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How Nintendo Could Win It All

ElFozzie writes "In a huge piece on mobile gaming, Pocket Gamer reports on the latest battles in the handheld console market and reveals why Nintendo might just have the right strategy to win this war. From the article: 'Let's go back the beginning, the games. It's all about the games, Nintendo's faithful fans will argue, and the DS has great, mad and unique games where the PSP so far has, at best, competent-to-very-good PS2-lite fare. Yes, but it's not that simple. See, I was there in the mid '90s playing the genre-defining Mario 64 and the breathtaking Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, perhaps the two greatest games of their generation, on the Nintendo 64. And I remember Sony going on to win that war, and PlayStation becoming the de facto shorthand for 'video games'."

245 comments

  1. de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by neonprimetime · · Score: 1
    de facto shorthand for 'video games'.

    • First it was Nintendo
    • Then it was Playstation
    • Now it's going to be Wii?
    If anything, the names are definitely getting better :-P
    1. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by xtracto · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Believe it or no, for a lot of people that nintendo is aiming (those in their 40s, 50s or 60s), what you are doing while sitting in front of the TV with that strange controller is "playing Nintendo". My father is one of them, I myself grew up with NES and SNES (although I had a 2600 that my father bought when I was like 5 or 6 Y old, I palyed a bit).

      I think Nintendo is still the sinonimous of video game, even between non gamers, and that is because in the NES era, there was nothing else*, just the Nintendo, unlike the Playstation era where you had 3 or 4 different systems making a real competition.

      * I know there were the Segas, NECs and even NEO-GEOs, but for your parents, you where always going to "play the Nintendo" to your rich friend house (who happened to have the Neo-Geo)

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
    2. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by tvon · · Score: 1

      Believe it or no, for a lot of people that nintendo is aiming (those in their 40s, 50s or 60s), what you are doing while sitting in front of the TV with that strange controller is "playing Nintendo".


      Woah, how old do you think NES fans are? Try late 20's and early 30's. I'm 29, and while I had an Atari when I was very young, the Christmas after the NES came out holds the most memorable video game experiences of my childhood.
    3. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by SoapDish · · Score: 1

      Well, I myself will be 21 in a month, and I'm an NES fan. My brothers got one, and I'd play it. It's amazing how much time you've got to play Dragon Warrior when you're not in kindergarten yet (or just in kindergarten). We also got the SNES the day it came out, so I was playing that at about 7.

      That being said, the GP is clearly talking about our parents. They were the ones saying 'he's playing nintendo'. We'd say we're playing video games on a sega, et cetera, because we knew all about what we were doing.

    4. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by xtracto · · Score: 1

      Woah, how old do you think NES fans are? Try late 20's and early 30's. I'm 29, and while I had an Atari when I was very young, the Christmas after the NES came out holds the most memorable video game experiences of my childhood

      No no, you did not understood. Nintendo is aiming to NON PLAYERS and Casual players in this generation. Have you seen the promotional videos of the Wii? a lot of them have those grandmas and Joe/Jane Sixpack in them.

      That was what I was talking about when saying "people nintendo is aiming", and, a lot of them where "non players" when the NES came in. That is why I stated that, for them Nintendo *means* home video-game system.

      Anyone remember the movie "Hudson Hawk". In some of the lines, the main girl asks the main character if he "wants to go to her home to play nintendo", he asks "what is to play Nintendo?" as he was in jail for a lot of time [note, she was referring to have a Sublime eXiting eXperience].

      I think, that demonstrate the level of "common knowledge" that Nintengo had in those times. And again, as I said before, a lot of that people are now 40 to 60.

      --
      Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
    5. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by masterzora · · Score: 1

      Hell, I'm 17 and *I* grew up with a NES and SNES. Granted, I was three when the SNES came out, but those were definitely good times. I think my most memorable moments were the days that my brother *finally* let me play his copies of Zelda I & II and Dragon Warrior.... ah, yes.

      --
      Remember, open source is free as in speech, not free as in bear.
    6. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by bittmann · · Score: 1

      "First" it was Nintendo?

      Ahh...all the times we'd get together to "play Atari" forgotten...

    7. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by ZakuSage · · Score: 1

      Don't forget when people called everything the Atari, because some sitll do. My grandmother called my PS2 an atari yesterday, in fact.

    8. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You nailed it.

      Despite my dad owning a Colecovision and a C64, when we had the NES, we would go to the video store on fridays to "rent Nintendo's"
      Then I got the SNES, and we would continue to go "rent Nintendo's" for it. Then I got a Sega Genesis; but we continued to "rent Nintendo's" for it. :P

    9. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by TechNin · · Score: 3, Funny

      Because is it a Nintendo System and there are endless jokes that can be made here I have decided to call Nintendo's new console:

      The Wii Nintendo Entertainment System

      Or

      The WiiNES

    10. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've seen lots of people crack this joke, but I still don't get it...

      Is it meant to be pronounced "Whines" or to rhyme with finesse. The latter would be the more correct pronunciation, but neither is even humourous, or am I missing something??

    11. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Penis.

    12. Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go for Wii Nintendo Entertaintment Recreation System or WiiNERS

  2. Heck.... by caffeinatedOnline · · Score: 4, Interesting

    With the way the Nintendo is marketing the Wii, they just might win the console war as well. Now mind you, I am not a Nintendo fan, haven't owned a system by them since the N64. I was one of those people standing out in line in the bitter cold when the 360 launched so I could have a chance to buy one. Now it sits in my entertainment system to occasionally be turned on to watch a DVD or smack down my wife/friends in a friendly game of DOA. It is all speculation on my part, but I will be buying a Wii as soon as I can, and can see it being used often, definitely more often then the 360. It is something that my 2 year old can play, my wife can play, my friends can play, and something that I would want to play. Throw in all the back catalog titles, and it might be used more then the cable box.

    --
    The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel...
    1. Re:Heck.... by DorkusMasterus · · Score: 1

      I'm in the same boat, (except I don't yet own a 360)... I'm entirely certain I will purchase a Wii close to launch, if not on launch. I'm typically not that kind of person. I'm an avid gamer, and I love what hi-def, next-gen brings to the table, but if I can get nearly the entire back-catalogue of NES, SuperNES and N64 games as well as get the cool new games designed to utilize the Wii's strange capabilities... that's what gaming is all about! The reason all of us got into gaming in the first place, was that it was new... exciting... imaginative. While I still don't like the name, the console is one of the first in a long time to really bring that back. Playstation did it with discs that were black (admit it, it was really cool at the time), with the combination of rumble and analog controls, with great games, and all in one package. Before that, Nintendo brought it with the first "arcade-quality" system that you could own in the home. I remember thinking to myself "Why are these people paying money to play Super Mario Bros? I can go home and play it for free!" That was a cool moment. Anyway, Wii seems to be taking this one step further, bringing innovation and by breaking gameplay conventions, bringing something unique to the home, and that's what's going to help it sell. I would not be surprised if it outsells the PS3, claiming console dominance this round. Next round, who knows?

    2. Re:Heck.... by apoc06 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I feel like I'm the only nay-sayer here, but I love and hate the hype behind the wii's virtual console.

      It's great to be able to have instant access to nintendo's full first party backcatalog, a few third party games, and the sega and TG-16 stuff, but then what? Personally, I've had access to those for years now. They are great for a few hours, but not worth spending money buying. Worse yet, most of us have grown up buying nintendo games. Ultimately, some titles will have to be bought all over again. They are using the iTunes example for video games, however iTunes always had the ability to import your current CD collection. If I have a cartridge copy of Super Mario 64 and I want to play it on my wii, I dont want to have to pay $10-20 to buy it again.

      Until nintendo comes up with some way to allow games already bought by a user to be provided free, or imported onto the wii, I feel like it's a black mark on an otherwise wonderful idea.

    3. Re:Heck.... by AugstWest · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Well, I've got the whole media center thing, and I've got all of the NES/SNES content playable, as well as MAME and Intellivision and ColecoVision and just about any other console you can imagine. It's all on my old XBox, and it works flawlessly. DVD player? Yup. Media Center? Yup. DivX/XVid/AVI/MPG/MP4/RM content? Yup.

      It's the single greatest device I've ever bought, and Microsoft had nothing to do with its greatness. Hell, they try to prevent it.

    4. Re:Heck.... by Miaowara_Tomokato · · Score: 0

      If I have a cartridge copy of Super Mario 64 and I want to play it on my wii, I dont want to have to pay $10-20 to buy it again.

      I certainly hope you won't pay that much, especially considering that Nintendo has given a price range of ~US$4.50 to US$8.99.

    5. Re:Heck.... by Total_Wimp · · Score: 1
      It is something that my 2 year old can play, my wife can play, my friends can play, and something that I would want to play.

      But is it something the majority of households want to play? The argument of the aricle is that Nintendo will "win." This is your argument too. But in order to do that, you not only need great games that a lot of people want to play, you need great games that a majority (or at least a plurality) of people want to play.

      Looking at the numbers of the last generation, the kind of games most people wanted to play were the type of games they were likely to find on the PS2 or Xbox. Though the Nintendo games were often terrific, far fewer people thought they were worth their hard-erned cash.

      Even on the handheld gaming front, TFA says
      The DS has sold around 16-17million DSs; Sony has sold around 16-17million PSPs. So this is no walkover - it's a battle still raging!
      Clearly, many people are speaking with their dollars that PSP/PS2-style games are something they prefer on handhelds as well.

      But now lets come full circle. Also from TFA
      Handheld format -- installed base (Japan)
      DS (and DS Lite) -- 8.1 million
      GBA SP -- 5.5 million
      PSP -- 4.4 million
      Clearly some people much prefer the Nintendo mix of games. Those people have a tendency to live in Japan. Nintendo will never "win" if the only hearts and minds it captures are in Japan and the rest of the world prefers a different style of gaming. They'll be very succesful (the are very successful) but "winning" will stay beyond their grasp.

      TW

      P.S. Were you getting the full implication of those handheld numbers? If the total sales are equal, but DS sold nearly 4 million consoles more in Japan, that means that the DS sold nearly 4 million consoles less in the rest of the world. These numbers imply that the DS is actually "losing" everywhere but Japan.
    6. Re:Heck.... by b1t+r0t · · Score: 1
      I don't expect them to really do it, but I sure would like to see a cartridge reader accessory (one per cartridge type would be fine), like how the N64 had the ability to read GameBoy cartridges. The real problem would be non-savvy users getting angry when a cartridge doesn't work, either because the contacts are dirty or because it does something weird that the emulator gets wrong.

      It would be really sad if the primary reason they didn't do it was because someone might turn it into a generic cartridge dumper, because basically everything has been dumped already.

      Oh yeah, and it would also be cool if it could have CD system emulators too, like for Turbo CD, Neo Geo CD, and Sega CD. (Then you could play all of ten or so of the good Sega CD games, most of which go for $50 or more anyhow! Wiiii!)

      --

      --
      "Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
      "Open source is evil." - Microsoft
    7. Re:Heck.... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They are using the iTunes example for video games, however iTunes always had the ability to import your current CD collection.

      And your tape collection? And your vinyl and eight-track collection? Okay, if you had a tape/record/8-track player you could record onto your computer, encode, and then add it, but that requires compatible players and inputs, analgous to owning an older game console which you could just use instead, which brings me to the Wii virtual console:

      How would this work? Without providing a way to insert a NES/SNES/N64 cartridges, the Wii itself won't be able to use your old games. So how would Nintendo know that you owned the old game? You probably don't have receipts or UPC symbols for the games... are you going to ship your old cartridges to Nintendo HQ? The shipping would cost almost as much as Nintendo has been quoting for their VC games.

      It's a fine idea you have, but not really practical. Repurchasing content is fairly normal when moving to a new format especially when it drastically changes physical form factors. Compatability among multiple forms of cartridges isn't something that any console does; it only makes sense in the generations that have started to use optical disks. Nintendo seems to be offering very reasonable prices for old games -- I'd say $10 is a good price for anything N64 generation, and hopefully NES era games will be very cheap or come in bundles. I think it's unfair to call it a "black mark" that the Wii won't read your Mario64 cartridge. If that's really what you want, you should have kept your N64.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    8. Re:Heck.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      caffeinatedOnline, it's the people like you and your wife who are going to help Nintendo win the console war: the people who aren't regularly Nintendo fans, but who see the Wii, and say "damn, that's cool," or, in the case of your two-year-old, "hey, it looks like you can just pick it up and start playing, no problem!"

      What Nintendo has done is, essentially, hooked both hardcore gamers (which you may be, standing in the cold for the 360) and non-gamers alike. Hardcore gamers will be offered challenging, immersive titles, I'm sure. Non-gamers will be offered the same, but this generation around, all they have to do is move the controller around and maybe a thumb, too. There won't be 200,000 buttons on the controller to confuse the hell out of them.

      Every single person I talk to is excited about the Wii, and I think that Nintendo is going to have overwhelmingly tremendous success with it. I know I'm sold.

    9. Re:Heck.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Note: Game sales are way way WAY off on DS v PSP....

      A lotta PSP's were sold but not alot of games have been sold...

    10. Re:Heck.... by nevergleam · · Score: 3, Informative
      That price range was for games newly developed for the virtual console, not classic titles.

      http://wii.ign.com/articles/711/711629p1.html

      There's no confirmation yet as to prices of classic titles.

    11. Re:Heck.... by Christopher+Rogers · · Score: 1

      Perhaps having a cartridge plug-in add-on isn't such a bad idea... you can plug in a cartridge and you can either play it "live," or you can possibly import it into the Wii's Virtual Console. And since the accessory plugs in with USB you can also plug it into your computer. But hey, why not? You can use your Gamecube discs without having to buy them again to use on the Wii, so why not NES, SNES, or N64 games, if you're willing to buy an adapter?

    12. Re:Heck.... by c_forq · · Score: 1

      The DS has sold around 16-17million DSs; Sony has sold around 16-17million PSPs. So this is no walkover - it's a battle still raging!

      This omits a very important fact. Look up both consoles on Wikipedia, notice under the PSP the number is given as units shipped. Sony always does numbers by what they shipped, vs. Nintendo marking what has sold. So while 17 million PSPs have shipped, how many of those are actually in the hands of consumers?

      --
      Computers allow humans to make mistakes at the fastest speeds known, with the possible exception of tequila and handguns
    13. Re:Heck.... by masklinn · · Score: 1

      The SNES had the ability to read GameBoy cardridges (including GBC) first. I should know, I had the adapter.

      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    14. Re:Heck.... by masklinn · · Score: 1

      Except that sony has NOT sold 16 million PSPs, they have shipped 16 million PSPs to retailers, which is a very different beast.

      Nintendo, on the other hand, has sold 16 million DS.

      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    15. Re:Heck.... by Total_Wimp · · Score: 1

      I'd love to see other, more authoritative numbers, but this particular pro-Nintendo article says "sold" in both cases. If you have other numbers with a "shipped" next to the Sony side and you can supply a link, I would be very grateful.

      Thanks.

      TW

    16. Re:Heck.... by masklinn · · Score: 1
      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    17. Re:Heck.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But that is why Nintendo will win and MS will not: most people won't go to the effort that you did.

    18. Re:Heck.... by The+Eagle+Maint · · Score: 1

      I think you're missing the point of Nintendo's strategy. It's obviously true that PS2 and Xbox games sold more than GC games last generation. But what Nintendo is going after is the rest of the gamers - not those who play PS2 and Xbox as much. If 10% of all people are hardcore gamers, thsoe who last generation bought all the games, Nintendo is going for (at lesat some of) the other 90% - and if they're successful, this is why they're poised to 'win' next generation.

    19. Re:Heck.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ask, and you shall be owned.

    20. Re:Heck.... by entmike · · Score: 1
      It's the single greatest device I've ever bought, and Microsoft had nothing to do with its greatness.
      They uhhh, made the console, didn't they? Hey, at least thank them for giving you a cheap x86 platform to put it all on!
    21. Re:Heck.... by Total_Wimp · · Score: 1

      Thanks! Good numbers are hard to find. Is there any industry concensus on the delta between Sony's shipped and sold?

      TW

    22. Re:Heck.... by b1t+r0t · · Score: 1

      The SNES wasn't reading the cartridges, the adapter was. The adapter was a nearly complete GameBoy which merely used the SNES as an I/O slave.

      --

      --
      "Open source is good." - Steve Jobs
      "Open source is evil." - Microsoft
    23. Re:Heck.... by Sparr0 · · Score: 1

      And there is nothing wrong with that. Components from the 80s and 90s have been combined and miniaturized so many times in the last 5-15 years. Nintendo could easily produce a console today the size of an original game boy that had a multi-purpose slot that accepted NES, GB, SNES, GBA, and N64 games and used a nice simple usb connection for controllers (for which adapters can and have been made to use the original controllers). It would cost MAYBE $100 in components (I could build such a system around a GP2X handheld console for $300, and thats including an unneccessary 3.5" QVGA LCD).

      Will it ever happen? No. Not from Nintendo anyways. But give it a few more years. As the patents on the original hardware run out there will be more knockoffs like we have recently seen for the NES. An all-in-one console that doesnt rely on enmulation could happen.

    24. Re:Heck.... by ro_coyote · · Score: 1

      Except, the Wii would be perfect for those who aren't so tech savy (I don't mean only general users, but also people who hardly even touch electronics), and all without the fuss of modding (hardware and/or software), voiding warranties, finding themselves banned from online services (ex. Xbox Live), finding compatible emulators and correctly operating and configuring them (ex. controls, filters, framerate issues, etc.), and/or wading through illegal ROM sites. I imagine it'll be very user-friendly and easy to use even for those who normally don't play games, and right out of the box the Wii will already be so many consoles rolled into one... and the games can be legally purchased. Nintendo probably won't touch bases with every past console out there (including the Intellivision, my first game console), but it's still a pretty good deal, easy and legal for everyone.

      I can't really say anything about the DivX/XVid/AVI/MPG/MP4/RM/etc. stuff (I don't know if multimedia will be the Wii's strong point, aside from optional DVD playback), and not denouncing any means of emulation or anything, but I imagine the modding/emulation community is a minority compared to the Wii's potential market (in terms of its virtual console alone) of newcomers, casual gamers, and hard core gamers alike, and they'll gladly eat it up and ask for more.

    25. Re:Heck.... by Meagermanx · · Score: 1

      Whoa. I saw the /. article and thought they were talking about the classics, and I was kind of bummed that the prices were that high. For new content, however, that's a whole new ballgame.
      Thanks for pointing that out.

    26. Re:Heck.... by stonecypher · · Score: 1

      Luckily, the market doesn't pander to thieving scum like you.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    27. Re:Heck.... by stonecypher · · Score: 1

      dont want to have to pay $10-20 to buy it again.

      Luckily, the price point is $4.99 to $7.99. And, frankly, I'd pay that to play Zelda 2 again; with current gas prices it's cheaper than the trip to the mall alone, let alone the hour or four it takes to track down a copy. And, god forbid I want something rare, like Lolo 3, Nobunaga's Ambition, North and South or what have you.

      There were more than 1200 games in English for the NES alone. Chances are there's something in that back catalog that you haven't already paid for.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    28. Re:Heck.... by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      thats assuming that nintendo has made arrangements with all of their former third party developers. back when nintendo was king, they burned alot of bridges with their third party developers, hence why there were fewer releases for the n64 and gamecube.

      many of the old companies have since then folded. their IP is up in the air. other companies have since then been bought out by other companies.

      there are other "iffy" situations that have been discussed here in /. before as well. such as second party games made by rare; now owned by their competitor: microsoft. donkey kong is a nintendo IP, but the snes and n64 versions were developed by rare. nintendo can not directly port the code since it does not belong to them, but MS can not make a port of it either since it is a nintendo property.

      MS let rare develop on the GBA, but only because the GBA isnt in direct competition with MS. even though they stand to make money from the deal, letting nintendo have the rare backcatalog available on wii would undermine their x360 success, so i wouldnt hope to see killer instinct, perfect dark, banjo kazooie, goldeneye, et al on wii anytime soon.

      as the launch draws closer, im curious to see how nintendo lays out its plans fully.

    29. Re:Heck.... by rjung2k · · Score: 1

      "But is it [the Nintendo Wii] something the majority of households want to play?"

      If the Wii is non-gamer-friendly enough to attract folks to buy one and play it even occasionally -- versus the current consoles, which are too intimidating for non-gamers to play at all -- then the answer is "yes." I can easily see a non-gamer like Oprah Winfrey playing with a Wii on television and having fun; I can't imagine her doing the same thing with a PS3 or Xbox 360.

      And my unofficial non-scientific analysis is that Nintendo is going to surprise the skeptics once Wiis start flying off the shelves.

    30. Re:Heck.... by stonecypher · · Score: 1

      Yeah, Nintendo's already announced that they've acquired rights to more than 2/3 of the back catalog. Frankly, any company which didn't sell them would be idiots.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    31. Re:Heck.... by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      Did I miss this? Where did you hear that?

      And was square-enix included? I'm mainly interested in Super Mario RPG, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, FF2/3US and hopefully translations of FFV and Seiken Densetsu 3.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    32. Re:Heck.... by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      Pretty big. It should even out in the end though, since retailers won't reorder stock that hasn't sold.

      Right now, the best figures I can find say unless Sony sold around 9 million between Europe and Walmart, there's no way they've sold all those shipped units.

      Here's what I'm basing that on.
      NDS(+ DS Lite) - 8 million Japan, 5 million US.
      PSP - 3.5 million Japan, 5 million US.

      Per NPD(which isn't 100% reliable[conjecture when it comes to walmart] but the numbers there do match what Nintendo has stated) and Media Create. So that places DS European sales at around 3-4 million based on what Nintendo said about their sales at E3. I don't know a good sales tracking source for Europe, so that last figure is pure conjecture.

      From some stuff I've seen(not good sources that track this stuff for a living), as of febuary of this year, Europe looked like this:
      DS 3.7 million, PSP 2.4 million.
      But I can't find a good source for that. It's in line with Nintendo's statements, but that's about it.

      Presuming all of this stuff is correct, that would put global at:
      Nintendo DS - 16.7 million
      PSP - 11 million

      Or about 1/3rd of all shipped PSPs not selling.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    33. Re:Heck.... by mgblst · · Score: 1

      Yeah, i wish he hadn't stolen that copy of Rolling Thunder - I was hoping to play it again, but since he stole the last one I won't be able to.

      Can you put it back when you finished playing it?? thanks!

    34. Re:Heck.... by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      I'd say that's also pretty much given, except maybe Final Fantasy V, because that's due to be released on GBA soon.

      It would be interesting to see if they will have some way of transfering these games on a DS, as it's unlikely Seiken Densetsu or Super Mario RPG will be coming to GBA.

    35. Re:Heck.... by adam.skinner · · Score: 1

      "Getting my song back, f#$!er!"

    36. Re:Heck.... by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      yeah, i mean i will lose audio quality, but if i truly wanted to convert my vinyl and tape to mp3s to play on my ipod, it is possible. unless nintendo opens the file format for whatever they will be using as ROMs, and they dont sue the hell out of anyone ingenious enough to create a multi-card reader, there will be no equivalent way to convert games as i could convert vinyl, tapes, or even 8 track.

    37. Re:Heck.... by apoc06 · · Score: 1

      well, seeing that sony owns like 20% which equates back to about 9% of square-enix, sony has alot of pull in saying which titles will be released from the square enix backcatalog.

      above is solid fact, but here i'm only repeating a unsourced, unconfirmed rumor, so excuse me if it sounds like FUD. apparently sony bought a major stake in square to ensure that the final fantasy series was playstation exclusive. when they merged with enix, that contract was "amended" so that only non-canon final fantasy games will be released on non-sony systems.

      again, thats an unsourced rumor that i dont have the time to go research, but maybe there is some truth to that. as square-enix, i dont want to upset a company thats a major 10% stakeholder. however if that were truly the case, why is final fantasy3 being released only on the DS; a sony competitor?

    38. Re:Heck.... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 1

      But doing that with your vinyl would in any case require a record player. Apple doesn't supply you one; you need it yourself. Similarly, you need an N64 to play N64 games. No, you can't 'transfer' the game to your Wii, but why do you need to when you've got a functioning N64?

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
  3. Some things that will help by Dark+Paladin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've been talking about this with my wife, who is actually interested in seeing the Wii in action (she's hooked on the Brain Games).

    Some things that I think would help cement Nintendo:

    1. DVD player - I believe word is that the DVD player aspects are a "plug in" - I'm assuming something like the original Xbox codec plug in device to enable DVD playback. Personally, I'd just as soon see it just built in - bite the bullet on the cost, Nintendo, and people will go "Hm - $200, and it plays games *and* my DVD movies", instead of "Hm - $200, but I have to spend another $30 to play movies? Eh."

    2. Push the online gaming. While I'm a single player gaming whore, I still think that online is the way to go. I'm very disappointed that Tecmo is bringing Pangya Golf to the Wii, but not the online play! Maybe they feel it won't matter much, but I think the difference can be crucial. Nintendo should make it clear in cases like these that online play is to be built in - or the game doesn't get ported. I'm not saying they should make online play when it doesn't exist - but in clear cases like this, but the sucker in.

    3. Advertise, advertise, advertise. Advertise the sports games during Oprah for exercise. Advertise "Red Steel" during "24" and such. Get the word out, and don't just show the game - show how people play it. Let people see that controller until there isn't a person in the world who doesn't go "Oh - that's that Wii thing - looks interesting."

    We'll have to see what happens, but Nintendo could take back a lot of market. So far, I'd say their making a lot of the right moves.

    1. Re:Some things that will help by SpiritOfGrandeur · · Score: 1

      1. DVD player...
      It is not going to have HD capabilities. Most people will not use it for a DVD player even with the 30$ upgrade.

    2. Re:Some things that will help by sirwired · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm not sure the ability to play DVD's makes any difference at all anymore. When you can buy an entire player from your local drugstore for $20 (on sale), I really don't think folks are going to avoid the Wii because it doesn't play DVD's right out of the box.

      If 99.9% of the homes that will buy a Wii already have a DVD player, isn't it to everybody's advantage to not have to pay the licensing fees for yet another player?

      SirWired

    3. Re:Some things that will help by yeoua · · Score: 1

      I personally disagree with the built in dvd player. Who doesn't have one right now?

      As for those who want it to be the media center... the Wii isn't about that. It's small enough to just fit into a nook among the rest of your media center. And besides, you could spend under $50 to get yourself a dvd player if needed. For the XBOX and PS2 (and the XBOX360 and PS3) it might have been necessary since the size of the thing might have prevented easily fitting in both the console AND the dvd player.

      As for me, I already have a dvd player sitting right here on my desk. It's a computer. I don't need another one, and wouldn't want Nintendo to foot the bill on something that quite a few people have already. And well... if you don't have it, the dvd dongle costs less than most stand alone dvd players. So the option is the best way to go in my opinion.

    4. Re:Some things that will help by Yahweh+Doesn't+Exist · · Score: 2, Insightful

      DVD player!? are you fucking kidding!?

      why tax EVERYONE for such a non-feature?

      who has a DVD collection but not a DVD player? who likes the idea of buying DVDs but hasn't bothered to get one yet? who can't buy a DVD player for about 10 big macs anyway? who thinks DVD playback is actually worth writing on the box, let alone comprimising an entire "it's all about fun games" business strategy and marketing campaign over?

      omg. you're so wrong.

    5. Re:Some things that will help by Dark+Paladin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How many people want both a DVD player and a Wii on their entertainment unit?

      Sure - I could go buy a $30 DVD player, but now I've got two pieces of electronics cluttering my home. Nintendo could offer to clear some of that up. Lord knows, most people I know want less electronics, not more.

    6. Re:Some things that will help by Tweekster · · Score: 1

      Seriously, I dont think anyone cares about dvd playback anymore. Sure it was nice with the xbox, but hell by that time dvd players were becoming so cheap it was not a big deal

      --
      The phrase "more better" is acceptable English. suck it grammar Nazis
    7. Re:Some things that will help by earthbound+kid · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Speculation about the DVD player attachment follows:

      Nintendo has said before the DVD player will be an attachment, which has made some people think it will be an entire external drive that plugs in. My theory is that there is a reason for this. Gamecube discs spin backwards from DVDs and CDs. This is one reason why almost no one has pirate Gamecube discs. Since the Wii is backwards compatible, it too will probably spin backwards for at least Gamecube discs and possible Wii ones as well. Accordingly, I think that the Wii's main drive will be entirely incapable of spinning in the usual direction as an anti-piracy measure, necessitating the external reader for DVDs.

      It's a theory, that's all, but see if it doesn't turn out to be true.

    8. Re:Some things that will help by ElleyKitten · · Score: 2, Insightful
      1. DVD player - I believe word is that the DVD player aspects are a "plug in" - I'm assuming something like the original Xbox codec plug in device to enable DVD playback. Personally, I'd just as soon see it just built in - bite the bullet on the cost, Nintendo, and people will go "Hm - $200, and it plays games *and* my DVD movies", instead of "Hm - $200, but I have to spend another $30 to play movies? Eh."
      Who's waiting for the Wii to come out to get a DVD player? Who is interested in the Wii is going to have a problem sliding their Wii next to their DVD player? If the Wii does have built in DVD player, who's going to throw out their current DVD player? The only people I know who might have problems fitting the Wii in their entertainment center are lacking space because they have ten other game systems shoved into it and will keep buying game systems even if they have to start hanging them from the ceiling.

      Seriously, what is the big deal about DVD playback? Sure, it was cool back when the PS2 came out and no one had a DVD player, but now everyone does. Also, the reason the Wii is going to be so much cheaper than the PS3 and Xbox360 is because they're ignoring everything besides what will make fun games. DVD playback isn't nescessary for fun games. Not to mention, the DVD playback liscensing fees go to Sony (amoung others). Why should Nintendo send money to their competitor so that their product has a feature most won't use? I just don't get it.
      --
      "What is Internet Explorer 7? Are you saying we can't access the normal internet?" - I love tech support. Really.
    9. Re:Some things that will help by bassgoonist · · Score: 1

      IIRC the discs don't spin backwards, the laser reads from the outside in and THATS why people can't pirate the discs.

      --
      You can tell I'm an aries because of my ram.
    10. Re:Some things that will help by earthbound+kid · · Score: 2, Informative
      Well, I suck.

      From the Wikipedia,
      The Nintendo GameCube uses a unique storage medium, the GameCube Optical Disc, a proprietary format based on Matsushita's optical-disc technology; the discs are approximately 8 centimeters (3 1/8 inches) in diameter (considerably smaller than the 12 cm CDs or DVDs used in competitors' consoles), and the discs have a capacity of approximately 1.5 gigabytes. Contrary to popular belief, GameCube discs are not physically read any differently from a standard DVD disc, but are encrypted and contain a 'bar code' unreadable by most DVD drives. This move was mainly intended to prevent piracy of GCN titles, but like most anti-piracy technology, it was eventually cracked. By exploiting a flaw in Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II, users were able to connect their GameCubes to their PCs and run homebrew programming on the console.

      Damn you, popular belief! *Shakes fist*
    11. Re:Some things that will help by Digital+Vomit · · Score: 1

      1. DVD player

      DVD players started becoming ubiquitous six years ago. Everyone has one already. And anyone who doesn't have one can pick one up for $30. Adding DVD playback functionality won't be much of an added incentive. Nintendo is smart to leave that out.
      --
      Modern copyright is theft of culture from everyone and it retards the progress of the useful arts and sciences.
    12. Re:Some things that will help by martinultima · · Score: 1

      Personally, I'd rather have my DVD player in a regular desktop computer than a game console – DVD-ROM drives can play both movies and computer discs, and they're dirt cheap (I know a place near where I live that sells the things for $5 each; I've already gotten three ;-) And not only that, but with the right software you can rip the DVD's to your hard disk for faster playback later – you only have to hunt for a virtual file, not a physical plastic disc that's probably scratched and covered in dust anyway. Plus computer screens are considerably higher-resolution than TV's anyway.

      And one last thing: With the right equipment you can hook your computer up to your TV – I have a TView Micro which I sometimes use with my own machines, which just plugs into the standard monitor port and outputs onto the regular component video jack – and a lot of graphics cards have built-in TV out. If you've got a sufficiently quiet machine [you can get a dead-silent Compaq DeskPro for $55 or so on eBay, that's what I did] you're set to go!

      Having said all that, I definitely want Wiin – Whatever It Is Now, may as well prove the name could be worse – once it's here, because screw the DVD player, everyone knows it's about the games anyway!

      --
      Creative misinterpretation is your friend.
    13. Re:Some things that will help by bludstone · · Score: 1

      You couldnt be more wrong.

      1. DVD player -

      Everyone has one. Noone cares if their videogame system can play dvds or not.

      2. Push the online gaming. -

      Less then 10% of videogame players play games online, and even then, do you really want to deal with the immature, smack-talking, swearing, "give me my chocolate milk, bitch!" crowd? Nintendo is focusing on people having fun, together in the house, as per the previews. It will probably have some online play, but the online component will likely be used more for downloading more games then actual online gaming.

      3. Advertise, advertise, advertise. -

      Nintendo's biggest push in this is a new mode of gameplay, something VERY difficult to advertise for. They walk a fine line between "That looks cool" and "That looks dumb." Their best bet is to actually get people playing it in stores and friends' homes. That'll be the real trick. Of course, commercials should exist, but their focus should be on getting the system in peoples' hands.

      --

      no .sig
    14. Re:Some things that will help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's something you're all overlooking wrt DVD playback.

      Its called a television. It takes up space.

      It has a fixed number of inputs on the back. And Joe Shmoe, average guy, has filled the available 2 with a sat set-top box and a DVD player.

      Hows he going to plug in the Wii? Does he know you can get SCART multi-ins to allow more than the 2 devices he has plugged in?

      Maybe not. After all, Nintendo are going after non-technical, non-gaming people with the Wii.

      Simple solution: ditch the $20 dvd player, slot in a Wii. Non-technical people love devices that do more than one thing: viz, integrated hi-fi systems versus purists separate systems.

      Also: how much room do you think is left under/above/to the side of the average tv after all your boxen are installled? Again, non-technical people (and I speak from real experience here as I'm married to one) dont relish the prospect of another box to join the 7 or 8 that are there already.

    15. Re:Some things that will help by masklinn · · Score: 1

      Actually no, the Wii ships with a DVD player but it can not play DVD movies out of the box, Nintendo has stated that you'll need a (separately sold) dongle to play DVD movies on your Wii so as not to increase the base price of the unit.

      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    16. Re:Some things that will help by ericspinder · · Score: 1
      . DVD player - I believe word is that the DVD player aspects are a "plug in" - I'm assuming something like the original Xbox codec plug in device to enable DVD playback. Personally, I'd just as soon see it just built in - bite the bullet on the cost,
      Actually, that was one of the bigger reasons why Sony got ahead in the console wars, but it's a moot point now, as anyone who wants one can get it new for less than $50. Anyways I am fairly certain that it does anyways. The competitive bonus for Wii is that it supports WiFi in it's base package.

      Personally, I'm already sold and now I'm just waiting for someone to sell it and I fear a strong marketing campaign as it could mean that I'd have to wait until after Christmas to get one 'for my son'.

      --
      The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
    17. Re:Some things that will help by Ant+P. · · Score: 1

      If that's the case, they can just use a bidirectional drive, like they would've had to do for the Panasonic Q.

    18. Re:Some things that will help by Mercano · · Score: 1

      Mod me down for agreeing with the DVD point, but I think its a decent idea. Remember, not everyone likes a million devices haning off thier TV, or even has 16 video inputs on thier TV. Adding DVD playback frees up a set of video inputs and saves space by the TV, which can really help in some some of the closets they call dorm rooms.

      --
      #include <signature.h>
    19. Re:Some things that will help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What about divx/xvid/h264 playback? Anyone know what kind of licencing costs there'd be for that(including audio playback)? There's a lot less people with an appliance that can do that than people with a DVD player.

    20. Re:Some things that will help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Eh, I don't know, the biggest detractor to the whole system IMO is the fact that it's a slot-loading drive. I really hate them, because all I can think of is the bottom (and top in some cases) of the disc scraping every time it has to go into or out of the system. It sucks on the iMac and it sucks on the Wii, give me a traditional tray or caddy loader over them any day.

    21. Re:Some things that will help by TrickFred · · Score: 1

      How many people want both a DVD player and a Wii on their entertainment unit?

      I do.

      I look at it this way - electronic devices have a finite lifespan, yes? The device used once or twice a week will usually last longer before wearing out/breaking down (on average) than the one used 12 hours a day, every day? So, I'd rather buy a much cheaper (some might say almost disposable these days) stand-alone DVD player and replace that several times, rather than wearing out my ~$300 (Canadian dollars) console watching movies.

      Now, this may be a silly way to look at it from some people's point of view, but it's the way I, and others I know, see it. YMMV.

    22. Re:Some things that will help by ElleyKitten · · Score: 1
      Hows he going to plug in the Wii? Does he know you can get SCART multi-ins to allow more than the 2 devices he has plugged in?
      They sell them at pretty much everywhere you'll be able to buy a Wii. If Joe Shmoe knows enough about setting up game systems to know that there's plugs behind his TV and is able to check if one's free, then he'll probably be able to wonder if, like for electric plugs and phone outlets, someone has created a splitter for his TV to plug multiple things into his TV, and then ask someone.

      Maybe not. But then, even if the Wii does have DVD playback, is Joe Shmoe just going to throw out his DVD player? Non-technical people don't deal well with technical changes, so is Joe Shmoe going to be happy trying to figure out which button on his Wiimote is the 'Play' button? I think Joe Shmoe would want to find a multi-in even if the Wii does play DVDs.

      Also: how much room do you think is left under/above/to the side of the average tv after all your boxen are installled? Again, non-technical people (and I speak from real experience here as I'm married to one) dont relish the prospect of another box to join the 7 or 8 that are there already.
      Ok, so you go from Joe Smhoe can't get more than two things hooked up to his TV to Joe Shmoe doesn't want 9 things hooked up to his TV? Also, where do you get 7 or 8 boxen hooked up to the average TV? Sat/Cable, DVD, maybe VCR... uh, are you counting the TV? external speakers? other game systems (the Wii can replace your 'cube and old school nintendos!)? Seriously, how do you get 7 or 8 things hooked up to the average TV?
      --
      "What is Internet Explorer 7? Are you saying we can't access the normal internet?" - I love tech support. Really.
    23. Re:Some things that will help by I+Like+Pudding · · Score: 1

      1. DVD player

      Who does not have a DVD player yet? This is nearly useless, and against Nintendo's purist "this is a game console for playing games" design.

      2. Push the online gaming.

      This seems obvious, but online gaming is not really a big deal for consoles. PCs lend themselves towards it because you can't properly do anything multiplayer in the same room on a 19" monitor that's sitting up on a desk. There is an entirely different social dynamic going on with the last few Nintendos: playing in the same fucking room . You get lan party fun in a single cheap machine without any complications. Remember when the N64 first came out and had, get this, four controller ports? There is a reason Nintendo has been King of The Dorm for the last few years.

      3. Advertise, advertise, advertise.

      I don't even think they need to since E3. If the Wii has any decent games at all it's going explode once it hits the market.

    24. Re:Some things that will help by stonecypher · · Score: 1

      The Wii is essentially an upgraded cube with a badass new controller. That the discs will still spin in reverse is almost guaranteed.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    25. Re:Some things that will help by stonecypher · · Score: 1

      My cat broke the DVD player in my bedroom. I moved the player from the guest room, and I'm not replacing that one, because I'll be getting a Wii in a few months and I can just shuffle the one in the living room out. Lots of people won't be getting DVD players for their kids because of the Wii, too.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    26. Re:Some things that will help by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      Duh, in which case you buy the $30 self contained upgrade, and pay for the licensing fees.

  4. it has a good chance by sepharious · · Score: 1

    It plays well, has acceptable graphical capabilities, has a gimmick, and, most of all, its a helluva lot cheaper than the competitors. But its all going to hinge on the games. If they can make the Wiimote sing, the colors shine, and tickle your mind at the same time, then they have a fighting chance.

    --
    Did you know that you can be apathetic to apathy? Not that I give a shit...
    1. Re:it has a good chance by radish · · Score: 1

      I agree it's got a damn good chance, and I'll certainly be picking one up. But it's not a "hell of a lot cheaper than the competition" - it's likely to be less than $100 cheaper than a 360. The PS3, well that's another matter of course :)

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

  5. Sony won last round, bu Nintendo will win this one by CokoBWare · · Score: 1

    Sony won the last two rounds because it did better than what Nintendo did traditionally. Nintendo has smartly identified that innovation in gameplay will compell users to their platform, not just raw hardware specs. I think Sony will play a close second to Nintendo, although I am a die-hard Sony PS2 and PSP fan, I am very much looking forward to buying my Wii and integrating it with my newly purchased DS.

    Even my wife likes the DS and wants a Wii. And she hates most videogames.

  6. DS all over again by Oldsmobile · · Score: 1

    Well, Nintendo seems to be going for the strategy, where you get other people than your normal gaming bunch interested. The DS seems to have done this on its part, so I'm expecting some more with the Wii.

    I've definetly got my money on Nintendo this time around. I mean, I see no reason why PS3 and/or X-Box won't make lots of money catering to the gaming crowd, but Nintendo will bee the one emerging victorious from under a humongous pile of money.

    --
    Some say he is made with ascii, others that he is eyeballed daily by millions. All we know is, he is known as the Sig
    1. Re:DS all over again by drewmg · · Score: 1

      PS3 and X-Box won't be making lots of money. They'll be losing money hand over fist. Neither of them seems interested in making money, just market share.

  7. Not really... by Zebai · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually I find the large assortment of Nintendo games available to be substandard junk. (Including the N64 and the new DS) there are a few great games for the systems, most of them available from Nintendo themself like Zelda, Mario, Nintendo Dogs, and other Nintendo produced titles. However the bread and butter of any console success is the popularity of 3rd party tittles, as this is what brings most of the money the console makers. Now lets take a look at the "good" titles of this new ds New Super Mario Bros Nintendo Dogs Metroid Hunters Animal Crossing Castlevania Mario & Luigi Partners in Time Mario Kart DS Get the point? most of these hit titles are directly produced by Nintendo itself. Nintendo 64 had the same problem but a much larger selection so just on a larger scale. What nintendo needs to do to win the upcomming console wars is to make 3rd party developing extremely friendly, make it so your console can play revolutionary new immersive games that people WANT to make for the Wii. Now this new console is going to be hard to predict, the new controller style is so new and quite innovative that it might create an entirely new market of games that wasnt previously available. And the most important thing is to DROP CARTRIDGES. They are the least unfriendly thing to 3rd party developing that they ever created, plus they are extremely limited in capacity. Playstation 1 had a great idea on its CD system that allows for multi disk gaming, allowing for the development of titles that had HUGE amount of content like Final Fantasy. I dont know about some of you but I've beat almost every nintendo DS title in less than a week. It took me 2 days to beat the new Super Mario Bros, and i was playing at my spare time at work (spent 3rd day unlocking secret levels).

    1. Re:Not really... by Yahweh+Doesn't+Exist · · Score: 1

      why drop cartridges? so we can have no battery life like the PSP?

      Nintendo's whole philosophy is that game size isn't important, the fun is. I agree, if you don't then just spend your money elsewhere.

      Nintendo is doing fine. unlike Sony and MS they actually make a profit on their games. And I find them the most enjoyable.

    2. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and you need to learn basic markup and/or grammar.

      A few hints: line breaks, commas, and whitespace.

      Oh and good for you, you are teh leet for beating all those games1!!! the idea behind solid state (cartriges) is that they boot in an instant, no waiting around for CD spin-up and down. From what I hear, the UMD killed the PSP. No one wants their mobile games to have load times. . .

    3. Re:Not really... by hibiki_r · · Score: 1

      Let's look at an independent source, like metacritic's DS game ranking. I see a bunch of 3rd party games that scored over 80:

      Castlevania DS - Konami
      Osu Tatakae Ouendan - Inis
      Meteos - Q Entertainment
      Tony Hawk - Vicarious Visions
      Sonic Rush - Sega
      Trauma Center - Atlus
      Jump Superstars - Ganbarian
      Phoenix Wright - Capcom
      Age of Empires -Digital Eclipse

      Not all that bad IMO, given that, IIRC, all of those came out in the last 12 months.

    4. Re:Not really... by steveo777 · · Score: 1
      It really can't be held against Nintendo if the 3rd parties can't make hit games. Sony doesn't have much in the way of hit 1st party games, and Microsoft has a few, but they wouldn't if they weren't buying up development studios left and right. So what if Nintendo is responsible for most of thier own profits?

      Give up cartriges? They did, see the Gamecube. Those are discs. As far as portable goes, mechanical media is a joke. Load times on handhelds are a huge detractor from the product. Think about it, you're on the go. The last thing you want 4 minutes out of your 15 minute brake consumed by load times. Then there's the battery life. I don't know about you, but I really enjoy the fact that I can play my DS for a week or two without worrying about charging it. I just close it and go back to my game later (I know the PSP also has a sleep mode). Size isn't a big deal anymore either. With screens that small, textures don't need to be nearly as detailed, and flash memory keeps getting cheaper and cheaper. Check out Pricewatch. Some formats have 512MB of flash for under 25 bucks.

      --
      This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
    5. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now answer me this.

      Do you own a Nintendo DS? And how many of the games you mentioned above do you own?

      Before I buy a game, it has to be great... that means I have to think it's great, not some website, me. None of the games you mentioned are in my tastes, they may be good, but they do not appeal to me.

      Every system has the potential for great games, for me, Nintendo just does not deliver that. Currently all the games I am tempted to play/buy are on the Playstation2. The only thing holding me back is that new games cost 67 euros on this system. (that would be US$80)

    6. Re:Not really... by martinultima · · Score: 1

      Wholeheartedly agree with that one – I much prefer the cartridge system myself, because it's just so much faster, quieter, and much harder to scratch. I find it kind of odd that with computers we want to move to solid-state media such as flash memory, but with game consoles it has to be away from it; while the capacity may be higher for optical discs, the read time is extremely slow... and as Yoda says, "Size matters not." I don't care how big the game is or what kind of graphics it has, I just want actual gameplay. Half the reason retro-gaming is still so popular is because, back before graphics were as powerful as they are today, developers actually focused on creating fun but challenging games that actually were worth playing. Who cares how much detail you can see when there's nothing to see?

      Also, one other thing I liked about cartridges is that you could save directly to the cartridge without buying a separate memory card. While this does have the disadvantage that you can't share your data with a friend, etc. unless the game supports saving to either location, it was definitely very convenient back when we first got our N64 and we hadn't yet gotten a memory card for the thing. And maybe I'm wrong here, but it seems faster with that, too.

      --
      Creative misinterpretation is your friend.
    7. Re:Not really... by SoapDish · · Score: 1

      "I dont know about some of you but I've beat almost every nintendo DS title in less than a week. It took me 2 days to beat the new Super Mario Bros, and i was playing at my spare time at work (spent 3rd day unlocking secret levels)."

      "HUGE amount of content like Final Fantasy"

      That's funny, I beat the New Super Mario Bros in an afternoon. That's because it's a platformer, not an RPG. NDS cartridges can also currently hold more than a CD.

      As for final fantasy, I've beaten VII and X in less than 30h each cause they were just there -- I haven't played any others. Dragon Warrior 4 on the NES took me much longer than that (with no FMVs thank God), so more storage does not mean more time in a game.

      On top of that, many NDS games are in the puzzle genre, which should not take that long to "beat".

    8. Re:Not really... by masklinn · · Score: 1

      Now this new console is going to be hard to predict, the new controller style is so new and quite innovative that it might create an entirely new market of games that wasnt previously available. And the most important thing is to DROP CARTRIDGES

      The DS doesn't use cardridges, it uses solid-state memory (read: mini-SD based cards).

      And solid-state is much fucking better than disk-based solutions for handhelds: no vibrations, much lower power consumption, no shock issues.

      And just so you know, Sony's UMDs store 1.8Gb, you can get 4Gb solid-state cards at this very moment.

      Big fucking win for disks eh?

      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    9. Re:Not really... by MemoryDragon · · Score: 1

      Ahem, the DS is an exceptionally bad example if you name a console lacking third party titles. The sony lineup of Sega is excellent, then there is project rub, Castlevania DS is one of the best in the series, you have another code, and rayman ds and advance wars. I would say none of these titles is subpar as for the point and click adventure category there is another one coming out soon which will be film noir style... I would say the ds is a console with a good mixed lineup and now that the thing really has taken of the lineup grows stronger, I expect a very expensive christmas season for me this year ;-)

    10. Re:Not really... by MemoryDragon · · Score: 1

      Yes, the DS uses SD cards with a slightly bigger form factor (heck even the form itself is almost identical) the funny thing is, for now they are a tad to expensive to be a full blown cd replacement but in 1-2 years time I can see some old cd based games or new cd based content being 1:1 ported to that thing. The DS is an amazing litte machine in its way, it is absolute bare minumum hardwarewise (processorwise) but with a connectivity almost like a dream come true.

    11. Re:Not really... by sesshomaru · · Score: 1

      Castlevania DS - Konami
      Meteos - Q Entertainment
      Sonic Rush - Sega
      Trauma Center - Atlus
      Phoenix Wright - Capcom

      --
      "MIT betrayed all of its basic principles."
    12. Re:Not really... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ok, nice points and all, but would it hurt you to use the "enter" key every once in a while? This piece of text is really hard to read.

    13. Re:Not really... by MemoryDragon · · Score: 1

      I agree here, I think within a years timeframe we see a bunch of full fmv games on the ds, due to the lowering of flash prices. It was a smart move of nintendo to go to an sd like format instead of using disks...

  8. Classics by Drakin020 · · Score: 0

    I remember Golden Eye. That game was a CLASSIC.

    Nintendo has something that I think is really going for them. It is the amount of fun in there multiplayer games. I allways enjoyed playing Mario Party with 3 other people back in the days. It is stuff like that, that can be fun for both younger kids aswell as older.

    I for one am sold on purchasing a nintendo over the new Sony or Microsoft Box. I think they have a wide variety in fun multiplayer games aswell as action games.

    --
    The greatest revenge in life is massive success.
    1. Re:Classics by aslate · · Score: 1

      If there was one game i'd re-release on a console it'd be Goldeneye, simply because i think my N64 has given up the ghost, and i just don't want to admit the console's dead and test it properly...

      My understanding as to why it's never been done is something to do with Rare and Microsoft, hence buggering up licencing for their old games. I hope this isn't so, it'd really be great fun.

    2. Re:Classics by Drakin020 · · Score: 0

      Well I think a good sequal was Perfect Dark. Most of the times when you take a good game and come out with a "Part 2" It's useually fubard. However they came out with a great sequal to a great game, and I think it was a good idea to leave it how it was. Rather keep it a classic than tear it apart with a crappy sequal.

      --
      The greatest revenge in life is massive success.
  9. That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by lpangelrob · · Score: 3, Insightful
    In tie-ratio terms (for 2006 only)... DS owners are buying 3.5 pieces of software for every DS in Japan, while PSP owners are only buying an average of 1.2 each.

    How does this work? Assuming a reasonable bell curve, I'm sure there are PSP owners in Japan with 8 games... what do the people that buy 0 or 1 games do with their PSP? Did the UMD format take off in Japan when I wasn't looking? What's going on?

    1. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Dark+Paladin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I have 1 PSP game - "DJ Max Portable", and the rest of the time I use the emulation system. There are some games that are all right ("Dragon Fire III", which for some reason hasn't reached the US). But take a game like "Force Commander" - it's "Advance Wars DS" without a plot, and with pixelated muddy graphics. I tried it, decided "Hm, if I wanted to play Advance Wars on a smaller map with dingy graphics, I'd dirty up my DS screen".

      I keep having hope for PSP titles, like "Blade Dancer", but I just haven't found one that really grabbed me - or that wasn't (like "Mega Man Hunter X") another remake (though I will buy "Valkyrie Profile", though I hear the PSP port was less than steller compared even to the PSX version).

    2. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Grey+Ninja · · Score: 1

      As the quote you posted mentions, that's only for this year. So DS owners have bought on average, 3.5 games over the last 6 months. While PSP owners have bought on average, 1.2 games over the last 6 months. It's entirely likely that there are a great many people who bought a PSP, got a game or two, and haven't bought one since.

    3. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Spez · · Score: 1

      They buy movies. Everywhere i go, there is a bigger movie shelf for the PSP than the game shelf (Walmart, EBgames, Toy's R us, etc). I suppose PSP owner use them to watch movies.

      --
      I wouldn't mind you in my head, if you weren't so clearly mad -Lews Therin Telamon
    4. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those people that buy only one game usually get Liberty City Stories for its exploit to boot homebrew. Those that don't get any games don't have the firmware problem that the people who buy Liberty City Stories have and still use the system for homebrew.

    5. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      home brew. No UMDs, no games, just a flash memory stick and hardware/firmware workarounds. 0 games purchased. Also, I hear the PSP looks fantastic when put on the shelf next to trophies from Pinewood Derby championships and sport fishing. A nice shiny-black contrast to the shiny-gold/silver/bronze of the trophies.

    6. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      a lot of people buying just one game?

    7. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Null537 · · Score: 1

      Because they have nowhere to put all the junk UMDs. In case you've had your finger far from the pulse, UMDs aren't getting bought by anyone.

    8. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by masklinn · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure no one buys UMD movies, the huge racks are just there because they just can't sell umd movies.

      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    9. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're probably thinking of "Breath of Fire 3", which probably didn't get brought to the US because, like so many other PSP games, it's just a port. You can still pick up the original PSX version in some places. It's a pretty solid RPG.

    10. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Jadecristal · · Score: 1

      Simple: it sits around. I bought a PSP along with Metal Gear Acid, then Wipeout Pure. I've played each a little, and otherwise, the PSP tends to get charged up then die again before I even use it.

    11. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by Trogre · · Score: 1

      Perhpas they rent games from the local video store.

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    12. Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... by DDLKermit007 · · Score: 1

      Videogame rentals in Japan are illegal. Nintendo got that through back in the NES days. They do exist though, but usualy in back-allies. Usualy nasty places law enforcement does not go >_>

  10. Different strokes for different folks by the+computer+guy+nex · · Score: 1

    Many people enjoy immersing themselves in a game that focuses on emotion. While it might be light in strategy and gameplay, the graphics and "feeling" of the game are unmatched. It is more of a self-driven movie than a game. The 360 and PS3 will dominate these gamers. Sports games, Doom, Quake, etc.

    Nintendo will focus on gamers who enjoy story and gameplay. This DS is the prime example of this. Unique and fun "gimmick" creating new and exciting gameplay, and the developers have spent more time on the story rather than graphics.

    Which is better? Depends on your opinion. All 3 of these consoles will hit a market. The only real question mark is can the PS3 survive, not if the Wii will.

    1. Re:Different strokes for different folks by Gizzmonic · · Score: 1

      Many people enjoy immersing themselves in a game that focuses on emotion.

      What, like Anger Wars? Obsession Fortress? Infatuation of Steve? I'm not sure that any game focuses on emotion (although I will buy Infatuation of Steve the day it comes out). Do you mean immersion? If English isn't your first language, I'll forgive you for this mistake. I don't know about you, but I would probably feel more immersed in a baseball game if I had to "swing" the controller rather than pressing a button. Thus, I feel that the Wii could potentially offer a more immersive experience.

      While it might be light in strategy and gameplay, the graphics and "feeling" of the game are unmatched. It is more of a self-driven movie than a game. The 360 and PS3 will dominate these gamers. Sports games, Doom, Quake, etc.

      Doom? A self driven movie? No. Movies have plots. If you're looking for Madden, Doom, or Quake with better graphics, you can have them today. Just get a PC with a high-end graphics card.

      PS3 and Xbox360 are priced out of most consumers' reach right now. Better graphics can only move so many units, especially with prices higher than ever. I don't know if this will translate to success for Nintendo, it might simply mean that PS2 and original Xbox have a longer life.

      --
      (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
    2. Re:Different strokes for different folks by drewmca · · Score: 1

      Every console has games out there that have complex stories. Some are multiplatform, some are exclusive. Nintendo has nothing even close to a monopoly on story. In fact, the closest thing that Nintendo has to a story-driven game, Zelda, does not even have that great a story. Don't get me wrong, I love Zelda, and it has some of the best gameplay out there, but it is far more gameplay- than story-driven. Its story is nothing close to the stories in games like Knights of the Old Republic, Metal Gear, some of the Final Fantasy games, Halo, etc. That doesn't make it a bad game. Interestingly enough, though, is the fact that while (for example) Windwaker's story isn't that complex, it had a bit more of an emotional pull than some of the other, more complicated plots. Sometimes simpler is better. Conversely, however, look at all of the "stories" in the other major Nintendo franchises. Only Metroid's story can be called anything more than an excuse to string levels together.

      So I don't know what I'm saying, but I think that there are great story-driven games all around. Nintendo's only monopoly is on the fact that when they make a great game, it stays great across console generations and keeps pushing the boundaries of what each franchise is all about. To characterize them as the "story-driven" console would be simply incorrect.

    3. Re:Different strokes for different folks by Ronin_Bic · · Score: 1

      The story in Halo Really i didn't know they made one

    4. Re:Different strokes for different folks by drewmca · · Score: 1

      Something about a bunch of planets and a ring and zombies and shit blowing up. C'mon!

    5. Re:Different strokes for different folks by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

      Intelligent Systems(internal team) typically has stories in their games.
      Fire Emblem(there's 9 of these, only 2 have hit the states though), Advance Wars, Paper Mario RPG

      Alphadream(a 2nd party) put together Superstar Saga and Partners in Time.

      Brownie Brown (2nd party, sorta, where all the square 2D guys went) did Mother 3 recently(sequel to Earthbound) the Seiken Densetsu remake sword of mana, and is doing Magical Vacations(an RPG) for the DS.

      And of course there's Pokémon.

      With the exception of Fire Emblem and Paper Mario they're all handheld games though.

      --
      The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
    6. Re:Different strokes for different folks by drewmca · · Score: 1

      Im sorry, as much as I love the Advance wars series, that just doesnt count. Im looking for a little more from a story than a bunch of FF rejects playing "who didnt I give a valentine". Thats a story thats just an excuse for moving through levels. The othere I dont know so muc about, but if theyre in the same breath as advance wars, Im not sure I need to care.

  11. Wii Will Be A N64 Size Second Console by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    Having played the Wii at E3 I can say that the first thing that jumps out at you about the system is the reality is nothing like the hype.

    The Wii hype was crazy with talk of how it would revolutionize(no pun intended) console gaming. But what I saw at E3 was no big deal. And almost everything was not really that much different than playing with a normal controller. I can see myself getting over the initial enthusiasm for the Wii very quickly.

    I can see the Wii as being something cool you turn on when you have some friends over. But for mainline, day to day gaming I don't think it really can hold up against the massive amount of amazing stuff I saw on the PS3 at E3.

    I will certainly get a 499 PS3 for the majority of my gaming. And I hope the Wii is no more than 200 bucks. Any more and I will be happy to just play it at friends houses and pick one up later. I will be picking up a 1080p TV in the coming months now that prices are coming down so much and even if the PS3 did nothing but play BluRay movies at 1080p I would still pick one up.

    1. Re:Wii Will Be A N64 Size Second Console by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >>I will certainly get a 499 PS3 for the majority of my gaming. And I hope the Wii is no more than 200 bucks. Any more and I will be happy to just play it at friends houses and pick one up later. I will be picking up a 1080p TV in the coming months now that prices are coming down so much and even if the PS3 did nothing but play BluRay movies at 1080p I would still pick one up.

      The 499 PS3 CANNOT BE UPGRADED to play anything (movies or games) at 1080p. It doesn't have HDMI output, or even DVI. It can output through component video jacks, but they're limited to 720p or 1080i. If you could actually afford a 1080p TV, I'm sure you could afford the extra $100 for the "full" PS3 which won't need an upgrade. On the other hand, if you're worried about that $100 difference, I doubt the 1080p TV's will come down in price enough for you to buy one anyway.

      I don't really see what your point is and it seems like you've really been confused by all the hype and meaningless specs. Since E3 is only open to the gaming press, I wonder how you could have gone there this year without knowing what I mentioned above.

    2. Re:Wii Will Be A N64 Size Second Console by ArmyOfFun · · Score: 1
      It can output through component video jacks, but they're limited to 720p or 1080i. If you could actually afford a 1080p TV
      False. Component is capable of carrying 1080p. The issue is if the new DVD formats will require HDCP (HD Copy Protection). Any movie that is "protected" by HDCP will require a digital (DVI or HDMI) connection to display at full resolution. Analog connections (like component) will be downgraded to 480p. So, if you're buying the cheaper PS3 and you're interested in using it to watch Blu-Ray movies, you're making a gamble that you won't come across a movie you want that is "protected" by HDCP. If almost every movie ends up being "protected" by HDCP, you're screwed with the cheaper PS3.

      Since E3 is only open to the gaming press
      In theory this is true, but almost anyone who can afford a pass is allowed entry (not to mention all the extra tickets given to legitmate press that can wind up in anyone's hand).
    3. Re:Wii Will Be A N64 Size Second Console by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      False. Component is capable of carrying 1080p

      Technically feasible, but it would look crappy and you can bet that no product will ever be able to output it.

    4. Re:Wii Will Be A N64 Size Second Console by ArmyOfFun · · Score: 1

      I don't know about that, I have a Toshiba 34HFX85 (which I don't recommend to anyone, although HD looks great on it). It has an HDMI input and a couple component. My cable box outputs DVI and component. Switching between component and a DVI->HDMI connection I notice no difference at all, we're talking 1080i resolution here. Maybe with a bigger TV one might notice a difference, I don't know.

  12. It's like comparing apples and idiots by Doomedsnowball · · Score: 0

    From TFA: In short, I think Nintendo is coming out of a tunnel that Sony is only just going into and Microsoft hasn't even seen on the horizon.

    In short?

    In a huge piece on moblie gaming, Pocket Gamer reports...

    Yeah, a huge piece of crap speculation. The author starts a melee of paragraphs with "Anyway, After all, Ultimately, It's a fair point, Equally, In other words, All that said, That might be right, Furthermore, However, To an extent, Nevertheless, If history is any guide, What's more, and Still."

    It's like his boss told him to write 3,000 words on the Nintendo DS vs. Sony's PSP. How can you have so many meandering arguements that lead nowhere and find no conclusion? How can you read an article that starts with the question of who will win the handheld console war and COMPLETELY FAIL TO MENTION THAT PSP's PLAY MOVIES!!! I would try to be nice, or even diplomatic about it, but I have to say that this article is crap and the author is an idiot.

    --
    7h3$3 4r3n'7 7h3 Ðr01Ð$ ¥0 4r3 £00|{1n9 f0r. M0v3 4£0n9. --OB1
    1. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by FlyingCheese · · Score: 0
      How can you read an article that starts with the question of who will win the handheld console war and COMPLETELY FAIL TO MENTION THAT PSP's PLAY MOVIES!!! I would try to be nice, or even diplomatic about it, but I have to say that this article is crap and the author is an idiot.


      Yea, if you like to spend $20 on a UMD when you can buy a DVD and watch the same movie in a much higher quality for the same or less money. Plus the fact that only a few movies are released in that format.

    2. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How can you read an article that starts with the question of who will win the handheld console war and COMPLETELY FAIL TO MENTION THAT PSP's PLAY MOVIES!!!

      Probably because everyone has completely failed to care that the PSP plays movies.

      UMD movies anyway... Playing ripped movies may be a different story, though I'm not sure if that qualifies as something only 'power users' do, like booting Linux on a PS2. UMD though has turned out to have basically zero impact on the handheld wars. You're right it probably should have been mentioned, even if dismissed quickly.

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    3. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Nephroth · · Score: 2, Informative

      Um... PSPs used to play movies. Sony has announced that the UMD movie format will be retired...

      --
      Our greatest enemy is neither a single man, nor is it a nation, it is, as it has always been, our own greed.
    4. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Doomedsnowball · · Score: 1

      I didn't intend to give the impression that PSP movies have been much help in sales, but that comparing the directions the two companies are taking to increase market share are totally different paths, and with totally different pitfalls. Yeah, I would like to see who wins, but it comes down to predicting something that (given the directions taken by both companies) is not clear to anyone. So what does this article have to offer in terms of clarification or answers? Nothing.

      --
      7h3$3 4r3n'7 7h3 Ðr01Ð$ ¥0 4r3 £00|{1n9 f0r. M0v3 4£0n9. --OB1
    5. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      when you make claims like this you have to back them up with sources

    6. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by masklinn · · Score: 1

      COMPLETELY FAIL TO MENTION THAT PSP's PLAY MOVIES

      Maybe because no one cares about UMD movies and most if not all studios actually retired all their UMD movie offerings some time ago?

      The ability to play movies on the PSP attracted people to the PSP for what? 2 weeks? Then most people realized that the UMDs were overpriced (selling lower graphics proprietary format for the same price as a full blown DVD?), low quality (compared to DVDs) and that the PSP had a fucking low autonomy (having to carry your AC adapter around isn't much fun for a handled).

      --
      "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
    7. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Svartalf · · Score: 1
      COMPLETELY FAIL TO MENTION THAT PSP's PLAY MOVIES!!!

      It could be because the capability to play movies on the PSP is limited to the media format to which it mainly is available.
      If the ability to play movies, etc. was such a big deal then the GP2X should really wail on the PSP and DS because it's nearly
      twice as powerful AND plays movies. Not to rag on the GP2X (because I'm probably going to get one soon...), but it's not
      in the same class as a PSP or DS in sales, etc.

      Besides, I strongly suspect that the DS could be made to play movies in the same fashion as the GP2X does (via SD card) with
      a player firmware cartrige with a SD slot in the cartridge body- the reason why you don't see that is because it's less desireable
      to have that sort of thing and there's better MPEG2/4 players out there if you're going to watch movies.

      In reality, movie playback is secondary to overall gameplay for most consumers, no matter what you think- because that's how
      the market has actually spoken.
      --
      I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
    8. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Nephroth · · Score: 1
      http://www.gamespot.com/news/6144463.html

      Production scaled back, sorry. It matters not, however, because this is pretty much the death sentence for the format.

      --
      Our greatest enemy is neither a single man, nor is it a nation, it is, as it has always been, our own greed.
    9. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Doomedsnowball · · Score: 1

      Missed the point of my comment.

      From TFA: but everyone can understand that a dual-screened machine with a stylus is different, or that a controller you move about in the air to control the game is different. It's obvious.

      I am not an apologist for Sony or Nintendo, but I do think that the author, in discussing strategy, should have mentioned THE FAILED strategy of Sony's UMD movies. And how it affected console sales, good or bad. At least MENTION it once... in passing... with some sniggering. Because, if you're pointing out differences, why mention Nintendo's and not Sony's? Seems a bit one-sided to me...

      --
      7h3$3 4r3n'7 7h3 Ðr01Ð$ ¥0 4r3 £00|{1n9 f0r. M0v3 4£0n9. --OB1
    10. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Doomedsnowball · · Score: 1

      In reality, movie playback is secondary to overall gameplay for most consumers, no matter what you think- because that's how the market has actually spoken.

      No matter what I think? Try reading my comment again. You extracted one thing I said, took it completely the wrong way, and then propped me up as arguing for something I think is idiotic and stupid. Every reply I have gotten so far has shown that the people replying rarely take the time to absorb what they've just read. Don't be a reactionary. My point was simply this: In a discussion of strategy, dual-screen was mentioned and UMD wasn't. If we are comparing features (good or bad; I really don't care people) then there should be full disclosure. Every reply I have received, including yours, had better information that should have been included in the article. That's what I was saying in my comment. More needed to be said, but with that long of an article, and no mention of UMD... it just struck me as massively stupid.

      --
      7h3$3 4r3n'7 7h3 Ðr01Ð$ ¥0 4r3 £00|{1n9 f0r. M0v3 4£0n9. --OB1
    11. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Doomedsnowball · · Score: 1

      A simple reply like that... so beautiful... and yet that info was left out of such a long article... makes you wonder.

      --
      7h3$3 4r3n'7 7h3 Ðr01Ð$ ¥0 4r3 £00|{1n9 f0r. M0v3 4£0n9. --OB1
    12. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by dbIII · · Score: 1
      Probably because everyone has completely failed to care that the PSP plays movies.
      My DS can also play movies from a CF or SD card - I've just never bothered because format conversion looks like a pain and the screen is too small - so I stick to mp3 files. Even a GBA can play movies with a cheap adapter and a CF card.
    13. Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Boy quick to change your opinion when your losing arent you

  13. Re:I don't like... by majortom1981 · · Score: 1

    The funnyiest part of this post? The fact that most if not all those games will have versions for the wii. Why are you blaming the games on Nintendo? Its not their fault that third parties are lazy. all Nitnendos games for the gamecube were great.

  14. Thid-party support is getting better by LKM · · Score: 5, Insightful
    most of them available from Nintendo themself like Zelda, Mario, Nintendo Dogs, and other Nintendo produced titles.

    The title is not "Nintendo Dogs". It's Nintendogs. Had you ever actually played it, you'd know this.


    Now lets take a look at the "good" titles of this new ds New Super Mario Bros Nintendo Dogs Metroid Hunters Animal Crossing Castlevania Mario & Luigi Partners in Time Mario Kart DS Get the point? most of these hit titles are directly produced by Nintendo itself.

    Castlevania isn't a Nintendo game. Why don't we talk about the awesome DS games from third-party developers? You've already mentioned Castlevania, but there's also Meteos, Sonic Rush, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Sk8land (at last a fresh Tony Hawk's game), Viewtiful Joe, Feel the Magic, Pac Pix or Trauma Center. Nintendo had trouble with third-party support on the N64 and on the Cube, but on the DS, it's changing, and they're investing a lot to get third-parties on board with the Wii.

    Although I must admit that I do not care too much. It's great having third-party support, but I'd buy a Wii if only Nintendo made games for it: They're always top notch and a lot of fun.

    1. Re:Thid-party support is getting better by grumbel · · Score: 1

      ### You've already mentioned Castlevania, but there's also Meteos, Sonic Rush, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Sk8land (at last a fresh Tony Hawk's game),

      While those are fine games, there is the throuble that not every third party games is as good as 'Castlevania', just look at NfS:Most Wanted or Burnout for the DS, those games are horrible, they look like junk and they play like junk. While the DS is a good bit away from the power of the PSP, there is really no excuse for releasing games in such a terrible state, especially since the DS is the only console around where those games downright suck. Now I don't know the reason why those games got released in the state that there are in, but it feels like somebody isn't taking the DS for full and simply rushing out some quick&dirty ports of a popular frenchise to get som money, while all other consoles get the 'full' version of those games.

  15. DVD != HD by norminator · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No DVD player supports HD. The HD support on the PS3 is for Blu-Ray, and Microsoft will have an HD-DVD addon for the XBox 360, but HD-DVD isn't really DVD anyhow. The Wii will support 480p, which is as much as you can say about any DVD player. Whether or not it supports HD has nothing to do with whether or not a DVD player is included.

    Some people are saying that unlike when the PlayStation2 came out, everyone has a DVD player now, so noone needs that functionality. Well my DVD player (first one I've owned, besides my DVD-ROM drive) is making all sorts of funny noises, and may be on its way out. So if I can get a sweet game console that includes a DVD player, but is only as big as 3 DVD cases stacked, then that sounds like a great deal. I'd guess I'm not the only one in need of a DVD player replacement.

    1. Re:DVD != HD by tfinniga · · Score: 1

      The thing about using your console as a DVD player is that consoles generally suck as DVD players.

      --
      Powered by Web3.5 RC 2
    2. Re:DVD != HD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "No DVD player supports HD. The HD support on the PS3 is for Blu-Ray, and Microsoft will have an HD-DVD addon for the XBox 360, but HD-DVD isn't really DVD anyhow. The Wii will support 480p, which is as much as you can say about any DVD player."

      Well, this is just blatently wrong. My DVD player does 1080i as long as the TV supports it, and only if using component video cables, but of course it's HD. HDTV and DVDs have been around a lot longer than the rumour of how high-def HD-DVD or Blu-Ray will be...

    3. Re:DVD != HD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Well, this is just blatently wrong. My DVD player does 1080i as long as the TV supports it

      By that logic...

      1. record AM radio
      2. Upsample to DVD audio bitrates
      3. ???
      4. Profit!

    4. Re:DVD != HD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, and my old EGA video card supports the 1280x1024 native resolution of my flat screen monitor too!

      The DVD spec includes MPEG-2 files that are 720x480 (or 720x576 for PAL). You are not watching HD content on your DVD player.

    5. Re:DVD != HD by stonecypher · · Score: 1

      No DVD player supports HD.

      Actually, they do. The Samsung HD-841 started shipping in the end of 2004, for example. Here's a review. The Toshiba HD-A1 is only $460 on Amazon.

      but HD-DVD isn't really DVD anyhow

      Neither is blu-ray. That said, HD-DVD devices have been shipping for more than two years, they play HD content, and HD-DVDs look an awful lot like DVDs (they even come in DVD cases.) Given that DVD will never support HD, to suggest that HD-DVD doesn't count when you're talking about DVDs supporting HD is kinda silly.

      The player made by Oppo is outselling the PSP (check their sales ranks - #284 and #316 respectively in electronics,) so I think grandparent was in fact quite right to point out that the lack of HD is going to impede sales to a fairly big segment of the customer demographic.

      --
      StoneCypher is Full of BS
    6. Re:DVD != HD by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      Looks like someone hasn't heard of WMV HD

  16. News flash: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    News Flash

    While a Sony Fanboy Anonymous Coward is on the loose an Anonymous Coward reports that they were at E3 and, inspite of every Report from people that can prove they played the Wii and said it lived up to the hype, this AC reports that it is just a gimick.

    Suprisingly enough, this AC also will be getting a PS3 and believes that it is the future of gaming ...

  17. Re:I don't like... by myspys · · Score: 1

    right, 10 games worth owning
    isn't that enough?

    i've got: resident evil 4, super monkey ball (planning on buying the sequel soon), pikmin 2, soul calibre 2, mario football and mario kart
    (to be fair, i've got more, but those are the ones i play and enjoy)

    which other games do i need/want?

    yeah, got advanced wars as well, but haven't played yet

    / d

  18. Re:Sony won last round, bu Nintendo will win this by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 1

    Sony won the last two rounds because it did better than what Nintendo did traditionally.

    Namely, attract the best third-party game publishers in the world -- the Konamis, the Capcoms, the EAs, the Rares.

    Regardless of how fun or innovative the Wii's control scheme is, if the only good titles available for it continue to be first-party, Nintendo will not emerge on top. At this point, it's still too early to say.

  19. Re:I don't like... by casualsax3 · · Score: 1

    What? Which of those games are going to make it to the Wii? And it's completely Nintendo's fault they had no third party support - do you think 3rd party support just creates itself?

  20. Backwards Compatability by Pojodojo · · Score: 1

    ... is what will hook it for me. I want to be able to play all the classics such as MarioKart, Smash Bros, Mario64... for the N64, and also lots of games from the SNES such as the classis sidescrolling titles like Ninja Turtles and the great RPGs like Secret of Mana. If I can play all these titles on one system, without any jerry-rigging, I will be in heaven. Now all they need to do is buy out Sega and put some Genesis titles on there and I will be locked in my room for life.

    --
    arrrg, (like a pirate)
    1. Re:Backwards Compatability by CashCarSTAR · · Score: 1

      No need to buy out Sega.

      It's already been confirmed that the VC system will be able to play Genesis games. Turbo-Graphix 16 as well.

    2. Re:Backwards Compatability by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No need to buy a Wii either. You can do that right now with GameTap. Or heck, go to Toys R' Us and for ~$8 you can get a dozen Genesis games in the "Sonic Mega Collection" disc. It's out for the Gamecube and the XBox (works on the 360, too) and it will be a heck of a lot cheaper than $5-$10 per game that Nintendo will charge on its VC service.

  21. Nintendo fan after all? by norminator · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I dont know about some of you but I've beat almost every nintendo DS title in less than a week. It took me 2 days to beat the new Super Mario Bros, and i was playing at my spare time at work (spent 3rd day unlocking secret levels).

    For someone who complains about Nintendo a lot, you've sure spent plenty of time playing their games.

  22. I don't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I don't understand the people who say that the Wii will 'win' the 'console war' based on the sales of the DS.

    If you take a look at the DS sales and assume they will sell 4 time the amount of Wii you still fall about 17 million short (less then half) of where the PS2 was and (actually a little more) than the Xbox at the end of 2005.

    The console and the handheld market are entirely seperate markets. You can't predict success in one because of the other (look at the PSP). As for the Wii inovation, they were inovative with the DS too and (according to June's issue of EGM) 80% of the games don't use either the touchpad, second screen, or either. Again, assuming the wii does twice as well, that leaves 40% of games as standard style games, with slightly better graphics than the (lackluster) gamecube games.

    I'm not logging in because bad mouthing the Wii gets you modded down. I think we should wait until all the systems are out before we declare a winner to the (media created) Console War. To assume the Wii has already won is premature and ignorant.

    1. Re:I don't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nintendo could sell only a single Wii and it would make money than MS will ever see from the Xbox360. Nintendo has already won - they don't need to sell their consoles at a loss.

    2. Re:I don't understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You must be really stupid ...

      Your saying that a system that has been out for less than 2 should have sold in a similar range to a system that has been out for almost 6 ...

      Wow ...

      The fact that the DS has sold more in 18 months than the PS2 did in the first 24 months in Japan is huge; worldwide I beleve the DS has sold more than the PS2 at a similar point in their life. In fact, in Japan in particular the DS's lead on the PS2's sales is increasing since the release of the DS Lite.

      One simple thing to consider before you EVER think of the DS as anything except for super successful ... on an average week in Japan the DS sells more units than the XBox 360 sells in a Month in the world.

    3. Re:I don't understand by hex0016 · · Score: 1

      You have such lack of faith in your fellow /.ers. Your arguments are well-thought out and articulated. They'll be too busy flaming you to mod you down. :P I, for one, have kind of been swept up in the hype. I'm truly looking forward to trying the Wii to see if it lives up to the hype. Sony's attitude regarding pricing's been a real turn-off for me regarding the PS3, and I'm pulling for Nintendo to take them down a peg, if not outright beat them.

    4. Re:I don't understand by justchris · · Score: 1
      .....did you bother to read that chart you linked to at all?

      That chart shows sales of the PS2 ranging from 11/01 to 05/06. It only lists sales for the DS ranging from 11/04 to 05/06. So, the PS2 has a 3 year lead. While we're at it, this shows only American sales, not sales for the rest of the world. Also, it appears to be lacking sales figures for 3 months for the DS.

      I took the liberty of doing some calculations and comparisons. In the 14 months listed on the chart (from 11/04 to 12/05 when they list the total) the DS has a total of 3,817,883 units sold (this is remembering that they're missing 3 whole months of sales data for some reason).

      I calculated the 1st 14 months of PS2 sales (11/01 to 12/02, with no missing sales data) and came up with a total of 11,464,172. That means the DS has sold at least 33.3% as well as the PS2 in the US. If the Wii were to sell 4 times as many units as the DS, it would then be selling 133.2% as well as the PS2.

      Now, this is remembering 2 facts. The first, we're missing 3 whole months of sales data for the DS (although that's admittedly 02/05-04/05 when it's likely the DS didn't sell much in the US). The second, this is only US sales data. The DS is outselling the PSP by anywhere from 150% to 200% in Europe. The DS is also outselling the PSP by anywhere from 300% to 600% in Japan (with the DS Lite routinely selling more units than every other console, portable or otherwise, combined each week).

      Now, your argument that the home console & handheld console markets are entirely separate is valid, and it's impossible to predict success based on the sells of one compared to the other, but the point people are trying to remake is: Nintendo's business strategy has altered significantly from last generation. The DS is the only thing we have to go on to consider how well this business strategy will work. In comparison, the PSP has a very similar business strategy to that being utitilized by the GC, PS2, PS3, Xbox & 360, and in most of the world, it's getting slaughtered. What this means is that Nintendo appears to have a superior business model, and if they can adequately represent that business model in the home console market (meaning the Wii meets or exceeds the expectations that exist for it), the only history we have to compare shows us that it will outsell anything that has ever been released in the gaming market.

      So, while it might turn out to be wrong, and the Wii may be a horrible, horrible flop, I think it's still a pretty fair prediction that the Wii will 'win' this console cycle.

      I would also like to add that saying "Wii will win" makes me feel like a five year old girl with a speech impediment. God do I hate alliteration.

      --
      just some guy
  23. I own both systems by therealking · · Score: 1

    Both are good systems. I personally like the PSP device better, but the game selection is HORRIBLE on PSP right now. Nothing buy driving and sports games. WAY TO MANY DRIVING GAMES!
    Daxter and Hotshots Golf has been it's only saving grace for me.

    I bought a DS a month ago just so I could experience something other then driving & sports games. Nintendo seems to have a better seletion of adventure and scroller/puzzle(mario type) games. Lately I play the DS more then the PSP, just because I have a larger selection of games (especially when you include GBA games).

    Personally I think the success of PS/2 and XBOX over Nintendo is not beause of realistic graphics but because the theme's are more edgey. Nintendo games tend to go a cartoony, more sunny happy route, while PS/2 XBOX games tend to go a darker, more violent route.

    For teens and college kids, it's just not "cool" to be playing cartoony mario games while all your friends are killing hookers in Grand Theft Auto.

    --
    Gadget News at Gizmo.com
    1. Re:I own both systems by aftk2 · · Score: 1

      Heh, I always used to love playing Mario Kart 64 in college, especially for the incongruity of the cute cartoon characters racing, while the only thing that came out of our mouths was an unending stream of profanity.

      --
      concrete5: a cms made for marketing, but strong enough for geeks.
    2. Re:I own both systems by Shifty+Jim · · Score: 0

      For teens and college kids, it's just not "cool" to be playing cartoony mario games while all your friends are killing hookers in Grand Theft Auto.

      As a college gamer who owns a plethora of gaming systems, I can tell you that my friends and I have just as much fun playing games like Mario Party, Super Smash Bros., 007 Goldeneye, and Mario Kart 64 as we do owning each other at Halo 2.

      Just because a game is "dark" and "edgy", that doesn't make it any more fun. And the coolness-factor of games like GTA have long since worn off in favor of multiplayer games that you can play all night with your friends.

      --
      "To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today." -Isaac Asimov
  24. A practical breaking of the mold by unconfused1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Nintendo is finally breaking the mold in a practical way. Is the use of gyros in controllers new? Is the use of a remote control new? Is the use of wireless controllers, or networked games new? All of these are clearly "NO" answers. So, what is different?

    Nintendo is making a very simple and approachable system, that is still elegant and versatile. Plus the departure from the two-handed, all-in-one controller that perpetuates games that are more about button-mashing then much else is a nice touch. The Wii's Wii-mote (remote) gives the player quite a bit more interactivity with the games, but still is simple enough to pick up with little prior knowledge of how to use it.

    Clever and fun games is a big aspect of it too. A lot of PS2 and Xbox/Xbox360 games require a huge time investment, and can't easily be put down whenever the player would like without hurting progress. Obviously I'm speaking in general...and don't wish to get in an argument of which specific games I'm picking on. To be fair, there are a few games on Nintendo's platforms that have poor save-points.

    CHEAPER. This is a huge one. Having a nice gaming system that provides fun and distraction, and is simple and elegant, but is also cheaper than everyone else is a big deal to me and most people. The Xbox360 decent system at $500 and the PS3 at $600 is pricey...especially with games for $60-70. At this point I would start to question why I just wouldn't by a Windows computer. So, $200-250 is pretty affordable, especially keeping titles at $50.

    I love Nintendo's commitment to simple, elegant, and inexpensive systems...with clever and fun distractions and games. I'm happy they haven't gotten sucked into the contest that Sony and Microsoft are in with their systems.

    1. Re:A practical breaking of the mold by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wouldn't want to be where you are if the 360 is $500 in your neck of the woods. Down here in Central Texas, the premium 260 is running for a bit under $379 and the core for around $275.

  25. Re:I don't like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Just 10 huh?

    Ok let's start at the top:

    Eternal Darkness
    Resident Evil 4
    Super Smash Bros. Melee
    Super Mario Sunshine
    Pikmin
    Pikmin 2
    Mario Golf
    Mario Kart: Double Dash
    Metroid Prime
    Metroid Prime 2
    Legend of Zelda: Windwaker
    Ikaruga
    Four Swords Adventures
    Crystal Chronicles
    F-Zero GX

    Other fantastic non-exclusive titles include Ubisoft's entire game library, like the Prince of Persia and Splinter Cell franchises, Beyond Good & Evil, King Kong, etc. Not to mention some killer collections (Mega Man, Mega Man X, TWO Sonic anthologies) and indie releases like Alien Hominid. And let's not even bother with the "quality over quantity" argument!

    Now, I will grant that both Crystal Chronicles and Metroid Prime 2 had some disappointing aspects, and everyone knows the gamecube hasn't seen any notable releases since RE4. To boot, the PS2 had a REALLY banner year this time around (Gradius V, God of War, We (Heart) Katamari, Guitar Hero, Shadow of the Colossus) but that is NOT normal. I had to go dig my PS2 out of the closet last summer because there had been nothing but Ratchet and EA Sports sequels for the previous 2 or 3 years, and all of a sudden there were GAMES! Just because the PS2 (finally) had a good year doesn't mean the gamecube all of a sudden has no library.

  26. No bell curve by LKM · · Score: 1

    I guess lots of people only buy one game (simply because if you buy a PSP for Lumines or Katamari, there may be no other PSP game that appeals to you) - or no game at all because they want to keep the old firmware and play emulators. So it's not going to be a bell curve.

    Others probably buy tons of games.

  27. Re:I don't like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You sound like a hardcore gamer. The Wii isn't for you.

    You've probably already spent your load on the Xbox360 and it's 'cutting edge graphics go buy a HDTV kthxbye!' and you're going to do the same with the PS3. Good for you. I view you as being retarded for spending so much money on a console for pretty graphics.

    Nintendo didn't have 3rd party support, but you know what, they still manage to turn a profit. Sales go down, profits fall, never do they go into the red.

    You're all about the bleeding edge of gaming graphic and processing technology, and you can have it. I've already got something for that, it's called a PC. And even then, I don't have the time to play PC games much anymore. I've fallen back into the casual gamer category b/c I, you know, have a life. I go to work, I spend time with my wife, visit family, go outside... you know, life. Things beyond video games, junk food, alcohol and sitting in a dark room.

    Nintendo has repeatedly stated that the Wii and the DS aren't for people like you. Let it go, they don't want you. You're so bitter about not being wanted that you're lashing out at Nintendo for passing you and your money over for teenagers, pre-teens and your parents. Maybe even your grandparents. Just let it go.

    Go back to your hardcore games and tell all your buddies on the PS3 board that j00 r0x0r3d teh /. thread on NintenSux and it's crappy graphics. Bravo to you, sir. You sure showed us what's what.

  28. Re:I don't like... by casualsax3 · · Score: 1
    Look, I love my Gamecube, and my DS Lite. I love Nintendo. I've just got three times as many great games for my PS2 is all I'm driving at.

    And no, 10 good games isn't enough over 6 years if you really enjoy gaming. That was a two years ago I think :)

  29. Far reaching implications by Dr.+Eggman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A Nintendo victory would have far reaching implications, well beyond just the console video games market imho. As a former SEGA fanboy (that part of me died the sad day SEGA announced they were leaving hardware) I have no love for Sony; nothing would please me more than to see blue ray fall flat on its face. Nintendo's current position in the 7th generation battle warms the cockles of my heart. As I see it, Sony has a lot riding on the success of the PS3. Significatly, they're main reasoning for including blue ray on the PS3 was to beat out HD DVD in the biggest advantage HD DVD had over blue ray, price point. That means a floundering PS3 hurts blue ray's chances against HD DVD, as well as (coupled with sliding UMD sales and a PSP encountering a far harsher market than expected,) forming as sort of trifecta of interrelated market failings. If demand for blue ray is less than expected, that could easliy translate back to less PS3 sales.

    What's better is that this has implications for the other side of HD DVD and Microsoft's game console. We know that Microsoft will offer an HD DVD accessory, and while that may not be sufficient reason to buy an XBox 360, it will be advanced leverage for HD DVD in convincing any current XBox 360 owner to buy the HD DVD accessory over an excessivly expensive stand alone blue ray player or the still more expensive PS3 for its blue ray capabilities; at last count ~1.5million or so people world wide.

    What does this have to do with Nintendo? Alot. As we know, Microsoft and Nintendo's systems together are still projected to be cheaper than the PS3 alone. This affects those who would buy as second console most of all. Rather than PS3, persons primarily concerned with gaming may choose Xbox 360 as their second console, adding to the number of persons who would find it logical to buy into HD DVD once they have HDTV (I assume that those concerned with games have a lower probability of owning HDTV than other concerned groups.) A resounding victory for Nintendo could bolster Microsoft sales into or tied with PS3 in second, effectivly neutralizing the blue ray PS3 advantage and instead giving an even better advantage to HD DVD. Even a minor victory could create an deadlocked tied between the three, yet still give some advantage to HD DVD.

    Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are not only the warriors of the next console wars, but indeed key figures in a greater battle unparalleled in its depth compared to any battle before it, that I would call The Great Home Entertainment War!

    --
    Demented But Determined.
    1. Re:Far reaching implications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here's my plan:

      1. Buy a Wii
      2. Wait to see if the Star Wars franchise is an exclusive Blue-Ray title.
      3. If it is, buy a PS3 (the cheapest blue ray player).
      4. Otherwise, buy an XBox360, or just an HD-DVD player (if the Xbox360 has failed by then.)
      5. Profit!!!!

  30. Re:I don't like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Most of your titles suck. Badly. Your opinion is worthless. But thanks for trying.

  31. Re:I don't like... by mj_sklar · · Score: 1

    So contrary to everyone else, you're saying the problem is that Nintendo is focusing too much on hardware, and not enough on games, where as the PS2 is all about enjoyable games with absolutley zero emphasis on hardware?

    Sir, I find your rantings very interesting and would like to suscribe to your newsletter.

    --
    The wii is the revolution, comrade! ...use the fucking wiimote or I'll gut you like a fish!!!
  32. Keeping My N64 by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 1

    I recently bought a used N64, Super Mario 64, Zelda Ocarina and Majora's mask, rumble pack, and console memory expansion to ensure that I can replay these in the future. At used prices ($35 for the N64 console and controller, similar pricing for the games) this was cheap insurance against the kid moving out of the house and selling/losing/destroying the original N64 we all first played these on. And I agree that Super Mario 64 was quite a leap from everything before it at the time.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
    1. Re:Keeping My N64 by Fallingcow · · Score: 1

      Haha, I had some friends in from out of town a while back and one of them brought an N64 and 3 controllers. We needed one more, so off to the local used game store...

      No controllers. The only one they had was packaged with the whole damn console. $25. They told me that the controllers usually run $15 anyway. I had some store credit.

      I'm now the proud owner of an N64, again. Heh.

      They're friggin' cheaper than lots of new movies on DVD. It's great.

    2. Re:Keeping My N64 by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 1
      N64 and 3 controllers. We needed one more

      So what were you playing? Super Mario Kart, or GoldenEye?

      Those prices match what I've seen in southern Arizona in the past. At those prices, however, too bad you can't network N64's together for some enhanced action.

      --
      "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
    3. Re:Keeping My N64 by Fallingcow · · Score: 1

      Perfect Dark in the Goldeneye levels (mostly the Complex).

      "Hunt the Raptor" in Turok:Rage Wars (2-3 players, 1-2 raptors (with AI set to highest difficulty), in a specific level [the Temple, IIRC], lots of fun.

      BattleTanx. Not as fun as I'd remembered.

  33. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by uglysad · · Score: 2, Informative
  34. Each of these is on its own worth getting a DS for by LKM · · Score: 1

    You didn't ask me, but anyway. I own a DS. From grandparent's list, I own the following games:

    Castlevania DS: Awesome game. Easily the best Castlevania I've ever played.

    Meteos: Used to be the best puzzler until Tetris came along. And getting beaten by Tetris is no shame, really.

    Tony Hawk: The first time that I've actually played through a Tony Hawk's since THPS2. Also the first time they actually introduced some really great new features since THPS2.

    Sonic Rush: Finally, a new 2D Sonic. And it rules.

    Trauma Center: Played it about two hours. Fun game, great idea, frantic gameplay, unfortunately too hard for me.

    Phoenix Wright: Can't wait for part 2. Great, great adventure.

    I haven't played the other games, but these are really awesome games. Each of them is worth getting a DS for on its own.

  35. Re:I don't like... by casualsax3 · · Score: 1

    No, I'm just saying that the Wii's controller is not going to be enough to make it a great system. To clarify a bit, I'm saying that I have found no corelation between the power of the hardware and how much I enjoy the system.

  36. Tons of Gamecube games worth owning by LKM · · Score: 1
    Isn't anyone else ticked off at the fact that there are under 10 games worth owning for the Gamecube?

    No. Nobody else is ticket off at this. Because it's not true. Gameranking lists 106 games rated 80% or higher. Every last one of these is worth owning, and a lot more are worth it, too.

    And why the heck do you want to die when playing a game? I bet Monkey Island must have been a huge disappointment.

    1. Re:Tons of Gamecube games worth owning by Born2bwire · · Score: 1
      And why the heck do you want to die when playing a game? I bet Monkey Island must have been a huge disappointment.
      Oh but not entirely true. In Monkey Island 1 it is possible to find out that Guybrush truely can hold his breath only for 10 minutes. Then the game became less sardonic witted swashbuckling adventure and more like bobbing and decomposing.
  37. too many metaphors by kisrael · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nevertheless, for the first time since 1996, Sony looks to be fire-fighting, and not quite in control of the battleground. Not only is the shoe on Sony's foot, the company is on the back foot. Nintendo has its chance.

    Wow. That's too many metaphors.
    Fire-fighting
    battleground
    shoe on foot
    competitor on back foot

    --
    SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
  38. Re:I don't like... by casualsax3 · · Score: 1
    Easy buddy. People here often mistake criticism for fanboyism - a curious trait which you seem to be foaming at the mouth with here.

    I don't know what exactly I've said to make you think I'm interested in graphics and processing technology. You're acting like a zealot - and you assume because I said I'll buy a PS3, I'm only buying it because it's shiny. Please reread my response. I argue that the least powerful of the three systems was the one I enjoyed the most. Also, I don't own a 360, because there aren't any great games for it yet (please reread my response again) and I don't own a high definition TV.

    Also, there is no reason to get childish and assume that because I play video games I don't enjoy my share of outdoor activities, social interaction, or a solid workday.

  39. Re:I don't like... by aronc · · Score: 3, Informative

    *pulls up GNC release list*
    Lesse..

    Metroid Prime 1 & 2
    Resident Evil 4
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
    (and no, i didn't die. But I did have fun, isn't that the point?)
    Viewtiful Joe 1 & 2
    Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
    Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II
    F-Zero GX
    Super Smash Bros. Melee (series)
    Pikmin 1 & 2
    Super Monkey Ball 1 & 2
    Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
    Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
    Animal Crossing
    Ikaruga
    Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
    The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
    Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
    Star Fox Assault
    Sega Soccer Slam
    Mario Power Tennis
    Mario Golf
    WarioWare Inc.: Mega Party Game$

    And that's just the exclusives or games that didn't hit other consoles for months. They got ports of probably 80%+ of the other major releases (EA sports, Prince of Persia, Soul Calibur, Tony Hawk, BG&E, Splinter Cell, X-men Legends, Spider-Man 2, Lego Star Wars, etc etc etc)

    --

    jello.
    aka aron.
  40. Huh? by LKM · · Score: 1
    Two Italian guys, some swords, and Excite Bike (Excite Truck in Wii's case) didn't save Gamecube

    The Cube had no Mario game, no Zelda game and no Excite Bike when it launched. There's still no Excite Whatever, and Mario and Zelda took a long time to appear on the Cube. What are you talking about?

    1. Re:Huh? by carlivar · · Score: 1

      It did have Luigi's Mansion however... and that is sort of a Mario game.

      --
      Vote Libertarian
  41. Re:I don't like... by SoapDish · · Score: 1

    No. of Games:
    I actually have more games (in number, and that I enjoy playing) on NGC than on PS2. I also have more for the N64. So, it's really the preference of the gamer. I only liked 3 of the games you listed.

    WindWaker:
    I had fun, but was never a really big Zelda fan. Twilight Princess should fix that problem finally.

    GBA and size of DS:
    Never had a GBA, but it was certainly the best handheld out there for a while. As for the DS, I don't think it's that big, personally. The main reason I'm getting a Lite is because my mom has started hogging my system, and we need another.

    NGC Controller:
    In my opinion, this is the best controller out to date. SSB:Melee is also perfectly set up to play on it, it's essentially a 1 button game with 3 auxilliary buttons. I saw some people playing it on a projector on campus yesterday, because it's so good.
    That being said, I prefer playing MegaMan on playstation controllers because of the dominant position of the D-Pad.

    So, it's all about personal preference, and a lot more people just happen to prefer the way Nintendo is doing things now.

  42. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Simple problem: Wii only supports up to 480p resolution. Xbox 360, released over a year before the Wii will be launched, already supports 1080i resolution. All Xbox 360 games run at a minimum of 720p. Gamepro confirmed what I had suspected as well, Wii will have no digital audio port. This means you're limited not only to low resolution graphics (and trust me, 480i will be low resolution by the end of the year) and two-channel audio.

    You want to know an odd thing ...

    Back in 2001 HDTV was (supposedly) only 12 months from everyone adopting it, and the XBox was the only system that supported it (720p); Dolby Digital 5.1 was also going to be the feature that drove people to the XBox because Sterio Sound is so 1990. You know what happened? The PS2 (a piece of hardware which was inferior to both the Gamecube and XBox in practically every way) completely dominated the generation. In every generation I can think of, the technically superior system has been the one that failed; the N64 produced much better graphics and sound than the Playstation did, the Turbo Graphics 16 and 3DO were destroyed by the SNES, and the NES dominated everything that came against it.

    The simple fact is that people choose the system that is the most fun and/or the system their friends have; at $600 for the PS3 few people are going to own one any time soon and the XBox 360 has absolutely no presence in Japan (as well as a limited presence in North America ... that is it's outsold by the PS2). In other words the Wii could dominate the generation regardless of specs.

    One last thing I need to mention, I have heard that most developers have been hounded by Nintendo to use their API when dealing with Graphics modes/resolution (and other hardware based features) for "Forward Compatibility" reasons; this could be that Nintendo has recognized that in 2011 when they release the successor they want all games to be compatible or they could plan a Wii HD to be released in 2008 being that increasing the performance of the GPU to handle higher resolutions has no effect on gameplay; and a good API should be able to handle surround sound in both Pro-Logic II and Dolby Digital 5.1.

  43. Re:I don't like... by PhoenixFlare · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Yay, time to feed the troll!

    Isn't anyone else ticked off at the fact that there are under 10 games worth owning for the Gamecube?

    http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/gamecube/

    There's at least 10, I could find at least 20 or 30, but you can do your own research. Likewise for the N64.

    How about the miserable excuse they called WindWaker (did anyone actually die once playing through it?)

    That "miserable excuse" sold millions of copies, and got almost universal acclaim from the majority of people that played it.

    How about the crappy controller that makes it impossible to truly master Smash Bros Melee.

    To be blunt, some of us actually have some skill. Personally, I can use the controller well enough to massacre the CPU players and people of medium skill, but i've seen other players that are far, far better. Try hunting down videos of tournament matches or Home Run Contest high scores sometime.

    They named it the Wii, people. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

    You say that like it's a bad thing. I also notice pretty much everyone has stopped the lame jokes about the name, except for whiny trolls like yourself.

    For the next generation, I'm going to bet on the system that gave me the innovative and enjoyable games THIS time around, and it wasn't the Gamecube.

    So don't buy one. Nintendo won't miss you, I promise.

    You know how Nintendo can win the next generation war? GAMES.

    He can be taught!

  44. Winning? by david.given · · Score: 1

    And I remember Sony going on to win that war, and PlayStation becoming the de facto shorthand for 'video games'.

    Well, that's odd, because I don't. Here in the UK, my experience is that the N64 and the Playstation were about equally ubiquitous. 'Playing Nintendo' was synonymous for playing a console game. N64s were pretty much everywhere.

    And certainly, from what I've seen, the N64 was far more desirable --- no moving parts! Silent! Solid! No delicate, easily-scratchable disks! No load times! No fiddly save-game cards! Analogue sticks! Rumble packs! One of the best controllers ever made! Playstations always seemed cheap and plasticy by comparison.

    Are things really so different in the US?

    1. Re:Winning? by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 1

      Apparently so. Everyone I knew (except one) had a Playstation and not a Nintendo 64. The only Nintendo 64 games we'd sit around and play were Goldeneye and the Mario Cart game. I'm not even sure if he owned any more Nintendo 64 games than that. I think, collectively, we spent more time playing the fishing game (with the rod controller) on the Playstation than we did on the Nintendo 64.

    2. Re:Winning? by LordVader717 · · Score: 1

      100 million units beats the N64s sales. The main loss were the 3rd parties, who preferred to develop for Playstation, and as a result, N64 was dry of games, with only Nintendo releasing a limited selection on quality games.
      All in all not a good generation for them.

      As for hardware design/quality: I think the GameCube beats tho PS2 and XBOX, but it didn't help them much.

  45. Re:I don't like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Isn't anyone else ticked off at the fact that there are under 10 games worth owning for the Gamecube? It was the same story with the N64."

    Nope. In each case, they were 10 games that you couldn't get on the other systems.

    "How about the miserable excuse they called WindWaker (did anyone actually die once playing through it?)"

    You didn't like WindWaker. BFD.

    "How about the original GBA, or the massive DS."

    What about them? The GBA didn't have a backlit screen. Oh noes! The predecessor didn't have one, either. Meanwhile, the GBA was a big advance (pun intended) and it was still affordable. DS? Similar story, not even worth going into. Suddenly Nintendo's the bad guy for improving their products over time. Those bastards!

    "How about the crappy controller that makes it impossible to truly master Smash Bros Melee."

    How about the Wavebird that everybody loves?

    "They named it the Wii, people."

    Yeah, the gameplay will suffer for that.

    "I'm looking forward to the next iteration of the system that gave me Xenosaga, SMT Nocturne and Digital Devil Saga 1&2, Katamari 1&2, Metal Gear Solid 2&3, Zone of the Enders 1&2, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, FFX, Kingdom Hearts 1&2, Star Ocean 3, Dragon Quest 8, Ico, Atelier Iris, Grandia II, Devil May Cry, God of War - and a slew of others that I can't recall."

    Enjoy all those sequels.

    "You know how Nintendo can win the next generation war? GAMES. It's got nothing to do with the hardware, as the underpowered PS2 proves in unbelievable sales on one end, and the dismal performance of the powerful handheld PSP proves on the other. Games games games."

    Ding ding ding! Ever noticed that the Wii is the least powerful system? Have you gotten a wiff of the new control scheme? Have you peeked under the covers and noticed the wi-fi and download services? Have you even glanced in the general direction of the DS? Won't you be embarrased when you actually do a little looksie and discover you just summarized Nintendo's game plan.

  46. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by masklinn · · Score: 0

    American hit on the scale of Xbox 360

    I'd hate it to be though, because the Xbox360 is much more of a failure than a hit.

    --
    "The way we can tell it's C# instead of Haskell is because it's nine lines instead of two." -- wadler
  47. Re:Sony won last round, bu Nintendo will win this by CokoBWare · · Score: 1

    Why I think Nintendo will re-emerge as a leader of the video game console "war" is because they will sell the crap out of the console, parents and people looking to guard their pocketbook will see the Wii as a great alternative to the PS3 and XBox 360. The ability to give people a more intuitive interface to play games will be a big drawing point when grandmas get their hands on it. When the sales numbers are in by Christmas, the 3rd parties will see that investing in a very popular platform to develop games is a no-brainer. 3rd parties will lose money if they don't support the Wii in that kind of sales climate. It's a chicken-egg-chicken argument. Lots of consoles = lots of games = lots of gamers.

    I take your point about the 3rd party support, but I think the press is reporting that Nintendo is doing a good job with the Wii.

  48. Re:I don't like... by ArmyOfFun · · Score: 2, Informative
    Isn't anyone else ticked off at the fact that there are under 10 games worth owning for the Gamecube?
    WTF are you talking about? Here's the list of ~24 games I own that are exclusive to GC (all worth owning):
    Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem
    F-Zero GX
    Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
    Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
    Geist
    The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
    Luigi's Mansion
    Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour
    Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
    Metroid Prime
    Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
    Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
    Pikmin
    Pikmin 2
    Ribbit King
    Star Fox Adventures
    Star Fox: Assault
    Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
    Super Mario Sunshine
    Super Smash Bros. Melee
    Tales of Symphonia
    WarioWare, Inc.
    Wave Race: Blue Storm

    Here are GC games I own that are available on at least 1 other platform. Most are worth owning, though there are about 4 exceptions (*cough* "Muppets Party Cruise" *cough*):
    Beyond Good & Evil
    Call of Duty: Finest Hour
    Dead to Rights
    GUN
    The Hobbit
    Killer 7
    Peter Jackson's King Kong
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
    Metal Arms: Glitch in the System
    Midway Arcade Treasures 2
    Midway Arcade Treasures 3
    Monopoly Party
    Muppets Party Cruise
    Resident Evil 4
    Second Sight
    The Simpsons Hit & Run
    Skies of Arcadia Legends
    Spyro: A Hero's Tail
    Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly
    Starsky & Hutch
    Super Monkey Ball
    Super Monkey Ball 2
    TimeSplitters 2
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
    True Crime: New York City
    True Crime: Streets of LA
    Turok: Evolution
    Viewtiful Joe
    Viewtiful Joe 2
    X-Men Legends
    XIII
  49. Sales != "shipped" by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

    Anyone who believes that the PSP and DS sales are "roughly equal" doesn't know enough about the situation to write an article about it.

    1. Re:Sales != "shipped" by Rosebud128 · · Score: 2, Informative

      While this is true, people rely on the 'shipped' numbers only because it appears in the financial statements the companies send out to their shareholders. After all, these companies get their money from the retailers of where they shipped.

      However, if someone took those financial statements at face value, they don't have a clue how those statements are to sell the company to the investors. In other words, those statements crafted for sales purposes. The bean-counters on GAF cannot tell the difference. One of the reasons why Sega was destroyed financially was because they believed those financial statements of shipped to retailers meaning actual sales. If a company does not find out how many systems are being sold to customers, they will have an accounting mess as occurred with the early days with the Saturn.

      Here is the sales performance of the 7th Generation systems so far...

      -Europe-

      Xbox 360- Better than the original Xbox so far. This is the Xbox 360's true success so far in this region.

      DS- Selling better in Europe than America. More popular in non-english speaking countries such as France. (Nintendogs is still in the top ten list there)

      PSP- Selling well but behind the DS.

      Conclusion- With Animal Crossing and Brain Age beginning to occupy the best seller lists (plus New Super Mario Brothers), and with the DS Lite coming out, the gap between the PSP and DS will only widen.

      -America-

      Xbox 360- Selling around the same number as the original Xbox so far. With only 1.7 million sold in America so far, Microsoft is wasting their year head start against Sony.

      PSP- Sony has been very aggressive with the PSP in America with massive advertising, packaging the PSP with Daxter, and still the PSP sells around the same rate as the DS. The PSP software sold is about on par with most of the DS software.

      DS- DS sales will, of course, go up due to the DS Lite. DS sales have been holding steady. The PSP versus DS war is actually very pathetic since both the PSP and DS are routinely outsold by the GBA. And to add insult to injury, both are outsold by the Gamecube. America is not very interested in handheld gaming apparently.

      Conclusion: The DS and PSP are tied in America. However, Nintendo's handheld marketshare is around 70% due to the combination of the DS and GBA. If GBA owners upgrade to the DS, the DS will soundly sail past the PSP in this market.

      -Japan-

      Xbox 360- LOL. The Xbox 360 has flopped harder than the Xbox in Japan. Currently, it is battling it out with the Gamecube in sales there. The floppage of the Xbox 360 insures that Microsoft cannot win the console war.

      PSP- Decent sales and beats the PS2. The software, however, has been atrocious. Japanese view the PSP as a media center, not as a games machine. The sales of Animal Crossing WW in Japan has outsold all the PSP software combined there.

      DS- On fire. DS software dominates the best seller's list. DS hardware outsells the PSP from 10 to 1 to 5 to 1. Japan is where the handheld war is being won. The DS is the fastest selling system in Japan ever.

      Conclusion: DS has reinvigorated the Japanese market. The American market is currently flat and stagnant. To give you an idea, last month, the Xbox 360 sold around 200,000 consoles in America. In Japan, 100,000 DSes were sold last WEEK. In the week before that, it was 300,000.

      Obviously, the shipped of PSP and DS don't equal the number of sold. The DS is beating the PSP by miles in Japan. The DS is ahead of the PSP in Europe. In America, it is tied, but the American market right now is flat and the GBA sales are higher than either handheld.

    2. Re:Sales != "shipped" by SetupWeasel · · Score: 1

      Exactly.

      Japan is really crazy. The DS is dominating everything. It is selling at holiday levels every week and beating all other systems combined twice over.

      It will make the next console war interesting. I can't see the phenomenal success of the DS not spilling over into the Wii, but other territories will be different. I hope Japanese success will ensure a diverse American game portfolio regardless of how well it sells here.

  50. Re:Sony won last round, bu Nintendo will win this by Knuckles · · Score: 1

    At this point, it's still too early to say.

    The officially announced games include Ubisoft, Activision, EA, Square Enix, Sega, and Konami. Capcom and others have announced titles for later.

    This does not mean it isn't too early to say nevertheless, but Nintenco IMHO has a good chance.

    --
    "When I first heard Daydream Nation it quite frankly scared the living shit out of me." -- Matthew Stearns
  51. I hear ya.... by cttforsale · · Score: 1

    I largely ignored the N64, but there's a world of great games for it I'd like to try. Got my 1st taste from that Zelda Collectors disk that came bundled with my NGC.

  52. Why, exactly, is it about "winning"? by Inoshiro · · Score: 1

    I thought what you wanted to do as a business was produce a profit and continue to expand. That's the understanding I got from both normal day-to-day life, and the first-year economics classes that were required for my degree.

    So why does Nintendo, which is a business first, have to "win" some kind of ideology war? Isn't this really more about people who attach sentimental feelings to something? Perhaps it's because some had been swept up in the "console war" marketting Sega used 17 years ago, and which Microsoft has been trying to capitalize on in order to gain that 18-25 market of males who like FPSes.

    Seriously, Nintendo doesn't need to win anything. They produce games I don't mind buying and systems which have games I like. They've been consistently profitable. They're doing what they're supposed to do; anything else is anthropomorphism.

    --
    --
    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
  53. Re:I don't like... by cttforsale · · Score: 1

    My collection dwarfs that in total number of games and number of consoles covered. I could take a picture of it, but then it would just be a picture of an Xbox.

  54. Re:I don't like... by challlen · · Score: 1

    Looking at that picture...

    I think thats a pretty good indication of why the current numbers are the way they are.
    There's a few cartridge games, but no one wants to spend a crazy amount of money on them.
    There's a few Xbox games and Gamecube games, because there were a few worth buying.

    And there are a scary amount of PS2 and PS1 games because there were that many good titles to buy.
    Its hard to see in the picture, but i can make out Katamari, FFX (and other square games), MGS, some greatest hits titles, etc.

  55. Luigi's Mansion != Mario Game by LKM · · Score: 1

    If somebody says "a Mario game" without further qualifiers, that usually means "a Jump-N-Run with Mario as the main playable character". Luigi's Mansion had no Jumping and no Mario as a playable character, so it most definitely is not a Mario game. If anything, it's Nintendo's version of Resident Evil :-)

    Super Princess Peach, on the other hand, could possibly be called a Mario game. It has no playable Mario, but at least it has jumping and running.

  56. A Nintendo outsider's view on things. by DaSenator · · Score: 0

    I think that I have been wrong about consoles.

    While I have never owned a major console product line from Nintendo, and having only owned the Game Boy (Original off-beige clunker that still works to this day) and the Game Boy Color, I have been a little bit behind in my personal purchases of products from Nintendo.
    I never really got into the whole TV/console gaming scene, and while occasionally playing each successive generation at friends' houses, I can say that each system seemed to have a certain allure that allowed me to look beyond its minor (read: insignificant/nonexistant) flaws, and see the console as a good gaming machine.

    There were a few reasons that I went the PC gaming route instead of being a more console focused person. Maybe it was that the computer became more of a main part of my life, and gaming only seemed natural on it. Or maybe it was the fact that when the Xbox/PS2 came out, I was still seeing a very binary view, that of "Console vs. PC."

    Or more recently, it was the fact that I could either drop four hundred dollars on a 360 with no games (nevermind the fact that I do not own a high def TV, which is a de facto requirement; if you can output hi-def, then show it on hi-def), or I could drop 300 on a new graphics card and more RAM, and still have money left over for more games.

    Maybe it was the fact that I was sick of hearing all the Halo/Halo2 fanboys screaming their heads off how consoles are perfect for FPS's; even though the PC Gamer Magazine challenge to the Xbox Magazine people proved once and for all that the keyboard and mouse is a superior control setup for FPS's when compared to a gamepad (especially that of the Xbox).

    Perhaps all of these reasons culminated in the fact that I have not made any additional console gaming purchases since the GameBoy Color era.

    Of course, after playing the new Metroid game on a friend's DS gave me a new outlook on gaming from Nintendo. A first person shooter that has an intuitive control system (albeit tiring, but what's a Nintendo system without the trademark Nintendo Thumb?), that anyone can get used to, either from the PC camp, the console faction, or a new gamer.

    I honestly can say that I will be buying a DS Lite (as soon as they come out in the jet/matte/flat black; whatever, so long as it matches my computer coloring scheme of black) and truthfully, I will be purchasing a Wii. There is just something about the control scheme, something about what Nintendo is doing that somehow re-captures the interest of gamers such as myself.

    I find the 360 interesting, the control setup has been greatly improved from its predecessor, but I still don't find a need to purchase it.

    I somehow doubt the eventual playability of the PS3 will be all that great, given all the information that we've seen that shows Sony's pitfalls in its creation, and of course, the fact that the Blu-Ray technology might follow in the footsteps of every other media format that Sony has brought to market. One would expect them to learn their lesson after the Betamax, MemoryStick(somewhat), UMD, and their ATRAC music format.

    I figure that my investment in the Wii and the DS Lite will still be completely worth my money, and if Nintendo puts out 'mature' games (read: Battlefield 2, any game from Rockstar) for the Wii, I can safely say that Nintendo can capture a broader gaming market.

    Of course, that's just my opinion.

    --
    Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem.
  57. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by ereshiere · · Score: 1

    The 16-bit era didn't follow the pattern: the SNES was a much better system tech-wise than the Genesis or the TG-16, and it ended up winning. The graphics in the Donkey Kong Country games, for example, were far better than anything released for either of those systems, plus it had the rudimentary polygonal games like Starfox. The 3DO and the NeoGeo were never competitors.

  58. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I loved my SNES but the Donkey Kong Country games were not representative of the quality of game the SNES had provided; they were kind of like Resident Evil 4 for the Cube ... so many tricks and hacks are used to make the game look far better than could normally be produced on the system.

    But that isn't really what I was getting at anyways ...

    What I was saying is that people don't buy a system because it produces the best graphics or sound, otherwise the NES, Gameboy, Playstation, and PS2 would never have been the most popular systems in their market; people buy systems because the games they want to play are on them. From what I have seen the Wii has an advantage over the PS3 and XBox 360 here; of the developers I know they were expending about half the resources on the Wii as the other two consoles and yet tended to have more Wii projects underway.

  59. I read somewhere by GregNorc · · Score: 1

    I remember reading somewhere that classic games downloaded to the Wii could be stored on SD cards (I'm fuzzy on whether any other types of starage, IE usb hard drives). This alone has me conviced to get a Wii. Quite frankly, I'm tired of paying over and over to play the same classic games I had on the NES. I have a feeling piracy will be rampant with these downloaded Wii ports, and quite frankly I'm glad. Maybe that will convince Nintendo to start working on NEW content, ala "New Super Mario Bros" for the DS.

  60. Re:I guess I know why I'm not a Nintendo fan now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "I never played Mario 64."

    Well, you should, it's fucking brilliant. If there were no Mario 64 there wouldn't be a Sly Cooper.
    You'll find it looks dated nowadays, but if you can see past that get yourself an emulator and the ROM and fire it up. Take an hour out of your life to educate yourself. It's free (coz it's illegal :).
    Conker's Bad Fur Day is really funny, too, and Mario Kart 64 is great fun multiplayer. Rogue Squadron (get the PC port, better framerate), Blast Corps and Wetrix are all ace too.

    Not saying that Sony isn't teh k1ng of teh g3n3rat10n, but being a fanboy and ignoring other platforms just means you're hurting yourself. Do you want to be some emo kid, cutting yourself because you love Sony?
    Games are cool, companies that make game consoles - who gives a fuck?

  61. Virtual console is different! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do people keep calling it "backwards compatibility"? The Wii will have backwards compatibility with Gamecube games only, and maybe an attachment for GBA/DS games. "Virtual console" is a different concept. If you have a stack of vintage games, backwards compatibility lets you play them. All virtual console does is let you pay for them again. If Sony charged you $10 a pop to "register" a PS1 game to be playable on your PS3, people would scream bloody murder, but when Nintendo does it it's damn near heroic, people just can't wait to re-purchase all their favorite games. Nintendo inadvertantly struck gold, everyone suddenly thinks an electronic machine can bring their childhood back. If you sit back and look at the past rationally, you'll see that Nintendo isn't "the good company", their tactics for a time were damaging to the entire gaming industry. Well, that's five minutes of my time wasted, as soon as I post this will inevitably be dropped to -1, Flamebait by someone who somehow considers speaking ills of their favorite childhood dreamfactory to be offensive...

  62. Biased by skreeech · · Score: 1

    Very biased and retarded article after reading the first section.

    --
    [20:36] wwwdot/.dotorg
  63. Aw, come on! by LKM · · Score: 1
    there is the throuble that not every third party games is as good as 'Castlevania', just look at NfS:Most Wanted or Burnout for the DS, those games are horrible, they look like junk and they play like junk.

    True. But there are some points to consider:

    1. This is true for all consoles to a certain extent. It's worse with some consoles than with others, but look at the Dreamcast: This is the console that probably had one of the highest percentages of awesome games, but there are still games like WWF Royal Rumble or that weird kickboard game - both unplayable messes
    2. This has always been especially true for portable consoles where ports were an afterthought used to cash in on the name which the "big console version" had made (e.g. King Kong)
    3. You don't have to buy them. It doesn't make the good games any worse.


    especially since the DS is the only console around where those games downright suck.

    Now this is simply not true. The worst-rated DS game "Sprung" is only the 49th worst rated game on Game Rankings.

    There are plenty of crappy games on other consoles.

  64. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I would like to also point out that yes, you did infact copy and paste that dribble.
    And it's complete, and udder bullshit.

    Let's rapp.

    "But there is no way Nintendo Wii will be a mega-hit in the United States."
    This is rediculous. You have no basis for saying such a thing. EVERYONE, and I do mean everyone, thinks the Wii is a sweet idea. Read any forum. Talk to any teenager/young adult. They all want one. And yes... mom and dad will buy one for Johnny because it costs 200 dollars vs 400,500, or $600. You are again, another blind Sony-ite that will follow that company off their proverbial cliff.

    "This is no surprise -- Nintendo always phones home when it's taking a risk."
    Why is this considered a bad thing? I've never played a Mario game (traditional, that is; Super Mario 1,2,3,World,64,Sunshine,NSMB) that I didn't like. And most of those I love. The same for Zelda. Many critics might dog a certain release of Zelda or Mario, but they were all good games. Period. Some other factor might have been involved to keep the 64 or GC to REIGN SUPREME, but no-one regrets playing those games. They were good.
    Also, why does this seem to only apply to nintendo? They're dogged for pulling out the Zelda, Mario, Metroid Pyramid Powerhouse, when other companies do the same. Why isn't playstation dogged for releasing new MGS, and FF games? Or xbox for Halo and Splintercell? BECAUSE THEY'RE GOOD GAMES. Because we love to see the concept taken to new hights. This isn't a bad thing. This is an excellant thing. try again, douch bag.

    "Sony gave too much away -- despite the price of the Playstation 3, which I expect to drop by $100 before the launch. They said, here it is, it's great, here's when you'll get it, and here's everything you'll get.

    Take another look at the first Nintendo Promo Video. No prices; no exact release date. All you're getting here is a high energy video in a high energy booth at E3 that teases the assembled journalists so that they'll want more.

    Sony put a gyroscope into their new controller -- in effect this could be better than the Wii controller because no external hardware will be required by the Playstation 3. However, they kept the exact same looking "dual shock" design that the original Playstation had. Wii's controller is different -- it looks like nothing you've ever seen before. Thus, you want to touch it, feel it, and get to know the Wiimote. It may offer absolutely sub-par gaming, but it's different and journalists love different."


    The price will NOT drop before launch. I promise. They might tank as a company as it is (a bit of an exaggeration, but definately not impossible), so they can't afford to lose another $100 on each console. They just can't. You also said they said "look, here it is, here's what you'll get, and when you'll get it... and at what cost." Sony didn't lose the PR war at E3 because they annouced the price or date, they lost because of WHAT THAT PRICE IS. Too expensive. Many more are learning that sony's pushing another format on us that no one wants (at least right now), and we're paying for it with no choice in the matter. They told us what we'd get from the playstation... but its nothing that was previously promised. Two DVI ports? NO FUCKING SUCH THING. One on the premium model. Three Network (RJ45) ports? NO FUCKING SUCH THING. Only one. 7 USB ports? only 4. 1080p gaming? Nope. Only 720p gaming, save some arcade style 'small games' that might see 1080p. See the promises falling through? Sony talks much, and delivers little. Always has.

    Also, many would argue that the Dual Shock design is old and tired. I would agree.. but yes, this is purely opinion. In any case, the gyros in the dual shock design seems quite gimiky. Also, many would agree. In fact, I have yet to find someone who agree's with your rediculous views on the matter. Many are crying for the gyro functionality to be optional in the games that support it, as they don't want their games rui

  65. The real power behind the console... by Rosebud128 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...is in its library. The best selling consoles always have the largest libraries. Take any generation of any console or handheld, and you will find this to be true. Even the Gameboy, with four shades of green, outsold competitors like Atari and Sega with color handhelds. Why? Because the Gameboy had a superior gaming library.

    The PS1 and PS2 outsold its competition due to its superior library. No one gives a damn about the hardware. If the PS2 broke down, people would buy another because of their gaming library.

    The DS is outselling the PSP because... of its library. The PSP library is not exactly diverse or as interesting. More importantly, the DS's library hits more demographics than the PSP does (thanks to the Brain games, to Nintendogs, and the rest). PSP's software keeps hitting the same demographic. Since handhelds do not follow the console cycles, whoever wins the handheld war will be the victor for probably the next ten years.

    The victor of the console war will be the one with the largest library? Which console had the most playable games at E3 this year? Nintendo. Which console will have the most available software upon launch? Most likely, Nintendo.

    Nintendo's dirty little secret is that, not only has the company completely restructured in the last few years, Nintendo has been expanding their software development studios like crazy in both Japan and America. Nintendo intends to flood the market with quality content.

    Xbox 360 and PS3 have a big strike against them with software creation. By jumping on the HD bandwagon, their games will take more time to be made, are riskier to make, require bigger teams, and are much more expensive. The Wii is extroadinarily cheap to develop for. The Wii's development kit costs around $2000, cheaper than even the PSP's.

    The fact is that third parties are interested in making money, not playing fan boy. The Wii is very attractive to publishers as it represents a low cost revenue stream which is desperately needed today. The Wii is very attractive to developers because of the controller and the innovation it allows.

    The Wii will end up putting out more software, on a faster basis, than either Sony and Microsoft's machiens. Even worse for them, the Wii attempts to have the largest gaming library ever with the NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and Turbographix 16 games on the Virtual Console.

    No one cares about the console itself. People care about the library. People buy the PS2 today not because they like Sony but because it gives them access to a large game library. Nintendo realizes that with the N64 and Gamecube, they were competing too much on a hardware basis. Now, Nintendo is focusing and investing heavily in the software.

    Then, add in the vast price differences of a $600 machine, $400 machine, and a less than $250 machine. Nintendo is definately re-surging. The most comical part is if Nintendo does take the top spot, analysts will have so much egg on their faces. It was only a year or two ago when people were asking if Nintendo would leave the console business...

  66. The article title could have totally been ... by PaganRitual · · Score: 1

    "How Nintendo could piss all over the competition"

    sigh. I'll have more coffee and get a second draft back to you by lunchtime.

  67. Re:I don't like... by Mac+Degger · · Score: 1

    "They named it the Wii, people. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

    You say that like it's a bad thing. I also notice pretty much everyone has stopped the lame jokes about the name, except for whiny trolls like yourself."

    I agree with pretty much everything else you said, but I still call the thing the Revolution. That was the right name for it. Wii? Who the hell are they kidding? WTF? I still have that WTF? reaction, after all that time. I'll probably airbrush 'Revolution' over the Wii logo.

    --
    -- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
  68. Re:I don't like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Isn't anyone else ticked off at the fact that there are under 10 games worth owning for the Gamecube?"

    Well, unlike everyone else here I can somewhat agree with you there. To my tastes there are maybe 12 must-own cube games. But I don't care that the system is fairly light on games, because buying a second hand one cost me next to nothing - I got cube + controller and memory card for the price of a new game.

  69. Re:I guess I know why I'm not a Nintendo fan now by TomHandy · · Score: 1
    Not only that, I'm not sure how someone could judge Ocarina of Time based on only 10 minutes of play (if I remember it correctly, it took me 10 minutes just to sort of get used to the environments and just sort of walk around the village and seeing how the game world worked, etc.).

    Aside from that, I think it's kind of funny for someone to say that just because they didn't like games like Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, that GoldenEye 64 was the ONLY reason to own an N64. Just because YOU didn't like it doesn't mean that other people didn't - thus, it is crazy to say that the worth of the console can only be judged by the one game you did like. Clearly for a lot of people, Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time were pretty good reasons to own an N64.

  70. Re:I don't like... by justchris · · Score: 1
    I'm not entirely sure your definition of failure and my definition of failure are the same. I own over 40 GC games, and only one of them do I regret buying (the second TMNT game was total ass).

    And even though I was only a poor college student at the time, I clearly recall owning over 20 n64 games (far more than I owned on the PS1) and enjoying every single one of them. I also rented over 10 games that brought great joy to my life. (To compare, I own about 60 PS2 games, about 5 of which I regret buying. But, to be fair, about 40 of those games are RPG or Strategy games.)

    Windwaker was fun. I don't remember if I ever died playing it, I do remember it wasn't stupidly frustrating, if that's what you mean. There was a long stretch near the end that was disappointing, but overall a good game.

    What was wrong with the original GBA? I quite enjoyed the original GBA, and still have it. I never picked up an SP, because it never made a difference to me. Now, I do think the DS Lite is better than the DS, but I have a few friends who prefer the original DS simply because it's larger. That's more a matter of preference than failure. In fact, people are still buying the original GBA, so obviously some people prefer it.

    And I don't know what you're talking about as far as the GC controller. It is, flat out, the best controller I had ever held until I got ahold of the new 360 controller, which is basically the same controller with a few key upgrades. I also prefer the heightened sensitivity of the Nintendo style analog thumbstick over the PS2 style, or the horribly crappy, inaccurate original Xbox analog. So that wasn't so much a failure as you being strange. The controller worked perfectly in SSBM, I never had a second of trouble from it.

    Nintendo has never let me down. I own more PS2 games than I do GC games (I only own about 12 Xbox games), yet I can guarantee you I've spent more time playing my GC than I have my PS2 hands down. Fewer games, but with much, much better replayability. Even the ports are generally better because the GC controller is better, but, of course, that's a personal preference.

    And I'm sorry, but every game you've just listed there? All of them except God of War is 3rd party. Xenosaga, Digital Devil Saga, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, and Devil May Cry all either have been, or plan to have, sequels/offshoots/remakes on a Nintendo system. I know nothing about SMT Nocturne. Katamari is in the hands of Namco, who is generally friendlier with Nintendo than with Sony, they only backed Sony because it gave them a larger audience. If Wii outsells PS3, you can bet Namco, Capcom, Konami, Sega and a number of other Nintendo friendly companies will support Nintendo wholeheartedly over PS3. You mentioned Ico twice, but it and Shadow of Colossus are made by a development team that is more concerned with artistic game development than anything else, so it doesn't matter to them what system it's on, as long as it meets their requirements. Star Ocean is made by a division of Square-Enix, so if Wii is getting Final Fantasy & Dragon Quest, there's a good chance they'll get Star Ocean as well. ZoE is an anime property, I'm not sure who it belongs to, but if it's Bandai Namco, well, there's your answer right there. Atelier Iris is made by a very small dev team, who will be more attracted to the cheaper dev costs on the Wii. Published in the US by Nippon Ichi, who are also a fairly small team, who have expressed interest in making games for both 360 & Wii. So that leaves you with Grandia & God of War as being sacrosanct at this point (and I don't remember who made Grandia, so I can't tell you the prospects of it appearing on a Nintende console).

    Now, I did enjoy God of War, but I will not be getting God of War 2 unless there are some really significant changes to it. It's a fine game, but it's by no means great. It's like a very dumbed down, bloodier version of Prince of Persia (the new 3d vers

    --
    just some guy
  71. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by justchris · · Score: 1

    An excellent response, but you did make one mistake. Several of the games demoed at E3 by Sony were running at 1080p. So you will see some 1080p games (like Gran Turismo...whenever it releases). Assuming you actually have a tv that supports it, of course.

    --
    just some guy
  72. Article Authors not very observant by SageinaRage · · Score: 1

    If the writers of the article had actually paid attention to their sources, they would have seen that Sony's statement listed their 17 million as 'shipped', as always, and that Nintendo's statement listed their 16 million as 'sold', also as always. So, unless you go to the store and don't see any PSP's on the shelves, then the DS is almost definitely beating the PSP in sales.

  73. hahaha...mario 64 best game of its time!?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    just to remind you....final fantasy VII came out at around the same time. enough said.

    1. Re:hahaha...mario 64 best game of its time!?!? by justchris · · Score: 1
      I...I don't think this was meant as a reply to anything I said, but I'll bite.

      Final Fantasy VII, as a game, absolutely pales in comparison to it's predecessors. I have played and beaten FFVII twice. It was okay. I have played Chrono Trigger, FFVI, FFIV & FFV more times than I can count. I play through Chrono Trigger once every other year because it's just that good. I haven't played FFVII, FFVIII or FFIX since I got a PS2.

      Mario 64, on the other hand, was a significant departure and improvement over its predecessors. I would be hard put to say it's a better game, because it's just so damn different. I think I actually like SMB3 more. That doesn't change the fact that Mario 64 still remains one of the most impressive video game achievements of all time.

      Of course, this is my personal opinions. In my personal experience, no game has impressed me graphically since Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. That game was an absolute visual experience I have never forgotten. Though games have visibly gotten better, they're no longer impressive. Everything after that has just sort of been expected.

      --
      just some guy
  74. Re:I don't like... by Ronin_Bic · · Score: 1

    MARIO FOOTBALL they actually made that man im looking for that tonight. Are you sure you dont mean Futbol like soccer please clarify because I really would like a mario football game.

  75. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by justchris · · Score: 1
    One last thing I need to mention, I have heard that most developers have been hounded by Nintendo to use their API when dealing with Graphics modes/resolution (and other hardware based features) for "Forward Compatibility" reasons; this could be that Nintendo has recognized that in 2011 when they release the successor they want all games to be compatible or they could plan a Wii HD to be released in 2008 being that increasing the performance of the GPU to handle higher resolutions has no effect on gameplay; and a good API should be able to handle surround sound in both Pro-Logic II and Dolby Digital 5.1.

    Hmmm, I was not aware of that. But it could just be because Nintendo plans to continue offering backwards compatibility & the virtual console on future machines, and code that uses their API will be easier to emulate on a new hardware architecture than code that uses unique hardware tweaks. I still think it's a good idea either way. As long as their API is decent, which I've heard it's much improved over the original Gamecube API.

    --
    just some guy
  76. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That article was the even more pitiful than the article being discussed.

  77. Excercise with Wii by Kosmik · · Score: 1

    One of the great features of the new Wii is that with the controllers you don't just sit and play , you have to actually be physically active and play. So now we have a great new form of exercise thats fun too.

    Q: So how did you get so fit and such a great build?
    A: A couple ours of Wii a day and you'd look like this too!

  78. Re:I don't like... by buffer-overflowed · · Score: 1

    I have about 30 gamecube titles.. I think. Something like that(I'd have to go count, I do have every game on the grandparent's list though + a bunch more). 4-player party games is where the system really shines(and the PS2 just doesn't, it's more of an all by myseeeellllffff system, metric ton of JRPGs, etc.), but there were some other gems that came out on it. And with the wavebird, lower load times, and just overall better feel imo I tended to get cross-platforms on the Cube when I could.

    I definately got my money's worth out of the lil ol' Cube. Also sorta got my money's worth out of the PS2(and I'm on my third now[well fourth, 2 broken, 1 stolen], the slimline model rubs me wrong for some reason).

    --
    The key to the enjoyment of pop music is to replace any instance of "love" with "C.H.U.D."
  79. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How do you consider that the SNES won when the Genesis shipped more total units?

    Of course it was also out longer, but still.

  80. Re:I don't like... by casualsax3 · · Score: 1

    It was a welcome change to read a well thought out response - I agree with most of the points you've made.

  81. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not to cause an argument, but I've read different.

    http://www.hdbeat.com/2006/05/08/ps3-games-not-108 0p/

    http://www.hdbeat.com/2006/05/11/e3-what-resolutio n-are-ps3-games-running/

    http://ps3.ign.com/articles/707/707540p1.html

    The IGN article reports Gran Turismo is the only game currently slated to run at 1080p, but the 2nd HD Beat article I linked claims Gran Turismo actually natively runs 720p, but was upscaled to 1080p at E3 and would also do so at the final release.
    I'm not one to argue whether that can be considered REAL 1080p, but you do have to admit having every game announced save only ONE to only be running 720p after all of Sony's '1080p for EVERYONE!!' hooplah does seem to be alittle bit of a backtrack. Thats also not to say that the ps3 isn't CAPABLE of that resolution, or that later games will natively run at such res, it just looks like for now 1080p isn't as much of a barganing chip for Sony's camp as they make it out to be.

    I dunno... I guess I'm sick of Sony's Hype/PR machine stirring the masses unjustly.

    I dunno. Just my 2 cents.

  82. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    complete, and udder bullshit


    Bulls don't have udders, cows do.
  83. Self-Correction by norminator · · Score: 1

    OK, you all have a good point. Some DVD players and many video processors upconvert to whatever super-awesome resolutions you want. But my intended point is still correct, which is that the content available for DVD players (not HD-DVD players) is not available in resolutions greater than 720x480 (or 720x576 for PAL). As for WMV HD, the Wikipedia article cited contains the following line:

    The technology was considered a stepping stone to true high definition optical disc formats (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray) and Microsoft never intended the discs to be played on anything but personal computers.

    So I don't consider WMV-HD to be HD content that's playable on a standalone DVD player.

  84. Hummm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now that I think of it, why don't Nintendo have a program where you can send in your carts and give the WII version for free! Now you can play Super Mario 64 on the WII, and Nintendo gets proof that you actually own(ed) the games you claimed to already have.

    Oh wait... That isn't what you really wanted, was it? Besides that, all Nintendo has as proof that you actually own those games is your own word. But I guess then Nintendo will believe me when I claim I own all the games that they are offering on their service... And it *isn't* like someone could make a database or website full of the info you need to send to Nintendo....

    Seeeesh these "I already own it, they should give me it for free" posts like yours are unrealistic and out of touch with reality...... Seriously, these kinds of comments leave me with a "I really just want a free lunch, FREE R0MZ PLZ!11!" type feeling. If you don't want to "... pay $10-20 to buy it again" keep a NES/SNES/N64/TG16/etc handy to play the stuff you already own.

  85. Re:Wii're Gonna Fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ahhh, touche'.

    utter. udder. whatever.

    I'm no lyricist.