You're right. It kind of reminds me of how great the IDE specification is. That whole 137 GB barrier... We'll never see hard drives bigger than that. I mean never. Absolutely never.
(of course I'm being completely facetious. the point i am making is that in 1998 when the MS first rolled out, flash memory was still a new technology. no one was absolutely certain it would take off as well as it did. give sony some slack for what they accomplished with the medium. we could still be using FD Mavicas... Need I remind you a decent picture with one of those could take up to 30 seconds to write...)
To be honest, I don't like being forced to rely on internal storage for a console. You can't transfer anything off an X-Box without a memory card. Those run $30. You can't FTP in (Without modding). And even if you do own a memory card, certain games are too large to fit on the Wimpy 8 Megs.
My cousin's got an X-box that the DVD drive is making alarming clicking noises... he found a resale X-box for cheap, so he's been using that, but one of his gamesaves (Jade Empire?) is too large to be copied to his Memory Card, and once he gets it to his new system, there's no guarantee that the new system won't somehow fail.
I'm actually glad that Sony (Memory Stick) and Nintendo (SD) are using standard flash memory for their next gen systems...
After reading your comment, I ran some numbers. I've got enough games that I still want to complete that I figure I should be done just in time for the next Duke Nukem title.
You know, Sony updates the specs for a reason. Sure I'm pissed I can't use my old 1.3 MP Digital Camera with a brand new 4 GB Memory Stick Pro... but if I remember right... they needed to update the specs in order to breach the 128 MB gap... something about file system instability. I guess there are those users who wouldn't mind flipping a toggle switch 37 times so they could access a few more megabytes of data..........
As much as I loved the original (and I did), A Link to the Past trumped it in almost every possible way. Nintendo took the same brilliant gameplay that made the original great, and they multiplied everything by 10.
Would seem that it would be kind of redundant to put both on the list...
Then again... Mario, Mario 3, Super Mario World, Mario 64... lol. Also loved all of these titles, but I don't think all four of them needed to be on the list if they left off the original Zelda...:)
Actually, Joe User is better of with a one button mouse. I worked in a tech support center for quite some time, and the most frustrating problem we had was explaining to the user the difference between the buttons...
Frustrating as it was, most Windows users never use the right mouse button, and none of them know what a context menu is. Once you get it through their tiny brains that a mouse has two buttons, then EVERY FRIGGING TIME YOU HAVE THEM CLICK ANYWHERE ELSE...
"With the right button?"
"Do I use the right button?"
"Which button do I use?"
Joe User does not deserve a two button mouse, and Apple has the right idea... Anything you can do in any application should be able to be done through the menu.
For all of you "Idiots" out there... I'm sure you already use a multibutton mouse with your Mac. And yes, you can pick up a logitech mouse with more features for the same price... but by the same token, you can pick up a Dell Jukebox for almost half of what you can pick up an iPod, yet how much better is the iPod selling? Typically Apple customers are willing to pay the extra buck for the "elegance". Who's to say they're wrong.
I suspect that you are in software development because of your stance on piracy. It's something I see more in developers than most other people.
You're right, though. Piracy is something that is often abused by those involved.
The quality of the X-box games I have downloaded has not been movitavation enough to buy almost any of them. Fable has obviously gotten my green-backed vote and so have a couple other games, but the quality level for most of the titles I've downloaded is not on par with similar games on the 'cube. I don't think I would have bought nearly as many GC games as I have if they were bug-ridden, quirky, or cookie-cutter games.
Now, personally (and we all have our own opinions), find it more disturbing that some people will gank a song from a lousy CD with no remorse. Let's take the new Linkin Park CD (featuring Jay-Z). While normally their music meets my specifications, this particular album blew nuts. I bought it, though, because I like the remix of Numb.
Obviously, we each must define our boundaries. If the X-box provided more well-developed titles, my pocket book would suddenly open widely. Unfortunately, Halo 2 does not provide me with enough motivation to support the console. In comparison, I have bought, KoTor, the Sonic Mega Collection, Dead or Alive 3, DoA Ultimate, Fable, . You see, quality titles are worth the price of admission.
Of course, perception of quality is like beauty: in the eyes of the beholder.
I suspect you might be in the software development business.
I am a developer, and I look at it this way. If my product was well worth it, I would expect people to fork o'er the money for it. If my product wasn't innovative, creative, and enjoyable... I would expect people to pirate it. Hence, I see no problem with my deeds.;)
I would like to bring your attention to my support of Nintendo, though. See, I can be a very good consumer when I'm impressed enough to be so.
I, myself, am the proud owner of three gamecubes (with broadband adapters) and 65 or so games.
The Playstation 2, I have not be so compelled to by too many games, though. The Final Fantasy games don't strike me like they did in the 8 and 16-bit days. Kingdom Hearts was absolutely amazing, and Ys seems to be quite impressive. Fable (X-Box) has also been keeping me busy, but I'm sure glad I didn't pay more than $20 for it.;)
The DS has proved to be an interesting system, but most of my investment in portable games is in the GBA... something like 30 or so.
The PSP just doesn't strike me yet. I can't rationalize paying $300 for a PSP and Wipeout (only game that even mildly interests me).
Now, since you seem to be doing fine financially for yourself... any chance you can get me a couple o' games.;)
Sometime ago, I thought I read that GC owners were more likely to own a larger number of games than a PS2 or X-Box Owner, although... I can't reference the article. It was significant, though. Something like 10 GC games for every GC. Like 4 or 5 PS2 or X-Box games. Anyone know where we might find these statistics?
You're probably right. Pokemon and Mario are the cash cows. For good reason, though.
The 3rd Gen Pokemon games have offered exceptional depth and replay value, especially if you have a few friends that play.
Mario... Well, I guess the Mario Party franchise is going great, and so is the Smash Bros. franchise. Not that I mind playing these games either. And Mario Sunshine rocked. And Mario Kart: Double Dash. Yup.
Guess you're right. Same characters. Its just too bad that these same lovable characters keep showing up in well developed, fun video games. I mean... How is Nintendo ever going to stay in business by making fun, profitable video games.
And Yup. Gamecube is trounced by both the PS2 and the X-Box when it comes to hardware. Yup. 'cept the 'cube is far more capable than the PS2 and only slightly (although not terribly noticibly) less capable than the X-Box.
Homebrew sounds great though. I really wish ANY CONSOLE would present something to this market... (Sorry, the Net Yaroze was too expensive for lower middle class folks as myself)
The only reason I bought an X-Box was because I knew I could pirate games. I mean, I've downloaded 30 or 40 of those suckers now...
I can't say I've actually bought an X-Box title yet... Maybe one day. I mean, at $150 Microsoft made a huge profit off of the sale of the system. Right?
Microsoft is still in the video game business only because they have the Windows cash cow to ride in on. Sony rides solely on their name, as best as I can tell. No one I know really wants a PS2 because the games are that much better (Ok, Denny really likes Ys, but aside from that...), but because they know the Sony brand is "King of A/V".
The way I see it, the video game magazines have destroyed N's image. They've been buzzing Sony since the beginning, even though the N64 had clearly superior graphics and games (yes, all three of them). (And yes, I'm familiar with the reasons the N64 did poorly: game prices, developer support, etc.).
Of course, I doubt anyone on Slashdot would actually admit to owning a Gamecube if asked. I mean really. Who here enjoyed Mario Kart: Double Dash LAN Parties? Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles? Mario Sunshine? Resident Evil 4? Rogue Squadron? Super Smash Bros. Melee?
Sure, there's only a dozen (give or take) games for the 'cube, but I can't find any really unique games for the other systems. Well... there is that PS2 game where you roll the ball and absorb everything you pass over... what's it called?... oh well.
You see. I am now flaming. Ergo, Your comment was flamebait. I suppose I could have been nice, though, and just moved on past your flame, but here I am. Making idle conversation about how clearly your post was flamebait.
Guess that means I, too, should be modded as flamebait. Yup. I dunno, though. I may be treading water into "troll" section.
Damned. I wish I weren't looking for a job right now... otherwise I'd so be donating...:(
Seriously, this is a great cause. It allows developers of all sorts to work with the DS. I too have desired to develop my own video game, and a successful project like this would allow those of us with too much free time to do something worthwhile.
And I don't know about you, but developing a game for a Nintendo system has a certain amount of pride to go along with it... Sure Sony has released PS Dev Kits (Yaroze, PS2 Linux), and Microsoft's X-box is just an overrated PC... there's an unspoken level of accomplishment knowing you've developed a Nintendo game.:D
To be honest, Jebus, I'd rather not hear the audience in a recording.;) That's always my biggest gripe about live CDs... heh. Good point on the reverberations, though. In the ideal world, everyone would always listen to music in the ideal listening environment with the ideal blah blah blah. Surround Sound setups (5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 9.1, 10.2, 17.3, 37.9, 1003791.9, etc.) make it easier to reproduce the original acoustics.
Now, I don't know about you, but I can tell subtle differences between CD and DVD-A or between CD and SACD (In 2.0 Stereo Mode). There's a certain warmth that the CD versions seem to lack (Linkin Park - Reanimation, to name one album). Have you noticed this? Kind of curious... Most of my friends and family swear there's no noticible difference; they think I'm crazy.../shrug.
I would miss Batman (DC Comics), but I'm sure someone else would pick up the franchise...
Re:Some good points, but here's my $0.02
on
The Handheld War
·
· Score: 1
To an extent, I disagree with you.
I am very excited about the possibility of long, epic RPGs for the DS. I want to play though Crystal Chronicles. I hear there are remakes of vintage RPGs coming to the DS: Super Nintendo Style Final Fantasy, ChronoTrigger, Earthbound, etc. Many of these qualify as "epic RPGs", and many of these I look forward to playing on my DS>
On the other hand, I agree with you. I will not suffer through of PreRendered Motion Crap. Its a different story on my console, but not on my handheld.
Ahh Yes. The damned Teeth-shaped Parasites. They are vicious demons, especially towards the later levels. They once harvested endorphins from my body, and then I became enraged. I tried to defend myself with Resta, but it did me little good. I found my only ailment was the bottle of spoiled rum. And then I died. I was lucky I had another man, otherwise I wouldn't be able to post on slashdot today.;)
Slashdot Mirror
You're right. It kind of reminds me of how great the IDE specification is. That whole 137 GB barrier... We'll never see hard drives bigger than that. I mean never. Absolutely never.
(of course I'm being completely facetious. the point i am making is that in 1998 when the MS first rolled out, flash memory was still a new technology. no one was absolutely certain it would take off as well as it did. give sony some slack for what they accomplished with the medium. we could still be using FD Mavicas... Need I remind you a decent picture with one of those could take up to 30 seconds to write...)
To be honest, I don't like being forced to rely on internal storage for a console. You can't transfer anything off an X-Box without a memory card. Those run $30. You can't FTP in (Without modding). And even if you do own a memory card, certain games are too large to fit on the Wimpy 8 Megs.
My cousin's got an X-box that the DVD drive is making alarming clicking noises... he found a resale X-box for cheap, so he's been using that, but one of his gamesaves (Jade Empire?) is too large to be copied to his Memory Card, and once he gets it to his new system, there's no guarantee that the new system won't somehow fail.
I'm actually glad that Sony (Memory Stick) and Nintendo (SD) are using standard flash memory for their next gen systems...
After reading your comment, I ran some numbers. I've got enough games that I still want to complete that I figure I should be done just in time for the next Duke Nukem title.
Wait a minute.................
You know, Sony updates the specs for a reason. Sure I'm pissed I can't use my old 1.3 MP Digital Camera with a brand new 4 GB Memory Stick Pro... but if I remember right... they needed to update the specs in order to breach the 128 MB gap... something about file system instability. I guess there are those users who wouldn't mind flipping a toggle switch 37 times so they could access a few more megabytes of data..........
Wow. That would have been so much more useful if there was at least some formatting.
;)
As much as I loved the original (and I did), A Link to the Past trumped it in almost every possible way. Nintendo took the same brilliant gameplay that made the original great, and they multiplied everything by 10.
:)
Would seem that it would be kind of redundant to put both on the list...
Then again... Mario, Mario 3, Super Mario World, Mario 64... lol. Also loved all of these titles, but I don't think all four of them needed to be on the list if they left off the original Zelda...
Actually, Joe User is better of with a one button mouse. I worked in a tech support center for quite some time, and the most frustrating problem we had was explaining to the user the difference between the buttons...
Frustrating as it was, most Windows users never use the right mouse button, and none of them know what a context menu is. Once you get it through their tiny brains that a mouse has two buttons, then EVERY FRIGGING TIME YOU HAVE THEM CLICK ANYWHERE ELSE...
"With the right button?"
"Do I use the right button?"
"Which button do I use?"
Joe User does not deserve a two button mouse, and Apple has the right idea... Anything you can do in any application should be able to be done through the menu.
For all of you "Idiots" out there... I'm sure you already use a multibutton mouse with your Mac. And yes, you can pick up a logitech mouse with more features for the same price... but by the same token, you can pick up a Dell Jukebox for almost half of what you can pick up an iPod, yet how much better is the iPod selling? Typically Apple customers are willing to pay the extra buck for the "elegance". Who's to say they're wrong.
I suspect that you are in software development because of your stance on piracy. It's something I see more in developers than most other people.
You're right, though. Piracy is something that is often abused by those involved.
The quality of the X-box games I have downloaded has not been movitavation enough to buy almost any of them. Fable has obviously gotten my green-backed vote and so have a couple other games, but the quality level for most of the titles I've downloaded is not on par with similar games on the 'cube. I don't think I would have bought nearly as many GC games as I have if they were bug-ridden, quirky, or cookie-cutter games.
Now, personally (and we all have our own opinions), find it more disturbing that some people will gank a song from a lousy CD with no remorse. Let's take the new Linkin Park CD (featuring Jay-Z). While normally their music meets my specifications, this particular album blew nuts. I bought it, though, because I like the remix of Numb.
Obviously, we each must define our boundaries. If the X-box provided more well-developed titles, my pocket book would suddenly open widely. Unfortunately, Halo 2 does not provide me with enough motivation to support the console. In comparison, I have bought, KoTor, the Sonic Mega Collection, Dead or Alive 3, DoA Ultimate, Fable, . You see, quality titles are worth the price of admission.
Of course, perception of quality is like beauty: in the eyes of the beholder.
My first, first post! arrgh
I suspect you might be in the software development business.
;)
I am a developer, and I look at it this way. If my product was well worth it, I would expect people to fork o'er the money for it. If my product wasn't innovative, creative, and enjoyable... I would expect people to pirate it. Hence, I see no problem with my deeds.
I would like to bring your attention to my support of Nintendo, though. See, I can be a very good consumer when I'm impressed enough to be so.
Wow. I must say, your collection is impressive.
;)
;)
I, myself, am the proud owner of three gamecubes (with broadband adapters) and 65 or so games.
The Playstation 2, I have not be so compelled to by too many games, though. The Final Fantasy games don't strike me like they did in the 8 and 16-bit days. Kingdom Hearts was absolutely amazing, and Ys seems to be quite impressive. Fable (X-Box) has also been keeping me busy, but I'm sure glad I didn't pay more than $20 for it.
The DS has proved to be an interesting system, but most of my investment in portable games is in the GBA... something like 30 or so.
The PSP just doesn't strike me yet. I can't rationalize paying $300 for a PSP and Wipeout (only game that even mildly interests me).
Now, since you seem to be doing fine financially for yourself... any chance you can get me a couple o' games.
Sometime ago, I thought I read that GC owners were more likely to own a larger number of games than a PS2 or X-Box Owner, although... I can't reference the article. It was significant, though. Something like 10 GC games for every GC. Like 4 or 5 PS2 or X-Box games. Anyone know where we might find these statistics?
You're probably right. Pokemon and Mario are the cash cows. For good reason, though.
The 3rd Gen Pokemon games have offered exceptional depth and replay value, especially if you have a few friends that play.
Mario... Well, I guess the Mario Party franchise is going great, and so is the Smash Bros. franchise. Not that I mind playing these games either. And Mario Sunshine rocked. And Mario Kart: Double Dash. Yup.
Guess you're right. Same characters. Its just too bad that these same lovable characters keep showing up in well developed, fun video games. I mean... How is Nintendo ever going to stay in business by making fun, profitable video games.
And Yup. Gamecube is trounced by both the PS2 and the X-Box when it comes to hardware. Yup. 'cept the 'cube is far more capable than the PS2 and only slightly (although not terribly noticibly) less capable than the X-Box.
Homebrew sounds great though. I really wish ANY CONSOLE would present something to this market... (Sorry, the Net Yaroze was too expensive for lower middle class folks as myself)
Sonic Gems comes out real soon. That game is gonna rock. The rerelease of Sonic CD... and just for ***** and giggles, Sonic: the Fighter and Sonic R!
WOOT!
You're right, Norfair.
The only reason I bought an X-Box was because I knew I could pirate games. I mean, I've downloaded 30 or 40 of those suckers now...
I can't say I've actually bought an X-Box title yet... Maybe one day. I mean, at $150 Microsoft made a huge profit off of the sale of the system. Right?
AC, you raise an interesting point.
Microsoft is still in the video game business only because they have the Windows cash cow to ride in on. Sony rides solely on their name, as best as I can tell. No one I know really wants a PS2 because the games are that much better (Ok, Denny really likes Ys, but aside from that...), but because they know the Sony brand is "King of A/V".
The way I see it, the video game magazines have destroyed N's image. They've been buzzing Sony since the beginning, even though the N64 had clearly superior graphics and games (yes, all three of them). (And yes, I'm familiar with the reasons the N64 did poorly: game prices, developer support, etc.).
Of course, I doubt anyone on Slashdot would actually admit to owning a Gamecube if asked. I mean really. Who here enjoyed Mario Kart: Double Dash LAN Parties? Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles? Mario Sunshine? Resident Evil 4? Rogue Squadron? Super Smash Bros. Melee?
Sure, there's only a dozen (give or take) games for the 'cube, but I can't find any really unique games for the other systems. Well... there is that PS2 game where you roll the ball and absorb everything you pass over... what's it called?... oh well.
yup. 'twas flamebait.
/shrug.
You see. I am now flaming. Ergo, Your comment was flamebait. I suppose I could have been nice, though, and just moved on past your flame, but here I am. Making idle conversation about how clearly your post was flamebait.
Guess that means I, too, should be modded as flamebait. Yup. I dunno, though. I may be treading water into "troll" section.
Yay. Someone who appreciates pokemon.
/shrug.
It was my understanding, though, that Nintendo was going to release their system 'round 'bouts the time Sony releases the PS3.
That of course is going to be about a year off, give or take.
Damned. I wish I weren't looking for a job right now... otherwise I'd so be donating... :(
:D
Seriously, this is a great cause. It allows developers of all sorts to work with the DS. I too have desired to develop my own video game, and a successful project like this would allow those of us with too much free time to do something worthwhile.
And I don't know about you, but developing a game for a Nintendo system has a certain amount of pride to go along with it... Sure Sony has released PS Dev Kits (Yaroze, PS2 Linux), and Microsoft's X-box is just an overrated PC... there's an unspoken level of accomplishment knowing you've developed a Nintendo game.
To be honest, Jebus, I'd rather not hear the audience in a recording. ;) That's always my biggest gripe about live CDs... heh. Good point on the reverberations, though. In the ideal world, everyone would always listen to music in the ideal listening environment with the ideal blah blah blah. Surround Sound setups (5.1, 6.1, 7.1, 9.1, 10.2, 17.3, 37.9, 1003791.9, etc.) make it easier to reproduce the original acoustics.
/shrug.
Now, I don't know about you, but I can tell subtle differences between CD and DVD-A or between CD and SACD (In 2.0 Stereo Mode). There's a certain warmth that the CD versions seem to lack (Linkin Park - Reanimation, to name one album). Have you noticed this? Kind of curious... Most of my friends and family swear there's no noticible difference; they think I'm crazy...
Well, I took a look at this list.
I would miss Batman (DC Comics), but I'm sure someone else would pick up the franchise...
To an extent, I disagree with you.
I am very excited about the possibility of long, epic RPGs for the DS. I want to play though Crystal Chronicles. I hear there are remakes of vintage RPGs coming to the DS: Super Nintendo Style Final Fantasy, ChronoTrigger, Earthbound, etc. Many of these qualify as "epic RPGs", and many of these I look forward to playing on my DS>
On the other hand, I agree with you. I will not suffer through of PreRendered Motion Crap. Its a different story on my console, but not on my handheld.
Smartphones Schmartphones. All I know is that my new phone is "Java Powered" and it takes 35 seconds to boot. My last phone took 7.
Games or no. I want a phone that I can use in a pinch, even if I let my battery die.
My Ask Slashdot post was rejected, and this got through? WTF?
Ahh Yes. The damned Teeth-shaped Parasites. They are vicious demons, especially towards the later levels. They once harvested endorphins from my body, and then I became enraged. I tried to defend myself with Resta, but it did me little good. I found my only ailment was the bottle of spoiled rum. And then I died. I was lucky I had another man, otherwise I wouldn't be able to post on slashdot today. ;)