Messages

2126

Nintendo Gaming / RE:3rd Party Support Already Starting to Look Up

« on: November 21, 2005, 08:44:57 AM »

If they include a shell that makes the controller seem more like a standard two-handed gamepad, then they may be sending mixed messages.  Do they support a radical new way of controlling games, or do they say, "meh, use it if you want".  I don't think it's very revolutionary if it's a merely an option.

I'm not saying they couldn't or wouldn't.  I recall Nintendo themselves saying a shell was in the works.  If they include it, it dilutes some of the revolutionary aspect of the controller.  If it's not included, it won't be used much or ever be necessary in most games.  Which may be fine in this case, actually...but then who would buy it? Unless a controller shell is like "training wheels" to learn how to use a simpler controller.  Which also doesn't make sense.  Errrgh.

Leave it to the third-party accessory makers to design the traditional controller shells, then.  Though first-party ones should be designed for playing retro games on the virtual console...

2127

TalkBack / RE:Sakurai Still Smashing on Revolution

« on: November 17, 2005, 12:35:52 PM »

Not to downplay Sakurai's involvement, which sounds like a good thing, but it's nice enough to hear any kind of news about the next Smash Bros.

I've actually been tired of Melee for a while, but I'm looking forward to the next game.  Aside from likely more characters and stages, I'm hoping there are more outfits, more stats, more trophies, online play, and as many other things as you can shake a stick at.

Or shake a Revolution controller at.

2128

TalkBack / RE:Revolution To Feature Parental Controls

« on: November 16, 2005, 07:10:36 AM »

It would be neat if the game changed depending on the settings.

For example, a Mortal Kombat game could go bloodless but still be playable at the 12+ level.  Then at the higher levels, blood and Fatalities could become available.

It'd be hard to market, I mean, the game would still be primarily 17+ and rated M.  But it would be neat if I really wanted to play Mortal Kombat even when young'uns are present in the room.

2129

TalkBack / RE:Revolution To Feature Parental Controls

« on: November 16, 2005, 06:25:37 AM »

3+, 7+, 12+, 16+ or 18+?

I too think that it should reflect the ESRB, or at least have settings to include them.  I don't see the 13+ or the 17+ that the T and M ratings would suggest.  Not that I agree with the ESRB all the time, but I think it would lessen any confusion.

The age thing is always a bit overly mandatory.  If I had a kid, I'm sure when they're 10 they'd be able to handle some of the things 13- or even 16-year-olds can handle.

So if it's not going to follow the ESRB anyway, perhaps a better way to deal with it is to have values coded into the games for the amount of sex, violence, language, and drug use, or for the descriptors they use (cartoon violence, life-like violence, suggestive themes, etc.).  So if I feel my kid can handle some violence but not something sexy I can open up games that might've been rated M just because of violence but keep the M-rated games with sexual themes out of bounds.

But whatever.  I doubt it'll be used much at all.  Like Ian Sane says above, in a rare case I agree with him, it has value as legal protection for Nintendo.  I believe the competition (or at least the Xbox 360) has this feature so why not?  It's one more thing that Nintendo can say they have too and one less thing the competiton can say they exclusively have.  

2130

TalkBack / RE:Pac-Man World 3 Ships

« on: November 15, 2005, 08:26:03 AM »

Well, I don't know about Zapper, but I enjoyed Pac-Man World 2 a lot more than I thought I would, so I'll at least give 3 a try.

Pinky and Clyde, playable?  What about Blinky and Inky?  >_<

And it seems like every Pac-Man game has to have the original 1980 Pac-Man in it somewhere; does it really need to be said anymore?

2131

TalkBack / RE:Rumor: Revolution FPS By Ubisoft?

« on: November 14, 2005, 05:56:36 PM »

I was wondering where Louie went.  Yay!

It's kind of funny, I played BG&E for the second time just last week.  The first time was shortly after it came out nearly two years ago...  Mmm, fun game.  Never been too keen on Tom Clancy first-person shooters, but at least with the Revolution controller even those kinds of FPSes could be fun again.

It seems like in recent years some developers like EA and UbiSoft have been putting out versions of games on up to three consoles and the PC.  They really know how to go multi-platform.  Probably good for profits if you can develop a game that can be easily converted/recoded to another platform.  For them to make an exclusive, well, they would probably want to really make good use of whatever exclusive features there are; in this case, the unique controller (unless Nintendo has more tricks up their sleeve).

(Given the controller's natural FPS fit, you'd expect an FPS to come along at some point.  Then again, I would've thought there would be more touch-screen menu RPGs on the DS by now...  )

2132

General Chat / Am I a jerk for pestering the local Blockbuster for not getting Mario Superstar Baseball?

« on: November 10, 2005, 02:22:31 PM »

Ever since the game came out in late August, I've been constantly bugging the local Blockbuster Video to get it.  I was surprised that I even have to; the game was the featured GameCube game of September on the Blockbuster web site, and they've always gotten other Mario games which were almost always rented out.

I mean, come on, if you have games for a Nintendo console out, it's only common sense to have, you know, MARIO games!  Based on the past rental records of other Mario games, any manager who somehow doesn't know about games should still be able to make a basic enough deduction that it would be a game worth making available.

And it's like nearly mid-November, they still don't have it in, and they keep giving me inconsistent responses as to whether or not they'll ever get any copies.  They don't know.  They won't.  They will.  They don't know again.  Make up your mind!

They've gotten several copies of new games, like Call Of Duty 2: Big Red One, Gun, etc.  This includes new Nintendo-published games like Pokémon XD and Battalion Wars.  So it's not like they've given up on the GameCube yet, or even Nintendo games.

So why not Mario Superstar Baseball?

And soon Super Mario Strikers is coming out, and I can see that there's no guarantee that they'll have that either.

It's so frustrating - I rarely buy games because I play them to death when I devote a weekend to a game when renting it, so my game choices are essentially limited to what Blockbuster gets in.  They don't get every GameCube game in, but until now it hasn't been an issue, and considering it's a freaking Mario game, I'm surprised I have to even keep asking.  I feel I have to now because it will become less reasonable as the game gets older.

I'm probably sounding like a whiner, but am I really being unreasonable?  If they once had a whole row on the shelf for Ribbit King, is it so hard to even get ONE copy of a guaranteed hot rental?

2133

TalkBack / RE:Magical Sequel Announced for Western Markets

« on: November 10, 2005, 02:08:41 PM »

I don't think the game would sell well to conservative people who would think it was a sex education game.

I could swear there was a sex education video with that name.  A legal thing?  So maybe it's like how Capcom couldn't use the original "Biohazard" title for the Resident Evil games here in North America.

At least it's just the title they're chopping up.  Right?  

2134

TalkBack / RE:PGC Announces Metroid Mismatch Contest

« on: November 10, 2005, 02:04:19 PM »

What's so magical about November 18th?  The GameCube launched that day, and Metroid Prime also came out that same day a year later.  And now this?

Anyway, it sounds neat, but the thing about Samus is that she's so darn hard to draw, what with all the ridges in her armor and all, even if you were trying to keep it simple.  Well, they're likely to only pick the best artwork anyway, so maybe it's not really an issue...

2135

TalkBack / RE:Karaoke Revolution Party ships!

« on: November 09, 2005, 08:43:00 AM »

Unless I missed it, I didn't see what they meant by adding "DDR elements" to it.

I doubt they meant it would involve a dance pad (the header of this news post threw me off even more in that direction). 'Cause if developers rarely use peripherals, how would they get them to expect gamers to use two microphones as well as two dance pads (and also an EyeToy for the PS2 version)?

So, yeah.  A bit of confuzzlement there.

I'm enjoying Mario Mix right now, but Mario is a big part of that.  I doubt they would ever add lyrics to Mario-themed songs (and maybe that's a good thing), so there probably wouldn't be a Karaoke Revolution: Mario Mix.

2136

TalkBack / RE:Ness is Release-Bound

« on: November 05, 2005, 04:20:14 AM »

I didn't understand the whole point of the scratch-and-sniff cards that came with EarthBound, but if they moved the sequel to the DS, then they could at least have some in-game scratching!

The DS needs more RPGs, if only because touch-screen menus would be so handy.  More room, then, for wacky psychedelic, trippy, drug-induced/inspired background visuals during battle!

There are still multiple more GBA owners than DS owners, so I guess they'll feel more comfortable continuing a not-that-well-known franchise where it'll probably sell better.  If only they could find a way to make it a killer app for the DS (though you'd think with Nintendogs, Mario Kart DS, and AC:WW than any Nintendo gamer would surely get one by this holiday season if not already).

[joshnickerson]

2137

TalkBack / RE:Famicom-Themed Micro Hits N. America

« on: November 03, 2005, 05:15:51 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: joshnickerson
It's nifty and all, but I hope Nintendo releases an NES themed faceplate.

I was going to say the same thing.

Mmmm...it could look much more like the NES controller than the NES-themed GBA SP did.

2138

TalkBack / RE:Starcraft: Ghost on GameCube Cancelled

« on: November 02, 2005, 05:17:50 PM »

Kind of interesting that they emphasized that they weren't ruling out Nintendo consoles.

I think the DS would be perfect for RTSes of the StarCraft variety, what with the touch-screen and all.  I never played StarCraft 64 and think the original StarCraft is overrated, but I think it could actually work on the DS.

2139

TalkBack / RE:Nintendo Wi-Fi Menu Details Exposed

« on: October 15, 2005, 05:14:39 PM »

When I'm at GameFAQs, I feel like there are a lot of dumb people.
When I'm here, I feel like one of those dumb people.  o_0  Especially when I see topics like this.

Sounds like you people know every technical detail.  Which is good.  But for me, and especially people less bright than myself, will simply getting online and playing games with other people be a breeze?

2140

TalkBack / RE:Spielberg Goes Digital With EA

« on: October 14, 2005, 02:46:15 PM »

If Spielberg himself puts in some work, and these are his original works, then they could be good.

I haven't watched X-Play in forever, but I caught a few minutes a few months ago where they listed five crappy games based on Spielberg movies.

I only remember three; the infamous E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Atari 2600), Jaws (NES, I think), and Minority Report (current-gen consoles).

So games based on Spielberg movies could be crap.  Games actually made with Spielberg's input SHOULD be better.

2141

TalkBack / RE:Free Pink Stylus for Kirby Canvas Curse Owners

« on: September 15, 2005, 03:20:06 PM »

I am another Canadian, woefully excluded.

Maybe Nintendo of Canada will do something about it soon?

2142

TalkBack / RE:Mario Superstar Baseball Now Available

« on: August 29, 2005, 04:19:02 PM »

I still say it should've been called "Mario Baseball", with "Mario Superstar Baseball" as the name of a possible "sequel", kind of like how Mario Power Tennis was the "sequel" to Mario Tennis.  (I also say Super Mario Strikers should be called "Mario Soccer."  Is that boring, or consistent?)

Let's see how Mario handles team sports, unlike golf, tennis, or kart racing, which were played as singles or doubles.  Then Mario could branch out into even more sports...is that a good thing or a bad thing?  I'll probably HAVE to play them all because I like Mario games...but now there are more Mario spin-off SERIES than 2D platforming Mario GAMES.

2143

TalkBack / RE:Gunstar Super Heroes Gets Name Change in Europe

« on: August 27, 2005, 05:25:11 PM »

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are called the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles in Europe, 'cause they don't like ninjas, apparently.

But this name change is weird.  Super to Future?  I don't see anything touchy about either word, so why bother with name changes when it's still in English?

2144

TalkBack / RE:Nintendogs Non-Review

« on: July 13, 2005, 04:55:01 PM »

Guybrush and LeChuck?  Another Monkey Island fan, hey?

I want this game, but like Pokémon, it'd be one of those games I don't take out in public much, despite how much I may love it.  >_>  Methinks I have some insecurities...

2145

TalkBack / RE:DS Support from Rare Confirmed!

« on: July 07, 2005, 02:53:28 PM »

Killer Instinct...hmmm...

Touch-screen C-C-C-Combo Breakers?

Then again, maybe not.  >_<

2146

TalkBack / RE:Nintendo Power Gets A Design Overhaul

« on: June 28, 2005, 04:47:58 PM »

If I wasn't now dependent on the Internet for cheat codes (when I do need them, which is more rare now),  I'd really be missing Classified Information.

No matter what they do with it, it's nothing at all like the good old days when you cracked open a new Nintendo Power straight to the familiar manila envelope section with stage select and infinite lives codes for all those NES games.  Ah well.

I like the redesign, I was a steady subscriber starting from when they gave copies of Dragon Warrior for the NES with a subscription at the start of 1991.  I only missed out on the 2002 and 2003 issues, the magazine had kind of crappified a little before then.  Or maybe more than a little.  But the Zelda Collectors Edition disc and the Metroid Prime 2 Echoes preview disc made me resubscribe, and while the DVD is nice, I'd still like, you know, GameCube demo discs, MAYBE?  If they had those (and Revolution ones soon), it'd guarantee my subscription forever.  

2147

Nintendo Gaming / RE:Fantasy Rumour: Rev backwards compatibility with Sega

« on: June 27, 2005, 06:11:52 PM »

I made another topic about this, without even seeing this one!  o_0

One thing I didn't see mentioned here was that with third-party games, and Sega games, and third-party games for Sega consoles, and whatever else they could scrounge up that would be worth the trouble (other region games?), Nintendo would have a monopoly on the past.  A good-sized chunk of gaming history in a little package.

And while some people would see that as a knock against Nintendo, appearing to be "living in the past", any older gamer who's been gaming most of their lives will have to have some nostalgia for something if the Revolution can emulate Sega games as well as Nintendo games.  If older people are buying the Revolution for the classics, they might pay attention to new games that come out for it.  Most of the people that I've talked to that don't support the 'Cube simply aren't aware of the games for it.  But if they had one, they would look and listen for Nintendo games instead of tuning it out.

Penetration into the older market this way via the classics might be a certain strategy.  A 25-year-old might not be too excited about a game like Super Mario Sunshine, but they might be longing for that old copy of Super Mario Bros. 3.  Or, as in the case of discussion, some Sonic The Hedgehog 2.

Monopoly of old games = good for Nintendo.

Older market's interest piqued = good for Nintendo.

Old Sega games possibly selling better than Nintendo's? = inconsequential, IMO.  Getting that monopoly is worth any amount of retro-pride.  Besides, I doubt it would happen.

The question is if it's worth surmounting the legal and technical issues surrounding it, and I know it's easy for me to say, but I'd say so.  Many Nintendo gamers have played the best Nintendo games, multiple times, even.  Playing a few Sega games and paying Nintendo a bit for the privilege of doing so can't hurt Nintendo one bit.

Nintendo still hasn't fully shown its hand.  We don't know the true revolutionary nature of the Revolution, whether it's just in the controller or something else altogether, but we can see from this game download service alone that they have at least one ace up their sleeve.  They just have to play it with the right combination.

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Nintendo Gaming / How possible would it be for Nintendo to acquire/emulate old Sega games for Revolution?

« on: June 26, 2005, 11:34:04 AM »

If I'm remembering correctly, no Sega console has more buttons than the N64.  So there's no issue there.  However the Revolution is able to allow control for NES, Super NES, N64, GameCube, and Revolution games, it probably wouldn't be too hard for the Master System, Genesis, 32X, Sega CD, Saturn, (and maybe even Dreamcast) games.

So the issue would be technical, though I think that's minor (assuming the later Sega consoles didn't have some crazy and unique thing that's too bothersome to emulate) and whatever marketing and property rights there are to get in the way.

Unless Sega's going to come back with hardware of their own one day (which seems unlikely), it seems like Sega should, or bring it up with Nintendo, if they haven't already.  Other than Fantasy Zone or whatever on the NES, Sega hasn't had a game on a Nintendo console until the GameCube, so it's not like they would already be talking about other software.

I've grown up with Nintendo games since the NES, so while the rerelease and official emulation of old games for Nintendo systems is sweet, there's a good chance I've played them several times over before.  Having Sega games as well would allow a former competitor's past to not fade away, and then every gamer around or over the age of 20something would have a nostalgic reason to pick up a Revolution, no matter what they played in the past (assuming they weren't, like, Turbo-GrafX-16 or CD-i or 3D0 fans or something).

Plus, if they don't, there's always the possibility that Sony or Microsoft might steal Nintendo's retro-thunder by getting the rights to the Sega library and having a game download service of their own.  A monopoly on old games would really ensure a Revolution in every nostalgic gamer's home.

2149

TalkBack / RE:Revolution Eschews High Definition

« on: June 13, 2005, 06:50:48 PM »

So I bought an HD-compatible primarily to play video games so that I won't use it to its full capacity?  >_<

It better at least have component output cables, like the kind I had to order online for my GameCube...

2150

TalkBack / RE:Nintendo's Download Plan STILL Tentative

« on: June 06, 2005, 03:17:47 PM »

If they truly are going to take some effort in acquiring third-party games, they should talk to Sega (since they're out of the hardware biz, duh) and see if they can get some Master System/Genesis/32X/SCD/Saturn games as well.  Like many of us here, I grew up with the full range of Nintendo consoles, but I was aware of some Sega games that were fun because of friends who took the Sega route or could afford both.

By securing the former competition, every gamer around twenty and up is sure to feel nostalgia (unless they owned a Turbo GrafX-16 or were strictly a computer gamer).  However "niche" everyone thinks Nintendo is now, gamers from at least a couple generations back are very likely to have some fond memories of a Nintendo game, but it's not like there wasn't also a fair share of Sega fans.  Getting old Sega games too would essentially give Nintendo a retro-monopoly of likely 95% of the game market.

I can't think of a Sega controller before the Dreamcast that would have more buttons than the N64, so if N64 games are playable, there's certainly more than enough buttons for any Sega games.  I guess the problem there is when the games refer to the I and II buttons instead of A and B buttons (but if the controller can adapt to such controller inconsistencies as C buttons to C-stick or the right migration of the Z button, then maybe it could work).

But, sticking with just the past Nintendo consoles, there's a lot keeping it from a full selection.  What about games from companies that don't exist any more?  Japanese games?  European games?  Would other-region games be censored?  (Ice Climber's seals or Devil World's title, etc.)  Games that rely on specific controllers or devices?  Other versions of games?  Do you need a "Donkey Kong Classics" when Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. are likely to be available separately?  Or like the version of Super Mario All-Stars that includes Super Mario World - would you even need Super Mario All-Stars without World or World on its own?  Would we not see re-releases of games anymore?  (Well, there goes the need for the button-swapped Mega Man Anniversary Collection...)

(And what about downloading Game Boy and Game Boy Color games to your DS?  That would open up more issues - would you be able to get the 16-bit Space Invaders game that's only unlocked through the use of a Super Game Boy?  Would Shantae or the Zelda Oracle games have the extra "Advance" things you get by playing them on a DS or would they be stuck on Game Boy Color mode?)

A lot of questions.  I don't think it'd be likely at all to ever have a 100% complete selection.  At least it's always possible that they could add more games to the download service over time.

In fact, if they do charge for downloads, they probably WOULD release them a few at a time.  >_<

"Crystalis: relive the adventure in July 2007!"  o_0

I wonder if they can hype up the re-release of games that are downloads at least a fraction of what they do for new games.

I've rambled, but seeing as how people seem to like those controller-devices with emulated classic games on them, even if the Revolution's download system was just region-specific Nintendo-made games for a small fee, people would still buy (or rent?) them up like crazy.  I know I would.