Author Topic: NDS: a big confusing mistake? (Read 11626 times)

Gamebasher · « **on:** June 08, 2004, 07:36:32 AM »

Over at Nintendophiles.com, there is a guy who wrote a quite interesting article entitled "Third Pillar - more like big confusing mistake". It makes me laugh. He seems to not understand that the NDS is not the new GameBoy, not supposed to be the new GameBoy and never will be. But he wants it to be. Only problem is that it can never be. It´s not Nintendo´s plan.

He laments the fact that Nintendo didn´t already herald it the new GameBoy. He clearly wants Nintendo to go head on with SONY over the handheld market and label the NDS the next GameBoy! What Nintendo has already said about the new console, the Nintendo Revolution, to be revealed at E3 2005, tells me a few things about why they´re doing it that way!

The next GameBoy will be a revolution, like it´s bigger brother GCN successor!! But don´t expect Nintendo to tell what kind of revolution until the show starts! They love to surprise us!!

Here is the link to his article anyway: www.n-philes.com/features.php

Ian Sane · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2004, 08:11:32 AM »

I for the most part agree with the article. This "third pillar" crap doesn't make any sense. In fact I'm pretty sure the only reason Nintendo is refering to it as such is so they can still sell GBAs.

"The next GameBoy will be a revolution, like it´s bigger brother GCN successor!!"

The DS is a revolution already. It does what the GBA can do plus more and it adds new functionality.

The fact that it's not Nintendo's plan is irrelevant. The issue is what they should be doing not what they are going to do.

Draygaia · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2004, 02:38:45 PM »

I still believe it to be a "third pillar". To me the use of the two screened system over the GBA-GCN connectioin is big. You won't see me carrying those two things around with me with a GCN hung around my neck like a golden pimp necklace. I also think Nintendo still plans for the GBE to be cheap but still fun to play other wise they should just get rid of all three and put the power of a home-console into a handheld and just have one pillar. Maybe if it wasn't a handheld but still more portable than a console it would use the "third pillar" name better.

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #3 on:** June 08, 2004, 02:46:25 PM »

I don't see how calling the DS "the next Gameboy" will change how it's competing with the PSP- the media is already creating the rivalry between the two next gen handhelds. Let's not argue semantics.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #4 on:** June 08, 2004, 03:07:56 PM »

I think Ninty claims the DS is a third pillar because it wants to separate the DS from the Game Boy...It's a whole new gaming experience, not just a more powerful Game Boy...

Gamebasher · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2004, 06:34:51 AM »

Agree. Like they said at E3 this year: The PSP will take the gamer down roads travelled before, unlike the NDS which will bring us down roads never travelled before.

Nintendo rocks the videogame universe!!

Here is one article, which I would say pretty much says everything about the future success of the NDS:

www.computerandvideogames.com/wwwthreads/ comments.php?aid=104495&nc=52 - 48k

I hopefully will learn soon to create direct links on this Forum, but I can´t get the computer to do it nomatter what I do. So I will get an expert to look into it for me.

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2004, 08:21:58 AM »

Direct links? Is the "http" link function/button not working in your browser?

About the DS though, I have to say personally that, "third pillar" moniker or no, people will generally view this as the new featured Nintendo handheld....whether or not it carries the gameBoy name I dont think would change this.
But you know what, it really doesnt matter either way. Nintendo will advertise these and they'll sell a grip of them. At the end of the day its a Nintendo handheld with Nintendo games...whether they want to call it a third pillar or not I feel its likely primed for at least modest success.

-Blackknight131

Gamebasher · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2004, 06:20:02 AM »

Modest success? I think people will look at two things once we get to the launch day: price and performance...and...the all-important gameplay! And the NDS will deliver that in bucketloads!! From what I saw in the E3insider.com videos of the people who were at E3 to experience the NDS first hand, I could see that they had about as much fun as people haven´t had playing a handheld for many years! The word FUN and SURPRISE was written all over their faces and that spells not a modest, but a big SUCCESS for the NDS to me! It looked to me like they were having the same level of (different type of-) fun that you can only experience in the Arcade Game Cabinets! At least so it felt from the (new kind of-) way they were interacting with the device.

All people will get with the PSP, is the same PSX, PS2 games again only this time it´s on a handheld! Which do you think people will choose? Sameness and style for more money or newness and FUN gameplay? PSP or NDS? Why do people play games? To look cool in the eyes of other people or to be entertained? PSP or NDS?

The answer is obvious to those who play games for the sake of games! Those are true Nintendo gamers, and true gamers overall! SONY makes fantastic quality in whatever technology they create, but they´re more about style whereas Nintendo has the edge of it when it comes to pure games! And their products are highly durable and qualitative too!

Darc Requiem · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2004, 10:52:30 AM »

Well I agree with your post Gamebasher...well except when it comes to Sony's quality. Sony's poor product quality is well known at this point. I mean I remember one of Capcom's top guys, Mikami I believe, went on an angry tanjent about how pissed he was that he had to buy another PS because he his first two died. I mean the boards on Sony's official site are filled with "how to fix my PS2's DRE threads." I mean the PS1 had four or five design revisions because they didn't last. The PS2 is on its third or fourth I believe. I won't even start on there computer hardware. One of my friends is a tech and he was telling me to avoid Sony long ago. I shoulda listened to him. Portable systems have to have the highest of quality and judging by Sony's previous efforts and the look of the PSP's design. That thing won't last 6 months before issues arise with it.

Darc Requiem

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:22:48 PM »

The DS and its games....we cannot say concretely yet whether or not the games it will host will be truely compelling new gaming experiences. We CAN however put great confidence in Nintendo's ability to do just that, and the tech demos (although they really are nothing but demonstrations at this point) are encouraging. The games will have to be freakin excellent and original to make people forget the fact that they likely just bought a GBA SP...and a $150-ish price might just be the dealmaker...
As for how it will sell alongside the PSP, the ball is in Sony's court right now. If they deliver that hardware at a competitive pricepoint (no more than 200) WITH an acceptable battery life, they will move an impressive number of systems. Whether or not they can even meet one of those criteria is looking unlikely however. That kind of technology for under 200 bux seems like a pipe dream as of now...if its too high and the DS has a couple of showcase games, I can totally envision the DS sucking up some previously pro-PSP gamers.

And Darc voices an issue Ive had in the back of my mind as well....Sony electronics have not been the standard of lastability in recent times, have they? Hopefully for aspiring PSP owners, Sony will at least have a case or sleeve of some kind available...

-Blackknight131

Draygaia · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:24:46 PM »

But the games are still good thats why people keep buying the newer versions. Because most people who prefer the PSP over the DS because it just LOOKS cooler I still think PSP will own the DS in sales. I look forward to the DS as my main nintendo system in the future.

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:55:48 PM »

PSP owning the DS in sales? The price better be right. All the 'Magna-cum-Cool' the PSPs lends doesnt change the fact that a 300+ dollar portable system just cant establish a sizeable fan base...
If that price is in the 200s I say then its a possibility.
As details emerge about the pricing structure, what business model is adopted by developers (cheaper to port, port, port? or actual original content?) and whether the hardware does carry over glaring limitations in certain areas: well, I look forward to seeing those questions answered.
It IS a shiny system, and I like shiny ^__^
But I dont think we can say its gonna own anything just yet, till we know how feasible it will be for plenty enough people to own it...

-Blackknight131

Gamebasher · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2004, 08:16:55 AM »

More than 100 developers are currently developing games for the NDS, and probably around that figure, or as much for the PSP. So SONY will not own the NDS in terms of sales, if anything it will be a close fight between the two for the start with the pure software and durability of the two handhelds to decide the final winner! Concerning that which many of you are saying about the poor quality of the Sony consoles, that must apply to the consoles and not whatever else they make! They are definitely known to make excellent consumer electronics overall, so I don´t see why they dump the quality on their game electronics!!?? Some people say this is to make people buy "a Ps2 a year" and may have already figured out a businessmodel which suits them well profitwise. If that´s what they do, then they´re downright bad moralists, aren´t they?

When the Dreamcast was still out on the shelves, there was a website called Segaweb.com, where under "Archives" one could find a series of detailed articles called "PlayStation2: Industry Disaster" and a whole lot of other names put in front of "-disaster" (I think it came in five parts totally). I took prints of them, and keep them in my collection. But you can´t access them on the web anylonger as the site was shut down a long time ago. In any event, you could read what the editors of the current Gamespot.com (I think it was them) thought about the Ps2. And they didn´t have mild words for it! I loved that criticism, since they were a competitor to SEGA, which I prefer over them anyday. However, since this is nolonger available to read, you can instead go to read THIS:

http://www.forbes.com/2001/01/25/0125disaster.html

There is apparently many others out there who a long time ago gave the Ps2 the thumbs down! But...erh...I don´t think Sony even noticed! How arrogant!!

Draygaia · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2004, 02:57:15 PM »

This is exactly how a lot of people thought of the GCN vs PS2 and Xbox before launch and look where its competitors are. You can point out a lot of things on the GCN success before launch but look whats happening now.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2004, 06:07:59 PM »

"This is exactly how a lot of people thought of the GCN vs PS2 and Xbox before launch and look where its competitors are. You can point out a lot of things on the GCN success before launch but look whats happening now."

I remember thinking the Cube had a solid chance in early 2001. However as more details were revealed more problems were revealed it didn't stand up as well as it did when it was largely unknown. The launch lineup was revealed to be without a Mario title and the slim release calendar for the first six months became known. Problems like the puny memory cards were revealed. Purple was revealed as the main colour. The advertising proved to be weak. By the time the Cube launch came around there were a sh!t load of potential issues, many of which turned out to be a problem.

However many of the problems with the PS2, the shortage and lack of quality games, were fixed by that point. MS had recieved a lot of criticism around E3 particularly for Halo's then sorry looking state. However they fixed most of those problems before launch and Halo turned out to be a huge success. Over time they fixed the controller issue as well.

The PS2 and Xbox improved from their initial impression while the Cube got worse which ultimately is why the console wars are where they are now. And the same thing could happen here. We haven't seen any finished DS games yet, only demos, so for all we know the launch lineup could blow. A lot of negativity regarding the PSP is heresay. It very well could be built really solid and have no skipping problems in the end. Technically neither has revealed their price yet and that could affect things. Don't be surprised if by launch day things are looking worse or better for either system.

Gamebasher · « **Reply #15 on:** June 14, 2004, 06:17:18 AM »

Nintendo will not mess up this time. Following a near complete failure with the GameCube (when third parties was beginning to drop support en masse, and they saved the day by waking up in the last minute), Nintendo knows what it must do to stay on top of things. They clearly have shown us, that they are aware of what´s at stake and have endeavoured to give us some supercool games coming up, games that are at least as good (not including Zelda, which is unbeatable) as any on the competition side. This should keep people focused on the GCN, and remember Nintendo when next generation starts (they must give us a Mario game at launch day!)! Personally, I think they´re going to blow the competition away, with something so startling and unexpected that noone will have ever seen anything like it (they put their brains in overdrive to get it right for us this time)!! As surprising as was the revelation of the realistic Zelda! Close fight between Nintendo and Sony it will be, with Nokia and the other two handhelds (wasn´t it two other ones, with 5 handhelds total?) staying on the fringe of the market for the foreseeable future.

jasonditz · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2004, 11:52:41 AM »

We're missing the possibility that there might not be a new Gameboy on the horizon.

Nintendo's already commited to supporting the Gamecube long term and has implied Revolution will be something different from a direct successor. Maybe the GBA itself is Nintendo's long term Gameboy plan and there just isn't going to be another one for quite some time.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #17 on:** June 17, 2004, 09:55:06 PM »

They have stated that development on the next GB is well under way. They're going to release another GB. They'll be there when the PSP QD comes out to deliver the final blow.

Gamebasher · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2004, 07:13:43 AM »

I agree! They will not reveal it now, only keep us happy with the NDS until they give us something even greater. Like I said above, the next GameBoy will indeed be a revolution! But I think we should not speculate about it, only expect that we will be very happy when it hits the market. As much as Nintendo make efforts to create ultimate gameplay experiences, there is no doubt in my mind that we will be! Also, the next GameBoy comes after the PSP, which gives Nintendo the advantage of the hardware performance. But I really haven´t any clue as to what they will then give us, only that it will be something we have never seen before.

The PSP is like a huge wedge that Nintendo has put inbetween it´s own GameBoy market and the anticipated PSP market, to secure it´s own position by demonstrating to the world what it can give for pure gameplay! When I saw E3 demo´s of the PSP hardware and software, I yawned! It´s cool enough no doubt, but funfactor-wise it´s nothing more, well, than what they also call it themselves: PlayStation Portable (PSP). It will have it´s audience and marketshare, but people will defintely be interested at least as much, if not more, in the new possibilities that the NDS offers them...

norebonomis · « **Reply #19 on:** June 19, 2004, 09:25:01 AM »

game basher, i think your avatar is a little big , it scares me

Bloodworth · « **Reply #20 on:** June 19, 2004, 01:22:19 PM »

Fixed Gamebasher's avatar for everyone.

Jale · « **Reply #21 on:** June 19, 2004, 01:24:17 PM »

Very stylish.

Zach · « **Reply #22 on:** June 19, 2004, 05:31:07 PM »

I hope that nintendo is finnaly getting off of their ashes and realizing that the competition is much more fierce than it used to be. maybe they will start to work on beoming the top dog again.

Maybe some good will come out of all of this competition, perhaps it will cause some really great innovations, the ds could be the start of some of these innovations. *crosses fingers*

KDR_11k · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2004, 11:17:37 PM »

I think Ninty is pushing the DS as a separate product because it's large, expensive and not as portable as the GBA, so people who want a small device they can take everywhere and don't care about things like innovation can go with the GBA while geeks will take the DS instead. The PSP is competing more with the DS than the GBA since it's barely potable.

odifiend · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2004, 04:56:48 AM »

You can't drink it?

Seriously, I agree, KDR. I don't know whose pocket the PSP was meant for and their UMD media looks pretty fragile in the pictures I've seen.

Gamebasher · « **Reply #25 on:** June 22, 2004, 07:27:13 AM »

Yeah, the PSP is toast!

Chode2234 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 22, 2004, 07:52:08 AM »

Everyone I talk to already refers to it as the Gameboy DS, which I tell them that its not 'really' a gameboy and then they look at me even more confused then before.

Nintendo presents such a confusing image, I consider myself a big fan of their products and I can't even keep track of how they view themselves and how they want us to view them...

Jale · « **Reply #27 on:** June 22, 2004, 10:13:03 AM »

No, its a plate for toast. You can fit so many pieces across the face of it.

I think that Nintendo have a quite whimsical image because they don't care about thier image. They are all about the games.

Chode2234 · « **Reply #28 on:** June 22, 2004, 10:24:00 AM »

I don't get that from them, it seems to me like they don't know who they are, they to me just seem to be in a state of confusion. Where as Sony and MS seem to be very confidant in there direction and postion in the market.

If it is all about the games, then tell me that as a consumer, from there image (whimsical at best) one can not help but wonder if the company is even competent. Thats not who I want my console provider to be.... Who are you?, is probably a question better directed back at Nintendo from us.

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 22, 2004, 10:59:27 PM »

Actually, I would disagree with that...
Nintendo seems to be projecting themselves very clearly. Think about it, what have they always been pimping on us for the last few years? Games, games, games, specifically different and fresh ways to play them. Simplicity and fun, in a wide range of content. They go so far as to design this DS, which obviously contains some fairly radical (for the handheld gaming market) capabilities - capabilities that quite honestly have yet to be proven to be revolutionary and fun for gaming (cant wait for the details on real games! Castlevaniaaaaaa!! ^ ^).
Speaking of Revolution, go back and watch their E3 press conference....Satoru Iwata clearly has stated the direction he wishes to lead the company: new ways to play games, fun intuitive games and new hardware if need be that will support that. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. Odama. The next Mario party. Zelda Four Swords. Those are examples of fresh content Nintendo is spinning now, to speak for what they may dream up in the future.

No, I dont think the question is whether or not Nintendo is having an identity crisis....its whether or not they are right in believing that the video game market (us, and everyone else) will ultimately buy it...because if the DS fails and the Revolution falls short.... =(

Go Nintendo.

-Blackknight131

Gamebasher · « **Reply #30 on:** June 23, 2004, 06:45:43 AM »

Like I have said before, I say again:

Nintendo must advertise the NDS handheld, and in those adverts show people why it is so much better than the usual coming on the PSP. Sony´s darn good at advertising, and to make things look stylish through it. Nintendo must make clear why their machine is more fun, and just as stylish as the PSP! For instance, they could show how the WiFi functionality makes it fun to have friends far away, playing with them. Or to demonstrate how easily people can link up with oneanother and go multiplayer entirely wireless! But most important of all is - the games! The absolutely best and most entertaining games only must be shown, and one way to find out which ones they are, is through sitting people from a large segment of the gaming population down with the DS games and test the "fun yield factor" with each, until you have a clear score for each which will tell which ones are the clear winners. Then use those in the tv-ads, and bang! there you go! People who see them will beg, steal, borrow the money to get an NDS and get to play!

Then I don´t see how they could ever fail! I trust that the NDS will take Nintendo quite far, but perhaps not right away. People will have to get used to it first, and that´s why I think it is very important that NDS tv-ads are kept running regularly! In the past, Nintendo has been very poor at communicating by itself through the media for lack of proper advertising. Doing it right this time, should ensure that people will indeed see who they are!

- NintendoFan - · « **Reply #31 on:** June 23, 2004, 07:03:07 AM »

To tell you the truth, I can see Nintendo advertising the he!l out of the DS. It just seems like they would and seems like something that can easily be done.

Chode2234 · « **Reply #32 on:** June 23, 2004, 10:14:04 AM »

Yeah I hear direction from Iwata about what he wants to do with the company, but I have yet to see that transfer to the commercials or into the public's perception of what Nintendo is. You probably read all his comments, interviews, and minutes from his board meetings but most people don't and that is why they don't have a good reason to stick with Nintendo.

Thanks, blackknight, for the intelligent conversation on the matter, it is refreshing, and you're right that is the bigger more important question that there percieved identity, but my thought is that they need to let people who aren't on these boards everyday know whats going on and why they should buy a cube, a DS, a revolution and a 1000 games to go with them...

Chode2234 · « **Reply #33 on:** June 23, 2004, 10:17:24 AM »

p.s. In terms of advertising I think they should go head to head and do comparitive adds showing directly how much more fun the ds is than the psp. I think it would be effective to show the two directly, I hate how Nintendo beats around the bush when it comes to discussing the shortcommings of their competition.

Show us why the DS is better, thats all I ask and I will submit and buy one right away.

Jale · « **Reply #34 on:** June 23, 2004, 10:39:24 AM »

I don't think that's legal. I believe there are laws against companies slagging off other companies in their advertisments.

Chode2234 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 23, 2004, 10:43:16 AM »

Only if its not truthful, its perfectly legal to say that I have two screens on my ds, it must be twice as fun as your PSP and show the unit in the hands of some little nerdy kid with braces and then have the DS kid summon his possy to beat him down for buying one. Well, you get the idea..... but perhaps more sophisticated, and maybe not ....

You can make comparisons all you want in advertising as long as they are not fictitious. Laundry soap and paper towel comercials come to mind immediately.

What do you mean by "slagging off?"

odifiend · « **Reply #36 on:** June 23, 2004, 11:10:45 AM »

The thing about laundry soap in paper towels though is they don't directly slag off (rip on, discrediting your competitor) each other unless there was a study. More often you see their product on one side and the other guy on the other side, usually deteregent written on a box that is obviously Tide or something. There are rarely outright swings at the competition but you see that sneaky sort of thing all the time.
The problem is while Nintendo could go the sneaky route and say, "hey, look at that single screened portable [insert propaganda here]," it would turn against them when they release Game Boy next. Though I think Nintendo should try to bring up battery life as much as possible.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #37 on:** June 23, 2004, 11:20:19 AM »

Instead of blatantly bashing the PSP in commercials I think it would be better for Nintendo to promote how the DS experience absolutely cannot be replicated on any other videogame system. It's sounds mighty impressive and it's true. There are no other systems with dual screens and a touchscreen so thus DS games that make full use of the hardware cannot be played on any other system.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #38 on:** June 23, 2004, 12:15:39 PM »

Definitely...Mudslinging is really a tactic I don't want to see Ninty use...

They should just use simple advertising that shows how the system works with a few choice games with their popular mascots...Though the system isn't the standard fare, and casual gamers have shown time and time again that they eat up generic tripe, Ninty can still sway them with adequate advertising...

- NintendoFan - · « **Reply #39 on:** June 23, 2004, 12:18:37 PM »

" Instead of blatantly bashing the PSP in commercials I think it would be better for Nintendo to promote how the DS experience absolutely cannot be replicated on any other videogame system. It's sounds mighty impressive and it's true. There are no other systems with dual screens and a touchscreen so thus DS games that make full use of the hardware cannot be played on any other system. "

I like that Idea, for two reasons, one is that it is a great one, and second it is highly realistic for Nintendo to do that. Infact they did it at E3, they should just stick it in a commerical.

Gamebasher · « **Reply #40 on:** June 24, 2004, 06:37:33 AM »

I recall how in the early Nineties, I saw a GameBoy commercial that was sooo cool. You basically saw three kids standing by the roadside and playing the GameBoy. To the extent that they forgot everything around them, including the fact the very reason why they were standing by the roadside: hitchhiking for a ride to whereever they were going next. Damning themselves for missing out on the opportunity to go with a guy in a truck, who happened to pass them by not to fast as they were playing away. That really showed the level of fun you could have with a GameBoy.

Fastforward to the present:

Hey, that´s what they should be doing with the Nintendo DS TV-commercials!!! People, out in the wild countryside, draging their newly aquired flashy NDS units out and going multiplayer with Mario 64x4 and forgetting all around them, including bypassing cars to take them further! This would show the Wireless capabilities! I would just love if one of the games had, say, the opportunity to do something with Mario, MarioKart, over the WiFi functionality!!

All Ninty´s got to do is get a little creative wit their ad-campaigns and people will start picking up DS units, faster than you can flick a swith! Zaaaap, down to the retailer and get my DS!!

Jale · « **Reply #41 on:** June 24, 2004, 07:07:03 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Chode2234
Only if its not truthful, its perfectly legal to say that I have two screens on my ds, it must be twice as fun as your PSP and show the unit in the hands of some little nerdy kid with braces and then have the DS kid summon his possy to beat him down for buying one. Well, you get the idea..... but perhaps more sophisticated, and maybe not ....

You can make comparisons all you want in advertising as long as they are not fictitious. Laundry soap and paper towel comercials come to mind immediately.

What do you mean by "slagging off?"

Maybe that is the case in the US (if you were from the UK you would have heard the term slagging off) but in the UK the always have to say 'compared to the leading competetor' or 'brand X' but they put the other bit in small print at the bottom.

Zach · « **Reply #42 on:** June 24, 2004, 07:21:42 AM »

I think that nintys problem is that they wanna keep selling the SP, I mean if they start advertising the DS then people would start to think that the SP is gonna be be obselete soon, and will stop buying it. Sony does not have a previous handheld so they dont have this problem. I think nintendo has to start advertising the DS soon or else people will not realize its capabilities when it comes out. Nintendo is probably trying to sell as many SP's as they can before the DS comes out, after all no one is gonna believe in all of this third pillar sh1t.

odifiend · « **Reply #43 on:** June 24, 2004, 09:22:36 AM »

Who cares about the SP? As soon as the DS comes out, I'm sure they will stop running SP ads almost entirely. The reason the DS is the third pillar and an entirely different products is so that SP sales don't cease for right now. I bet as soon as the DS is out Nintendo will hardly care whether any more SPs move or not. With 20 million GBAs sold how many more units can they except to sell?
My commercial for Nintendo's DS is a teenage guy riding in the backseat of a car playing the DS. Suddenly he screams in rage and a gameover noise is made. Then a car passes his car and a little girl in the backseat winks at him with DS in hand.
EDIT: Zach did you mean they have to start advertising the DS soon?

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #44 on:** June 24, 2004, 10:43:22 AM »

"My commercial for Nintendo's DS is a teenage guy riding in the backseat of a car playing the DS. Suddenly he screams in rage and a gameover noise is made. Then a car passes his car and a little girl in the backseat winks at him with DS in hand."

Except I don't believe the DS works that way...The way the DS works using Wi-fi is through a hotspot...Normal multiplayer is said to take a separation distance of around 30 feet...

odifiend · « **Reply #45 on:** June 24, 2004, 10:47:58 AM »

I know how it works. I was assuming the cars were close enough the whole time. But making it obviously rush hour would make sure there is no confusion.

Jale · « **Reply #46 on:** June 24, 2004, 12:40:12 PM »

Could be a big traffic jam.

Zach · « **Reply #47 on:** June 24, 2004, 04:59:14 PM »

Thanks for pointing that out Odifiend, I did mean to say that Ninty needs to advertise the DS soon, well I edited it now anyway, it seems that I got the initials messed up for some reason. BTW good idea for a commercial.

- NintendoFan - · « **Reply #48 on:** June 25, 2004, 02:50:36 AM »

"Dude, that avatar is pretty damn sweet. Is he holding his Triforce emblazoned fist up as well?"

Yes, he is. And thanks.

"I recall how in the early Nineties, I saw a GameBoy commercial that was sooo cool. You basically saw three kids standing by the roadside and playing the GameBoy. To the extent that they forgot everything around them, including the fact the very reason why they were standing by the roadside: hitchhiking for a ride to whereever they were going next. Damning themselves for missing out on the opportunity to go with a guy in a truck, who happened to pass them by not to fast as they were playing away. That really showed the level of fun you could have with a GameBoy."

I know what your saying, and I think that really need to consider reverting back to old commericals. I was looking at the Super Mario World Commerical the other day and it was all gameplay, no people in it, just the game and the announcer saying how great the game is.

Although, the new GBA commericals they have right now are a much better step in the right direction, they can get better. But I have no doubt that they are drawing a crowd from them.

Gamebasher · « **Reply #49 on:** June 25, 2004, 06:58:18 AM »

Odifiend, you are right about the future of the SP commercials. The DS will take over, once it comes out and Nintendo won´t care if people buy the SP anymore. Who would expect that people will care to buy both the SP and DS, when you can play SP games on the DS! It is very clear that the DS is to take over from the SP while we wait for the new GameBoy from Nintendo.

Nintendofan, I recall Miyamoto-san saying that the gameplay was the most important in those days, when the picture and sound was not so evolved. So with all that focus on super powered consoles on the competition side, I think that is very wrong. They spend mega-fortunes on pumping up the graphics and animations to such a level, and yet most of those games fall short on the gameplay side. Except a few, like Halo for instance. Do they think that Nintendo can´t make games like Halo? Just look at Metroid! Or Geist! Nintendo can make what they like, and the ones they don´t make, they don´t want to make. Like Grand Theft Auto, which they consider to be a dead end street (too violent):

Mighty Nintendo speaks

- NintendoFan - · « **Reply #50 on:** June 25, 2004, 04:20:02 PM »

"Nintendofan, I recall Miyamoto-san saying that the gameplay was the most important in those days, when the picture and sound was not so evolved. So with all that focus on super powered consoles on the competition side, I think that is very wrong. They spend mega-fortunes on pumping up the graphics and animations to such a level, and yet most of those games fall short on the gameplay side. Except a few, like Halo for instance. Do they think that Nintendo can´t make games like Halo? Just look at Metroid! Or Geist! Nintendo can make what they like, and the ones they don´t make, they don´t want to make. Like Grand Theft Auto, which they consider to be a dead end street (too violent):"

Your right, I can understand why Nintendo would want to show graphics now, but let's not underestimate the power of gameplay. But for now, lets us just agree that Nintendo has yet to show either of those in most of there commericals?

Mario · « **Reply #51 on:** June 26, 2004, 03:52:21 PM »

I think the SP will continue to sell very well even after the DS is out, it's still one hell of a handheld, and a lot cheaper (presumably) than DS.

odifiend · « **Reply #52 on:** June 26, 2004, 06:27:00 PM »

Fatmitsu was thinking that the DS would be pretty close in price to the SP. Of course nothing is confirmed, but that would be a dream and would definitely cut into the SPs sales.

Gamebasher · « **Reply #53 on:** July 04, 2004, 09:59:39 AM »

The Nintendo DS is supposed to launch at $199,00, while the PSP is said to be around $300,00.

I found one interesting article over at IGN, putting the Nintendo DS head-to-head with the Sony PSP.

The article shows why the Nintendo DS has more than a fighting chance against the Sony PSP and is defintely worth reading (look on page 2, middle, for what I see as the most interesting comparison between the two handhelds)

DS Vs. PSP

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #54 on:** July 05, 2004, 11:19:42 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: odifiend
Fatmitsu was thinking that the DS would be pretty close in price to the SP. Of course nothing is confirmed, but that would be a dream and would definitely cut into the SPs sales.

Well there *is* a rumor that the SP's price will be cut when the DS hits stores...

Mumei · « **Reply #55 on:** July 13, 2004, 05:24:04 PM »

The main reason I don't believe the official line about it not being a replacement is the fact that it plays GBA games. Why get a GBA when you can get a DS? It really does seem like a replacement, regardless of what Nintendo says about it.

Urkel · « **Reply #56 on:** July 13, 2004, 10:01:35 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mumei
The main reason I don't believe the official line about it not being a replacement is the fact that it plays GBA games. Why get a GBA when you can get a DS? It really does seem like a replacement, regardless of what Nintendo says about it.

My theory is that Nintendo is indeed working on a "True Successor" to the GBA, but only as a plan B. If the DS tanks and the PSP succeeds, that will show to Nintendo that all gamers really care about is pretty graphics and FMV and stuff.

Then, they would release the "true" iteration to the Gameboy dynasty. It would exceed the graphical quality of the PSP, and would use some sort of mini-disc of its own. It wouldn't have any of the really innovative stuff the DS has like touch-screen, since gamers didn't care about those features. Remember, I'm talking hypothetical here.

So basically, Nintendo calling the DS the "third pillar" is just to save face should anything go awry. I'm sure that if the DS does succeed, you can start calling it the second pillar, and that it would really be the successor to the GBA.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #57 on:** July 14, 2004, 02:09:38 AM »

The DS doesn't do everything the GBA SP does, for one thing it does't fit into a pocket as easily.

Mumei · « **Reply #58 on:** July 14, 2004, 07:33:51 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
The DS doesn't do everything the GBA SP does, for one thing it does't fit into a pocket as easily.

That's a rather weak example of how it can't do things that the SP can. That does not really matter.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #59 on:** July 14, 2004, 07:13:28 PM »

Oh, it DOES matter. Many people don't want to wear a bag or something tjust to carry around a DS or PSP. Some may think the DS' features are pointless, they can stay with the GBA (after all, who wats a PSP if it NGages?).

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #60 on:** July 14, 2004, 10:20:49 PM »

Thats a very good point, it is very likely that many people will elect to stay with the GBA SP if they arent compelled by Nintendo's software offerings....the SP itself really isnt that old afterall and its a great lil piece of hardware.

-Blackknight131

Gamebasher · « **Reply #61 on:** July 16, 2004, 07:16:42 AM »

Yes, Nintendo is really going to have to show us compelling software to make us drop the GBA SP. One other thing they should do, is to launch the NDS with carrying bag ´which can be strapped onto ones belt making for easy carrying around. It is notably bigger than the GBA SP, mind.

Back to software, if there is no analogue joystick, how will they convince people to buy it when there is only 3D games available to play? I really love Nintendo, but sometimes they seem a little out of place. Why didn´t they just put an analogue joystick on the NDS from the start? You simply can´t play, say, Metroid, on that machine if you have to both hold the thing and use the lower touch-screen. Nobody could stand holding it in public and manipulating the touchscreen as well as using other controlls in a multiplayer gameevent! It would both feel and look stupid. I hope they hear the wake-up call and show us they have learned to listen to the people they want to play their games!

There has been several issues in the past where Nintendo was not listening to the Third-party developers and it made them hurt in the sales of the GameCube, and now that I hear that Nintendo has denied the developement of soundfiles for games by thirdparty developers/co-developers I start to worry if they really have learned anything or if they consider their own business-politics more important than the developer needs! This could hurt the sales of the NDS!

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #62 on:** July 16, 2004, 07:42:46 AM »

"Why didn´t they just put an analogue joystick on the NDS from the start?"

Does noone listen? I've said this a bunch of times already...Joysticks get loose...Then what will you do? It's not like a controller that you can replace...

Mumei · « **Reply #63 on:** July 16, 2004, 11:55:09 AM »

I've had my Nintendo 64 for a long time now, and the control stick is no where near loose. And I played it a lot.

Having no control stick will make playing games in the vein of OoT or SM64 very, very difficult. Those games benefitted greatly from the increased control given by the control stick.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #64 on:** July 16, 2004, 12:29:09 PM »

Uh, it's not like you don't have full 3-dimensional movement and that you can only walk in 4 directions...

Rhoq · « **Reply #65 on:** July 16, 2004, 01:14:37 PM »

Perhaps they could make an unscrewable stick, so the unit can still fold-up when not in use. Nintendo could make a killing on replacement sticks @ $9.99 each

Mumei · « **Reply #66 on:** July 16, 2004, 01:39:42 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill
Uh, it's not like you don't have full 3-dimensional movement and that you can only walk in 4 directions...

Give me a break. I know that the games will still be in 3D. But a control stick is superior for 3D games, and not having one makes control more difficult. You cannot use the ability to tilt slightly to walk slowly or hold it all the way over to run.

So I don't know how you think you are countering what I said.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #67 on:** July 16, 2004, 01:55:10 PM »

Before going commando on me I think you should wait and see how the D-pad of the DS will handle 3d games hands-on...

Zach · « **Reply #68 on:** July 16, 2004, 02:25:25 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mumei
I've had my Nintendo 64 for a long time now, and the control stick is no where near loose. And I played it a lot.

if you ever get a new controller or a friend of yours does, compare the joy sticks, you might be surprised.

Blackknight131 · « **Reply #69 on:** July 16, 2004, 07:32:47 PM »

Many of the accounts of the DS prototype at E3 mentioned that the D-pad and face buttons were rather lackluster...and small. Hopefully this turns out to be simply because the hardware was unfinished.
I look forward to the final hardware unveiling and I hope the controls are improved...those small face buttons in particular dont look pleasantly tactile at all...

-Blackknight131

Myxtika1 Azn · « **Reply #70 on:** July 16, 2004, 08:56:34 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mumei
Give me a break. I know that the games will still be in 3D. But a control stick is superior for 3D games, and not having one makes control more difficult. You cannot use the ability to tilt slightly to walk slowly or hold it all the way over to run.

So I don't know how you think you are countering what I said.

Perhaps they can do it like how they did it in the older Mario games, ie. hold a button to run. I know that I won't mind doing that.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #71 on:** July 18, 2004, 10:27:52 AM »

The PC has lots of games that are played with digital control, so what?

reverend_tod · « **Reply #72 on:** July 20, 2004, 04:45:04 PM »

Nintendo is not Sony and would not make a product that is more than likely to break.

Mumei · « **Reply #73 on:** July 21, 2004, 07:14:40 AM »

Using the arrows on the keyboard is not the same as using a + control pad. Do you play many PC games?

KDR_11k · « **Reply #74 on:** July 21, 2004, 07:52:06 AM »

Yes yes, I know that keys are superior to dpads (try playing Cho Ren Sha or TUMIKI Fighters with a dpad...), but I had no problems playing the few pad-controllable games with a gamepad.

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Author Topic: NDS: a big confusing mistake? (Read 11626 times)