Koffdrop On Revolution

Here's the link: http://www.koffdrop.com/?p=82#comments

Sony succeeded with this back in the late 90’s by making the PlayStation a lifestyle product - just like Apple and iPod are doing today.

Well, you've just confirmed to being a Sony FANBOY. The PSX was no lifestyle product, it was nothing but a buffed up SNES with CD drive. It was only popular BECAUSE of that CD drive, people accepted these storage formats over game cartdriges. Frankly, I would have preferred the cartridges. The games in those days were about 30-60 Mb each in size, CD storage is pointless. Game cartrdiges contain no visible loading times, are harder to damage, and harder to pirate. About 90% of PS1 games available in China are pirated.

The controller is no better. Shoulder buttons from the SNES, D pad from a game and watch, and control stick and rumble pak later due to the N64 release. Plus, Sony DID NOT invent the CD game console, it was Sega and the Saturn.

I've been flicking through your posts and found one about the Micro, accompanied by a picture obviously scabbed off the internet. Well, there you've stated how the Micro is nothing more than the GBA SP (I will fully reply to that article later), but the point is, Sony has done the same with the PS1. Aside from extra ideas copied from Nintendo's console, PS1 offers nothing new to the Playstation range. Same thing with the slim PS2, only it has an inbuilt ethernet adaptor (so fanboys can pay another $220au for the same console to play online). And by the way, online play through a gaming console was developed with the SNES, although it was poorly marketed and was never popular.

In essence, rather than make your product more attractive to the new market like Sony did with PlayStation, Nintendo are attempting to make their product less unattractive.

I do not see the difference between attractive, and less unattractive. And again, the Playstation offered nothing attractive to the gaming market that other consoles (like the N64 and Saturn) did not. Traditional two handed gaming controllers have NEVER been unnattractive to non gamers, but INTIMIDATING. Nintendo have tried to make their controllers less intimidating already, for example with the Gamecube's, you have the sleek comfortable design, and the multi coloured buttons. Compare that to an Xbox controller. Bulky design, hard to hold and reach all buttons, and a bold black layout. A non gamer would prefer a Gamecube controller over Xbox any day.

Nintendo realise that many people have been attracted by video games, but are intimidated by the controller. A remote control design can be easily held and used by anyone, and with Nintendo keeping costs for the Revolution as low as possible without losing profit (cough* PS3, Xbox360), Revolution WILL sell. IGN speculates a sub $200u.s mark, another source is speculating $99 or less. Compare that to the price of a 360 (I believe it was around $350 for the pro pack), or the PS3, at an even higher price from speculations. If ANY non gamer ever decide to purchase a console, they will certainly look to the Revolution, due to costs, compact design, controller, and list of available games (backwards with Gamecube, plus downloadable N64, SNES and NES titles).

But it’s not good enough to draw people towards your product unless you have a more agressive approach to it to back it up.

Oh come on, an affordable price, unintimidating controller, sleek and compact design, free Wi-Fi play and downloadable games from past systems, what more could you ask for? Oh right, the actual platform games. Smash Bros, Metroid Prime 3, Mario, and a new Zelda title is being developed for launch. No one has better 1st party games than Nintendo, and Nintendo are pushing for all its BEST 1st party titles for launch with the console.

There’s a large amount of people who don’t play games because they don’t want to play games - not because controllers are offputting.

That is your own opinion, you cannot be sure as they have never been faced with a TV remote controller. In my opinion, controllers being offputting is exactly the reason why many don't play games. Aside fromnot being able to afford a console (Revolution will be the cheapest system), people may find pressing 10-15 buttons on a controller quickly and accurately to be successful at a game difficult. It will take time getting used to, and most don't even bother to try.

In fact, where is there any evidence to suggest that this is the primary reason why non-gamers stay non-gamers?

Where is the evidence to suggest the primary reason is that they do not want to play games?

To that end developing your next-generation of hardware around this concept at the cost of a conventional control system that can play regular games is extraordinarily risky.

That is why Nintendo are releasing a shell for 3rd party titles for the Revolution, and the ability to turn the controller sideways to produce a NES pad. In my opinion, using a new storage format like Blu Ray, which has not been accepted by the public to be the advancement form DVDs, is about 50 times riskier. Even more when currently, the HD-DVD format is receiving more support, from company giants including Microsoft and Intel.

Whilst this is an interesting prospect there is still a huge amount of information lacking as to how this will work.

They have revealed tonnes of information regarding the downloading capabilities on the Revolution. NES, SNES and N64 will be available through the Revolution's Wi-Fi, for a small fee or in conjunction with offers. If you thought they would be free and readily available you have been mistaken. Also, Nintendo DS game demos can be downloaded to help a game decide on which titles to purchase.

As for emulation, aside from the fact that it is illegal, I would very much rather play games on a console with controllers instead of a keyboard. Many people have trouble finding ROMs for games on the internet. Also, to be able to play Gamecube ROMs on a pc, you would require quite a powerful system, and an emulator which actually runs properly (unlike Dophin, which didn't work with most games).

One that might go the distance. It’s been very well received but we’re already seeing games fall back to regular controls.

The DS not only has potential in terms of gameplay, but also in the hardware. Addons including a Movie Player, voip, tv tuner, runningLinux and even a GPS system. Although YOU may not be aware of these new peripherals available for the system, most Nintendo gamers ARE, and these devices, although most unnoffical, have been very popular and discussion for them can be found in gaming forums across the net.

Nintendo’s other wacky inventions such as Virtualboy, Powerglove, R.O.B. and U-force. The U-force and the Revolution are worryingly close in concept and execution.

Wacky inventions? So you are admitting they're Nintendo's INVENTIONS? Well, firstly, with the Virtual Boy. Nintendo have attempted to push the gaming industry forward by creating a portable and affordable virtual reality gaming device. There was really nothing wrong with it. The reason for its failure would be due to the bad graphics in its time, and the design which seemed intimidating to most gamers. Still, it was quite a nifty piece of hardware, I have played and enjoyed the games myself.

Next was the powerglove, definitely one of Nintendo's more innovative devices. Using the glove to play racing titles seemed awesome back then. The technology sold for THOUSANDS in its time, and yet Nintendo were able to market it at $99u.s each.

With ROB, I am assuming you are referring to the operating buddy for the NES? I guess the design was a little hidious, and it was more of a toy than a games system. But the interaction you can experience with the machine is amazing. Playing the two games on it had been very entertaining. But if ANY of Nintendo's inventions can be considered wacky, it would be ROB :P.

Had you ever heard of the U-force? No, I thought not.

Just because you have marketing experience, it doesn't mean the rest of us gamers are idiots. I'm sure most Nintendo fans have heard of the U force, another innovative NES addon. Although I've never used one of these devices, nont being born when it was released, controlling game configurations does seem cool. It is similar to the action replay device for Gamecube. Take a look at the following:
http://ssbm.detstar.com/debug/

With this device, the debug menu for Smash Bros Melee can be accessed, allowing for unlockable mods/characters/stages to be played. I'm sure you won't be interested in something like this, but I (and thousands of other gamers) would LOVE having extras to SSBM, one of the best titles available on the Gamecube.

Well, I've spent about 2 hours replying to the first half of your article. I'll reply to the second half tomorrow, please be sure to check back.

Again, I'm sure you'll disagree with my points, please post your own in the blog replies, for everyone else to see.