CowLaunch

@26

But they're not selling the GBA games later, that's exactly the point. The free games was a nice gesture, this though I just find annoying.

@18

I never suggested otherwise...

The 3DS seems rushed to me.

The launch seems to have been done before there were enough games (to beat competitors to the implement the 3D technology?) and this current policy seems hastily put together.

I'm going to have to vote for madness.

The free games was an ok idea, but not allowing later buyers to purchase the GBA games has annoyed me greatly. It doesn't matter which GBA games I do or do not want, it's the principle; Nintendo has basically stuck 2 fingers up to people who don't want to pay a huge amount for a portable console.

@Gumby

I can see it as being a reward for early adapters, and it addresses the price difference, but others not even being able to buy the GBA downloads is just going to annoy fans like myself.

Even if I could afford to order one today, it'd probably wouldn't get to me in time to register before the deadline. It's not the worst idea, and early buyers are effectively buying a game for $5 each, but the deadline is very short, I don't think it's going to entice that many more buyers. I mean, if your pay day is after the 11th, that's it. I think if Nintendo gave people more notice, it could really have paid off for them. We'll wait and see, but it looks like a rushed idea to me.

If the GBA games remain exclusive, then I won't buy a 3DS.

You could buy this on WiiWare, or Ocarina on VC.

Moo moo! CowLaunch says yes moo!

I'M SPEAKING UP! I WANT MAJORA'S MASK 3D ON THE 3DS!

Hmmm, tempting.

I want this!

As I expressed in a thread a while ago, I think we're edging towards a time where the handheld console and home console are the same thing, or maybe even an arrangement where Nintendo dominate the handheld market, and strike a deal with Sony or Microsoft to be able to take games from the portable system and play them on their consoles.

I seem to recall how 3rd party developers said flattering things about the GameCube and Wii before they came out, it doesn't necessarily mean anything.

I personally think the Wii U will bomb (casual market doesn't seem to upgrade their console as quickly as the hardcore) but then I said that about the DS as well.

As long as we don't see Mario's birthday suit.

Frog Mario, it'd be really good to have a different swimming control in a 3D Mario game. Maybe also they could enable Mario to use the fireflower underwater like he used to!

At 0.54.

Is that the Wind Fish?

I'm glad they didn't do that, but I'd like to see the idea realised in a later game though. Maybe they could have a similar dream world idea to Link's Awakening that's set entirely in Ganon's castle, with Link going into different dreams or something.

Hope they release Kirby's Dream Land 2 as well.

Glad that silliness over in Palestine has been sorted out, was getting a little formulaic. What's this about Xenoblade?

Sonic for me was going round my mate's house and playing on his Megadrive. Mario was the comfort of home, Sonic was a faster treat!

Last christmas I bought myself Sonic 4, and I really enjoyed it, for me the perfect example of how a new 'retro' game should be done (take note, New Super Mario Bros. team)

Hmm, as long as it's a bonus and not integral to progressing or unlocking stuff in the game, then fine.

Love the avatar Ecto-1

It's good to change it up. SMB3 and SMW both had exploration elements; the main objective was to get to the end of the level, but there were secrets fro those who who wanted to explore. Yoshi's Island was mainly an exploration game, with huge 2D levels. What I'd like to see are levels where you have to get to the end (like the FLUDD-less bits in Sunshine) based in the mushroom kingdom, with secret coins or something for those who want to explore and complete the game. I liked SM64, and it made sense to capitalise on the novelty of 3D by making it exploration based, but I think it's time for a different experience.

“something good is bound to happen!”

Ha ha, remember that.

I was so engrossed in this game as a child. I think this has far more charm than Link to the Past, in the same way Ocarina is a much more charming experience than Twilight Princess. I loved the references to Mario and Kirby as well.

They need to make a 3D Zelda with an over-world as dense as Koholint.

It may well be groundbreaking when it launches, but lets be honest, it does just look like a Wii update. Appearances can be deceiving, but that is the current appearance. My friend who read about it thought it was just a controller update when he saw it. Let me assure you, he isn't stupid, but rather is mostly busy working and studying. More work needs to be done by Nintendo to show people its not merely a minor improvement, but I'm sure they will. It's only just been announced after all.

@27

Yeah. Mario 3DS appears to have a lot of 2D sections, so why is this needed?

Yeah, releasing on 9/11 doesn't seem wise. I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo revise this.

Nintendo could be their own worst enemy here. I'd be quite content enough with the caliber of games on 3DS: Super Mario, Smash Bros. Luigi's Mansion, Mario Kart, Paper Mario...

The main innovation seems to be convenience, in terms of gameplay there doesn't seem much advancement from the Wii (even a backwards step as some suggested, with no pointer controls).

GameCube was an update in power, but the GBA couldn't produce the same types of games. With funds limited and the 3DS looking quite able, I might be happy to stick with the handheld.

But it's early days yet, and that Zelda footage does look good...

"Nintendo's successor to the Wii will be a more complete package that offers more convenience, with the goal of attracting more users by offering a home console that doubles as a portable system. This suggests the controller will be capable of performing as a individual device independent from the console."

Didn't that handsome chap CowLaunch suggest consoles may be going in this direction a while back?

'SquigglePants'? That's just silly.

3D fire pig!

Kirby's Dream Land!

I think it'll be another of the plethora of toon link games appearing on the handhelds. Slow down Nintendo and just make one or two really good ones!

If they didn't work on so many Zeldas at once these days, maybe they'd finally better Ocarina rather than just remaking it.

wowzers!

If it's not too expensive (like Pokemon Ranch) I like this.

There are 2 types of gamers, those who adore Kirby, and those who merely like him.

Thinking about it some more, it seems to be mainly in the media where these terms exist (now mostly the internet). I've never encountered it socially. When my sister's boyfriend would come round with his Xbox we'd play Gears of War; no mention would be made of my 'casual' taste for Mario. Similarly, when I was a kid I was largely oblivious to the apparent Mario and sonic divide; I'd be excited to play Sonic when around my friend's house, and he'd be pleased to Mario when at mine.

Then again, I was completely ignorant of the whole Blur vs Oasis rivalry, so perhaps I'm not a good judge.

Has anyone here actually been called 'casual' or 'hardcore' in person?

@The Fox

What nonsense, I'm not projecting anything Daddy!

@ Kid A

I'm a heterosexual man (honest) who loves Kirby, but it must be conceded that he is a bit camp!

Casual however, he is not. Have you seen the things he can do!

Seems fairly simple to me, Nintendo has to determine whether they are going to focus on mainly targeting the few who play many games (hardcore) or the many who play few games (casual, or softcore). Any other definition is redundant for a business.

As Nintendo has made record profits with the Wii, it would seem that 'casual' is the right approach (at least for producers). However the novelty of the Wii does seem to have worn off, and maybe they'd be best going for 'hardcore' again, as they did with the N64 (at least, a small dedicated following is what they ended up with). I hope they don't attempt both and get neither, as they did with the GameCube.

I'm not that old, but from what I can tell the notion came about with the N64 and it's competition with the Playstation, I never heard the SNES or the Megadrive described in either terms. I don't think the market was big enough back then to make that particular distinction.

I'm glad the gaming industry has grown sufficiently in size for such a distinction to be possible.

You're the Doc, Doc.

The picture in the article reminds me of a mural of a Soviet utopia.

Don't try too much at once, like the 3D visuals and gyro controls for Starfox, granted you can turn them off, but the combination still sounds terrible. Nintendo need to focus on new game ideas rather than trying to cram in as maybe gimmicks as possible (3D visuals is a fantastic gimmick, but it still is a gimmick)

I never really considered getting a game in this series, but I might buy this when I have a 3DS.

I personally liked the opening scene of Majora's Mask, immediately set it apart form other games in the series.

I enjoyed Twilight Princess a lot as I played it, but I hardly remember anything about it now, whereas memories of Link's Awakening (which also had a distinctive opening scene) Ocarina, and Majora still linger.

I was grateful that Twilight at least felt finished, unlike Wind Waker.

I just don't think I cared enough about the world in Twilight Princess. Maybe it's because I had a social life when I played Twilight, but I found Ocarina far more engrossing, and whilst there are aspects in Twilight and Wind Waker that I think are highlights of the Zelda series, they're just not as consistent as Ocarina for me.

Certainly in Twilight's opening scene and through much of the game, there isn't much of a sense that Link has a particular destiny, something that is crucial for Zelda game I think, or at least for the main entries in the series.

I have high hopes for Skyward Sword, I think it could finally topple Ocarina.

I don't think Ocarina is going to change much to be honest. I think Super Mario is going to launch the system.

Think it's likely they'll be a 3DS and Super Mario bundle, I'll hold out for that.

I think it's the parents who intend to give their young babies Resident Evil on the 3DS that should be questioning their self-respect.

well done gang.

What a pathetic launch line up.