[Jonathan Metts] Topic: How good is the Nintendo DS launch?

[Chris Bethea] i give it a B for effort

[TY SHUGHART] There's Wario Ware somewhere around here, and hey, it

still works with GBA games. Approved!

[Dragona] Mediocre for the US, slightly better in Japan. The best

games aren't coming out until later, such as DS WARS or Shin Megami Tensei.

[Mike Sklens] I'd say it's pretty good, but not excellent

[Bloodworth] I think it's a good set of games, but nothing stands

out as a must have really.

[Michael Cole] I think it is the lesser of two evils: on time

versus more games at launch

[Mike Sklens] America needs more Wario Ware at launch

[Jonathan Metts] Personally, I think Japan has a better launch lineup,

though it may have fewer total games.

[Bloodworth] Japan's definitely got the edge

[Chris Bethea] That tends to happen :D

[Dragona] Once January hits I think things will be much better.

Castlevania unveiling should light some fires.

[Chris Bethea] The US launch titles don't excite me, but some of the

ones in the works look awesome.

[Jonathan Metts] Would you guys say that this is similar to the GBA

launch, when there was no huge killer app but a good spread of games?

[Chris Bethea] I think the system on the whole will be solid, but the

launch might be a bit disappointing

[Bloodworth] Oh yeah, but we need Kuru Kuru

[Michael Cole] You can complain about the titles all you want.

The fact is, Nintendo is sending a strong message: we're on time and keeping

our promises

[Mike Sklens] I'm only certain of two launch titles: Mario DS and

Feel the Magic XX/XY

[Jonathan Metts] Feel the Magic may be the sleeper hit

[Chris Bethea] Well, I'd compare it to the SNES launch.

[Chris Bethea] There was a good selection of software

[Bloodworth] I think mini-game compilations are going to be really

common on this system.

[Jonathan Metts] It seems like everyone is interested in Feel the

Magic, if only out of pure curiosity.

[Chris Bethea] but everyone still walked away with Mario World and

"something else"

[Jonathan Metts] And it may be a good substitute for Wario Ware.

[Dragona] UGA made some of the best, unique games of the generation,

is why.

[Mike Sklens] Mario 64 DS' 36 minigames is very impressive

[Dragona] Now that they're part of Sonic Team, (even without

Mizaguchi) they're a strong force pulling me (a female gamer) into wnating

to try it at least.

[Jonathan Metts] It didn't catch my interest until I learned about the

goldfish-puking game.

[Michael Cole] Yes, Mario 64 DS is not the shameful port we all

feared, which puts my mind somewhat to ease. It could turn out better than

the original

[Bloodworth] LOL What?

[Bloodworth] Yoshi Breathes FIAR!

[Mike Sklens] the whole blowing out the candles by blowing into the

DS microphone is ACES

[Jonathan Metts] Your character swallows a bunch of goldfish, and you

have to pull them out with the stylus and guide them into his esophagus for

him to throw up (on the top screen).

[TY SHUGHART] I'm looking forward to pretending it's a PDA in

classes/at work for a few days before it gets found out

[Michael Cole] Yeah, now trivia players will not get mad at me

when I blow into a microphone!

[Bloodworth] hah hah

[Bloodworth] But there IS a PDA application coming out

[TY SHUGHART] hahahah oh noes

[Chris Bethea] i wonder if that'll be worth anything

[Michael Cole] Yeah, I'm seriously considering getting that as

a poor man/cheap-ass's PDA

[Jonathan Metts] Someone joked that Boktai DS could detect rain (touch

screen) and wind (microphone) as well as using the sun sensor. I actually

think that would be really cool if it's not required too much.

[Mike Sklens] I'm looking forward to sending hilarious drawings to my

roommates via pictochat

[Mike Sklens] and by hilarious I mean hilariously disgusting and/or

obscene

* Dragona holds DS under tap of running water with a fan blowing

[Jonathan Metts] I'm disappointed that none of the launch games seems

to use the micrphone very much.

[TY SHUGHART] Like horrific scrawlings of trash cans being tipped over

by bears

[Dragona] Seriously even I'm going to be drawing crude genetalia

back and forth. I think that's the purpose of it. :P{

[Bloodworth] I'm not surprised at all

[Mike Sklens] heh

[Jonathan Metts] I can't believe Madden doesn't use it for audibles.

[Mike Sklens] I will write "keke ^_^" on it

[Chris Bethea] I'm just going to be writing "BUTTS LMAO" to everyone I

can find

[Bloodworth] I'm not a football guy at all, but I'm really

interested in the features in Madden

[Michael Cole] I think we'll see the mic being used more when

publishers are more comfortable with the system and don't feel rushed to get

a product out at or near launch

[Mike Sklens] I thought the touch screen audible thing was cool,

until Jonny pointed out that voice audibles would be muchcooler

[Dragona] What I want to know is when the headset will be revealed.

[Dragona] We know it's there.

[Jonathan Metts] Ping Pals seems redundant, but you only need one copy

of the game for up to 16 people to use it.

[Dragona] Nintendo knows its coming.

[Dragona] Where is it?

[Bloodworth] we'll probably see more when the headset is revealed

[Mike Sklens] But everybody who has a DS has PictoChat, so that sorta

shuts Ping Pals multi-cart feature down

[Jonathan Metts] Yeah, good point.

[Mike Sklens] though apprently Ping pals supports something like 100+

chatters

[Mike Sklens] which PictoChat doesn't

[TY SHUGHART] ds irc

[Jonathan Metts] Typing, even on a touch screen, is not very fun.

[Mike Sklens] Frankly though, 100+ people chatting on DS would be

very rare, and absurdly confusing.

[TY SHUGHART] voice to text would be rad

[Dragona] Also it's by the WayForward guys, let's hope we get to see

Shantae GBA turned into Shantae DS

[Jonathan Metts] I bet Shantae is one of the avatars

[Dragona] She better be.

[Jonathan Metts] Well, the only first-party launch title is Super Mario

64 DS. Is this a satisfactory offering for launch?

[Bloodworth] I really wonder how this thumb attachment works

[Michael Cole] Yeah, I'm hoping games will make use of "custom

avatars" and the like. Kind of like face mapping, but with drawings. I

could see great monster creation games using a touch screen

[Jonathan Metts] They gave us a remake for the GBA launch, but they

also had F-Zero Maximum Velocity, which was new.

[Dragona] Not really, as interesting as it is with the new features,

it's a port. And there's no analog stick.

[TY SHUGHART] like JOURNEY: THE GAME !

[Mike Sklens] I'd say it's unsatisfactory, but it also sends a

message that says "We do care about 3rd parties, and we are using them to

support our launch"

[Dragona] Though I'm very curious about the analog touch pad control

verison.

[Mike Sklens] as opposed to a bunch of first party stuff and no third

party (N64, GameCube)

[Bloodworth] I'm happy there's a lot of thought being into different

control modes overall

[Michael Cole] Yes, once again Nintendo is at least making a

bold statement with only 1 launch title....even though I'd rather see one of

the Japanese launch titles here as well

[TY SHUGHART] http://coinop.org/g.aspx/100288/Journey.html

[Jonathan Metts] I find myself not very excited about Mario 64, even

portable. But it seems like an excellent choice, considering how well it

sold and how much everyone loves it.

[Jon Lindemann] It's pretty obvious that Nintendo wanted a Mario game -- any

Mario game -- at launch, and they've done everything else so Mario 64 DS got

the nod

[Bloodworth] Like with the left-handed friendly options in Metroid

[Mike Sklens] speaking of monster creation games, apprently Magic

Pengal is being made for DS

[Jonathan Metts] Yeah, I think you're right Jon.

[Dragona] I personally don't see how that's left handed friendly

[Dragona] Regardless of my feelings on "Prime"

[Dragona] I'm lefthanded.

[Dragona] I'm used to directing with my left hand on the Dpad.

[Michael Cole] No argument--Super Mario 64 DS is a smart move

on Nintendo's part, especially since it isn't a direct port. But that

doesn't mean it should stand on its own

[Dragona] Using my right hand for that purpose is going to be very

strange, and hard.

[Jonathan Metts] I'm thinking I'd like to use the thumb-pad-thingy on

my left thumb, actually. Then it would feel like using the N64 controller for Mario.

[Dragona] The VB showed me how woefully underused my right hand was

for any sort of directional controls. :P

[TY SHUGHART] The VB showed me what my own shriveled retnas looked

like

[Jon Lindemann] I think Nintendo is trying to introduce some younger people

to Mario 64 DS, even though the DS is supposedly aimed at an older

demographic

[Michael Cole] What, people are actually thinking to use their

RIGHT HAND for the touch screen analog thumb thing? No, that's left thumb

all the way

[Jon Lindemann] It was released in 1996, after all

[Jon Lindemann] almost a decade ago

[Jonathan Metts] I don't have a problem with remakes or even ports, but

it feels underwhelming to have one as the only first-party game at launch.

[Michael Cole] I could actually see myself using a stylus in my

left hand for Mario 64 DS

[Jonathan Metts] On the other hand, the level of third-party support

this early is VERY encouraging.

[Bloodworth] yes

[Mike Sklens] If I'm using my stylus I will use it in my right hand.

[Mike Sklens] I CANNOT write with my left hand

[Michael Cole] I think Jonny summed it up

[Chris Bethea] I honestly prefer that to an overwhelming first-party

showing

[Mike Sklens] i can't do anything involving pen-like objects with my

left hand

[Michael Cole] I can't WRITE with my left hand. But I think I

could manage analog control with my left hand

[Jonathan Metts] As Dan said, the DS makes even Madden interesting.

[Bloodworth] What's up with Jam with the Band's "unlimited"

multiplayer?

[Jonathan Metts] TYP, didn't you ever have an N64?

[Michael Cole] *Billy hunts down Jonny*

[Mike Sklens] I could manage analog control with their "thumb strap"

thing, but NOT with a stylus

[Jon Lindemann] That's part of the appeal of the DS -- gamers just want to

see what developers will do with it

[Michael Cole] LOL, I mean analog control with a Stylus Jonny

[Jonathan Metts] Hell, didn't you ever have a GameCube? ;-) Analog

control with the left hand.

[Mike Sklens] I'm just happy I can use my pimp light-up stylus

instead of that thin one shipping with the system

[Dragona] Hmm

[Jonathan Metts] I hope there is a way for everyone to get one of

those.

[Bloodworth] I hope you take the chain off

[Michael Cole] Yeah, but probably only at home

[Dragona] A way for everyone to get one of what? :P

[Bloodworth] the E3 light up stylus

[Jonathan Metts] There is going to be a lot of Ridge Racer vs. Asphalt

Urban GT talk.

[Jon Lindemann] Kudos to whoever sent me one of those

[Dragona] Ah lucky them.

[Bloodworth] I pick Asphalt

[Mike Sklens] well I'm ok with it, because mine retains it's "The

Future of Handheld Gaming: Nintneod E3 2004" charm

[Jonathan Metts] Most people seem to think Ridge Racer looks a lot

worse.

[Dragona] Ridge Racer looks bad. :|

[Michael Cole] Yes, what do you think about the whole touch pad

wheel? I'm wondering how comfortable that will be

[Jonathan Metts] I think it looks decent, but Asphalt definitely has

better graphics.

[Mike Sklens] ridge racer has a crazy touch screen steering wheel

mode

[Bloodworth] that sounds like it needs a lot of work

[Jonathan Metts] It's a great idea, but it sounds like they are doing a

poor job of implementing it.

[Bloodworth] I defended it too

[Michael Cole] Doesn't another game have that touch screen

wheel?

[Bloodworth] until I hard people's impressions of it

[Jonathan Metts] I wish it could be set up so that you could use both

thumbs on the wheel, sort of like how you hold a real steering wheel.

[Jonathan Metts] one on the left, one on the right

[Jonathan Metts] but I'm not sure that the DS supports multiple touch

points

[Michael Cole] Yes, even at E3 I said I wished DS could support

multiple touch points

[Dragona] I'm not so sure about using fingers on the screen.

Smudging is bad.

[Mike Sklens] exactly

[Bloodworth] well, I wouldn't be surprised if some crazy bloke tries

to come up with a wheel that you physically attach to the system

[Michael Cole] But I have no idea how much more something like

that could cost for Nintendo (and the consumer)

[Jonathan Metts] There probably will be some insane peripherals for

this thing.

[Michael Cole] Well, with the GBA port free, who knows?

[Bloodworth] Spiderman is geared to use your fingers instead of a

stylus

[Mike Sklens] don't worry about smudges, some companies have already

announced screen shields similar to those used on PDAs

[Bloodworth] since you'll be using the buttons most of the time

[Dragona] Obi: but will they suck?

[Jonathan Metts] Fingers definitely work fine for the touch screen.

They did at E3. It's not a great option if you have big fingertips, like

me.

[Mike Sklens] there is no reason for them to suck, the technology has

been around for years on PDAs and is already dirt cheap

[Michael Cole] Did anyone else notice how familiar Rayman DS

looked? Is that Rayman 2 on the Nintendo DS?

[Jonathan Metts] Could be

[Bloodworth] I think it's using the same engine at the VERY least

[Jonathan Metts] Ubisoft still hasn't spilled the beans on it.

[Bloodworth] but one shot makes it hard to judge

[Dragona] That's not a real sshot

[Dragona] It's faked

[Bloodworth] the touch screen being just to move the camera points

toward port in my mind

[Michael Cole] Well, it had a life bar similar to the one in

Rayman 2.

[Jonathan Metts] I'm with Dan. But you could find much worse games to

port than Rayman 2.

[Dragona] It's a FAKED screen FROM rayman2 :P

[Bloodworth] and I think there's probably a fair number of people

like me that haven't played it

[Dragona] they whipped it up for the press

[Michael Cole] Ubisoft made a faked screen for promotion?

[Jonathan Metts] It's pretty common

[Dragona] yeah

[Jonathan Metts] Microsoft did it for a lot of their games back around

the Xbox launch

[Dragona] they did

[Bloodworth] yeah like coughAmpedcough

[Michael Cole] Well, I think we're about done here....

[Jonathan Metts] Well, I think that's enough for this Blah Blah Blah

[Jonathan Metts] TYP read my mind :)

[Bloodworth] Blah

[Jonathan Metts] Blah

[Dragona] Blah