The Nintendo Discussion Thread

[ThirdMarioBro]

We had one at the GD drome, and it was a smashing suscess. Come here to continue the conversation where it left off.

Anyone played Metroid Hunters in Multiplayer yet?

[Peanut]

I haven't played MP Hunters at all yet. I was looking at some videos for upcoming DS games just awhile ago and man, Wario Ware Touched! looks so awesome. It looks like it utilizes the touch screen perfectly. The mini-games I've seen so far just look so amazing. I can't wait for it.

[ThirdMarioBro]

A review I read said they brought back Duck Hunt but there's supposed to be two versions. One where you get flogged with ducks, and the other where you blow that blasted dog to hell. I want that game NOW. Gotta let out 16 years of frustration on that damn mutt.

[azure turtle]

Dude, are you serious?! I have ALWAYS wanted to shoot that cursed dog! It always made fun of me whenever I failed to destroy all the ducks in time. :cry:

[ThirdMarioBro]

Ah ha, then here's something you'll love...

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view.php?id=1692

Sales Update (for when the forum opens):

Hardware:
1. Nintendo DS: 198.892
2. PSP: 160.019
3. PlayStation2: 98.323
4. Game Boy Advance SP: 48.912
5. Gamecube: 25.359
6. Game Boy Advance: 897
-Xbox: 385
-WonderSwan Crystal: 44
-PSone: 35

Software:
1. Dragonquest VIII (PS2): 203.618
2. Daito Giken Official Pachinko Slot Simulator Yoshimune (PS2): 188.927
3. Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Z Gundam (PS2): 183.583
4. Hot Shots Golf Portable (PSP): 65.900
5. Mega Man Battle Network 5: Team of Blues (GBA): 64.860
6. Ridge Racer (PSP): 60.624
7. Wario Ware: Touched! (NDS): 58.083
8. Super Mario 64 DS (NDS): 54.829
9. FIFA Total Football 2 (PS2): 53.617
10. Mario Party 6 (GC): 39.231

[azure turtle]

Ah ha, then here's something you'll love...

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view.php?id=1692

LOL!! That was great! Thanks for the link, TMB. Sweet, sweet revenge. :evilgrin:

[ThirdMarioBro]

Yup, now we just have to wait on the real thing in Wario Ware next Janurary. *loads gun* :D

[Peanut]

Since we got the good old Drome back, I'll put the last thing I posted on the other forums here.

I'm starting to get a bit miffed at the simulated analog control for the DS. It makes small simple tasks seemingly impossible at times. It can be extremely fustrating on the levels with pits and lava especially. I don't know how many times I died trying to get the 8 red coins on Cool Cool Mountain, and the second Bowser level is a b*tch. I haven't beaten it yet. Is it just me, or do you take A LOT more damage in this game?

[JameO]

I'll do the same. I bought some screens today, the top one is perfect but the one that goes on the touch screen always bubbles and if you try and take it off it just gets worse. Anyone else have this problem? The company is Intec. Makes the picture seem blurred, but the screen amde for the top screen is really good.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Don't buy Intec's. Buy Pelican's. They come with extra stylus's, and don't have as many problems. The thickness is just so you can't scratch the bottom screen. It's not that much of a bother.

[JameO]

Oh ok I will do that if I can find them, thats all I could find so I got them just to make sure I dont scratch it. The top is beautiful which is the main thing. The bottom just looks a little fuzzy sometimes but its alright. As long as it protects it's fine with me. *goes and plays mario again*

[ThirdMarioBro]

Yes, protecting those sexy screen is a must.

[Peanut]

On a more overall Nintendo related note. I love playing as Luigi in SM64 DS, so...is it just me, or does anyone think Luigi deserves to have his own REAL game. I'm talking a platformer, or just an adventure game, maybe even an RPG, where he's the main character. Focus on Mr. Green for a bit. Super Luigi 64 DS? A new game staring Luigi on the SM64 engine? Paper Luigi? A story driven RPG about everyones favourite Green plumber? I say it's about time to stop shoving Luigi out of the picture and make him at least semi equal with Mario.

[ThirdMarioBro]

The title Super Mario Bros. referred to the Mario Brothers, not just Mario. They deserve to be equal, and Nintendo needs to give him a real Mario Bros. game.

[Dr. Doom]

On a more overall Nintendo related note. I love playing as Luigi in SM64 DS, so...is it just me, or does anyone think Luigi deserves to have his own REAL game. I'm talking a platformer, or just an adventure game, maybe even an RPG, where he's the main character. Focus on Mr. Green for a bit. Super Luigi 64 DS? A new game staring Luigi on the SM64 engine? Paper Luigi? A story driven RPG about everyones favourite Green plumber? I say it's about time to stop shoving Luigi out of the picture, and make him at least semi equal with Mario.

I could not agree with you more. Unfortunately, being experimental has been too common a theme for Nintendo as far as GC goes. Metroid Prime, Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion...And hell, look at the DS. Nintendo is far too intent on doing stuff that nobody has done before to realse something that safe.

[Peanut]

That's true, but even secondary characters like Yoshi and Wario have a bunch of various games that don't follow some kind of gimmick. I mean Peach is getting her own game for Christ sake. That could have just as easily been Luigi.

[ThirdMarioBro]

NBA Rejects EA Offer
By Brian Gregarek on 26th December 2004


According to a story on IGN Sports, the National Basketball Association has rejected the initial offer from gaming giant Electronic Arts that would give the company exclusive rights to the publish games containing the NBA license. The deal, which would presumably be the same as the monumental agreement between EA and the NFL signed last week, would give the publisher exclusive rights to the NBA's players, teams and arenas.
_________________

Ha ha ha. Fu*king EA.

[Barkworm]

New hardware sales (12-13-04 - 12-19-04):
1. Nintendo DS 221.625
2. PlayStation2 112.970
3. PSP 85.059
4. Game Boy Advance SP 80.271
5. Gamecube 29.991
6. Game Boy Advance 1.270
7. Xbox 499
8. WonderSwan Crystal 70
9. PSone 40

Software sales (12-13-04 - 12-19-04):
1. Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater (PS2): 548.186
2. Tales of Rebirth (PS2): 335.014
3. Dragon Quest VIII (PS2): 152.295
4. Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Z Gundam (PS2): 64.267
5. Wario Ware: Touched! (NDS): 63.474
6. Shin Sangoku Musou (PSP): 61.488
7. Mario Party 6 (NGC): 60.856
8. Super Mario 64 DS (NDS): 59.373
9. Daito Giken Official Pachinko Slot Simulator Yoshimune (PS2): 49.163
10. Yoshi Universal Gravitation (GBA): 48.681

Source: Media Create

A very Sony heavy week on software sales. Oh, and DQ8 isn't #1 anymore!

[ThirdMarioBro]

New hardware sales (12-13-04 - 12-19-04):
1. Nintendo DS 221.625
3. PSP 85.059
7. Xbox 499
9. PSone 40


The DS is almost a month and two weeks old now and it's kicking the living sh*t out of the PSP. I think Nintendo has officially won the Japanese market here. Americans tend to be more stupid and fall for hype easier, so it'll be closer over here. Either way, fu*k it. If Nintendo's doing good over there, then they're making the kind of games I want. End of story.

Ooh Ooh, lookie! The Xbox outsold the PS1 for once. :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jonatello]

the DS will beat the PSP because it has popular franchises like Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior, Secret of Mana, Lunar, Xenosaga and Castlevania

[愛]

Okay, wait, WAIT! Final Fantasy isn't on much Nintendo anymore. Crystal Chronicles was a FAILURE. Dragon Warrior is on PS2, to my knowledge. Lunar used to be on Sega CD, then remade on the Playstation. Xenosaga was on PS2, and so will the next one.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Final Fantasy III is coming to DS. It may have left Nintendo's consoles forseeably permantly, but they can't put it on anything but Nintendo's portables simply because the PSP's battery won't take their games. And no, a Final Fantasy VII movie dosen't count.

[Jonatello]

Okay, wait, WAIT! Final Fantasy isn't on much Nintendo anymore. Crystal Chronicles was a FAILURE. Dragon Warrior is on PS2, to my knowledge. Lunar used to be on Sega CD, then remade on the Playstation. Xenosaga was on PS2, and so will the next one.

but you can play all that on the DS. Can't say the same thing about the PSP

[愛]

You can, but...not with a damn hour of battery life. Stupid PSP.

[Jonatello]

you could increase the PSP's battery life by lowering the brightness and volume, using headphones, and not playing multiplayer

[Kid Icarus]

By an hour.

The DS is going to beat the PSP because it's better designed hardware. I dare say that mainstream gamers are starting to realize that well constructed hardware is cheaper then shoddy hardware.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I think mainstream gamers have finally been around long enough to have learned a few of these things we've known for eons. The change will be slow though, but DS shows it's happening little by little. I feel a shakeup coming.

[ThirdMarioBro]

In other news, the sky is blue, water is wet and the sun is hot.

The Wall Street Journal published an article today that covers the possibility of consolidation in the video game industry. Of course, the industry has been in a state of consolidation for some time now, especially in terms of larger publishers like Electronic Arts gobbling up smaller development outfits.

The article specifically mentions that EA is positioned to make another large acquisition or two in the near future. Not exactly the boldest prediction since EA has been on a veritable corporate feeding frenzy as of late. Sony and Microsoft were also listed as possibilities to get in on the action, buying up smaller companies.

Other publishers mentioned in the article as either possible targets or possible buyers include Activision, THQ, Midway, Eidos, Namco and Capcom. Other targets might include the gaming divisions of companies whose primary focus lies in another field like Viacom Inc., Walt Disney Co., DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. and Time Warner Inc.


source: The Wall Street Journal
________________________________

Comm'on Nintendo, just buy Namco before it's too late. Those bastards at EA would just have them produce the next James Bond title. Shoot me. Microsoft scares me though......they like bigger targets, and they're going to be in trouble next generation without Halo at launch. They really scare me. EA has proven that if you're big enough, you can take over anyone.

*shudder of fear*

Now E3 just scares me.

[Kid Icarus]

Nintendo needs to buy Namco AND Capcom. Put an end to that PS2 version of Resident Evil 4 for good, and also ensure that only Nintendo consoles get the Tales games.

[愛]

Speaking of the Tales games, I saw a commerical for Tales of Rebirth while watching Japanese TV. It looks great. Now I want to play the other games. :cry:

[Kid Icarus]

Sadly, ToR is a PS2 only game.

They had a spinoff of Symphonia in development for the GBA though. I'll pry import that sucker, and wander aimlessly through the game.

[愛]

Yeah, I noticed that. I saw the PS2 logo and heard the "WOOM" noise before the commercial, and I thought at the end, "....what the hell is this?!" Oh well. It's an RPG. Any system is fine with me.

[Kid Icarus]

So, what Nintendo systems do you guys own?

I've got these:

SNES
N64
GB
GBC
GBA
GBASP
NDS
GCN
E-Reader.

I need to get me an NES, a Virtual Boy, some Game and Watches, and a Gameboy Pocket.

[愛]

NES
SNES
N64
GB
GBC
GBA
GCN
Virtual Boy

I sold my SP, and I have no DS.

[Kid Icarus]

You shall have a DS Ai! You shall!

Just give it time... or something like that.

[Jonatello]

I have:

SNES
N64
GCN
GBC
GBA SP

and I had a broken NES

[Mecha Cow]

I own a

-GB Pocket;
-GB Color;
-GBA;
-GBA SP;
-SNES;
-N64;
-GC.

[Barkworm]

I had an original gameboy but it died of old age and I thought it would be fun to crash the remains with a screwdriver. I still have my SNES and my Gamecube, I had to skip the N64 because I had no money to buy one...

[Jonatello]

Top 10 best selling titles in Japan for the week of December 20 - 26:

1. Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special (PS2, Square Enix) - 185,000 units
2. Super Mario 64 DS (NDS, Nintendo) - 125,000 / 366,000 units
3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2, Konami) - 122,000 / 610,000 units
4. Dragon Quest VIII (PS2, Square Enix) - 118,000 / 3,281,000 units
5. Mario Party 6 (GC, Nintendo) - 104,000 / 373,000 units
6. Sawaru Made in Wario (NDS, Nintendo) - 100,000 / 350,000 units
7. Pokemon Emerald (GBA, Pokemon) - 84,000 / 1,335,000 units
8. Rockman EXE 5: Team of Blues (GBA, Capcom) - 83,000 / 204,000 units
9. Kessen III (PS2, Koei) - 78,000 / 78,000 units
10. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (GC, Nintendo) - 74,000 / 121,000 units

hardware sales in Japan for December 20 - 26:

1. Nintendo DS - 252,000 units
2. PlayStation 2 - 145,000 units
3. GameBoy Advance SP - 111,000 units
4. PlayStation Portable - 92,000 units
5. GameCube - 54,000 units

Looks like the DS wins

[Barkworm]

Are those numbers from Media Create or from Famitsu?

[ThirdMarioBro]

Nintendo systems....

NES (toaster)
NES (top loader)
SNES
N64 (black)
N64 (Jungle Green)
Gamecube
Virtual Boy
Game Boy
Game Girl (pink Game Boy = very rare)
Game Boy Pocket
Game Boy Light (backlit Japanese Game Boy Pocket)
Game Boy Color (purple and yellow)
Game Boy Advance (pink)
Game Boy Advance SP (two of em)
Nintendo DS (on launch day)
A bunch of early model Game and Watches

Other systems.....

Sega Genesis (Models 1 & 2)
Sega 32X
Sega CD
Sega CDX (rare as hell)
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
GAme Gear
Nomad
Neo Geo Pocket Color
Atari 2600
Atari 7800

I think I'm forgetting something......bah, that's all I can remember.

[愛]

You have a Game Girl. What the hell is your problem? :lol:

And you said Nomad. NOMAD! I wanted one so badly.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I only bought that pink monstrocity to complete the collection......I have a problem. :lol:

Nomads are actually pretty easy to find now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3642&item=8157196368&rd=1

CDX on the other hand.....they're practically extinct.

[Jonatello]

Are those numbers from Media Create or from Famitsu?

those are actually from The Magic Box

[GK Punk]

What's wrong with the Pink GBA SP? It's the best looking one they released.

[ThirdMarioBro]

What's wrong with the Pink GBA SP? It's the best looking one they released.

No no no, I love the pink SP they have in Japan. It's georgious and shiny. I'm talking about the Game Girl, a 1992 Barbie licenced monochrome Game Boy that Nintendo and Mattel crapped out. It's just scary looking. The pink GBA & SP are beautiful.

[Barkworm]

Do you have pictures of it?

[ThirdMarioBro]

Not currently. It's in a storage box somewhere. I'll look online....

[jeff the cheff]

Since we got the good old Drome back, I'll put the last thing I posted on the other forums here.

I'm starting to get a bit miffed at the simulated analog control for the DS. It makes small simple tasks seemingly impossible at times. It can be extremely fustrating on the levels with pits and lava especially. I don't know how many times I died trying to get the 8 red coins on Cool Cool Mountain, and the second Bowser level is a b*tch. I haven't beaten it yet. Is it just me, or do you take A LOT more damage in this game?

Yea...the controls really piss me off! I wanna learn how to use the stylus or thumbstrap because I see people have really good control with them, but I just can't use anything but standard mode.





And the Nintendo systems I have...

NES
SNES
DS


I'm ol' skool fool.

[Peanut]

I'm doing a lot better now. I have the thumbstrap down pat, but I still find I lose total control at times and just run my ass into a pit or off a platform I took forever to get to. It can be fustrating, but the goods out weight the bads 10 to 1.

[Dr. Doom]

Systems I still currently have
GC
GBA SP
N64
DC
GBC

Broken or missing systems
PS2
SNES
NES
GB

[Kid Icarus]

Systems I still currently have
GC
GBA SP
N64
DC
GBC

Broken or missing systems
PS2
SNES
NES
GB


WTF? :lol:

After I move out, I'm getting an NES. And a Virtual Boy. Maybe even some Game and Watches. Those are, after all, the bastard parents of the DS :).

[Dr. Doom]

What? I thought is was common knowledge that my PS2 was dead. That's part of the reason I hate sony so much.

[Kid Icarus]

Yeah, I know, and I figured out why you put it on there...... but I just thought I'd draw more attention to it ;). Can't let that one go over peoples heads.

[ThirdMarioBro]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[jeff the cheff]

I don't know if you know this, Doom, but all you have to do is call sony and send them your ps2 and they fix it for free. They even sent me a free controller.

[Barkworm]

Am I the only person on this planet whose PS2 is still running without any problems after more than 2 years?

[ThirdMarioBro]

.....Yes. ;)

[Peanut]

Am I the only person on this planet whose PS2 is still running without any problems after more than 2 years?

Probably. Mine hasn't worked properly for at least a year.

[Barkworm]

I feel special.

[Kid Icarus]

I think the better question is... do any of the first gen PS1's work anymore? I had to turn my nieces on its side to play anything.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I know all the first gen PS1 are dead. They used cheap plastic disc drives in all the early models.

I once went to Sams and saw a kid yank a PS1 by the controller and it flinged off the shelf and hanged by it's cord off the shelf. It then fell 5 feet to the concrete floor. The door shattered and the disc spindil flew off to god only knows where. Cheap piece of sh*t.

[Kid Icarus]

XD

That must be where they got the idea to include a disc launcher with the PSP.

[ThirdMarioBro]

XDDD :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Peanut]

I think the better question is... do any of the first gen PS1's work anymore? I had to turn my nieces on its side to play anything.

Well mine does. My sisters actually, but it was played a total of about 10 times.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Okay, you have to read this. This man is a god.....and I work with him.

http://gc.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=4035&pg=1&comments=full

It's hysterical, sickening, full of sex humor, and completely true in every respect. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[愛]

My old Playstation works. I don't see the problem. If a system falls off a shelf, it should break. You shouldn't be that stupid, anyway.

Just read the article. While it may be quite humorous and most people who play games nowadays are pretty ignorant to their purchases, it keeps the video game industry going. As long as they buy every F*CKING Grand Theft Auto game, that leaves more room for the Zelda games and the Mario games and the Metroid games. And that guy sounded like he knew everything, I hate that. And since when was it cool to cry about the video game industry every 10 seconds? Sure, I hate GTA just as much as you do, but the good games will come eventually. I know this good and well. There's no need to cry about it. This is getting ridiculous. Stop. Please, just stop.

No, wait. I'm not done yet. What, is there something wrong with the average gamer? Since when was gaming restricted to certain people? It's there for everybody. You need to admit that there's people out there who are not like us. I know kids who get stuck on games real easily, and that's fine. They're just not experienced enough with this stuff. I may sound hypocritical, defending the casual gamers, because I bash them all the time, but I do it in a joking manner. These guys play games. That's cool. I don't really care if they buy every damn sports game to date. They are supporting the video game industry, and the industry is stronger than it has ever been. There's going to be good stuff coming out of this, and you know that. DS, Revolution, PS3, Xbox 2. This is going to be huge, people. We owe our thanks to the casual gamers who continuously buy this stuff.

And about the console war. Do you want to go back to a time where one comapny ruled the industry? Nintendo? No, we can't have that anymore. There's more companies out on the scene right now, and they have ideas that may be interesting. Sorry, but that's just how it goes. You can't change that. People are going to like specific companies for the games they put out, and you can't change that.

So in conclusion, sit down, shut up, and enjoy the games that you have, for it is the casual gamers that brought it to this point. ;)

[Peanut]

I can honestly say I didn't find that article funny. While some points are very very true, others just reek of blatant fanboyism. Seriously I hate the crappy games, the oh so endless supply of crappy games, but I know, no matter what happens, that we'll still get good ones. In my personal opinion, this guy needs to pull his head out of his ass and actually see the gaming world from the eyes of a true gamer. Someone who plays games for every system, no matter who makes it, because they're fun.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Well, keep in mind his articles are written solely for humor, not fact.

My life is pathetic. Really, it is. I jump on this stuff for a good laugh because frankly, Nintendo is just about all I got left. Family sucks, life sucks, school going downhill, living situation sucks, one shot at a meaning relationship lately blown by family = sucks, and now I have a crippling back problem. What do I do? I stick my head in the Gamecube and attempt to radiate my skull. That's why I laugh at stuff like this. Gotta have something to keep me going.

[Barkworm]

*takes deep breath*
I LOVE MY PS2 AND I HAVE DOUBLE AS MUCH GAMES FOR IT AS I HAVE FOR MY GAMECUBE!!!
*runs*
EDIT: To all Pokémon fans, "Pokémon Pearl" and "Pokémon Diamond" have been announced for DS!
EDIT #2: I just read that article and it's totally lame although it has one or two valid points in it.
EDIT #3: TMB, we still love you! *pats crippled back*

[愛]

Well, I'm sorry I was a jerk. Sometimes I just get angry about this stuff, because it's getting too complicated when gaming is so simple. I kind of know how you feel, TMB. In many respects, I am a PATHETIC individual. I mean, look at this s*it I have as my avatar and signature. I have at most 3 real friends left, school isn't going so great, I have a feeling two of my relatives are going to die soon, and there's some tension in the family (relatives) now. My solution? I turn to Japanese junk and video games. It's tough living the life of a nerd, being rejected by society and neglected by our family members, but I wouldn't really want it any other way. It sucks, but you learn to live with it.

[ThirdMarioBro]

You're not a jerk Ai. We're all just stressed out. I just get depressed when I see my one escape in life begin to become as soulless as Hollywood and the rest of the media as they slowly take it over and control the content. Sorry about your relitives man. We're having the same thing here.

You know, this wouldn't be as depressing if Nintendo would just get off their ass and do some proper advertising. They've done better lately, but it's not enough. I'm just hoping they've been saving the ad budget for this Spring when they'll need it, because they can't have spent $40 million on just the little we've seen with DS on TV. More like $5 million. Meh, they need an ad that's just simple. Screw the artistic/edgy stuff. Yeah, they're fun to watch for us, but the average boozer dosen't have the patience to wait 15 seconds before they show a little game logo to tell you what in the hell it was you just saw. Just show *insert character here* kicking ass while screaming some lame ass pop music and showing magazing quotes saying "this game owns all" ect. That's the lesson they could learn from Sony. They make a lot of crap, but they can sell anything because they know how to mess with the general public. Metroid Prime could outsell GTA 2 to 1 if they advertised it half as good as Sony.

Point is, they have better content than anyone else. They don't ever need to change how they make the games. Just the way they promote them. Just sell it dirty like Sony, then we'll be the ones people hate for having the highest selling games ect. :lol: Hopefully Reggie can prove my point this year. They didn't do it in 2004 because there was no compatition and such.

Geeks just don't get a break, in any generation. :roll: ;)

[愛]

I really am stressed out. Not over video games, but just life in general. I don't even have that many problems, but it's the stress of the nerd, I guess. I usually turn to Dir en grey when I'm sad or angry. They always cheer me up. Either them or Morning Musume. You just can't help but feel good after hearing one of their upbeat childish songs.

Yeah, Nintendo really needs to do some advertising. I mean, it seems like they don't even have a department for that in their company or something. Even in Japan, their advertising is limited. I'm guessing they use the "word of mouth" technique, or maybe rumors on the internet. Either way, TV is usually the way to go. Always has, always will. Too many kids watch TV these days. In Japan, I believe there's five different DS commercials, all starring Utada Hikaru. That's some pretty good advertising there, but it's a little insufficient for their other products, you know?

I don't know. Maybe they will bust something hardcore out.

[Kid Icarus]

I dunno... the DS ads here had a lot of people talking, and their GBA ads are damn near perfect. Have you seen the FF1+2 ad with the dragon flying around? Beautiful. The gamecube ads... not so much. The Metroid Prime 2 one was good, but the Mario Tennis one sucked. That was just horrible.

I think if they can keep what they have (crazy internet rumors, word of mouth, loyal fanboys who'd kill to get their hands on the next game) and add in better TV support, they'll do a lot better.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Yes, they're Gameboy ads own all. They grap attention, and they're to the point. They need to keep those. But sh*t like the Mario Tennis commercial needs to go. Halo 2 isn't the greatest game ever made by any means, but Microsoft marketed it as such, and drove the hype through the roof. But it blew over afterwards. Nintendo needs to do that with the new Zelda. Make insane stupid levels of hype.

[Peanut]

I like the new Mario Party 6 commercial with Bowser. I laugh my ass off everytime I see it. The commercials with the guys dressed up in suits are the best.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Seeing kids put Whipped cream on Boswer's face in funny as hell. :lol:

[Kid Icarus]

God, I hate Halo fanboys. They're worse then the die hard Nintendo fanboys (the ones who won't admit that Nintendos' fallen, and that they do things wrong at times).

I'm getting sick of trying to explain that just because a game doesn't start with Halo doesn't mean it's a bad game. *screams*.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Halo 2 is a good game, but those people put it on a stupidly high pedastool simply because it's all they've heard about in the media. That's because Microsoft spewed ad all over the place, and paid off all the magazines. I've watched people review it. Even the people on G4 admit it was way overhyped, but you won't see that as long as Microsoft is funding them. Nintendo needs to realize this and jump on the bandwagon. They've actually got the content that they could hype to high heavens, and the game live up to it.....if they'd just hype it. Look at Metroid Prime 2. It could have done it had they coughed up the cash, but I think they were saving their money for this year's DS ads. They're going to need it to maintain the portable market.

In other news, this make me laugh up my breakfast.

__________________________________________
Don't Mess With France January 03, 2005

by: Larry McCormick

The French government isn't too thrilled with US megapublisher EA's bid to assume control of Ubisoft.

The plot thickens in the EA arena once more. We reported a few weeks ago that the publisher bought a 19.9% stake in French developer/publisher Ubisoft. The president of Ubisoft at the time cited EA's acquisition of such a large share of his company's stock a hostile action.

The latest news on this story comes from French newspapers and a report on Yahoo! UK Finance, which mentions that the French government may lend support to Ubisoft to keep it beyond EA's grasp. Ubisoft reportedly plans to assemble a meeting with some of its key shareholders this week to discuss why a takeover from EA would be detrimental to the company and how to prevent it.

One strategy Ubisoft is apparently going to try to employ will be to get the Guillemot family to increase the number of shares it owns. The Guillemots currently own a 17.5% stake in the company and hold 26.6% of the voting rights.

_______________________

It's world war 3. EA versus the French. You here thinks they'll try to buy out France now. :lol:

[Barkworm]

Halo 2 wasn't that hyped in the German media. Most multiplatform magazines I've seen here gave Metroid Prime 2 or even Paper Mario 2 higher ratings. It caused some problems with retarded readers though. :roll:

[ThirdMarioBro]

Well, it was a media flood over here. You couldn't go anywhere without seeing or hearing it somewhere. It's over now though (finally).

[Kid Icarus]

TMB, where are you at in M64DS? I just hit 90 stars this morning before work.

[ThirdMarioBro]

136 Stars. They're getting hard now because I'm having to get the ones I put off. Saving Boswer for last.

[Spitfire]

I played Mario on DS and then later yesterday I played it on N64. I do have to say they did a good job of changing it and updating it. I like how they added new characters! I might get this game when I get a DS

[Barkworm]

Big news! Reggie Fils-Aime told EGM that Mario 128 will be released for GameCube! I know the rumour has been around for a while but now someone has finally said it. The end of the Cube is going to be huge, my friends!

[Mecha Cow]

Actually, Shigsy told Famitsu that a few weeks ago. :P

But you're right, the 'Cube will definately go out with a bang.

[Barkworm]

I don't think he actually told them, it was just suggested in the interview. This is the first time someone really said it.

[Kid Icarus]

nonononononononononono.......... this is BAD. What's the Revolution gonna launch with then?!

[Barkworm]

A good question but but I don't think they'll do the same mistake as with the Cube twice. There'll be something good for the launch.

[Kid Icarus]

You know, all they really need is a Pokemon MMORPG packaged with the system, and free online gaming.

I really hope they don't flub up too badly this time. I wanna walk into a store and be frustrated that I can't find a Revolution. I want there to be so much hype on this system that Halo 2's just looks pitiful.

[Mecha Cow]

Ugh... (http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/sports/nbastreetv3/screenindex.html)

So it is true...And it looks horrible.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Hmmm, perhaps they're releasing it on Cube simple because Revolution gonna be so different, it wouldn't work on Revolution. Remember, the games been in development for eons.

[Kid Icarus]

Mecha- Yeah, I've seen those. Bleh. It looks god-awful. I always thought of Mario being smaller them regular people.....

TMB - that could be. I just hope it's a solid game. And I hope that they keep Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario as playable in this version. They're a nice addition in M64DS.

[DrSpengler]

Mecha- Yeah, I've seen those. Bleh. It looks god-awful. I always thought of Mario being smaller them regular people.....


What's weird is he IS shorter in some of the screenshots and bigger in others. Perhaps there's a growth mushroom involved.

[Kid Icarus]

That'd be weird... Maybe you have to hit a drug dealer with the basket ball in order to get the shrooms from him? I dunno.

Anyway, I was looking through Kurt Cobains 'Journals' today, when I found a quote us |-|4r|) |<0R3 gamers could use.

"Art that has long lasting value cannot be appreciated by the majorities. Only the sme, small percent will value arts patience as they always have. This is good. The ones who are unaware do not deserve false suggestions in their purchasing duties." - Kurt Cobain.

[Spitfire]

Im going to miss my GC I never got to really use it either....it just didnt have enough games I really wanted! I like it too
Oh well RE 4 yes YES YES! It comes out soon :D

[Peanut]

Im going to miss my GC I never got to really use it either....it just didnt have enough games I really wanted! I like it too
Oh well RE 4 yes YES YES! It comes out soon :D

Speaking of games you like, I saw some videos for DMC3 today, and man did it look sh*tty. Especially the fact that it uses the word "dope" for a level in it's combo system.

[Kid Icarus]

Now that's some dope shizat. Fo' shizzle. Yo.

[ThirdMarioBro]

"Art that has long lasting value cannot be appreciated by the majorities. Only the sme, small percent will value arts patience as they always have. This is good. The ones who are unaware do not deserve false suggestions in their purchasing duties." - Kurt Cobain.

I'm gonna save that for later use...

[Voltron]

http://animebelle.com/albums/album11/060_G.sized.jpg

This needs to be posted here. This guy is living the dream.

[Kid Icarus]

Wow. That's just... Wow.

That's how Mario should look in that NBA Street game.

[DrSpengler]

http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0839/1.gif

Don't let the poor quality fool you, the Ghostbusters/Mario Bros. team-up was the biggest event of 1990!

[ThirdMarioBro]

Oh man... :lol:

[ThirdMarioBro]

OMFG DOUBLE POST FOR NEWS *ahem*


Good News about Ubisoft
________________________
Infogrames might help out Ubisoft if EA makes a move to takeover Ubisoft.

If Electronic Arts attempts a takeover of Ubisoft, the French government isn't the only group that may try to help out Ubisoft (news story). Bruno Bonnell, the head of Infogrames, Europe’s largest videogame publisher and owner of Atari, has said that his company could be ready to help Ubisoft fight a takeover bid from EA. Bonnell did not give any specifics about what exactly his company could do, however.

Bonnell has expressed hopes that Ubisoft will remain independent. "It would be a pity to see great European creations end up in a relativle hegemonic US conglomerate," he said. Bonnell further said, "Electronic Arts certainly did not enter Ubisoft's capital to just stay at that level. I hope Ubisoft will find ways to defend itself so that Infogrames does not become the last bastion in the European video games industry."

It is important to note that there is no indication that talks between Ubisoft and Infogrames have taken place yet. In fact, Ubisoft maintains that there have been "no negotiations with a potential partner."
source: Reuters
___________________________

So the entire world knows EA is a piece of sh*t. Now I want to buy stuff from Infogrames to support them. They have any good stuff?

[Kid Icarus]

Nope, not really. Those DBZ Budokai games look okay.... but meh.

EA needs to go away.

[Peanut]

If EA goes away, then so do a crap load of gamers. I say they just stick to whatever they're doing and stop attempting to buy people.

[愛]

Man...I'll smack you. Like Peanut said, the video game industry will see a fairly large decline if EA is gone. Where will the casual gamers turn to for sports games? No one else does them better, really. I say leave them alone.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Actually, this year at least, Sega did. ESPN Foorball (NFL2k5) got better ratings than Madden everywhere I looked. That's why EA bought the exclusive licence, because for the first time, someone bested them.

[愛]

Only Sega would be able to do something like that. They really are good at what they do...even though they've had some rough times. They really should put a new system out or something. Collect funds and make it happen, you know?

[ThirdMarioBro]

I'd sure as hell buy it. Not gonna happen though. Besides, playing Sega stuff on my Gamecube never gets old.

The first number is last week's sales, followed by their 2004 total.

1 Nintendo DS 209,522 1,495,596
2 PlayStation 2 207,108 2,898,774
3 PSP 129,957 482,252
4 GameBoy Advance SP 116,801 2,647,762
5 GameCube 29,802 726,640
6 Gameboy Advance 2,653 200,678
7 Xbox 899 37,982

Ninty still kicking ass.

[Kid Icarus]

totals:
Nintendo: 5,070,636
Sony: 3,381,026
Microsoft: 37,982

Yes, I am that bored.

So, now that this generation's pretty much over, and we know what's instore for the rest of the 'Cubes life cycle, what do you guys think Nintendo did right?

For me, it has to be letting third parties use their mascots and game designs. That does three things, takes development pressure off of Nintendo, and puts money in to third parties pockets, it also allows them to work one on one with Nintendo so they can pick up some tricks to make games better.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Man, it has been an interesting generation indeed. What has Nintendo done right....

1. Persuing cross development with third parties. Yeah, they're third party support ain't great, but it's way up from the N64 days, even at this point. Most especially, it let companies input new and freash ideas into their franchises, and took the burden of development off NIntendo, and gave third partys a chance to try something new. It also let NIntendo spread out more and try out some new ideas. It gave us Soul Caliber II with Link, and that was kickass, and yeah I hate the NBA street cameos, but it will be good for they're image. It's simply the price we must pay. But most of all, I've loved seeing Nintendo and Sega, the hated rivals of the 16-bit era, come together and make a game (F-Zero GX). Seeing those two names together on the title screen brings a tear to my eye.

2. Metroid Prime. It was one hell of a scare, but Nintendo suscessfully took Metroid first person without killing what makes it Metroid. It's basically been declared the best game this generation by most of the media (so far), and that's incredible (especially for EGM). Buying Retro was one of the best damn things they've ever done. It assures the "Rare incident" won't happen again anytime soon. It'll be interesting to see what Retro pulls in the future alongside Metroid.

3. Accknoledging the US market exists. Buying Retro and pimping Metroid over here shows they've learned how the market has evolved, and that they intend to support both markets equally.

4. Hiring Reggie. Yes, he's made one of the biggest differences this generation. The man kicks ass, and he knows how to market to the cool people, while keeping all the fanboys screaming in orgasmic joy. His E3 2004 show was one of the best things I've seen in Nintendo history. I want to see what advertising ideas he has for the DS, because we know it will kick ass. Since he's come along, Nintendo advertising has gone many steps uphill, and it's only begun.

5. The new Zelda. We fu*king yelled, and for once they listened. It shows that they've changed in how they treat they're fans. They've dropped the "We make the games we want to play", and adopted the "We make the games our fans tell us they want to play" theory. They hear us, and I attribute that to Reggie as well.


There's more, but I can't think of it. Seriously, this generation has been fun.

[Mecha Cow]

About Nintendo lending out mascots... (http://cube.ign.com/articles/577/577880p1.html)

It's gone far enough if you ask me.

[Peanut]

How can you complain about a Nintendo DDR game? That's awesome! If it comes out here I'm so buying it.

[Mecha Cow]

I don't like games like DDR myself, and I don't like to see Mario star in one. I also think with this and the basketball thing, things are getting a little crazy.

Just my personal opinion though.

[Peanut]

The NBA Street I'll agree is pretty stupid, but why DDR? Just because you don't like the game?

[Kid Icarus]

Well, at least we have a DDR game now. I can tell all my friends who wanna get a PS2 just so they can play DDR to get this (it'll save 'em fifty bucks after all).

Ya know, between DDR and Donkey Konga, I think we're set with the Bemani games :D.

[Peanut]

I hope to god it comes out here, and also comes with the mat. Many a party has gone from terrible to awesome with the help of DDR.

[Mecha Cow]

The NBA Street I'll agree is pretty stupid, but why DDR? Just because you don't like the game?

Partly, yeah. But also because both things happened so fast after another. It's like Nintendo became very desparate to be 'cool' overnight. Now I know that's not the case, but that's the feeling this gives me.

[Peanut]

Very true. It may be they're just trying to expand their audience base, but it does feel like 2 games right in a row is a bit much.

[Kid Icarus]

as someone on the PGC forms pointed out, the games are totally diffrent.

The NBA Street game just has Mario and co in it.

The DDR game is based AROUND Mario, it doesnt' just have a SMB song tossed in for fun.

[Voltron]

Why is it excessive? Two games isn't that bad if you ask me. I'd understand if Mario was in every game nintendo put out but as far as I know that isn't the case. I'll draw the line at "Doom 4: Albanese Attack."


...Even that sounds fun...


And if the DDR is based around Mario or nintendo tunes? All the more fun! I'd love to play the song for Super Invincible Star.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Hell yeah, I'll dance to that. Mario DDR is gonna be fun. We're finally getting a DDR game. YES!

[Kid Icarus]

So, random speculation... where's a Nintendo character going to show up next?

My bet's on Mario in a Sonic game.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I was kinda thinking the other way around, but yeah, something like that.

I want to see EAD and Sonic Team work together on something.....just to see what kind of wierd drugged up stuff they can come up with. :lol:

Feel the Magic + Shiggy Mushrooms = fun

[Kid Icarus]

you know what'd be kinda cool with the DS? A Lego game.

You'd move the pieces around with the touch screen, cycle through colors and shapes with the L/R and D pad, and select things with the buttons.

[愛]

That'd be a neat idea, but I'm unsure if I'd actually buy it. Definitely innovative, though.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Lego game on DS = good inovation. Lego Star Wars game on GBA = drug trip gone game design. :lol:

[Kid Icarus]

See, I'm only buying games that put the DS to good use (with the exception of Mario 64. That was bought so I could brag that I can carry Mario 64 with me in my pants. Or tell random people that I have three plumbers and a dinosaur in my pocket.).

I'd buy something like that. It needs a little fleshing out (maybe a puzzle game, where you try to build from images, along the lines of Tetris). I dunno, I'd have fun with it though, and it'd sell well with the kiddies.

We need Team Ninja to make a boobie poking game though. You know they'll do it eventually.

[愛]

Oh man, boobs. Nothing appeals to my heart like a pair of melons. :lol: I'd buy that for whatever price, baby.

[Peanut]

You guys need to get laid...seriously.

[愛]

Oh, don't make me break out the fat insults...I'll do it!

[ThirdMarioBro]

Screw Ninja Gaiden, we want Poke Mealon Jugs DS. Gotta squeeze 'em all!

[愛]

*whistles* Owned.

http://www.gamerah.com/img/upl/21262ceb_wired3.gif

[ThirdMarioBro]

I like Jack Gleason.

Weastern Values are a poison, and Sony is the bearer of them. Oh, and before I forget, fu*k Capcom again.

________________

In other news...

Another one bites the dust.

by: Matt Saunderson

It is unclear what will happen to Titus' overseas subsidiaries, including Interplay.

French videogame publisher Titus Interactive was declared bankrupt today by a commercial court in France. The decision has eliminated any hopes of Titus reversing their poor financial situation. Titus had been under a redressment judiciaire or protected status so that it could develop a plan to get out of its 33 million euro debt (About US$44 million). While Titus was under until February 7th, 2005, the court removed the company’s status citing Titus’ inability to fund any projects to eliminate the debit.

"Titus was unable to finance any new games. There was no hope of financial rectification," said the Judge, speaking to La Tribune, a French newspaper.

As a result of the ruling, the 30 employees at Titus Interactive will be laid off, effective immediately. In addition, all Titus assets will be liquidated. Titus three French subsidiaries, Avalon France, GIE Titus Interactive, and Sofra Jeux, are currently still under a redressment judiciaire. It is hoped that they will be able to continue operations without their parent company.

Titus' overseas subsidiaries are not affected by the decision in France today. It is unknown if the subsidiaries, which include Titus Japan, Titus USA, Interplay, Cat Software, Uco Games, Avalon Interactive, DIGITAL Integration, and Bluesky Software, will be able to continue operations without their parent company, however.

Analysts believe it is likely that Titus' most notable subsidiary, Interplay, will sell off their intellectual property in a bid to remain in operation. The 67 percent of Interplay that is owned by Titus will most likely be liquidated.

GameCube Advanced and the Advanced Media Network will keep you
__________________

Bye Bye Titus. You sucked, you made sh*tty games, and now you can rot with Accliam. Feels good to be getting rid of the trash. *glares at EA*

[Kid Icarus]

YAMAUCHI SPEAKS!










I mean, really... Iwata woulden't talk like that. Ever.

Bless you, Yamauchi.





Now, he leaked some Revolution information ;). There will infact be a new control scheme.... and a new type of plastic? wtf? Now I'm confused again. >_<.

[Peanut]

That was such an awesome article! F*ck you Mikami you double faced bastard! :D

[ThirdMarioBro]

How bout we cut the bastard's head off.

God I LOVE it when the old man comes out. This makes my theory about the touch screen controller seem a little closer within grasp....

[Kid Icarus]

I also like how they're keeping connectivity. I obviously wasn't that bad of an idea, because the PSP's supposed to connect to the PS3. Of course, the PSP'll only run for half an hour, so you'll have to stop playing Generic Title A to recharge it.

I've decided that Yamauchi is my new God, plain and simple. He's just too awesome not to be.

[愛]

Just a little conversation my friend and I had. Please don't message him with flame or spam.

Spatocks: are you a fan of nintendo?
Spatocks: the company
soba de naku: Not...particularly. I don't really care all that much about systems. I just buy them and play games on them.
Spatocks: http://www.gamerah.com/noticias.php?bias=180
Spatocks: you might find that interesting
Spatocks: read the english article
soba de naku: Right, I know. I'm checking it out now. This is some funny stuff.
Spatocks: its nuts, and complete arrogance and ignorance on the part of yamauchi
soba de naku: I'll never buy PSP, that's for DAMN sure.
Spatocks: i like how he says it looks like a penis
Spatocks: i dont see it
soba de naku: Me either, but a penis reference is always humorous.
Spatocks: i like how ballsy he is, but sometimes its just like, what are you talking about?
Spatocks: imean, no offense,but apple is the american equivalent of nintendo in terms of a company
Spatocks: and he just bashes microsoft out of jealousy, it seems
soba de naku: All three companies seem to be doing just fine, it's just out of pure fandom for the company of Nintendo.
soba de naku: A lot of topics brought up without facts.
soba de naku: PSP sucks. We got that, and there's plenty of facts there to support that.
soba de naku: These companies have their ups and downs, and there's really no need to pull this kind of stuff, but damn, is it funny.
Spatocks: well, yeah. But microsoft is also on an entirely different level than nintendo. It is even arguable that Sony is as well.
Spatocks: they're doing well, for the sizes of their businesses.
soba de naku: Nintendo has been around much longer than them, and also have a larger space for errors.
soba de naku: Virtual Boy, anyone?
soba de naku: But you have to take a step back and look at all three of each system's target market.
soba de naku: It seems like Microsoft goes for the sports gamers.
soba de naku: Sony for the...I can't even figure that one out.
soba de naku: And Nintendo for the old skool fans.
soba de naku: There's plenty to go around.
Spatocks: i dont know. I mean, you have more knowledge than I, but i think its more than that
Spatocks: Sony's markets are FAR FAR larger than nintendos
Spatocks: their major income is not even video games
soba de naku: Definitely.
Spatocks: its entertainment media other
Spatocks: like
soba de naku: Sony has a lot of advertising, too.
Spatocks: thats an entirely different market nintendo will never be able to touch
soba de naku: As Nintendo relies on internet and word of mouth.
soba de naku: But as far as I can tell, Nintendo doesn't really care. They let their products do the talking.
soba de naku: Like DS.
soba de naku: I wanted one for Christmas. My mom couldn't find it anywhere.
Spatocks: and i would disagree with the point that nintendo is old school. If it were any other system, it could be argued to be a stale and stagnant company,but because its nintendo, it seems that the allure of the past and reminiscing just draws the fans
Spatocks: i mean
Spatocks: sure
Spatocks: their hardware is great
Spatocks: but its not like its something that somebody else can't do, but instead they are actually trying to push the limits. Nintendo seems to me too worried about integrating the past into the future. Moreso than is needed.
Spatocks: And personally, I find their market to be much younger, like, children young, demographically
Spatocks: sony and microsoft have all age markets
Spatocks: in a crap load of more markets
soba de naku: Well, sure.
Spatocks: the nintendo market, except for japan, doesnt go above 30's really
Spatocks: in any other country
Spatocks: and its only really in gaming
Spatocks: now, if he were talking soley about nintendo vs sony in the gaming industry and used that explicitly,thats one thing. But he wrings out sony for their entire enterprise
Spatocks: thats too bold. because they simply do things nintendo could never do
soba de naku: But is it really a problem to keep the target market at younger ages? I would suspect if they tried anything else, it wouldn't work. People view Nintendo as a sort of company that's for "kids."
Spatocks: sure, and thats fine
Spatocks: what im saying is that, instead of attack sony on that market alone, he went ahead and just gave this all encompassing blow to other corporations
soba de naku: Well, that was a sort of mistake on his part.
Spatocks: in their entirety
soba de naku: But...it's funny.
Spatocks: yeah, lol
Spatocks: it is
soba de naku: Personally, I don't really see what's so interesting about all of this.
soba de naku: They're going to make ****.
soba de naku: Give it to me.
soba de naku: That's all I ask for.
soba de naku: That may sound a tad ignorant, but I think ignorance is bliss in this topic of discussion, don't you agree?
Spatocks: yeah, i just think its a shame though, speaking generally, that sucha renowned and large company as nintendo would endorse such a policy and attitude. I mean, non international cooperation will only hurt nintendo's ability toput '****' out, and in that sense, eventually hurt all of those who turned the other way.
soba de naku: You bring up an interesting point, but I wouldn't worry so much about it.
soba de naku: It's the "console war" that's been going on for ages.
Spatocks: im all for the integration of US and japan in terms of business and culture, and these are thekinds of attitudes that brought japan to its knees in the early nineties whentheir banks tanked completely.
Spatocks: yeah.

It's an interesting view, indeed.

[Kid Icarus]

This guy hasn't been around long, has he?

Yamauchi's ALWAYS been like this, since he was hatched from that egg in the Triasic peroid.

[愛]

That may be so, but...that doesn't really give the guy any right to make assumptions like that, you know? It kind of destroys his credibility, if he even has any.

[Kid Icarus]

I'd say he's got plenty, given that he pretty much single handedly saved the videogame industry. Then again, if it wasn't for Atari, there woulden't have been an industry in the first place, so no crash woulda happend, and Nintendo would still be making kids toys.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Yamauchi is god. Simple as that. We must bow in worship. Articles like that are the reason we love it when he comes out. He's a mean old bastard and that's why Nintendo and gaming in general is still around today.

Also, I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear anything that "Spatocks" dude said.

He must worship Yamauchi or he will forsake him immortal soul.

Now THIS is how you start the year.

[愛]

...or you're a fanboy who doesn't like to listen to other opinions. Oh well.

[ThirdMarioBro]

*EDIT*

http://middaysoftware.com/MinhsBlogs/articles/223.aspx

DAMNIT! Now I'm pissed *sigh*

The article is false, so I removed all quotes.

[愛]

Okay, that's enough. You're the worst person I've ever met. What the hell is your problem, anyway? Do you really know what goes on around you outside of Nintendo? LOOK AT THESE OTHER COMPANIES! Sony is in more markets than Nintendo could ever be, same with Microsoft. Microsoft's leader is a MASSIVE BILLIONAIRE! If any of these two companies slip up, it's no big deal. Nintendo, on the other hand, has no other markets but their video games. If they ever make a slipup like Virtual Boy again, they might as well kiss their ass goodbye. They have DS, but that'll reduce their company to something insignificant. If Nintendo ever does go under, what will you do? Hang yourself from your ceiling fan? Give me a f*cking break. Look around and see that even if these guys mess up, they're not going anywhere. Nintendo might. There's always that chance. And what if DS ends up being something like Dreamcast? It was so advanced for its time, that it just went under. Look where Sega is now. Sucking wang and making half-ass games. Good job, Sega. You're washed up. You guys have your heads so far up Nintendo's ass, it's ridiculous. I can't believe you guys can sleep at night knowing this.

I'm leaving this thread. F*ck this. Every post is the same, anyway. I'm also changing the thread name to something more appropriate.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Dude, if you'll notice, the article was proved false, which basically underminds everything I said, and gives us all no grounds to stand on, again. Geez.

If Nintendo ever does go under, what will you do? Hang yourself from your ceiling fan?.

Don't give me ideas. :lol: :lol:

Do you really know what goes on around you outside of Nintendo?

Yes. I read they're buisness reports, press releases, interviews, stock quotes, purchases, and releases, everything. I watch them as hard as I can because I don't like them in the slightest. Know thy enemy. And by they way, I don't understand why I'm being accused when the article is fake anyway. Heck, that's all I posted. It's not your fault. The things all over the internet.

[Mecha Cow]

Seeing Ai and TMB fight makes Mecha cry. :(

[愛]

I got carried away there. I'm sorry. Like I said before, the fanboy stuff gets really annoying. Guess I'm coming back in. And I posted that before he edited his post, so I didn't know it was false.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Meh, no big deal.

[愛]

Oh, with a reply like that, I guess I really pissed you off. I'm sorry, really. After some thought, I came to the conclusion that I should really not care about this so much, because I'm a fanboy of the games. I'm not bound to companies like some people are. This really is the only interesting thread on the board anymore. Everything else is is kind of empty...

[ThirdMarioBro]

Nah, it didn't really piss me off. It was 4:30AM and my fingers were tired. :lol:

I got a little carried away in the ranting department. I had a realization a couple nights ago that made me come to the conclusion that basically, the only games left I want to play almost all come from Nintendo. They're also about the only one who has retained most of they're old image and glory. Capcom's lost Resident Evil after 4, and they're driving Mega Man to kiddy ridden hell. We're probobly never going to see Street Fighter IV either. Sega, is basically dead. Unless they pull a quick 180, screw it. That article was right about that. They produce "Kids" titles, and Sonic just isn't the epitome of "cool" he once was. That dosen't mean I won't follow it until they drive him completely in the ground. There's always a chance that the Sega we knew will come back, but with Sammy running the books, it's doubtful. They're sports division is basically getting closed off by EA which is sad, because Sega Sports was once the kings brand of sports games (Ahh Daytona). They just lost all they're spark after the Dreamcast died. Irem killed R-Type thanks to Sony's 2D quality control, and Konami better pull some slick sh*t soon.

Honestly, most other games just seem shallow to me. Halo 2's good, but I can't see buying a dying console for it. Other than that, Xbox's days are numbered. Hell, it'd be dead already without that game (or still born without the first).

I just got disapointed about the article because we rarely seem to get any kind of ass kicking from Nintendo, and I truly wanted to believe Yamauchi said the PSP looked like a giant penis. We need more attitude, and they need a complete image shift. They're trying too hard to do with with the cameo games. They need to do something more simple. Just advertise. It'll cost money, but if you don't spend it, you don't make it. *sigh*

[Kid Icarus]

my $0.02.

As I've said before, the day Nintendo goes is the day I stop playing video games. Some third parties release quality games, yes, but they just don't have that "oomph" I get out of a Nintendo game.

I'd love to see Nintendo in the #1 spot again, if only for the reassurance that they arn't going anywhere for a long while.

Also, Ai, you bring up an interesting point... Sony and Microsoft really do have their hands in everything. What's to say that if the video game market crashes, they won't just pull out? It won't be making them money, so they pry won't care about reviving it. Nintendo, on the other hand, depends entirely on that market to make it's earnings (as of now, the only other things they have are merch, and the Pokemon Card Game division (and that actually pulls in more money then you'd think...)). If the market crashes, you can bet your ass they'll be there trying to bring it back just like they did in the 80's.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I have a feeling this is why Yamauchi started the film division. It will give them a backup income source, just in case. At the very least it could be pulling in extra cash during Revolution's launch since they're bound to loose money at first (like everyone does at launches.....except DS :D ). The more money the better. I have a feeling they want to expand, and this is the first small step to test the waters. Make a damn Zelda movie Nintendo. That'll bring in a couple hundred million yen or so. :roll:

There is one thing that's been looming in my mind for a while though. When Yamauchi eventually dies (*shudder*), who gets his shares? If they go to his family, or more spacifically, his daughter, then we're fu**ed. She hates the man so much, I believe she's sell just to get him from the grave. I've seen her in videos, and she is a royal b*tch. That has always worried me.

[Peanut]

In some more happy news, I beat Paper Mario 2 tonight. Boy was that an awesome game. Tons of great twists and turns. Probably my favourite game of 2004.

[Kid Icarus]

TMB, do you think the man's that stupid? He'll sell his shares to Iwata for cheap to keep it in the company. I woulden't be supprised if it's in his will, which you KNOW he's made out already. Actualy, Miyamoto and Iwata'll pry get equal shares, now that i think about it.

[ThirdMarioBro]

*hits self on head*

I completely forgot. Him and Lincoln were changing the will a few weeks ago to fix it so that his share of the baseball team went to Nintendo Co. Limited when he croked. The MLB srugged off the whole think cuz it didn't really make a difference in how it was run. End of that problem I guess :D.

New order of buisness...

What suprise do you think Nintendo will be unleashing close to the PSP's US launch.

My guess is the DS's hopefully "free" online plans. Imagine this. The Pokemon series was made for online, but the majority of "trainers" are below the age of 12. They can't pay monthly/yearly fees. If it's free, they'll shut down the whole damn internet, kill the PSP in both regions, and relight the flameof Poke'mania all in one stroke. That's my guess for the next three months.

[Spitfire]

I think the DS will just keep releasing games like it is now. It doesnt need to worry about the PSP. SOny whores are going to buy it and then its going to break and they will get mad at Sony. They will relaize the PSP is crap and doesnt have wireless chat, duel screens, and a crappy battery life. OH WOW I can play all the games I own for my PS2 on a handheld. That means i have to re-buy them all for 30 dollars! THATS SO....stupid. Not to mention it uses disks which are bigger and easier to drop and scratch then a really small chip. Also hard to take on the road with you. And the PSP has moving parts so if you drop it it will break easier.

[Kid Icarus]

Actually, I think the games are more like $40-$50.

And TMB, you should know better... the Pokemaina never ended. Ruby/Sapphire were at what? Some 5 million units in the US alone the year they came out?

Anywho, if PSP starts to sell, all Nintendo needs to do is say these words "Pokemon MMORPG, free online gaming". Granted, they need to do that anyway. As much as I love Pokemon the RPG's are getting old. Also, if you connect to a server, they can create new characters on the fly, new towns on the fly, new gyms whenever they want, and they can have yearly world championship battles (same weekend as the Pokemon TCG worlds, perhaps?). It'd be more addictive then Everquest, but you could take it with you. Include a blank GBA cart for save data, or that new SD card media thing.

[Spitfire]

Actually, I think the games are more like $40-$50.
As much as I love DMC I wouldnt even pay 50 bucks for a crappy PSP port of it.....or Viewtiful Joe! I cant wait to get that for DS
Anyone know when prices on these suckers might go down? Or when there might be DS package deals?

Famous Mario DS quotes from my friend*Warning! Pg-13 but still disturbing

GOD Yoshi knows how to ride pole!!

Yeah, f*cking smart, just fall asleep when youre surrounded by lava...I swear Mario's mexican

GODDAMN HOMOSAND AGAIN!! I SWEAR TO GOD IM GONNA KILL ALL THE SAND ONE DAY AND MAKE A HUGE WINDOW OUT OF IT!!

I CAN beat the game now, the minimum you need is 80, but I gotta...ummm...catch 'em a- *gets sued*

How does eating a retard with a propeller on his head make you breathe fire?
spitfire666xXxXx: Because Gonzo the clown is watching you from Hell

Wanna play with my touch-screen, baby?

Dude when you punch things with Wario he goes "PUNCH, PUNCH, YEAH!!"
It's like he wants to like fist you with his...fist

spitfire666xXxXx: Ill show u my Wario-ware

I can imagine Wario having sex-
THRUST! THRUST! PENTETRATE!!

[ThirdMarioBro]

I can imagine Wario having sex-
THRUST! THRUST! PENTETRATE!!

Ugh *vomit*

Oh, and about the PSP game's $39.95 prices......try $49.95 apice. They're insane.

And Gwg, I know Pokemania never died. It just slowed a bit from a somewhat lack of innovation. I was just saying that a MMORPG would be like throwing a can of gas on it, and pouring the liquid fire on Kaz Hakari's office. :D

[Spitfire]

http://elrellano.com/videos/
Check out hte video with all the consoles on it
This just proves that Gamecube rules

[Peanut]

I actually watched this about 2 days ago on TV. They really should have put games in the Xbox and Gamecube to see if they still worked. Just because they turned on doesn't mean anything.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I don't have much online time due to this phone thing, so I'm assuming that video is "Morgan's Web of Distruction". If so, I saw it two days ago.
__________________________
NEWS
__________________________
Nintendo Responds to Fake Interview January 08, 2005

by: Matt Saunderson

Contrary to what you may have read, Hiroshi Yamauchi did not tell off Microsoft's Steve Ballmer in a profane manner.

Earlier this week rumors began to surface that former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi may have told off Microsoft's Steve Ballmer in a profane manner during negotiations where Microsoft was attempting to make a bid to purchase Nintendo.

The reports stem from faked scans of Wired magazine. The scans, which were good enough to trick The Inquirer (who actually reported the story as legitimate news here) are supposedly of an interview with Yamauchi in the February 2005 issue of Wired. You can check out the fakes here.

Nintendo became aware of the interview on Thursday.

In the interview, Yamauchi is portrayed as an anti-American, and even a racist, stereotyping Italians as "hairy" people. Yamauchi attacks Sony (a fellow Japanese company) in the interview for being "corrupted by the Western ethos" and bashed its PSP, comparing it to a certain male body part. Capcom's Shinji Mikami is attacked as well, for being a “double faced [explicative].”

The worst part of the fake interview, however, is when the interviewer, supposedly Wired's Jack Gleason, asks Yamauchi to elaborate on Microsoft's bid to purchase Nintendo. In the interview Yamauchi claims that "the Americans" had contempt for Japanese integrity and values. The kicker is what supposedly happens when Yamauchi sees Steve Ballmer mouth the word "yellow" to his assistant and tells Ballmer to "lick his balls." Apparantly, that was not enough. When the translators tried to translated Yamauchi's words to not insult Ballmer Yamauchi became upset – he intended for Ballmer to be insulted. Yamauchi proceeded to stand up and yell, slowly, in English, "Hey, Ballmer, why don't you suck my tiny yellow balls?"

The educated gamer could obviously tell that this interview was fake. We at the Advanced Media Network knew something was not right when we saw headlines and stories saying "Yamauchi: Ballmer, Suck My Balls", "Yamauchi Tells Off Ballmer", etc. Unfortunately, many gamers believed that this interview was legitimate. To make matters, some gaming websites reported this hoax as true.

Yesterday, Nintendo confirmed that the interview was indeed a hoax. In fact, Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s head of public relations, Yasuhiro Minagawa says that no such negotiations between Yamauchi and Ballmer took place. "Everybody in the industry was talking about that [interview] and laughing about it," Minagawa said.
___________________________

Strange stuff.

[Barkworm]

http://elrellano.com/videos/
Check out hte video with all the consoles on it
This just proves that Gamecube rules
That video makes me sad. The poor consoles...

[ThirdMarioBro]

Mario 64DS Star count - 149 Stars. Now I just gotta find those day glo rabbits and this suckers mine.

*tears through castle*
____________

CONFIRMED FROM NAMCO OF JAPAN


Soul Caliber I is coming to the DS in an enhanced port.

Hot Damn!

[jeff the cheff]

I only have like....40 stars. How do I get Wario?

And on the level where you walk on the sun and look into the light, I didn't get the red coins the first time, because I didn't feel like it. Now the light isn't there. How do I get back into the level?

[Kid Icarus]

just stand on the sun again, and look up. fun times.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I noticed a glitch in the final Boswer fight. The music keeps jerking around. As you spin him around the music starts to get a little choppy, and when you let go, it drags down to half speed, then drags back up once Boswer is off the screen. It also makes some unnatural static noises when the shock waves from Boswer get close. It just seems to be some little issues though. Nothing that inhibits gameplay. Probobly just got a little rushed through the bug testing to make release in time. No big deal. Just interesting to pick apart.

[Kid Icarus]

Oh, and Jeff... getting Wario took me a while to figure out...

Using Luigi, go to the second floor, and enter the the door to Snowman's Land. You'll see some Power Flowers on the little pillar things, take one. You should be able to go through the mirror, and you'll find a picture of Wario. Hop into that.

If all else fails, gamefaqs.com has some nifty guides.

[ThirdMarioBro]

by: Matt Saunderson

An exclusive agreement with the NFL wasn't enough for EA.

Recently, Electronic Arts, announced an exclusive agreement with the National Football League. Today, the company announced another exclusive agreement with a football league: the Arena Football League (or AFL for short).

As a result of the deal, Electronic Arts will be publishing an AFL videogame on top for the start of the 2006 AFL season. While exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, it was revealed that EA will be able to share in the proceeds from future AFL expansion teams. In addition, EA will be working on media and retail marketing for the AFL beginning with the 2005 season along with other AFL partners like ADT, Spalding, Nike, NBC, and the United States Army.

"Once again, we are partnering with an industry leader who believes in the AFL philosophy and its growth potential. To the extent that EA helps grow the AFL, they participate in that growth through the increased value of future expansion teams. EA is the videogame industry's gold standard. Arguably, nothing is more important to reach the younger male demographic that we are so strong in than video games. For our core fan, this is akin to a network-television agreement," said AFL Commissioner David Baker.

"We believe that the business model the AFL has created will provide for a new football experience for videogame fans, and provide EA with an incentive to partner with the AFL to expand the league. The AFL is a unique brand of football and we intend to deliver a unique football gaming experience from any the industry has seen before. We're pleased to be working with the league during this exciting, growth-period for the AFL," said Electronic Arts Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Larry Probst.

For more about the AFL, you can check out their website. If you have not seen Arena Football yet, it kicks off on NBC on Friday, January 28th
________________________________
Okay, that's it. I think I have an idea of what they're up to. They want to launch a fu*king console. Not any time soon, but eventually. Ponder this.

Xbox is in trouble. People thought Gamecube was dead? Hell, it's getting Mario, Zelda, and perhaps Pokemon within 4 months of each other. Could be it's biggest year. Xbox? They had Halo 2. It's over. They'll have Conker, and that's a remake. They'll need to rely on third parties to keep Xbox Live kicking through the year. Who's the biggest? EA. What if EA pulled support on Xbox, and possibly screwed Xbox 2? They could get Microsoft out of the way and have all these new developers to use for their own console. The only way Microsoft could fight back would be to buy more developers, and I highly doubt companies such as Namco, and Konami would sell to what looks like the diying competator if this all happened. Capcom, not sure as they have screwed themselves pretty badly lately.

It's all thought though, but EA knows the industry couldn't support 4 consoles. They'd just have whack out one. Sony's got too many other third partys, Nintendo has learned to live without them before, but Microsoft currently depends on them almost fully, and EA had an ego problem with themover the Live service in the first place. Makes you wonder....

[DrSpengler]

Man, I'm glad I never bought an X-Box. I played Halo, it was fun, but just not worth the $200 pricetag (launch price, anyway).

I'm getting by with the PS2 and the Gamecube just fine.

An EA system might not be bad, though they'll have to offer up a little more than just sports titles to entice me. As with most systems, I'd probably just wait to see if it builds up a good library before spending my money.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Keep in mind it's all speculation, but you never know...

I don't want it. They would be a bigass problem. Hell, they might could topple Sony, and the other guys wouldn't have any sports titles because EA basically owns them all. We all know how obsessed the American public is with sweaty football players. This scares me...

[DrSpengler]

My brother's been a Madden zombie since 92 or 93, if it was exclusive to that system he'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Still, the likelihood of an EA system is slim. But even if it did happen, since I don't play sports titles, Harry Potter games or Lord of the Rings games, I really wouldn't miss them on my Sony or Nintendo systems.

[Peanut]

Yeah...um...Xbox isn't going anywhere soon. That's going a bit too far.

[愛]

Yeah, Xbox is going to be around for a while. Xbox 2 is already in the works. Unless it's another Dreamcast, don't expect such a fast decline.

[Peanut]

And believe it or not, but a console doesn't have to be super popular in Japan to survive. Xbox has built up a huge fanbase in North America.

[Kid Icarus]

Yeah, but when the Wonder Swan color outsells your system, you really should put some more effort into it.

[愛]

Hey, Wonder Swan owns. I'd buy that if...I had money. :cry:

And this'll probably be the only time I'll say this, but...screw Japan. Microsoft is based in the United States. If it doesn't sell well in Japan, who cares. It's working here, and here is what matters. There's plenty of games in Japan that'll never make it here, but I don't really care about those. They don't come here for a reason, and that's good enough for me.

[ThirdMarioBro]

And this'll probably be the only time I'll say this, but...screw Japan.

OMG THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO END! (j/k) :lol:

I smell a rat. Rare hasn't done much to pay for themselves at Microsoft. I have a bad feeling that they're gonna try to buy up another third party soon. He tried Nintendo, they told him to bug off, so that might mean he'll try someone smaller. Bad feeling.

I still don't know how Feel the Magic got released over here. Frankly, I wish they'd release more of those fudal Japan ninja slasher games over here. America is too sensitive.

[Kid Icarus]

*ghaspshockawe* :sick:

Woah.

You've got a very good point, but once upon a time Billy boy was focused on improving his share of the Japanese market. When things didn't improve he started in on the whole "well, it wasn't ever really inteded for Japan anyway, so F' 'em." stuff.

[Kid Icarus]

OMG THE WORLD IS ABOUT TO END! (j/k) :lol:

I smell a rat. Rare hasn't done much to pay for themselves at Microsoft. I have a bad feeling that they're gonna try to buy up another third party soon. He tried Nintendo, they told him to bug off, so that might mean he'll try someone smaller. Bad feeling.

I still don't know how Feel the Magic got released over here. Frankly, I wish they'd release more of those fudal Japan ninja slasher games over here. America is too sensitive.

I want more Goemon games. I REALLY hope the DS game comes out here.... Mystical Ninja on the 64 is one of my favorite games ever made.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Hmmm, must be good then.

What's the name of that little Nintendo cooked GBA game series about this little Star dude. It looks like a HAL game, and was never brought over here for some reason. I just don't remember it's name.

[Kid Icarus]

Stafi?

I never read much about that game, but I know there's a few people that like it.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Yeah, that was it. The Legend of Stafi. What is so different about that game that they won't bring it over?

[Kid Icarus]

Well, they're trying that whole "image makeover" thing... and that game really woulden't help them much.

That and, as far as I know, it's just another generic type GBA platformer. They pry figure there's already plenty of them out here.

[愛]

Why not bring a new genre over here, like...dating sims. I'd love to be even more pathetic than I already am now. It most likely wouldn't be popular here, but it'd sure as hell satisfy the nerds who can't get any "pie."

[ThirdMarioBro]

Good point Gwg. Generic platformers are rampant over here thanks to things known as "Nicktoons" and the word "Shrek".

I think I'll look into it though. "Good" generic platformers make me happy.

On another topic....

Nintendo needs an image change, but they need more than that. They need to create more franchises rather than bring the Mario franchise down by tossing it into throwaway games like NBA Street just to get attention. Keep Mario where he belongs, and make other franchises. That wierd DS game about the orphan girl (I forget the name) is an excellent start for them. Branch out and create things to support their classic franchises rather than just stretch them out to carry more weight.

Mario belongs in platformers (2D AND 3D), and NBA players belong in Basketball. They need more franchises and more developers to carry them while the current staff work on the games they're known for.

[Peanut]

Am I the only one rooting for an all Luigi game? Cause they threw out a few hints about a Paper Luigi in PM2...and since then I've been craving a Luigi based game.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I think all Nintendo fans want a true Luigi game. I want it now, but we may have to wait a while.

[Mecha Cow]

Yeah, a Luigi game would be awesome. I'm happy with a Peach game though.

And I agee, Nintendo needs to make some new franchises. Pikmin is definately a step in the right direction.

[Barkworm]

I don't know about Pikmin. Nintendo's problem is their "kiddy-image" and Pikmin was probably the "kiddiest" game they've ever made as far as style and atmosphere are concerned. I know that the gameplay has a lot of depth and I was always against the stupid "I hate kiddy games"-attitude but I just couldn't stand that game. If Nintendo pulls out a new franchise maybe they should try to make something more mature that appeals to a wider audience. And by more mature I don't mean something like Rockstar's games but maybe like the new Zelda.

[Voltron]

I think Nintendo should start making SNES games again. You know, something totally out of left field.

Other than that. I agree with Barkworm, word for word.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Lost of websites don't make it clear, but what Nintendo needs is new franchises to support their current ones. They shouldn't have to carry a system alone. If Nintendo had more franchises, it would actually compliment what they already have and support them. I'd make them more special and revered, and if the new franchise was good enough....they could become revered too. I'm interested to see the new things they're bringing to DS because it shows they have some new ideas. But along with the new ideas, also comes the games they're hardcore fans demand (Mario, Metroid, Zelda ect.)

People will always be supportive of new things as long as you don't abandon what they're used to. Nintendo is slowly realizing this and growing to accomidate this belief. That will be they're strength. Imagine that old Smash Bros wallpaper with the characters standing in the field ready for battle with Mario leading the charge. Add a couple dozen new ideas and characters behind them. That's what I want. Reinforcements. New support to help carry the load. If the industry is going to expand, then Nintendo needs to expand their library. The simple fact that there's a new Super Mario Bros. coming shows they'll always support they're fans. We've always been there. They know that. They should also realize that we're also open to the occational new idea. The DS itself has proven this.

We need new troops to reinforce the reliable old generals. Best analogy I can think of.

[Mecha Cow]

We need new troops to reinforce the reliable old generals. Best analogy I can think of.

I agree. It's true that Nintendo needs to focus on a more 'mature' audience, but it must not go at the expense of style or quality, and certainly not at that of the existing franchises. It's not like the 'mature' public is more important than the 'kiddy' public.

Mario doesn't need to play basketball. Make a new character for that.

[DrSpengler]

You meantioned a Smash Bros. 3. Any news on that? IMO, Smash Bros Melee was the best game to come out of Nintendo since Ocarina of Time. I just enjoyed like nothing else.

[Kid Icarus]

Ai, there are two dating sims on the american market right now (that i know of anyway) and both are on the DS. Feel the Magic, and Sprung.

I hope they somehow make the Revolution backwards compatable with every system... NES on. Toss in a classic Gameboy slot too.

[ThirdMarioBro]

You meantioned a Smash Bros. 3. Any news on that? IMO, Smash Bros Melee was the best game to come out of Nintendo since Ocarina of Time. I just enjoyed like nothing else.

Sipposedly it leaked out of the Nintendo Power staff on the Nisder Boards. I caught it before they quickly took the comment down. No confirmation yet, but it looks promising.

[Peanut]

JameO finally dished out the cash to buy a Gamecube today. After he got PS2 and Xbox, in that order. Sometimes I worry about the boy. He got the Metroid Prime bundle because all the Mario Kart bundles were loooong gone. I had to clean out my spare memory card so he could save games. Anything to finally get that bastard to invest in the best console on the market.

[ThirdMarioBro]

bout' fu*king time. Welcome to the club JameO.

On another note....

Nintendo and EA are sleeping with each other again. Now Nintendo's going to let them use the almight Super Punch Out in their new Boxing game (forget the name, don't care to remember). I'm getting royally pissed. Nintendo keeps handing them gold piece after gold piece. It's getting old fast. It dosen't seem to increse sales, and it just seems to downgrade the image of Ninty's franchises. Bah, no point ranting. Not going to do anything...

On another note, Sony's begun building hype in the US for the PSP. I saw an ad for it at the movie theatre a while ago. Nintendo's going to be in trouble soon. This is going to be a messy year.

[Kid Icarus]

Come on Ninty... Pokemon DS... MMORPG... You know you wanna... >_>.

Really though, it'd pry be best to wait till Sony's hype machine's reaching full gear, then go "POKEMON MMORPG FREE ONLINE PLAY OMGOMG!" all over everything. TV, print, instore ads, movies, at Pokemon TCG events.... it'd be CRAZY.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Okay, I've always believed that Steven Kent was a wise man, but he went too far this time. This article bounces all over the place. He makes osme good points and then crosses himself up.


LONG ASS POST. You've been warned


_____________________________
Steve Kent's 7 rules for fixing Nintendo

----------------------------------------------------------------


"In this generation of console wars, GameCube came in third. Game Boy
Advance is obsolete. The initials DS may be short for ‘Definitely
Struggling’ instead of ‘Dual Screen’ if Sony launches PlayStation
Portable (PSP) at a reasonable price next year.

Nintendo, the company that re-launched and re-defined the video game
business, has been battered in the console business and looks like it
might be ripe for wreckage in handhelds.

The Situation:

As Microsoft entered the console wars, a lot of people asked, “Can
the market support three competitors?” The answer seems to be,
“Yes, but the guy who comes in last always dies.”

In 1986, Atari tried to compete with newcomers Nintendo and Sega. It
didn’t work and Atari wisely chose to sit out the 16-bit generation
before committing corporate hari-kari in the form of Jaguar.

In 1989, Sega and NEC started the 16-bit generation with Genesis and
TurboGrafx. Nintendo entered two years later, knocked NEC out of the
way; and the U.S. market never saw another NEC console again.

Sony did the same thing to Sega in the next generation. Sega Saturn
came in third place—not including 3DO and Jaguar. Sega did come back
with Dreamcast, but no company that has come in third has survived the
next generation.

4 In the current market, Nintendo has come in third place.
Could Nintendo follow in the steps of Sega, 3DO, and Atari and go
software only? With its many great franchises, Nintendo would be quite
the hit as a third-party publisher. Only, isn’t that what people said
about Sega?

The truth is that the Atari of today bears almost no relationship to the
Atari of the eighties. The Atari of old was cut in half. Both halves
have been sold and resold. The company currently known as Atari is
really a French company called Infogrames.

After a long fight, 3DO ceased to exist. Sega, the company that once
boasted it would supplant Electronic Arts as the number one independent
publisher, never lives up to its potential. Without hardware to
support, former console makers seem to give up their competitive drive.

So is Nintendo going to go the way of Sega and Atari? The short answer
is, ‘No.’,” says John Taylor, managing director and analyst for
Arcadia Investment Corp. “Sega made a bunch of missteps. Sega had to
deal with 32X, Sega CD, and a bunch of peripherals that confused
consumers, ate up resources, and distracted management.”

Granted, Nintendo has not released anything as notorious 32X, though
Virtual Boy came close. On the other hand, with Game Boy Advance SP
(Nintendo of America plans to discontinue the original GBA) and DS
running side-by-side, the company does have two systems confusing
consumers, eating resources, and distracting management.

And this muddle appropriately happens as Sony prepares to launch PSP.
“On the console side, it’s harder to imagine where Nintendo fits in
now than it was 12 months ago,” says Taylor.
When asked, the clerk at a GameStop store in Hawaii said that his store
had sold out of PlayStation 2 and Xbox. “We still have GameCubes in
stock.”

Asked why he still had GameCubes, he stated that it was fine for a
certain audience. “Xbox and PlayStation 2 are better for 15- to
30-year-olds. Most of the people who come here are between 15 and
30.”
The clerk said that DS was ‘awesome, but hard to find.’ “We only
get six in per week.” He suggested that I reserve a PSP, though he
could not say what the price would be.
Calls to game stores in Washington, New York, and California produce
similar results—though the clerks are seldom as friendly.
So this is the situation. Nintendo has been marginalized in the
console business. It will shortly face a most significant challenge its
portable business. Nintendo needs to make some fundamental changes.
The following are steps Nintendo must take to prosper over the next 18
months:

1. Abandon the ‘belle of the ball’ mentality.

Nintendo needs to abandon its former “star of the show” mentality
and start acting like a company that knows it’s in trouble. The good
news is that the Kyoto-giant has greatly improved one of its biggest
weaknesses—third-party relations. The bad news is that Nintendo’s
console sales are so low that even though they feel welcomed, many
publishers are not sure they want to jump on board with Nintendo.
“Nintendo has done a better job of working with third-party
publishers,” says Taylor. “The third parties aren’t worried about
the business model so much as they are about the GameCube’s market
potential.”
In other words, fewer people own GameCube, and those people seem to buy
less software than PlayStation 2 and Xbox owners.
Part of the problem is that Nintendo has abandoned the principles of
service that made it such a force.
Nintendo is notably more harsh than Microsoft or Sony in its handling
of smaller publications and fan sites. Right now, Nintendo needs to
cultivate allies and advocates. In a society filled with opinion
leaders, i.e. the Internet, Nintendo must court influential fans.
Along this same line, Nintendo needs to acknowledge the competition.
Nintendo executives say that DS and PSP were made for different
audiences. The truth is that when customers walk into Wall-Mart or
GameStop with $200, they are going to compare DS and PSP and choose one
over the other.
And these annual shortages… what’s with that? Nintendo has a
shortage of DS units. Do they think that is chic? They had similar
shortages after the launches of GameCube, N64, and Super NES. You would
learn how to manage inventory by now.
There is no logical reason for Nintendo to waste this window of time
before the launch of PSP. Yet here we are. With PSP supposedly
launching in three months, Nintendo is excitedly telling the press how
they cannot keep up with demand for DS.
Why in the world are GameStop and Electronics Boutique stores, arguably
the most influential chains in gaming, only receiving six DS units per
week? They should be saturated with DS systems.
The Nintendo of old, the one that sold approximately 100 million NESs,
simply tried harder. In the early days, NCL president Hiroshi Yamauchi
personally courted third-party publishers. Nintendo of America
president Minoru Arakawa met with store owners in New York and promised
to buy back unsold merchandise and helped set up a few store displays.
In order to regain market share, Nintendo needs to return to its former
Avis mentality. It needs to try harder.

2. Forget the bottom line.

In 1990, Nintendo and the NES owned 93 percent of the U.S. console
business. In 1994, the hottest year for 16-bit, the Super NES commanded
approximately 48 percent of the U.S. market and ruled in Japan. By the
end of the N64 generation, Nintendo was down to 33 percent of the
American console market. With GameCube, Nintendo is down to
approximately 15 percent.
That is a nearly steady drop of 50 percent from one generation to the
next.
The typical Nintendo response to this is something along the line of
their console business always remaining profitable. It’s a good and
persuasive response. Even as Sony strangled Nintendo in all three world
markets in the last year of the original PlayStation, Nintendo managed
to make money with N64 while Sony leaked like a sieve.
The problem is that if Nintendo’s share of the market keeps getting
smaller, the next generation will not be profitable.
There is another danger, too—people perceiving Nintendo as a company
that does not care about its customers. Granted, companies are only out
for themselves, but that does not mean they need to come across that
way.
A few years back, Nintendo defined ‘connectivity’ as meaning,
“You buy a $150-console, a $99-portable, a $10-cable, a $49-console
game, and a $29-portable cartridge.” That definition of
‘connectivity’ sounded awfully self-serving.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Part 2 (too long for one post)
_______________________

3. Know your market and stick to it.

“You could argue that Nintendo still has a defendable position with a
certain demographic,” says John Taylor. Taylor sees that demographic
as the youth market, but the research does not necessarily agree.
Recent surveys showed that the most desirable games for fourth and
fifth graders were “Halo 2” and “Grand Theft Auto: San
Andreas.” Most 10-year-old boys want whatever games their big
brothers want. What few 10-year-olds want is to look uncool.
“Wario” games are not perceived as cool.
The Hawaiian GameStop clerk identified PlayStation 2 and Xbox as
systems with games for players ages 15 to 30. He could not come up with
a target market for GameCube, even when pressed. All he would say was,
“Most of our customers are between 15 and 30.”
As N64 faded and GameCube launched, Nintendo sent out the message that
it was not just for kids. The problem is that none of the adult games
that followed, “Conker’s Bad Fur Day,” “Perfect Dark,”
“Eternal Darkness,” and the “Resident Evil” series, sold well or
drove hardware sales.
Here, the analysts and experts disagree. Some people say that Nintendo
needs to cultivate its position as the manufacturer of family-friendly
video game systems. “Nintendo cannot compete with Microsoft and
Sony,” said one reporter. “Nintendo is like a company.”
Others say that Nintendo can indeed change its stripes. “Look at
Cadillac,” says Taylor. “It used to be the car your grandfather
drove in the suburbs. Now, with its change of image, Cadillac is the
high-prestige car for urban drivers.”

4. Americanize, Americanize, Americanize

The bottom has dropped out of the Japanese video game market. It
shrank by one-third in 2001 alone. Japan, which bought the least
hardware and the most software in the past, was the most profitable
market in games. Now that the drop has occurred, North American is the
most lucrative market.
Only one Japanese company made it into the U.S. market’s top 10 games
of 2003—Nintendo. Nintendo had four games in the top 10—two of
which were “Pokemon.”
“Cute,” “Fluffy,” and “Funny,” words that describe so many
of the best Japanese games, just don’t appeal the way they used to.
American audiences are into speed, action, violence. Americans like 3D
adventures and first-person shooters. These are not big genres in
Japan. Sports, other than soccer, are huge in the United States.
Sports, other than soccer, do not sell well in Japan.
Nintendo has one shooter—“Metroid Prime.” The company has
abandoned sports.
“Nintendo needs to develop a Western-centric development network,”
says Taylor, and he is right. The problem is that with the admirable
exception of Retro Studios, Nintendo seems content letting second-party
partners like Rare and Silicon Knights slip away.

5. Keep doing what you do right

As angry and pessimistic as some gamers have become about Nintendo,
other insiders believe that Nintendo is doing many things exactly
right. “Nintendo is listening to a good mixture of customers and game
developers,” says Richard Doherty, research director of
Envisioneering.
Had Nintendo read the reviewers and bulletin boards, the Pokemon series
might have died two or three years ago. It didn’t, and Pokemon
“Ruby” and “Sapphire” both made it on to the NPD Group’s list
of the top 10 selling games of 2003. “Fire Red” and “Leaf
Green” are among the top sellers of 2004.
Many reviewers complained about the cel-shaded look of the new
“Zelda” game right up until the release of “Wind Waker.” Then
they proclaimed it. Now Nintendo is effectively breaking the
“Zelda” franchise into two separate lines with the ‘adult Link’
in games with more realistic graphics and the ‘young Link’ remaining
in cartoon-like cel-shading.
Despite all of the criticisms, Nintendo still manages to do many things
better than any other company in the business.

6. Stop with the mid-course corrections and hold to the basics

What did Sony and Microsoft do that was so brilliant with the launches
of their first console systems? Nothing. But even when things went
wrong, they kept to their game and that made a difference.
Saturn smeared PlayStation during the launch window in Japan. The
following year, N64 out-launched both of them. Sony did not falter.
Ken Kutaragi went right on making alliances, arranging exclusive games,
and building an empire.
Sony’s growth was insidious in Japan. First it was behind both
Saturn and N64, then it was behind only N64, then it ruled the market.
For two years after the launch of Xbox, people joked that Xbox should
be called the “Halo Delivery System.” But Microsoft remained
steady. Microsoft executives arranged exclusive deals with unlikely
partners such as Tecmo and Ubi Soft. Games continued to look better on
Xbox. More recently, Microsoft broke Sony’s stranglehold on online
support from EA Sports.
Sony may have sold more hardware in this generation, but Microsoft
ended the generation with the chic factor.
Sony has always said that it pandered to the Playboy crowd—not
meaning Playboy readers, but rather suggesting that sophisticated and
older demographic. Microsoft said it was going after a tech-savvy
crowd. Even when Sony executives publicly berated their counterparts at
Microsoft, both companies stayed the course.
And Nintendo? Nintendo has bounced around. First GameCube was the
safe system for kids, then it grew up and competed with Sony and
Microsoft, only to become a system children and parents could trust.
The same thing has happened with GBA. First GBA SP’s clamshell
design was to make it more adult-friendly. Then DS materialized, and
GBA SP turns out to have been a kids system all along.
Nintendo needs to pick a strategy and stick to it; and in no area is
that more important than in handhelds.

7. Either do Revolution right or don’t do Revolution at all

In the end, Nintendo is going to need to make a stand. Executives at
both Sony and Microsoft have made comments about Nintendo owning the
handheld market. Now Sony has invaded that space. Microsoft may still
follow.
Nintendo should make its stand with Revolution. To do this, Nintendo
needs to do a lot of things right from the start.

First, it’s time for Nintendo to discover the Internet. In Kyoto,
just like the rest of the world, people access to the Internet and for
more than a game of “Phantasy Star Online.” Nintendo executives
admit that not adding DVD capability to GameCube hurt them, it’s to
make the same admission with the Internet. People may not use Xbox
Live, but they want the option.

Next, it’s time for Nintendo executives to listen to what their
customers tell them. People like pretty graphics. People want the same
games with better graphics. Nintendo executives say they want
Revolution to be as revolutionary as DS. Fine, but make sure the
graphics are hugely improved.

Not everyone agrees with this. Richard Doherty compliments Nintendo
for not trying to “create a super computer in a $300 game box.”
This, he says, is what will separate Nintendo from Microsoft and Sony.
But if Microsoft and Sony are successful, that separation may not be
good.

The truth is that if good old “Madden NFL” looks better and plays
better on PlayStation 3 and NextBox, Maddeneers are going to buy those
systems. And, for the record, “Madden NFL 2004” was the best
selling game of 2003.

The best of all worlds would be for Nintendo to join forces with
Microsoft. Nintendo would handle Japan, Microsoft would launch in the
United States. Microsoft would make the box, Nintendo would make the
controller. Software would be shared.

Since that is not going to happen, Nintendo needs to launch on time
with good software and a strong proprietary library. If Microsoft
launches in 2005, Nintendo should launch in 2005 as well. Do not pull a
Dreamcast/3DO and come out too early, but do not allow the competition a
one-year head start. Contrary to what former Nintendo VP Peter Main
said in his final press conference, there is no benefit in coming last
to the party.
Finally Nintendo needs to have enough hardware at launch. Avoid
shortages—real or trumped up—and fill the channel.

Nintendo can still recapture much its former glory, even in this
competitive marketplace. If the Red Socks can break their 50-year
curse, Nintendo can break out. What Nintendo cannot do is continue to
make the same old mistakes and survive."

________________________

[ThirdMarioBro]

Almost done, I promise....

1. Abandon the ‘belle of the ball’ mentality.
Yeah, act like you're in trouble and covering your ass. Good way to gain consumer support. People don't buy what looks like a sinking ship.

2. Forget the bottom line.
That much I'll agree with. They have to realize they're going to have to loose some cash and invest in some REAL advertising. Movie theatres, TV, print, and everything else at once.

3. Know your market and stick to it.
So he's basically saying Nintendo is for kids,a nd they should never aspire to be anything more?...
If you admit you're a kid's company, then you're going to be stuck to a few rules. 1. The parental groups will then have reason to attack you for any "non family friendly" thing you do, and you'll have no way to fight because, you said it yourself "Nintendo is a kid's company". Ever heard of the rageing granny's? They're just itching for this announcement. Nintendo needs to branch out, not shrink they're market even more.

Oh, and perfect Dark wasn't even on Gamecube.....neither was Conker (thanks Peanut)

4. Americanize, Americanize, Americanize
Oh yes, turn yourself into your competition. Real way to define yourself. Nintendo needs to expand soe in the US, but not at the cost of what they are. They're a Japanese company. They just need to establish some better third party ties to take care of the generic stuff Americans tend to buy. They're working on that.

5. Keep doing what you do right

Sooo, he just balled them out for everything they've been doing, and now tells them to keep on doing it? The man's a walking contradiction.

6. Stop with the mid-course corrections and hold to the basics

They are. Gamecube has been slowly on the rise lately, and this year they're going to smear everything. They're finally getting off they're ass and giving their fans what they want. They making console exclusive FPS's for the American market, they're FINALLY giving us the Zelda we really wanted, and Mario 128 ACTUALLY exists and is coming. They're slowly changing to accomidate the demands of what the fans want, while gradually bringing in the innovation to go along with it (DS).

7. Either do Revolution right or don’t do Revolution at all
How can he be saying this when no one has any idea what in the hell Revolution is? Oh, and Nintendo's not listening to their fans? See number 6.
And "Up the Graphics"? Hasn't he seen the EA images? They were almost photorealistic.

Steven Kent is ranting on about things that don't even make sense. yeah, the GBA is 4 years old. It kicked DS and PSP's asses combined in Japan last year (only counting Christmas sales), and it always did so to superior competatiors in the past. Know your history Kent. Jsut because it's older technology dosen't mean it is instantly dead. He writes the DS off as though it's been nothing but a failure since release. Graphical Prowess is not everything, ESPECIALLY in a handheld where the graphics aren't as easily seen. Oh, and the DS's screens may be samller, but they're a hell of a lot brighter than what people will have to run the PSP at to see it. People don't want to play a game on a console, then go play the same exact game on their handheld. They want something they can play fast, and in a hurry because they won't have much time.

Oh, and that "Nintendo would work great as a third party" crap? That's what everything said about Sega. Now they're a bought out former giant that makes games like "Amazing Island". They have no spunk left.

Sorry for the triple post here, but it wouldn't fit otherwise.

[Peanut]

That guy is just a ranting jackass. He stumbles all over the place and makes points that come nowhere close to being valid.

[Kid Icarus]

Actually, TMB, I can see where he's comming from.

Nintendo hasn't really changed with the market. We keep hearing that "we're working on building up ______" and then they get rid of what ever was helping them do it (example, changing their kiddy image. Had Eternal Darkness been given a PROPER ad campaign, that game could have been HUGE, as it should have been). They arn't being aggressive anymore, and they're at the point where they have to be.

Revolution's going to be a "put up or shut up" deal I think. Nintendo can't afford to make the same mistakes they made with the N64, and then again with the Gamecube, a third time. Hardware's going to be expensive this time around, it'll have to be. They're going to have to lose money on ads, and they're going to have to cut liscenisng fees to exactly where Sony and Microsoft have them.

If Revolution fails, I strongly belive Nintendo won't have any other choice but to move solely to the handheld market. That is, if they can keep it. He makes another good point about them not being able to keep up stock of DS's. It works for a while, yes, but if they're still having these problems when the PSP hits do you really think people are going to wait to pick up a system? No. They'll grab the PSP and Metal Gear Acid.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fanboy to the end.... but it'd just be stupid to ignore the problems Nintendo has as a company. If they don't improve their buisness, we might not have Nintendo games much father after this next generation. And like I said, I'm starting to get tired of the "we're improving it" line. If it was getting improved, Gamecubes would be flying off shelves. They're not, and Nintendo really needs to figure out how to fix that.

[Peanut]

I'm really not seeing any light at the end of this tunnel. The world is just changing too much. Old Skool isn't going to last forever, nothing lasts forever. This whole gangsta-sizing of society has really brought out the "you need this to be cool" attitude in just about everything. Nintendo just isn't cool anymore, lets face it. Ludacris is singing about PS2's, 50-Cent is singing about the Xbox...Nintendo doesn't even get a line in a popular rap song. Things have to change or be swept away, and I fear more and more Nintendo is headed for that latter route.

[愛]

I agree. Something needs to be done. Nintendo can't just sit around and wait for some miracle. They need to advertise, and appeal to the general public, even if they have to submit to the rap community. Their fan base is large, but they can't survive on that alone. They need new "recruits." If they don't do this soon, I don't see much in their future. That'll make me sad, indeed.

[Kid Icarus]

And, once again, the day Nintendo stops making games is the day I stop playing them.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Same here. The thought makes me depressed.

*writes editorial on subject*

[jeff the cheff]

I actually did hear "gamecube" in some rap song. It was no 50 cent or ludacris, but it was there!

[ThirdMarioBro]

Last night's rant from Steven Kent stirred up some conterversy, but here's some good stuff. I won't repost the article, because he asked me not too, but you gotta read this. This one is gold.

http://gc.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=4105&pg=1&comments=

This man is my boss. I love my job.

[Kid Icarus]

Update on my Mario 64 DS progress. 119 stars. All that's left is 4 from that stupid rainbow cruise level that I hate with amazing ammounts of passion, some 100 coin stars (every level after the ghost house), and the castles secret stars. Olmost there.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Figured it out, I got the last of the mini-game rabbits, and after wandering about the castle forever, got the day-glo rabbits.

150 Stars = This game's been owned.

In other news, there's news going on of financial dealings between Nintendo and Silicon Knights. IGN keeps dropping hints, and the rumor is it's a buyout ala Retro Studios. Please God let it be true. Perhaps they're finally kicking into action.

[Kid Icarus]

If that's true, then it proves there's a god!

[愛]

Silicon Knights, eh? That sounds pretty huge. Maybe there is some hope.

[ThirdMarioBro]

And it would prove that all out mindless rambelings aren't just hopeless dreams.

*prays*

[Barkworm]

Nintendo should also buy Capcom and Namco. That would be more than interesting.

[ThirdMarioBro]

No, that'd be heaven. They should start with Capcom. They have it coming.

Bah, Silicon Knights would be more than enough to make me happy.

[愛]

Having more allies on Nintendo's side would definitely work to their advantage. They still have the advertising problem, though. Then again, with other allies, that should boost up some.

And a quick mention, TMB, nice avatar. Welcome to the Battle Royale Club. :D

[ThirdMarioBro]

he he, thank you :D

[Kid Icarus]

If this happens, another plus, i I won't have to worry about Too Human showing up on a system I won't buy :D.

[Kid Icarus]

Double post, bad bad. I know. But this is some cool stuff I found....

http://www.zoonami.com/intelligence/surveillance/ocarina_of_time.php

Zoonami, a European developer who was funded by Martin Hollis (lead on Rares Goldeneye and Perfect Dark teams), has tons of info as to how Ocarina of Time was made.

If you're even slightly interested in game design, it's a GREAT read. That water Temple chart, and then the map they have, is CRAZY. I never realized that much work went into making that level so damn frustrating.

[jeff the cheff]

64 stars on SM64DS. I love this game.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Double post, bad bad. I know. But this is some cool stuff I found....

http://www.zoonami.com/intelligence/surveillance/ocarina_of_time.php

Zoonami, a European developer who was funded by Martin Hollis (lead on Rares Goldeneye and Perfect Dark teams), has tons of info as to how Ocarina of Time was made.

If you're even slightly interested in game design, it's a GREAT read. That water Temple chart, and then the map they have, is CRAZY. I never realized that much work went into making that level so damn frustrating.

That water Temple chart scares me. Whoever drew that has to have long short term memory, or be completely insane.

http://gc.advancedmn.com/index.php
or
http://gc.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=4063


Say hello to my first article, "The Legendary Race - The History of F-Zero". I write this a while back. It covers the entire history of F-Zero. Tell me what you think. :D :D :D

[Peanut]

Nice work TMB. Looking forward to more of your stuff!

[Kid Icarus]

Actually, TMB, I'm thinking that came from Nintendo. Zoonami was funded by Nintendo if you recall... and Hollis has a good background with them as well.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Okay then, I guess it the madness of Creative Geniuses. :lol:

[Leo656]

I didn't read all the posts in this thread, so I apologize if I said anything that was already said, or anything like that.

My opinion on Nintendo is that they're simply my favorite game company, because they are exactly that: a GAME COMPANY. They understand the business and are commited to quality over quantity, and to me, that's important. Sony and Microsoft, for all their positives, are not game companies; they're technology/software/consumer electronics companies who got into the business as a way to pad their already-huge earnings. We all know videogames sell, thus it's no surprise that "Playstation" is Sony's most successful brand ever. But the "outsider" status of Sony and especially Microsoft has always bothered me a little bit. They may put out quality merchandise, but they aren't committed the way Nintendo is. They don't live and die by their products' success and, as such, I just never got the feeling that their games were as "polished" or that as much effort went into them as I do from Nintendo's products.

There are exceptions, nor am I blatanly biased or anything. I own an NES, Super Nintendo, N64, PS2, Genesis, Dreamcast, XBox, Gamecube, and I had a GBA and even a Coleco-Vision with the Atari 2600 add-on module before they were stolen. I own almost 200 games across all systems and have never sold or traded in any game I've ever owned. I could be called a "hardcore gamer". The point is, I love games. I play a lot of 'em, new and old. And I like to play good games. I don't like to look forward to a game for months, only to play it and find out that it sucks.

And to me, the "Nintendo difference" means that, even if a game like Zelda gets delayed for over a year before its release, I'm still 99.9999999% sure that it'll not only kick ass, but possibly be even better than the previous games in the series. Because that's what Nintendo does better than anyone else: make games. The two biggest gripes against them are the fact that the best games are almost ALWAYS delayed, and that there just ain't enough of them. But as a consumer, a paying customer, I myself would rather wait long to buy a few games that are almost guaranteed to be good or even great, rather than sift through a sea of sh*t to find a few gems.

And that's what looking for good games on XBox and PS2 can be like at times: looking for diamonds inside a river of feces. They have great games. Metal Gear Solid. Final Fantasy. Star Wars: KOTOR. Some truly awesome, great games that you can't get anywhere else. But the fact is, both companies, not being dedicated solely to the game biz, employ the "throw sh*t at the wall" practice, figuring that if their system has a library of a billion games, well then surely a few of them will be true classics by default. And that works. But it's also been said that a hundred monkeys sitting at a hundred typewriters can somehow come up with Shakespeare, and yet, I know of no major literary publisher with a "drunken primate" division.

The way I see it, the only major problem Nintendo has is an image problem. Because of Mario, Zelda, etc., people see them as the "kiddie company" when that's not really the case at all. They have their "mascot characters", but so do the other companies. It's just that the best games for every system are what gets the most press, and while the best PS2 games are often stuff like GTA and Final Fantasy, and XBox has Halo and its sports games, the best Nintendo games as far as overall quality are Mario, Zelda, etc., "kids characters". but that's just because Nintendo's in-house team is about as good as it gets when it comes to game development. If they could shake their "kiddie" image, more third parties might be more interested in developing games for the Nintendo systems, and they could suddenly become the top game company in the world again. I don't see their situation as being as bad as some say. I think they'll still be around long after Microsoft gets bored with the biz, especially since in Japan, the Motherland of video games, the XBox isn't such a big deal, to put it mildly.

Personally, I don't think people buy systems based on image as much as what they like to play. I like wrestling games. When N64 and Playstation were at war, I had both systems, but I played the N64 more because they had better wrestling games. So far on XBox, the only exclusive games for it that make me glad I own it are the Star Wars: KOTOR games (the first KOTOR is one of my favorite games ever, luckily for XBox), and since I don't like Halo, nothing else exclusively for that system thrills me. Every system has its specialties, genres that it does better than anyone else: Nintendo has its platformers, PS2 its RPGS, and XBox has sports games. I think that the market will continue to sustain things as they are, at least into the next console generation.

But then, that's just my two cents. :)

[愛]

You basically just covered all...whatever pages we have in this thread in one post, minus the TMB fanboy comments. :lol: Think of it as a little "this is what's going on" post.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I didn't read all the posts in this thread, so I apologize if I said anything that was already said, or anything like that.

My opinion on Nintendo is that they're simply my favorite game company, because they are exactly that: a GAME COMPANY. They understand the business and are commited to quality over quantity, and to me, that's important. Sony and Microsoft, for all their positives, are not game companies; they're technology/software/consumer electronics companies who got into the business as a way to pad their already-huge earnings. We all know videogames sell, thus it's no surprise that "Playstation" is Sony's most successful brand ever. But the "outsider" status of Sony and especially Microsoft has always bothered me a little bit. They may put out quality merchandise, but they aren't committed the way Nintendo is. They don't live and die by their products' success and, as such, I just never got the feeling that their games were as "polished" or that as much effort went into them as I do from Nintendo's products.

There are exceptions, nor am I blatanly biased or anything. I own an NES, Super Nintendo, N64, PS2, Genesis, Dreamcast, XBox, Gamecube, and I had a GBA and even a Coleco-Vision with the Atari 2600 add-on module before they were stolen. I own almost 200 games across all systems and have never sold or traded in any game I've ever owned. I could be called a "hardcore gamer". The point is, I love games. I play a lot of 'em, new and old. And I like to play good games. I don't like to look forward to a game for months, only to play it and find out that it sucks.

And to me, the "Nintendo difference" means that, even if a game like Zelda gets delayed for over a year before its release, I'm still 99.9999999% sure that it'll not only kick ass, but possibly be even better than the previous games in the series. Because that's what Nintendo does better than anyone else: make games. The two biggest gripes against them are the fact that the best games are almost ALWAYS delayed, and that there just ain't enough of them. But as a consumer, a paying customer, I myself would rather wait long to buy a few games that are almost guaranteed to be good or even great, rather than sift through a sea of sh*t to find a few gems.

And that's what looking for good games on XBox and PS2 can be like at times: looking for diamonds inside a river of feces. They have great games. Metal Gear Solid. Final Fantasy. Star Wars: KOTOR. Some truly awesome, great games that you can't get anywhere else. But the fact is, both companies, not being dedicated solely to the game biz, employ the "throw sh*t at the wall" practice, figuring that if their system has a library of a billion games, well then surely a few of them will be true classics by default. And that works. But it's also been said that a hundred monkeys sitting at a hundred typewriters can somehow come up with Shakespeare, and yet, I know of no major literary publisher with a "drunken primate" division.

The way I see it, the only major problem Nintendo has is an image problem. Because of Mario, Zelda, etc., people see them as the "kiddie company" when that's not really the case at all. They have their "mascot characters", but so do the other companies. It's just that the best games for every system are what gets the most press, and while the best PS2 games are often stuff like GTA and Final Fantasy, and XBox has Halo and its sports games, the best Nintendo games as far as overall quality are Mario, Zelda, etc., "kids characters". but that's just because Nintendo's in-house team is about as good as it gets when it comes to game development. If they could shake their "kiddie" image, more third parties might be more interested in developing games for the Nintendo systems, and they could suddenly become the top game company in the world again. I don't see their situation as being as bad as some say. I think they'll still be around long after Microsoft gets bored with the biz, especially since in Japan, the Motherland of video games, the XBox isn't such a big deal, to put it mildly.

Personally, I don't think people buy systems based on image as much as what they like to play. I like wrestling games. When N64 and Playstation were at war, I had both systems, but I played the N64 more because they had better wrestling games. So far on XBox, the only exclusive games for it that make me glad I own it are the Star Wars: KOTOR games (the first KOTOR is one of my favorite games ever, luckily for XBox), and since I don't like Halo, nothing else exclusively for that system thrills me. Every system has its specialties, genres that it does better than anyone else: Nintendo has its platformers, PS2 its RPGS, and XBox has sports games. I think that the market will continue to sustain things as they are, at least into the next console generation.

But then, that's just my two cents. :)

Daaaaamn, that just about covered it all. Very VERY well said Leo.

[Kid Icarus]

With any luck, Reggie's going to do some miracle work on Nintendo image. It's already started, with the DS ads using sex to sell (Someone, somewhere, wants to touch you right now... Touching is good... Go ahead, touch it... ect).

Part of the problem with their image is NCL's strangle hold on NOA. NCL's forcing NOA in to a Japanese business plan that's focused on Japan, not a Japanese buisness plan that focused on America. The gaming market in Japan IS crashing. It's not going fast now, but it'll be picking up speed soon. Thats where these "the old way of making games doesn't work anymore" things are comming from. That just doesn't apply here though, and word is NCL's opened their eyes, and they're giving Reggie tons of controll over marketing in the US (pgc just had an editorial on this, which is where I've gotten most of my info from).

And Leo, great post. You forgot something though ;). Nintendo's also focused on changing the way we play games. I have a strong feeling the DS is just the starting point. Revolution's going to be one hell of a machine, if the rumors about it are true. It'll be even bigger if they find a way to make it backwards compatable from NES-GCN.

[Leo656]

I did? damn, I am good :lol:

As for Nintendo changing the way we play games, they definitely are good at that, as they do have a lot of unusual and revolutionary ideas. Not all of them hit, though. For every Game Boy that changed the way we play games and became an entire market in itself, there has been a Virtual Boy, Power Pad, R.O.B., or Power Glove or something.

Though I used to f*cking RULE at World Class Track Meet for the Power Pad... I gotta dig that thing out one'a these days... but aaaanyway...

I'm torn on the whole "connectivity" thing. Originally, I felt the whole thing had potential way back when the concept was first floated around back in the tail end of the N64 era. Doing things by hooking your GBA to your 'Cube is a swell idea, but there's a little something lacking in the way of using it as a multiplayer technique, especially the expensive nature inherent in GBA-GBA or GBA-GC connectivity. I don't think entire games should be designed around the gimmick as it exists currently, but having it as an extra in a bunch of games could work better.

I know a lot of people harp on Nintendo's online strategy, but I'm not sure that's such a big deal and actually proceeding with an online strategy may, in fact, be more harm than good in the long run. Some people, like me, could not care less about online gaming, and they do make up a large part of the videogame-playing public. Furthermore, most gamers' online gaming needs are already being satisfied by XBox Live and so on, so aside from a few exclusive games, Nintendo's entry into the online market could in fact do them harm by further splitting a market that is a relatively small part of the whole picture. They might turn out to be smarter in the long run by avoiding competition in a market they probably wouldn't be able to make a huge impact on anyway, and focusing on what their strengths are: quality games and systems, and dominance of the handheld market (I believe that Nintendo will still be the dominant name in the handheld market despite Sony's PSP attempts). Would it be worth all the trouble and dollars necessary, just so people could play Mario Kart online? Because aside from exclusivity for certain titles, I don't think Nintendo has overall very much to gain by going online.

On the subject of system quality, I just wanted to say that I find Nintendo products in general to be insanely sturdy. My original NES from 1987 still works just fine, and the battery in my Adventure of Link cart still has my original save from 1991 on it. :lol: I wonder why, if Sony's such a big name in consumer electronics, their game systems seem to break so easily. Pisses me off.

[Kid Icarus]

About online: The DS was built to go online. For free. Take that baby to some place that offers free WiFI, and you've suddenly got a highspeed internet connection. Reggie described this as "Noline" gaming.

And I really doubt Nintendo's going to make you pay a fee to play online. I'm imagining something where the My Nintendo account's used as your screen name.

That's the only way I'd play online, is if it's free. Nintendo also already has built in chat software for the DS that developers can access. I think the DS might also be able to act as a server, and do something with single card multiplayer over the net.

I'm sure we'll hear something durring E3.

About connectivity: Nintendo'll have this with Revolution, I'm sure, just because it can. Sony's also giving the PS3 the ability to link up with the PSP, so I guess it wasn't too bad of an idea ol' Ninty had after all. I didn't care for it much, but it'll be nice to have the option.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I did? damn, I am good :lol:

As for Nintendo changing the way we play games, they definitely are good at that, as they do have a lot of unusual and revolutionary ideas. Not all of them hit, though. For every Game Boy that changed the way we play games and became an entire market in itself, there has been a Virtual Boy, Power Pad, R.O.B., or Power Glove or something.

Though I used to f*cking RULE at World Class Track Meet for the Power Pad... I gotta dig that thing out one'a these days... but aaaanyway...

[QUOTE=Leo656]I'm torn on the whole "connectivity" thing. Originally, I felt the whole thing had potential way back when the concept was first floated around back in the tail end of the N64 era. Doing things by hooking your GBA to your 'Cube is a swell idea, but there's a little something lacking in the way of using it as a multiplayer technique, especially the expensive nature inherent in GBA-GBA or GBA-GC connectivity. I don't think entire games should be designed around the gimmick as it exists currently, but having it as an extra in a bunch of games could work better.

Connectivity was a good idea in theory, and still is. It was just way too early to be attempting something of that magnitude. We were still living in an age where the Link Cable had a use. Now even that has gone wireless. The Game Boy had to have special equipment to allow it to be set up to communicate with the Gamecube. Add on the fact that the Game Boy Advance wasn;t back lit at the time. Most people's living rooms or dens aren't known for being well lit. All of this made connectivity a problem to set up. But with the DS, the idea can finally come to life. Wi-Fi is built in, the screens are back lit, and the touch screen allows for new interface woth games. All of this could ingeniously be used with the Gamecube's suscessor, Revolution. I seriously doubt Nintendo would pass up such an opportuinity.

I know a lot of people harp on Nintendo's online strategy, but I'm not sure that's such a big deal and actually proceeding with an online strategy may, in fact, be more harm than good in the long run. Some people, like me, could not care less about online gaming, and they do make up a large part of the videogame-playing public. Furthermore, most gamers' online gaming needs are already being satisfied by XBox Live and so on, so aside from a few exclusive games, Nintendo's entry into the online market could in fact do them harm by further splitting a market that is a relatively small part of the whole picture. They might turn out to be smarter in the long run by avoiding competition in a market they probably wouldn't be able to make a huge impact on anyway, and focusing on what their strengths are: quality games and systems, and dominance of the handheld market (I believe that Nintendo will still be the dominant name in the handheld market despite Sony's PSP attempts). Would it be worth all the trouble and dollars necessary, just so people could play Mario Kart online? Because aside from exclusivity for certain titles, I don't think Nintendo has overall very much to gain by going online.

Nintendo has been reluctant to go online because they don't want to leave people out. It'd be a little difficult to split the market when the service would be free. The thing is, gamers are of all ages. People over the age of 16 can usually afford to pay monthly fees associated with online services (Everquest, Xbox Live ext), but anyone below that has to nag they're parents, who will all give the same answer. "Go outside and play" :lol: It leaves a huge age group out of the picture. If the service is free, uncompllicated, and easy to set up, then they will have no problem getting onboard. I imagine a world where gamers of all ages can come together to play the best online titles there are, without monthly fees, and new relationships can be forged between gamers simply because Nintendo had the vision to hold off on online this generation until they could find a way to simplify the entire process.

On the subject of system quality, I just wanted to say that I find Nintendo products in general to be insanely sturdy. My original NES from 1987 still works just fine, and the battery in my Adventure of Link cart still has my original save from 1991 on it. :lol: I wonder why, if Sony's such a big name in consumer electronics, their game systems seem to break so easily. Pisses me off.

Yes yes yes. I mean, I've seen Playstations fall 2 feet on to a concrete floor and shatter into three pieces, but Nintendo systems, namely the Game Boy in particular, I've seen literally be run over by a Ford truck and still work. It was unbelieveable. Then there's the Gamecube durability test. You'll find some videos for it if you go back a few pages in this thread. It was insane to see what that little thing could take. Bless those engineers.

Also, to comment on Gwg's point, NCL has realized how they need to market in America. Lot's of fans protest, but it's a necessary step to their survival. They don't have to change the type of games they produce...only the way they sell them. Nintendo has all these powerful hit and kickass titles, yet Sony projects a false kiddy image on them so people refuse to buy it thinking it's on the level of maturity of Strawberry Shortcake. Nintendo simply has to change the way they market these games. Sometimes, as much as I wish they did, American gamers in general don't tend to think as the Japanese public. Japanese gaming ideals don't apply in the United States. That is why Dragon Quest in Japan can sell multi millions, and GTA Vice City can sell 12 million units here, and the opposite dosen't happen in either country. American gamers have a different mindset.

There are those which play imports and will sift though a translation dictionary for hours on end just so they don't have to wait 3 months for Final Fantasy XII to be translated, but they are a minority in this country. NOA has finally been given the authority in recent times to stretch out and take an Americanized advertising stratagy twords their games. We've seen the first tidbits of this with the "Someone wants to touch you" DS advertisments from this last Christmas season. It was the beginning. So far into this year, nothing has been out of the ordinary, but that will change. This period is always a slow time for the industry. The real mess usually begins in March, and the launch of the PSP is only a testiment to that. At this point, you're most likely to see the birth of a new Nintendo.

The lesson is, Nintendo dosen't have to change the way they make games. That would be a betrayl of their foundations, and most likely serve to do nothing but alieniate their hardcore fanbase. Hardcore gamers see past the preconceptions, but most casual gamers do not. They must change the way they present those games to the American public. People want to play those games in this country, otherwise Nintendo would have died out eons ago. There are truckloads of new, unknowing gamers who have never set hands on a Nintendo product. If Nintendo's revamped advertising system can get their games into these people's hands, then those gamers can be "educated" in the Nintendo style of game design, and as a result, they will demand more from games. That is what competators see as the biggest thread from Nintendo. They know Nintendo is known for raising the bar in the evolution of gaming as we know it. That is why the others work so hard at keeping these games out of the people's hands. If they play them, they'll demand more from the products they buy. Even if they bought one Zelda game, put it down, and never touched another Nintendo product, they would still mentally demand more from any games they played in the future and be disappointed when something else didn;t stack up. That could lead to that person not spending as much on future game purchases. I believe this is what we will see in the coming year. Namely, Nintendo reaching out to these untrained gamers. Using Americanized advertising as a way to get their games into the hands of the untrained public, and show them once and for all, that Nintendo is not just for kids.

[Kid Icarus]

I think a lot of that has to do with Yamauchi stepping down. He's known for his "Americans are stupid buisness men, and don't know what the hell they're doing" thinking, after all.

Iwata, on the other hand, probably knows the markets are hugely diffrent, and is smart enough to realize that you have to try to appeal to American gamers in diffrent ways.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Yamauchi is a genius, but it was time for him to step down. We're on the rise. Our time will come again.

[Spitfire]

Amercian's just want money...this is why I cry to return to my homeland. Where sell outs get the crap kicked out of them in the streets!
Europe: The Angery Mans Country

[ThirdMarioBro]

Geek culture has always been stronger in Europe and Aisa than in America. Over here, the macho man rules. But that way of life is changing. We will rule them all soon.

[Kid Icarus]

lol

I dunno though, I think you HAVE to be about making money to start up a buisness and keep it running. Then again, I can think of a few that are known for losing money :).

[Spitfire]

Yes, but California is still by far the most media influenced state. And Im stuck living here. What ever TV, the radio, and magazines tells you to like everyone likes. It gets on my nerves <_<
Maybe I should just move to another state

[ThirdMarioBro]

No, don't do it. Everything east of you gets further and further into hillbilly country. You think people are dumb in CA? Try Oklahoma where we still have Pre-World War II beliefs. You don't agree, you're a public reject. Stay put Spitfire. You don't realize how much hell is over here.

[Kid Icarus]

Ew, that sucks Spitfire... wait, hold on. Gotta go to McDonalds, 'cause apparently I'm Lovin' It. *cymbol crash*. Hehehe.

If Nintendo DOES release a Pokemon MMORPG, what do you guys think about starting a Technodrome guild?

[愛]

I'm up for it. I'll be playing that damn game like it's a goddamn religion. I'd knock a f*ckin' kid out to take his place in line for it. I'd go so nuts...man.

[Kid Icarus]

Oh, I can think of at least six other people in this town alone that'd be on it nonstop. One kid's already raised about 30 pokemon up to level 100 in his LeafGreen game. I don't even have that many up to level 50 >_>.

[ThirdMarioBro]

I'm game. Gotta get my fix of Pokecrack.

[Kid Icarus]

*looks up from crushing his Pikachu Yellow version's casing* Huh? Oh, I'm not doing anything officer! I swear!

[ThirdMarioBro]

Damn MSN is showing out again. Ugh. :roll:

[Kid Icarus]

Yeah, it's done that a good three times to me tonight. Plus Livejournal's down. It's amazing I'm still on here, considering I have to work at 11 tommrow.