Topic: Older Gamers (DS Related)

[Rhoq]

I'm 29 years old. I'll be 30 in January of 2006.

Anyways, I have grown up with Nintendo and have always owned a Nintendo console since the NES days.

Even though Nintendo has a less than favorable image to some people - and I have done more than my share of bitching about it here at PGC, I actually believe that mature (25+) gamers seem to prefer Nintendo. While it's true that many of the hugely popular 3rd party titles on the PS2 and X-Box are not available for the GameCube, the library still manages to offer such a wide variety that it has more of a mass appeal to the slightly older gamers, like myself. While it would be nice to see more M-Rated games on the 'Cube, I think we also know that a great gaming experience doesn't always mean profanity, violence and murder.

Anyways - I'm not sure if any of you guys visit the Home Theater Forum, but it is probably the largest Home Theater/DVD community on the web. If you are a home theater/DVD enthusist and have never visited the HTF, check it out. I think you find it very informative.

Anyways - in the HTF's Video Game Software forum on their message board, there is a Nintendogs thread. Generally, people seems to love it. One post in particular caught my attention. I'd like to share it with you.

The following quote comes from Robert A. Fowkes an administrator of the Home Theater Forum. He is 63 years old.

Quote
Originally posted by: Robert A. Fowkes @ Home Theater Forum
Here's a over-60 gamer having a blast with my Miniature Pinscher from the Lab,etc. version of Nintendogs. This is an extremely inventive use of a handheld. Highly recommended as a respite from the usual fare.

[soapbox]

Incidently, I went with a PSP when it first came out and still use it (Lumines Rocks and the PSP keeps getting better and more functional) but I picked up a DS after the price drop (and a 10% discount from Gamespot/EB). I have to say that even though the PSP is technically superior in graphics and other functions I really am glad I decided to get a DS as well.

In this veteran gamer's opinion, the DS is just more fun! Nintendogs is different, Meteos is as addictive as Lumines (no surprise here because of its roots) and SuperMario64 DS brings back memories and a few new twists. And I haven't even gotten into Advance Wars Dual Strike yet with lots more to come. If your wallet permits it, there is a place for both systems (PSP and DS) in your hands.

[/soapbox]

 

[Rhoq]

So, I went to GameStop during my lunch break to pick-up WWE: Day Of Reckoning 2. Somehow, I got involved in a rather positive “Nintendo” conversation with one of the store’s employees and a fellow customer. They seemed to corroborate my “Nintendo appeals to older gamers” theory. The bottom-line, as one of the guys put it is that “Nintendo is pure fun.”

As I was getting ready to leave, another gentleman walked up to me and struck up another conversation. He said it was refreshing to see another Nintendo loyalist since we seem to be a dying breed. Though I don’t know his exact age, I would say he was somewhere around my age (29/30).

He said that, like me, he stuck only with a GameCube this generation and that despite not having strong 3rd party support, he’s more than happy with selection of 3rd party titles. He also said the words that many people here at PGC have stated numerous times – it’s all about Nintendo’s first party titles. I then shared my theory with him – that being older, we are able to appreciate Nintendo more than your average 14 year old because we understand that you don’t need to rape prostitutes or shoot cops to have a great game.

We then discussed the DS and how great the system is turning out to be (as we stared at the PSP wall that displayed something like 50 UMD Movies and only 4 or 5 actual games).

We touched a bit on Revolution and what NOA can do to help the Revolution be a success in the upcoming next generation console war (one word: “Reggie”). We agreed that though it will never happen – NOA needs to operate independently from Japan. Put the focus on the American gamers and keep the Japan-centric philosophies to a minimum while nature takes it course under Reggie’s regime.

I didn’t get his name, which is unfortunate – it’s hard to find hardcore Nintendo supporters, especially while at a GameStop store. Who knows – perhaps he’s a member of PGC? Anyways – if you’re reading, I hope you enjoy Mario Baseball!

I have to admit, both conversations really helped to get me out of the Nintendo funk I’ve been in lately.

[trip1eX]

I totally agree here.  

[Darkheart]

Oh god I have the best story to tell.  Well as of tomorrow I will have officially quit Toys R Us....... and I got one heck of a story from one of my last days there.  Well at our store we nick name certain customers that are really weird.....err unique..  "Ngage Kid"  "book lady"  "lego guy"  and then theres the creepy "XBox    guy"...  This guy is pretty big physically and as a huge double chin that looks like a gullet similar to a frogs'.  He also isnt usually all that nice, anywhoo this guy is a total XBOX whore, not that its bad or anything to be a xbox fanboy, but this guy just talks for an hour about xbox and its superior graphics, and I have to listen to it all because my boss used to yell at me when i walked away lol.... Oh and btw this guy thinks the best thing to hit the xbox is some CSI game which is "the most innovative game to grace a console EVAR!"  Even though this guy knows me, he comes in and asks me everytime whats the system I like and I always reply Nintendo, which he in returns starts laughing and his gullet starts to shake uncontrollably.  Claiming Nintendo is for kids and that I should grow up and learn to play an adults system.....

Anyways lol now that you get the picture of how this guy looks and behaves, we travel back in time to last night.   :: P A system ::  Sean to the Electronics for guest assistance!
I go in and theres another employee there and says to me in a whisper "Theres some creepy guy asking me about Nintendogs, can you please take care of him...."  The last person i expected to see was Xbox guy, but there he was in front of the game dispay boxes featuring cute puppy pictures.  I figured he was there to make fun of Nintendo like he usually did but in return, he had a bunch of questions about the DS and Nintendogs, he ended up talkin to me for an hour about puppies in real life and in the game and the future of the DS, I cant say that it was a great hour, the man undoubtely creeps me out, but still it was an utter shock for this total fanboy of the xbox to be pricing around for a Nintendo Handheld, and to top it off one of the cutest games out for the system.


~Darkheart~  

[KnowsNothing]

What Nintendogs is doing is kind of....scary.

[mantidor]

Its Nintendo's worldwide domination plan.