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Electroplankton: On Sale Now!

January 9, 2006, 4:56 pm EST
Total comments: 21

Mix music like a pro on Nintendo's latest non-game.

Nintendo's Electroplankton Turns Music Novices Into Mixing Maestros

Users Create Magical Tunes on the Go

REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether you're musically inclined or

musically impaired, Nintendo's new Electroplankton(TM) will make you a

mixing maestro. The musical experience, launching today exclusively for

Nintendo DS(TM), lets users score music by using the touch screen or

speaking into the microphone. Sounds can be sampled, manipulated, changed

and rearranged to help even novices create engrossing beats and harmonies.

Electroplankton exemplifies Nintendo's commitment to expand the frontier of

innovation in the video game universe. Electroplankton, for instance, could

not be possible on any other system. Only the special features of Nintendo

DS make it possible for users to compose music ranging from techno beats to

ethereal rhythms. And because Nintendo DS is portable, users can make music

whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.

"Electroplankton is a great way to kick off what promises to be an exciting

year for Nintendo," says Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive

vice president of sales & marketing. "It's the kind of casual game that

will attract a broad audience and help Nintendo DS continue to expand its

lead as the most popular new hand-held system."

Getting started with Electroplankton could not be easier. Users simply

choose one of 10 music-making modes and dive right in. One mode lets users

manipulate the leaves of a plant using the touch screen. As colorful

plankton launch into the air, they bounce off the leaves in melodic

combinations. Another mode acts as a sampler. Users record up to four

different sounds with the microphone and then layer them over drum loops to

create a personalized beat.

The game was designed by renowned Japanese electronic artist Toshio Iwai.

His artistry adds both beauty and whimsy to Electroplankton and makes it as

much a delight for the eyes as it is for the ears.

Nintendo has selected a distribution method for Electroplankton befitting

its quirky character. Electroplankton, Rated E for Everyone, is available

now through Nintendo.com and major online retailers, as well as at the

Nintendo World Store in New York.

Talkback

kirby_killer_dededeJanuary 09, 2006

Reviews haven't been incredibly hot so far. How is it?

Karl Castaneda #2January 09, 2006

I've been playing it all day and I gotta say, it's so-so. I need more time to be sure (for the upcoming review), but I'm not positive if it's everything I was hoping for.

RennyJanuary 09, 2006

It's fun to play around with once in awhile. Does it come in the 'special' packaging of the JAP version?

archioverloadJanuary 09, 2006

78 on Metacritic isn't not hot. It seems like a love it or hate it deal. Of course many game reviewers try to pigeonhole their model on what a game should be, rather than taking it on its own terms.

btw I wish games like ATV Fury (or whatever) and NFS on the DS would have a "quirky" (i.e. nonexistent) distribution model.

kirby_killer_dededeJanuary 09, 2006

That actually is not so hot. Below an 8 on a game hyped as heavily as this is disappointing. Same way with Super Mario Strikers,Mario Superstar Baseball, or (lol) Mario Party.

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 09, 2006

Hype? Where?

Like selling the game online-only is a way to signify "high profile".

Karl Castaneda #2January 09, 2006

If the copy I recieved is the same one being shipped out by Nintendo (and I'm pretty sure it is, since it came in a condition one would associate with a new game; new box, plastic wrap, etc), then it surely does not have anything special (i.e. earphones). It's a bummer, I know. As for reviewers not taking it in with an open mind, I don't think that's the case; I pretty much took in all the game had to offer after a few hours, which is disappointing. Maybe it gets a second wind later on, I'll have to wait and see, but from what I've seen so far, it's a mostly average title, non-game or otherwise.

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 09, 2006

And if you don't know what you want to create with it, music-wise, would that just make it worse?

Karl Castaneda #2January 09, 2006

Once you get the hang of the application, you know how to manipulate things to your liking. Until then, it's pretty much experimentation, but it doesn't make it any worse; it's easy to learn.

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 09, 2006

Then isn't that a good thing? Learning your options in a relatively short amount of time? It's not Donkey Konga, not DDR, not Guitar Hero, it's a shaggadelic creativity app, right? Is it MS Paint married with a Winamp visualizer plugin, or is it a game with specific rewards?

GilbrodJanuary 09, 2006

Um, hello numbnuts. Its a NON-GAME!!! I think it's loads of fun. Even more fun when 2 people have it. Experimentation is key. But if you think of it as a game, then you will never enjoy it.

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 09, 2006

Thank you.

Frigid cashews.

Karl Castaneda #2January 09, 2006

I'm not saying it's not intuitive or easy to grasp; that is a good thing, but when you feel like you've gotten the whole experience in a few hours, it's hard to reccomend a purchase. My opinion isn't final, since I've only had it since earlier today, but so far, I don't see it being the canvas without boundaries that it's been made out to be. That's not to say that it's a bad game, or that other people won't love it, but not everyone's willing to spend $34.99 on an average-as-they-see-it title, pure and simple. I know I'm not. Anyway, that's all I'll say about Electroplankton for now. You'll see my final thoughts in the review. Expect a Talkback thread; I have a feeling people will have plenty to say.

KnowsNothingJanuary 09, 2006

I'm pretty sure I've got a good grasp on what this game's about, and I think I'd love it.....for $20.

I just ordered it online for a grand total of $39.99, more out of curiosity than anything else. If anything, it'll be a neat little collector's item.

Hostile CreationJanuary 09, 2006

I have the Japanese version (oh yes). Really fun, but only as a distraction or something to show to your friends. I still go back and play it for ten or twenty minutes every so often (more than most games), but it's not something you play constantly.
Also, it's very relaxing.

It's probably not worth $35, but maybe I'll play it while I'm lounging in the tub.

I'm just glad that the DS has a large enough fan base and enough developer support to get weird, experimental games like this. Usually these wacky games only show up on the PS2.

ConfusedFXJanuary 12, 2006

Quote

Originally posted by: kirby_killer_dedede
Reviews haven't been incredibly hot so far. How is it?



GameDAILY has a pretty good review on this game, you should check it out. I'm not all too sure what to think about it -- on one hand, it sounds pretty fun, but on the other, I'm not sure if it's worth the money.

WuTangTurtleJanuary 12, 2006

yeah i was thinking about importing it a long time ago, but i figured +$50 just to import it is risky. Now that it is in America i still don't think $34.99 is a good price point. I the sweet spot would be somewhere like $20.

RennyJanuary 12, 2006

I did import it way back when. Fun little game, but definitely not worth the $35, particularly as it's just a standard version. The Japanese "limited" packaging has some collectibility. It bombed even in Japan, so maybe it could be considered R@RE someday. Maybe.

Ian SaneJanuary 13, 2006

I saw this in EB a few days ago. I was pretty surprised to see it. I was thinking it would be neat to get it as a novelty but it's too expensive for that. I think it would work best as a cheap impulse buy but from reviews it sounds way to limited to be worth full price.

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