Messages

251

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Official DS Sales Thread

« on: December 01, 2005, 04:00:31 PM »

Look at how Microsoft just shot themselves in the foot.  They have a next gen console that is sold out and nobody will touch their old one out of anticipation for their new one.  At least their marketing is... a presence.

252

Nintendo Gaming / RE: "the graphics...barely better than those on Gamecube"

« on: December 01, 2005, 03:56:20 PM »

I don't like the idea of 2 standards for a console.  I think the whole Xbox thing is stupid, but at least you can always add on where as that wouldn't be an option for the Revolution.  

253

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Miyamoto Interview in Game Informer magazine

« on: December 01, 2005, 01:28:10 PM »

Unless the peripheral is used multiple times like the Rumble pak and the Expansion Pak...  But I guess if you have an addictive ass game like Pokemon or DDR people won't mind.

254

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Miyamoto Interview in Game Informer magazine

« on: December 01, 2005, 12:58:38 PM »

Hoorah for Ian bashing.

This doesn't really put anything to rest.  Packing peripherals in with the games they support is the same system Nintendo has always used.  Rumble Pak, Expansion pak, Transfer pak, etc...  Unless everything is coming with the system, they'll never have 100% functionality because people might pass on the games which support those peripherals.  The problem is with the exception of the shell, I don't think this problem can be avoided.  I foresee multiple peripherals coming out during the console's lifetime since that is what the expandible slot is for.
Good news that they are cheap though.

Hey, this reminded me of something.  Wasn't the GCN supposed to get a new peripheral?  It would be interesting if the Rev concept arose from that.

255

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Rare working on 2 DS games

« on: November 29, 2005, 07:57:27 PM »

wandering, news of Rare's departure predates SFA by a week.  What a coincidence...  SFA was crap though, the best presented crap ever, but crap.

256

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Official DS Sales Thread

« on: November 29, 2005, 05:43:01 PM »

What in the bleep would have made Microsoft think that Donkey Kong, the original Nintendo franchise, would have been part of the deal?  I guess that is why DK was getting mentions when Grabbed by the Ghoulies was released.
Hmm... Nintendo needs to be more ruthless .

[Bill Aurion]

257

Nintendo Gaming / RE:Official DS Sales Thread

« on: November 29, 2005, 05:20:50 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill Aurion
If Ninty publishes a new franchise, I'm fairly sure the fate of it is entirely in their hands...Like with Rare, they had the ability to keep the franchises but went ahead and gave them up...

Since Camelot is so buddy-buddy with Ninty, I'd say that Golden Sun (and any future Camelot franchises) are Ninty's...I'd assume the other games such as Another Code are Ninty's as well...

Did Nintendo have the ability to keep Rare's franchises without a legal fight?  I just don't buy into the fact that Nintendo just let stuff that could be theirs...  Actually I just checked Rareware copyrighted Perfect Dark as well as published it themselves.  So if Nintendo fought all they'd get is Banjo/Conker (maybe don't have those games to check on publication).

Bill, I just don't think the business world works like that...

[ThePerm]

258

General Chat / RE:Official your ugly face thread

« on: November 29, 2005, 04:04:46 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: ThePerm
i would never say that to a man

Why the bleep not?

[Hostile Creation]

259

Nintendo Gaming / RE:Rare working on 2 DS games

« on: November 29, 2005, 03:59:39 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Hostile Creation
I've been saying Rare sucked since the 64.  Goldeneye was fun, and I never played Perfect Dark, but christ Donkey Kong 64 was so goddamn bad it made me hate Rare simply on that basis.

sigh... now i'm going to have to disregard your opinion.  Seriously PD was that good (and since you had DK64 and had the expansion pak), it is a shame you never picked it up.  I thought DK64 wasn't terrible.  I didn't really get into Banjo Kazooie so I wasn't burned out of collectathons, maybe that is why I enjoyed it.
DK Rap!

Ian, I think Rare will put DKC on every platform that will take it.  DK Land 1-2 for GB, DKC 1&2 for GBC and DKC 1-3 for GBA?  The DS version is inevitable.

260

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Rare working on 2 DS games

« on: November 29, 2005, 12:15:28 PM »

Of course, The "Donkey Kong Country"s aren't on the DS yet...

261

Nintendo Gaming / RE: another interesting 1up article: Developer roundtable

« on: November 28, 2005, 02:04:01 PM »

This is the danger of the simulator.  How do you swing a baseball bat?  It depends who you ask - ask a child and you might get a cartoon like swing, but if you ask a baseball coach you'll get a different answer.  This is something that will probably be at the discretion of the developers but should there be a reward for correct motions?  If there is tons of leighway, it is not that different from pressing a button except you'll get tired faster.  I could see sports games becoming much more rewarding when you win (like a real sport) and more frustrating for bad players.

EDIT: Damn, Ian, posted what I said faster and applied it more generally.  

[Ian Sane]

262

Nintendo Gaming / RE:another interesting 1up article: Developer roundtable

« on: November 28, 2005, 01:29:05 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane

I see the controller largely as Nintendo trying to find a quick fix to their problems.  It's easier to blame any decreased sales on a scapegoat like a controller than key problems with Nintendo's attitude and way of doing things.

Ironically I think the Rev's controller has the potential to scare people away more than any other controller ever made.

Re-EDIT (I knew someone would post in that time):
Maybe... though it is probably not quite that shady. The controller has tons of potential and it is radical enough to blow Nintendo's negative image away. It worked for Apple within a year. I don't see how being a quick fix is a bad thing... You might just complain until the end of this gen rather than 2 or 3 generations.

[Deguello]

263

Nintendo Gaming / RE:another interesting 1up article: Developer roundtable

« on: November 28, 2005, 01:15:49 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Deguello

I bet he wishes he was important.   Not that the rest of the chaps on this panel are the movers and shakers of the industry, but he in particular is the least important.  It seems like he got on that panel because his card in the Rolodex was stuck to the Gearbox guy's and 1up figured, "what the hell?"

Eric Holmes's importance doesn't matter.  His interview represents the most practical and businesslike views.  His statements seem to indicate he is putting thought into the both pros and cons of new control schemes.  Holmes, I think sees the potential of the Rev, but also realizes the investment that will go into getting a worthwhile product.  
I personally like to hear from all devs because ingenious ideas are not exclusive to only big developers.

"I don't know that it's going to be more difficult than existing games -- but it is going to be difficult in different, new ways. What I mean by this is that everyone in development has the problem of finding a way you use the controller as a fun, intuitive device to effectively put a smile on the face of the gamer. With this new controller there are fewer proven models, so it'd be probably easier to find new ways to create fun experiences, which is always interesting to gamers. At the same time, it'll be harder to hone them due to a lack of proven successful models."

264

General Gaming / RE: So anyone got a crashing XBox 360?

« on: November 27, 2005, 05:50:43 PM »

http://thatvideosite.com/view/1186.html

I believe this is the video in question.  Somewhere there are people starving... 400 dollars wouldn't solve that but it is a much better cause than a smashed xbox.  Then there is the 'get triple what you paid for it' on ebay thing.  Sigh...what non conformists do with their money...

265

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Horrid Rev Controller Ideas

« on: November 27, 2005, 09:42:36 AM »

In retrospect, this thread is hilarious.  IGN is always made out to be completely horrible on these boards.

266

Nintendo Gaming / RE: another interesting 1up article: Developer roundtable

« on: November 26, 2005, 06:29:25 PM »

Nice read.  I might have to start following 1up...  I liked it all but the strategies for Nintendo really stood out in my mind (maybe because they were last?).
"At the time of writing they are stilly a very successful and profitable company, and I think it won't make too much of a difference for them. Their Zeldas, Marios, Metroids and other landmark properties are still cash cows for them and they don't seem to be worried about that audience going away."
This kind of jaded statement worries me...  I mean it is obviously true but who is going to go out on a limb to develop something that is not proven when they know that the guaranteed fanbase is not going to look at your game unless it has Mario in it.  Bala was saying (obviously) that Nintendo needs to have a wealth of third party games in the beginning out side its own launch titles for success.  Nintendo should solve this problem by subsidizing 3rd party dev. costs on finished games if the developer can get their game out within the launch window.  I believe this technique was used in securing the craptastic FF:CC which experimented with connectivity.  The stakes are much higher than secondary feature, connectivity, and this way devs will feel free to experiment and those devs that do not make their game in time are pretty much committed to finishing their games.

267

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Developer discussion on sample uses of the "freehand" controller

« on: November 25, 2005, 05:47:38 PM »

Very cool.  I like that many developers seem to recognize that the Revolution lends itself to mini-games and that they seem determined to make products that won't bore people within a couple of minutes.
This article also made me realize that Nintendo is under a lot of pressure to set the standard here.  Many of the ideas thrown around can be likened to play-tv stuff that is on the market now, in that it is more simulator-like than game.  Nintendo reportedly giving 3rd parties help with mechanics and concepts I hope will keep us away from a library of simulator games.

268

General Gaming / RE: So anyone got a crashing XBox 360?

« on: November 25, 2005, 10:44:31 AM »

Yeah, I ended up sending mine in to be repaired.  They must have changed the insides because I now have a purple menu screen where I used to have a pink.  No problems since.  Do the generation two gamecubes have a purple selection screen?

269

General Gaming / RE: So anyone got a crashing XBox 360?

« on: November 25, 2005, 09:46:55 AM »

I have a launch GCN and I had Disc Read Error problems about 3 years later.  My friend who came with me to get his GCN is also now getting DREs.  I don't know if it was a bad batch but still 3-4 years later isn't bad.

270

TalkBack / RE: Kids Love Mario's GC Games

« on: November 25, 2005, 08:31:07 AM »

Pokemon came out before any of this Mario proliferation was a problem.  Nintendogs apparently has struck a chord with nongamers (to the point people are buying all 3 copies like Pokemon funnily enough).  Nice try though...

[Mario]

271

TalkBack / RE:Kids Love Mario's GC Games

« on: November 24, 2005, 11:18:30 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Mario
I wont buy a game without Mario in it.

Yeah and I'm sure you are not alone.  I don't mean to offend but you are the problem.  Games more solid than Nintendo games won't sell.  Even other Nintendo made games won't sell because Mario isn't in them- which means that as a business Nintendo would be stupid not include Mario in every game possible, even if they are 3rd party.
I love how Nintendo fans will talk about Nintendo being so innovative and then not give any of Nintendo's games without Mario a second look...  Oh well, Battalion Wars with Mario and Fire Emblem with Mario might be cool... :/

272

Nintendo Gaming / RE: How much more is there to the Revolution that we don't know?

« on: November 24, 2005, 03:24:49 PM »

In general, hardware might limit you - but today's hardware for the most part does not.  My point which perhaps I wasn't clear about is, we are at a point right now, technologically we could go higher but is the cost to both the consumer and company worth it?  It is easy to be cynical about it but really think.  Pikimin was my mental reference for on screen characters.  So would you pay 300-400 dollars to have 30 more on-screen characters?  Double the O-SC?  No doubt the effect to the games were huge when the AI, physics, etc... were first implemented years ago, but now we are just talking about slight upgrades.  What is the difference between controlling 100 pikimin and 200 pikimin?  There would barely be any.  Even with a keyboard, the precision you could control the pikimin with would be fun-kill confusing at its most precise.
1000 allies and enemies?  I'm sorry but WTF?  Unless your TV is a 200 in or you have an aerial shot, these enemies could not even be portrayed on screen.  And then what is the sense?
"Or change it up and imagine a car chase game where you chase someone though a city with a realistic amount of cars."
That wouldn't be any fun if there was any realism in the game... or it is the dead of night - which video game consoles now can already handle.

[Ian Sane]

273

Nintendo Gaming / RE:How much more is there to the Revolution that we don't know?

« on: November 24, 2005, 01:53:58 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"Can you argue that graphics are peaking, Ian?"

They kind of are but graphics aren't the only reason to improve hardware.  AI, physics, framerate, the amount of character you can have on screen, etc all benefit from improved hardware.  You know the epic battles in the Lord of the Rings movies where thousands of individual characters are all doing their own thing?  That was controlled by some AI programming stuff.  Until I can play a game that features battles like that with thousands (hell I'd settle for hundreds) of AI controlled characters battling like that with me in the middle of it ther is still a need release newer consoles.  In Nintendo's case their refusal to embrace online gaming on the Cube alone necessitated that they make at least another console.

You must remember that in the beginning Nintendo was supposed to go online, so I don't think it would have been that ridiculous for the Cube to stick around for another 2 or 3 years.  But yes, definitely, Nintendo needs at least one other console, now.
AI, physics and framerate, characters on screen do benefit from improved hardware, yes - but Ian could anyone ever sell you on those things by themselves?  Could you see yourself buying a brand new console because 30 more people could appear on the screen without slow down or because wind unsettles even eyebrow hair?  I think the answer is no...  These things really don't affect gameplay at all or significantly.  I mean it would be cool to say, yeah all those people in the background are really 'there' actually fighting, but i mean how does that affect your main character?  What good does it matter that 2 miles in the background, AI is actually controlling a fight or that the fight is scripted?  This is past the point of diminishing returns - that level of detail adds nothing, in fact it is detrimental because companies will be distracted by the detail and neglect game play.

EDIT: spelling

274

Nintendo Gaming / RE: Now who would'a thought you'd hear THIS...

« on: November 24, 2005, 01:29:16 PM »

What the f? That article didn't even really explain its heading.  I hope nobody was paid in that article's writing.

[Ian Sane]

275

Nintendo Gaming / RE:How much more is there to the Revolution that we don't know?

« on: November 24, 2005, 11:50:09 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
"Nintendo believes that graphics are reaching their apex, that's why when the GameCube came out, Nintendo made comments that it expected the Cube to last 7 years"

I question if Nintendo really thinks that or if it's just damage control.  Remember they lowballed the revealed Cube specs and everyone thought they were inferior as a result.  So to cover it up they're all "well graphics don't matter, they're peaking anyway."  Plus they don't want to overspend like MS so the Rev hardware isn't going to match powerwise.  So again "graphics have hit their apex" sounds better then the real reason.

Can you argue that graphics are peaking, Ian?  Nintendo is a company, and like all companys, things they say should be taken with a grain of salt.  But can you say that the increased amount of money Microsoft spent on the xbox resulted in much improved graphics over the 'inferior' gamecube?  Even the nextgen xbox360 is not that much improved.  Graphics are peaking, period.  I'm not saying Nintendo should have ass it, but there is a point of lowered returns on an investment.  What is the sense in putting a 300 dollar chip that improves graphics but that consumers are only willing to pay 50 dollars for?