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Man's Best Virtual Friend
Via GameSetWatch, an L.A. Times article discussing the existential reality that exists inside the world of Nintendogs. From the article: " Today, the saga further unfolds with the Nintendogs phenomenon. That's a form of computer intelligence running on that experimental platform, the Nintendo DS, a hand-held game system far less advanced than the theoretical HAL 9000 but still powerful enough to let you walk around with a bunch of simulated beings living in your pocket. Yes: virtual pets. A game of tail-wagging, ball-chasing, romp-loving puppies is the latest evolution in the man-machine interface, now available for $29.99 at Wal-Mart and quality electronics retailers nationwide."
oh come on Zonk, that reads like a commercial, at least cut that bit out. I love Nintendo, but that last bit made me feel ashamed to read games.slashdot.org.
And please, Zonk gets to much flack. Just leave the man alone people and let him do his job.
Won't sell well in the United States? The game sold about 250,000 units within a week of its release.
http://crummysocks.com
I don't think the Nintendogs will do well in the "Good 'ol United States". It's very Japanese. And it shows.
Are you kidding? I made the mistake of waiting until days before our anniversary to buy this game for my girlfriend as a gift... It was completely sold out--and that was weeks after the game had already been released! I visited any store that even remotely had an electronics section and it was to no avail. In the end, I had to eventually order it online and get 2-day air shipping.
You don't think it will do well? It already has done well!
In Japan, most households do not have dogs, so they need video game simulations. In America, nearly half (or more) of the population has one or more dogs. I don't think our youth have become connected to video games so much that they will choose a simulation over the real thing.
See the funny thing is, my girlfriend already has a dog.
The beauty of Nintendogs is it even appeals to dog owners--especially dog owners! Because dog owners, (hopefully) by definition, love animals. Moreover, they appreciate more than the layman the differences between breeds, which are crucial to the enjoyment of the game--otherwise there'd be no point in having any more than one Nintendog or advancing through the game.
The last point shouldn't be overlooked. A big appeal of Nintendogs is in owning a purebred dog of a particular breed. Not everybody has either the time or money to do that. Getting the breed you want can be very difficult--especially if it's rare. I managed to find a breeder for the breed I like the most, Bernese Mountain Dogs. But do you know how much time an effort it took to find a good, ethical breeder for such a rare breed? It was ridiculous! I literally did research for over a year and drove for hours on end visiting multiple breeders before I finally found what I was looking for.
In the end, I got Misha (Pics). But, after my experience, I can definitely empathize with simply buying the Nintendogs. In fact, if you're not willing to do the legwork to get a good purebred dog ethically, I would recommend getting Nintendogs instead.
-Grym
Please keep advertisements in the banner on the side of the page so that my Adblock extension catches them.
"But Ma, I did already!"
"The real dog, Timmy."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that one."
"Her idea of wit is nothing more than an incisive observation humorously phrased and delivered with impeccable timing."
That's because Americans love puppies, of course! Everybody loves puppies, hence the amazing sales figures for Nintendogs worldwide!
I have to say though, I'm really looking forward to the inevitable Nintencats! Picture this:
I don't think our youth have become connected to video games so much that they will choose a simulation over the real thing.
EA Sports would care to disagree with you on that one, "Tubby." (I kid, I kid.)
oh come on Zonk, that reads like a commercial...
Says the guy with the signature that reads; "Web hosting solution only 8 dollars a month"
=P
"It was at the Ashley Paige runway show during Fashion Week that I realized how much I'd become bonded to my little buddy Ding Dong. A very lithe Bijou Philips was trotting toward the cameras in a $300 trim-tailored knit bikini, but I was busy opening a can of virtual wet food for Ding Dong, whom I'd just noticed was "famished," "thirsty" and "filthy." Oh my god, poor little Ding Dong -- I'm sorry I forgot about you!"
My photolog