Topic: Series Series - Wii in Third - Next Round finally up!

[TJ Spyke]

Haha, so SMK won that round by default. I still wonder why both arcade games were put in, the first had very limited distribution (partially because there are very few arcades left here, and also because some of the few remaining arcades didn't buy the game due to price and/or the size of it), the second one was in even fewer arcades.

No opinion on the three remaining ones because I never played them.

[broodwars]

Is there a reason this poll is still going, considering the large number of people who voted "no opinion" on the last poll? 

[TheBlackCat]

The original deserves much more credit than its getting.  Sure its not as good as the later, but you need to respect and put it somewhere. 

The problem, at least for me, is that I haven't played any of the other titles, and I think there is a good enough chance that they are better than SMK that I can't vote for it.

[UncleBob]

Is there a reason this poll is still going, considering the large number of people who voted "no opinion" on the last poll? 

Because there's still three more games to decide on?

[vudu]

Sorry, but once that 'no opinion' vote wins the poll series should be over.

[UltimatePartyBear]

That's ridiculous.  It's just an indicator of disinterest in the outcome -- a way to catch votes from people who would otherwise pick at random or by useless criteria so they don't spoil the outcome.

[vudu]

In that case, I look forward to the GP vs. GP2 poll when 95% of the participants haven't played either game. 

[Morari]

I wanted to vote for GP3, but it doesn't appear to be an option. I mean, who doesn't want to race as Pikachu?

[UncleBob]

In that case, I look forward to the GP vs. GP2 poll when 95% of the participants haven't played either game. 

So do I.
I'm considering that once NoO gets 50% of the votes, declaring that round over... but I'm not sure.  I'd really like to see which game "loses" each round (although, in this round, I suspect GP2 since the lesser amount of people have played it.)

[Mop it up]

The original deserves much more credit than its getting.  Sure its not as good as the later, but you need to respect and put it somewhere. 

Well, this poll is asking us for what we consider our favourite games, and not which ones had an impact. So I think it's up to the individual to decide the reasons for their choices. In my case, I tend to go with games that I could still enjoy playing today, and Super Mario Kart doesn't fall under this. It was a revolutionary and innovative game for its time, and I would never discredit it for single-handedly creating the "kart racing" off-shoot genre. But I feel it has aged poorly and is not worth playing today, as its sequels far outclass it.

[TheBlackCat]

That's ridiculous.  It's just an indicator of disinterest in the outcome -- a way to catch votes from people who would otherwise pick at random or by useless criteria so they don't spoil the outcome.

Or just not vote at all.  There is no rule that says that people have to vote in every round.  If I didn't have an opinion and that option wasn't there, I just wouldn't vote. 

I would still continue voting as long as there is at least one person who voted for one of the titles we should continue.  I think as long as there are people interested in the outcome it would be unfair to them to end it.  I know I would prefer it continue if I was in that boat.  But if none of the titles get any votes, then I would end it.

I do have a question, though.  If "I have no opinion on the remaining titles" ties with one of the other titles, do we still get a run-off vote?

[Spak-Spang]

That is a good point.  Personally, I could go back to play Super Mario Kart tomorrow.  The only thing it is lacking is a 4 player mode, and if Nintendo could remake it, sprite for sprite the same with a 4 player mode I would be all over it. 

At times I even like the graphics in the game better than the N64 version.

[Mop it up]

At times I even like the graphics in the game better than the N64 version.

I agree with that. I've always preferred a more "cartoony" look than a computer-generated graphic look, so a lot of those older Mario character designs are more appealing to me. Plus, the pre-rendered sprites used in Mario Kart 64 were pretty blurry. These days, the characters are all rounded and glossy, it just looks weird sometimes. It's a shame they didn't use that "cel-shaded" look I think it's called, for Mario games, something similar to Wind Waker though maybe a bit more subtle. I've always felt that would be a good look for the games.

[Spak-Spang]

I really hate the 3D Mario models in most Mario games.   Galaxy was the first Mario in 3D that I liked the look of Mario.

Mario himself is such a great character design.  But, he needs that cartoony look that sprite based graphics bring.  I wouldn't mind seeing what a cell-shaded Mario game would look like though.

But, if they ever wanted to make a Super Mario Bros. 5/6 depending on what you think World and World 2 are...then they need to make it sprite based. 

[TJ Spyke]

I couldn't disagree more about the next mainline Mario game being sprite. I will agree that the N64 models were not that good (that has to do with the limited graphics of early 3D games though), but they were fine with GameCube and later. Most of the characters look better than ever in 3D (although Goombas look better in 2D).

[NWR_insanolord]

I'd love to see a new sprite-based 2D Mario game, but the problem with that is that the two likeliest systems it could appear on would be the Wii 2 or the 3DS, and neither of those would be well suited to sprites. They wouldn't work well with the 3D effects of the 3DS, and I doubt Nintendo would want to go to the effort of making sprites for the HD resolution of the Wii 2.

[TheBlackCat]

A true sprite wouldn't be worth it, but vector artwork would be good.  That also allows things like deforming and resizing that wouldn't work well with sprites.

[Spak-Spang]

Sprite based games can be done on any system now.  Its not like we have now have these powerful 3D game systems and they can't do Sprites anymore.  That is silly.

Also, I think the 3DS is going to be a great 2D game system.  Actually, it could be the best.  You could have higher resolution sprites, than the system can display, and scale them because then it wouldn't get as pixelated.  You can also show some nice depth with 3D.  Think about the Tarzan animated movie.  They used several layers of screens to create a rich and deep jungle.  Imagine a Sprite based game doing something similar but adding actual 3D depth to the result.  A truly beautiful and rich 2D experience can be had on the 3DS.  Now, vector graphics may be a better solution, but it isn't the only solution. 

[UncleBob]

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2    - 1 (5.9%)
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)    - 7 (41.2%)
I have no opinion on the remaining titles    - 6 (35.3%)
Mario Kart Arcade GP    - 3 (17.6%)

Total Members Voted: 17

[UncleBob]

This should be interesting.  Someone has voted for GP2 - I wonder who else has managed to play both versions of GP...

[BeautifulShy]

I'm going to flip a coin to decide on what I'm voting on since I haven't played either.

[TJ Spyke]

I would be shocked if even 5 people here have played either arcade game, yet alone both.

Since I have never even seen either arcade game in person, I have to go with the No Opinion option.

[Mop it up]

Wario Land: Shake it! on Wii was a grand reminder of just how good a sprite-based game can look. A Boy and His Blob wasn't too shabby either.

I'm not sure if they really need 2D sprites to achieve that kind of look though... The systems of today are capable of so much that it could probably be done using some other technique.

[Spak-Spang]

I haven't played either of these.  But doing research the opinion is the second is far better.  Which, I don't doubt, it had more characters, more tracks, and probably polished game play...so mind as well go with the later one.

[UncleBob]

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2    - 2 (14.3%)
I have no opinion on the remaining titles    - 8 (57.1%)
Mario Kart Arcade GP    - 4 (28.6%)

Total Members Voted: 14