3426
General Chat / RE:Billy cleans house in Seattle
« on: April 07, 2005, 05:13:30 AM »
And he beat Matt. How appropriate 
silks
silks
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
3427
Nintendo Gaming / RE:wtf is happening to the DS????
« on: April 06, 2005, 02:46:59 PM »Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
I've been playing straight through the bus ride to work without even noticing how much time has gone by with these games. I can't stop!
Funny, I could say the same thing about WipeOut Pure and Lumines. We're both right in our own ways. I don't think I would be so grumpy about the DS right now if it would have launched with something I liked. I'll be a lot happier once Meteos releases in June. Until then, PSP is my savior.
silks
3428
TalkBack / RE:BLAH BLAH BLAH: GameCube 64
« on: April 06, 2005, 11:58:51 AM »Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
That's why it's important to match the competition because it allows Nintendo to do what the competition does PLUS MORE. Nintendo is a better developer than Sony and MS. They design better hardware than Sony and MS. They're more creative than Sony and MS. They could have huge advantages over the competition if they just made sure they were competing on a level playing field. Nintendo is like the fastest runner that always loses because they give everyone else a head start.
A-friggin'-men. This was my point exactly.
silks
3429
Nintendo Gaming / RE:wtf is happening to the DS????
« on: April 06, 2005, 04:31:16 AM »
Call it whining if you will, but the DS' launch lineup was sub-par. That's a fact. The PSP launch lineup is much better. That's not my fault, that's Nintendo's fault.
A console-style Tony Hawk game is new for a handheld. Compare Tony Hawk PSP to the last Tony Hawk game on GBA and you'll see what I mean.
If I wanted to use my DS to play GBA games, I'd still have my GBA. Unfortunately, playing GBA games on my DS is my only choice right now.
silks
A console-style Tony Hawk game is new for a handheld. Compare Tony Hawk PSP to the last Tony Hawk game on GBA and you'll see what I mean.
If I wanted to use my DS to play GBA games, I'd still have my GBA. Unfortunately, playing GBA games on my DS is my only choice right now.
silks
3430
TalkBack / RE: BLAH BLAH BLAH: GameCube 64
« on: April 05, 2005, 02:30:59 PM »
Athlon-pv: I agree with you wholeheartedly. I wasn't faulting third-parties for not making online games for GameCube, I was faulting Nintendo for not supporting online development whatsoever. Furthermore, I can't understand why Nintendo would waste the R&D time to develop and test a broadband adapter for GameCube and then literally never use it. That's just a poor management decision as far as I'm concerned.
ruby_onix: This whole thing started as an email thread, and it eventually got so interesting that we realized we should post it. In that sense a lot of our comments (especially mine) were candid and didn't pull any punches, but I stand by everything I said (even the "greedy bastards" comment...I think that Nintendo's greed is getting in the way of their third-party relationships, and I know I'm not the only one out there that thinks that way). In the end I think it was worthwhile, if only for the fact that it sparked some really good debate.
silks
ruby_onix: This whole thing started as an email thread, and it eventually got so interesting that we realized we should post it. In that sense a lot of our comments (especially mine) were candid and didn't pull any punches, but I stand by everything I said (even the "greedy bastards" comment...I think that Nintendo's greed is getting in the way of their third-party relationships, and I know I'm not the only one out there that thinks that way). In the end I think it was worthwhile, if only for the fact that it sparked some really good debate.
silks
3431
Nintendo Gaming / RE:wtf is happening to the DS????
« on: April 05, 2005, 12:53:14 PM »
WarioWare Touched is the same game with a different input method. It's like playing WarioWare with a mouse instead of a joystick. It's not different enough from what's been out there before to make me want to buy it.
When I think of the phrase "rehash" I think of words like "redundant" and "stale". WipeOut Pure is none of these, just like F-Zero GX wasn't either. I could accept somebody calling Tony Hawk a rehash, but if that's the PSP's definition of a rehash I'll take it. Tony Hawk games are typically excellent, and ideal for on-the-go gaming.
Yoshi's Touch & Go is a neat distraction, but I'm not paying $30 for it when games like WipeOut Pure and Lumines are available for only $5-10 more. Those two games alone will keep you occupied for a lot longer than YT&G ever will. You can't argue that for $40 ($35 at some places), you get a LOT of bang for your buck with PSP games. Meanwhile, DS games that are borderline GBA-quality are in the same price range. It doesn't make sense. When you put PSP sports games up against DS sports games, it gets even more ridiculous. Madden NFL DS is currently $40, and when it comes out for the PSP it'll likely be the same price. Nobody in their right mind would buy the DS version, given the choice.
silks
When I think of the phrase "rehash" I think of words like "redundant" and "stale". WipeOut Pure is none of these, just like F-Zero GX wasn't either. I could accept somebody calling Tony Hawk a rehash, but if that's the PSP's definition of a rehash I'll take it. Tony Hawk games are typically excellent, and ideal for on-the-go gaming.
Yoshi's Touch & Go is a neat distraction, but I'm not paying $30 for it when games like WipeOut Pure and Lumines are available for only $5-10 more. Those two games alone will keep you occupied for a lot longer than YT&G ever will. You can't argue that for $40 ($35 at some places), you get a LOT of bang for your buck with PSP games. Meanwhile, DS games that are borderline GBA-quality are in the same price range. It doesn't make sense. When you put PSP sports games up against DS sports games, it gets even more ridiculous. Madden NFL DS is currently $40, and when it comes out for the PSP it'll likely be the same price. Nobody in their right mind would buy the DS version, given the choice.
silks
3432
TalkBack / RE:BLAH BLAH BLAH: GameCube 64
« on: April 05, 2005, 11:09:06 AM »
Ian, I agree with you 100%.
The "one release a month is enough for me" attitude is something I don't agree with. Like Ian is getting at, how is choice a bad thing? With the Super NES you'd have games like Yoshi's Island and Final Fantasy III coming out in the same month. Those were the days.
Nintendo isn't going after casual gamers, no matter what they say. Sony and Microsoft OWN casual and non-gamers because they give them what they want: sports games and edgy titles (giving customers what they want, what a novel idea). I agree with BigJim in the sense that they go the "safe" route, and not everybody wants the safe route, so how can they say they make games for everybody? With Revolution they're going to attract the same people they attracted with the DS: Nintendo fans that appreciate their quirky designs and experimentation. That's fine, but it can only take them so far. Nintendo seems to miss the fact that they can give the "ignorant masses" what they want while also innovating, doing their creative stuff, and appealing to their core fanbase...like they did with the NES and SNES.
Nintendo is making themselves a niche brand by having this "go it alone" strategy, one that doesn't even make sense from a business standpoint, let alone a philosophical one. For example, why wouldn't Nintendo go online if fans of sports games see online play as a differentiator? It's no secret that GameCube ports of popular games (sports and otherwise) are seen as inferior because they lack online play for no real reason. The GCN has a broadband adapter, but it's never been used by Nintendo themselves! Explain that. And people wonder why third-party games don't sell as well on GameCube...it's because PS2 and XBox versions are inherently superior because they have more features. If you told me that these two cars both go 100mph, but this one includes an awesome stereo built-in for the same price, which one do you think I'd buy?
It baffles me that Nintendo refuses to match the abilities of their competition's products, even when the fact that they're losing sales because of it is staring them right in the face. And before everybody chimes in saying, "Well, *I* don't care about online, online is useless, Sony and Microsoft suck, NITNEDO FOR EVAR!!!1111!!", believe me, anybody that plays John Madden (or even Halo) cares about stuff like online play. And that's a LOT of people. I don't mean to make this whole argument about online either (that subject has been beaten to death); this happened with the PS2 and PSP as well. PS2 had DVD playback which was a huge differentiator at its release, PSP has the built-in ability to play movies and MP3s...these are both abilities that people love, and will pay for. But if you ask Nintendo, people don't need that right? Maybe so, but isn't it nice to have the option of doing that stuff? For all of their innovations, Nintendo can't seem to think "outside the box" in terms of what their customers might want from a game system.
Contrary to what many of you may think, I love my GameCube. I have more games for it than any other system. My dissatisfaction comes from the fact that I am forced to buy other systems to play games that skew towards a certain audience, or to have the "best" version of a port. That's retarded. For crying out loud Nintendo, build online into your next system (which they've done, thank God) and start developing mature* titles on a consistent basis. Nintendo would demolish all competition if they could round out their product portfolio with some software that has a little edge. How about a kick-ass new franchise with adult themes and situations? Something edgy and cool? Or has that been scrapped in favor of another Mario Tennis game or Mario Party 10? <shudder>
I've thought about the "grass is greener" argument, and for me it boils down to the fact that I've been disappointed with the DS since shortly after its release. The utter coolness of the PSP (which I honestly didn't think I'd be that impressed with) has made that disappointment a lot deeper. Still, I'm not going to sell my DS. But I REALLY wish it featured some games that I cared about.
silks
*note that by "mature" I do not mean "Grand Theft Auto" or even graphically violent. I mean characters and plot development above and beyond Mario rescuing Princess Peach. Something akin to a dramatic movie. See Metal Gear Solid 3, Eternal Darkness, etc.
The "one release a month is enough for me" attitude is something I don't agree with. Like Ian is getting at, how is choice a bad thing? With the Super NES you'd have games like Yoshi's Island and Final Fantasy III coming out in the same month. Those were the days.
Nintendo isn't going after casual gamers, no matter what they say. Sony and Microsoft OWN casual and non-gamers because they give them what they want: sports games and edgy titles (giving customers what they want, what a novel idea). I agree with BigJim in the sense that they go the "safe" route, and not everybody wants the safe route, so how can they say they make games for everybody? With Revolution they're going to attract the same people they attracted with the DS: Nintendo fans that appreciate their quirky designs and experimentation. That's fine, but it can only take them so far. Nintendo seems to miss the fact that they can give the "ignorant masses" what they want while also innovating, doing their creative stuff, and appealing to their core fanbase...like they did with the NES and SNES.
Nintendo is making themselves a niche brand by having this "go it alone" strategy, one that doesn't even make sense from a business standpoint, let alone a philosophical one. For example, why wouldn't Nintendo go online if fans of sports games see online play as a differentiator? It's no secret that GameCube ports of popular games (sports and otherwise) are seen as inferior because they lack online play for no real reason. The GCN has a broadband adapter, but it's never been used by Nintendo themselves! Explain that. And people wonder why third-party games don't sell as well on GameCube...it's because PS2 and XBox versions are inherently superior because they have more features. If you told me that these two cars both go 100mph, but this one includes an awesome stereo built-in for the same price, which one do you think I'd buy?
It baffles me that Nintendo refuses to match the abilities of their competition's products, even when the fact that they're losing sales because of it is staring them right in the face. And before everybody chimes in saying, "Well, *I* don't care about online, online is useless, Sony and Microsoft suck, NITNEDO FOR EVAR!!!1111!!", believe me, anybody that plays John Madden (or even Halo) cares about stuff like online play. And that's a LOT of people. I don't mean to make this whole argument about online either (that subject has been beaten to death); this happened with the PS2 and PSP as well. PS2 had DVD playback which was a huge differentiator at its release, PSP has the built-in ability to play movies and MP3s...these are both abilities that people love, and will pay for. But if you ask Nintendo, people don't need that right? Maybe so, but isn't it nice to have the option of doing that stuff? For all of their innovations, Nintendo can't seem to think "outside the box" in terms of what their customers might want from a game system.
Contrary to what many of you may think, I love my GameCube. I have more games for it than any other system. My dissatisfaction comes from the fact that I am forced to buy other systems to play games that skew towards a certain audience, or to have the "best" version of a port. That's retarded. For crying out loud Nintendo, build online into your next system (which they've done, thank God) and start developing mature* titles on a consistent basis. Nintendo would demolish all competition if they could round out their product portfolio with some software that has a little edge. How about a kick-ass new franchise with adult themes and situations? Something edgy and cool? Or has that been scrapped in favor of another Mario Tennis game or Mario Party 10? <shudder>
I've thought about the "grass is greener" argument, and for me it boils down to the fact that I've been disappointed with the DS since shortly after its release. The utter coolness of the PSP (which I honestly didn't think I'd be that impressed with) has made that disappointment a lot deeper. Still, I'm not going to sell my DS. But I REALLY wish it featured some games that I cared about.
silks
*note that by "mature" I do not mean "Grand Theft Auto" or even graphically violent. I mean characters and plot development above and beyond Mario rescuing Princess Peach. Something akin to a dramatic movie. See Metal Gear Solid 3, Eternal Darkness, etc.
3433
Nintendo Gaming / RE:wtf is happening to the DS????
« on: April 05, 2005, 07:10:25 AM »Quote
Yes, there aren't a lot of games for the DS right now. What do people expect?
I expect good games, is that too much to ask? I don't care about all the fiscal year shareholder's annual meeting bullcrap. Joe Gamer - who doesn't care about dev kits and product announcements and development lead times - looks at the PSP and sees 24 titles with three or four worthwhile purchases, meanwhile they look at the DS and they see 15 titles, 12 of them are crap and 3 of them are just OK. You tell me which one they'll prefer.
silks
3434
Nintendo Gaming / RE:wtf is happening to the DS????
« on: April 04, 2005, 01:08:34 PM »
The PSP's launch lineup is solid, and KILLS the DS' lineup even after the DS' four-month head start.
I've owned my PSP for two weeks and I've already bought 3 games (WipeOut Pure (amazing), Lumines (great), Untold Legends (good)). Meanwhile, I've had my DS since last November and literally have not bought ONE game for it. It sits on the shelf. And I'm a friggin' Nintendo fan! I write for a Nintendo website for crying out loud! I should be the easiest person on earth for Nintendo to suck money out of. But as God is my witness, there is not one DS game worth my money coming out until the end of June (Meteos). That's pathetic.
At this rate I might as well not even own a DS. I really should have taken the $150 I spent on it and put that towards a 1GB Memory Stick for my PSP (which only costs $120 by the way - a bargain when you consider the 1GB iPod Shuffle costs $149 and does practically the same thing).
Another reason I like the PSP so much (and I'll admit this is purely subjective) is that I actually know people that own one. Two friends of mine at work already have them, and we're going to play Untold Legends with three players during our lunch break. I haven't done that since college, and I can't wait.
I really hate to be so negative towards the DS but Nintendo has really disappointed me so far. I shouldn't have to wait a year for the really good games to start coming out.
silks
I've owned my PSP for two weeks and I've already bought 3 games (WipeOut Pure (amazing), Lumines (great), Untold Legends (good)). Meanwhile, I've had my DS since last November and literally have not bought ONE game for it. It sits on the shelf. And I'm a friggin' Nintendo fan! I write for a Nintendo website for crying out loud! I should be the easiest person on earth for Nintendo to suck money out of. But as God is my witness, there is not one DS game worth my money coming out until the end of June (Meteos). That's pathetic.
At this rate I might as well not even own a DS. I really should have taken the $150 I spent on it and put that towards a 1GB Memory Stick for my PSP (which only costs $120 by the way - a bargain when you consider the 1GB iPod Shuffle costs $149 and does practically the same thing).
Another reason I like the PSP so much (and I'll admit this is purely subjective) is that I actually know people that own one. Two friends of mine at work already have them, and we're going to play Untold Legends with three players during our lunch break. I haven't done that since college, and I can't wait.
I really hate to be so negative towards the DS but Nintendo has really disappointed me so far. I shouldn't have to wait a year for the really good games to start coming out.
silks
3435
TalkBack / RE:Ubisoft Trumpets Advertisement Partners
« on: April 04, 2005, 12:33:07 PM »Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
If you're going to be a mindless corporation with no artistic integrity at least try to fool us for a little while.
LOL this is the funniest thing I've ever read from you, Ian. That's awesome. I'm adding it to my sig right now.
3436
Nintendo Gaming / RE: Katamari Damacy for DS
« on: March 23, 2005, 06:05:56 PM »
Yeah, KD rules on PS2. The controls are pretty easy:
Both analog sticks up - moves ball forward (away from camera)
Left analog up, right analog down - turn right
Right analog up, left analog down - turn left
Both analog stick back - moves ball back (towards camera)
You could emulate these basic controls pretty easily with the touch screen. There are other controls (if I remember correctly, pushing down both analog sticks turns you 180 degrees) but this is about as complicated as KD gets. It's an awesome game, I can't wait to see the DS version.
silks
Both analog sticks up - moves ball forward (away from camera)
Left analog up, right analog down - turn right
Right analog up, left analog down - turn left
Both analog stick back - moves ball back (towards camera)
You could emulate these basic controls pretty easily with the touch screen. There are other controls (if I remember correctly, pushing down both analog sticks turns you 180 degrees) but this is about as complicated as KD gets. It's an awesome game, I can't wait to see the DS version.
silks
3437
TalkBack / RE:Iwata Keynote Tidbits
« on: March 10, 2005, 03:59:39 PM »
Yeah, that's my favorite part of the trailer - when Link hops on the boar and it drops its head and plows through those monsters. It's SO lord of the rings and I absolutely love it.
silks
silks
3438
TalkBack / RE:Iwata Keynote Tidbits
« on: March 10, 2005, 10:27:44 AM »
All I can say is WOW. The GameCube backwards compatibility came right out of left field - I never expected that one. It's awesome news because I'll be able to trade in my GameCube for a Revolution and keep all my GC games. I'm lovin' that.
Animal Crossing DS online too...now THAT is what I was talking about. So far Nintendo is doing pretty much what I said they should do in my editorial:
- announce DS online capability before Sony launches the PSP
- announce a DS online killer app (Animal Crossing)
- hype big games coming up later this year (in this case, Mario Kart)
Nintendo gets an A so far on my report card for their DS strategy. I can't wait to see what they unveil at E3...
silks
Animal Crossing DS online too...now THAT is what I was talking about. So far Nintendo is doing pretty much what I said they should do in my editorial:
- announce DS online capability before Sony launches the PSP
- announce a DS online killer app (Animal Crossing)
- hype big games coming up later this year (in this case, Mario Kart)
Nintendo gets an A so far on my report card for their DS strategy. I can't wait to see what they unveil at E3...
silks
3439
Nintendo Gaming / RE:I cancelled my PSP preorder today
« on: March 08, 2005, 05:26:15 PM »
Yeah, think about that - for $250, you could buy a PS2 and a GameCube or an XBox and a GameCube. That's crazy.
silks
silks
3440
Nintendo Gaming / I cancelled my PSP preorder today
« on: March 08, 2005, 10:09:04 AM »
On a whim I had preordered a PSP bundle from Gamestop. I grabbed the Silver pack (PSP, Untold Legends, Metal Gear Acid and Spiderman 2 on UMD) for a grand total of $414.45 after shipping.
Today I cancelled my order.
Why? Because $400 is a LOT of money. I looked at it and said, you know, it makes no sense that I'm willing to drop 400 big ones on another console I don't really need (or have time to play) when I have more important things to spend that money on. This is kinda big for me - typically I buy new consoles like a crack addict buying jumbos, but not this time. Even if I preordered the PSP for $250 I would have cancelled...that's too much money for something I'll play only some of the time. I already have my DS, and by Christmas I'll be fully occupied with that I'm sure.
The DS and PSP are, for most, going to be mutually exclusive. People will either buy one or the other. I don't think there's many gamers out there willing to spend $550-plus to own two handheld systems. I'm hardcore so I'll buy one at some point, but that point isn't right now.
silks
Today I cancelled my order.
Why? Because $400 is a LOT of money. I looked at it and said, you know, it makes no sense that I'm willing to drop 400 big ones on another console I don't really need (or have time to play) when I have more important things to spend that money on. This is kinda big for me - typically I buy new consoles like a crack addict buying jumbos, but not this time. Even if I preordered the PSP for $250 I would have cancelled...that's too much money for something I'll play only some of the time. I already have my DS, and by Christmas I'll be fully occupied with that I'm sure.
The DS and PSP are, for most, going to be mutually exclusive. People will either buy one or the other. I don't think there's many gamers out there willing to spend $550-plus to own two handheld systems. I'm hardcore so I'll buy one at some point, but that point isn't right now.
silks
3441
Nintendo Gaming / RE:Nanostray trailer
« on: March 08, 2005, 09:52:37 AM »
If the import review we have up is any indication, Pokemon Dash is garbage so you can cross that off the list.
My most wanted for DS (of known games):
Castlevania
Nanostray
Animal Crossing
Mario Kart
Probably a couple more, and of course any RPG on the system.
silks
My most wanted for DS (of known games):
Castlevania
Nanostray
Animal Crossing
Mario Kart
Probably a couple more, and of course any RPG on the system.
silks
3442
Nintendo Gaming / RE:DS GDC?
« on: March 07, 2005, 07:20:29 PM »
It may very well happen. The GDC website has this to say about his speech:
"In the Nintendo keynote, entitled "The Heart of a Gamer," Iwata will assess where the games business stands today, predict how it will develop over the next several years, and the manner in which it will help decide future Nintendo hardware and software development."
Sounds like the perfect opportunity to announce a plan for the DS' future. Thursday at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern... start looking for news around 2pm. We'll be on the lookout, that's for sure.
silks
"In the Nintendo keynote, entitled "The Heart of a Gamer," Iwata will assess where the games business stands today, predict how it will develop over the next several years, and the manner in which it will help decide future Nintendo hardware and software development."
Sounds like the perfect opportunity to announce a plan for the DS' future. Thursday at 10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern... start looking for news around 2pm. We'll be on the lookout, that's for sure.
silks
3443
TalkBack / RE:EDITORIAL: Choose Your Weapons
« on: February 28, 2005, 11:15:10 AM »
Ian Sane: I totally agree, although the video game market is so large now that being number two or three can still be a profitable position. The video game industry is almost like the car industry now - the pie is really big, and it's the big dogs at the top fighting for incremental market share.
silks
silks
3444
TalkBack / RE:Phoenix Unveils Market Research Results
« on: February 28, 2005, 05:17:38 AM »
I don't care, I'm still too hyped from buying the Attache Case XL in Resident Evil 4! Now I can carry the Blacktail, TMP, Riot Gun, Semi-Auto Rifle, and Rocket Launcher all at once! WHOOOOOOO!
What was this thread about again?
silks
What was this thread about again?
silks
3445
TalkBack / RE:EDITORIAL: Choose Your Weapons
« on: February 27, 2005, 07:39:57 PM »
More food for thought....
Gamasutra.com poll on DS vs. PSP
They bring up a lot of the points we've made.
silks
Gamasutra.com poll on DS vs. PSP
They bring up a lot of the points we've made.
silks
3446
TalkBack / RE: EDITORIAL: Choose Your Weapons
« on: February 27, 2005, 12:48:30 PM »
True, but I don't think they need to cut the price just yet when they're already $100 cheaper than their competitor. If the PSP suddenly dropped its launch price to $199 then things would be a little different. As it stands you can buy the DS+2, maybe 3 games for the same price as just the PSP itself. That's a huge difference.
I have no problem with Nintendo selling the DS as a dedicated games machine, but with it's PDA-inspired design I think it'd be a crime not to give it PDA functionality. People would eat up the DS if it could do more than play games. To illustrate my point, which one of these descriptions would get you more excited about the DS:
1. Nintendo DS plays great games.
2. Nintendo DS plays great games, but it can also do the following if you want it to:
- Play ASF files, MP3 files, and MPEG4 movies
- Use VoIP to talk to anybody anywhere in the world for free (or really cheap)
- Run a fully-licensed version of PalmOS for PDA capability
Nobody in their right mind would prefer #1 over #2. There's nothing wrong with Nintendo making the DS into as versatile a machine as possible. The whole "we only make great games, we'll take the high road, we're not an electronics company like those guys blah blah blah" philosophy is great and all, but the bottom line is that customers want as much bang for their buck as possible. You pay a lot for the PSP, but I think many consumers can justify that cost because they perceive that they're getting a lot for that money. We've already seen this with the PS2 - the fact that it could play DVDs was a big differentiator for that console generation. Casual gamers looked at the PS2 vs. GameCube and said, "Both of these consoles play great games, but I'll be able to play DVDs on my PS2. I'll get the PS2." That same scenario could repeat itself with the PSP, but Nintendo can still do something about it.
silks
I have no problem with Nintendo selling the DS as a dedicated games machine, but with it's PDA-inspired design I think it'd be a crime not to give it PDA functionality. People would eat up the DS if it could do more than play games. To illustrate my point, which one of these descriptions would get you more excited about the DS:
1. Nintendo DS plays great games.
2. Nintendo DS plays great games, but it can also do the following if you want it to:
- Play ASF files, MP3 files, and MPEG4 movies
- Use VoIP to talk to anybody anywhere in the world for free (or really cheap)
- Run a fully-licensed version of PalmOS for PDA capability
Nobody in their right mind would prefer #1 over #2. There's nothing wrong with Nintendo making the DS into as versatile a machine as possible. The whole "we only make great games, we'll take the high road, we're not an electronics company like those guys blah blah blah" philosophy is great and all, but the bottom line is that customers want as much bang for their buck as possible. You pay a lot for the PSP, but I think many consumers can justify that cost because they perceive that they're getting a lot for that money. We've already seen this with the PS2 - the fact that it could play DVDs was a big differentiator for that console generation. Casual gamers looked at the PS2 vs. GameCube and said, "Both of these consoles play great games, but I'll be able to play DVDs on my PS2. I'll get the PS2." That same scenario could repeat itself with the PSP, but Nintendo can still do something about it.
silks
3447
TalkBack / RE: EDITORIAL: Choose Your Weapons
« on: February 27, 2005, 10:18:39 AM »
Maybe Jason would never have considered the DS in the first place. You're probably right. But Nintendo would be smart to paint their DS as more than just a games machine to at least let people know that there's an alternative to the PSP. Releasing the Play-Yan in the U.S. wouldn't be a bad thing, no matter how you slice it.
And if the GBA SP was considered a gadget (which it most definitely was, getting write-ups in Wired, Maxim, and all kinds of other "hip" magazines), how can the DS not be considered a gadget? I think it most definitely is one, and Nintendo should sell it as such. Why have the touch-screen and stylus if you can't use it for productivity applications like a Palm Pilot? That seems like a waste to me, since it's such a natural extension of the hardware.
Furthermore, I'm not debating that the two handhelds can coexist. I just think that the whole "we're not competing with PSP" schtick is garbage, a smokescreen that Nintendo puts up to mask the fact that they have never been able to successfully attract the older demographic like Sony does. It's like failing at something and then saying, "Oh, it doesn't really count because I wasn't trying anyways". What do you think, Nintendo doesn't want to sell their products to older consumers? That's crazy.
silks
And if the GBA SP was considered a gadget (which it most definitely was, getting write-ups in Wired, Maxim, and all kinds of other "hip" magazines), how can the DS not be considered a gadget? I think it most definitely is one, and Nintendo should sell it as such. Why have the touch-screen and stylus if you can't use it for productivity applications like a Palm Pilot? That seems like a waste to me, since it's such a natural extension of the hardware.
Furthermore, I'm not debating that the two handhelds can coexist. I just think that the whole "we're not competing with PSP" schtick is garbage, a smokescreen that Nintendo puts up to mask the fact that they have never been able to successfully attract the older demographic like Sony does. It's like failing at something and then saying, "Oh, it doesn't really count because I wasn't trying anyways". What do you think, Nintendo doesn't want to sell their products to older consumers? That's crazy.
silks
3448
TalkBack / RE: EDITORIAL: Choose Your Weapons
« on: February 27, 2005, 05:57:52 AM »
kingvudu: Maybe yes, maybe no. But I can tell you with some certainty that he won't be buying it to be a portable DVD player...he already has a really nice widescreen laptop to do that.
Rize: The fact that PSP will undoubtedly sell out at launch is a good point. Nintendo isn't going to stop that no matter what they do because the launch PSPs will be snapped up by all the early-adopters. But they at least need to announce something to sway those people that are saying, "Maybe I'll buy a PSP a few months after launch".
DontHate742: I think it'd be amazing if the DS used Skype (free voice-over-IP software). With the built-in mic you could do it, too. That would be a killer app for sure, since you can use Skype to literally call anywhere in the world for something like 2cents/minute.
I don't think the DS and PSP are apples and oranges at all. They're in the same market space providing the same service, so they're competing. Now, they'll be able to coexist without a doubt, I'm not debating that, but most consumers will choose either a DS or PSP, not both. There's a younger market and an older market to be served out there, and Nintendo had better be trying to serve the older market because you can bet Sony will be serving the younger market in one way or another. Just because nobody's really attracted older gamers to portables doesn't mean that Nintendo couldn't have done it by now.
silks
Rize: The fact that PSP will undoubtedly sell out at launch is a good point. Nintendo isn't going to stop that no matter what they do because the launch PSPs will be snapped up by all the early-adopters. But they at least need to announce something to sway those people that are saying, "Maybe I'll buy a PSP a few months after launch".
DontHate742: I think it'd be amazing if the DS used Skype (free voice-over-IP software). With the built-in mic you could do it, too. That would be a killer app for sure, since you can use Skype to literally call anywhere in the world for something like 2cents/minute.
I don't think the DS and PSP are apples and oranges at all. They're in the same market space providing the same service, so they're competing. Now, they'll be able to coexist without a doubt, I'm not debating that, but most consumers will choose either a DS or PSP, not both. There's a younger market and an older market to be served out there, and Nintendo had better be trying to serve the older market because you can bet Sony will be serving the younger market in one way or another. Just because nobody's really attracted older gamers to portables doesn't mean that Nintendo couldn't have done it by now.
silks
3449
TalkBack / RE: EDITORIAL: Choose Your Weapons
« on: February 26, 2005, 09:35:44 PM »
Yeah, Silks = Jon Lindemann. I guess I'm not a good self-promoter. =) That and the fact that I had Nintendo's advertising department in charge of getting my name out there. har har har
PaLaDiN: Price seems to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand being cheap means appealing to a wide consumer audience, but on the other hand cheap can be construed as inferior (in this case, "meant for children"). Nintendo will always try to be a price leader because, for better or for worse, they look at themselves as a toymaker. In the toy business, the cheaper the better. Sony and Microsoft look at themselves as consumer electronics companies, and as you all know, people will overpay for what they perceive as "high-end" consumer electronics. This is especially true for Sony - it's no secret that their high-end audio equipment is overpriced for what you get, but people buy it for the Sony name. We can see these philosophies in action with the DS and PSP, respectively.
Ian Sane: I agree with you that Nintendo had BETTER have something up their sleeves or the DS could quickly become an afterthought in the market. I almost could have titled this editorial "This is what Nintendo had better do with the DS or they're screwed", but that's a bit over the top don't you think?. ;-) Gamers will be automatically considering the PSP for no other reason than Sony's reputation for quality, so Nintendo needs to bring forth some real attention-grabbing, mention-it-around-the-water-cooler type stuff. I only hope that they realize how close things are to being totally tipped in Sony's favor.
The whole "DS is not competing with PSP" idea is ridiculous. That's like me creating a new type of cheese and saying, "Oh, my cheese isn't competing with any other cheese on the market, because the people that will buy my cheese aren't the same as the people that will buy those other cheeses." That makes no sense...to Joe Consumer it's all cheese, you know? What also make me cringe is that, with such comments, Nintendo is basically ADMITTING that they're going after the children's market instead of the adult market. That isn't doing anything for their public image, that's for sure.
silks
PaLaDiN: Price seems to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand being cheap means appealing to a wide consumer audience, but on the other hand cheap can be construed as inferior (in this case, "meant for children"). Nintendo will always try to be a price leader because, for better or for worse, they look at themselves as a toymaker. In the toy business, the cheaper the better. Sony and Microsoft look at themselves as consumer electronics companies, and as you all know, people will overpay for what they perceive as "high-end" consumer electronics. This is especially true for Sony - it's no secret that their high-end audio equipment is overpriced for what you get, but people buy it for the Sony name. We can see these philosophies in action with the DS and PSP, respectively.
Ian Sane: I agree with you that Nintendo had BETTER have something up their sleeves or the DS could quickly become an afterthought in the market. I almost could have titled this editorial "This is what Nintendo had better do with the DS or they're screwed", but that's a bit over the top don't you think?. ;-) Gamers will be automatically considering the PSP for no other reason than Sony's reputation for quality, so Nintendo needs to bring forth some real attention-grabbing, mention-it-around-the-water-cooler type stuff. I only hope that they realize how close things are to being totally tipped in Sony's favor.
The whole "DS is not competing with PSP" idea is ridiculous. That's like me creating a new type of cheese and saying, "Oh, my cheese isn't competing with any other cheese on the market, because the people that will buy my cheese aren't the same as the people that will buy those other cheeses." That makes no sense...to Joe Consumer it's all cheese, you know? What also make me cringe is that, with such comments, Nintendo is basically ADMITTING that they're going after the children's market instead of the adult market. That isn't doing anything for their public image, that's for sure.
silks
3450
TalkBack / EDITORIAL: Choose Your Weapons
« on: February 26, 2005, 08:19:58 PM »
This thread is for discussion of my editorial:
Choose Your Weapons
Any and all feedback is welcome.
silks
Choose Your Weapons
Any and all feedback is welcome.
silks
The entire contents of this Web site, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright © 1999 - 2012 NINWR, LLC. All Rights Reserved. ™ and © for all products, characters, and indicia related thereto which are contained herein are owned by the companies who market or license those products. This Web site is not endorsed, sponsored, nor otherwise affiliated with Nintendo. It has been created for the sole purpose of entertainment and knowledge. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without consent from NINWR, LLC is prohibited.
