Messages

26

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Nintendo 3DS Discussion

« on: March 04, 2011, 12:10:03 AM »

  After all the crap and lies Mark Rein has spewed about Nintendo and their systems, I wonder if Nintendo even wants to work with them. I wish developers would stop relying on Unreal Engine for all of their games, there are other engines out there.

A lot of popular games these days are made in the Unreal engine.  I'd say Nintendo owes it to their customers to try to make those available on Nintendo systems.  If they can bury the hatchet with Square, they should be able to work with pretty much anyone.  Hell, Nintendo has worked with Sega, who spouted more crap about Nintendo than anyone else.

First of all, Sega was in direct competition with Nintendo.  Beyond the marketing trash-talk, there's a mutual respect involved (it doesn't hurt that they're both Japanese, as I'm sure you'll agree).

Secondly, even if the Unreal engine was on Wii, do you think we'd be seeing any real appreciation?  Sure there might be more ports, just because of the huge userbase, but the devs are still going to put their "best efforts" on the other consoles, simply because of the better specs.

And the devs know that given the choice between three consoles, most multiple-console owners will buy the PS360 version just for the better graphics (and online but that's another argument).  Forget the motion controls, the majority of devs aren't interested in making meaningful motion control experiences.  And why would they be when the whole 'industry' judges games primarily on the quality of graphics (is it any coincidence that the standard game review lists 'graphics' as the first scoring category?).

So if Nintendo was to overcome this, they'd have to produce a console that would exceed the capabilities of the competition.  But that would mean significantly increasing the cost of the console, eliminating a huge portion of their customers.  It's a trade-off that I'm sure they evaluate constantly.  As much as you want them to make the "everything console", they'll never be able to capture 100% of the market.

27

General Chat / Re: Charlie Sheen

« on: March 03, 2011, 11:52:27 PM »

I bet I can name  a handful of forum goers who would take advantage of that situation...

It seems the number goes beyond a "handful" if that "young woman" is vudu.


Here's the thing Mr. Smasher, he's not as crazy as he's acting. He acts nuts for publicity. He got on twitter "to make money." It's all about "all eyes on me."


He's doing the Tiger Woods thing in reverse, and the media is LOVING it.

And how much acting was involved when he beat up his wife not too long ago?

I don't deny the possibility that he's trying to get attention by going over the top, but that's even more reason the media to not broadcast it.

28

General Chat / Re: Charlie Sheen

« on: March 03, 2011, 12:29:48 PM »

I think its quite despicable the way the media is taking advantage of a clearly troubled man.

And before anyone claims it's ok because he's approaching them, well it's not.  If a drunk young woman, upset because her father's going to jail, started sleeping around with anyone and everyone, would it be respectable to take advantage of her situation?  No it would not.

Sure, he's allowed to share his side of the story, but leave it to Twitter and Facebook.  At least there he's not being paraded like a show at the circus.

29

Nintendo Gaming / Re: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

« on: March 02, 2011, 05:28:23 PM »

I'm afraid my first impression from the latest trailer is... how boring.  I was initially excited that Motion+ would be used for combat, but it doesn't seem very exciting the way they implemented it.  There's a sentiment among some that Zelda has become too much of a puzzle game the last decade; well this looks like puzzle combat.  Where's the feeling of 'kicking-butt'?  It's slow, and it's like you're following a conductor - slash this way, pause, now slash this other way.

As for the graphics, I was satisfied with what I saw at E3 last year.  But I'm not feeling some of the textures used, for example, the brick walls.  Everything seems to blend too much.  Hopefully this is simply a result of the video quality.

30

Nintendo Gaming / Re: The OFFICIAL Wii rumor thread *bring your own salt*

« on: February 27, 2011, 07:38:56 PM »

The same dry spell happened last year for the Wii, then they announced a bunch of games at E3 (like Kirby and DKCR). This has become standard for Nintendo.

Don't forget there were some pretty big titles released midway through the year, in Galaxy 2 and OtherM.

Frankly, a lot of teams who released stuff last year won't reasonably be able to have stuff ready, even by the holiday season this year.  They've got to be working on something right now, but won't be ready until 2012 at the earliest.

That's not to say we won't get any holiday title announcements at E3, it's just a question of which teams could be ready.

31

Nintendo Gaming / Re: The OFFICIAL Wii rumor thread *bring your own salt*

« on: February 27, 2011, 12:15:38 PM »

I've actually been thinking about this lately.  It would appear that we're entering a title drought, and unless new titles are announced at E3, it can be assumed that Nintendo's working on next-gen titles.  The same thing was observed over the last year for the DS.

Still, I wouldn't expect a new console this year.

32

Nintendo Gaming / Re: What Nintendo franchise do you want most on 3DS?

« on: February 25, 2011, 02:42:04 PM »

2D Metroid and 2D Zelda.  The GBA had both, the DS had neither.  Which portable do you think I preferred?

Of course with both there are HUGE caveats here.  Metroid has to play like Metroid with non-linear open world gameplay.  I want Metroid for people who like Metroid not closed minded FPS fans or Japanese gamers with poor tastes.  Zelda has to have GOOD CONTROLS.  Use the fucking d-pad and the buttons and keep that stupid stylus out of it.

The problem is I would love to see 2D sprites but that doesn't really lend itself to well to 3D.  So, **** it, make these sprite based WiiWare games instead.

At least with the 3DS, the "nice" screen is the one you can't poke at.  So touchscreen controls wouldn't really make sense.

But it's also a 3D screen, so of course it means the game has to be in 3D (not really, but that will probably be the argument in most cases).

Still, for the 2D Zelda games the camera is overhead so there's actually a lot of perspective that might work on a 3D screen.

33

Nintendo Gaming / Re: What Nintendo franchise do you want most on 3DS?

« on: February 25, 2011, 12:46:39 AM »

Give me a 2D Zelda in the style of LttP or LA, and I'll get a 3DS.

A sequel to Super Mario World would also do the trick.

In either case, I want them to be sprite-based.

I'm not holding my breath.

34

General Gaming / Re: PSN = Privacy? Security? Never!

« on: February 23, 2011, 07:32:42 PM »

Sony hasn't done anything wrong

Actually, they did. They took away a feature (Other OS) which was advertised, promised, and paid for by consumers. By taking it away they committed theft. The E.U. seems to care a good deal about consumer rights, so...

Under that logic, publishers of MMO's could get in trouble when they shut down the games because consumers are left with nothing more than coasters. Should EA get in trouble when they shut down servers for their games? The online play was advertised, promised, and the main reason some people buy the game. All features for systems and games are subject to be removed at any time.

Morari, people can be punished for possessing and giving out info that is not theirs. Chozo, they go after people when they have knowledge of them breaking the law (like this guy did). Sony will not get in trouble for anything in this.

That's entirely different.  Online games are service-based - they require the publisher to maintain a server.  When you buy a game featuring an online component, it's implied that at some future date the service will be discontinued.

Conversely, the OtherOS feature is not service-based.  Once you purchase the hardware, there is no dependence on the manufacturer to maintain a service.  The functionality is implied to be permanent.  A more reasonable comparison would be something like if Nintendo suddenly decided to cutoff one of your controller ports.

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TalkBack / Re: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Preview

« on: February 22, 2011, 01:56:48 PM »

To Ian and Brood,

You're pansies. Get over it.

Pansies are people who are intimidated by controllers and need Nintendo to bugger up the controls of their games with stupid novelties like touchscreens and waggle wands to get them to even attempt to play a videogame.
 
So I can either fumble with a stylus or guck up my screen with my thumb?  OR Nintendo could offer the OPTION of the original controls.  Wouldn't that make more sense?  Why is so bad to ask for the choice?  All I ever ask for is the choice.

First of all, uninterested =/= intimidated

Secondly, the new controls will be a great improvement over the originals.  I can just imagine what your reaction would be if they hadn't updated the controls:

What, identical controls?  Do they not realize that having to pause your game, use a clunky control stick to toggle through a static grid, map to your button, and unpause your game is SO time consuming and dated?  It's like they stropped trying after 1998, they're so clueless.  Anything to save a buck, am I right?"

If you're that worried about gucking up your screen, then use a damn napkin beforehand!

36

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Recommend Any Good Gamecube Games

« on: February 12, 2011, 03:56:06 PM »

It might be difficult to find, but I really enjoyed Smuggler's Run: Warzones.

37

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Donkey Kong Country Wii

« on: February 05, 2011, 10:00:08 PM »

OMG, I really want to LOVE this game, but I can't. The almost non-responsive waggle forced into this game just keeps ruining it for me.
I have yet to play it with a 2nd player, but I really don't feel compelled to do so.

I just got to World 3 and I'm just not into it. I'm gonna give multi a shot in a little bit, but that's not gonna fix the waggle that is taking me out of th game.

Which setup are you using?

For the nunchuck setup, just flick the wiimoted downwards (not sideways).  It works well for me.

Also I find the multi less fun, simply because your partner is usually dragging you forward when you want hunt out secrets.

38

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Official Wii Sales Thread

« on: February 03, 2011, 10:13:18 PM »

I don't really understand the question, but I'll just say All of them (except the one that charted this week).

That's just lazy.  If you can't name a recently released game that should be popular, then you're just guessing that piracy is killing game sales.  You're not considering whether or not there would be any PS3 titles in the sales chart if the system hadn't been jailbroken in the first place.

39

TalkBack / Re: 3D Viewing Confirmed for Pokemon 3DS

« on: February 02, 2011, 11:23:30 PM »

So who was worried there wasn't going to be another handheld Pokemon?

40

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Official Wii Sales Thread

« on: February 02, 2011, 11:19:30 PM »

Is it possible that there just haven't been any interesting PS3 games released the last few weeks?

If you think piracy is wiping out sales, for what titles do you think this is happening?

41

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Nintendo 3DS Discussion

« on: January 30, 2011, 03:42:39 AM »

The difference is that most people who want one before the holiday season will most likely be able to get one at some point this year without having to resort to price gouging sellers on ebay. I don't think it'll be like the Wii at all where even over a year past launch people were having trouble finding one.

Not until Nintendo releases a killer app.  You never know what they'll show at E3.

42

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Official Wii Sales Thread

« on: January 29, 2011, 01:51:33 AM »

Nintendo doesn't make shovelware, and that is a first party list.

I apologize, I missed that part.

Still, I don't remember seeing many shovelware titles dominating the weekly sales charts.  Just looking at the last list of UK sales, there's only one possible shovelware title (Michael Jackson something - I don't know anything about this particular title).  I don't deny that shovelware doesn't exist on Wii, it's the market leader so it would be the natural target.  I just don't think it contributes to the tie-in ratio in any meaningful way.

43

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Official Wii Sales Thread

« on: January 29, 2011, 01:07:00 AM »

Why?  I don't see any shovelware titles on the million-sellers list.

44

General Gaming / Re: PSP2 - It's coming and it's called Next Generation Portable (NGP)

« on: January 29, 2011, 01:04:22 AM »

Hahaha, that analyst sounds like a Sony fanboy. Sony stopped being in charged of anything years ago, and portable entertainment was never in their hands. People like him said the same thing about the PSP and that failed to beat the DS, I doubt the NGP will beat the 3DS.

Yeah, but the PSP had only one control stick.  NGP is completely different.

45

General Gaming / Re: PSP2 - It's coming and it's called Next Generation Portable (NGP)

« on: January 28, 2011, 09:36:12 PM »

Since it is always funny to laugh at Pachter's "predictions", here are his NGP predictions (http://www.industrygamers.com/news/sonys-ngp-estimated-at-249-will-sell-incredibly-well-says-pachter/):

*It will cost $250
*It will sell at least 15 million in its first year

I don't think either has a single chance of happening. The system would be losing a ton of money for them (even $400 might be costing them money), and I don't see it being popular enough to reach 15 million so soon.

I think he meant to say that it would have to cost $250 in order to sell 15 million, but confused himself with his whole made up scenario.

But seriously, making up a price is not analysis.

46

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Kirby Wii & Pandora's Tower Announced Today - Nintendo Investors Meeting

« on: January 28, 2011, 08:53:14 PM »

Plus I never thought I would say it but I'm actually getting tired of side-scrollers on the Wii.  I want some full 3D platformers as well to balance things out.  This is supposed to be the future of gaming but they keep having us use NES-style controls in gameplay that was popular 15 years ago.

I think we need a new 2D console Zelda.

47

General Gaming / Re: PSP2 - It's coming and we know it

« on: January 25, 2011, 11:55:45 AM »

I'm calling fake, only because it doesn't say "Sony" or "PSP2" on the top part.  There's no way Sony would let that happen.

48

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Chris Kohler trolls the 3DS

« on: January 24, 2011, 02:50:50 PM »

Some of you have pointed out that with the 3DS's third party support it should have no problem holding its own against the iPhone or the PSP2.  But the Wii has never had anything even resembling decent third party support and it has outsold the other consoles by a huge margin.  With the blue ocean crowd third party support means NOTHING.  Nintendo themselves are living proof of this.  If third party support had any impact with the blue ocean market then the Wii would have been in bargain bins six months after launch.  You can talk about how the 3DS has this game and that game and this dev and that dev but it doesn't matter.  If it didn't matter with the Wii why would it matter here?

I can see the iPhone having literally ONE game that every casual gamer wants and just outright winning over the blue ocean crowd with that title alone.  Think of the impact Wii Sports had.  The iPhone could have one game with that same type of universal appeal and run circles around the 3DS.

The 3DS has all these great things going for it but we're looking at it from a core gamer perspective.  Don't assume because you like the Wii that you're part of the blue ocean casual market.  You're not.  If you're on this site or ANY videogame site you are not part of this market.  This market is fad-based and can swarm to a certain product for reasons that seemingly make no sense.  They have no brand loyalty and quality is irrelevent.  One hot iPhone title that costs like a buck and that market can go to Apple overnight.

I think that is Nintendo's biggest threat and frankly there isn't really any way to combat that.  What they have to do is be prepared for that to happen and not piss away the traditional core gaming market.  That is the market that will continue to buy dedicated portable videogame systems.

I'm not saying Nintendo is screwed, just that the iPhone is a threat and this a way the 3DS could "fail", at least with the casual market.

The 3DS is not designed for the blue-ocean crowd.  I can't even remember the last time Nintendo mentioned "blue-ocean" (was it 2007?).  The platform exists simply because the tech is ready, and not because of any desire to expand to untapped markets.  In fact it could be argued that Nintendo is trying to move its DS brand up-market by increasing the power, adding 3D, and charging $250.

Oh and in your assessment of how the casuals have no brand loyalty and will swarm to whatever's hot, I'd like to know how Nintendo could "lose" that market to iPhone, if all it takes is providing another hit title to win them back?

Also, love your complete contempt for the segment.  You're way in troll territory now, but I know you're being serious.  You should be more appreciative of the casuals, after all they saved your favourite company.

49

Nintendo Gaming / Re: Are we ever getting Player's Choice games in NA?

« on: January 24, 2011, 12:07:05 AM »

I'm probably annoying some people by now, but I'll mention it for at least the third time: some of these games that you'd expect to be Player's Choice have recently been bumped UP by $10 where I live.

I think the reluctance to drop prices is motivated in two ways: 1) these games are still selling at full price.  2) Nintendo wants to change consumer culture, as in "you might as well pay full price now, because you won't find it cheaper next year."

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Nintendo Gaming / Re: Chris Kohler trolls the 3DS

« on: January 23, 2011, 01:37:00 AM »

The Wii succeeded in being the number one console but largely failed in being a "serious" gaming machine. You gotta take what you can get, and sales for any reason are still sales.

I believe it is currently the number one console of all time for this time in their lifecycles.  Don't put some bullshit "serious" moniker after it.

Well most people did buy it for its Blu-ray capabilities.  OH WAIT.

Actually, I take it back.  Most people bought it for Netflix.  "Serious" would be like saying it's sold more total software this gen than PS3 or 360.