Topics

851

Nintendo Gaming / Reading Assignment

« on: June 08, 2006, 02:23:40 PM »

Well, we have a few months (maybe!) before the Wii is released here in the states.  Those of you in EU and AU have even longer.

So here's a reading assignment.

I recently got a copy of a book from my local library called "Game Over: How Nintendo Zapped an American Industry, Captured Your Dollars, and Enslaved Your Children" by one, David Sheff.

Now, from that title, you are probably expecting some Jack Thompson-esque slam of Nintendo.  Now, while I'm only in the beginning part of the book, I can say that it hardly seems that way - in fact, it seems to be a fairly well told history of our beloved N - from making playing cards and running "Love Hotels" through the development of the Super Nintendo.

Why the Super Nintendo?  Because this book was released back in 1993.  But it still seems to be a very darn good read.  In fact, (and again, I'm just at the very beginning of the book), stuff in here regarding the creation of the Famicom seems to pretty well go hand-in-hand with what we're hearing about the development of the Wii:

Quote
All the machines currently on the market [...] were selling for 30,000 to 50,000 yen ($200 to $350).  Yamauchi set a goal of 9,800 yen, less than $75.  At the same time, the system had to do what other systems, whether Japanese or American, could do, but more and better.

Seriously, if I tweaked the prices in that above quote and replaced Yamauchi's name, none of you would have known it wasn't reffering to the Wii...

Anywhoo, check out this book...  It really seems to be almost a how-to guide for the launch/marketing of the Wii...

852

NWR Forums Discord / Your writing assignment for this month.

« on: June 07, 2006, 07:09:42 PM »

You are to pretend you are from an alien race not too-unlike our own.  The major difference between the alien race and our human race is that the alien race has long since evolved from the need to dispose of bodily waste - the concept is completly foreign to them.

Now, as a member of this alien race, you're sent on a quick first survey mission to spy on the human race to see if these humans are worth trying to contact, conquer or if it's just best to ignore them.

During your visual survey of the human race from space, you witness multiple humans going to the restroom.

You are assigned to write a "Report" to the Big Giant Head.  Describe to him visually what these humans doing, what you think the purpose for these actions are and how they will relate to the decision of future relations with the human species.

853

Nintendo Gaming / GameCube Demo Discs...

« on: June 06, 2006, 05:45:21 PM »

Anyone else happen to ever get lucky and score any of the Interactive Multi-Game Demo Discs that are in retail Kiosks?  I had quite a few and went to another store today that gave me a whopping 5!  Unfortunatly, I already had three of 'em...  But heck, now I can always have a few to trade!

Outside of that, does anyone remember those GameCube preview DVDs that were handed out by the billions in little cardboard cases that looked like a GameCube from the top down?  I need to get to my mom's and dig one of those out...  That's a scary thought...

854

General Chat / eBay is expensive...

« on: June 05, 2006, 04:03:31 PM »

Wow.

I picked up two really good buys at KMart today in hopes of reselling them on eBay and putting some extra cash in my Wii fund after a big hole in my tire left a big hole in my Wii fund.

Anywhoo, the items was going to be a copy of Mario Party 4 (Brand New, K-Mart exclusive packaging) and a combo package of Mario Party 4 (again, in the K-Mart exclusive package) and a WaveBird controller.  I picked these up at a K-Mart for $17 each (one game and one WaveBird  - $17 for the pair).  One WaveBird I wanted to keep for myself (I would like a fourth) - and was hoping to sell the rest for $55-$60 (a $20-$30 profit for me, not a bad deal for the buyers - as MP4 sells for around $30 (used - and these are new copies) and WaveBirds go for $25-$30 new - plus I drove an hour out of my way and these were the only things the K-Mart even had for a good price).

However, after figuring in eBay fees and such (I've never actually sold on eBay before) - either I don't make crap for selling them or they wouldn't be much of a deal for the buyers...

And that's just the listing fees - not to mention paying commission on the final sale and PayPal's stupid fees.

Geesh.

855

Nintendo Gaming / Third parties hate me.

« on: June 03, 2006, 07:20:50 AM »

I own a DS.

I own 18 DS games.

I just bought my second thrid party game yesterday.  For $2.

Yeah, I'm the reason Nintendo doesn't get third party support.

856

NWR Forums Discord / God, could you guys suck any more?

« on: May 31, 2006, 07:07:40 PM »

-nt- since the dead don't talk.

But you guys suck.  

857

NWR Feedback / Nintendo's Surveys...

« on: May 25, 2006, 02:46:51 PM »

Often, I'll get a survey from Nintendo on a various game I've recently registered.

One of the questions is always something along the lines of "Which websites do you visit regularly".

PlanetGameCube.com isn't an option.

This makes me sad.

858

NWR Forums Discord / I think he lost a bet...

« on: May 20, 2006, 09:11:39 PM »

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6405445518216376043&q=ds+sucks

859

Nintendo Gaming / Super Smash Bros.: Melee and Product Registration...

« on: May 19, 2006, 09:16:00 PM »

Okay, SSBM came out way before Nintendo started letting us register our products, correct?

A friend of mine at work, who purchased one of the Mario Party 7 GameCube bundles - and shortly afterwards, SSBM - swears he registered his copy of SSBM.  I really, really don't think he'd lie about this.

And thus, I'm left wondering if the newer versions of some games are shipping with registration codes?  Any ideas?

860

NWR Forums Discord / It is the 90's....

« on: May 17, 2006, 05:00:14 AM »

and there is time for... KLAX!

861

NWR Forums Discord / OMFG You have to read and watch this...

« on: May 15, 2006, 06:53:28 AM »

This article details the absolutly harlious story of an unsuspecting taxi driver who was yanked out of the lobby and quickly pushed onto the stage of a BBC news broadcast when the staff mistook him for the real person they were supposed to be interviewing.

The article also includes a video of the interview - including the look of pure terror on the poor cabbie's face when "he" is introduced.

This is excellent.

862

Nintendo Gaming / What is Quarter 4?

« on: May 14, 2006, 07:46:57 PM »

Well, Nintendo said Quarter 4 for the release date for Wii, right?

But here's the issue... Of course, most normal people think of the fourth quarter as the last three months of the year - October, November and December.

But most retail stores consider Quarter Four to be November, December and Janurary - so some of those after-Christmas return numbers are offset by the great November/December sales.

Furthermore, Nintendo's year runs April-March.  Think back to the Zelda delay - they said we wouldn't get it until after the end of their fiscal year - after March.  Which means that Q4 for Nintendo would be Jan, Feb and March...

Which means to me we could get the Wii in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb or March...

Maybe.

863

Nintendo Gaming / Majesco's Wireless Link for GBA/SP

« on: May 13, 2006, 08:20:36 PM »

I'd been wanting to pick a pair of these up since they were announced and, finally, I found Majesco's "Wireless Link" for a really good price ($4 each at K-Mart).  I picked up a pair of them today and plan to go back tommrow to pick up the last one they had.

I tinkered around with it a bit tonight and, for the most part, I'm pretty impressed with it.  Expect a full-on review when I get some free time (possibly Monday-ish) so that I can test it with a couple of games and see what works and what doesn't.

For my last review, feel free to check out my Nintendo Game Boy Player vs. the Datel Advance Game Port:
http://www.planetgamecube.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=14989

864

Nintendo Gaming / Wii Controller = You?

« on: May 12, 2006, 08:09:25 PM »

Perhaps this new system should just be the I.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=16994

Quote
Whilst Microsoft already offers a personalised gamertag and user profile for it's Xbox 360 console (with similar plans announced for the PS3), Nintendo appears to be taking the idea a step further, offering a personalised controller that enables the console to instantly recognise personal preferences and game settings - a move which could prove to be exceptionally useful in helping the company achieve its ambitions in the next-gen market.

Someone (forgive me) was suggesting something like this, as in you can take your "Wii-mote" with you and use it at a friends' house with save data and such on it, or, perhaps, a step further and be able to take it to demo kiosks/special events and download demos (or special passes that allow you to download stuff from the WiFi Connection/Virtual Console).

Now *this* could be a cool little feature.

[Smash Bros. + FSA's Shadow Battle =]

865

Nintendo Gaming / Various Smash Bros. things.

« on: May 11, 2006, 07:55:07 PM »

Smash Bros. + FSA's Shadow Battle =
... Super Sprite Bros.?

Just a thought, but I was thinking about combining the concept of Smash Bros. (many different characters, levels, power-ups, attacks and items from a multitude of games) with the format of the Shadow Battle half of Four Swords Adventures (minus the GBA requirements, of course).

It's Online

Well, with any luck, Super Smash Bros. Brawl should be online, correct?  Now...  While I'm sure it'd be hard to do...  Wouldn't it be frickin' awesome if you could download new characters, levels and missions from Nintendo?

That would kick ass.

866

NWR Forums Discord / Nintendo Slave Mines...

« on: May 11, 2006, 07:26:40 PM »

Nintendo needs to open up some slave mines for me (and I'm sure some others) to work in, in exchange for games and systems.

Seriously, this ain't cool Nintendo.  I'm going to be homeless with no place to plug my stuff in and I'll still be buying new games just so I can sniff the packages.

867

Nintendo Gaming / No more GBNext

« on: May 11, 2006, 06:43:05 AM »

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=16939

868

General Chat / Need some eBay advice.

« on: May 10, 2006, 08:18:32 PM »

Heya.

As some of you know, I'm an insane Nintendo collector.

Recently, I purchased, from eBay, a Super Game Boy 2.  This is something I've wanted for quite some time.  For those who don't know, the Super Game Boy 2 is an improved version of the original Super Game Boy attachment.  It has all the functionality of the original SGB (i.e.: playing original Game Boy games on your SNES/TV somewhat in color, etc) - but there are some major differences.  It comes in an "Ice Blue" (i.e.: see-thru) case, has a red LED light to tell you when it's on (whoopie), but most importantly, it has a Link Port to connect to other Game Boy Systems.

The Super Game Boy 2, supposedly, was only released in Japan.  While it is confirmed that there was absolutly no mass-market release of the item here in the US, I've heard that QVC (the home shopping channel) sold a small amount of US Compatible units... but I've never actually seen one nor have I seen one for sale.

Until last week on eBay.  Someone had the Super Game Boy 2 listed, said it was Hard to Find/Rare and that it played on a US system.  Even though there are so many other things I need to spend money on (and save for the Wii and all it stuff), I bit because I wanted one.  There's been quite a few times I've almost got a Japanese one just because I see them on occasion and the only thing that's stopped me is that I don't want to have to track down a Japanese-to-US adapter.

Well, I get the unit in the mail today and, what do ya know, it's the Japanese version.  Now the seller has been really nice all along, and while I haven't right-out asked for a refund, I don't think that'd be an issue.  The seller apologized and said that his SNES was "modded" some time ago for other Japanese games and that he'd forgotten about it until I just now mentioned it.

He pointed me to a GameFAQs page that had the "modification" instructions - which, if you don't know, is merely cutting some of the plastic out of your SNES.  However, doing such a modification to my precious SNES is absolutely *out* of the question.

So, I'm stuck and need some advice.
Should I just return it and get the money back?  Even a Japanese SGB2 is kinda hard to find and I only paid about $25 for it, so it's not a bad price.  Should I try to find an adapter?  Any clues on what they usually run for?  Should I just curl up into a ball and cry?

I'm so disapointed that this isn't the US version... I thought I was going to finally have it.

869

General Gaming / GTA4 *NOT* 360 Exclusive.

« on: May 10, 2006, 06:43:53 AM »

I knew it.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060509/20060509006185.html?.v=1

I totally knew it since the 360 conference didn't say that the game was "exclusive".

870

NWR Forums Discord / Got a hot news tip? Send it in!

« on: May 09, 2006, 01:36:53 PM »

I had to resist the urge to send this in, but I typed it up anyway...

I hear there's some kind of conference going on that Nintendo has some news at.  Something about a new system!  Sounds pretty neat.  The rumor is that it'll sense where you move, kinda like the controller that Sony came up with for the PS3.

I hope the new Zelda game doesn't get delayed for this reason.

-UB

871

Nintendo Gaming / Cinq (Trace Memroy/Another Code) has a new game...

« on: May 09, 2006, 11:53:33 AM »

Hotel Dusk: Room 215.

Looks like it'll be a pretty sweet poin-and-click adventure like Trace Memroy was.  Any opinions?

872

Nintendo Gaming / Upcoming Wi-Fi DS games...

« on: May 09, 2006, 11:38:25 AM »

Mario vs. DK 2: March of the Minis (Level Editor and trading)
StarFox DS
Clubhouse Games (Nintendo published collection of 20 classic board, card and party games with Picto-Chat-ish feature)
Custom Robo
DS Air (Tenitive title, DS Flight Sim)
Tenchu: Dark Secret


(That seems to be it from the first party titles)

873

Nintendo Gaming / Yay. Virtual Console+new games CONFIRMED

« on: May 09, 2006, 10:51:36 AM »

From: http://wii.nintendo.com/hardware.html
Virtual Console: [...] It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets.

Yippie.

874

Nintendo Gaming / DK BONGO BLAST! WHoooooo!

« on: May 09, 2006, 09:47:43 AM »

[Super Mario Galaxy]

875

Nintendo Gaming / 27 Titles...

« on: May 09, 2006, 09:20:56 AM »

Okay, let's work together here and try to figure out what the 27 Wii titles that will be playable will be.  Bold means highly likely.  Otherwise, blind speculation

1. Super Mario Galaxy
2. Zelda: Twilight Princess
3. Wii Sports
4. Metroid Prime 3
5. Wario Ware
6. Red Steel
7. Rayman: Raving Rabbids
8. Excitetruck
9. Sonic Wild Fire
10. Dragon Quest
11. Madden
12. Tony Hawk: Downhill Jam
13. Pilotwings
14. Dragon Ball Z Tenkaichi 2
15. Super Swing Golf PANGYA
16. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
17. GUNDAM
18. One Piece
19. Elbits
20. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
21. SpongeBob: Creature from the Krusty Krab
22. Godzilla
23. Snoopy vs. the Red Baron
24. Super Smash Bros.
25. Disaster: Day of Crisis
26. Project H.A.M.M.E.R.
27. Fire Emblem