Seth asks,

In

this article on your site from 2002 E3, it says that Nintendo "unveils an

absolutely stunning LCD screen for the GameCube". I haven't heard of Nintendo

releasing their own official LCD screen anywhere else until now, and I was

wondering if this was a mistake, or if Nintendo is really in the process of

developing a screen?

Rick Says: You haven't heard of anything because Nintendo has been

characteristically quiet about it. The LCD screen on display at E3 was

absolutely stunning, using a DIGITAL video connection, and a slick TFT LCD

screen. It had built-in speakers as well.

It's speculated that this screen was developed to further Nintendo's "LAN Gaming

Initiative", if there is such a thing. At that same E3 show, Sega showed a

Phantasy Star Card Game that used this screen and a LAN connection.

Whether Nintendo ever releases it's own screen or not has yet to be seen, but

there are a couple of decent screens on the market now. But none of them

compared to Nintendo's own screen.

TYP Says: Nintendo's E3 display was enough to keep me from

thinking about buying a 3rd party LCD screen, even the respectable Intec

display. Zelda and Prime looked amazing on Nintendo's LCD hardware, even if it

wasn't full resolution.

I'm not so sure we'll see this product in stores, however. As Rick mentioned in

his editorial, Nintendo shies away from selling products they aren't likely to

make a profit from. Nintendo's E3 2002 mini-monitor is a high-quality product,

yet to move them Nintendo would have to price the display at around $100 to

compete with third parties. I'm not sure Nintendo could make a profit off of

them, even if only offered directly from Nintendo.

Jonathan Says: The reason Nintendo has been so quiet about the LCD

screens is that the product was never officially announced; the ones at E3 last

year were only prototypes, on display simply to get reaction from the show

goers. Naturally, the response was very, very positive. Unlike other portable

screens on the market, Nintendo's model plugs directly into the "digital" video

jack on the back of the GameCube, so it displays in full progressive scan at the

best image quality GameCube is capable of. The display was absolutely

breathtaking, to say the least.

Miyamoto confirmed to the press at the show that the screens were actually

created at the request of Sonic Team, who thought it would be a great complement

to the LAN features they were working on for their Phantasy Star Online Card

game and who knows what other secret projects. If Nintendo is going to get

really serious about networking GameCubes, and I think they are, the LCD screens

will be a valuable piece of the puzzle. Consoles have had LAN capability since

the original PlayStation and Saturn, but the feature is almost never used

because there is so much equipment involved. Sure, you can pick up the GameCube

and carry it to a friend's house, but you can't set up a LAN unless there are

multiple televisions around, and that can be a real hassle to arrange. The LCD

screens simplify the process greatly, and they allow GameCube networks to be set

up practically anywhere if Nintendo also chooses to release a battery for the

system.

Who knows what they'll look like or how much they'll cost, but if Nintendo

unveils a full GameCube LAN strategy at this year's E3, I fully expect the LCD

screens to be announced as well.

Pete asks, I've been a little dismayed by your story about the easily

scratched paint of the silver GBA SP, being that I've got a silver SP on

pre-order. My question is simply whether or not you think this problem could be

fixed by giving the SP a coat of clear acrylic? I'm talking about the stuff that

people who paint their consoles use to finish the paint job so it doesn't fleck

or scratch. If that would work, I'd probably do that to my SP as soon as I got

it. Would that would help the problem?

Rick Says: Yes, an acrylic clear-coat would certainly help, but

are you going to take apart your new Game Boy Advance SP just to put a

clear-coat on it? I'd rather go the somewhat less dangerous route of being VERY

careful with it until a Nintendo-branded padded carrying case is released.

Daniel Says: I've had mine since Friday as well, and haven't had

any incident. I saw the scratches on Billy's personally, and I honestly don't

think they're worth worrying about.

I'm using the same case that I had for the original GBA. Not only does it work

fine, but since the SP takes up less room, I can fit more games in it too.

Aussie Ben Says: I've had my SP since Thursday, and it seems to be

okay so far - and I've been shoving it in my pocket next to my keys and pocket

change absentmindedly, too. No scratches yet, but admittedly, it hasn't been

very long at all. I don't know - maybe you could get cobalt instead if you

haven't already - perhaps the scratching problem only occurs on silver SPs.

Cobalt is very nice, and it's a change from seeing silver all the time. Or yeah,

use an existing GBA case (there are plenty of nice ones around) if you're

positive you want silver and there'll be more space for cartridges.

Jonathan Says: It's worth a shot, but remember that coating your

SP in anything will most likely void the warranty.

Michael asks, Do you think games are getting too difficult for most people?

(all excuses aside; adult, kiddie, hardcore). I think this is the real cause of

contention. When will this more difficulty spree end? I do not like spending

more than 3 hours on a Shine in Sunshine. And Wind Waker is supposed to be

harder than Master Quest, making me wonder if I made a mistaken preorder. I know

they strive for difficulty in Japan, but is that really a working strategy here?

Rick Says: Actually, I think it's pretty widely held that games

are getting EASIER, rather than harder. Adult gamers have less free time to

spend on games these days, and developers are taking great care to cater to this

group. Also, as many a developer has found, extremely difficult games just don't

sell many copies anymore.

It's a very rare thing when a game can hold my attention long enough for me to

finish it, much less finish it COMPLETELY. The harder the game is, the less time

I'm going to devote to it.

That said, I think that the Internet is largely to blame for how "easy" games

are today. Anyone is a simple forum post away from getting answers to difficult

puzzles, even in games that were JUST released. For example, many popular

message boards had people looking for help in the new Legend of Zelda game

literally MOMENTS after it's release. That's just sad. That, and the

proliferation of mandatory "Player's Guides" are making games far to easy. If

only people would stop looking for that instant gratification...

Daniel Says: Wind Waker isn't so difficult. I would have

appreciated the extra dungeons that were axed, but it is refreshing to see

Nintendo pushing for a deadline rather than delaying a game indefinitely.

Finding that right difficulty level to be enjoying is tough. I didn't mind

trying over and over to get everything in Mario Sunshine, but I still haven't

finished the last Medal of Honor. It just wasn't fun going through an entire

level over and over again just to get blasted by an unseen rocket launcher at

the end every time.

Ty Says: As someone who grew up with Battle Toads, Ninja Gaiden

and Double Dragon, games are getting entirely too easy for me, and I can hardly

stand it. I had better check out this Ikaruga game that everyone's talking about

- in the meantime, I'm going back to NES games so I can stay sharp.

TYP Says: I have to agree with Ty and Rick. I didn't play many of

those difficult NES games as a child, but I recently picked up Little Nemo: The

Dream Master. Boy, are my skills dull! Games are most certainly easier than they

were in the 80s, and developers are smart to do so. Many gamers just can't

complete games that difficult or give up in frustration or impatience before

honing their skills enough--and that includes me! Mario Sunshine was

surprisingly difficult by modern standards, especially for a mainstream game,

but I don't think it's as hard as what I've watched Ty breeze through. Insanely

hard games can be quite sobering, but unlike Ty, I wouldn't want them to be the

norm.

WindyMan Says: Gamers are spoiled nowadays. Back in the olden

times when games were contained on cartridges(!), you needed to beat most games

on one sitting, since they didn't have much in the way of saving progress.

Contra, Battle Toads, the TMNT games, all of those types of shooters and beat-'em-ups

required the player to be good. Even with GameFAQs at your disposal, you'd still

need skill to get through those things.

Now, all you need to do is punch up a guide on the internet and go from point to

point, hacking and slashing on your way. Developers in general have sacrificed

gameplay for flashier graphics, although there have been some exceptions (like

the new Contra, for instance). Even so, games have been getting easier, on top

of which gamers are getting better, because games have been around for so long,

most people have seen it all.

Mike Suzuki Says: I'd be another one of those gamers who grew up

with games that had a limited number of continues (or none!) that you had to

play again and again to beat (if there was even an ending). With that

background, I can't help but feel that games have gotten easier. However, I

don't have as much time for gaming as I once did so I don't really mind easier

games. Also, gaming now includes a wider audience many of whom are casual gamers

so the trend towards easier games is almost inevitable. Hopefully, game

developers will continue to learn how to balance a game so that casual gamers

can enjoy it, but include elements which can challenge a seasoned gamer.

Oh, and as others have mentioned, The Wind Waker isn't all that difficult, so

you should definitely go through with your pre-order. Ikaruga and Winning Eleven

6 Final Evolution on the other hand...now those are 2 of the tougher games that

I've played recently. Interestingly enough, I've still had a blast playing them

even while initially getting my butt whipped.

Jonathan Says: By now, many of you have probably figured out for

yourself that Wind Waker is not an overly difficult game. It's about on par with

the rest of the series.

Personally, I don't like games that are too easy or too hard. There is a region

in-between that I think is the optimal degree of difficulty, and that's called

challenging. It's a finely balanced condition in which you encounter obstacles

in your playing, but instead of giving up or simply plowing through with brute

force, you are forced to stop and think about how to accomplish your goal. And

the best games are so much fun and so expertly crafted that you'll want to

figure out the solution for yourself, instead of running for help. The Zelda

series is probably the very best example of this kind of game.

NYRangers asks, I read your Wind Waker review, and yes it does sound awesome,

but can it do what Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask did? With the N64 Zeldas, I

was completely knocked on my ass by not only the gameplay and technical aspects,

but the overall feel of the game. I was completely immersed. Not only that, but

when I was playing those games, no other game I have were touched for months. I

was completely set on finding and uncovering EVERY little detail/item/secret in

the game. I know Wind Waker looks and plays like a dream, but does it bring up

the same emotions and feelings of a true classic like Ocarina and Majora did?

Rick Says: YES. We have a few reviews posted now, feel free to

read them and let them convince you. The Wind Waker is a masterpiece of

technical achievement, outstanding gameplay, and a very moving story.

Daniel Says: The opening acts of the game have a much lighter feel

than Ocarina of Time, but once you start progressing, an epic story unfolds.

Even in Japanese the story grabbed me like nothing else. (The great music didn't

hurt in that regard either.)

Mike Suzuki Says: Well, in a word, yes. I think The Wind Waker

holds up every bit as well as the N64 Zeldas. Ocarina of Time is one of my

favorite games of all time (a fact of which I was recently reminded after

playing the pre-order bonus disc) and Majora Mask made my wait for the GameCube

that much easier. While some may have felt that Super Mario Sunshine wasn't

quite a proper Mario game, I think very few will feel this way about The Wind

Waker. The latest Zelda game is definitely, above all else, a Zelda game...and a

damn fine one at that.

Jonathan Says: I'm as big a Zelda freak as any, and The Wind Waker

is my favorite game in the whole series. It takes the gameplay of OoT and MM,

refines those mechanics, and then adds on a layer of style and charm that brings

a whole new appeal to the game. It is really unlike any other Zelda game, but in

a good way. You will not be disappointed.

Theperm asks, What ever happened to the OperationN200 mailbags? I was reading

through the Mailbags, and I was disappointed when I couldn't find the OPN2000

Mailbags of old. It's fun to see how different things change in a very short

amount of time. So did you ditch the Mailbags when you became Planet GameCube,

because I remember PlanetN2000 had received all the Mailbags and such whenever

OPN2000 went down.

WindyMan Says: I remember back when I used to write in to the OPN

mailbag. Rick always kept saying that Square would never develop games for

Nintendo ever again. He'd stake his life on it, too. Ah yes, those were the

days.

Rick Says: Someone always needs to be the smartass. :)  Seriously,

those comments were made under the assumption that Yamauchi would always be

running the company. Under Iwata, we're seeing things happen that would NEVER be

possible under Yamauchi. It's a whole new ball game now.

Jonathan Says: And yet, it was actually Yamauchi's "Fund Q" that

allowed Square to rejoin with Nintendo.

Billy Says: Yeah, but Yamauchi is like 856. Even though the keep

him alive the same way they keep Keith Richards alive (ultra Code Red), you had

to at least think that some day he would pass the torch.

As far as where the mailbags went, I don't think we ever ported the old mailbags

over. When Justin closed OPN, the only things that were ported over were:

Company Profiles, Dream Games, and the Forums. And also to be noted, only two

staff people came over. Everyone else thought I was crazy. :)