As much as I want it, I also feel like it's more of a museum piece that should be preserved, since the 3DS does not support face plates like the GBA Micro...
So, I'll pass. Regardless of it being 3DS vanilla or XL. Besides, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, this thing would be a "oh look at me, I'm so rich" type of item, so it would be thief-bait.
@The_Fox Well... you're right... that's true... it would have been more accurate for me to say that the more durable models of hardware, such as the DS phat, were designed to last for at least 5 years without breaking. The revisions, on the other hand, are much more fragile...
Moving production to China after the Game Boy Color and Gamecube is when lifetime reliability started going downhill for Nintendo products... Though it's still not bad. My 12-year old GBA vanilla, 8-year old DS phat, and 6-year old Wii vanilla all still work as well as the day I first used them... EXCEPT for the GBA L-button, that's the first piece of portable Nintendo hardware that had the inevitable "shoulder button displacement syndrome" after prolonged use. Unfortunately, it seems like that carried over to the DS lite, and possibly the 3DS vanilla...
The Ukrainian developer 4A is probably comparing the Wii U processor to the latest and greatest $1000 Intel CPU, (which is something Crytek might also have done with the first Crysis), based on the absurd PC system requirements of Metro 2033. That was a shallow game which was designed to be a benchmarker for (practically) supercomputer hardware, just like Crysis before it. (Though Crysis, to Crytek's credits, incorporated some very interesting mechanics into their game, of which became increasingly lovingly detailed on higher end hardware.)
So yeah, 4A is just stroking their collective electronic manhoods on this one.
Also, if the PS3's processor is enough to assist running folding@home or Final Fantasy 13, with no slowdown, then there's no room to complain about the Wii U's processor. It's the Xbox 360 processor that needs complaining... it can't even handle true 1080p, forcing multi-platform titles to look like junk compared to PS3/PC titles... even in 720p, they don't look drastically better than boundary-pushing Wii titles...
The juicy little tidbit of inconvenient information that doesn't always get a spotlight during these conversations: organic LED 1080p displays give a richer and higher fidelity display than the various LCD (and possibly plasma) 4K displays- at a lower resource cost.
This is not only due to the improved efficiency and color/lighting management of well-made LED displays, especially those of well-made organic LED displays, but also because the human eye has trouble differentiating between the fine details of the visible light spectrum when viewing an LCD screen at such a high resolution. So ultimately, the graphical difference between a true 1080p and the upcoming 4K content on commonly available LCD screens won't be significantly noticeable for people who are not technophiles.
So basically... the Wii U technology is actually walking side by side with the widespread availability of relevant display devices, rather than prematurely jumping the gun, as their competitors always have.
@zionich It's been a trend with Monster Hunter for all the best stuff to only be available online or in ad-hoc party missions. It's unlikely that would change now, but we'll see.
Back in the day, Nintendo spent mondo resources building up a lot of hype and pomp for the N64 and Gamecube during E3 and their own Space World events. Yet, the sales did not match the deserving quality of the spectrum of games available...
So, when the Wii sold so well, without nearly the same kind of effort in advertisement beyond the basics, I think they realized how fickle hype and pomp truly are. So now, they just don't care about utilizing them, because they know that hype and pomp means nothing if it doesn't necessarily reap returns in kind.
It's not that they're lazy- they're still figuring out how to balance physical and digital marketplaces without falling into the same traps that Sony and Microsoft are now falling into. So, Nintendo is keeping quiet until the others play their hands. Premature releases and loud-mouthing is what got Sega into trouble...
My personal favorite Nintendo handheld is the Game Boy Color. It was the first one to reveal to me the mysteries of handheld computer innards. It was the final Nintendo handheld console which was manufactured in Japan instead of China, so it was the last one with a higher quality manufacturing process and better worker's compensation and rights. It is easy to open with a tri-wing screwdriver to clean and diagnose problems for. It came with an IR port for early online connectivity using cell phones... which was sadly never put to good use outside of Japan.
And finally...it is the only handheld device I have ever used which actually has it's screen visuals significantly and vividly IMPROVED by being used in direct sunlight! Most handheld consoles (especially the 3DS) have terrible visual fidelity under direct sunlight. The Game Boy Color is the one which truly encourages the user to go outside and use it to their heart's content during the day time on a nice day, then turning it off for the night!
I never did get the GBA SP or GBA micro- still have my GBA vanilla in working order, just in case for the odd Gamecube-GBA cable use or Oracle of Seasons playthrough. I just use my DS phat for GBA games. I got an old Nyko Wormlight, which is a little TOO bright, but it works well enough at night time.
Always been a gunner. In the first MH, between Diablos, Lao Shan Lung, and Fatalis, being a blademaster was not as good in the end game, despite having more emphasis and choices...
Sword and shield seemed interesting, but it's always super weak except for gathering materials and the odd status effect abuse...
But of course, I couldn't resist using the legendary Frozen Tuna!
@Dogpigfish Very true, their decision to go with a Wireless-N connector instead of the new Wireless-AC connector completely ruins this thing's chance of streaming through a stable broadband internet connection. Japan, Korea, and China are some of the only places in the world where Wireless-N meets it's theoretical potential of 300 megabyte per second transfer rates, so using Wireless-AC is the only hope right now of even coming close to that in other parts of the world in the commercial sector devices.
@Randomname19 I'm betting they're exactly who this device is going to be marketed towards... And the control design is most likely not a coincidence...
"As far as Shield goes, I wanted to correct one thing about how the PC display streaming works. The PC will stream to the display directly, not through Shield. Shield will pass controller commands to the PC. "
"Project SHIELD has the ability to stream PC games from a GeForce GTX-equipped PC as well."
It will be possible, but it won't be the only option.
"The device can also stream to an HD TV via HDMI or a WiDi-like wireless dongle. In fact, CEO Jen-Hsun Huang showed Project SHIELD playing a 4K video on an LG 4K TV."
Compatibility with any relatively new PC's won't be an issue. It might also be possible for this handheld device to compensate for a weaker yet relatively recently built PC or digital television, even for 4K displays in the coming years. This would be done wired, or wirelessly through Wireless N.
@207KD The N-GAGE was a horrendous control scheme nightmare; this device looks like anything but. Of course, the user interface, operating system layout, and business scheme have yet to be displayed...
The button and analog controls actually look like a significant step up from the PSP and Vita... even the 3DS does not impart as concise and neat an interface layout as this device.
That being said, using a touch screen with a pen stylus in some cases, and a thumb stylus in others, along with the potential for rumble through pseudo surround sound, or panoramic glasses-less 3D effects, is still more interesting than the admittedly conservative control scheme this NVIDIA device has. So it probably won't do anything particularly stylish and interesting, beyond it's technical specs.
@ajcismo In contrast to the competitors of those previous Nintendo systems, however, this one is probably not a direct competitor to Nintendo systems. It's more likely an all-in-one device meant to target the people who are savvy in the mobile market, but do not appreciate the rampant propagation of touch screen controls.
If they can build a business architecture to work with or rival Steam and the upcoming Ouya console, they might actually stand a better chance than the Vita at survival.
So THIS is the rumored Microsoft handheld console... though it's not labeled as such, NVIDIA has many more business ties to Microsoft than AMD and ATI, (or any other corporation for that matter) so it may as well be one and the same.
If it truly uses the much-publicized Tegra series of shared GPU/CPU in a mobile architecture, (and Tegra 4 instead of 3, no less!) then this device will probably be even more technically powerful than the Vita or the most recent Ipad. Depending on their business structure, they could indeed shake up the market... both for handhelds and mobile.
And honestly, it really doesn't look that bad. Certainly better than the 3DS while attached to a Circle Pad Pro, or the schizophrenic control focus of the Vita...
@datamonkey Agreed. We only have two good options to express that sentiment in this case, though: Buy a physical copy, or build up a resume to work for Nintendo.
Since it's Fire Emblem, I want the copy to be physical, but if there are any special benefits to downloading, I will consider it.... such as bonuses towards the DLC...
the Kevin Butler actor was sued for the audacity of appearing near a Wii while working for Bridgestone
What's audacious is the outrageously litigious business culture of the USA...
Most seriously, it emerged that manufacturer to the world's biggest companies, Foxconn, had employed children as "interns", during which they worked excessive hours in difficult working conditions. These violations had occurred in a Wii U facility, turning the heat on Nintendo after earlier Foxconn violations had affected Microsoft, Apple and others.
It's good to have seen the Nintendo Life staff taking this issue to heart by reporting on it. I hope Nintendo will do their part to rectify the relevant worker issues in the future...
Nyko attempted to make the Circle Pad Pro pretty, a task more difficult than a manned mission to Mars.
LOL. I'm a broken record with this, but... should have made a sturdy/flexible thumb stylus instead...
After the news of retail games coming to the 3DS eShop, meanwhile, the well-worn debate about pricing reared its ugly head, with Satoru Iwata saying the following about the reasoning behind a download costing the same as a boxed game: "We do not hold such a premise that digitally distributed software has less value."
Talk about twisting words. That was a total farce. With digital distribution, you don't need to account for the cost of a product towards affecting the salaries of all of the people who are middlemen, distributors, shippers, packagers, and transporters. Not to mention the energy costs saved... So, the end product should logically cost at least $10/€10/£10 less. (For example, XSEED did just that with Unchained Blades.) Online shops DO NOT need the end user to pay more money to account for that absence. Such shameless corporate speak... My opinion of Iwata lowered after he said that, even if he is being pressured to do so.
@SCAR392 That's a very good point, and I agree with your sentiments. Nintendo consoles are the only ones which do not incorporate "planned obsolescence" into their manufacturing plans, compared to most of Sony's, Microsoft's, and Apple's products. For most technology corporations, manufacturing accountability is designed so that certain specific device models are the real deal, while others are just chortling time bombs. Nintendo products, on the other hand, tend to be built with the idea that they won't be replaced for at least another 5 years.
Not even one of my Nintendo consoles has broken on it's own over the years; even the old NES, SNES, and Game Boy still work... although my childhood rage bouts at luck-based games kinda made my 1st N64 bleed...
It's sad that Code of Princess is not being displayed nor advertised under the new retail releases in the eShop this week in the USA, it's hidden... It's pathetic that we Americans are apparently still so paranoid about "mature sexual themes" in computer games that a little skin showing prevents adequate advertising for game products, yet there's no problem when it comes to Victoria's Secret, movies, and celebrity TV shows...
@meltendo I agree. I still want to get Code of Princess, but charging an amount which accounts for physical middlemen, instead of an amount which accounts for digital distribution, is exactly the reason why the online console shops don't get more business than they currently do. $30 is the right price, not $40 or more. At least XSEED realizes this... But I can forgive Atlus, since they are so faithful in bringing us the good stuff.
@Ulala That could be prevented by capturing the billing information as it's sent, then storing it server side. I doubt Nintendo would allow such vital statistics to be transferred back, unencrypted, to the client side... I'm sure they were watching what happened when the Dreamcast allowed that to happen... very strange and bad stuff. For example... "getting NOL'ed" in Phantasy Star Online.
@teros That's Steam, which is always online only, full blown DRM enforcement. PSN has a half DRM, half DRM-free policy that allows one to back up files, even game saves; the only exception is game licenses. PSN-downloaded programs can all be used offline without any subversive analytic monitoring programs being enforced by Sony. Nintendo has a weird half DRM, half PRM (physical rights management) interpretation of Sony's methods. So Nintendo is actually not as bad as Steam and Xbox Live when it comes to DRM.
This is why it's more important than ever to be allowed to back up one's titles, DRM free, in a non-distributable format... If Nintendo wants to encourage hacking and piracy this way, hey, who are we to argue... They're the ones making it tougher on themselves.
Just for the record, Nintendo is actually not tyrannical, like Steam and Xbox Live are, when it comes to DRM. Nintendo just has a weird half DRM, half PRM (physical rights management) take. So Nintendo is really not a terrible offender when it comes to DRM- they just have strange taste in product management.
I might be in a minority when I say that I'm not displeased by their digital rights handling... rather, I'm intrigued...
The X-factor here is digital sales and super cheap old and new PC game bundles and deals. It was possible during the holidays to get many games on PC, mobile, or eShop for the price of one new Wii U, Xbox 360, or PS3 game disc; so of course it's not the least bit surprising that with the enormous expansion of options in the market since 6 years ago, there is almost no chance for the Wii U to sell as much as it's predecessor during this time period.
Retail is no longer the dominant distribution method. It will always have it's niche, but the temptation of lower prices through digital distribution is drastically changing the retail landscape. Even the mighty Nintendo is experiencing trouble surviving in the current marketplace environment, so the others must really be struggling...
And of course, GameStop is not reporting the abysmally low Vita sales in the same breath... You wanna talk about disappointing...
As for a 3DS cartridge expanding it's hardware limitations, that reminds me of the GBA type cart which introduced an internet browser solution for the DS phat/ DS lite...
The Circle Pad Pro is an afterthought hunk of junk used to seal the deal for Monster Hunter 3DS exclusivity, to keep it away from Vita using market pressure. Every other game was gravy. Thus, allowing for diehard dual analog purists who don't want to move beyond the old PS2 controls to stay within their familiar trappings. They weren't bad- I played Monster Hunter on the PS2 for over 100 hours. Those controls could definitely be greatly improved using a touch screen and thumb stylus, though...
There's no point for a dual analog attachment on 3DS. Take Monster Hunter for example: Move = Circle Pad, Aim = Touch Screen using thumb stylus. Attack = L or R, Activate weapon ability/Reload = L or R. Choose/Use item = D-pad or ABXY, Choose/Equip weapon/ammo = D-pad or ABXY. Character emote list = SELECT, Inventory and Options menu = START. The options menu would allow the player to set which button set does what. That's all you need. No need for an extra circle pad, just supply a good thumb stylus with the game, and separately.
It might be possible that some cards could be swiped on the Upad. The cards would come bundled with a 3DS promo or game, i.e. the Kid Icarus cards in the game box, and in the November 2012 issue of Nintendo Power. The 3DS could scan certain coded images, which could also be swiped on the Upad. In this way, through a wireless connection, a 3D accompaniment to an onscreen Wii U program could be accomplished.
Sounds far-fetched, but Miyamoto seems to hint at this sort of idea...
There's one caveat to all of this: If someone wants to clean up a severely broken released game (i.e., Breath of Fire 2 USA) to rewrite the translation, is that also still illegal? If the rewritten product is superior, and provided at no cost, who is to say that the fans should be denied from promoting their old favorites?
To deny them is to proclaim that customers should be doomed to leave crappy products alone, instead of allowing them to shine to their true potential. What good is a law if it is a bad one? Why bother following a bad law?
It's always sad when great games go the way of Okami... yet titles like the "Family" series for WiiWare keep getting made because someone out there keeps buying that trash...
For that matter, when the next mainline titles will be released, what will be the contrasting colors/versions, since they already ran out of ideas enough so to use the obvious "Black and White"?
Earth and Sky? Ancient and Future? Yin and Yang? ...Heaven and Hell?
This really depends on the platform and circumstances...
On PC and mobile, I think being DRM-free is essential for great customer service which treats them with respect. GOG.com is a good example of this. They trust their customers to not distribute their offline-capable products over torrent sites, and provide plenty of extras and forum support, which justifies the increased costs over services like Steam, Android Apps, and the iStore.
For home and handheld consoles, the publishers and executives aren't necessarily helping the developers' cause- hackers actually distribute superior versions of many products over the default sold ones, for better or worse. For example, the PSP firmware wars were a classic example of hackers creating and providing (free of charge) a completely superior product in every imaginable option. This same fate will also likely befall the Vita, at the current rate of Sony squandering it's potential. Even the previously indestructible PS3 software was hacked, infamously catalyzed due to Sony removing Linux support.
If Nintendo wants to avoid these pitfalls, they need to be vigilant in providing services which do not spit on their customers' intelligence. The R4 was likely an attempt to "modernize" the DS beyond it's admittedly GBA-like technological limitations, at least before DSiWare remedied that situation. Unfortunately, the ever-prevalant Famicom Disk System woes came back to haunt Nintendo in this case.
Overall, if your customers get a great deal, then pirating won't seem like a superior option by any stretch of the mind. Until more publishers and distributors realize this, pirating will be more likely to be fatal, rather than being just a nuisance.
Didn't see everything I would put up there, but still a good list nonetheless. Just goes to show the 3DS has come a long way from March 2011, the Wii U is bound to have many unique titles, reminiscent of the Dreamcast, and the Wii was far from a casuals-only system.
I thought Steel Diver was one of the only games since Star Fox 64 and Ocarina of Time that made good, atmospheric use of rumble use. In almost every game, rumble in controllers is completely useless. Even though Steel Diver is very short, it has some interesting ideas from Miyamoto that are seldom used elsewhere.
Comments 469
Re: Nintendo of America Confirms Fire Emblem: Awakening 3DS Bundle
As much as I want it, I also feel like it's more of a museum piece that should be preserved, since the 3DS does not support face plates like the GBA Micro...
So, I'll pass. Regardless of it being 3DS vanilla or XL. Besides, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, this thing would be a "oh look at me, I'm so rich" type of item, so it would be thief-bait.
Re: Team Ninja Considering More Titles For Wii U
Sure, go ahead, Team Ninja... just as long as it doesn't involve...
Re: GameStop Sales of Wii U Are Reportedly "Slightly Disappointing"
@EaZy_T Yeah, that employee probably would have been fired if their manager found out...
Re: Picked Up A Pre-Owned Wii U Console? You Could Have Access To Free Downloads
@The_Fox Well... you're right... that's true... it would have been more accurate for me to say that the more durable models of hardware, such as the DS phat, were designed to last for at least 5 years without breaking. The revisions, on the other hand, are much more fragile...
Moving production to China after the Game Boy Color and Gamecube is when lifetime reliability started going downhill for Nintendo products... Though it's still not bad. My 12-year old GBA vanilla, 8-year old DS phat, and 6-year old Wii vanilla all still work as well as the day I first used them... EXCEPT for the GBA L-button, that's the first piece of portable Nintendo hardware that had the inevitable "shoulder button displacement syndrome" after prolonged use. Unfortunately, it seems like that carried over to the DS lite, and possibly the 3DS vanilla...
Re: Team Ninja: Wii U Is "Definitely Next Generation"
The Ukrainian developer 4A is probably comparing the Wii U processor to the latest and greatest $1000 Intel CPU, (which is something Crytek might also have done with the first Crysis), based on the absurd PC system requirements of Metro 2033. That was a shallow game which was designed to be a benchmarker for (practically) supercomputer hardware, just like Crysis before it. (Though Crysis, to Crytek's credits, incorporated some very interesting mechanics into their game, of which became increasingly lovingly detailed on higher end hardware.)
So yeah, 4A is just stroking their collective electronic manhoods on this one.
Re: Team Ninja: Wii U Is "Definitely Next Generation"
Also, if the PS3's processor is enough to assist running folding@home or Final Fantasy 13, with no slowdown, then there's no room to complain about the Wii U's processor. It's the Xbox 360 processor that needs complaining... it can't even handle true 1080p, forcing multi-platform titles to look like junk compared to PS3/PC titles... even in 720p, they don't look drastically better than boundary-pushing Wii titles...
Re: Team Ninja: Wii U Is "Definitely Next Generation"
The juicy little tidbit of inconvenient information that doesn't always get a spotlight during these conversations: organic LED 1080p displays give a richer and higher fidelity display than the various LCD (and possibly plasma) 4K displays- at a lower resource cost.
This is not only due to the improved efficiency and color/lighting management of well-made LED displays, especially those of well-made organic LED displays, but also because the human eye has trouble differentiating between the fine details of the visible light spectrum when viewing an LCD screen at such a high resolution. So ultimately, the graphical difference between a true 1080p and the upcoming 4K content on commonly available LCD screens won't be significantly noticeable for people who are not technophiles.
So basically... the Wii U technology is actually walking side by side with the widespread availability of relevant display devices, rather than prematurely jumping the gun, as their competitors always have.
Re: Capcom Reveals Weapon Details for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
@zionich It's been a trend with Monster Hunter for all the best stuff to only be available online or in ad-hoc party missions. It's unlikely that would change now, but we'll see.
Re: Satoru Iwata Says That Wii U is "Selling Steadily"
Back in the day, Nintendo spent mondo resources building up a lot of hype and pomp for the N64 and Gamecube during E3 and their own Space World events. Yet, the sales did not match the deserving quality of the spectrum of games available...
So, when the Wii sold so well, without nearly the same kind of effort in advertisement beyond the basics, I think they realized how fickle hype and pomp truly are. So now, they just don't care about utilizing them, because they know that hype and pomp means nothing if it doesn't necessarily reap returns in kind.
It's not that they're lazy- they're still figuring out how to balance physical and digital marketplaces without falling into the same traps that Sony and Microsoft are now falling into. So, Nintendo is keeping quiet until the others play their hands. Premature releases and loud-mouthing is what got Sega into trouble...
Re: Hardware Classics: Game Boy Micro Famicom Edition
My personal favorite Nintendo handheld is the Game Boy Color. It was the first one to reveal to me the mysteries of handheld computer innards. It was the final Nintendo handheld console which was manufactured in Japan instead of China, so it was the last one with a higher quality manufacturing process and better worker's compensation and rights. It is easy to open with a tri-wing screwdriver to clean and diagnose problems for. It came with an IR port for early online connectivity using cell phones... which was sadly never put to good use outside of Japan.
And finally...it is the only handheld device I have ever used which actually has it's screen visuals significantly and vividly IMPROVED by being used in direct sunlight! Most handheld consoles (especially the 3DS) have terrible visual fidelity under direct sunlight. The Game Boy Color is the one which truly encourages the user to go outside and use it to their heart's content during the day time on a nice day, then turning it off for the night!
Re: Hardware Classics: Game Boy Micro Famicom Edition
I never did get the GBA SP or GBA micro- still have my GBA vanilla in working order, just in case for the odd Gamecube-GBA cable use or Oracle of Seasons playthrough. I just use my DS phat for GBA games. I got an old Nyko Wormlight, which is a little TOO bright, but it works well enough at night time.
Re: Capcom Reveals Weapon Details for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Always been a gunner. In the first MH, between Diablos, Lao Shan Lung, and Fatalis, being a blademaster was not as good in the end game, despite having more emphasis and choices...
Sword and shield seemed interesting, but it's always super weak except for gathering materials and the odd status effect abuse...
But of course, I couldn't resist using the legendary Frozen Tuna!
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
@Dogpigfish Very true, their decision to go with a Wireless-N connector instead of the new Wireless-AC connector completely ruins this thing's chance of streaming through a stable broadband internet connection. Japan, Korea, and China are some of the only places in the world where Wireless-N meets it's theoretical potential of 300 megabyte per second transfer rates, so using Wireless-AC is the only hope right now of even coming close to that in other parts of the world in the commercial sector devices.
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
@Randomname19 I'm betting they're exactly who this device is going to be marketed towards... And the control design is most likely not a coincidence...
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
@InternetBowser http://www.anandtech.com/show/6550/more-details-on-nvidias-tegra-4-i500-5th-core-is-a15-28nm-hpm-ue-category-3-lte
"As far as Shield goes, I wanted to correct one thing about how the PC display streaming works. The PC will stream to the display directly, not through Shield. Shield will pass controller commands to the PC. "
http://games.slashdot.org/story/13/01/07/1237223/nvidia-unveils-grid-servers-tegra-4-soc-and-project-shield-mobile-gaming-device
"Project SHIELD has the ability to stream PC games from a GeForce GTX-equipped PC as well."
It will be possible, but it won't be the only option.
"The device can also stream to an HD TV via HDMI or a WiDi-like wireless dongle. In fact, CEO Jen-Hsun Huang showed Project SHIELD playing a 4K video on an LG 4K TV."
Compatibility with any relatively new PC's won't be an issue. It might also be possible for this handheld device to compensate for a weaker yet relatively recently built PC or digital television, even for 4K displays in the coming years. This would be done wired, or wirelessly through Wireless N.
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
@207KD The N-GAGE was a horrendous control scheme nightmare; this device looks like anything but. Of course, the user interface, operating system layout, and business scheme have yet to be displayed...
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
The button and analog controls actually look like a significant step up from the PSP and Vita... even the 3DS does not impart as concise and neat an interface layout as this device.
That being said, using a touch screen with a pen stylus in some cases, and a thumb stylus in others, along with the potential for rumble through pseudo surround sound, or panoramic glasses-less 3D effects, is still more interesting than the admittedly conservative control scheme this NVIDIA device has. So it probably won't do anything particularly stylish and interesting, beyond it's technical specs.
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
@ajcismo In contrast to the competitors of those previous Nintendo systems, however, this one is probably not a direct competitor to Nintendo systems. It's more likely an all-in-one device meant to target the people who are savvy in the mobile market, but do not appreciate the rampant propagation of touch screen controls.
If they can build a business architecture to work with or rival Steam and the upcoming Ouya console, they might actually stand a better chance than the Vita at survival.
Re: Nvidia Unveils the Daunting Project Shield
So THIS is the rumored Microsoft handheld console... though it's not labeled as such, NVIDIA has many more business ties to Microsoft than AMD and ATI, (or any other corporation for that matter) so it may as well be one and the same.
If it truly uses the much-publicized Tegra series of shared GPU/CPU in a mobile architecture, (and Tegra 4 instead of 3, no less!) then this device will probably be even more technically powerful than the Vita or the most recent Ipad. Depending on their business structure, they could indeed shake up the market... both for handhelds and mobile.
And honestly, it really doesn't look that bad. Certainly better than the 3DS while attached to a Circle Pad Pro, or the schizophrenic control focus of the Vita...
Re: Fire Emblem: Awakening Will Be Available On 3DS eShop
@datamonkey Agreed. We only have two good options to express that sentiment in this case, though: Buy a physical copy, or build up a resume to work for Nintendo.
Re: Fire Emblem: Awakening Will Be Available On 3DS eShop
Since it's Fire Emblem, I want the copy to be physical, but if there are any special benefits to downloading, I will consider it.... such as bonuses towards the DLC...
Re: Feature: Nintendo in 2012 - Part Two
@ThomasBW84 Oh yeah, I know it was meant to be humorous It's pretty silly to think about how that would happen...
Re: Feature: Nintendo in 2012 - Part Two
Great year for gaming. Who says the golden age happened 20 years ago? If anything, it's happening now...
Re: Feature: Nintendo in 2012 - Part Two
the Kevin Butler actor was sued for the audacity of appearing near a Wii while working for Bridgestone
What's audacious is the outrageously litigious business culture of the USA...
Most seriously, it emerged that manufacturer to the world's biggest companies, Foxconn, had employed children as "interns", during which they worked excessive hours in difficult working conditions. These violations had occurred in a Wii U facility, turning the heat on Nintendo after earlier Foxconn violations had affected Microsoft, Apple and others.
It's good to have seen the Nintendo Life staff taking this issue to heart by reporting on it. I hope Nintendo will do their part to rectify the relevant worker issues in the future...
Re: Feature: Nintendo in 2012 - Part One
Nyko attempted to make the Circle Pad Pro pretty, a task more difficult than a manned mission to Mars.
LOL. I'm a broken record with this, but... should have made a sturdy/flexible thumb stylus instead...
After the news of retail games coming to the 3DS eShop, meanwhile, the well-worn debate about pricing reared its ugly head, with Satoru Iwata saying the following about the reasoning behind a download costing the same as a boxed game: "We do not hold such a premise that digitally distributed software has less value."
Talk about twisting words. That was a total farce. With digital distribution, you don't need to account for the cost of a product towards affecting the salaries of all of the people who are middlemen, distributors, shippers, packagers, and transporters. Not to mention the energy costs saved... So, the end product should logically cost at least $10/€10/£10 less. (For example, XSEED did just that with Unchained Blades.) Online shops DO NOT need the end user to pay more money to account for that absence. Such shameless corporate speak... My opinion of Iwata lowered after he said that, even if he is being pressured to do so.
Re: The Tragic Tale of Bonk: Brink of Extinction Developer Pi Studios
Bonk might actually be a good candidate for mobile... strange that it was shuttered, instead of transferred...
Re: The Tragic Tale of Bonk: Brink of Extinction Developer Pi Studios
@The_Fox They got it right, that's how "Texuns" spell "Texus".
Re: Picked Up A Pre-Owned Wii U Console? You Could Have Access To Free Downloads
@SCAR392 That's a very good point, and I agree with your sentiments. Nintendo consoles are the only ones which do not incorporate "planned obsolescence" into their manufacturing plans, compared to most of Sony's, Microsoft's, and Apple's products. For most technology corporations, manufacturing accountability is designed so that certain specific device models are the real deal, while others are just chortling time bombs. Nintendo products, on the other hand, tend to be built with the idea that they won't be replaced for at least another 5 years.
Not even one of my Nintendo consoles has broken on it's own over the years; even the old NES, SNES, and Game Boy still work... although my childhood rage bouts at luck-based games kinda made my 1st N64 bleed...
Re: Nintendo Download: 3rd January 2013 (North America)
It's sad that Code of Princess is not being displayed nor advertised under the new retail releases in the eShop this week in the USA, it's hidden... It's pathetic that we Americans are apparently still so paranoid about "mature sexual themes" in computer games that a little skin showing prevents adequate advertising for game products, yet there's no problem when it comes to Victoria's Secret, movies, and celebrity TV shows...
Re: Nintendo Download: 3rd January 2013 (North America)
@meltendo I agree. I still want to get Code of Princess, but charging an amount which accounts for physical middlemen, instead of an amount which accounts for digital distribution, is exactly the reason why the online console shops don't get more business than they currently do. $30 is the right price, not $40 or more. At least XSEED realizes this... But I can forgive Atlus, since they are so faithful in bringing us the good stuff.
Re: Picked Up A Pre-Owned Wii U Console? You Could Have Access To Free Downloads
@Ulala That could be prevented by capturing the billing information as it's sent, then storing it server side. I doubt Nintendo would allow such vital statistics to be transferred back, unencrypted, to the client side... I'm sure they were watching what happened when the Dreamcast allowed that to happen... very strange and bad stuff. For example... "getting NOL'ed" in Phantasy Star Online.
Re: Picked Up A Pre-Owned Wii U Console? You Could Have Access To Free Downloads
@teros That's Steam, which is always online only, full blown DRM enforcement. PSN has a half DRM, half DRM-free policy that allows one to back up files, even game saves; the only exception is game licenses. PSN-downloaded programs can all be used offline without any subversive analytic monitoring programs being enforced by Sony. Nintendo has a weird half DRM, half PRM (physical rights management) interpretation of Sony's methods. So Nintendo is actually not as bad as Steam and Xbox Live when it comes to DRM.
Re: Picked Up A Pre-Owned Wii U Console? You Could Have Access To Free Downloads
This is why it's more important than ever to be allowed to back up one's titles, DRM free, in a non-distributable format... If Nintendo wants to encourage hacking and piracy this way, hey, who are we to argue... They're the ones making it tougher on themselves.
Just for the record, Nintendo is actually not tyrannical, like Steam and Xbox Live are, when it comes to DRM. Nintendo just has a weird half DRM, half PRM (physical rights management) take. So Nintendo is really not a terrible offender when it comes to DRM- they just have strange taste in product management.
I might be in a minority when I say that I'm not displeased by their digital rights handling... rather, I'm intrigued...
Re: GameStop Sales of Wii U Are Reportedly "Slightly Disappointing"
The X-factor here is digital sales and super cheap old and new PC game bundles and deals. It was possible during the holidays to get many games on PC, mobile, or eShop for the price of one new Wii U, Xbox 360, or PS3 game disc; so of course it's not the least bit surprising that with the enormous expansion of options in the market since 6 years ago, there is almost no chance for the Wii U to sell as much as it's predecessor during this time period.
Retail is no longer the dominant distribution method. It will always have it's niche, but the temptation of lower prices through digital distribution is drastically changing the retail landscape. Even the mighty Nintendo is experiencing trouble surviving in the current marketplace environment, so the others must really be struggling...
And of course, GameStop is not reporting the abysmally low Vita sales in the same breath... You wanna talk about disappointing...
Re: Feature: The Biggest 3DS Games of 2013
@PixelatedPixie Yeah, I voted for Fire Emblem also. xD
Re: Rumour: 3DS Cartridge Could Allow Handheld to Function as Wii U Controller
As for a 3DS cartridge expanding it's hardware limitations, that reminds me of the GBA type cart which introduced an internet browser solution for the DS phat/ DS lite...
Re: Rumour: 3DS Cartridge Could Allow Handheld to Function as Wii U Controller
The Circle Pad Pro is an afterthought hunk of junk used to seal the deal for Monster Hunter 3DS exclusivity, to keep it away from Vita using market pressure. Every other game was gravy. Thus, allowing for diehard dual analog purists who don't want to move beyond the old PS2 controls to stay within their familiar trappings. They weren't bad- I played Monster Hunter on the PS2 for over 100 hours. Those controls could definitely be greatly improved using a touch screen and thumb stylus, though...
There's no point for a dual analog attachment on 3DS. Take Monster Hunter for example: Move = Circle Pad, Aim = Touch Screen using thumb stylus. Attack = L or R, Activate weapon ability/Reload = L or R. Choose/Use item = D-pad or ABXY, Choose/Equip weapon/ammo = D-pad or ABXY. Character emote list = SELECT, Inventory and Options menu = START. The options menu would allow the player to set which button set does what. That's all you need. No need for an extra circle pad, just supply a good thumb stylus with the game, and separately.
Re: Rumour: 3DS Cartridge Could Allow Handheld to Function as Wii U Controller
It might be possible that some cards could be swiped on the Upad. The cards would come bundled with a 3DS promo or game, i.e. the Kid Icarus cards in the game box, and in the November 2012 issue of Nintendo Power. The 3DS could scan certain coded images, which could also be swiped on the Upad. In this way, through a wireless connection, a 3D accompaniment to an onscreen Wii U program could be accomplished.
Sounds far-fetched, but Miyamoto seems to hint at this sort of idea...
Re: Feature: The Biggest 3DS Games of 2013
Fire Emblem: Awakening, Bravely Default, Shin Megami Tensei 4, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner Soul Hackers, Dragon Quest 7 remake, Etrian Oddysey 4, Layton VS. Ace Attorney, Monster Hunter 3, and of course... Shantae 3!
2012 was a good year for the 3DS- "2013DS" will be even better!
Re: In Need Of A Portable Super Nintendo? Look No Further
please keep your comments on-topic, we are not here to argue unrelated laws or anything that violates our Community Rules, thanks — TBD
Re: Turn Your Retro Cartridges Into ROMS, Legally
There's one caveat to all of this: If someone wants to clean up a severely broken released game (i.e., Breath of Fire 2 USA) to rewrite the translation, is that also still illegal? If the rewritten product is superior, and provided at no cost, who is to say that the fans should be denied from promoting their old favorites?
To deny them is to proclaim that customers should be doomed to leave crappy products alone, instead of allowing them to shine to their true potential. What good is a law if it is a bad one? Why bother following a bad law?
Re: Review: New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)
NSMBWU looks like it has qualities that NSMB2 wants to have, but cannot have.
Re: The Last Story Was Almost Left Untold In North America
It's always sad when great games go the way of Okami... yet titles like the "Family" series for WiiWare keep getting made because someone out there keeps buying that trash...
Re: Swords & Soldiers Battling Its Way To 3DS eShop Next Year
Good choice for an enhanced port. A sequel would be great, too.
Re: Trailer Promises More Pokémon News In January
For that matter, when the next mainline titles will be released, what will be the contrasting colors/versions, since they already ran out of ideas enough so to use the obvious "Black and White"?
Earth and Sky? Ancient and Future? Yin and Yang? ...Heaven and Hell?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exmb0wUxeCw&hd=1
Well, Nintendo would consult this guy for that last one...
Re: Renegade Kid Worried About 3DS Piracy
This really depends on the platform and circumstances...
On PC and mobile, I think being DRM-free is essential for great customer service which treats them with respect. GOG.com is a good example of this. They trust their customers to not distribute their offline-capable products over torrent sites, and provide plenty of extras and forum support, which justifies the increased costs over services like Steam, Android Apps, and the iStore.
For home and handheld consoles, the publishers and executives aren't necessarily helping the developers' cause- hackers actually distribute superior versions of many products over the default sold ones, for better or worse. For example, the PSP firmware wars were a classic example of hackers creating and providing (free of charge) a completely superior product in every imaginable option. This same fate will also likely befall the Vita, at the current rate of Sony squandering it's potential. Even the previously indestructible PS3 software was hacked, infamously catalyzed due to Sony removing Linux support.
If Nintendo wants to avoid these pitfalls, they need to be vigilant in providing services which do not spit on their customers' intelligence. The R4 was likely an attempt to "modernize" the DS beyond it's admittedly GBA-like technological limitations, at least before DSiWare remedied that situation. Unfortunately, the ever-prevalant Famicom Disk System woes came back to haunt Nintendo in this case.
Overall, if your customers get a great deal, then pirating won't seem like a superior option by any stretch of the mind. Until more publishers and distributors realize this, pirating will be more likely to be fatal, rather than being just a nuisance.
Re: Game of the Year: Nintendo Life's Community Awards 2012
@MrMario02 I did.
Re: Game of the Year: Nintendo Life's Community Awards 2012
Didn't see everything I would put up there, but still a good list nonetheless. Just goes to show the 3DS has come a long way from March 2011, the Wii U is bound to have many unique titles, reminiscent of the Dreamcast, and the Wii was far from a casuals-only system.
Re: Nintendo Life Wishes You A Happy New Year
@Mayonnaise WOAH... there's some major singularity stuff going on here!
Re: Feature: 10 Essential Games For Your New 3DS
I thought Steel Diver was one of the only games since Star Fox 64 and Ocarina of Time that made good, atmospheric use of rumble use. In almost every game, rumble in controllers is completely useless. Even though Steel Diver is very short, it has some interesting ideas from Miyamoto that are seldom used elsewhere.