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What Makes The DS So Popular?
Next Generation is running down the reasons why the Nintendo DS is so popular in Japan, by analyzing an article on the subject from Famitsu. From the article: "In any department store in Japan, there are DS demo stations. Usually the screens are scratched to high hell (I can't imagine what people are DOING with the stylus), and lately, there are a lot of games to choose from. On the launch day of Xbox 360, I recall seeing a line eight persons deep to play Super Mario Kart DS, and not one person even looking at the 360. This was in Shibuya Tsutaya, statistically the most foot-trafficked game retailer in all of Japan."
Curiouly, the article mentions that Shigesato Itoi may develop Mother 3 (That'd be Eathbound Two in America) for the Revolution.
*crosses fingers*
The DS is a strange and unique beast for gaming, with its dual screens, touch screen, stylus, microphone, etc. I think its this innovative approach that has led to some interesting games. I have a PSP and a DS, and evn though the PSP is more spangly in design and screen size, the PSP is positioned for the trad gamer market and the DS is going after a wider non-traditional market. That's why its puzzle games and sims are so popular. I never expected much from the DS, but I can't find many compelling games on the PSP. Whereas I've spent hours on Nintendogs, its just so clever. The DS is much cuter than I expected.
I have a DS and your comment struck me - especially the bit about no loading times.
I realised I've grown so accustomed to optical media that I forgot games used to just....work.
I think the reason the DS is so popular is a simple one... It's fun to play with.*Gasps*
Exactly. I'm not curious enough yet to plunk down money for Nintendogs or Animal Crossing (although I might get them "for my wife") but Mario Kart DS is the best game I've played in a very long time. That new Tony Hawk game looks promising too. Six to ten hour battery life, free internet play via WFC, touchscreen, $130? I'm there, screw PSP in the eye.
I've spent more time playing on these piddly little 3" screens since I got my DS than I've spent playing any of my PC games. In fact, aside from the occasional game of Subspace I haven't bothered with other games at all since I got the DS. I usually hate consoles, it's weird.
The only thing that could make the DS better for me is if I could get my hands on a developer kit for it.
"Bother," said Pooh, as lightning knocked out hi%#&(F*@NO CARRIER
It's impossible to determing wide spread apeal based on personal experience. Back in the day ...
When I was in High school everyone I knew owned a N64 and played Mario Kart and Goldeneye endlessly; in fact every party you'd go to had one of those games playing with four players (and nearly a dozen watching). I never even saw a Playstation until a friend borrowed one from his cousin, and everyone made fun of how crappy the games looked, the terible load times and how bad Tomb Raider and Metal Gear really were.
Guess what? The Playstation was one of the most popular systems ever and Metal Gear and Tomb Raider were some of the best selling games.
The reality is that everyone lives in a pocket of like minded individuals, which react in a very similar way (this is why in certain communities all you really see is Fords/Lincolins and in other communities you see more Hondas/Acuras. I'm not surprised that You and Everyone you know doesn't want a Nintendo DS; it could be that the DS isn't your thing, or you could be the type of braindead morron who thinks that Realistic Breast Physics is the most important thing in gaming.
i disagree when you say that nintendo has a good head on their shoulders. they like to gamble. luckily for them they gamble and they win. alot ...and BIG! lol.
every system theyve ever released has been a gamble as far back as the NES. console gaming was dead in the water. they gambled with even coming into the scene. they gambled using ROB the robot to garner shelf space.
they gambled with releasing the gameboy; the first interchangable handheld console. the strength of tetris winning over countless casual gamers.
they gambled with the virtual boy. [no comment... we all know how that one turned out]
they gambled with releasing the n64. crossing sony on the creation of a cd-based console, sticking with cartridge based media, and sticking to their rigorous third party contract agreements spelled the end of their reign of having the best third party developer backing.
with the n64, luckily they succeeded with creating reliable 3d control using the analog pad, and introducing the world to force feedback. making four control ports standard meant it was safer for developers to create "party" multiplayer games.
they released the gameboy advance while the original gameboy was already selling like hotcakes. they splintered their own market, but were able to reap the rewards accordingly since their major competition was already dead in the water.
with the gamecube they switched formats to optical media, but shunned using standard dvd. more publishers shied away from the company. the reorganized controller layout made many games difficult to port across consoles. [odd man out?]
they release the DS while the GBA is still the top selling handheld console in the world [and continues to sell strongly]. the ds has a radically different control scheme compared to a traditional handheld. something consoles have never seen before. nintendo admits that they were worried that the control scheme would frighten developers out of designing games around the "touch" concept.
and now along comes the revolution with its radical departure from the direction theyve lead controller designs in for the last 20 odd years.
nintendo is a gambling company, but what can you expect from a company that made its start selling playing cards?