Messages

151

Nintendo Gaming / RE: New DS Design

« on: July 28, 2004, 07:57:52 PM »

Who is this Termin8 and why am I wishing him/her/it a Happy Birthday?
Not that him/her/it is not deserving of a happy birthday...

[represented]

152

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Square considering Final Fantasy ports

« on: July 28, 2004, 07:52:41 PM »

OK, I know this is pretty irresponsible of me to post three times in a row in the same thread....but oh well. Rebel IS ME.

Im thinking that when Square-Enix is saying "do you want us to bring over these games to the DS?" they really mean "which games would you like to see revived and DS-ified?"
Secret of Mana (Seiken Densetsu 2) should of course receive LAN-enabled multiplayer treatment, for instance. I dont know if Square would up the graphics and sound ante as well (since I recall loving the graphics and music of most of those titles anyway), but touch screen streamlined interfaces also seem logical.

Anyways, I hope the japanese gamers have represented. Makes me want to import the game just to vote myself....

[Ian Sane]

153

Nintendo Gaming / RE:Square considering Final Fantasy ports

« on: July 28, 2004, 07:46:34 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Wow the SaGa series.  Isn't that the Square series that blows ass?

No, no its not.
It was actually quite legendary as a series, reaching its peak in the Super Famicom Golden Age. What followed were a couple decent games for PSOne, and the horrid horrid Unlimited SAGA.
But does the series blow ass?
Nuh-uh.

Edit: completely beaten to the point, and p0wned by the Ruby_Onix

[Bill Aurion]

154

Nintendo Gaming / RE:Square considering Final Fantasy ports

« on: July 28, 2004, 07:42:42 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill Aurion
I saw this...Very, very interesting to say the least...The fact that they are even considering bringing over a Chrono game makes me tingle...

Personally, I've already tinkled.
Chrono Trigger has that effect on me.

155

Nintendo Gaming / RE: What does this button do...?

« on: July 28, 2004, 01:44:38 PM »

There will be sleep and standby...the difference being the standby mode is meant for awaiting multiplayer queries...

[Uncle Rich AiAi]

156

Nintendo Gaming / RE:New DS Design

« on: July 28, 2004, 01:38:37 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Uncle Rich AiAi
I'm a happy boy Nintendo decided to keep the "DS" name, however.......


....I do not like the new design.  I prefer the original design we saw at E3.  The new design, to me, looks more bulky, too edgy and not as slick.  It looks like my opinion is in the minority..........so flame me all you want!

EDIT: but I do like larger face buttons.

READY. AIM. FLAAAAAAME!!!!

No, j/k.
Actually Im surprised you think its bulkier....its clearly quite a bit more shallow than the prototype unit, and the redesigned top is an improvemet...make for less of a 'brick look', and more importantly, it closes on the screens more securely than with the prototype's.
I would like to know its exact length, however....keeping in mind they have enlarged the D-pad and face buttons (thank gawd), the redesign is looking the same length if not a bit shorter....

157

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Dimensions?

« on: July 28, 2004, 01:32:20 PM »

Dedede points out a good reference. Even if you do have that handy however, remember that this new DS redesign is not as deep (its actually quite a bit thinner) and that the length of it is roughly unchanged.
About the size of a Gameboy Advance Old Skool style, I would say, but a little taller, and oppositely concave due to the smaller top portion of the unit.  

158

Nintendo Gaming / RE: New DS Design

« on: July 27, 2004, 11:34:21 PM »

Keeping the name was an excellent idea....by now many people idenitfy the system as the DS so changing the name would be inviting confusion.

Now, onto the redesign...

WOW.
Im liking the streamlined, more sophisticated look. I didnt have a huge problem with the prototype's look, but Im a helluva lot more happy to see this one.

More importantly however, we have larger more tactile looking D-pad and face buttons (and, apparently, triggers as well). No analog stick, but that concern was secondary to me over having buttons that were just too damn small.
And over 140 games in development....outstanding.

The DS's future is starting to look as bright as its shiny new exterior...

159

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Hunters - I don't get the press's freaking problem (Metroid/FPS discussion)

« on: July 26, 2004, 04:07:57 PM »

Dedede, that information was revealed in an interview Miyamoto had about a month or so ago.
He was talking about Hunters and control systems, and just mentioned that NST had taken all the criticism from E3 to heart and was developing an additional stylus-free control scheme.
Sorry Im too lazy to link to that interview...

160

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Possible DS SP?

« on: July 26, 2004, 03:51:54 PM »

What Im wondering is how much this first design will change from what we have seen, if at all beyond a simple slot for the stylus.
Because if they dont at least improve the face buttons and D-Pad (size and/or tactile response) I'll kind od want a DS SP ;p

161

Nintendo Gaming / RE:DS...the end of porting?

« on: July 26, 2004, 03:49:11 PM »

Quote
Nintendo has re-released several ports of Ice Climber but has not made a new Ice Climber game. I'm sure there is a fanbase that wants to see a sequel but instead are just getting endless re-releases.

There is!?

162

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Possible DS SP?

« on: July 26, 2004, 03:13:48 PM »

I doubt they "made it clunky" on purpose.
I don't think they are in a situation where they can just screw around with consumers because they know they own the market.
The PSP is a serious threat to their marketshare, I would think they would want to pull out all the stops on releasing a product that just hits on all cylinders and crushes the threat of an actual competitor in the market.
The SP, however, I dont know. They released it in a very coincidental time frame when the Afterburner GBA light kit was getting pub in all the game media outlets.
Their official story is that in the R&D phase for the first GBA, it was concluded that a light in the unit would drive the price beyond what Nintendo was willing to enter the market at (the GBA Dark originally retailed at $99). Subsequently, two years later R&D decided the technology/price ratio was suitable to introduce that feature among other new features in the SP.
It makes sense, and I want to believe them...  

163

Nintendo Gaming / RE: DS...the end of porting?

« on: July 26, 2004, 02:25:47 PM »

When we see how the multiplatform games shake out, perhaps that will answer the question...off the top of my head, DS will have The Urbz, Need For Speed: Underground, Viewtiful Joe....and Im sure theres a few more. These games are/will be also available on PSP and the current consoles. We'll see how much of the DS's unique features are reflected in the gameplay of the different version...for example, a Need For Speed game that basically dumbs down the graphics of the PSP version and adds a map to the second screen would prolly equal a good example of "Game Ports: No System is Safe".

164

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Four Swords DS

« on: July 26, 2004, 02:04:56 PM »

The kind of Four Swords that can be played from a multiboot session would be something like small dungeons, or a confined multiplayer mini-game, much like the kind the Cube's four swords featured at those )ugh) Tingle houses.
The reason for this is not only because (although the DS may have more multi-boot cache) of memory restrictions,  but also because from a business standpoint you really just want to offer enough of the game for a good taste. The ultimate goal of multi-boot I think is a hands on advertisement of the game that will hopefully convince you to purchase your own copy...

165

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Metroid Hunters "noline" aspect

« on: July 26, 2004, 01:54:57 PM »

That sounds like a cool idea: be able to control Samus's ship as she flies it to various planets in pursuit of different bounties.
My only fear is that taking the idea too far would take away from the focus of the game, an action/adventure/explore system. I've had no complaints with the way Metroid games have been made, so if this is any indication of the skill of the designers, Im confident such a feature as you described would only be implemented if it could be made to fit in seamlessly with the rest of the game.

166

Nintendo Gaming / RE: The inevitable DS vs PSP debate.

« on: July 21, 2004, 09:28:44 PM »

Well, I won't argue that Ninja Gaiden borrows various gameplay mechanisms from other series....most notably it will definitely appeal to Devil May Cry gamers right off the bat...but I still maintain that borrowing gameplay mechanisms doesnt disqualify the game for what it is: a further refinement of the genre that Devil May Cry made cool to begin with.

The fact that it would make me cry with its demanding level of skill will be a blessing or a curse depending on who is playing it...I'll say tho, I would definitely look forward to watching some videos of the head to head online modes. For the players that have attained that level of skill, its very fluid indeed to watch.

-Blackknight131

Shout out to DOA.

167

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Nintendo DS price and game prices

« on: July 21, 2004, 07:51:49 PM »

I kind of have taken it to be the "standard" for portable games prices...I have never bought a portable game for more than 30 bux.
I really pray that game prices for this market dont increase to such levels...and I've been encouraged by recent posts that point to the relative proce point deifferences in the japanese market and the american. For instance, I just learned that GBA games in Japan retail at first for the equivalent of 40-50 dollars U.S. A higher cost of living I suppose in Japan.
At any rate, Im hoping that DS game prices will scale in the same way they have for the GBA games...if 3800 yen is the price point (direct US equivalent about 35 dollars) in Japan, may we be looking at games sub-30 dollars in the US?

Some people might think thats a pipe dream, but my wallet isnt afraid to dream.

-Blackknight131

168

Nintendo Gaming / RE: The inevitable DS vs PSP debate.

« on: July 21, 2004, 07:43:35 PM »

I wont start a technical debate. There can really be no debate in the face of hardware fact: the XBOX has the highest graphical potential ofthis console generation.
However, you guys make a good point about some of the Cube's games being absolutely beauiful....Metroid 2, Zelda and especially Resident Evil 4 spring to mind. These fabulous results are the fruits of development know-how and programming sweat. These guys absolutely know the Cube's hardware through and through and the results speak for themselves. So when Itagaki says "this game could not be possible on another system" I think hes right in a way and wrong in a way.
On one hand the sharp visuals of Ninja Gaiden or the textures in Halo 2 just dont seem feasible on the Cube's hardware, strong as it is. For example, a good looking Riddick may be possible, but again could not match the integrity of the XBox version (which of course doesnt bode well at all for the PS2 version...).
HOWEVER, many technical "limitations" usually seem to be worked around by the most talented developers. So in this sense when Itagaki says "not possible", I take it in some cases as "we really dont want to bother learning the hardware", as with DOA3. I have to admit tho, I just want DOA in some form for Cube.

...
....

Uh, at any rate, people are subject to their own opinions about Itagaki and what he says. However, I hope this quote:

Quote
They also don't bother themselves with details like "this game is exactly like something else on the market", or "this game is so frustratingly difficult I'm not having any fun at all". It's good to see Team Ninja isn't worrying themselves with the details.

Quote


isn't alluding to Ninja Gaiden on the XBOX. Its an awfully subjective opinion if it is, of a game that many people enjoy exactly for its refinement of the genre (I think a good number of people wouldn't hesitate to rate it over the likes of Shinobi and even Devil May Cry 1) and its no-frills difficulty.  No game of course is ever really for everyone tho, even if they are fans of its genre.

For the record, Devil May Cry made me do just do that, sooooo....

-Blackknight131

169

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Nintendo DS price and game prices

« on: July 21, 2004, 07:19:53 PM »

Wasn't FFTactics published by Nintendo?
I also frquently see Fire Emblem for 34.95 MSRP.

Boktai was at first as well...but it has a solar sensor so I guess thats more clearly understandable.

-Blackknight131

170

Nintendo Gaming / RE: RPGs on the DS

« on: July 20, 2004, 01:38:57 AM »

I look forward to trying out Baten Kaitos as I remember the director of that game commented specifically that the game would translate beautifully to the DS.
I also would like to see how Harvest Moon can be adapted to the touchscreen and dual screens...PSP is getting a new one afterall.
Playing Vagrant Story the other nite got me thinking...about what kind of 3-D graphics to expect in a DS RPG. With higher quality models of course...

-Blackknight131

171

Nintendo Gaming / RE:DS launch games

« on: July 20, 2004, 01:31:58 AM »

I am beginning to realize this after the revelation (for me) you brought up in a seperate thread.
It is a huge relief to me if the DS games wont go the way Sony seems to be taking the PSP, i.e. the $40-50 per game territory.

-Blackknight131

172

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Different Game Ideas for DS that utilize features

« on: July 20, 2004, 01:20:47 AM »

That makes me wonder whether or not Nintendo will commission Bits Studios to make an RTS sequel to their game...crap, what was it called? It came out on the GameBoyColor....Warlocked or something like that I think. It was a fun little RTS that worked pretty well on the GBC...
I bring that up because I was reading several times that the studio was working on the sequel to that strategy game for the GBA....but alls been quite about it for a while now. As you said, the stylus and touchscreen would be perfect for such a game.

That said, I am more hyped about turn-based strategy RPGs....just the simple addition of having the touchscreen such that highlighting a character will bring up all their stats and info with touch stylus management would be beautifully convenient. I really think some people underestimate how nice such little conveniences can be...

-Blackknight131

[KDR_11k]

173

Nintendo Gaming / RE:DS Gripes

« on: July 20, 2004, 01:11:43 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: KDR_11k
What's your problem? This dev stated he has many minigame ideas and he can't sell them separately because they'd not be worth the money and he can't sell them bundled because he believes he'd rip off Wario Ware then. WTF? When has ripping off ever been an excuse not to make a game? They're just acting stupid. Probably loaned their brains to Sony or something.

Blackknight: I don't get why you're complaining about prices, DS games are much cheaper than GBA games. A GBA game costs 5080 Yen, everywhere but in NA GBA games cost the equivalent 50 US dollars. The price in the US stayed the same because they couldn't adjust the price after the dollar crashed. A GC game costs 70 USD and a GBA game costs 50. It's like that in Japan, it's like that in Europe, it's like that in Australia. The dollar is too weak. The games are getting cheaper, it's just that your money is worth a lot less. Dropping the price below 30 bucks would be outright stupid, cheaper manufacturing can't outweight dev cost increases enough to warrant a price drop by 50% or more.

If it is true that games in Japan retail for that price, and this is something that I am utterly unaware of, then my point is completely undercut. It has been my assumption until now that games in Japan retail for fairly close to the equivalent amount in dollars.
...
Apparently, this is not the case as I have just checked out Toys R Us Japan. Oh well, I'm totally wrong on my assumption.
To clarify so that everyone who had the same impression as me understands, new GBA games in Japan apparently retail between 4500 - 5500 yen. Its equivalence in dollars puts that around the neighborhood of $40-50.
Assuming the same relative pricing structure is adopted in America, we will be seeing game prices roughly equivalent and possibly a little less than what we pay for brand new GBA games. That, to me, is an acceptable price for portable content. I have to thank KDR for setting me straight on this.
I like to think I get a little less stupid everyday.

-Blackknight131

174

Nintendo Gaming / RE: DS Gripes

« on: July 19, 2004, 06:51:20 PM »

Who is to say we are even looking at his comments in the right context....
I dont remember reading anything about either him nor other developers he mentioned being in a rut. I think he actually stated that they had many ideas...just that they couldnt develop these ideas that they have been intrigued with into a game that would justify a cost of 3800 yen -  more than FFTactics Advance, more than Metroid Zero Mission, heck, even more than Boktai with its solar sensor.  These are the GBA games with the highest production values.
There are prolly many games on the GBA itself that are just harder to swallow at 5-8 dollars more. I've never payed more than 29.99 before tax for a GBA game, and even then its been a while since Ive bought a GBA game retail...
Again, we definitely have to consider that DS games will likely cost more than the average GBA game. But I'm strongly under the impression that the development costs are not exorbitantly higher, the way PSP games will be in comparison to GBA games....yep, looking at the interview with Beth Llewelyn (Nintendo Director of PR) in last months Game Informer she stated that Nintendo "intends to make [the DS] easy to develop for...", relatively with console games.
Anyways, this is great discussion.

-Blackknight131

175

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Different Game Ideas for DS that utilize features

« on: July 19, 2004, 04:34:58 PM »

About RTS's, I have to admit thats half my interest in the system: strategy games and RPGs. Turn based would really be streamlined as well, such as Advanced Wars, Fire Emblem, Tactics Ogre.
The other reason was and is Mario kart Online

-Blackknight131