Messages

1

General Gaming / PlayStation Portable, a serious contender to GBA?

« on: May 15, 2003, 04:05:56 PM »

I've thought about using discs in a portable system...while at first it seems like a terrible idea, it's not the worst thing possible.  After all, portable CD players work well enough through jostling, so that's not a true issue.

The real problem is the whole battery issue.  It does not seem feasible to keep a system alive for a reasonable time on any battery, with all the features they're putting into it.

Simply, it's got a lot of technical hurdles to overcome.  Batteries, price, medium, portability.  But if Sony is able to pull it all together, Nintendo could really be in trouble.  As I see it, it could open up a whole new market in portable gaming-people who buy XBoxes and PS2's, but not a GameBoy Advance because it's not "cool."  

2

General Gaming / Super Nintendo CD add on... bring future of Sega?

« on: May 14, 2003, 05:10:10 PM »

Have you guys read Game Over?  Recently?

The reason Nintendo pulled out of that deal is because Sony would have had most of the control over the Super CD.  Thus, had it gone through, it's very likely we would see Nintendo as a subordinate of Sony corporation today, or a partnership between the two in all things videogames.

Of course, Yamauchi was much too proud to let that happen (sheesh, it sounds like he's dead), which was why the deal didn't have a chance of getting through in the first place, once Sony revealed it's terms.

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General Gaming / Official thread:Infium labs Phantom system

« on: May 14, 2003, 05:01:36 PM »

Well, there's one way to find out:

They said it'd be at E3.  Is it?  Can anybody get a confirmation on this?

Personally, I think a fourth console is not what this industry needs.  Three is stretching it enough as it is.  

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Nintendo Gaming / OFFICIAL Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes Discussion

« on: May 14, 2003, 05:59:39 AM »

If you read the article on IGNPS2 carefully, you'll note that they refer to "launching" and "debuting" MGS3 on the Playstation 2.  A time-exclusivity contract could explain this.  Perhaps there's still a chance for the GameCube...

This is one of the few times that I hope IGN isn't a bunch of blabbering idiots.  Why would they put MGS3 news on IGNCUBE otherwise?

As for Twin Snakes, I'm a little disappointed by the graphics, but it's no big deal.  They won't blow anyone out of the water, but they're clean and attractive, at least.

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General Gaming / PlayStation Portable, a serious contender to GBA?

« on: May 14, 2003, 05:26:19 AM »

The way I see it, there are still the two most important questions to be answered:

How much will it cost?
and
How long will the batteries last?

I don't see them as getting more couple hours off of any battery with all the features they have.  But if they have a new battery technology, then it will be...(you guessed it) expensive.

The demise of 2d gaming is indeed a sad thing.  I for one would not like to go back to the N64/Playstation days of early 3d.  I mean, if I go back to play N64 games, I feel a compulsion to scream "MY EYES!"  It's low res, blurry, and murky.  The sharp 2d graphics the GameBoy Advance puts out are perfect for portable gaming.  I can't even imagine how hard it will be to see an aliased Playstation game on a portable system.

I really hope this comes to nothing.  The portable market is Nintendo's last bastion of strength, and if they lose it...I fear to think of the consequences.

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General Gaming / GameSpy Halo PC Impressions

« on: May 13, 2003, 11:43:18 AM »

Quote
Even early previews of Halo, when it was still XB and PC, said the XB version is a bit dumbed down for action fans, the PC version emphasizes strategy a lot more.

Read what KDR_11k said, KatDaddy, before opening your mouth.  It doesn't say "easier," it says simpler.  There's a difference.

7

TalkBack / Nintendo Announces Geist for GameCube

« on: May 13, 2003, 11:27:19 AM »

Yeah, I just checked.  Their previous games include:
  Mary-Kate & Ashley: Sweet Sixteen (2002)
  Mary-Kate & Ashley: Crush Course (2001)
  Danger Girl (2000)
  Duke Nukem: Land of the Babes (2000)
  Mary-Kate & Ashley: Magical Mystery Mall (2000)
  Die Hard Trilogy 2 (2000)
  Rugrats Studio Tour (2000)
  Duke Nukem: Time To Kill (1998)
  Rugrats: Search for Reptar (1998)
  Bug Riders (1998)
  Tigershark (1997)  
 
In short, a developer for hire-they make games from properties licensed by larger publishers.
...Which makes me hope Nintendo's not letting this one out the gates until it's good.

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TalkBack / Nintendo Announces Geist for GameCube

« on: May 13, 2003, 11:14:04 AM »

Does anyone know what the developer, n-Space, has made before this?  Can we expect good things from this Geist?

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General Gaming / "Next" On CNN

« on: May 12, 2003, 11:47:36 AM »

Both, actually-probably a montage someone threw together for CNN.  And the guy they interviewed had some trouble with periods:

Madden: 2.5 million

"Madden sold 25 million copies!"

I mean, at least give this job to someone literate.

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TalkBack / Nintendo: The Problems, The Plans and The Future

« on: May 12, 2003, 11:35:13 AM »

It is kind of interesting how all of these people, who spend quite a bit of time covering videogames, all feel that the GameCube is dead to the mainstream for this generation.  They commonly reflected that Nintendo should just get ready for 2005.  

Funny, how I find the GameCube to be a phenomenal system, and a fix for all the problems of the N64.  Heck, in my naivete, I figured the sticking point for the N64 was the lack of third-party support.  Of course, and I should have realized this earlier, it was just the image slapped onto Nintendo of being not cool.

And now it's gotten worse.  Games don't sell consoles, image does.

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TalkBack / Rogue Squadron III Confirmed

« on: March 23, 2003, 02:50:22 PM »

What I would really like to see would be capital ship controls-commanding the guns, perhaps from your starfighter.  Massive capital ship battles...I can only hope.

And having read the novels, and being an avid fan, I still maintain that Factor 5 accurately represented the Falcon and Slave 1.  They just aren't starfighters.

12

TalkBack / Yamauchi's Mariners To Not Play in Japan

« on: March 19, 2003, 09:09:29 AM »

Yay!  War is good! [sarcasm]

[new]

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TalkBack / Game Boy Player Delayed until June

« on: March 14, 2003, 09:59:53 AM »

This has happened before, I think-Nintendo delaying titles for a steadier release chart.  It doesn't really surprise me that much.  I'll really only be mad if F-Zero and Wario World are delayed, because they are actual new titles, whereas the Game Boy Player (which I'll get), is just a cool gadget.

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 07, 2003, 07:45:36 AM »

Seeing as this is wrapping up, I figure it's time for the obligatory Thank-You-For-Helping-Me-Beat-A-Dead-Horse-Into-The-Ground:

Cubedcanuck, I couldn't have done it without you.  Really.  

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 06, 2003, 10:54:42 AM »

Could you clarify what you mean by "high profile games?"

Because they sure got right to work on Mario, Zelda, and Metroid with the GameCube, and that's about as high-profile as it gets.  The only problem is that these games take time, and people also beg them to work on things other than sequels.  

But, yeah, a Miyamoto rythm game would probably be sweet.  

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 06, 2003, 09:29:12 AM »

Ah, the scanning.  Yeah, I heard some people hated that.  Personally, I loved it.  I seriously do crazy things to get all ounces of text out of a game.  In an RPG, I usually come back to towns after most every story event, to see if people say anything different.  I remember this one time, in Skies Of Arcadia Legends...
...Anyway, long story short, I took two hours to find absolutely nothing.  Yay!

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 06, 2003, 07:55:38 AM »

Looks like we can add EA to the list of "Nintendo's Friends."  While EA is quite obviously pragmatic, Nintendo helping them create exclusive features for GameCube games is a great step.  Though EA would never support Nintendo solely (or for that matter give it a first-port), any help is appreciated.  Keep up the good work, Nintendo!  

Nintendo, though you may be fighting against popular opinion that you are a loser company for babies, and no amount of exclusive content will change that, at least you can go on with the satisfaction of a full bank account.    

[positive]

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 06, 2003, 07:48:34 AM »

Thank you, cubedcanuck, for honestly stating your opinion.  

That said, I am positive that Congress investigated the videogame, music, and movie industries no more than a few years ago for advertising mature products to minors.  Perhaps illegal was the wrong term, but I know that they aren't supposed to do it.  Can anyone back me up on this one?  Anyway, Nintendo takes the high road and doesn't advertise inappropriately, while other companies do.  This just plain stinks, as Nintendo is getting hurt by being the good guy.

And yes, there are a great amount of games on all platforms that are creative.  I'm happy with current selections.  But as every year passes it seems to me that the industry turns more and more to sequels and copies, and less to knew and original ideas.  And I sure don't remember crashes in the music and movie businesses, but if it keeps happening to the games industry, well that will be a scary thing.  Perhaps, though, it will be good, a cleansing fire to wipe out and start over again.  I just hope the situation never becomes that dire.

And why shouldn't Metroid Prime have mass appeal?  Great game, cool hero (certainly cooler than Master Chief), and a game with a slick sense of style and beautiful graphics.  People aren't buying it becuase it's a GameCube game, which is associated with "kiddy" games.  Is that a good reason to not buy it?

And I suppose you are true when you say that "cool" is what people want.  It just frustrates me when people want cool over good.  I suppose I can't do anything about it, but it still doesn't seem right.  

And yeah, that crack was kinda funny (but you have to remember they don't have videogames to buy in the first place).  

Really, what I'm bothered about with image is not for certain games, it's for the entire console.  Becuase of the image of Nintendo, in the minds of the ignorant this extends towards all games on the system.  However a game like Metroid Prime (perhaps not Eternal Darkness, being somewhat ahead of its time) is overlooked by these buyers, when I know it would be a game they would buy.  Think about it: it has similar properties to Grand Theft Auto 3: stylish, good, intelligent.  Think how much it could sell!  But it doesn't, because of image.  If image is truly what people want to buy into, then why can't they buy into Metroid Prime?  

Luckily the game developers seem to be turning to Nintendo.  I am very pleased with all the ties being formed between Mr. Miyamoto and his peers at other companies.  If he can win their support, then the tides may just change.  I fear it is too late to make a comeback with the GameCube.  While not a failure, it will never live up to its true potential-that of an incredible, popular games system (i.e. SNES).  Maybe, just maybe, the slate will be clear in the next round, so that Nintendo can fight back for more than a third place finish.  

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 06, 2003, 05:16:06 AM »

Please, cubedcanuck, I can refute these in my sleep.

Congress has gotten on game companies' backs for advertising mature titles to children.  It's one of the reasons the ESRB was formed.

I've said many, many times that the industry will be hurting from a creative standpoint, as a dearth of unoriginal and over-hyped titles flood the market.  Remember, it's what killed the industry in 1983.

Read the reviews for Metroid Prime.  I'll give you some help: GameRankings.com: Metroid Prime.   Ask people on the forums what they think of it.  It is almost a consensus: Metroid Prime is not only good, but freakin' awesome.

As for your last point, that one is worthy of some consideration.  Yes, it is true that Sony and Microsoft are aiming for the largest consumer group in America, and doing well because of it.  Yet the groups Nintendo is aiming for, the groups that would accept its games, aren't becuase of image.  What does that have to do with competition?  If capitalism forces companies to make glitzy, shallow titles, much as how most of Hollywood operates, then it is not doing its job.  Theoretically, capitalism forces companies to make better products to compete.  In a creative format, however, where 'better' is subjective, it often turns to companies making "cooler" products.  I don't think that capitalism is infallible, certainly not in a market involving creativity.  

Logically, there is no alternative (you can't force people to buy good games).  However, it is incredibly frustrating to see it fail so miserably.  Nintendo makes the best products, right? (I don't even want to hear it this time, cubedcanuck).  Then why don't they sell better?  Image should not control the market, but it is.  But unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it-for it seems that good games will not change the mind of the general populace, not while it remains ignorant to truly good games.

Note: Yes, Grand Theft Auto 3 was good.  I'm not arguing that.  But as Denis Dyack said, it wasn't that good.  Not revolutionary-sell-8-million-copies-and-be-a-cultural-phenomenon-good.  Okay?  

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 06, 2003, 04:15:17 AM »

Quote
"Our survey results clearly show that the youth gamers driving this market are most interested in higher quality games and greater variety," said David Edwards, CEO and founder of Zanthus

Give me a break.  Interested in higher quality games, yet dismissing Nintendo as "kiddy?"  Interested in greater variety, yet only fueling demand for so-called mature games?  If people continue to buy these games, publishers will continue to focus on them.  We're already seeing a much greater ratio of M and T rated games to E rated games then we were two years ago.  I'm not saying this is in itself a bad thing, but it is when companies make a game bloody to get a higher rating and earn more sales.

As for Nintendo marketing their mature games, I feel the same as Rick on this one.  I greatly respect Nintendo for refusing to market their products to unsuitable audiences, but it frustrates me that their competitors have no qualms of doing this.  Nintendo just won't compete with their illegal tactics, and unfortunately it's hurting sales.

The attitude by the teens is just the kind of attitude that hurts the industry.  It fosters not good games but cool games, style over substance, and denies the chance for games which would easily appeal to them (i.e. Metroid Prime) from achieving the popularity they deserve.  Unfortunately I don't know what can change this, other than Nintendo marketing mature products to kids, which I really don't want to see happen.

I hope that in other countries image does not matter as much.  Perhaps then the next home console will get a chance to succeed.

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 05, 2003, 12:35:59 PM »

If you want to worry about getting off topic, let's get it back on.  What is Nintendo doing right, as for getting exclusive third-party content?  What are they doing wrong?  And what is their chance in the next generation, especially if all the old companies back them?

Personally, I see it going great for the acquisition of third party support.  The American support be not be there, and may never be for the GameCube, but it's adeqaute.  The Japanese support, however, looks great.  GameCube owners are getting unique and interesting titles all the time.  Sure many more go to the PlayStation 2, but it's understandable giving the installed base.

Doing wrong?  I'd only say they were doing wrong by not created more development teams.  Put the money back into the games!  It's an investment for the future, really.  And after seeing what Retro Studios is capable of, I'd like to see more similar ventures.

Next generation things could go either way.  If Nintendo launches on time, and with true support from the "old-school" of gaming; Namco, Capcom, Konami, Square-Enix, (as I currently see Japanese developers joining with Nintendo), then things could be different.  On the other hand, even that may not be enough to make it past the glitz and hype of the next system's from Sony and Microsoft.  It can't be called at the moment.  If, however, Nintendo comes late once again to the table, then they may not even see the sales of the GameCube.  Of course they won't give up and nor will their fans, but we may see only token support from the major third parties.  If Nintendo can't put up a timely showing with their new system, then they may lose all momentum and be forever a small player, one of the only supporters of its hardware.

I don't even want to think about what would happen if Sony or Microsoft tried to enter the handheld market.

And Super Mario Sunshine was not considered bad, it was merely considered disapointing by some.  That doesn't include me-it was perfectly difficult, I thought.

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 05, 2003, 08:33:07 AM »

I know they didn't invent it-I was just referring to them changing (and drastically at that) one of their most important franchises.  They knew people would be upset.  They did it anyway.  We were told to trust them, they knew what they were doing-and it looks like they were correct.  The game seems to be awesome.  

I'm not sure about Nintendo playing risks.  They've always been very conservative in business policies, not willing to spend more money then necessary.  But I think Nintendo understands, and always has, that it has to let its game designers create what they want in order to get the best quality games.  This strategy put Nintendo where it is now, with a reputation of only the best.  Unfortunately it seems that consumers today aren't as interested in buying the best quality games-the sales Nintendo gets from it fans are not enough to sell comparably to that of Sony or, in the US, Microsoft.

But at least it can keep going like this for a long time to come.  It does make a lot of money, and profits are rising (though that might be due to inflation-the graph Rick linked to didn't say), but I don't know how long it can go if it keeps losing public attention.  20 years at least, at worst, though.

I hope that the next generation is a fresh start, and Nintendo can lure back the public with enough Japanese support.  As long as Nintendo doesn't die, I'll be happy.  I'll be happier if it doesn' become a niche company.

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 05, 2003, 02:50:52 AM »

I'm really not surprised by your response.  You seem to enjoy refuting everything said in any thread.

Regardless, I feel I speak for most of the people here when I say that Nintendo makes, bar none, the best games, and if they left the games industry would hold little left.

Really, there's something to be said about a company that invented modern gaming.  Nintendo is one of the few companies left willing to try innovation instead of brash commercialism-I mean look at Wind Waker, it's quite a risky look, but they thought it would play better, so they did it anyways.

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TalkBack / Soul Calibur 2 European Release Date Revealed

« on: March 05, 2003, 02:26:51 AM »

Exclusive as compared to the arcade, I believe.

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Nintendo Gaming / Nintendo's Strategy is Paying Off

« on: March 05, 2003, 02:21:54 AM »

I don't know about that.  I mean, look at Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, or Skies of Arcadia Legends.  They can stand well enough as next-generation titles, but feature only minimal graphical upgrades.  

And the Dreamcast started out selling reasonably well.  The public seemed ready to buy it, until news of the Playstation 2 breached.

Quite simply, if games don't sell systems, the industry is in trouble.  If the big Japanese game designers do stick with Nintendo, we may see a turnaround next generation, but if Nintendo is consigned to little support, then I fear the industry will have degraded to a level where image is everything, and quality and innovation are things of the past.