Comments 554

Re: Nintendo Unleashes Some Awesome Wii U eShop Trailers

Dark-Link73

@AJWolfTill "There will likely be some shovelwear Indie games..."

"Some"!?!? The Google Play has reached 1,000,000 apps on July last year after only being open for five years. Now, let us be conservative and let us say that only 10% (or one out of ten) apps are games. That's 100,000 games in Google Play! I don't have all the numbers but I am sure that's more games than all the games the big developers have released in their lifetime!

Now, let us look at the Wii. As of May 2013, the Wii had approximately 1,122 games. If we are again conservative in the calculations, let's say that only 20% of those games were top quality games and the rest were shovelware (224 vs 898), if we apply the same theoretical statistical ratio to my theoretical Google Play numbers, about 80k mobile games are shovelware!

Now, I realize there are several variables to consider such as not all mobile games are Indie, the price range, target population, etc. But even if we take all the possible variables into consideration, we still end up with tens of thousands of Indie games that are shovelware. That's hardly considered "some" by any stretch of the imagination. I haven't even considered Apple's App Store in my theory.

Does this mean we should "dismiss" Indie developers? Of course not! We should support them accordingly just as we support the big developers. But let's be realistic and stop praising Indie developers as if were gaming's saviors. People critique and judge big developers because they offer shovelware or mediocre games fort the sake of making a quick buck, what do everybody think most Indie developers do!?!? Make cheap mindless games for the sake of a quick buck!

In retrospect, I was wrong when I said that Indie developers were going to be the shovelware of this generation... They already are.

Re: Pure Chess DLC Will Be Available Day One, And Won't Cost As Much As You Think

Dark-Link73

@Damo Ok, so perhaps a "rip-off" was the wrong term to use. How about "false advertisement" or perhaps "enticing of a purchase under false pretenses"? The promotional video of the game showed around SIX different boards, not three (two of those boards were the Park Theme and Roman Theme board). During the length of the video, there wasn't any indication, or disclaimer, that the game would only have three basic boards and the rest would be sold separately. Thus implying that the base game would include ALL the boards advertised.

@kensredemption you say that EA and others "...abuse these commodities..." Indeed they abuse DLC, but they DON'T advertise it as part of the main game in their promos and press releases.

@damo I know by the headline of your article and your reply comments to other members that you have a bias in favor of indie developers (which I personally feel such bias shouldn't be exercised within the article itself [it's ok in the comments thought] but that's a debate for a different place and time). However, you also need to recognize when a developer, indie or not, has committed mercantile malpractices in an attempt to create hype and generate high sales. For my part, I am going to buy the game, but I don't think the developer deserves my full monetary investment in the game due to their unethical behavior, and as such, I'm going to wait until the game goes on sale, if ever.

It is the principle of the matter, and as provider of a product and a service, I think the developer has broken such principle.

BTW, false advertisement, is a way of "ripping off" consumer. Ergo RIP-OFF.

Re: Guitar/DJ/Band Hero DLC Catalogues Getting Unplugged at the End of March

Dark-Link73

@Cinaclov That's what I've always thought, but the way he stated "...all previously purchased music and content will still be playable after the deadline." made it sound that the DLC content will be playable only for a limited time until all GH, BH, and DJH are eventually shut down.

It's not my fault that the way companies' PR representatives communicate can be sometimes misconstrued.

Re: Guitar/DJ/Band Hero DLC Catalogues Getting Unplugged at the End of March

Dark-Link73

"...all previously purchased music and content will still be playable after the deadline."

Wait, so you're telling me that the all the DOWNLOADABLE Content I purchased for Guitar Hero and "downloaded" to my SD card is not really "downloaded" but actually cloud-based content!?!? And you still have the gaul to ask me to give you more money for a content that is bound to stop working in a year our two!?!?

Thanks but no thanks.

Re: Super Metroid is 20 Years Old Today

Dark-Link73

Could this milestone being the possibility of "The Year of Metroid"? It'd be awesome. Have a couple of eShop re-releases, maybe a compilation alas SMB/Kirby, or even an HD remake of the Prime Saga (Hunters included)! But let's be realistic, even if Nintendo were to announce "The Year of Metroid", I seriously doubt a brand new Metroid game would be released this year. If anything it'd be a compilation title.

Re: Weirdness: This Super Mario 64 Fan Remake is Fairly Impressive

Dark-Link73

@2Sang THANK YOU! That's what I said when the WWHD remake was announced. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great remake, but why make a remake of the game that probably has withstood the test of time three best!!! Miyamoto should've pressured Aonuma into making a MM, or even aTP HD remake instead of WW. I think Aonuma picked WW because one, it was the probably the easiest to convert and two, because Toon Link is Aonuma's pride and joy. Otherwise he wouldn't have used it in four different Zelda games.

Re: Aztez Is MadWorld Meets Empire-Building Strategy, And It's Coming To Wii U

Dark-Link73

@Sean_Aaron That's exactly what I was thinking. This game looks awesome but just to think how Madworld screwed with my eyes and head (it caused me more headaches than the VB did), I'm hesitant about it.

@Farmboy74 A Star Fox game made by PG? ONLY if they stay faithful to the Starfox classic formula (SNES/N64 versions). NO ON FOOT MISSIONS and most definitely NO crazy over the top anime music and gameplay (W101/Bayoneta). If PG goes the latter, it'll be another "Other M" fiasco.

@linkzero65 Pikmin is an RTS whereas this game, I don't see why this might be an RTS, looks just like a "beat them up" game alas Double Dragon.

Re: Little Inferno Has Sold A Million But Gamers Didn't Get The Message Behind It, Says Tomorrow Corporation

Dark-Link73

@Vriess Exactly! Something the developers failed to see is that a particular interpretation of underlying message is found only by individuals who have a strong internal emotional connection, and even conflict, to that message in particular. Those are the basis to the Rorschach Test (inkblot test).

In order words, expanding on what you said, underlying messages are perceived, not sought.

Re: Little Inferno Has Sold A Million But Gamers Didn't Get The Message Behind It, Says Tomorrow Corporation

Dark-Link73

@mystman12 I know. Not to be disrespectful to the developers, but it's hard to find their intended underlying message when the product contains a very strong presenting message (global warming) and other underlying messages. To me the burning of many material possessions was a metaphorical representation of the culture of consumerism and waste that has become the norm in western society due to the lack of attachment stemmed from the individualistic nature of our western society (the main character living by himself). Also, the communication with the neighbor via letter, to me, represented the lack of actual social and personal interaction that had become prevalent today due to the advent of the internet and cellular phones.

This is why I failed literature on a regular basis, my interpretation of the events in books were always different from the interpretations, as the faculty claimed, being the intented ones by the author (as if they really know what Shakespeare or Cervantes really meant to express 400 years ago).

Re: Feature: Looking Back on the Year of Luigi

Dark-Link73

I'm so disappointed in Nintendo. They have celebrated a few characters anniversary but they haven't celebrated their flagship character, Mario. Check this out:

2013: Year of Luigi.
2012: Year of Kirby.
2011: Year of LoZelda. (series as a whole)
2010: Year of Super Mario Bros.

Nintendo NEVER celebrated the year of Mario. In 2010 Nintendo celebrated the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. not Mario himself. In order to celebrate Mario Nintendo would have to celebrate his anniversary instead of Luigi's since they were both officially introduced as Mario and Luigi in 1983; OR, if you want to make the argument that Mario started with Donkey Kong, Nintendo would've had to have celebrated Mario's anniversary on 2006 (25th) or 2011 (30th), but in this case it doesn't really work because Mario wasn't Mario back then, it was "Jumpman".

Either way you see it, Nintendo's main mascot has been neglected. They're like the kid who's born around a day our two before Christmas but their birthday is never celebrated on the exact day because of the holiday.

Re: Infamous Series was Originally Inspired by Animal Crossing

Dark-Link73

@IceClimbers Animal Crossing is the perfect game for the casual gamer who doesn't have time to play a game for hours at the time. Everything happens in real-time so, unlike the Sims, there isn't the pressure to finish an event right away because you literally have all day to do it. The gameplay is rather simple which makes it easy for everyone to play.

Now, for the avid gamer, Animal Crossing taps on their internal drive for achievements and completion. Even though the game is open-ended, there are soooo many things to do and complete (furniture sets, house expansions, museum collections, clothing collections, etc.), that make the game becomes truly addictive.

And the characters are just too cute to resist! LoL

@Peach64 I believe the series became popular all the way back in Wild World with the ability of play and chat online with anyone in the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service AND sites like this (the original social media) that allowed us to exchange FC information with others around the world.

Re: Soapbox: Ignoring The Objectification Of Women In Games Won't Make the Problem Go Away

Dark-Link73

My comment most likely be lost at the bottom but what the heck...

Any women (and person in general for that matter) that complaints of the objectification of women (OoW) in video games need to wake up and smell the coffee. SEX SELLS! and as long as it continue to sell, objectification of women will continue to exist. OoW is EVERYWHERE. TV, magazines, internet, books, movies, EVERYWHERE. All those women that loved Fifty Shades of Grey? OoW is in it. Peach in Strikers? OoW is in it. The Bachelor TV show? OoW is in it. Stiletto shoes and summer wear? You can bet your butt OoW is in it!!!!

Do I enjoy it? As much as the next guy! Does that man I advocate it? Hell no (I have a daughter and I know how much she'll struggle in this man-oriented world). The point is, as long as we are driven to procreate in a sexual way for the continuity of the species, OoW will exist.
Please watch the profanity — TBD

Re: These Nintendo Illustrations to Highlight The Wii U Difference are Just Too Good

Dark-Link73

"It's little secret that Nintendo will be aiming to up its game, in territories all around the world, in selling the Wii U concept to the masses."

I thought they were supposed to do that last year (in which they failed miserably). I don't know, maybe because I got spoiled with the Wii's success but I don't Nintendo is doing enough with the Wii U. Perhaps it's the growing pains of their first HD console.

Re: Shovel Knight Release Pushed Back "A Few Weeks"

Dark-Link73

Is funny how if a big developer delays a game everybody (I know it isn't everybody) cries bloody murder, but if an Indie developer delays a game everybody just basically pad them on the head and say: "there, there. Don't worry, take all the time you need."

Re: Nintendo Confirms Presentations and Games for GDC 2014

Dark-Link73

@shingi_70 No my good sir! You're the one that is "bigly" wrong. It seems we've reached an impasse. As such it is obvious to me that the only way to solve or differences is through a duel! pulls out white glove I challenge thee to a duel to the death! smack! High noon. Tomorrow! in raspy voice THIS THREAD AIN'T BIG ENOUGH FOR THE TWO OF US!!!

LoL!

Re: Nintendo Confirms Presentations and Games for GDC 2014

Dark-Link73

@Unca_Lz @unrandomsam If we follow your definition then EVERY SINGLE Indie game that required a kickstarter is NOT an Indie game because they are not COMPLETELY independent of funding since they required external funding. Just because a studio makes distribution deals with major companies, it doesn't make the studio "dependent" or a second party programmer.

Unless Nintendo owns shares or stakes at PG, they (PG) are an independent studio. Thus every game they make, as long as they own the IP, is an independent game regardless of who funds it. Funding usually secures distribution rights as in Bayoneta 2. W101, if owned by Nintendo, then yeah it was a bad example, but if Bayoneta is owned by PG, then it is a good example.

Simple logic, just because most Indie games are small, digital distributed, and made by small studios; doesn't mean ALL Indie games are small, digital distributed and made by small studios.

This is a common fallacy called a "hasty generalization". (Btw, don't take it personal. I just love "devil's advocate" when I think I have a valid point, lol.)

Re: Nintendo Confirms Presentations and Games for GDC 2014

Dark-Link73

@shingi_70 Btw, I just noticed that you said that Nintendo owns the W101 ip, if that's true then its a bad example of a big budget Indie game. How about Bayoneta? If PG owns the IP for the series then those are Indie games.

The bottom line is that just because a game has a big budget, is not created on a "garage", and it has a wide retail release; it doesn't stop being an Indie game. As long as created by a completely independent studio, then it is an Indie game.

Re: Nintendo Confirms Presentations and Games for GDC 2014

Dark-Link73

@shingi_70 Just because Nintendo "funded" Wonderful 101, it doesn't stop the game from being an Indie game. Nintendo didn't make the game, Platinum Games (an INDEPENDENT studio) was hired by Nintendo to make the game. Nintendo claimed exclusivity distribution rights from PG because they forked out the money. Who do you think came out with the money to make Star Wars (an independent film) in the first place? George Lucas was broke. It was 20th Century Fox. They got distribution rights as part of the deal.

Your view of Indie games is part of the misconstrued view of most people. Just because it has a big budget, it doesn't mean it isn't independent.

Re: Nintendo Confirms Presentations and Games for GDC 2014

Dark-Link73

@rjejr @MrV4ltor Exactly right. Wonderful 101 is an Indie game because Platinum Games is its own independent studio. It doesn't belong to any of the big publishing conglomerates.

The same happens in Hollywood. Any movie that isn't made by the big studios (WB, Universal, Paramount, Columbia, et. al.) is an independent film. Little known fact: the Star Wars saga films (prior to Disney) and the Indiana Jones movies are independent films.