At least that's what I suspect. In fact a prof I know back at UBC has already written a paper on a collection of games. Then again English is known for studying movies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, WWE, Chatelaine Magazine, and soup can labels, so this is really nothing new.
However the fact that the GBA SP is so wildly successful in spite of its lack of power does not show that there is not a market for a more expensive device that does it all. After all, Gamecube and Playstation 2 are both still doing quite well.
More expensive devices? Last time I checked the GBA SP was the same price as the GameCube.
As for the PS2, subtract the cost of a PS1 and/or a DVD player (both of which still sell from time to time) and you're in the same ballpark, to say nothing of the fact that people bought a PS2 just because everyone expected Sony to keep it's monopoly on the market, and it was released at the right time.
By comparison, the PSP is lacking both market hold and price, as well as being released at the wrong time since it will compete with the fledgeling DS.
Consider the current console situation. PS2 makes it to market months before the other 2 systems and completely solidifies itself as the #1. microsoft and nintendo don't even come close.
Consider the current console situation. Sega makes it to the market a year before Sony, and the Dreamcast gets crushed when the PS2 finally arrives.
In fact I'm trying to think if I ever used one. Of course, I tend not to buy games brand new, so I can get oppinons on finished products before I buy them.
So how come every time there's an article/rant about how insecure Windows is and someone says the exact same thing about Windows (i.e., "Windows has more viruses/attacks because it is the most widely used desktop operating system"), it's considered nonsense or a copout by so many Slashdotters?
It's correct. However, given that the kernel gets fully rescripted every once in a while, and that there's a much higher diversity of open projects (i.e. instead of one Microsoft Outlook) even if 97% of people used Linux, viruses would not spread as quickly because it wouldn't really be a monoculture.
Or, that's my rough understanding of the issue at least. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Company executive chairman DK Matai said: "The swift adoption of Linux last year within the online government and non-government server community, coupled with inadequate training and knowledge on how to keep that environment secure when running vulnerable third party applications, has contributed to a consistently higher proportion of compromised Linux servers. Migration to Open Source can be fool's gold without adequate training and understanding of the impact that third party applications have on overall safety and security."
Perhaps we should be focusing more on tech support and help files?
Actually, no. Contra is winning in a category that also contains....
Contra Hard Corps (Konami, 1994, Genesis)
Zork is winning in a category that also contains...
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Infocom, 1984, C64/Apple II/DOS)
A Mind Forever Voyaging (Infocom, 1985, C64/Apple II/DOS) Trinity (Infocom, 1986, C64/Apple II/PC)
StreetFighter 2 and Ninja Turtles are winning in a category that contains...
Daytona USA (Sega, 1994) Sega Rally Championship (Sega, 1995) Time Crisis (Namco, 1996) House of the Dead (Sega, 1997) Dance Dance Revolution (Konami, 1999)
Super Mario Bros. 3 is winning in a category that also contains...
Yoshi's Island (1995, SNES) Super Mario 64 (1996, N64) Super Mario Sunshine (2002, GCN)
(and for the record, I personally voted for Mario 64; it broke more ground, and it has an open-ended style of gameplay which I like).
Don't get me wrong, a lot of the people there got their start in N64/PSX days (see: FFVII). It's definitely skewered against classic games, but more experienced gamers are clearly a non-negligible voting base as well.
It may not be the best FF, but its popularity has caught me off guard before, even though I already knew it was high. Even if it doesn't win, I somehow doubta GTA game will win. Given the strong PC influence on GameSpy I suspect Starcraft, actually.
Although it's mentioned in the intro, it's important enough to point out again before too many people ask, "AAAAH! where's game xxx!?!" -- if a game isn't in these qualifying polls, that doesn't mean it's not in the full tourney.
These qualifying polls should determine roughly half the field; we'll be announcing all the final brackets on Monday. There are some pretty obvious omissions in the qualifying polls; I'm sure a lot of people can guess what a lot of those games are.:)
So feel free to utterly ignore/mock my previous post.
Let me go down my list that I made recently of my top 15 games (roughly in order, though I'm playing a few of the newer ones at the moment so can't judge them well yet).
Super Metroid (omitted entirely) Wario Ware (omitted entirely...and this was in runner up for GameSpy's game of the year too. Come to think of it, the winner, KotOR, isn't there either). Final Fantasy Tactics (omitted entirely) Paper Mario (omitted, but it's a cult hit) Super Smash Bros (omitted; for both SSB and SSBM) Wario's Woods (okay, this missing is not surprising) Metroid Prime (omitted entirely) Super Mario 64 (present) Koudelka (omitted, but it's a small cult following at best) Warioland 2 (again, not well known) Valkyrie Profile (slightly larger cult following, but yeah) Mario and Luigi (omitted entirely) Metroid (omitted, but I'd expect that) Metroid 2 (omitted, and I'd definitely expect that) Zelda 2 (present and getting its butt kicked; why is this game so maligned by Zelda fans again?)
In short, either some games got an automatic "in" or my respect for GameSpy just fell through the floor. Was Starcraft even on there? I don't remember seeing it. I mean I can understand leaving off Kings Quest 2, even though I thought the first two games were the best of that series, but the further I got in that pole the more disgusted I became. Is there a write-in section anywhere?
Then again, I don't think I ever won an arcade game either. Of course, the statement tells us nothing about "Losers" in particular, so I'm not a contradiction to the rule!
Step 1. Convince law-abiding people to stop looking for security holes. Step 2. Pray that for some _unknown_ reasons virus writers listen too. Step 3. ??? Step 4. Profit!
Don't get me wrong, I know a few people who were enraptured by GTA, but I honestly think this article is overplaying its importance. I know several PS2 owners, and not many who actually own GTA3 or GTA:VC.
ES And
FB Fine business (Analogous to "OK")
FCC Federal Communications Commission
FER For
Alright, why would you need to abbreviate "OK" to "FB" or "For" to "FER"? And...is there no better abbreviation for "And"? I'm guessing it has something to do with you can pick these letters out making it easier to figure out where one word ends (which would explain "FB" and maybe "FER" but not "ES").
I will say that I just went out and bought a GameCube yesterday (first system of this generation, actually). That's largely because I'm in the middle of a whole bunch of PSX RPGs (Lunar2:EBC, Parasite Eve, FF7) and I needed a change of pace. So...looking at the games on the new systems that actually caught my eye...
X-Box Interested in: KotOR
0% non-RPG interesting games. Failed.
GameCube Interested in: SSB:M SC2 Metroid Prime SMS ToS WW Pikmin Animal Crossing SoA FF:CC Eternal Darkness MK:DD Viewtiful Joe
(For some explanation: Halo is the same old shooter stuff; I already played Goldeneye thank you. GTA frankly never interested me. I suppose I should add Kingdom Hearts to the PS2 list, I just haven't felt the impulse. And...I'm likely to get multiple consoles eventually, so no point getting Soul Calibur 2 unless it's the best version:P).
To be fair, however, the GBA does outshine all three systems for number of good titles (I don't even want to try and list the GBA stuff); so yes you are probably better getting a Gameboy player than a PS2 (or XBox). If you don't mind hunting bargain bins and don't have one already, PSOne is also a very solid choice, especially since all its games are so cheap now; you just have to know what you're looking for (there's a lot of garbage PSX titles). Well I for one bought a PSOne within the last couple years, at least....
I've noticed this too. And...well I know a lot of people who prefer the old 2D side scrolling, back when "developers focused on gameplay and not graphics."
A few games have been heading back in that direction, actually. I was quite impressed with both Mario and Luigi, and Wario Ware for the GBA. Best games I've played in a long time, and not only do they have solid, simple gameplay, they manage to be very innovative as well.
Though, the same old copycat games are...bleh. I can't say I have the slightest interest in playing Halo; I played Goldeneye seven years ago, why do I need to play it again? (Or a clone, as the case may be).
PC gamers tend to have longer-attention spans than console gamers and stick to usually at most 4 online games at any give point.
Perhaps its more that PC gamers have longer attention spans when it comes to online games than Console gamers, or maybe just the target audience of XBox Live/PS2 online users. However, Console gamers don't have short attention spans. I know firsthand that there's still strong and growing messageboards for Super Metroid (1994) and Final Fantasy Tactics (1998). Pac Man and Super Mario Bros have their own solid fanbases as well, and I know several console gamers who still play NES games.
Now, console gamers are divided. I've heard from teachers of high-school age students who buy a shiny new game every month. My strong suspicion is that online console gaming is new/expensive enough that this is the primary audience. When it becomes more practical, and when there are games worth going online for, then, perhaps, you'll find online console gamers with quite long attention spans indeed.
Though, I only did a minor in English and haven't taken that much Critical Theory. That said, I subsequently played a game with exceptional character development that I wish I had known at the time (Koudelka).
On the other hand, I've known academics to study DOOM. I, frankly, think they're nuts (games that are popular because they made graphical advances tend to be terrible on the literary end). But the point is there's a lot more to study than just the literature aspect of games. From a mathematical and psychology/education perspective, for instance, play control is interesting. Mathematics gives us game-theory to study it, and Education gives us insight into what is "intuitive" for play control.
Yamauchi said -- 'if it succeeds, we rise to the heavens, if it fails, we sink into hell.'
I don't buy that at all (though I tend not to believe Yamauchi). I saw an insightful post on slashdot a while back which suggested that this was designed to cut into PSP market share only. That, and it's not designed to replace the GBA, and it won't because it's more expensive and has a smaller library. Nintendo can still do fine off the GBA/GC whether or not the DS takes off.
Slashdot Mirror
At least that's what I suspect. In fact a prof I know back at UBC has already written a paper on a collection of games. Then again English is known for studying movies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, WWE, Chatelaine Magazine, and soup can labels, so this is really nothing new.
More expensive devices? Last time I checked the GBA SP was the same price as the GameCube.
As for the PS2, subtract the cost of a PS1 and/or a DVD player (both of which still sell from time to time) and you're in the same ballpark, to say nothing of the fact that people bought a PS2 just because everyone expected Sony to keep it's monopoly on the market, and it was released at the right time.
By comparison, the PSP is lacking both market hold and price, as well as being released at the wrong time since it will compete with the fledgeling DS.
Consider the current console situation. Sega makes it to the market a year before Sony, and the Dreamcast gets crushed when the PS2 finally arrives.
Release dates work both ways.
But PS3 was a terrible game. PS2 and PS4 are where it's at!
Oh, Playstation not Phantasy Star....
In fact I'm trying to think if I ever used one. Of course, I tend not to buy games brand new, so I can get oppinons on finished products before I buy them.
I believe there is also a difference in reaction time.
It's correct. However, given that the kernel gets fully rescripted every once in a while, and that there's a much higher diversity of open projects (i.e. instead of one Microsoft Outlook) even if 97% of people used Linux, viruses would not spread as quickly because it wouldn't really be a monoculture.
Or, that's my rough understanding of the issue at least. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Zork is winning in a category that also contains...
StreetFighter 2 and Ninja Turtles are winning in a category that contains...
Super Mario Bros. 3 is winning in a category that also contains...
(and for the record, I personally voted for Mario 64; it broke more ground, and it has an open-ended style of gameplay which I like).
Don't get me wrong, a lot of the people there got their start in N64/PSX days (see: FFVII). It's definitely skewered against classic games, but more experienced gamers are clearly a non-negligible voting base as well.
It may not be the best FF, but its popularity has caught me off guard before, even though I already knew it was high. Even if it doesn't win, I somehow doubt a GTA game will win. Given the strong PC influence on GameSpy I suspect Starcraft, actually.
Let me go down my list that I made recently of my top 15 games (roughly in order, though I'm playing a few of the newer ones at the moment so can't judge them well yet).
Super Metroid (omitted entirely)
Wario Ware (omitted entirely...and this was in runner up for GameSpy's game of the year too. Come to think of it, the winner, KotOR, isn't there either).
Final Fantasy Tactics (omitted entirely)
Paper Mario (omitted, but it's a cult hit)
Super Smash Bros (omitted; for both SSB and SSBM)
Wario's Woods (okay, this missing is not surprising)
Metroid Prime (omitted entirely)
Super Mario 64 (present)
Koudelka (omitted, but it's a small cult following at best)
Warioland 2 (again, not well known)
Valkyrie Profile (slightly larger cult following, but yeah)
Mario and Luigi (omitted entirely)
Metroid (omitted, but I'd expect that)
Metroid 2 (omitted, and I'd definitely expect that)
Zelda 2 (present and getting its butt kicked; why is this game so maligned by Zelda fans again?)
In short, either some games got an automatic "in" or my respect for GameSpy just fell through the floor. Was Starcraft even on there? I don't remember seeing it. I mean I can understand leaving off Kings Quest 2, even though I thought the first two games were the best of that series, but the further I got in that pole the more disgusted I became. Is there a write-in section anywhere?
Then again, I don't think I ever won an arcade game either. Of course, the statement tells us nothing about "Losers" in particular, so I'm not a contradiction to the rule!
Step 1. Convince law-abiding people to stop looking for security holes.
Step 2. Pray that for some _unknown_ reasons virus writers listen too.
Step 3. ???
Step 4. Profit!
Don't get me wrong, I know a few people who were enraptured by GTA, but I honestly think this article is overplaying its importance. I know several PS2 owners, and not many who actually own GTA3 or GTA:VC.
Kazaa sued RIAA ages ago for violating their ToS.
I will say that I just went out and bought a GameCube yesterday (first system of this generation, actually). That's largely because I'm in the middle of a whole bunch of PSX RPGs (Lunar2:EBC, Parasite Eve, FF7) and I needed a change of pace. So...looking at the games on the new systems that actually caught my eye...
:P).
X-Box
Interested in:
KotOR
0% non-RPG interesting games. Failed.
GameCube
Interested in:
SSB:M
SC2
Metroid Prime
SMS
ToS
WW
Pikmin
Animal Crossing
SoA
FF:CC
Eternal Darkness
MK:DD
Viewtiful Joe
66% non-RPG interesting games. It works.
PS2
Interested in:
FFX
Disgaea
Shadow Hearts
Suikoden 3
Xenosaga
FFX-2
BoFV
Grandia 2
Okage
WA3
0% non-RPG interesting games. Failed.
(For some explanation: Halo is the same old shooter stuff; I already played Goldeneye thank you. GTA frankly never interested me. I suppose I should add Kingdom Hearts to the PS2 list, I just haven't felt the impulse. And...I'm likely to get multiple consoles eventually, so no point getting Soul Calibur 2 unless it's the best version
To be fair, however, the GBA does outshine all three systems for number of good titles (I don't even want to try and list the GBA stuff); so yes you are probably better getting a Gameboy player than a PS2 (or XBox). If you don't mind hunting bargain bins and don't have one already, PSOne is also a very solid choice, especially since all its games are so cheap now; you just have to know what you're looking for (there's a lot of garbage PSX titles). Well I for one bought a PSOne within the last couple years, at least....
A few games have been heading back in that direction, actually. I was quite impressed with both Mario and Luigi, and Wario Ware for the GBA. Best games I've played in a long time, and not only do they have solid, simple gameplay, they manage to be very innovative as well.
Though, the same old copycat games are...bleh. I can't say I have the slightest interest in playing Halo; I played Goldeneye seven years ago, why do I need to play it again? (Or a clone, as the case may be).
97%, technically
Perhaps its more that PC gamers have longer attention spans when it comes to online games than Console gamers, or maybe just the target audience of XBox Live/PS2 online users. However, Console gamers don't have short attention spans. I know firsthand that there's still strong and growing messageboards for Super Metroid (1994) and Final Fantasy Tactics (1998). Pac Man and Super Mario Bros have their own solid fanbases as well, and I know several console gamers who still play NES games.
Now, console gamers are divided. I've heard from teachers of high-school age students who buy a shiny new game every month. My strong suspicion is that online console gaming is new/expensive enough that this is the primary audience. When it becomes more practical, and when there are games worth going online for, then, perhaps, you'll find online console gamers with quite long attention spans indeed.
On the other hand, I've known academics to study DOOM. I, frankly, think they're nuts (games that are popular because they made graphical advances tend to be terrible on the literary end). But the point is there's a lot more to study than just the literature aspect of games. From a mathematical and psychology/education perspective, for instance, play control is interesting. Mathematics gives us game-theory to study it, and Education gives us insight into what is "intuitive" for play control.
I think this sumarizes both sides of the argument fairly well. It doesn't look to be a profitable market area; not yet at least. Nintendo's gotten more out of the Link Cable via Pokemon.
I don't buy that at all (though I tend not to believe Yamauchi). I saw an insightful post on slashdot a while back which suggested that this was designed to cut into PSP market share only. That, and it's not designed to replace the GBA, and it won't because it's more expensive and has a smaller library. Nintendo can still do fine off the GBA/GC whether or not the DS takes off.
Wario Ware does this for the two-player minigames! ...Of course, most developers would rather use more than just a single button for each player.