo has something big up there sleeve for this. Both Nintendo and Sony are keeping a close eye on Sega and how they fair with their Heat hybrid for Dreamcast. Time will tell.

The next video game war is going to be a blast to sit back and watch. Sega’s Dreamcast seems to be a decent system to pick up for a few reasons. Graphics, Online Capabilities, Arcade conversions, Sonic, and Ecco the Dolphin are reason enough for me to pick up the system. I’m interested in seeing how the Dreamcast ultimately fairs. As far as I can predict, Sega will get killed when the Dolphin and the PSX2’s hit the streets, unless it can truly impress with games. In the end if Nintendo plays their cards right, they will be back on top again. Regardless, it's going to be a lot of fun!

Chris Csont – N64HQ Contributing Editor

As of right now I'm Editor-In-Chief of IGN Affiliate The Nintendo64 Underground (aka Nintendorks.com), and having a great time doing that. It seems like it's been an eternity since I was turning in articles to Scott (as well as putting together the Hot Lists). As far as what's stuck in my N64, I've been playing a lot of Goldeneye and WWF Warzone, simply because the multi-player is unbeatable in both of those games.

What would I like to see in the new system? Well, I'm going to start with the controller. The N64 control setup is an excellent base to start with, but there are some improvements that could be made. First of all, a more durable joystick. I don't know how many times I've heard many people (including myself) complain about how quickly the stick will wear out, especially from playing games like Mario Party where there's lots of stick rotation. Second, a built-in rumble pak, simply because it would be cheaper on the consumer for not having to buy batteries and extra paks for each of their controllers. An additional concept to go along with this would be to use a smaller motor, but several of them placed at the four main points of the controller (left, right, away from the player and towards the player) to allow for more specialized rumbling that could enhance the feeling of "being there." Next, analog buttons. If Nintendo decides to keep the current N64 control shape (which is probably a good idea), then they should probably make the A and B buttons have some form of analog control. This would have been perfect for the Racer-plagued N64, but this feature could be used in other games. For example, the analog buttons could allow you to switch weapons faster in FPS games, or maybe they could vary the power of your attacks in fighting games. There are endless possibilities, and it would allow for more precise control. Finally, another slight gripe of mine is the C-buttons. By now I'm used to them, but I still think they're too small. I'm not saying they should be the size of the A and B buttons, but a little bigger and set a little further into the controller.

As far as the system itself, Nintendo seems to be on the right track. DVD is a good format that will allow for more information to be stored and it could potentially lead to longer, more immersive games. But (and this is a big but), if developers decide to use the space for fancy audio and fmv sequences (although the use of FMV would be odd considering the system's potential real-time capabilities), it would make it easier for games with more flash than substance to still hang around. Four controller ports are a must, but this is obvious since everybody is going in that direction after the N64. Another thing I hear quite a bit is that people want to see the DD technology used as a storage medium. Instead, I feel that an expanded version of the memory pak is a more viable solution. The use of the DVD format prevents saving directly to the game, so unlike the N64, the memory pak would probably see more use on the next system. The concept is sound, and the fact that you can just put it in your controller and you're ready to play, with your data, anywhere is a great way to work the memory issue. Plus, think about trying to load data from four DD's if you wanted to play some multi-player with each person's data. Either the system would need to be large enough to fit all those disks, or each one would have to load separately. The only potential problem is that the memory cards wouldn't be able to store enough data for multiple games, much like the Nintendo-made memory paks for the N64, which hold (if you're lucky) up to three games worth of data.

Overall, I'm pretty sure Nintendo is learning from the few mistakes they've made with the N64 and whatever Project Dolphin turns into, it's going to be something impressive.

-Chris Csont

chris@nintendorks.com

Desmond Gaban - N64HQ Contributing Editor

Right now I contribute to Nintendojo, Operation N2000, and Total RPG. I am actually on an N64 RPG overdose (hehe) right now because I recently got Zool by Imagineer, and am getting Ogre Battle 64 next week. That's only 200% the regular dosage of N64 RPGs! But i'm also playing through Baldur's Gate, which is a really awesome computer RPG.

I'm looking forward mainly to Nintendo's Dolphin games, because I know they will be good. The rumored 'retro movement' has also intrigued me, so I am looking forward to seeing if Nintendo will revive some old classics on the Dolphin. Other than that, I just hope companies like Enix and Quest will develop for the system, but am not holding my breath for now.

I run my personal webpage at http://www.gaban.com

Ravi Hiranand – N64HQ Contributing Editor

After the HQ closed, I went along to a small site, The 64 Source, run by another ex-HQ man, Justin Nation. I stayed for a good year before moving on to my current place at IGN affiliate Gaming Age. I’ve also done freelance work for IGN64 and Hotgames, and am about to start doing so for videogames.com. As for games, GoldenEye is a perennial favourite, though the recent multiplayer games from Nintendo (Mario Party, Smash Bros. and Mario Golf) have been taking up my time too. And I bought a Dreamcast—interesting, but nothing too special yet.

As for the Dolphin, Nintendo is making the right moves so far. Although I would have liked to have seen solid gameplay footage rather than simple specs—Nintendo’s record with announcing new hardware since the Super NES is rather weak, as Project Reality took on several forms before emerging as the N64, and we all remember the debacle that was the SNES CD-Rom drive and the 64DD. However, going to DVD was a solid move. Despite the fact that I live in Hong Kong, I don’t know the technical details about whether DVDs can be pirated, but I do know that Nintendo will at least attract many of the developers that shunned them during the life of the N64—and quite honestly, despite the attitudes of both companies towards each other I would not be surprised if Square got back in bed with Nintendo again.

In terms of games from Nintendo, despite the fact that we all love to see remakes of classics, I would actually like to see Miyamoto be given free reign to create something new. Of course he should update the staple franchises (being Mario and Zelda), but I’m curious to see whether Miyamoto can conjure up something new that has the same impact as his previous works. Rare should chip in with a few titles of their own, the most important of them being another game from the GoldenEye team. I personally think another James Bond-licensed game would be perfect to draw in the crowds (especially with licensed titles selling like hotcakes—witness Superman and Mission: Impossible on N64) and the fact is nobody does it better than 007! :-) For the launch there is one thing I would like to see from Nintendo, and that is a multiplayer game. Nintendo will always launch with Mario, but considering they have released three Mario games in the past five months and NONE of them are from Miyamoto’s EAD, I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch for Nintendo to ask HAL Labs to make a sequel to Super Smash Bros. to launch with the system.

One aspect that I have put a lot of thought into is the Internet link-up. This is being touted as the next big thing for consoles, but personally I’m not so sure right now about whether Nintendo should adopt it off-the-bat. If they do so, they should put a lot of thought and care into planning the network. My concerns are simple. A console is a very simple machine. You put in the game, you press the power button, and you play straight away. In comparison, PC games have a lot of extras to fiddle around with, and performance always differs per machine (although the advent of 3D graphics cards has given them a kick up the backside). The frustrations of a busy network or various connection problems are ones that I don’t think the average Nintendo gamer would like to see. Additionally, there is the issue of money. Such a network has to be expensively and carefully set up—Nintendo has to charge something. But how many console gamers would be used to paying for playtime online? Also remember that the average console gamer is younger than their PC cousins (although the gap is narrowing), and parents may not be happy to see Little Johnny spend hundreds of dollars on Nintendo’s network. My last main concern is lag. Console games tend to be very fast-paced, and if it lags even for a split second there may be a noticeable problem with the game. And again, console gamers are not used to the problems of lag. I think it may well prove prudent for Nintendo to sit and watch Sega’s online set up—even if it means they have to release their modem later and not build it in with the system. Watching and learning from Sega’s mistakes and designing a superior network after seeing the feedback from users on Sega’s may prove to be a masterstroke for Nintendo, and one which may give them the upper hand.

Lastly, I just want to talk about Dolphin’s chances. Some may think that because it has PSX2-calibre specs and the much-vaunted DVD format Nintendo have regained the upper hand and will end up crushing all else. I would like to beg to differ slightly. I think the PSX2 and Dolphin can co-exist and both be successful. Although I think (and hope) that the Dolphin has the upper hand, the market is now big enough for one company to be in second place and still make a killing. I also would expect a lot of companies to make games for both systems and port freely between them—simply because it makes more financial sense that way. And the Dreamcast? I actually wouldn’t rule them out. If Sega’s launch plans don’t suffer an amazing downturn in the next two months, they will easily have the strongest lineup of titles ever at a system launch. The Dreamcast may be underpowered, but it is the games that count at the end of it all—and so far it looks like Sega will deliver. If they can get enough early support, they may gain a foothold and make life difficult for Sony and Nintendo to compete. Either way, I can’t wait to see what happens, and most of all, I can’t wait to play the next Mario and Zelda on Dolphin!

Ty Shughart – N64HQ Contributing Editor

After typing gigs of repetitive stress material at N64 HQ and The 64 Source, I now run my own little propaganda site, Don't Blame Games (DBG), where I rattle my crutches at anyone who hates games (LOL, if you follow). It's unique in that it's open to basically any contribution. I also pretend to be a staffer at High Voltage.Oh yeah, those fellows at GBCdojo seem to want me on there, I guess I better quit sleeping until 4 pm and actually get on it (#mkdomain rulz yo.)

As for that shiny new Nintendo system, they've got the hardware and storage medium to please. Just conquer the dark continent of online gaming, and they're all set (I'll slaughter you all at KI, I guarantee it). I propose using good ol' dialup ISPs, include web browsing and POP mail utilities, and gameplay by direct TCP/IP and through a big ol' battle.net-style interface. If Nintendo insists on making money (heh), ad banners should do the job.

Er, oh yes, I nearly forgot, the controller. It absolutely must have six face buttons, cough DreamCast cough. Actually, no system has ever had too many controller buttons, to my knowledge... how 'bout two or three pairs of L & R buttons? Is that getting too crazy? (whine) I want an arcade-style stick, too.

Well, I love my Nintendo, I'm sure they'll do well, whatever they do. Have

a launch title or two, Rare.

Ted Wang – N64HQ Contributing Editor

Currently I'm a web developer working at Schlumberger in sunny (and hot!) Houston, Texas. I haven't had much of a 'net presence since the N64HQ shut down but I still visit quite a few gaming sites regularly. I've been thinking about making a new personal website at some point (but I admit that I've been in the {ahem} "planning stage" for the last year-and-a-half). As for my N64, I haven't really played it much these past few weeks. The last new N64 game I got was WipeOut64. Right now I'm playing R4 and multiplayer StarCraft: Brood War while I'm waiting for the Dreamcast to arrive.

So what about Nintendo's next console? Allow me to take a step back and first examine what makes a successful platform. Naturally, there are other elements besides the ones I'm going to look at, such as timing and advertising of the launch, ease of development, format and economics of the development side. But I want to focus on three elements from the consumer standpoint that I feel are key to a successful platform:

1. It must be affordable in both hardware and software,

2. It must have hit titles to drive system sales, and

3. It must have a large, diverse library to appeal to the rest of the audience that may be interested in genres that are less mainstream.

Let's examine how Nintendo is doing on each of these elements.

On the affordable issue, Nintendo has traditionally priced its systems reasonably and I expect no different for the upcoming one. Howard Lincoln recently stated that the Nintendo produced machine will not include some of the features that Matsushita's player will (such as DVD movie playing) but the good news for gamers is a more aggressive price point, possibly as low as $100 though $150 is probably more realistic. I was glad to hear that Nintendo will be using DVDs as the new storage medium. Having this format should ensure that the games will be affordable as well. So both the machine and its games should be competitively priced.

For hit titles, Nintendo's first and second party library is second to none. Mario will almost certainly be a launch title and it's reasonable to expect Zelda, Mario Kart, etc. to follow. Personally, I would be thrilled to see updates of Metroid and Wave Race. In addition, we have to consider Rare bringing its own excellent library headed by Donkey Kong and Goldeneye/Perfect Dark. Basically, the Dolphin should have no shortage of the titles that people simply have to play.

It's too early to forecast the third-party library the Dolphin will have and it's this area that Nintendo needs to focus on (and I'm confident that they are already doing so). I think Nintendo should sign not just the major developers but every third-party developer possible to get as many games released as they can during the first 1-2 years. Here, the low cost of the DVD format also benefits developers. I'm sure that more games would have been released for the N64 if it were less cost-prohibitive on the development side. Yes, there would be plenty of bad titles but there would also be smaller titles to satisfy niche tastes and audiences. Nintendo needs to reach out and get products in the genres that they themselves can't fill. I enjoy playing Mario and F-Zero but I also enjoy alternative games like Worms and Armored Core. Forget "Dream Team" or "Quality over quantity," give the gamers the most choices and let them decide.

All in all, I'm really looking forward to the next generation of consoles. Nintendo appears to be in a good position to reclaim their place atop the console industry. Compared to Sony, I honestly don't care much about whether the Dolphin or PS2 is more powerful as I already plan on buying both. Besides, it all comes down to good games and I simply want lots of them. And I do think the Dolphin launch will be delayed, mainly because the software won't be ready by the end of 2000 if no one has complete dev kits yet.

So here's to hoping that Metroid and Wave Race show up as launch titles when the Dolphin does get released. Hey, a guy can dream can't he?

Ted Wang

wang@sugar-land.dowell.slb.com

Andrew Willcoxon – N64HQ Contributing Editor

I just barely caught the coattails of the N64HQ, and for something like a little less than half a year I had the pleasure of attaching "Contributing Editor, Unofficial Nintendo 64 Headquarters" to all my e-mails (and telephone conversations). I remember submitting my crappy reviews when Scott posted on the site that there was a need for more editors, and likewise I remember literally begging Scott in two e-mails to hire me after turning me down; he caved. I look back at my goofy-titled editorials and articles and wonder what the hell I was thinking (I almost feel like apologizing for some of them), but at the same time I realize the whole mess was a good experience for me (hey, I got to interview the former Nintendo World Champion).

Anyway, my interest in commercial games has since waned, and I no longer keep up with any sites for news or information on games. At this point I'd rather be making games than playing them; I'm exploring an interest in programming (ASM and QBASIC, yuk, yuk -- I should be starting C at the end of summer), and although I haven't completed any games yet, I'm building a foundation. I still play my 64, though I probably won't be pumping any more money into it; I'm saving my lunch money for the Sega Dreamcast, which I think may respark my fascination for gaming. As a sidenote, I'll be a senior next year (I was only a freshman when I was onboard the HQ) at the recently-made infamous Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia.

Okay, as for Nintendo's next system, I guess the biggest thing Nintendo should concentrate on is massive third party support, and I suppose with the expensive cartridge format gone, they'll get better about this. Nintendo just needs to treat third parties like fellow developers instead of rival developers (by especially providing them with good, easy-to-use SDKs, not to mention a good, easy-to-program game system) so that a wide variety and quantity of games will be available at launch. Aside from this (the games themselves), I'd venture to say Nintendo's next area of focus should be on advertising. I can't remember the last time I've seen a TV ad for a 64 game, but it was just the other day I saw yet another aggressive, humorous, Playstation spot. I can't help but wonder how much of the market Nintendo is missing.

As for the system itself, I'm excited with Nintendo's choice to go with a DVD format; the Big N should have dropped carts a system ago. And as I mentioned before, I would think this move should attract more developers. Having played an import Dreamcast and being disappointed by its huge, bulky controller, I hope Nintendo goes back to something like its SNES controller design -- a smaller, rounded, more ergonomic feel. As Nintendo revolutionized controllers with the addition of the analog stick with the 64, I'd like to see Nintendo add another revolutionary feature to the Dolphin's controller (maybe an analog button or two?). A built in Rumble Pak that's powered off of the system would be great, and why not maybe six or eight controller ports? Something else I think would be neat is a game built into the BIOS; say when you start the Dolphin up with no disc, a menu screen appears wherein you could choose to edit controller pak (an obvious necessity) info, play a music (or movie?) CD/DVD, or play Donkey Kong or the arcade Mario Bros. or some other Nintendo classic -- not a full game, mind you, but just a little "mini-game" or something. Ah, but that's probably just silly.

Obviously, it's still way too early to chastise or laud Nintendo on any of its decisions in regard to Dolphin, but I suppose it's off to a nice start. As for me, I'll still be around; check out my soon-to-be-completed Web page at members.aol.com/vamooshka

; e-mail me at vamooshka@aol.com. Play to live, live to play.

Andrew Willcoxon

members.aol.com/vamooshka

vamooshka@aol.com