Mario Kart DS: Awesome Info
Source: Nintendo Europe
The outcoming DS title will be the first Wi-Fi supported game for the system. There will be 32 tracks available, 16 are classic courses picked from previous Mario Kart titles. Nintendo has told us that the best and most popular MK tracks are included in the game. Collected together as the Retro Grand Prix, the 16 classic circuits are split into four Cups - Shell, Banana, Leaf and Lightning - each containing four tracks taken from each of the previous Mario Kart games.
Some confirmed tracks include Mario Circuit 1, one of the first tracks on Super Mario Kart on the SNES. I wouldn't consider this circuit to be one of the best, though it is certainly a classic and a "must have" for a Retro Grand Prix. Another track is Bowser Castle 2, also from Super Mario Kart. Long time Mario Kart fans (like me) will remember this track as having annoying jumps and squirting larva. Next there is Moo Moo Farm from Mario Kart 64. This is definitely one of my favourite tracks for the 64 title, after Rainbow Road and Wario Stadium. The mole are annoying, but I love the bumps and turns included in this track.
Finally, we are told that the Mario Kart Double Dash level, Mushroom Bridge, will also be available. This is great news, Mushroom Bridge is one of the most fast pace levels on MKDD. And with 8 players going at the same time (4 if online), and heavy traffic approaching from the opposite direction, this track is going to be pretty hectic. There isn't a Rainbow Road level announced for the game, but there better be or else... <_<
Aside from great new/old tracks, the game will also support great sound effects. Thanks to the DS’s superb surround sound you can hear the other characters racing around you, "from Peach’s giggling as she overtakes, to Donkey Kong’s disgruntled grunting as you drop a banana in his path" according to Nintendo.
A minute long video of some in game footage of Mario Kart DS was released a couple of days ago. It shows a "Peach Beach" lookalike track played by Luigi. The driver is obviously unexperienced with the game (you'll see plenty of crashes and encounters with the wall), but the video is a great example to present the awesome 3D graphics the game portrays. In my opinion, they almost match the MKDD standard, which is a Gamecube title. Please check the video out, ask me for a link if you can't find it.
By the way, the game will be released on the 17th of November for us Australians. Suprisingly, and for the first time ever, we are getting a game released BEFORE the Japan market (8th of December). For the U.S residents, the game will launch on the 14th of November. And for the gamers from Europe, the 25th of the same month.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
First Nintendo DS Trojan
Source: Revo Europe
Reports have been spreading around of a trojan designed especially for the DS infecting some Japanese gamers. This trojan, when downloaded, deletes all the firmware programmed into the system, so the menu, clock, pictochat etc all will not be accessable. The trojan is said to be in the form of a hentai viewer, which allows the user to browse hentai material on the DS.
Currently no cures have been found for the virus. I believe if a person's DS unit was infected, perhaps Nintendo would be kind enough to reload the firmware back onto the system? Or maybe the firmware could even be downloaded off the net? I wouldn't know, but the next time you see someone complaining about a faulty DS console, you'll know they look at hentai :D.
Seriously though, this issue raises some concerns for the spreading of viruses on the DS. The first Wi-Fi game, Mario Kart DS will be released next month, so lets hope Nintendo will have some anti virus software guarding the Wi-Fi network. Currently, there are many homebrew programs available for the system, including homebrew games, GPS and Linux software etc. To be on the safe side, make sure you aren't downloading dodgey material, read some reviews on the program being using it :).
Source: Revo Europe
Reports have been spreading around of a trojan designed especially for the DS infecting some Japanese gamers. This trojan, when downloaded, deletes all the firmware programmed into the system, so the menu, clock, pictochat etc all will not be accessable. The trojan is said to be in the form of a hentai viewer, which allows the user to browse hentai material on the DS.
Currently no cures have been found for the virus. I believe if a person's DS unit was infected, perhaps Nintendo would be kind enough to reload the firmware back onto the system? Or maybe the firmware could even be downloaded off the net? I wouldn't know, but the next time you see someone complaining about a faulty DS console, you'll know they look at hentai :D.
Seriously though, this issue raises some concerns for the spreading of viruses on the DS. The first Wi-Fi game, Mario Kart DS will be released next month, so lets hope Nintendo will have some anti virus software guarding the Wi-Fi network. Currently, there are many homebrew programs available for the system, including homebrew games, GPS and Linux software etc. To be on the safe side, make sure you aren't downloading dodgey material, read some reviews on the program being using it :).
Sales Drop, Porfits Steady
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135317.html
Sluggish GameCube sales cause 6.9 percent drop in earnings, but a weak yen causes company to stick to its profit forecast.
With the race for next-generation supremacy about to kick off, it's pretty clear who won, placed, and showed among the current consoles. Sony got the gold, with nearly 90 million PlayStation 2 units sold worldwide, with Microsoft grabbing the silver by selling 22 million Xboxes. Taking home the bronze is Nintendo's GameCube, which has sold between 15 and 17 million units, depending on the estimate.
Cooling interest in the GameCube was cited as the main culprit for today's disappointing earnings report from Nintendo. For the six months ending September 30, the company's revenue dropped 6.9 percent to 175 billion yen ($1.53 billion), compared with 188 billion yen ($1.65 billion) a year earlier. The figure is also well below the company's previous forecast of 190 billion yen ($1.67 billion).
Yoshihiro Mori, Nintendo's senior managing director, cited sinking demand for the GameCube as the major factor in the earnings dip. "The big drop for GameCube games was in North America. ... It looks like the product's life is nearing its end," Mori told a news conference in Osaka. The company admitted it sold 60 percent fewer GameCube games than during the same period a year ago.
According to industry research group NPD Funworld, between February's Resident Evil 4 and August's Madden NFL 06, not a single GameCube game cracked the top 20 console games in the US. "GameCube sales have been falling 40 percent year-on-year in the US,'' Amir Anvarzadeh, director of Japanese equity sales at KBC Financial Products in London, told the Bloomberg news service. "You could argue it's one of the worst-performing consoles.''
However, just because Nintendo isn't making as much money doesn't mean it's not making money. Net income--aka profit--for the six-month period was 36 billion yen ($316 million), way above the 19 billion yen ($167 million) estimate in May but lower than the 46.4 billion yen ($407 million) a year earlier.
Why the big windfall? Thank the exchange rate. Nintendo had predicted the US dollar to be worth 107 yen during the six-month period. Instead it traded at 113.2, which has caused the company to say it will still hit its profit forecast of 75 billion yen ($658.8 billion) for its full fiscal year, which ends in March 2006.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6135317.html
Sluggish GameCube sales cause 6.9 percent drop in earnings, but a weak yen causes company to stick to its profit forecast.
With the race for next-generation supremacy about to kick off, it's pretty clear who won, placed, and showed among the current consoles. Sony got the gold, with nearly 90 million PlayStation 2 units sold worldwide, with Microsoft grabbing the silver by selling 22 million Xboxes. Taking home the bronze is Nintendo's GameCube, which has sold between 15 and 17 million units, depending on the estimate.
Cooling interest in the GameCube was cited as the main culprit for today's disappointing earnings report from Nintendo. For the six months ending September 30, the company's revenue dropped 6.9 percent to 175 billion yen ($1.53 billion), compared with 188 billion yen ($1.65 billion) a year earlier. The figure is also well below the company's previous forecast of 190 billion yen ($1.67 billion).
Yoshihiro Mori, Nintendo's senior managing director, cited sinking demand for the GameCube as the major factor in the earnings dip. "The big drop for GameCube games was in North America. ... It looks like the product's life is nearing its end," Mori told a news conference in Osaka. The company admitted it sold 60 percent fewer GameCube games than during the same period a year ago.
According to industry research group NPD Funworld, between February's Resident Evil 4 and August's Madden NFL 06, not a single GameCube game cracked the top 20 console games in the US. "GameCube sales have been falling 40 percent year-on-year in the US,'' Amir Anvarzadeh, director of Japanese equity sales at KBC Financial Products in London, told the Bloomberg news service. "You could argue it's one of the worst-performing consoles.''
However, just because Nintendo isn't making as much money doesn't mean it's not making money. Net income--aka profit--for the six-month period was 36 billion yen ($316 million), way above the 19 billion yen ($167 million) estimate in May but lower than the 46.4 billion yen ($407 million) a year earlier.
Why the big windfall? Thank the exchange rate. Nintendo had predicted the US dollar to be worth 107 yen during the six-month period. Instead it traded at 113.2, which has caused the company to say it will still hit its profit forecast of 75 billion yen ($658.8 billion) for its full fiscal year, which ends in March 2006.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
This game was released on the 6th of October in Australia, and is the sequel to the popular strategy title "Famicom Wars" on the SNES, following on from "Advance Wars 2" on GBA. After receiving the game for a birthday present (thanks Dozy and Alhana!) I have spent hours and hours on it.
The game is a magnificent sequel, different in a way to the GBA version, but yet keeping the traditional style of game play. Using the stylus to move units has to be one of the best aspects of the game. The story is set in Omega land. This time, the Black Hole army is under a new leadership (not Hawke, though he is cool) and have once again declared war on the Orange Star army and its allies. They have invented a new weapon, which turns the land itself into vehicles, troops, and even clones for the army's disposal.
The two main characters for the game are Rachel: Nell's younger sister who strives to follow in her footsteps, and Jake: a young CO who feels the need to defend his country, and also happens to be an Andy lookalike. The most interesting aspect of these new characters has to be Rachel's super power ability. She launches 3 missiles simultaneously at area dominated by the enemy, and her troops also receive a boost in "luck". I've found this move to be extremely useful, especially against the slimlike Oozium, or the indestructable Mega Tanks. The new "Dual Strike" option is quite useful as well.
There are many other COs available in this game. Apart from everyone from Advance Wars 2 (excluding Sturm since he's dead), there are new recruits including Grimm, Sasha (Colin's sister), Javvier, Juggler, Koal, Kindle and Von Bolt. There are others but that is all I can remember.
Aside from the Megatank and Oozium, there are other new vehicles including a Stealth Bomber, Carrier unit, Black Boat and Black Bomb. Each has its own unique abilities, and they help enhance the (already cool) game play even further.
The Campaign mode is completely new. I have recently finished the normal mode (and have bought Hard mode from Hatchi) and have found the story to be much more exciting than Advance Wars 2. I won't spoil it for anyone, but the story is completely different to all previous versions of the game. Besides from having to dodge slimelike creatures, and team up with Hawke and Lash, to finish the game you are reqauired to hold dual screen battles, deactivate volcanoes, fight clones with character abilities and more.
If you are wondering whether you should buy this game, then wonder no further. This game (in my opinion) is currently the BEST title available on DS. If you've enjoyed the Advance Wars games, then you'll find this game amazing. And just to let you know, there aren't going to be any killer releases for a while. The GB Micro will launch on the 3rd of November, and Mario Kart DS will be available on the 17th of next month.
This game was released on the 6th of October in Australia, and is the sequel to the popular strategy title "Famicom Wars" on the SNES, following on from "Advance Wars 2" on GBA. After receiving the game for a birthday present (thanks Dozy and Alhana!) I have spent hours and hours on it.
The game is a magnificent sequel, different in a way to the GBA version, but yet keeping the traditional style of game play. Using the stylus to move units has to be one of the best aspects of the game. The story is set in Omega land. This time, the Black Hole army is under a new leadership (not Hawke, though he is cool) and have once again declared war on the Orange Star army and its allies. They have invented a new weapon, which turns the land itself into vehicles, troops, and even clones for the army's disposal.
The two main characters for the game are Rachel: Nell's younger sister who strives to follow in her footsteps, and Jake: a young CO who feels the need to defend his country, and also happens to be an Andy lookalike. The most interesting aspect of these new characters has to be Rachel's super power ability. She launches 3 missiles simultaneously at area dominated by the enemy, and her troops also receive a boost in "luck". I've found this move to be extremely useful, especially against the slimlike Oozium, or the indestructable Mega Tanks. The new "Dual Strike" option is quite useful as well.
There are many other COs available in this game. Apart from everyone from Advance Wars 2 (excluding Sturm since he's dead), there are new recruits including Grimm, Sasha (Colin's sister), Javvier, Juggler, Koal, Kindle and Von Bolt. There are others but that is all I can remember.
Aside from the Megatank and Oozium, there are other new vehicles including a Stealth Bomber, Carrier unit, Black Boat and Black Bomb. Each has its own unique abilities, and they help enhance the (already cool) game play even further.
The Campaign mode is completely new. I have recently finished the normal mode (and have bought Hard mode from Hatchi) and have found the story to be much more exciting than Advance Wars 2. I won't spoil it for anyone, but the story is completely different to all previous versions of the game. Besides from having to dodge slimelike creatures, and team up with Hawke and Lash, to finish the game you are reqauired to hold dual screen battles, deactivate volcanoes, fight clones with character abilities and more.
If you are wondering whether you should buy this game, then wonder no further. This game (in my opinion) is currently the BEST title available on DS. If you've enjoyed the Advance Wars games, then you'll find this game amazing. And just to let you know, there aren't going to be any killer releases for a while. The GB Micro will launch on the 3rd of November, and Mario Kart DS will be available on the 17th of next month.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Wi-Fi USB Router For DS
Nintendo have revealed the device which turns your PC into an instant wireless hotpot to play online DS games. According to sources, in addition to Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk and Metroid Prime on DS, there are also many other titles in development that support online play, including an outcoming Castlevania DS.
There is an article on Aussie Nintendo, which provides detailed pictures of the router and connection, and also plenty of information on the cool new device. The device will sell for $35 U.S, that is pretty cheap considering it IS a wireless router, but still may require some saving up (but it is definitely worth it!).
http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/full.php?subaction=showfull&id=1128565207&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2
Sadly no information regarding hotspots for Australia has been released, although for most users, the PC would be enough. And sorry to the peeps still running dialup on their systems, Wi-Fi play for the DS will not be available for you.
Also, I wonder how many consoles one router can host. Since DS Wi-FI supports up to 8 players on some games, and even more with Animal Crossing, hopefully this device can support at least 4 systems at once.
Nintendo have revealed the device which turns your PC into an instant wireless hotpot to play online DS games. According to sources, in addition to Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Tony Hawk and Metroid Prime on DS, there are also many other titles in development that support online play, including an outcoming Castlevania DS.
There is an article on Aussie Nintendo, which provides detailed pictures of the router and connection, and also plenty of information on the cool new device. The device will sell for $35 U.S, that is pretty cheap considering it IS a wireless router, but still may require some saving up (but it is definitely worth it!).
http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/full.php?subaction=showfull&id=1128565207&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2
Sadly no information regarding hotspots for Australia has been released, although for most users, the PC would be enough. And sorry to the peeps still running dialup on their systems, Wi-Fi play for the DS will not be available for you.
Also, I wonder how many consoles one router can host. Since DS Wi-FI supports up to 8 players on some games, and even more with Animal Crossing, hopefully this device can support at least 4 systems at once.
A Heart-Lifting Article
Link to the original article:
http://www.warcry.com/scripts/columns/view_sectionalt.phtml?site=15&id=404&colid=8114
On October 03, 2005, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are gearing up for the next round of the ongoing console wars. Conventional wisdom says Nintendo is doomed. Twin dreadnoughts known as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are sailing over the horizon. All we know about the Revolution is it has a nifty controller. Nintendo even admits outright that the Revolution won’t be as powerful as the other two console entries. Furthermore, Nintendo is putting on a PR blitz suggesting it’s going to do other than make “more shiny.”
To the gaming industry, this isn’t just blasphemy, it’s outright suicide. Conventional wisdom states you have to use the beefiest processor possible and come out with videos showing shiny things. If you don’t, you’re just not cool enough to run with the big boys.
However...
Not all is well in Big Boy Land. Microsoft’s Xbox division has lost over $4 billion. Things don’t look better for the 360. The current best guess is $75 lost per console sold. Sony’s behind, but not by much, and plans to lose $1 billion in the first year of the PlayStation 3. That figure doesn’t include the billion-plus dollars it spent developing the Cell processor.
Furthermore, anyone who spends one second with Yahoo and the keywords Sony PlayStation losses finds a history of Sony throwing millions down the console black hole. Since 2001, Sony has been pursuing market share and bragging rights with nothing to show for it but negatives on the balance sheet. Sony is also fighting on another front, battling Nintendo for the portable market and losing millions there, as well.
Nintendo’s profits aren’t doing great, but they are the one company that can talk of “profits” in this sector. So, we come to my theory.
Nintendo is watching, leaning against the ropes, letting the big two punch each other and throw punches at it, and just waiting for them to tire each other out.
I’m starting to think it’s a sound strategy. After reading the interviews I linked above, I’m willing to revise my estimate of Nintendo, and change them from “mad geniuses” to “mad geniuses who know what they’re doing” on my personal opinion sheet. Nintendo is making a dangerous gamble on a new strategy. All the talk coming out of Nintendo HQ centers around bringing new people into the industry with a fun, inexpensive console that’s really cool to play. Nintendo doesn’t seem concerned with showing off the shiny and getting hardcore gamers. On the surface, this is suicide, but I’m going to cut them some slack.
Nintendo has the luxury of the long view. They’ve been around since 1889 and I guess relative upstarts like Sony and especially MS look pretty silly compared to a hundred-plus years of gaming industry experience. Just to give you some idea of the challengers they’ve faced and beaten, here’s a list of companies that lined up to go toe to toe with the Big N in the years after the original NES: Sega, Atari, Commodore, Amstrad, NeoGeo, NEC (TurboGrafx 16), Watara, Philips, Apple (Pippin via Bandai), and Bandai (Playdia, Wonderswan, Pippin). I guarantee no matter where your allegiance lies, you recognize two or three of those names.
Sony and Microsoft don’t have the luxury of bleeding billions forever. I may be a hippy writer, but even I know losing billions of dollars a year based on marketing and placement isn’t going to work forever. Sony and MS are businesses first. One day, someone in a suit more expensive than my house is going to see the billions (read that: billions) thrown into these two black holes and say, “Remind me why we’ve wasted billions of dollars we could be using for our core competencies on game consoles that don’t make us any money and, in fact, require losing lots of money just to stay competitive.”
In the meantime, Nintendo waits and quietly makes money from gaming consoles and games. The Revolution strategy seems pretty sound to me. Step outside the “gamer” mindset for a second and follow me, here. Normal people, non-gamers, don’t care if they get twenty megapixels to the gigaflop. Most people don’t care about raw power or impressing their friends with watching Covenant reflections in the Master Chief’s armor. Do you know why Dell and Gateway lead the PC industry, and Alienware is a specialty maker? People want something easy to use that doesn’t cause them too much trouble. Why do you think Toyota and Nissan continually top car sales charts? Because you hop in and drive, change the oil every 3,000 miles, and don’t think about how they work. Power is a concept your average consumer only vaguely comprehends. They know 1.5GHz is more than 1.2GHz, but they couldn’t tell you what a gigahertz actually is and why they matter.
Nintendo isn’t even thinking about gamers. Nintendo is thinking of that vast, untapped market segment known as non-gamers and wondering how they can catch them. What those people like, and what they will buy, is something uncomplicated that just works for what they want to do.
How is Nintendo going to fight its way off the ropes? To use some old boxing clichés, they’re going to stick to the fundamentals and throw combinations.
Start the big punch combo with the controller. Hand your grandmother a S-Controller or DualShock. You’ll probably fuse her brain. The Revolution’s controller looks like a remote control. Everyone knows what to do with a remote control. You point it at the TV, push a button, and something happens. It’s approachable. It’s intuitive. It’s not 27 buttons, triggers, sub-buttons, directional pads, thumbsticks, and devices that would require three people to operate correctly. I’ve owned an Xbox forever and I still don’t see the point of those annoying little black and white buttons.
Second punch, and those “fundamentals” I was talking about: the games. Nintendo makes games that aren’t just good, they’re touchstones for generations. Mario? Zelda? Samus? MS and Sony wish they had that kind of star power in their stables. Name me a bad Zelda game. Wind Waker doesn’t count, if you’re just going to complain about the art style.
Nobody makes games like Nintendo makes games, whatever their hardware foibles. Fine, but Nintendo is notorious about launching with three games and not having anything good for a year. How long did Nintendogs take to come out? Exactly. But it came out. In this case, they’re probably not going to be able to launch with no games. Details are still hazy, but the Revolution is supposed to have a back catalogue for purchase and download. I’ll gladly pay $20 to not have to torment my poor old 1986 NES when I want a round of SMB3 (I know it’s on the DS/GBA, but it’s not the same).
Thrid punch: price point. While Sony is ranting about how everyone will buy a PlayStation 3 if they overprice it, and MS is planning another high-priced entry, Nintendo’s Revolution is going to be pretty darn cheap. They’ve even said they’re happy being a second or third console. The best and most cunning part of their strategy is this: Nintendo doesn’t have to win. They just have to do well, because they’re ahead on points/profits. The other guys are racing like maniacs around the track and Nintendo serenely cruises on with the season wrapped up.
Am I saying Nintendo’s going to clench the win in this round? Not at all. The gaming industry has a way of smacking down innovation for being different, and the Revolution might just be too weird for middle America. What I am saying is that I hope they pull it off, that their roll of the dice comes up a winner. Either way, I salute Nintendo for daring to dream big, when the other console makers are looking for better ways to make things shiny.
Link to the original article:
http://www.warcry.com/scripts/columns/view_sectionalt.phtml?site=15&id=404&colid=8114
On October 03, 2005, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are gearing up for the next round of the ongoing console wars. Conventional wisdom says Nintendo is doomed. Twin dreadnoughts known as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are sailing over the horizon. All we know about the Revolution is it has a nifty controller. Nintendo even admits outright that the Revolution won’t be as powerful as the other two console entries. Furthermore, Nintendo is putting on a PR blitz suggesting it’s going to do other than make “more shiny.”
To the gaming industry, this isn’t just blasphemy, it’s outright suicide. Conventional wisdom states you have to use the beefiest processor possible and come out with videos showing shiny things. If you don’t, you’re just not cool enough to run with the big boys.
However...
Not all is well in Big Boy Land. Microsoft’s Xbox division has lost over $4 billion. Things don’t look better for the 360. The current best guess is $75 lost per console sold. Sony’s behind, but not by much, and plans to lose $1 billion in the first year of the PlayStation 3. That figure doesn’t include the billion-plus dollars it spent developing the Cell processor.
Furthermore, anyone who spends one second with Yahoo and the keywords Sony PlayStation losses finds a history of Sony throwing millions down the console black hole. Since 2001, Sony has been pursuing market share and bragging rights with nothing to show for it but negatives on the balance sheet. Sony is also fighting on another front, battling Nintendo for the portable market and losing millions there, as well.
Nintendo’s profits aren’t doing great, but they are the one company that can talk of “profits” in this sector. So, we come to my theory.
Nintendo is watching, leaning against the ropes, letting the big two punch each other and throw punches at it, and just waiting for them to tire each other out.
I’m starting to think it’s a sound strategy. After reading the interviews I linked above, I’m willing to revise my estimate of Nintendo, and change them from “mad geniuses” to “mad geniuses who know what they’re doing” on my personal opinion sheet. Nintendo is making a dangerous gamble on a new strategy. All the talk coming out of Nintendo HQ centers around bringing new people into the industry with a fun, inexpensive console that’s really cool to play. Nintendo doesn’t seem concerned with showing off the shiny and getting hardcore gamers. On the surface, this is suicide, but I’m going to cut them some slack.
Nintendo has the luxury of the long view. They’ve been around since 1889 and I guess relative upstarts like Sony and especially MS look pretty silly compared to a hundred-plus years of gaming industry experience. Just to give you some idea of the challengers they’ve faced and beaten, here’s a list of companies that lined up to go toe to toe with the Big N in the years after the original NES: Sega, Atari, Commodore, Amstrad, NeoGeo, NEC (TurboGrafx 16), Watara, Philips, Apple (Pippin via Bandai), and Bandai (Playdia, Wonderswan, Pippin). I guarantee no matter where your allegiance lies, you recognize two or three of those names.
Sony and Microsoft don’t have the luxury of bleeding billions forever. I may be a hippy writer, but even I know losing billions of dollars a year based on marketing and placement isn’t going to work forever. Sony and MS are businesses first. One day, someone in a suit more expensive than my house is going to see the billions (read that: billions) thrown into these two black holes and say, “Remind me why we’ve wasted billions of dollars we could be using for our core competencies on game consoles that don’t make us any money and, in fact, require losing lots of money just to stay competitive.”
In the meantime, Nintendo waits and quietly makes money from gaming consoles and games. The Revolution strategy seems pretty sound to me. Step outside the “gamer” mindset for a second and follow me, here. Normal people, non-gamers, don’t care if they get twenty megapixels to the gigaflop. Most people don’t care about raw power or impressing their friends with watching Covenant reflections in the Master Chief’s armor. Do you know why Dell and Gateway lead the PC industry, and Alienware is a specialty maker? People want something easy to use that doesn’t cause them too much trouble. Why do you think Toyota and Nissan continually top car sales charts? Because you hop in and drive, change the oil every 3,000 miles, and don’t think about how they work. Power is a concept your average consumer only vaguely comprehends. They know 1.5GHz is more than 1.2GHz, but they couldn’t tell you what a gigahertz actually is and why they matter.
Nintendo isn’t even thinking about gamers. Nintendo is thinking of that vast, untapped market segment known as non-gamers and wondering how they can catch them. What those people like, and what they will buy, is something uncomplicated that just works for what they want to do.
How is Nintendo going to fight its way off the ropes? To use some old boxing clichés, they’re going to stick to the fundamentals and throw combinations.
Start the big punch combo with the controller. Hand your grandmother a S-Controller or DualShock. You’ll probably fuse her brain. The Revolution’s controller looks like a remote control. Everyone knows what to do with a remote control. You point it at the TV, push a button, and something happens. It’s approachable. It’s intuitive. It’s not 27 buttons, triggers, sub-buttons, directional pads, thumbsticks, and devices that would require three people to operate correctly. I’ve owned an Xbox forever and I still don’t see the point of those annoying little black and white buttons.
Second punch, and those “fundamentals” I was talking about: the games. Nintendo makes games that aren’t just good, they’re touchstones for generations. Mario? Zelda? Samus? MS and Sony wish they had that kind of star power in their stables. Name me a bad Zelda game. Wind Waker doesn’t count, if you’re just going to complain about the art style.
Nobody makes games like Nintendo makes games, whatever their hardware foibles. Fine, but Nintendo is notorious about launching with three games and not having anything good for a year. How long did Nintendogs take to come out? Exactly. But it came out. In this case, they’re probably not going to be able to launch with no games. Details are still hazy, but the Revolution is supposed to have a back catalogue for purchase and download. I’ll gladly pay $20 to not have to torment my poor old 1986 NES when I want a round of SMB3 (I know it’s on the DS/GBA, but it’s not the same).
Thrid punch: price point. While Sony is ranting about how everyone will buy a PlayStation 3 if they overprice it, and MS is planning another high-priced entry, Nintendo’s Revolution is going to be pretty darn cheap. They’ve even said they’re happy being a second or third console. The best and most cunning part of their strategy is this: Nintendo doesn’t have to win. They just have to do well, because they’re ahead on points/profits. The other guys are racing like maniacs around the track and Nintendo serenely cruises on with the season wrapped up.
Am I saying Nintendo’s going to clench the win in this round? Not at all. The gaming industry has a way of smacking down innovation for being different, and the Revolution might just be too weird for middle America. What I am saying is that I hope they pull it off, that their roll of the dice comes up a winner. Either way, I salute Nintendo for daring to dream big, when the other console makers are looking for better ways to make things shiny.
Koffdrop On Revolution 2
Well, after reading your replies from the last post, I've decided to cease replying to your article. I've spent 2 hours attempting you inform you the truth on Nintendo/Revolution, and yet I doubt you've even read all of it. So I won't bother, continue ranting on with you anti Nintendo articles on your site, and I shall return to informing gamers of Revolution and other Nintendo news.
But before I stop, please take the time to read this article:
http://www.warcry.com/scripts/columns/view_sectionalt.phtml?site=15&id=404&colid=8114
For anyone else who's been put down by reading some of Koffdrop's articles, the link above will be sure to cheer you up. Koffdrop, although it is true that I would prefer to hear positive news about Nintendo over some of your rants, the points given in the above article are actual fact. Please consider them before you pay the article/me/Nintendo out again :).
Also, I have posted your article on Digital Share forums, and some other members have replied sharing similar views to mine:
http://s12.invisionfree.com/Digital_Share/index.php?showtopic=1116&hl=
Well, after reading your replies from the last post, I've decided to cease replying to your article. I've spent 2 hours attempting you inform you the truth on Nintendo/Revolution, and yet I doubt you've even read all of it. So I won't bother, continue ranting on with you anti Nintendo articles on your site, and I shall return to informing gamers of Revolution and other Nintendo news.
But before I stop, please take the time to read this article:
http://www.warcry.com/scripts/columns/view_sectionalt.phtml?site=15&id=404&colid=8114
For anyone else who's been put down by reading some of Koffdrop's articles, the link above will be sure to cheer you up. Koffdrop, although it is true that I would prefer to hear positive news about Nintendo over some of your rants, the points given in the above article are actual fact. Please consider them before you pay the article/me/Nintendo out again :).
Also, I have posted your article on Digital Share forums, and some other members have replied sharing similar views to mine:
http://s12.invisionfree.com/Digital_Share/index.php?showtopic=1116&hl=
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.
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.
Koffdrop, You Have My Attention
For those who don't know, he's a blog user who replied to my "Just Like Old Times" post, and owns koffdrop.com.
Well Koffdrop, 15 years of industry experience? That'll make it seem even worse when you are cut down by a 16 year old kid... sir.
Vibrating controls came around in the arcade - mainly by Sega . Taking another idea and claiming it as new by screaming it really loudly and patenting it doesn't mean you innovated it.
That is precisely what Sony does to Nintendo. Heard of the Nintendo Gameye? Guess not, cause after it was shown at Spaceworld, Sony takes the idea and invents eye toy months afterwards, and hype their new device so most people believe it was Sony's creation.
Nintendo implemented "vibrating controls" into handheld controllers for home systems. Sure they have been available in arcade games previously, but it was Nintendo who took the step to make the feature available for home gamers.
Nintendogs is based on a 20 year old idea from 8-bit home computers.
Well if you put it that way, basically EVERY game that exist is based on the idea of another. How many FPS games are there, dozens on the Gamecube/PS2/Xbox alone. Who came up with the idea of employing the use of a gun in a 3D game? Would that take away its innovation in future FPS titles? Does it MATTER, if one game on an 8 bit computer 20 years ago, somehow resembles the gameplay of Nintendogs?
If you still believe that is a copy, look at Baitohel 2000 on the PSP. It is basically Warioware, with retarded looking Nintendo characters. Would you say that is Sony's INNOVATION? Nintendogs is fun, interactive, makes good use of the DSs' functionality, and is different to any handheld console game in the past, isn't that innovative enough?
Nintendo have very VERY rarely innovated but they frequently claim the prize for themselves by way of patents and licensing.
I believe you are referring to Sony and the Playstation. Why don't you name ONE feature on the PS1/PS2/PSP which is unique and innovative? Nintendo takes exisiting technology and implements it into gaming consoles. Sure they've been used elsewhere (like on 20 year old computers as you've stated), but Ninty are the ones to use the idea in a home/portable gaming system.
Well, that is all from your replies, I shall reply to the views you have provided in the article on your website next.
For those who don't know, he's a blog user who replied to my "Just Like Old Times" post, and owns koffdrop.com.
Well Koffdrop, 15 years of industry experience? That'll make it seem even worse when you are cut down by a 16 year old kid... sir.
Vibrating controls came around in the arcade - mainly by Sega . Taking another idea and claiming it as new by screaming it really loudly and patenting it doesn't mean you innovated it.
That is precisely what Sony does to Nintendo. Heard of the Nintendo Gameye? Guess not, cause after it was shown at Spaceworld, Sony takes the idea and invents eye toy months afterwards, and hype their new device so most people believe it was Sony's creation.
Nintendo implemented "vibrating controls" into handheld controllers for home systems. Sure they have been available in arcade games previously, but it was Nintendo who took the step to make the feature available for home gamers.
Nintendogs is based on a 20 year old idea from 8-bit home computers.
Well if you put it that way, basically EVERY game that exist is based on the idea of another. How many FPS games are there, dozens on the Gamecube/PS2/Xbox alone. Who came up with the idea of employing the use of a gun in a 3D game? Would that take away its innovation in future FPS titles? Does it MATTER, if one game on an 8 bit computer 20 years ago, somehow resembles the gameplay of Nintendogs?
If you still believe that is a copy, look at Baitohel 2000 on the PSP. It is basically Warioware, with retarded looking Nintendo characters. Would you say that is Sony's INNOVATION? Nintendogs is fun, interactive, makes good use of the DSs' functionality, and is different to any handheld console game in the past, isn't that innovative enough?
Nintendo have very VERY rarely innovated but they frequently claim the prize for themselves by way of patents and licensing.
I believe you are referring to Sony and the Playstation. Why don't you name ONE feature on the PS1/PS2/PSP which is unique and innovative? Nintendo takes exisiting technology and implements it into gaming consoles. Sure they've been used elsewhere (like on 20 year old computers as you've stated), but Ninty are the ones to use the idea in a home/portable gaming system.
Well, that is all from your replies, I shall reply to the views you have provided in the article on your website next.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Charge Cradle Mockups
IGN have created some mockup picture of the Revolution controller's charger. At the Tokyo Game Show, Nintendo have not confirmed the power source use for the final controller design. Most likely it will feature either rechargable AA batteries or an inbuilt battery (li-ion?) with charging dock. Inbuilt rumble and gyroscopic sensitivity may drain the battery for AAs, so I am guessing it'll be a built in charger like the Xbox 360 controllers. Here are the mockups below:
Note that these are not the actual designs, simply art draw from IGN's speculation, similar to the pictures of the controller shell.
Link to the original article:
http://cube.ign.com/articles/655/655822p1.html
IGN have created some mockup picture of the Revolution controller's charger. At the Tokyo Game Show, Nintendo have not confirmed the power source use for the final controller design. Most likely it will feature either rechargable AA batteries or an inbuilt battery (li-ion?) with charging dock. Inbuilt rumble and gyroscopic sensitivity may drain the battery for AAs, so I am guessing it'll be a built in charger like the Xbox 360 controllers. Here are the mockups below:
Note that these are not the actual designs, simply art draw from IGN's speculation, similar to the pictures of the controller shell.
Link to the original article:
http://cube.ign.com/articles/655/655822p1.html
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