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Nintendo DS Wireless Game Roundup
ImaNumber writes "Brittlefish has posted a nice roundup of the major multiplayer games currently available for the Nintendo DS. They make their picks on which ones have good wireless play and which ones just added it in as a gimmick." From the post: "If you have 2 Nintendo DS's or you know someone else who has one you've probably played some multiplayer games. And you want more. But which games are worth buying with the incentive of good multiplayer?"
1. Write a few words about a Nintento DS Game.
2. Include link to Amazon.com with referral.
3. Post blog link to Slashdot.org
4. ???
5. Profit!
Did Homer Simpson review these games? Five thumbs up for everything!
That's always been my problem - finding someone else with the DS. I see them on "House" - but not in real life. One other guy I know has a PSP, but that's about it. I don't know if it's where I life, the fact I'm a 32 year old guy who's got three kids (who think that Daddy's DS is very cool, mainly because I won't let them come within 10 feet of it - that's what the GBA is for
Is this just an issue where I'm outside the age curve, and if I was back in college these portable systems would be "all the rage"? [sarcasm]I mean, I guess I could go troll the junior high schools looking for Pokemon opponents, but my wife tells me it's a little creepy to hand around the school asking the kids if they want to play a game with my pocket computer.[/sarcasm]
Ah, well - at least as my kids get older, they become more challenging gamers (my daughter almost beats me at chess now, and I think I can get her trained as a good 'Soul Calibur' competitor with more time - at least before she starts noticing boys or something.).
52 Weeks, 52 Religions with John Hummel
It would really have been nice had they given a bit more information about these games - some can be played with only one copy of the game, others require each person having their own copy.
That, however, is by far the biggest strength of the DS, and the feature that, to me, puts it far above the PSP when it comes to multi-player gaming: multiple players off of one copy of a game. There are many times when your friends would play a game, but don't like it enough to own it. Or, the other way around, where you don't want to buy a specific game, but still enjoy playing it multi-player.
One of my friends picked up Bomberman, and now we can all play together off of his copy, and it is great fun. Sure, the PSP has fancy "console-quality" graphics and whatnot, but when I have a copy of X game and nobody else does I'm still just sitting there playing it by myself.
As well, while I'm certainly not the type to say things like "games used to be better in the old days!" and whatnot, most of the games for the DS are fun yet simple games that can easily be understood and played, and can be enjoyed by almost anybody, gamer or not. My girlfriend, for example, isn't overly thrilled by my PSP, but nearly every one of my DS games she's played she has loved.
I'm almost glad the system isn't a 3D powerhouse, because instead companies seem to be concerning themselves with making a game that is fun instead of a game that pushes the graphics but forgets about the gameplay. I think the PSP and DS actually compliment each other, instead of directly compete, and that's the best possible scenario in my opinion.
You missed the most obvious thing: the DS is the first console with a real pointing device and a screen for each player. That means strategy games are finally feasible. I want to see all the classic RTS titles - StarCraft, Z, Total Annihilation, Metal Marines... plus, the turn-based biggies too, like Master of Magic, X-Com, and Master of Orion II.
They don't drown you with k00L Gr4f1X. They have to rely on playability instead of glitz.
The PSP tries to do exactly that, and this is where it fails - most handheld buyers want gameplay. If they want eye candy, they won't be looking at a 2 inch screen.
Nintendo is doing so well in the handheld arena because they realize it's about gameplay, games, battery life, variety - NOT extra polygons.