@ Quimby - My Dreamcast is one of my prize gaming possessions. It's neither rare, nor particularly sought after but since I purchased it (midnight the day of it's release), it has, pound for pound, given me more gaming joy than any other system I own. I have seen the emulator you speak of as well as a master system version for the DC. I've never used it on my own, but I've played it on others. Go home-brew!
I understand your point, and I love quirky gems. I have some guilty pleasures of my own...scary ones (can you say 'Ronald Mc Donald'? Yes...I enjoy it even if it's nowhere near Treasure's normal quality!) I enjoy Psycho Fox, and his American cousin Chuck D Head. Not SEGA's shining moments, but different and fun. I too believe that the VC is the perfect vehicle for lesser or unknown gems and should be immediately filled with imports that everyone knows would do well here, but do to money, politics, or licenses didn't see western releases.
@Quimby - I've never been to Australia, so I could be off - base here...you DO have some sort of freedom of speech, right? Aren't you being a little harsh on ppl for expressing disappointment in a game release? After all, this is a place for opinions, right? I'm an old-school Square fan (not so much in recent years), and I have to say the this release seems to come out of no where, and with little cause. I have the cart, which I picked up for $ .50 at a garage sale a few years ago. It kinda stinks.
As for your point regarding fresh ideas, and concepts...that's all well and good if it actually works. I applaud Square for trying something new, but when that experiment fails you don't try to ram it down unsuspecting fans throats to milk a sub-standard game for a few more dollars. You file it away and you take with you what worked. As a corporation they can't be blamed for trying to make a buck. To my mind, though, they've just given me one more reason to tell them to collectively go suck it. This isn't about it not being Final Fantasy. It's about the game stinkin' it up.
@Quimby - I've never been to Australia, so I could be off - base here...you DO have some sort of freedom of speech, right? Aren't you being a little harsh on ppl for expressing disappointment in a game release? After all, this is a place for opinions, right? I'm an old-school Square fan (not so much in recent years), and I have to say the this release seems to come out of no where, and with little cause. I have the cart, which I picked up for $ .50 at a garage sale a few years ago. It kinda stinks.
As for your point regarding fresh ideas, and concepts...that's all well and good if it actually works. I applaud Square for trying something new, but when that experiment fails you don't try to ram it down unsuspecting fans throats to milk a sub-standard game for a few more dollars. You file it away and you take with you what worked. As a corporation they can't be blamed for trying to make a buck. To my mind, though, they've just given me one more reason to tell them to collectively go suck it. This isn't about it not being Final Fantasy. It's about the game stinkin' it up.
@Quimby - I've never been to Australia, so I could be off - base here...you DO have some sort of freedom of speech, right? Aren't you being a little harsh on ppl for expressing disappointment in a game release? After all, this is a place for opinions, right? I'm an old-school Square fan (not so much in recent years), and I have to say the this release seems to come out of no where, and with little cause.
As for your point regard fresh ideas, and concepts...that's all well and good if it actually works. I applaud Square for trying something new, but when that experiment fails you don't try to ram it down unsuspecting fans throats to milk a sub-standard game for a few more dollars. You file it awaiy and you take with you what worked. As a corporation they can't be blamed for trying to make a buck. To my mind, though, they've just given me one more reason to tell them to collectively go suck it.
@ rbtransformed - It's called a 'firmware' update, if I understand what your conversation was about. And that's something I hope we'll see come to pass in the very near future. But I wouldn't wager my rent money on it.
@marktheshark - Little things that add up. Not being able to arrange channels as you please, limited # of channels displayed; I think it would be nice to access games to reinstate them to a channel from the sd card by simply clicking on a blank channel, and choosing which game to transfer instead of having to go into sub-menus to do so.
Same thing for copying to the SD from a channel or just deleting a channel. There should be, in my somewhat biased 'Mac User' opinion, the Wii equivalent of 'right click', with access to every game, game swap/deletion/reinstatement option. I would even go so far as to say you should be able to 'right click' and have the option to download a deleted game again. Going back to the store, waggling through sub menus...it's just messy and unintuitive.
Nintendo is so fond of borrowing Apple's design and ergonomic sensibilities, they should take a look a OSX and other Apple interfaces. Just an opinion. Nintey gets a C+ in interface design. I'm just sayin'
@Kawaiipikachu - 'i check up on the pricing scheme on OFLC'S site & suprised myself some services cost up to $1500 & after a while the cost would build up with multiple games'
If you had thrown a number at me like...say...$15,000 dollars, I would agree that it's a factor. But Nintendo has freakin' $1500 dollars in their couch cushions. Good lord...they easily are in the black on a game 15 min after its released Monday morning (US).
@marktheshark - 'Besides, if you don't like the VC, then don't buy from it' - I agree with that part of your statement. That's why I've stopped. The whole grateful thing is a bit much for me, though. In fact, Nintendo's reluctance to revamp the VC system, interface, and address storage has had a rather unexpected effect amongst my gamer friends. I too have made this change. Eschewing the convenience of the VC, we have hooked up all our retro systems and re-established our respective 'rooms of doom'. Rather than hassle with the clunky VC, or wait for a game we could break out of storage or borrow from one another, we have just gone to the source. Someday we'll return to the VC...but no use complaining other than to debate, and interact with fellow gamers on the topic.
@ATRUEZELDAFAN - werd. With the back-catalog of games at Nintendo's fingertips, there is no real reason for the slow-down. Given that they are also tapping limited market releases/imports, there isn't too much fear of running out of games; not when you take into account the (used for example, as I live here) NA releases and viable imports for every system on the NA VC. Add a few other channels (master system, Sega-CD, portables...hell...wouldn't an Intellivision/Atari/ColecoVison Channel be fun? 80's/90's Arcade Channel? Europe's getting C64 too!) There's more than enough love to go around. And what's the worst that could happen? They release every game known to man? What...will that stop people from downloading once everthing's posted? Would people stop going to Libraries if they stopped getting new books? Would people stop renting movies if no more were released on DVD? I doubt it. No...Nintendo is just dragging their feet. And it's very possible that storage has at least a small part in the slowdown. Why put your 'AAA' titles up if fewer people will downoad because they are fed up with full SD cards and system memory. I don't care anyway. I stopped downloading a while ago, and won't start til there's a storage fix. And I didn't die or burst into flames. And no tears either. Ther are so many other games to play.
@DJ Kelv - See my above comment. That would be incredibly cool, but until there is a serious storage solution it just ain't gonna happen. Makes me sad, too. When I look at XBOX 360 owners getting new multi-player levels for HALO, and think about how the life of the most recent Metroid could be extended. Marketed correctly, new content could even revitalize sales of the game. Coupled with an awareness campaign, and a 'greatest hits' price point, I can't see any reason why they couldn't move another 50 - 100,000 units based on the additional content no problem. Take into account revenues from the microtransactions, and it's win-win all around. You'd think Nintendo would be all over that. How about new challenges/levels for the Zapper Link Shooter?
I know this is a rehash of my normal mantra, but it just makes no sense to me. Sorry to be stuck in this feedback loop, but it breaks my brain.
I want my Saturn Bomberman. I really think that between the awesome single player, the 12 player multi-player on-screen, and (if you had SEGA Net) the on-line mode it is still the best bomberman to date. Kick-ass music, clever level and enemy design and beautiful 2-D graphics round out the package. I think they were at the top of their game (no pun intended ) with this one. I'd would love to see an update to Saturn Bomberman.
@ Kenryoku_Maxis - Not to snipe at you on another post, but what you are talking about is exactly why we need a hard drive. There is absolutely no way a new level for brawl would fit on the Wii. Take a look how much you have to have clear just to play the game, let alone store a portion of it. You might be able to get a level on a HUGE SD card or thumb drive. But that would be all. The Brawl disc is dual layer for a reason. And then where do your new weapons and costumes and power ups and such go? I agree...Nintendo would be foolish to miss out on not only revenue, but fan service and hard-core gamer loyalty. Right now, the other two consoles are getting my money for downloads.
@Kenryoku_Maxis - We agree on a few points. In fact, in other threads my thought s run parallel to yours. I often lament that Nintendo's return to the spotlight comes at the cost of Mom, dad and little Susie becoming the least common denominator and the star by which the good ship Nintendo guides itself. The thing is...and this is my point...is that implementing one or all of these storage options wouldn't take a herculine effort, and could potentially increase downloads and attract additional developer support from those companies that would love to do something for the Wiiware line-up, but envision something a bit grander in scale.
It wouldn't take much and it would mean a lot to the Nintendo faithful. I'm just sayin'...
@Kenryoku_Maxis - Also, I've seen the issue raised on quite a few sites...some since shortly after the system's release. There has been both forum and journalist blog activity...some recently...on IGN.
@Kenryoku_Maxis - SD cards ARE storage, and enabling play from them WOULD be an acceptable fix. Even allowing for USB thumb drive and the like would work. I'm just saying that HDD support is a) simple b) an easy concept for the 'casual gamer' (they may not even know where their SD card slot is) and c) more economical (bang for the buck). But storage is storage...and we (and wii) just need some...now.
@lesock,deadly.by.design - Preachin' to the choir. I've taken a lot of flack for blasting Nintendo over the storage situation and boycotting the VC because of it. In my opinion, Nintendo is making the same arrogant, uninformed, stubborn throw-back mistake they made with online play. They're going to be a couple of generations behind on storage now as well. Look at how long it took them to adopt a standardized media for the games themselves. One that didn't limit space for developers. Everything from video to textures to audio has suffered over the last couple of systems because Nintendo believes their own press. How many games didn't get a decent full GC version or a release at all because of the lack of online support.
And here we are again. Storage indeed. Such an easy problem to solve. Where is the love Nintendo?
I hope the flood of support is enough to make Nintendo take downloadable content and online play more seriously than it has in the past. This is definately a positive step and a bit of a revelation. I hope the dollar signs that I'm sure fill Ninty execs eyes as this moves forward don't cause short sighted stagnation. It's a great start. Now let's keep up the momentum.
On a related note, I've been spending a lot of my time and money...both of which would have gone into VC usage...on the Playstation store. Why? Simple answer: Demos. I've been playing the hell out of multi-player/online demos of games and a few adventure (Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is amazing!) and racing games. If only the Wii had the storage to allow for a full demo
A few of the original offerings are fun as well: Stardust, Flow, Pixel Junk Monsters are all time suckers. I hope some show up on Wiiware with useful, and relevent wiimote controls.
Nice...but give me Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo instead! I've loved that game since I first played it in the arcade. I have it for Saturn and PS3 HD download...but I'd love to see what the Wiimote could bring to the table. Maybe nothing, but I'd like to see someone try! And as far a 3d tetris games go, I actually enjoyed playing Tetrisphere on the N64. Not perfect, but somewhat addictive.
@wii-c-kid - While many of the games announced thus far seem like they would be able to hit 400 blocks as a limit, I believe a game like this would be hard pressed to do so. Some N64 games on the VC are already near that threshold, and 'My Life as a King' is already sporting far more complex visuals. Yes, it's true that there won't be emulation info to deal with, and I have to admit to not knowing how much of the beautiful effects are handled by the Wii hardware and don't need extensive coding (mainly because no one is really using the hardwares' coolness-I haven't a frame of reference). But the models are fairly detailed, the textures far higher res than an N64 game, and if there is (like a few of the other more exciting wiiware games) an actual audio soundtrack...that's a lot of space. And voice-overs? It could get messy. I hope you're right, and games come in around 400-500...and I'm sure there will be plenty that will...but I'm not optimistic about this one pulling that off. And even at 400-500...it will take very little time before you're deleting your classics, or like I did (since it was clumsy and in reality unnecessary) deleting the internet channel. Just my opinion. Thanks for listenin'!
@ToadTheMushroom - actually, that's not the case. You should check this out and even doing a search for something like 'japan digital tv onscreen guide' will yield quite a few results for you. While I was in the army, I had friends that ended up stationed in Japan. To this day they keep me informed of new tech there (one is back for another tour, and one decided to stay once he got out)...I suppose to make me jealous. But I remember before I ever saw it listed as a feature on US TVs, they were telling me about it. It wasn't exactly a glamorous feature, and not every market supported it right away.
As far as a US release goes, don't hold your breath unless Nintendo does decide to include dvr-like functionality for an external hard drive. It wouldn't make any sense. It won't matter if you have cable or not next year. The US is changing over to 100% digital tv next year. With that change comes an onscreen menu with program info/schedule just like cable/dish. If you have a TV with a digital tuner already, but only use satellite or cable... try hooking up a set of 'rabbit ears' and you'll see what I mean.
Another bit of coolness that I imagine will never see these shores. While there have been some import releases on a few of the main stream virtual console systems, I can't see importing an entire system category. What a shame.
Metal Head, Shadow Squadron and Virtua Racing would be cool, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. 32X was a novelty, and a marketing debacle. I doubt they view interest in the system as being high enough to warrant the cost of emulation. Oooo...and Star Wars Arcade...incredibly short as it was.
I can't for the life of me figure out why they would kick things off with this game. It's vanilla...and not even vanilla bean...artificial vanilla flavouring. Why not Zillion, or Phantasy Star? Even Sonic, Psycho Fox (heh...sounds like a Metal Gear Boss) or Alex Kidd would have been preferable. Oh well. Maybe for the western launches.
@Zweck36 - Yes! It was actually a 'cover' (that sounds strange when refering to contemporary classical ) of Copland's 'Hoe-down', which is one part of a ballett entitled Rodeo. Copland is an American composer.
@PoisonedV - Hahaha - You don't miss a beat! And I think this will become a statement commonly heard as a disclaimer for larger, and deeper gaming experiences. That having been said, my GOD does this game look/sound cool! LOOOOOVE the art! Just wish we could get downloadable content and the full experience. That's cool. I have games I still have to finish, so I can wait. Someday...
@Viral - I had a Virtual Boy too! So we're the 2 people that owned one! I got mine used with all of the games for around $50US. The Blockbuster Video in my town was dumping them, and I was lucky (um...) enough to get the last one. Did you ever get the screaming eyeball headaches?
@atlantis - I reiterate your apparent lack of reading comprehesion skills. My initial statement said absolutely nothing about swapping games. It refered to each game I download being a 'vote' for Nintendo's current course...And I don't support their foot-dragging. You have no concept of what one Wiiware game is going to do to your storage space. I want them to come clean, and be honest with us. Something that Nintendo, more than any other hardware or software company, has a HUGE problem with doing...both currently and historically. They keep their cards very close to their chest.
And it DOESN'T say anywhere that they think they have a storage issue, jack-ball. I never said that it did! READING COMPREHENSION...and reading between the lines of corporate prattle. That's apparently something for which I gave you too much credit.
No one here is stuck-up. They are just well-informed, thoughful and open-minded.
And Reggie refers to there being a market for a hard drive. He says nothing about Nintendo actually manufacturing their own.
And I've met Miyamoto twice at E3s back in the day. He was very nice through his interpreter, and humble. He is a god amongst game designers and I'm am constantly in awe of his immaginative genius. But it's not the first time he's been woefully misinformed, or off-base about the importance of a given technology. He was the driving force behind Nintendo sticking with cartridges. Yeah...that didn't really work out did it? Much love for Miyamoto, but not his bag.
'Unlike competitors Sony and Sega, Nintendo chose to forego the new direction in media storage, the CD, and instead stuck with the good `ol reliable cartridge (or, as Nintendo called them, "game pak") despite the fact that cartridges were hampered by a limited storage capacity compared to that of a CD (a maximum theoretical size of 256 megabits on a cartridge compared to 650+ megabytes on a CD). It was Miyamoto himself who insisted on the use of cartridges, as he hated the idea of his new virtual world game - a game that by this point in development featured perennial hero Mario and was entitled Super Mario 64 - being plagued by load times as the console scurried to load game data between levels, a problem that CD-based games had to contend with.'
from here http://everything2.com/index.pl?node=Nintendo%2064
Well intended but self-serving and misguided. A decision limiting an entire system based on the development of one game?
This is a bit sad for Wii owners, and underscores the main reason that I personally want the hard drive. I want new multiplayer maps, I want new Karts, I think it would absolutely kick ass if you suddenly had a fun new galaxy for Mario to explore. How about downloadable multiplayer 'comet' challenges where you're not only racing against the clock, but against a friend? And of course the little things like songs, costumes, weapons, themes.
I'm done rambling about this. I just wanted to make a point and offer an opinion. It would have been 1 or 2 posts at the most more than likely. Instead I got sucked in to a rather lame argument because of person attacks. I appologize for not walking away from it, and thanks for letting me vent.
@Herandar - Agreed...It's nothing more than an interface...a GUI like Windows or OSX. Unless it's somehow inaccessable to firmware update (but why?), they should be able to make changes as needed.
In the second one, read his last statement - to my memory, the sd card is STILL the only storage medium announced..and yet he says there are more that hadn't/haven't been announced. Hmmm...what could that possibly be?
Also, if you can find it anywhere online or elsewhere, anyone not familiar with Commordore and...this part is key...actually gives a crap - Next Gen magazine had a huge article on Commodore around the time the company gave up the ghost in the 90s. If you like that sort of behind the scenes crap, it's a good read!
@Dazza - Very true. In fact, before the console battles, my friends and I argued over which home computer was king. I had a C64 and a VIC20 at the time, one friend had a Tandy/Radioshack (the computer Matthew Broderick used in the movie War Games), another had an Apple. Of course, I use a Mac for work every day so I think we all know who won that battle. But I loved my C64. I used to get that magazine that had game code all the time. The one where you enter the code printed in the zine, and you'd have a crude game or app. I forget the name.
I used to mess with the code and write down what would happen when I changed certain parameters. But I digress (as usual ) The one thing they agreed on at the time is that it was really cool to be able to hook it up to your TV instead of being stuck behind a desk to play your games, or whatever. I knew a lot of people who took the C64 plunge!
@ PoisonedV - While I'm not bothered by the act of swapping games, your point is VERY well taken. It's not that it's an inconvience so much as it's about the fact that it just shouldn't be...period. You're absolutely right. We shouldn't have to put up with flawed design. The customer is ALWAYS right.
@Atlantis - 'the Wii is going to have while you wait for something that is not going to happen until Nintendo actually feels like releasing this update.' You just implied that it's going to happen in your own statement. Yeeesh. This gets sadder and sadder. Also, you try to make the point that I'm somehow in error because I won't download games that 'Nintendo doesn't even make'. Nintendo still gets profits from these releases. I and others that send a message are therefore still affecting Nintendo's bottom line. Sales of the releases determine what and how many games these companies will release on the VC. Decreased sales may mean fewer releases, which would still affect Nintendo's bottom line. Do I think it will make a difference? Meh...probably not. But I'm sticking to my convictions. That's something that's important to me in all aspects of my life. Even my hobbies. And once again, owning every system that has been released since the 8 bit era (U.S. releases), I have most of the games I want to play anyway.
I would rather reorganize my entertainment center and dig out my old systems and games than download and validate N's foot dragging. Given that, your 'lazy gamer' argument further evaporates.
Comments 248
Re: King's Knight
@ Quimby - My Dreamcast is one of my prize gaming possessions. It's neither rare, nor particularly sought after but since I purchased it (midnight the day of it's release), it has, pound for pound, given me more gaming joy than any other system I own. I have seen the emulator you speak of as well as a master system version for the DC. I've never used it on my own, but I've played it on others. Go home-brew!
I understand your point, and I love quirky gems. I have some guilty pleasures of my own...scary ones (can you say 'Ronald Mc Donald'? Yes...I enjoy it even if it's nowhere near Treasure's normal quality!) I enjoy Psycho Fox, and his American cousin Chuck D Head. Not SEGA's shining moments, but different and fun. I too believe that the VC is the perfect vehicle for lesser or unknown gems and should be immediately filled with imports that everyone knows would do well here, but do to money, politics, or licenses didn't see western releases.
Heh...wankers...
Re: King's Knight
@Quimby - I will give you the final point, though - most of the recent takes on FF do kinda rot.
Re: King's Knight
@Quimby - I've never been to Australia, so I could be off - base here...you DO have some sort of freedom of speech, right? Aren't you being a little harsh on ppl for expressing disappointment in a game release? After all, this is a place for opinions, right? I'm an old-school Square fan (not so much in recent years), and I have to say the this release seems to come out of no where, and with little cause. I have the cart, which I picked up for $ .50 at a garage sale a few years ago. It kinda stinks.
As for your point regarding fresh ideas, and concepts...that's all well and good if it actually works. I applaud Square for trying something new, but when that experiment fails you don't try to ram it down unsuspecting fans throats to milk a sub-standard game for a few more dollars. You file it away and you take with you what worked. As a corporation they can't be blamed for trying to make a buck. To my mind, though, they've just given me one more reason to tell them to collectively go suck it. This isn't about it not being Final Fantasy. It's about the game stinkin' it up.
Re: King's Knight
@Quimby - I've never been to Australia, so I could be off - base here...you DO have some sort of freedom of speech, right? Aren't you being a little harsh on ppl for expressing disappointment in a game release? After all, this is a place for opinions, right? I'm an old-school Square fan (not so much in recent years), and I have to say the this release seems to come out of no where, and with little cause. I have the cart, which I picked up for $ .50 at a garage sale a few years ago. It kinda stinks.
As for your point regarding fresh ideas, and concepts...that's all well and good if it actually works. I applaud Square for trying something new, but when that experiment fails you don't try to ram it down unsuspecting fans throats to milk a sub-standard game for a few more dollars. You file it away and you take with you what worked. As a corporation they can't be blamed for trying to make a buck. To my mind, though, they've just given me one more reason to tell them to collectively go suck it. This isn't about it not being Final Fantasy. It's about the game stinkin' it up.
Re: King's Knight
@Quimby - I've never been to Australia, so I could be off - base here...you DO have some sort of freedom of speech, right? Aren't you being a little harsh on ppl for expressing disappointment in a game release? After all, this is a place for opinions, right? I'm an old-school Square fan (not so much in recent years), and I have to say the this release seems to come out of no where, and with little cause.
As for your point regard fresh ideas, and concepts...that's all well and good if it actually works. I applaud Square for trying something new, but when that experiment fails you don't try to ram it down unsuspecting fans throats to milk a sub-standard game for a few more dollars. You file it awaiy and you take with you what worked. As a corporation they can't be blamed for trying to make a buck. To my mind, though, they've just given me one more reason to tell them to collectively go suck it.
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade - Fight!
@William - Who with the what now?
Re: Talking Point: The State of Play of the Virtual Console
@Herandar - Yeah...I just want control over everything, dammit. No limitations. UUUUUNNNNNLIMITED POOOOOWERRRRR! MWAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Err...sorry 'bout that. heh. Never mind.
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade - Fight!
@ rbtransformed - It's called a 'firmware' update, if I understand what your conversation was about. And that's something I hope we'll see come to pass in the very near future. But I wouldn't wager my rent money on it.
Re: Talking Point: The State of Play of the Virtual Console
@marktheshark - Little things that add up. Not being able to arrange channels as you please, limited # of channels displayed; I think it would be nice to access games to reinstate them to a channel from the sd card by simply clicking on a blank channel, and choosing which game to transfer instead of having to go into sub-menus to do so.
Same thing for copying to the SD from a channel or just deleting a channel. There should be, in my somewhat biased 'Mac User' opinion, the Wii equivalent of 'right click', with access to every game, game swap/deletion/reinstatement option. I would even go so far as to say you should be able to 'right click' and have the option to download a deleted game again. Going back to the store, waggling through sub menus...it's just messy and unintuitive.
Nintendo is so fond of borrowing Apple's design and ergonomic sensibilities, they should take a look a OSX and other Apple interfaces. Just an opinion. Nintey gets a C+ in interface design. I'm just sayin'
Re: Talking Point: The State of Play of the Virtual Console
@Kawaiipikachu - 'i check up on the pricing scheme on OFLC'S site & suprised myself some services cost up to $1500 & after a while the cost would build up with multiple games'
If you had thrown a number at me like...say...$15,000 dollars, I would agree that it's a factor. But Nintendo has freakin' $1500 dollars in their couch cushions. Good lord...they easily are in the black on a game 15 min after its released Monday morning (US).
Re: Talking Point: The State of Play of the Virtual Console
@marktheshark - 'Besides, if you don't like the VC, then don't buy from it' - I agree with that part of your statement. That's why I've stopped. The whole grateful thing is a bit much for me, though. In fact, Nintendo's reluctance to revamp the VC system, interface, and address storage has had a rather unexpected effect amongst my gamer friends. I too have made this change. Eschewing the convenience of the VC, we have hooked up all our retro systems and re-established our respective 'rooms of doom'. Rather than hassle with the clunky VC, or wait for a game we could break out of storage or borrow from one another, we have just gone to the source. Someday we'll return to the VC...but no use complaining other than to debate, and interact with fellow gamers on the topic.
Re: Talking Point: The State of Play of the Virtual Console
@ATRUEZELDAFAN - werd. With the back-catalog of games at Nintendo's fingertips, there is no real reason for the slow-down. Given that they are also tapping limited market releases/imports, there isn't too much fear of running out of games; not when you take into account the (used for example, as I live here) NA releases and viable imports for every system on the NA VC. Add a few other channels (master system, Sega-CD, portables...hell...wouldn't an Intellivision/Atari/ColecoVison Channel be fun? 80's/90's Arcade Channel? Europe's getting C64 too!) There's more than enough love to go around. And what's the worst that could happen? They release every game known to man? What...will that stop people from downloading once everthing's posted? Would people stop going to Libraries if they stopped getting new books? Would people stop renting movies if no more were released on DVD? I doubt it. No...Nintendo is just dragging their feet. And it's very possible that storage has at least a small part in the slowdown. Why put your 'AAA' titles up if fewer people will downoad because they are fed up with full SD cards and system memory. I don't care anyway. I stopped downloading a while ago, and won't start til there's a storage fix. And I didn't die or burst into flames. And no tears either. Ther are so many other games to play.
Re: WiiWare microtransactions - good or bad thing?
@scouserboots - Agreed. Isn't it odd as well that the 'system for the masses' has such a laborious, awkward process to play online?
Re: WiiWare microtransactions - good or bad thing?
@DJ Kelv - See my above comment. That would be incredibly cool, but until there is a serious storage solution it just ain't gonna happen. Makes me sad, too. When I look at XBOX 360 owners getting new multi-player levels for HALO, and think about how the life of the most recent Metroid could be extended. Marketed correctly, new content could even revitalize sales of the game. Coupled with an awareness campaign, and a 'greatest hits' price point, I can't see any reason why they couldn't move another 50 - 100,000 units based on the additional content no problem. Take into account revenues from the microtransactions, and it's win-win all around. You'd think Nintendo would be all over that. How about new challenges/levels for the Zapper Link Shooter?
I know this is a rehash of my normal mantra, but it just makes no sense to me. Sorry to be stuck in this feedback loop, but it breaks my brain.
Re: Bomberman Wii - First screens
I want my Saturn Bomberman. I really think that between the awesome single player, the 12 player multi-player on-screen, and (if you had SEGA Net) the on-line mode it is still the best bomberman to date. Kick-ass music, clever level and enemy design and beautiful 2-D graphics round out the package. I think they were at the top of their game (no pun intended ) with this one. I'd would love to see an update to Saturn Bomberman.
Re: Konami to bring us WiiWare goodness?
@Will - Oh wow...rocket knight actually...rocked, imho. A new...'vision'...of the game would be sweet!
Re: WiiWare microtransactions - good or bad thing?
@ Kenryoku_Maxis - Not to snipe at you on another post, but what you are talking about is exactly why we need a hard drive. There is absolutely no way a new level for brawl would fit on the Wii. Take a look how much you have to have clear just to play the game, let alone store a portion of it. You might be able to get a level on a HUGE SD card or thumb drive. But that would be all. The Brawl disc is dual layer for a reason. And then where do your new weapons and costumes and power ups and such go? I agree...Nintendo would be foolish to miss out on not only revenue, but fan service and hard-core gamer loyalty. Right now, the other two consoles are getting my money for downloads.
Re: US VC Releases - March 17th - Super R-Type
Heh...looks like Nintendo wants to make my VC boycott easy on me!
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade - Fight!
@Kenryoku_Maxis - We agree on a few points. In fact, in other threads my thought s run parallel to yours. I often lament that Nintendo's return to the spotlight comes at the cost of Mom, dad and little Susie becoming the least common denominator and the star by which the good ship Nintendo guides itself. The thing is...and this is my point...is that implementing one or all of these storage options wouldn't take a herculine effort, and could potentially increase downloads and attract additional developer support from those companies that would love to do something for the Wiiware line-up, but envision something a bit grander in scale.
It wouldn't take much and it would mean a lot to the Nintendo faithful. I'm just sayin'...
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade - Fight!
@Kenryoku_Maxis - Also, I've seen the issue raised on quite a few sites...some since shortly after the system's release. There has been both forum and journalist blog activity...some recently...on IGN.
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade - Fight!
@gamerwho - Looks like they already are
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade - Fight!
@Kenryoku_Maxis - SD cards ARE storage, and enabling play from them WOULD be an acceptable fix. Even allowing for USB thumb drive and the like would work. I'm just saying that HDD support is a) simple b) an easy concept for the 'casual gamer' (they may not even know where their SD card slot is) and c) more economical (bang for the buck). But storage is storage...and we (and wii) just need some...now.
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade - Fight!
@lesock,deadly.by.design - Preachin' to the choir. I've taken a lot of flack for blasting Nintendo over the storage situation and boycotting the VC because of it. In my opinion, Nintendo is making the same arrogant, uninformed, stubborn throw-back mistake they made with online play. They're going to be a couple of generations behind on storage now as well. Look at how long it took them to adopt a standardized media for the games themselves. One that didn't limit space for developers. Everything from video to textures to audio has suffered over the last couple of systems because Nintendo believes their own press. How many games didn't get a decent full GC version or a release at all because of the lack of online support.
And here we are again. Storage indeed. Such an easy problem to solve. Where is the love Nintendo?
Re: WiiWare vs Xbox Live Arcade – Fight!
I hope the flood of support is enough to make Nintendo take downloadable content and online play more seriously than it has in the past. This is definately a positive step and a bit of a revelation. I hope the dollar signs that I'm sure fill Ninty execs eyes as this moves forward don't cause short sighted stagnation. It's a great start. Now let's keep up the momentum.
On a related note, I've been spending a lot of my time and money...both of which would have gone into VC usage...on the Playstation store. Why? Simple answer: Demos. I've been playing the hell out of multi-player/online demos of games and a few adventure (Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is amazing!) and racing games. If only the Wii had the storage to allow for a full demo
A few of the original offerings are fun as well: Stardust, Flow, Pixel Junk Monsters are all time suckers. I hope some show up on Wiiware with useful, and relevent wiimote controls.
Re: Tetris is Coming to WiiWare - Online Play Included
@Monmoya - werd.
Re: Bomberman Wii - First screens
OK...mii likey. Mii likey ahllllaaaaut!!!
Re: Tetris is Coming to WiiWare - Online Play Included
Nice...but give me Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo instead! I've loved that game since I first played it in the arcade. I have it for Saturn and PS3 HD download...but I'd love to see what the Wiimote could bring to the table. Maybe nothing, but I'd like to see someone try! And as far a 3d tetris games go, I actually enjoyed playing Tetrisphere on the N64. Not perfect, but somewhat addictive.
Re: Yet More Amazing Final Fantasy WiiWare Screens
@wii-c-kid - While many of the games announced thus far seem like they would be able to hit 400 blocks as a limit, I believe a game like this would be hard pressed to do so. Some N64 games on the VC are already near that threshold, and 'My Life as a King' is already sporting far more complex visuals. Yes, it's true that there won't be emulation info to deal with, and I have to admit to not knowing how much of the beautiful effects are handled by the Wii hardware and don't need extensive coding (mainly because no one is really using the hardwares' coolness-I haven't a frame of reference). But the models are fairly detailed, the textures far higher res than an N64 game, and if there is (like a few of the other more exciting wiiware games) an actual audio soundtrack...that's a lot of space. And voice-overs? It could get messy. I hope you're right, and games come in around 400-500...and I'm sure there will be plenty that will...but I'm not optimistic about this one pulling that off. And even at 400-500...it will take very little time before you're deleting your classics, or like I did (since it was clumsy and in reality unnecessary) deleting the internet channel. Just my opinion. Thanks for listenin'!
Re: Wii TV Guide channel available for Japanese users
@ToadTheMushroom - actually, that's not the case. You should check this out and even doing a search for something like 'japan digital tv onscreen guide' will yield quite a few results for you. While I was in the army, I had friends that ended up stationed in Japan. To this day they keep me informed of new tech there (one is back for another tour, and one decided to stay once he got out)...I suppose to make me jealous. But I remember before I ever saw it listed as a feature on US TVs, they were telling me about it. It wasn't exactly a glamorous feature, and not every market supported it right away.
Here's the link I refered to above - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_Plus
Re: Wii TV Guide channel available for Japanese users
As far as a US release goes, don't hold your breath unless Nintendo does decide to include dvr-like functionality for an external hard drive. It wouldn't make any sense. It won't matter if you have cable or not next year. The US is changing over to 100% digital tv next year. With that change comes an onscreen menu with program info/schedule just like cable/dish. If you have a TV with a digital tuner already, but only use satellite or cable... try hooking up a set of 'rabbit ears' and you'll see what I mean.
Re: Wii TV Guide channel available for Japanese users
I liked it better when Nintendo was a game company. Memories...
Re: Defend Your Castle Dated - Screens Also Released
That's a pretty bold graphical overhaul! Really interesting, and fresh. Hope it plays as good as it looks.
Re: MSX to Hit Japanese Virtual Console in May
Another bit of coolness that I imagine will never see these shores. While there have been some import releases on a few of the main stream virtual console systems, I can't see importing an entire system category. What a shame.
Re: Master System games hit the Japanese VC
Metal Head, Shadow Squadron and Virtua Racing would be cool, but I don't see it happening anytime soon. 32X was a novelty, and a marketing debacle. I doubt they view interest in the system as being high enough to warrant the cost of emulation. Oooo...and Star Wars Arcade...incredibly short as it was.
Re: Master System games hit the Japanese VC
I can't for the life of me figure out why they would kick things off with this game. It's vanilla...and not even vanilla bean...artificial vanilla flavouring. Why not Zillion, or Phantasy Star? Even Sonic, Psycho Fox (heh...sounds like a Metal Gear Boss) or Alex Kidd would have been preferable. Oh well. Maybe for the western launches.
Re: Everyone's Pokémon Ranch - WiiWare - New Details
@Zweck36 - Yes! It was actually a 'cover' (that sounds strange when refering to contemporary classical ) of Copland's 'Hoe-down', which is one part of a ballett entitled Rodeo. Copland is an American composer.
Re: Everyone's Pokémon Ranch - WiiWare - New Details
Pokemon...it's what's for dinner! (I need Aaron Copland's 'Rodeo - Hoe-down' playing right about now!) (the beef commercial song in the US)
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/music/enj9/shared/jukebox/copland_hoe_down.swf
Re: Inside the Mind of Luc Bernard - Eternity's Child Interview
@PoisonedV - Hahaha - You don't miss a beat! And I think this will become a statement commonly heard as a disclaimer for larger, and deeper gaming experiences. That having been said, my GOD does this game look/sound cool! LOOOOOVE the art! Just wish we could get downloadable content and the full experience. That's cool. I have games I still have to finish, so I can wait. Someday...
Re: Commodore 64 coming to Virtual Console
@Viral - I had a Virtual Boy too! So we're the 2 people that owned one! I got mine used with all of the games for around $50US. The Blockbuster Video in my town was dumping them, and I was lucky (um...) enough to get the last one. Did you ever get the screaming eyeball headaches?
Re: WiiWare dated for US, three titles officially announced
@PoisonedV - insane isn't it? I'm an ass for getting sucked in, but sometimes you just can't turn the other cheek. Especially when ppl are rude.
Re: WiiWare dated for US, three titles officially announced
@atlantis - I reiterate your apparent lack of reading comprehesion skills. My initial statement said absolutely nothing about swapping games. It refered to each game I download being a 'vote' for Nintendo's current course...And I don't support their foot-dragging. You have no concept of what one Wiiware game is going to do to your storage space. I want them to come clean, and be honest with us. Something that Nintendo, more than any other hardware or software company, has a HUGE problem with doing...both currently and historically. They keep their cards very close to their chest.
And it DOESN'T say anywhere that they think they have a storage issue, jack-ball. I never said that it did! READING COMPREHENSION...and reading between the lines of corporate prattle. That's apparently something for which I gave you too much credit.
No one here is stuck-up. They are just well-informed, thoughful and open-minded.
And Reggie refers to there being a market for a hard drive. He says nothing about Nintendo actually manufacturing their own.
And I've met Miyamoto twice at E3s back in the day. He was very nice through his interpreter, and humble. He is a god amongst game designers and I'm am constantly in awe of his immaginative genius. But it's not the first time he's been woefully misinformed, or off-base about the importance of a given technology. He was the driving force behind Nintendo sticking with cartridges. Yeah...that didn't really work out did it? Much love for Miyamoto, but not his bag.
'Unlike competitors Sony and Sega, Nintendo chose to forego the new direction in media storage, the CD, and instead stuck with the good `ol reliable cartridge (or, as Nintendo called them, "game pak") despite the fact that cartridges were hampered by a limited storage capacity compared to that of a CD (a maximum theoretical size of 256 megabits on a cartridge compared to 650+ megabytes on a CD). It was Miyamoto himself who insisted on the use of cartridges, as he hated the idea of his new virtual world game - a game that by this point in development featured perennial hero Mario and was entitled Super Mario 64 - being plagued by load times as the console scurried to load game data between levels, a problem that CD-based games had to contend with.'
Well intended but self-serving and misguided. A decision limiting an entire system based on the development of one game?
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3153750
Another take...the fix for the problem. Too little too late.
I'm through with you. Yeah I stooped...but sometimes you have to stomp on pests even if you do get your feet dirty.
Re: WiiWare dated for US, three titles officially announced
And as the perfect and final example of why we should be a bit disappointed by Nintendo's hesitance to provide the means to use a hard drive.
http://www.gamingbits.com/content/view/3528/2/
This is a bit sad for Wii owners, and underscores the main reason that I personally want the hard drive. I want new multiplayer maps, I want new Karts, I think it would absolutely kick ass if you suddenly had a fun new galaxy for Mario to explore. How about downloadable multiplayer 'comet' challenges where you're not only racing against the clock, but against a friend? And of course the little things like songs, costumes, weapons, themes.
I'm done rambling about this. I just wanted to make a point and offer an opinion. It would have been 1 or 2 posts at the most more than likely. Instead I got sucked in to a rather lame argument because of person attacks. I appologize for not walking away from it, and thanks for letting me vent.
Re: WiiWare dated for US, three titles officially announced
@Herandar - Agreed...It's nothing more than an interface...a GUI like Windows or OSX. Unless it's somehow inaccessable to firmware update (but why?), they should be able to make changes as needed.
Re: WiiWare dated for US, three titles officially announced
@atlantis - I just can't help myself. Just read through these. And this is only a couple of the numerous half answers the Reggie has given.
http://www.nintendic.com/news/777
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/26/wiis-final-secret-reggie-opens-mystery-flap/
In the second one, read his last statement - to my memory, the sd card is STILL the only storage medium announced..and yet he says there are more that hadn't/haven't been announced. Hmmm...what could that possibly be?
Re: Commodore 64 coming to Virtual Console
Genesis: In the beginning...
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1163&Itemid=2
hehehe...yeah...I'm bored at lunch. heh.
Re: Commodore 64 coming to Virtual Console
And this is interesting: Wonder how this will factor in...
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1972&Itemid=2
Re: Commodore 64 coming to Virtual Console
Also, if you can find it anywhere online or elsewhere, anyone not familiar with Commordore and...this part is key...actually gives a crap - Next Gen magazine had a huge article on Commodore around the time the company gave up the ghost in the 90s. If you like that sort of behind the scenes crap, it's a good read!
Re: Commodore 64 coming to Virtual Console
@Dazza - Very true. In fact, before the console battles, my friends and I argued over which home computer was king. I had a C64 and a VIC20 at the time, one friend had a Tandy/Radioshack (the computer Matthew Broderick used in the movie War Games), another had an Apple. Of course, I use a Mac for work every day so I think we all know who won that battle. But I loved my C64. I used to get that magazine that had game code all the time. The one where you enter the code printed in the zine, and you'd have a crude game or app. I forget the name.
I used to mess with the code and write down what would happen when I changed certain parameters. But I digress (as usual ) The one thing they agreed on at the time is that it was really cool to be able to hook it up to your TV instead of being stuck behind a desk to play your games, or whatever. I knew a lot of people who took the C64 plunge!
Re: WiiWare dated for US, three titles officially announced
@ PoisonedV - While I'm not bothered by the act of swapping games, your point is VERY well taken. It's not that it's an inconvience so much as it's about the fact that it just shouldn't be...period. You're absolutely right. We shouldn't have to put up with flawed design. The customer is ALWAYS right.
Re: WiiWare dated for US, three titles officially announced
@Atlantis - 'the Wii is going to have while you wait for something that is not going to happen until Nintendo actually feels like releasing this update.' You just implied that it's going to happen in your own statement. Yeeesh. This gets sadder and sadder. Also, you try to make the point that I'm somehow in error because I won't download games that 'Nintendo doesn't even make'. Nintendo still gets profits from these releases. I and others that send a message are therefore still affecting Nintendo's bottom line. Sales of the releases determine what and how many games these companies will release on the VC. Decreased sales may mean fewer releases, which would still affect Nintendo's bottom line. Do I think it will make a difference? Meh...probably not. But I'm sticking to my convictions. That's something that's important to me in all aspects of my life. Even my hobbies. And once again, owning every system that has been released since the 8 bit era (U.S. releases), I have most of the games I want to play anyway.
I would rather reorganize my entertainment center and dig out my old systems and games than download and validate N's foot dragging. Given that, your 'lazy gamer' argument further evaporates.