Topic: Nintendo DS Attracts Worldwide Developers

[Robert]

Unlike a rolling stone, the DS gathers some developers.

New Nintendo DS Attracts Worldwide Developer Interest

Major Publishers Create Games for Industry's Most Innovative Device

May 6, 2004 – The video game industry's biggest and best game developers are lining up to be the first to create innovative content for Nintendo's upcoming dual-screen hand-held innovation, code-named Nintendo DS.

"Nintendo DS is going to push hand-held technology to uncharted territories," says Yves Blehaut, senior vice president of Atari. "It's going to energize both developers and consumers with amazing new game mechanics and new game design. Once more, Nintendo leads the way with something unexpected and totally innovative."

To date, more than 100 companies worldwide have received software development kits and are planning games for Nintendo DS, which for the first time offers gamers two separate perspectives on the action. Companies include THQ, Electronic Arts, Activision, Atari, Ubisoft, Majesco, Capcom, Sega, Konami, Hudson Soft, Namco, Bandai, Koei and Square Enix, to name a few.

"The Nintendo dual screen is something that we're really excited about developing for," says Nick Earl, vice president and general manager of Electronic Arts. "It's very innovative, which is classic Nintendo."

Nintendo DS will revolutionize how people approach, perceive and enjoy video games, while including additional options that enhance the game-play experience.

"It's exciting to see so many publishers are as inspired about the Nintendo DS as we are," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "The creative contributions of the publishers will reinforce Nintendo's reputation as the industry's leader in innovation."

In effect, thanks to the success of the wildly popular Game Boy® franchise, Nintendo owns the current hand-held video game market: The Game Boy line has sold more than 168 million units worldwide during the past 15 years. And with the introduction of the revolutionary Nintendo DS, Nintendo's dominance is certain to continue in the future.

The Nintendo DS will be unveiled at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), May 12 to May 14 in Los Angeles.

[JonLeung]

When I first heard of the DS I wasn't sure what to think.  But with all thse investors and developers interested in it, they must know something us consumers don't.  So lately I've been hyped up about it, and news like this continue to reinforce that feeling.

Come E3, you know that I'm going to be all over anything about the DS...while the next Zelda and Metroid games fight for my attention as well.  Whoa.  Less than a week...

[Kairon]

Isn't the DS's biggest selling point is that, unlike the PSP, designers have a new innovative format with which they can make a name for themselves? Instead of being forced to compete in terms of pure graphics of marketting, which both require money?
With an entirely open field for innovative game design, and a relatively low graphical ceiling (as compared to the PSP), designers are less likely to be forced to spend millions on technical work eeking out every last pixel/polygon in a rush to keep up with EA or Squaresoft, and can more easily make a name for themselves in the industry if they can execute new and well-thought out ideas that the format will require.

This is a strange strength to throw up next to the PSP's technological superiority, but in my opinion, with Nintendo not as technically savvy as Sony, it's all they could offer, and may just be enough if the DS hits a mass-market pricepoint. Unfortunately, the early adopters will screw this all up and subsidize Sony's PSP early on, building hype and word of mouth (deserved or undeserved) and...bah. I guess we might as well give up on the handheld market now. There's just no beating the corporate machine.

Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[NWR_Lindy]

I must say I'm more hyped for the DS than for the PSP.  I don't know, the PSP doesn't seem to offer anything strikingly new besides graphical enhancements.

- It can play MP3s.  So what?  For that purpose I'd rather buy an iPod Mini - they're way smaller than a PSP, and I wouldn't have to worry about dropping it and damaging it like I would with a PSP.  I would bring an iPod to listen to music while jogging, but I sure wouldn't do that with a PSP.

- It can play movies.  So what?  Honestly, I'd rather put the money I'd spend on a PSP towards a laptop that can play movies without compromise and can do a million-and-one other things as well.

I think the PSP is trying to do too much...now, it may come out and completely blow me away, but I'm not expecting to be too wowed by it.  Then again, I'm Nintendo-biased.  Sony stuff never impresses me because I know exactly what I'm going to get from them.  Nintendo has done a lot of questionable things in the past, but you can never say they went along with what everybody else was doing.

silks

[Bill Aurion]

Wow...Excellent news that even went past the expectations of a fanboy like myself...Looks like there's nothing to worry about... ^_^

[the_zombie_luke]

This is such great news. Maybe this will stop the "OMG! Teh Virtual Boy 2!" talk that was present even before the new product's details surfaced. This news is like in Return of the King, when the Rohirim rode to Gondor to help them fight. Except add the elves, ents, and dwarves, and that is what this support is like! It's interesting that Square Enix is onboard, I bet they could do so much with two screens. I am just curious as to how creative EA will be with the hardware.  

[PaLaDiN]

I don't know what's sadder, the fact that you used a LotR analogy or the fact that I got it.

But yeah, this is great news... I just hope they're actually working hard on some games.

[Ian Sane]

If all of these developers are supporting it it doesn't just mean the DS will be a success but that it also will be a good piece of hardware.  These developers obviously have seen the DS in some prototype form (how else could they have development kits) so the fact that they're in support of it means it's not a really weird system like some of us feared.  If this was something that was purely niche like it sounded like when it was first announced then it wouldn't have this kind of support.  Lately whenever Nintendo announces some new idea or concept I'm a little uneasy because they seem to think completely differently than everyone else.  With this kind of support the DS must be a good idea because all of these third parties think it is.

Best of all Iwata suggested that the DS may be a hint of what's to come with the N5.  Therefore if the DS is a success it may transfer over to the N5.

Though it is possible that the DS is only getting this kind of support because it's a portable from Nintendo the market leader.  We'll have to wait and see if these developers actually use the two screens.  In theory they could just use it for traditional one-screen games.  

[couchmonkey]

"Once more, Nintendo leads the way with something unexpected and totally innovative."
and...
"It's very innovative, which is classic Nintendo."

Ha ha!  Press Releases really need something that is the opposite of lip-service.  Like when a company removes support for the GameCube, they should say, "As usual, Nintendo's systems are unprofitable and a convenient scapegoat for our financial problems!"

Anyway, I'm still very happy to see all this support.  Go DS go!

[the_zombie_luke]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane

We'll have to wait and see if these developers actually use the two screens.  In theory they could just use it for traditional one-screen games.

I know the two screens will be useful for Koei. I also think Sonic Team can do something creative. I agree though, I just don't see companies like THQ and EA being creative with the hardware.

[WuTangTurtle]

I dunno EA could prolly use the touch screen as a quick change in audibles or hot routes for madden or maybe target passing control, just hit the spot on the touch screen where u want the ball thrown ahead of the player or if u suck behind the player.  Small enhancement but its better than them just using one screen or having the other screen only to be used as a scoreboard.  I can totally see them using it as a scoreboard ie GCN GBA connectivity with madden 2004.  ughh.

By the way i heard that next years madden won't use the madden name!  I know 2 ppl that work at gamestop (friends) and they say madden is absent in the next one.

[ajain02]

Well, it looks like DS will be all that Nintendo has said... there's got to be something really great that everyone loves so much. Even Square-Enix has signed on - many speculated that the company would stick with the PSP once it was released, but that's clearly not the case. It hasn't even been unveiled and the developers are fawning for it... I can't wait for E3!

[cubedcinder128]

Both amazing and great for Nintendo fans like myself. Sure, I know the games have yet to be unveiled and we have to wait almost a week to see the system in action, but to think that this many developers have signed on to make games for a system that many had so foolishly written off when first announced simply is refreshing to know. You could even say an old adage applies here: If you build it, they will come.

I'll admit... much of what I heard on the PSP has left me questioning the potential success of that system. Again, there is still E3 next week and the debut not being until Winter 2005, but if I were to judge solely on initial impressions, by far the DS stands out as my next handheld system of choice.

[joeamis]

Great to see so many developers.  Let's hope they don't make the games too technical with touch screens and all for the young players, who rule the handheld market.  It would be nice to see something like what Gannon is upto on the top screen after he kidnaps the princess, where he heads off to and such.  While you are playing on the bottom.  Or perhaps the top screen shows how your crops are growing in Harvest Moon while you are busy courting a lady, and then an animal comes along and starts eating your harvest, so you gotta leave the girl.  Then you get to the farm, but you still see what's going on with the lady you just left.

[Gamecubivore]

I do believe that Harvest Moon example was the best I've heard yet. . .

Touche'.

[joeamis]