Topic: Nintendo Wi-Fi Recieves Two New Titles

[Karl Castaneda #2]

Jump for joy with online versions of Metroid and Tetris on your Nintendo DS.

Metroid Prime Hunters and Tetris DS Begin a New Era of Competition    

Nintendo's Wireless Gaming Service Sets a New Standard    

REDMOND, Wash., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintendo's wireless gaming service welcomes two incredible new games that will raise the level of competition to dramatic new levels.  Metroid(R) Prime Hunters is Nintendo's first real first-person shooter for Nintendo DS(TM), while Tetris(R) DS features classic puzzle action remixed with retro Nintendo themes.  Both games launch today, and both are playable on Nintendo(R) Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service.  Together they reinforce Nintendo's commitment to making games that appeal to both hard-core and casual gamers.    

"These two games really showcase the range of abilities of the world's favorite new portable game system," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "They will further help drive Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection as the hottest Wi-Fi format ever introduced to games."    

In Metroid Prime Hunters, the legendary Metroid franchise continues with new hunters, new abilities, new weapons and new alternate forms.  With worldwide Wi-Fi connectivity, there's always a band of hunters eager to challenge a player's skills.  Metroid Prime Hunters is also the first Nintendo DS game to offer real-time voice chat, letting players talk to one another before and after they face off in a multiplayer match.  The chat technology functions much like a two-way radio and lets players intimidate opponents with some friendly trash talk.  With this free service, players who have exchanged their Nintendo DS friend codes can converse through Nintendo DS across the Americas.  Players must be logged on to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to use the chat feature.    

Metroid Prime Hunters lets players battle in more than 20 action-packed arenas across seven multiplayer modes, including Battle, Capture, Bounty, Survival, Defender and Nodes, as well as the exciting Prime Hunter mode, where players battle to become the most powerful hunter in the arena.  New hunters join the Metroid universe, including Trace, Sylux, Noxus, Spire, Kanden and Weavel, all battling against Samus in both single-player and multiplayer games. Each new hunter has a unique background, fighting style and individual alt forms to match up against Samus' Morphball.    

Not to be outdone, Tetris DS includes six modes, each based on a theme from a famous Nintendo character or game.  The classic block-building game finds new ways to entertain.  Some of the modes make use of the Nintendo DS touch screen.  Newcomers and longtime fans alike will find new surprises. Using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, up to four players compete in two- or four-player battles against friends or strangers.  And with just one game card, up to 10 players can clash using DS Download Play.    

The wildly popular Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection recently reached an all-time gaming record of more than 1 million unique users worldwide in less than four months.  That represents more than 29 million game-play sessions.  In November 2005, Nintendo of America's agreement with Wayport brought free wireless access to users at participating McDonald's restaurants in the United States. Since that union, players have connected at almost 6,000 McDonald's locations across the country.    

Metroid Prime Hunters is Rated T for Teen and Tetris DS is Rated E for Everyone.  To learn more about Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or the extensive online stat tracking, log onto www.nintendowifi.com.  For more information about Tetris DS, visit www.TetrisDS.com.  And for more information and videos of the bounty hunters in action, visit www.metroidhunters.com.

[Smash_Brother]

I still don't understand why they didn't space these out a bit...

[vudu]

Nintendo likes to release games together because it saves on shipping costs.

Plus, these two games are aimed are pretty different markets.  While it's true that there will be some overlap (especially on forums such as this one) DS owners (and potential DS owners) will only be interested in one of these titles.

[Smash_Brother]

Good point.

I guess I'm also stuck in GC logic where AAA titles cannot afford to be released together, but this is the DS where million+ sellers are rapidly becoming commonplace.

[Ian Sane]

Technically one game's a port so it's nice to have an original game come out at the same time for those that already own Tetris and don't necessarily want to buy another version of it.

I remember in 2002 on the GBA Metroid Fusion literally was the only first party title released that wasn't a port.  I having already owned all the Mario games saw no reason to repurchase them and thus was left with not much to play.  Some people never buy ports of games they already own so it's not really fair to only release a port and then have nothing for a few months.  No one is going to enjoy every game but with a port there is a percentage of the userbase that just plain will not buy it while with a new title 100% of the userbase is a potential buyer.  So it's good to also release a new game alongside a port so that everone potentially has something to play.

Of all the reasons given for not buying a game you have to admit "already own it" is the best one.  

[vudu]

Quote
Of all the reasons givien for not buying a game you have to admit "already own it" is the best one.

I thought "because it's made by Sonic Team" was the best one?

[UncleBob]

Does this Tetris really count as a port?  I haven't played it yet (stupid shipping) but considering it has new modes, new goals, new controls, etc...  It seems to me that calling Tetris DS a port would be about the same as calling Halo 3, "New" Super Mario Bros. or Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories a port...

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Technically one game's a port so it's nice to have an original game come out at the same time for those that already own Tetris and don't necessarily want to buy another version of it.

I suggest you watch this video about the new gameplay modes and then say that it's a port.

That plus online play with a leaderboard and TEN PLAYER local play should be evidence enough that this is a game all its own.

[Dasmos]

Tetris is tetris. All of the modes aren't that different to the original, and if you don't like tetris I doubt you will like this game just because of the new modes. That being said I am looking forward to this more than Metroid Prime Hunters.

[Guitar Smasher]

"I remember in 2002 on the GBA Metroid Fusion literally was the only first party title released that wasn't a port. I having already owned all the Mario games saw no reason to repurchase them and thus was left with not much to play. Some people never buy ports of games they already own so it's not really fair to only release a port and then have nothing for a few months. No one is going to enjoy every game but with a port there is a percentage of the userbase that just plain will not buy it while with a new title 100% of the userbase is a potential buyer. So it's good to also release a new game alongside a port so that everone potentially has something to play."

It's not really a matter of fairness.  When it comes down to it, it's about the money.  Sure, an original game may have the greater possible userbase, but a port is usually an easier sell.

Like you said, though, it's best when an original game is released concurrently with a port.

[Ian Sane]

"Does this Tetris really count as a port? I haven't played it yet (stupid shipping) but considering it has new modes, new goals, new controls, etc... It seems to me that calling Tetris DS a port would be about the same as calling Halo 3, 'New' Super Mario Bros. or Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories a port... "

Well I'm assuming New Super Mario Bros has entirely new levels completely different than any other Mario game.  Tetris DS at it's core is still Tetris.  It's still the same shaped bricks consisting of four "pieces" falling at the same speed and the goal is still to assemble horizontal lines to clear them away from the screen.  They can add all sorts of cool doodads but it's still the same game you played on the Gameboy in 1989.  I look at the other modes and such like I would the special features on a "Special Edition" DVD.  Plus who really plays new modes for classic puzzle games?

Technically most "ports" are slightly more than ports.  There usually are some special features or updated graphics or bonus levels and such.  But the core game is still the same.  The reason I don't usually buy ports is because I don't feel the money is worth it for the recycled content.  There might be some new stuff but it's usually not worth paying the full price to get it.  It's like buying a greatest hits album for that one new song when you already have all the other albums.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

F-Zero GX should not have been released next to Soul Calibur 2.

[ShyGuy]

Ian, have you gotten Super Princess Peach yet? I think you need to get this game.

[hudsonhawk]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Technically most "ports" are slightly more than ports.  There usually are some special features or updated graphics or bonus levels and such.  But the core game is still the same.  The reason I don't usually buy ports is because I don't feel the money is worth it for the recycled content.  There might be some new stuff but it's usually not worth paying the full price to get it.  It's like buying a greatest hits album for that one new song when you already have all the other albums.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

A port is when existing code is used to move an application to a new platform.

I think the word you're looking for is "remake."  Resident Evil on the DS is a port.  Resident Evil on the Gamecube is a remake.

Tetris DS is neither, though if you had to call it one of those it would be a remake.  

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: Professional 666
F-Zero GX should not have been released next to Soul Calibur 2.

Agreed in full. F-Zero was an excellent game and was overshadowed so badly.

Quote
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

PRINCESS BRIDE REFERENCE, WOOT!

[stevey]

Tetris DS isn't a port, it more like Tetris 2. Just because they play the same dosen't make them a port.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother

Quote
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

PRINCESS BRIDE REFERENCE, WOOT!

LOL YOU GOT TO IT BEFORE I DID

INCONCEIVABLE!

[Kairon]

Oh for gosh sakes guys, it's TETRIS!

I mean...think of it this way. There are tons of ports on the PS2 or XBox that are the same game, but add network code or new costumes or some added gamemode styles or whatnot. Tetris DS is basically Tetris ported onto the DS with network code and some added game modes.

People accuse Ian of wanting to see everything that Nintendo does negatively. Now, is it about people who want to see what Ian says negatively?

Edit: Hudsonhawk is technically correct, but the common use of the word "port," like so much of the wonderful english language, goes above and beyond the word's literal definition. Given the choice between literally correct words and the much more flavorful everyday english that allows for word mutability and the insinuation of connotation, I am perfectly ready to call Tetris DS a "port."

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com  

[Caliban]

Well I'm getting both games, I'm just waiting for futureshop to ship them to my house. Does it matter to me what most of you say about these games? Nope, to me it's all just BLAH BLAH BLAH coming from what your minds could type.

[Kairon]

My mind doesn't type. It gets my fingers to do the typing for it!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Caliban]

lol, you guys take everything so seriously.

[Ian Sane]

Honestly I was just making a comment about how nice it is that for those who already own a version of Tetris they're satisfied with can buy something brand new on the same day.  I don't get why everyone is making such a big deal about it.  If refering to Tetris DS as a port is so damn offensive to you then just forget I said anything.

[Karl Castaneda #2]

I won't be getting Tetris DS, mostly because I'm not a big puzzler fan, but also because I tire of Tetris quickly (which I guess is related to the first point). Metroid Prime Hunters, though; that stuff is hawt. GameStop didn't have it today, but I'll be picking it up right after school ends tomorrow.

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: Professional 666 LOL YOU GOT TO IT BEFORE I DID

INCONCEIVABLE!

Get used to disappointment.

[Kairon]

You all owe Ian an apology, lol.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com