Most games are more limited with only one copy, but are still very fun. Puyo Pop is full featured multiplayer for up to 8 people, with 1 cart (so is Bomberman). Mario Kart the people without the cart only get 1 character / Kart, but you can fully race through 8 (of the 32) tracks. Tetris DS supports 10 people with 1 cart, and with 'items' turned on, it is a crazy good time.
The funny thing is though mine is doing the same thing. My PS2 gets Exactly as much use as my Guitar Hero Controller. That doesn't mean I want to get rid of it though. There is after all a sequel coming out.:)
Also, the storage space on a Wii is limited and games can't be copied,
They are DRM'ed, and likely locked to your Wii, but it was confirmed that you could copy them off the internal memory, and they are supporting Standard SD Cards. Rumor suggests you can add an external HD using the USB 2 ports on the back.
FYI, the Largest N64 game was about 64 megs, and a 2 gig SD card runs about $40-$50.
Game sharing has alot to do with that, IMHO. We've had 5 people play using one copy of Mario Kart DS. That eventually grew to 7 players, each with their own copies... We just need to get one more ...
Ok, If you have and love your GBA SP, you likely played at least one of the 4 Castlevania games on it. Play Dawn of Sorrow, for the DS and despite some annoying use of the touch screen for the demon seals, you will see what a solid 2D GBA game can become with the extra power.
The added bonus of course is you can still play all your old GBA games on the go, and I was surprised that the DS-L isn't much bigger than an SP (larger than 1, but smaller than 2 side by side).
"The DS has sold (not shipped) 21 million units worldwide."
Also you state the PSP has more games, but that doesn't paint the whole picture. The PSP currently has only 3 titles that sold over 1 million copies worldwide and the DS has 13. One of which (English Training) isn't even a game, so it wouldn't show up on Metacritic.
The PSP had UMD movies that were lower resolution copies of Movies that were not playable on anything else; cost more then a DVD of the same movie, and usually had fewer extras due to lower disk capacity. The DS has a wider variety of games, and other Software that appeal to broader demographics.
I think it's funny how 'Viral' DS adoption is. I've seen it grow just like that. I showed mine to a buddy at work. After he played the DS for a while, he decided to get one. Then his girlfriended wanted one (he got it for her as a gift). The Girlfriend took it to work, and some co-workers wanted/got one. Then it spreads to their spouse, then a kid, then kid brings it to school...
I just think it's crazy how contageous it is. Eventually I'll be able to get to
Kevin Bacon's DS in 6 Friend Codes or less.
Don't forget Multiplayer with only 1 copy of the game. MANY games use this feature, and use it well. I know several 'couples' who got their own DS so they could play the games they want, and play multiplayer against each other.
If you don't already have a DS or DS-L I suspect after your wife gets one, it's only a matter of time until you do.
I still think you have a valid point. There are currently 5 Castlevania games you can play on the DS.
4 can also be played on the GBA, or GB Player, but that's besides the point. The DS was blessed with a huge backlog of backwords GBA compatible tiles, much in the way the PS2 was with PS1 games.
Perhaps he's refering to the 3 GBA ones (4 if you count the NES re-issue) that he can play on his DS. Currently Dawn of Sorrow is the only DS Castlevania released, and Portrait of Ruin comes out this fall.
People will buy a product if it is what they want, reasonably priced and readily available. iTMS is a good example of this. Did you know Warner Bros Pictures has the lowest rate of movies pirated? They also have the most DVD's available for $10 or less.
Under Cons you forgot to list out 'Games designed for pick up and play gaming'. The reason most people still hold 'Lumines' as one of the 'few good PSP games' is it is simple to pick up, and play in 5 -10 minute bursts, and has minimal load times. EXIT is another good example. There are good 'Console games' on the PSP, but not enough 'Good Handheld' games.
Not only that were they over priced, you are buying content for a fixed Device. If they AT LEAST made Sony DVD players that played UMD movies (granted they are lower res), or offered a 'TV OUT' feature for the PSP, you might have been able to salvage something.
So I can pay more for a lower resolution copy of a movie with fewer features that only plays on a single device, and has 2- 3 hours of battery life on a full charge? Pass.
"It's not exactly cost-free for Sony to be developing a software system capable of 100% emulation of the PS2 hardware"
I understand that, but that's the cost of them changing architecture. That's why the Gameboy Color, the GBA, the Atari 7800, and the PlayStation 2 (not PS2) have better backwords compatibility, the origional hardware was included.
Even the (Slim) PS2 isn't 100% compatable with the PlayStation 2 (or PS1) games, because they changed the Chipset.
Actually, the Wii is the only one that is backwords compatable with both (GameCube) Games, and Memory cards Natively.
The 360 is compatable with about 1/3 of the X-box games published in North America (through Emulation). No memory card compatibility, and no 1st party solution to transfer save files.
The PS3 is supposed to be backwords compatable with the PS2/PS1 and offers a converter so you can migrate save files to the PS3. You cannot however use a PS2 memory card natively on the PS3.
Slashdot Mirror
Most games are more limited with only one copy, but are still very fun. Puyo Pop is full featured multiplayer for up to 8 people, with 1 cart (so is Bomberman). Mario Kart the people without the cart only get 1 character / Kart, but you can fully race through 8 (of the 32) tracks. Tetris DS supports 10 people with 1 cart, and with 'items' turned on, it is a crazy good time.
Horse back riding, and Archery may also come in handy.
The funny thing is though mine is doing the same thing. My PS2 gets Exactly as much use as my Guitar Hero Controller. That doesn't mean I want to get rid of it though. There is after all a sequel coming out. :)
They are DRM'ed, and likely locked to your Wii, but it was confirmed that you could copy them off the internal memory, and they are supporting Standard SD Cards. Rumor suggests you can add an external HD using the USB 2 ports on the back.
FYI, the Largest N64 game was about 64 megs, and a 2 gig SD card runs about $40-$50.
Game sharing has alot to do with that, IMHO. We've had 5 people play using one copy of Mario Kart DS. That eventually grew to 7 players, each with their own copies... We just need to get one more ...
The added bonus of course is you can still play all your old GBA games on the go, and I was surprised that the DS-L isn't much bigger than an SP (larger than 1, but smaller than 2 side by side).
Also you state the PSP has more games, but that doesn't paint the whole picture. The PSP currently has only 3 titles that sold over 1 million copies worldwide and the DS has 13. One of which (English Training) isn't even a game, so it wouldn't show up on Metacritic.
The PSP had UMD movies that were lower resolution copies of Movies that were not playable on anything else; cost more then a DVD of the same movie, and usually had fewer extras due to lower disk capacity. The DS has a wider variety of games, and other Software that appeal to broader demographics.
When Ken announced it would sell at "$499.00 and $599.00 USD" every rational person questioned it.
I just think it's crazy how contageous it is. Eventually I'll be able to get to Kevin Bacon's DS in 6 Friend Codes or less.
If you don't already have a DS or DS-L I suspect after your wife gets one, it's only a matter of time until you do.
4 can also be played on the GBA, or GB Player, but that's besides the point. The DS was blessed with a huge backlog of backwords GBA compatible tiles, much in the way the PS2 was with PS1 games.
Perhaps he's refering to the 3 GBA ones (4 if you count the NES re-issue) that he can play on his DS. Currently Dawn of Sorrow is the only DS Castlevania released, and Portrait of Ruin comes out this fall.
People will buy a product if it is what they want, reasonably priced and readily available. iTMS is a good example of this. Did you know Warner Bros Pictures has the lowest rate of movies pirated? They also have the most DVD's available for $10 or less.
Hasn't the trend been that the weaker console gets a larger library, and more sales? PS2 is weaker than all competitors
PS1 was weaker than all competitors
DS is weaker than PSP
Gameboy, and Gameboy Color were weaker than all competitors.
They also have the largest available library of titles...
If you live in Japan, that one will hit this year.
HD-DVD, and HDMI intigrated and a 100 gig hard drive, and you'll have 2 sales. I think it's only a matter of time.
Under Cons you forgot to list out 'Games designed for pick up and play gaming'. The reason most people still hold 'Lumines' as one of the 'few good PSP games' is it is simple to pick up, and play in 5 -10 minute bursts, and has minimal load times. EXIT is another good example. There are good 'Console games' on the PSP, but not enough 'Good Handheld' games.
So I can pay more for a lower resolution copy of a movie with fewer features that only plays on a single device, and has 2- 3 hours of battery life on a full charge? Pass.
I don't see how this system is any better.
I swear I saw this, somewhere else already.,
I believe in Sony about as much as I believe in Santa Clause.
So you can take it with you.
I understand that, but that's the cost of them changing architecture. That's why the Gameboy Color, the GBA, the Atari 7800, and the PlayStation 2 (not PS2) have better backwords compatibility, the origional hardware was included.
Even the (Slim) PS2 isn't 100% compatable with the PlayStation 2 (or PS1) games, because they changed the Chipset.
The 360 is compatable with about 1/3 of the X-box games published in North America (through Emulation). No memory card compatibility, and no 1st party solution to transfer save files.
The PS3 is supposed to be backwords compatable with the PS2 /PS1 and offers a converter so you can migrate save files to the PS3. You cannot however use a PS2 memory card natively on the PS3.
As far as Consoles go; Atari, Did it first.