Hmmm... Interestingly enough, I re-registered to reply to this topic.
In any case, there is a few things that I agree on, but must also point out. Even though Nintendo is losing in the overall worldwide market, if you notice, it's in Japan that it's starting to climb the ropes. This article was written from an American's point of view, therefore, ignoring the homeland's arena of gaming. XBox is getting killed over there. Even though it's been a while since I've checked, the last time I did, the PSOne was beating the XBox. Ouch.
Also, I'd like to say that I'm happy with the Online decision that Nintendo has given. I am a gamer that does in fact enjoy online games, but not for consoles. The online capabilities should stay on the PC's, where more players can join in on any kind of connection. It also seems a bit more... what's the word I'm looking for... obvious perhaps, that something that can handle chatting and the like while setting up connections for gaming would be more suited for the PC to handle. I mean, the headset idea that the PS2 and Xbox are basing thier online strategy on is rediculous. I mean, heck, I don't want to know what half the players sound like. Most of the gamers playing online sound like hillbillies. Dunno why.
Now, don't get me wrong, I like all three gaming systems. The PS2 is my main RPG source, but I don't play RPG's that often enough to enjoy it fully. The XBox I must say does include some impressive graphics, and it's more suited for FPS', but it's franchizes are quite weak and don't catch my interest. But perhaps that's because I'm an artist, and that's why Nintendo's offerings appeal to me more. I don't have all the time in the world to sit and play a game for a long long long time. Or even multiple games for that matter. Super long games are fun, but I don't play them and expect more games just to suddenly pop up after I'm done, like most "hardcore gamers" do. Those people have a tendancy to be XBox people. Oh well....
Now, the difficulty issue is what really takes my cookie. I mean, heck, I like challenging games. I feel that these so called "casual gamers" are in fact ruining the Video Game market and industry. If in my future of game making I'm going to have to make sure that the game I'm working on is tailored for some shmuck on the corner of 5th and Henry, who's never played some games before, and expect him to appeal to him just because it'll be cool with blowing up cars, killing civilians, and running from cops. I mean, seriously, those are the kinds of games that really do ruin the industry. For those of you who have the latest issue of GamePro, which in my opinion, is very biast in it's decisions, they have this small little thing featuring GodSmack. (It's right after the WindWaker walkthrough, I believe.) In any case, the small interview held points out that GodSmack's favorite game is..... GTA:VC. Why? Because it's geared for the gamer who doesn't play games, ie: Running around doing nothing but violence. That just makes me sick. Sure, a little violence is okay in games, like swords and stuff, but when a game comes completely centered on the idea of killing, it's kinda disturbing. I'm a 17 year old, captain of the swim team for my highschool, have had plenty of girlfriends, like to draw stuff, a Day of Defeat and CounterStrike addict, but you can bet sure as heck that GTA:VC didn't appeal to me. Neither did GTA3.
Anywho, back the the difficulty idea. I think games should have a difficulty selection, but also have the difficulty in the set mode be sort of... by choice. I love to explore games. I love the challenge of trying to be the first one to find something new (IE: The Secret Worlds in Metroid Prime. For those who haven't heard about it, zoom on over to
http://www.classicgaming.com/mdb for the Metroid Database's cover on Metroid Prime Tips and Tricks. I was the one who discovered the Secret World mentioned there.
) SO, bringing this to mind, I like to play the game until the very very end. Whether it be the first time through, or maybe even the third or fourth time, I like to find stuff. That's what dissapointed me in HALO. There was absolutely nothing to find, do, or complete after you've beaten it. And same goes with quite a bit of all these other "popular" games. They simply have no challenge to them, and end as soon as you're done. I'm not happy at all that you have to have these overly simple games to appeal to the masses. It just doesn't make sense. Sure, I can understand why some things, like the tediousness of some tasks, may get annoying, but heck, that's what makes games like the original Zelda so great. You couldn't get to areas and such without figuring out what's going on. I mean, heck, they removed part of the WindWaker's Triforce hunting so us Americans because they thought it would be "too tedious". What is it with this country, huh? Gamers complain when a game is linear, but when it's not linear, and emphasizes on exploration, it's shot down for not being linear, and called annoying for having to do some simple searching tasks. Sure, the Banjo days are a tad bit old, but at least they did offer some fun by running and collecting items, doing tasks. I still have yet figure out why doing such things gets people in such a tizzy.
Oh well, I suppose I should stop rambling on before someone shoots me for posting something this huge. I just thought I should voice my opinion. If you wanna talk to me some more, contact me via AIM: MyLonelyLog, and perhaps head on over to Starmen.net and check me out there. I've always got some artwork for you junkies as well
http://antago.virtualave.net/stuff (All hand drawn by me). Anywho, ciao.
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