The Wii will offer backwords compatibility with the Gamecube through hardware support, and at least
the first batch of PS3's will include hardware support before switching to software emulation. So at somepoint you will have a lower price for the PS3, but less reliable backwords compatibility.
I was actually hoping it was going to be delayed. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this game (I loved the GBA ones too), but think about this: It came out in August 2005, but Nintendo Wi-Fi connection was just around the corner.
Hopefully AW:DS 2 will have online, and VoIP... This series would be GREAT for online, and given the nature of the game it should be relatively easy to do.
If the Playstation 2 can render games in 720p, and a single game (GT4) in 1080i; and the Wii will have superior hardware in every way (Except disk capacity, they both use DVD9) then is there any reason Wii can't?
I would love any game reporter to ask a Nintendo Rep (Iwata, Shiggy, Reggie) that simple question.
It's like having online games on the GameCube; despite Nintendo not doing it, there's no reason that someone like SEGA can't.
That makes sence, however larger screen resolution won't compensate for that without a larger screen to render all that in, If the resolution is greater and the screen size is the same (doing split sceen), may end up being worse (especially for 3rd person games).
Then again I suppose that also shows how some games are simply better suited to splitscreen multiplayer, and some are better for online multiplayer. Starcraft 64 is a very competent port of Starcraft, but split-screen mutiplayer kills it, as the element of surprise is lost.
I really can't see myself playing a four-player game in split screen, looking at my 320x240 quadrant, thinking, "this is as good as it needs to be."
Believe it or not, I can. Have you every played F-Zero GX ? It's a much prettier game if you're watching someone play it, rather than you playing. If you are playing, F-Zero is so intense, you hardly notice anything, but the immediate track ahead of you, or who's near you.
People think since Nintendo isn't putting an emphasis on HD graphics we're gonna magically be transported back to the Atari 2600 days... If they are building a system that is more powerful than the GC, and the GC can render graphics such as Metroid Prime, or RE4 with no load screens, then I'm happy.
Exactly. I never understood why MS, and Sony kept touting the the biggest best specs, since it obviously =/= sales.
You can also throw in the PS1 being inferior to the N64 in every way, but storage. Or how Every iteration of the GameBoy had a more powerful rival, but beat them all.
According to Nintendo, there will be no First Party 720p or 1080i titles.
Fixed that for you. Nintendo's Graphics standard for making Wii games is the same as the GameCube (480p, and to support progressive scan they need to offer component cables). The hardware can support it, unless they change their specs and it ends up weaker than the PS2.
Not only ignoring PC Games, (as mentioned, I'm sure Blizzard and Valve sells some units) but ignoring the rest of the world. If they are counting world wide sales, then it changes the rankings significantly.
Nintendogs Out sold Halo and Pokemon consistantly outsells GTA.
I actually don't think MS will cut their price this season. They have little reason to actually. At best they might bundle more (software, market points, free few months of live, etc...) to increase the over all value, but I would be real surprised if they did a price drop before 2007.
When they announced the DS they said game carts could go up to 1 GigaBIT. 8 bits in a Byte = 128 megs. But who knows, as technology advances they may be able to fit more. Or maybe break up games into multiple carts, or make it episodic...
if I bought a PS2, I'd have BOTH a game machine AND a DVD player, for one reasonable price.
That's the rub, aint it? At the time the PS2 came out it, was $299.99 and most DVD players were around that price as well. As far as the PS3 goes, It's a game player and a Blu-Ray DVD player what constitutes 'a reasonable price' ?
Currently HD/ Blu-Ray DVD's greatest competitor is DVD, and a stand alone player starts at ~$30 with comparable quality on a Standard Definition TV.
That's why they add the $x99.99 People remember the first number and get a warm fuzzy that makes it seem cheaper than it is. That's also why there's so much stuff sold for $19.95 It just looks alot cheaper than $20 than it really is.
Current rumours of pricing... suggest...it will be cheaper to buy an XBox 360 AND a Wii.
Rumors?
The Only piece we don't know for certain is the Wii's final price, but we know it will be LESS than $250 in North America. So Ok, We currently have:
X-Box 360 Core = $299.99
X-Box 360 Premium = $399.99
Nintendo Wii = less than $250
Sony PS3 Crippled* = $499.99
Sony PS3 Good one = $599.99
At the VERY LEAST, (if the Wii is $249.99) we already know we could buy a 360 Core system, and a Wii for less than the price of the 'Good PS3'.
The question remaining is 'Can we get the 360 Premium pack and a Wii for less?'
* Say what you will about the Core system, at least if you buy it you can upgrade all the missing components found in the 360 Premium pack, unlike the PS3.
I think yes. Game design is taking player fatigue into effect. That's why for Zelda you have the Wiimote functions for the hook shot, or bow/arrow, but not the sword. The sword would be entirely too exausting for long term play.
Games such as WiiSports aren't meant to be played for hours on end consecutively. Those that are, hopefully will be developed with that in mind.
I guess that just demonstrates the strength of the series. We both enjoy it, and keep playing for different reasons, but we both enjoy it, and keep playing.
I have high hopes for Twilight Princess. I hope the wolf mechanics are pretty tight, and I hope if the 'Wii-mote' functions are tightened up from the E3 build (or it offers a 'classic controller' option) since the Wii version will support true 16:9 widescreen and the GC version won't.
Doesn't matter. I'm just stating that EA didn't support the Dreamcast because Sega screwed them during the Saturn years, not because they were putting out a competing product to their sports line.
Ok, I LOVE Zelda and Own all the games (minus the CD-i's of course) but the Zelda Stories were never very strong. What kept ME playing at least, was the tight controls and the exploration. The Zelda series that never disapointed me in terms of gameplay/ value/ time sink and the stories served their purpose, but if taken out of the context of the game itself, they are 'unexcaptional'.
Actually if they had games targeted towards 'Gay Japanese', that would be a step in the right direction. Then they could publish games they could simply try catering to the rest of the 'Japanese'.
What's popular in the US isn't popular in a country with a very different culture and values. Go Figure.
Yes, most have them now even if laughably simple. The fact that they are thrown in as an afterthought for most games shows how much (rather how little) they are really needed. Do you need a story for DDR? How about Guitar Hero? I got one for you; Princess Peach / Zelda gets kidnapped by Bowser/ Bowser Jr, Gannon/Gannondorf and you need to do plenty of convoluted non-sensical (but fun) tasks to rescue her. There, Story's done.
Stories do matter, but like Graphics and Sound they are a smaller part of the over-all production. The reason the Atari 2600 (and the NES, Colecovision, et al) sold well was because you could do a game with primitive graphics and sound (or without a significant story) if it had tight controlls and strong gameplay.
Sometimes the story is engrossing, but in general I play a game to play a game. Infact Multiplayer options play heavily into my purchase decisions, as they get more use. One I finish a game where the story is the driving force it sits on the shelf, and only the ones with REALLY tight gameplay get pulled back out.
"it had more to do with EA haveing to compete directly with Sega with thier sports games"
EA Supported the PS2 despite 'NFL Gameday' (along with a title for each major sport) which was developed by Sony (989 sports), and Microsoft's X-Box despite their line of sports titles, (NFL Fever, Top Spin, etc...)
Sega developed a sports line due to the absence of EA support, as sports titles are nessesary.
Slashdot Mirror
The Wii will offer backwords compatibility with the Gamecube through hardware support, and at least the first batch of PS3's will include hardware support before switching to software emulation. So at somepoint you will have a lower price for the PS3, but less reliable backwords compatibility.
Hopefully AW:DS 2 will have online, and VoIP... This series would be GREAT for online, and given the nature of the game it should be relatively easy to do.
If the Playstation 2 can render games in 720p, and a single game (GT4) in 1080i; and the Wii will have superior hardware in every way (Except disk capacity, they both use DVD9) then is there any reason Wii can't?
I would love any game reporter to ask a Nintendo Rep (Iwata, Shiggy, Reggie) that simple question. It's like having online games on the GameCube; despite Nintendo not doing it, there's no reason that someone like SEGA can't.
Then again I suppose that also shows how some games are simply better suited to splitscreen multiplayer, and some are better for online multiplayer. Starcraft 64 is a very competent port of Starcraft, but split-screen mutiplayer kills it, as the element of surprise is lost.
Believe it or not, I can. Have you every played F-Zero GX ? It's a much prettier game if you're watching someone play it, rather than you playing. If you are playing, F-Zero is so intense, you hardly notice anything, but the immediate track ahead of you, or who's near you.
People think since Nintendo isn't putting an emphasis on HD graphics we're gonna magically be transported back to the Atari 2600 days... If they are building a system that is more powerful than the GC, and the GC can render graphics such as Metroid Prime, or RE4 with no load screens, then I'm happy.
You can also throw in the PS1 being inferior to the N64 in every way, but storage. Or how Every iteration of the GameBoy had a more powerful rival, but beat them all.
Fixed that for you. Nintendo's Graphics standard for making Wii games is the same as the GameCube (480p, and to support progressive scan they need to offer component cables). The hardware can support it, unless they change their specs and it ends up weaker than the PS2.
The DS debuted in North America in November 2004.
The DS debuted in Japan in December 2004.
The DS Lite debuted in North America in June 2006.
The DS Lite debuted in Japan in March 2006.
The 21 million sold Includes all versions (including lite, and multiple colors) from Every region from the earliest launch (USA) until July 24, 2006.
10 million of the 21 million were sold in JAPAN alone. Japan's Population is about 128 million people meaning about 8% of the population (of Japan) has one.
Any questions?
Rumors?
Metroid Prime 3 ?
Twilight Princess ?
Madden 07 - looks at least as good as the X-box version, and will support progressive scan & 16:9 mode.
These games look great so far, and there's a few months to go before launch.
Also that it can communicate with the DS, and send DS demos to it. That's just another cherry on top, but something I'll get some use out of.
Nintendogs Out sold Halo and Pokemon consistantly outsells GTA.
I actually don't think MS will cut their price this season. They have little reason to actually. At best they might bundle more (software, market points, free few months of live, etc...) to increase the over all value, but I would be real surprised if they did a price drop before 2007.
When they announced the DS they said game carts could go up to 1 GigaBIT. 8 bits in a Byte = 128 megs. But who knows, as technology advances they may be able to fit more. Or maybe break up games into multiple carts, or make it episodic...
That's the rub, aint it? At the time the PS2 came out it, was $299.99 and most DVD players were around that price as well. As far as the PS3 goes, It's a game player and a Blu-Ray DVD player what constitutes 'a reasonable price' ?
Currently HD/ Blu-Ray DVD's greatest competitor is DVD, and a stand alone player starts at ~$30 with comparable quality on a Standard Definition TV.
That's why they add the $x99.99 People remember the first number and get a warm fuzzy that makes it seem cheaper than it is. That's also why there's so much stuff sold for $19.95 It just looks alot cheaper than $20 than it really is.
Rumors?
The Only piece we don't know for certain is the Wii's final price, but we know it will be LESS than $250 in North America. So Ok, We currently have:
X-Box 360 Core = $299.99
X-Box 360 Premium = $399.99
Nintendo Wii = less than $250
Sony PS3 Crippled* = $499.99
Sony PS3 Good one = $599.99
At the VERY LEAST, (if the Wii is $249.99) we already know we could buy a 360 Core system, and a Wii for less than the price of the 'Good PS3'. The question remaining is 'Can we get the 360 Premium pack and a Wii for less?'
* Say what you will about the Core system, at least if you buy it you can upgrade all the missing components found in the 360 Premium pack, unlike the PS3.
Games such as WiiSports aren't meant to be played for hours on end consecutively. Those that are, hopefully will be developed with that in mind.
I have high hopes for Twilight Princess. I hope the wolf mechanics are pretty tight, and I hope if the 'Wii-mote' functions are tightened up from the E3 build (or it offers a 'classic controller' option) since the Wii version will support true 16:9 widescreen and the GC version won't.
Doesn't matter. I'm just stating that EA didn't support the Dreamcast because Sega screwed them during the Saturn years, not because they were putting out a competing product to their sports line.
Ok, I LOVE Zelda and Own all the games (minus the CD-i's of course) but the Zelda Stories were never very strong. What kept ME playing at least, was the tight controls and the exploration. The Zelda series that never disapointed me in terms of gameplay/ value/ time sink and the stories served their purpose, but if taken out of the context of the game itself, they are 'unexcaptional'.
What's popular in the US isn't popular in a country with a very different culture and values. Go Figure.
Stories do matter, but like Graphics and Sound they are a smaller part of the over-all production. The reason the Atari 2600 (and the NES, Colecovision, et al) sold well was because you could do a game with primitive graphics and sound (or without a significant story) if it had tight controlls and strong gameplay.
Gameplay > All.
Sometimes the story is engrossing, but in general I play a game to play a game. Infact Multiplayer options play heavily into my purchase decisions, as they get more use. One I finish a game where the story is the driving force it sits on the shelf, and only the ones with REALLY tight gameplay get pulled back out.
EA Supported the PS2 despite 'NFL Gameday' (along with a title for each major sport) which was developed by Sony (989 sports), and Microsoft's X-Box despite their line of sports titles, (NFL Fever, Top Spin, etc...)
Sega developed a sports line due to the absence of EA support, as sports titles are nessesary.