This controller adds another degree of immersion when used with the TV (I really like that you can look to the right and left and see things that are off-screen), and it doubles as a handheld gaming system for home use. I really like what I've seen so far and my daughters also thought it looked cool. The tablet-shaped design is perfectly aligned with the current market, but this tablet has buttons!
Like everything that Nintendo does, it won't appeal to everyone, but this has the potential for mainstream appeal. I can't wait to be able to play console games away from the TV, and even play more mature titles while my kids are watching some evil show from Disney or Nickelodeon.
While the controller may not be able to operate independently of the console, it could still hurt 3DS sales because some people (like me) buy portable gaming systems so that we don't always have to wait for the TV to be free. If these rumors are true, I would be completely set with this console. I still have my phone for gaming on the go and my DS Lite when I need a deeper game for travel.
Ultimately he's just feeding the public perception of the 3DS. It looks very similar to the DS but costs a lot more. If he can convince the public that the 3DS is that and nothing more, he might be able to get more people to try out his new handheld.
If we're honest with ourselves, the 3DS has mostly added gimmicks. Only the analog stick and gyros will affect gameplay significantly. The NGP's improvements, other than graphics, are aimed at improving the gaming experience through more, better controls. Of course, I would be a lot more interested in one if I wasn't worried about Sony leaving all my personal information unencrypted on the internet. The NGP looks like a near-perfect gaming device, even if it does end up doing only mediocre business like its predecessor.
If games are that dangerous, gaming on a cell phone must be even more so. You will turn violent and get finger cancer from the radiation all at the same time.
It's too expensive. The games themselves are too expensive at this point (3rd party games will get more reasonable, but popular Nintendo titles won't, even if they are repackaged in red boxes). I am pretty indifferent to 3D, and found myself disappointed in the 3D effect when I saw it in person. I saw it, but it didn't impress me. This is annoying when the 3D effect is the main reason the system is so expensive and has such a short battery life.
I might spring for a cheaper redesign if the games deliver. I might skip this generation of Nintendo handhelds completely. I don't play DS games as often as I used to and there are more than enough DS games out there to keep me entertained for years of occasional play.
Hmm...I think the red box without the price drop is STUPID, but the DS Lite price drop is tempting. Mine is a bit scratched up, and my wife's is having some hinge problems. I was starting to consider a DSi XL, but now I'm not so sure....
I love how thoughtful all the opinions have been here. I think the best argument against digital-only is the lack of wireless internet in many parts of the world.
The second problem of course is the fact that you can lose your purchases if they are made unavailable. While I do prefer my Droid for on-the-go gaming, EA Mobile recently pulled a fast one, selling some of their titles for 99 cents at Christmas time and then pulling those versions of the games off the market shortly afterwards. The three titles I bought on sale are the only three games I wasn't able to get back when I had to get a replacement phone. While I do miss Need For Speed Shift, I refuse to buy it again--or any other app by EA Mobile. It's a perfect example of what some of you all are talking about. They walked off with my 3 bucks, but they lost a customer for life.
I still like the compromise of having plenty of memory on the system and giving consumers the option to buy their games retail or download. The one thing that companies are being slow about is passing the savings on to consumers, completely failing to realize that the appeal of download-only lies in the lower price.
Personally, I'm starting to actually prefer gaming on my Droid to gaming on my DS. I'm learning to adapt to onscreen buttons and the games provide the quick bursts of fun I'm looking for on the go. A few games, such as Game Dev Story, completely suck me in the way the deeper cartridge games do but at a MUCH lower price. When I'm ready for Mario or Zelda, I have a Wii. I don't NEED to have every iteration of those franchises to have fun, which is ultimately all I care about.
My students have a lot of electronic devices. Mostly phones, but I also have to tell students to put away a LOT of iPod Touches. I can count on my hands the number of DS and 3DS devices combined that I've seen in my classroom in the past few years. I think the 3DS may eventually take off, but only with better software AND better hardware; not to mention a lower price. And if it doesn't take off, that will be Nintendo's cue to adapt to a changing marketplace and change what it does.
High price. Lack of games. What did Nintendo really expect? It took two generations on top for Sony to get overconfident. Nintendo got overconfident after only one.
Honestly, there's just something about this system that doesn't appeal to me. I wish I could put my finger on it. I'm not even all that interested in a new Nintendo console after the Wii unless it's just really amazing. I still prefer Nintendo games to Playstation and Xbox games, but I'm just not ready to shell out for more hardware yet again.
Hoping this is false. Then again, Nintendo is so used to thinking outside the box that sometimes they miss the good ideas that are actually sitting inside it.
Thinking about the number of times I've had my motions fail to register on Rhythm Parade and Rhythm Kung Fu in Wii Fit Plus, I can only conclude that this is the right decision.
1. No compelling software. This is probably the biggest issue. 2. Poor marketing. I don't know who they've hired that's so much better, but there was much higher awareness of the Wii when it came out. Where are the celebrities that Nintendo has been using for the past few years? Heck, where are the commercials? I've only seen one or two on live TV. By contrast, I saw Wii commercials several times an hour when it first came out. 3. High price. Nintendo knows perfectly well they could charge at least $50 less and still make a profit. The economy sucks and people can now get a PSP at the same price as a DS Lite. 4. Adjustable demo units would help. You don't exactly leave with a positive impression when you have to stand in an uncomfortable position to see 3D. It would also help if the 3DS could push more polygons so you don't feel like you're flying over a children's pop-up book full of flat trees. Just saying. 5. They shipped it before it was ready. The eShip and online features should have been available from day one.
I still think the 3DS is pretty cool, but the launch has been weak. Maybe they could give out $50 coupons for a month to spur sales.
It's part of Nintendo's master plan to take over the videogame world by adding a third and fourth pillar. DS and Wii represent the first two pillars for consumers who don't want to spend too much, coexisting with the 3DS and the Nintendo Stream/Project Cafe/Whatever It Ends Up Being Called in Real Life.
Just a thought, but with the higher prices I'm wondering if they're considering this as a new strategy. If you're primarily a videogame company, why not have a range of products to choose from at different price ranges?
Is there any possibility that someone out there is just playing a really good joke on the entire Internet? I vote for the Nintendo Leak myself, at least if these rumors prove true.
Someone else once pointed out that Nintendo consoles tend to do something revolutionary every other console, followed up by a refinement. The NES was revolutionary in its day, and the SNES refined and perfected it. The N64 was Nintendo's first foray into polygonal 3D gaming, and the GameCube refined the graphics and the controller without doing anything revolutionary.
I expect that the Wii's successor will refine motion controlled gaming, hopefully improving on both Move and Kinect in order to set a new standard for motion control in HD. I don't care if it's announced at E3 or not, I won't get it for awhile anyway unless I hit the lottery.
Nintendo's next console won't even require TVs. It will use your eyelids. All you have to do is your close your eyes and let Shigeru Miyamoto take over your world....
He really is almost as funny as Charlie Sheen. I love me some Angry Birds during the work week when I don't have a lot of time, but I usually turn to my DS on the weekends.
The one point that I will give him is that Nintendo games are overpriced. Yes, all games start out overpriced, but most companies gradually lower the price as the game gets older. I dislike Nintendo's current "release the game at the right value point and keep it there" policy. It's a good business decision as long as they stay on top, but it's bad for the customers.
I always thought the screenshots looked ugly, but The Sims has never been about the graphics. They shouldn't have rushed this out. There was no reason to other than to make the launch window, and if your game is bad word of mouth will get around.
One solution to people just keeping the demo and not buying the game is to put on some DRM that only allows you to play the demo for a limited time. After that, you have to buy the game if you want to continue playing it. I think that solution is good for both gamers and developers.
I think @moosa hit the nail on the head about what Iwata's saying here. If everyone just gives away low-quality games, then the market for big-budget high-quality games could dry up. Personally I think there's room for both kinds of games, as there is a big difference between buying a 99-cent game which basically amounts to a YouTube video and buying a $50 epic game, more equivalent to a blockbuster movie like Avatar.
The trouble is that even Nintendo sometimes charges $50 for something that is worth more like $10-$15. Other times, the developers tried really hard but made some fundamental mistakes. This is where the whole idea of updating games comes in, and this is an area Nintendo needs to explore and implement. Smartphone games, DS games, and console games all have their place, and offering only high-quality games at retail is now more important than ever.
It all depends on what you want out of a game. When I want my deeper gaming, I usually turn to my DS or my Wii. This usually happens on the weekends, because my weekdays are very busy.
On weekdays, the games I have on my Droid are absolutely perfect. Games like Flick Kick Football, City Jump, Tank Hero, Fruit Ninja, Need For Speed Shift, Tetris, Angry Birds, and more are absolutely perfect for when I just have a few minutes to play. Hopefully with the 3DS Nintendo will go to a more comparable pricing model for similar games.
Interestingly, the problem on Android is not the 99-cent price point, which is still relatively rare. Most owners of Android phones don't seem to want to pay for their apps at all. Many developers are turning to ad-supported full versions (as Rovio did with Angry Birds) as a way to make money.
I love my DS. Although I mostly play quick games on my phone during the week, on the weekends I can sit down and relax with a good DS game. It's nice to have a good handheld gaming system when I can barely ever get on the TV to play my Wii!
The DS back catalogue is one of the most impressive for any system ever. Yes, you have to sort through tons of kids' games, some of which are shovelware, but there are tons of gaming gems that can be unearthed when you do.
It's interesting to me that the software is on the decline while the hardware continues to move surprisingly robust numbers for a system on its way out. Maybe it's piracy or maybe it's all the used games available now. Probably a combination of those, plus the fact that some people might have decided to focus on the DSiWare offerings.
While I suspect the 3DS will have a better game library, I have to admit that Sony is much better at design than Nintendo. The NGP is a thing of beauty, while the 3DS looks like Dr. Frankenportable's monster. I mean, the black one's not terrible, but I just think it looks horrible to have two screens of two different sizes.
If Sony is true to form and has a high price combined with a limited selection of games, then Nintendo has nothing to worry about. However, if Sony can keep the price reasonable and actually have a wide selection of good games, they could take the handheld market from both Apple and Nintendo.
I'm not too fussed. I'm in no hurry to get yet another portable gaming device. There are plenty of DS games I haven't played and my phone takes care of my portable gaming during the work week.
Part of the appeal of the DS was getting a great system at a great price. I don't think many casual gamers are willing to part with $250 for what they will see as just a 3D version of the DS.
It seems like everything Nintendo used to do right (keeping costs down by using older tech and getting long battery life out of handhelds) they are doing wrong with the 3DS. They're getting as cocky as Sony was when they launched the PSP.
Who knows? They might be right to be cocky. I wish them well, but the 3DS has more tech than I really need and costs more than I am willing to pay at this point.
This does give me pause. Ultimately, it's all about how good the games are. I'm hoping the second iteration of the 3DS will be better, because I will probably wait a couple years for the system's library to build up (and go down in price) before diving in.
It was nice to read a positive WiiWare story after the last two. I really loved the demo and next time I can get my hands on some Wii points Fluidity is my number one priority.
Me, personally, I'm furious that Namco didn't release the original Pac-Man on the Virtual Console Arcade. Meanwhile, I can play a crappy port of the Championship Edition on my Droid but I can't play a good version on my Wii. Oh, wait...what were we complaining about?
People want convenience and people want low prices. The various smartphone app markets provide both. I have a Droid, which has nowhere near the selection of games that the App Store has. Nevertheless, I can usually find more than enough to keep me busy when I have time to play games. I'm not even sure how much time I've sunk into Pocket Legends, and I haven't paid for any of the premium areas yet.
Don't get me wrong. I like the precision of buttons, and occasionally pick up my DS lite. The DS is definitely the better device for gaming, but my phone does the job for most of my gaming needs and is much more convenient. And Angry Birds is awesome (and free on Android phones).
The 3DS looks like a great device, but it will probably have to succeed as a hardcore device this time around. I don't think the casual gamers will be as enthralled as they were with the DS, especially with the first 3D phones already on the way.
It's funny how when you take a break from 2D games and go back to them later, they get so much easier. I was struggling to get some of the snowflakes and kept dying over and over again. An hour later I came back and got them all in one try.
Awesome! Demos just in time for me...to be...out of town, hundreds of miles away from my Wii, until Sunday night....
Good news, all the same. I agree that the demos should really just stay there, but Nintendo just always has to be different. They come around eventually, but they always seem to try everything but the common sense solution first and then settle on the common sense solution after they've figured out that what they were doing doesn't work.
It looks pretty good. The writer of the article seemed impressed overall, though he did complain about problems with skidding, especially on smaller platforms. The developers are trying to improve the game, however. The enemy AI is supposed to be good, and avoiding attacks is just as important as building up combos.
The developers spoke about working within the limitations of WiiWare and some of the shortcuts they had to take, such as eliminating some animations and using some models repeatedly.
Overall, this does look good. I hope the final product is as good as the impressions.
I'm grateful for whatever we can get, but I am disappointed that it looks they will only be there for a limited time. Quite frankly, developers should have control over whether or not they wish to offer demos, and those demos should be there as long as the developers want them there.
I actually seem to remember it took a year or two for the GBA to really get phased out since the DS could run GBA games and there really weren't that many DS games in the early months of its existence. I know I played the heck out of my GBA SP until I got my first DS lite for Christmas one year.
I think the early success of the Wii was a big factor in the GCN getting phased out so fast. It just made sense to have your game published for a successful platform rather than one that was generally deemed a failure (even though the GCN had tons of great games).
I never experienced this era of home consoles, but I played lots of games at arcades whenever I could. I've always loved how with arcade games there was no question of ever beating them. You just kept playing until you died and/or ran out of quarters.
One of the problems with the Virtual Console is actually the suspend feature. I know it helps with the modern convenience thing, but the trouble is that unless you force yourself not to keep hitting "continue," you keep restarting right at the point that you're stuck at.
On my Apple IIe I used to play games like Karateka and Kung Fu Master, starting over from the beginning each time. And having a blast doing it.
That said, I always did appreciate that six level Conan the Barbarian game for the Apple IIe. I used to beat it several times a day!
I am so jealous of you DSi owners. I mean, sure, the free Flashlight app on my phone is pretty good, but with only one screen it feels so limited. For just $2, all of you lucky people can have TWO screens worth of flashlight goodness.
While the scores have been different, every review I've read so far has said pretty much what Corbie said. (Corbie writes better, though.) Excellent review, as always.
Referring to @22: I believe the Grenade Launcher glitch only works on this version, the actual GameCube game. If you have the Wii version, you're out of luck.
As for the game, I enjoyed it, but I actually got bored with it after a while. It was creepy and had some genuine scares, but it was sometimes hard to figure out where to go without a walkthrough. I had an easier time with the DS version, but honestly my schedule these days has me playing faster-paced pick up and play games rather than involved games like this.
I honestly keep wondering. The prospect of shelling out $250-300 for a device that looks a lot like the DSi (regardless of actual capabilities) may not be that appealing to the general populace. The DS and Wii were popular in part because of their price points, which were significantly lower than the high-end PSP and PS3.
People will buy it if Nintendo's marketing people are able to capture the public's imagination the way they did with the Wii. The 3DS is a gamer's dream device, but I keep wondering: is it the ideal device for the casual gamer who just wants to play Brain Age, Clubhouse Games, and Nintendogs? The success of the 3DS will depend on Nintendo a) proving that it truly brings a new dimension to casual games or b) proving that the 3DS is a must-own portable gaming system for every truly serious gamer, including the ones who currently only have a PSP.
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Re: Features: Bizarre Emails Sent to Nintendo Life - Volume 3
Is it 1 p.m. yet? Let me know when it is, so I can hide behind that Wii and sing Happy Birthday.
Re: This is the Wii U Controller in All Its Glory
This controller adds another degree of immersion when used with the TV (I really like that you can look to the right and left and see things that are off-screen), and it doubles as a handheld gaming system for home use. I really like what I've seen so far and my daughters also thought it looked cool. The tablet-shaped design is perfectly aligned with the current market, but this tablet has buttons!
Like everything that Nintendo does, it won't appeal to everyone, but this has the potential for mainstream appeal. I can't wait to be able to play console games away from the TV, and even play more mature titles while my kids are watching some evil show from Disney or Nickelodeon.
Re: Nikkei Corroborates Previous Wii 2 Controller Rumours
While the controller may not be able to operate independently of the console, it could still hurt 3DS sales because some people (like me) buy portable gaming systems so that we don't always have to wait for the TV to be free. If these rumors are true, I would be completely set with this console. I still have my phone for gaming on the go and my DS Lite when I need a deeper game for travel.
Re: Sony President Thinks 3DS is Just an Updated DS
Ultimately he's just feeding the public perception of the 3DS. It looks very similar to the DS but costs a lot more. If he can convince the public that the 3DS is that and nothing more, he might be able to get more people to try out his new handheld.
If we're honest with ourselves, the 3DS has mostly added gimmicks. Only the analog stick and gyros will affect gameplay significantly. The NGP's improvements, other than graphics, are aimed at improving the gaming experience through more, better controls. Of course, I would be a lot more interested in one if I wasn't worried about Sony leaving all my personal information unencrypted on the internet. The NGP looks like a near-perfect gaming device, even if it does end up doing only mediocre business like its predecessor.
Re: Games Do More Damage Than Passive Smoking, says Doctor
If games are that dangerous, gaming on a cell phone must be even more so. You will turn violent and get finger cancer from the radiation all at the same time.
Re: Japanese Gamers Put Off by High Price of 3DS
It's too expensive. The games themselves are too expensive at this point (3rd party games will get more reasonable, but popular Nintendo titles won't, even if they are repackaged in red boxes). I am pretty indifferent to 3D, and found myself disappointed in the 3D effect when I saw it in person. I saw it, but it didn't impress me. This is annoying when the 3D effect is the main reason the system is so expensive and has such a short battery life.
I might spring for a cheaper redesign if the games deliver. I might skip this generation of Nintendo handhelds completely. I don't play DS games as often as I used to and there are more than enough DS games out there to keep me entertained for years of occasional play.
Re: DS Lite Drops to $99 in US, Mario DS Games Go Red
Hmm...I think the red box without the price drop is STUPID, but the DS Lite price drop is tempting. Mine is a bit scratched up, and my wife's is having some hinge problems. I was starting to consider a DSi XL, but now I'm not so sure....
Re: Talking Point: Should Nintendo Have Made the 3DS Download-only?
I love how thoughtful all the opinions have been here. I think the best argument against digital-only is the lack of wireless internet in many parts of the world.
The second problem of course is the fact that you can lose your purchases if they are made unavailable. While I do prefer my Droid for on-the-go gaming, EA Mobile recently pulled a fast one, selling some of their titles for 99 cents at Christmas time and then pulling those versions of the games off the market shortly afterwards. The three titles I bought on sale are the only three games I wasn't able to get back when I had to get a replacement phone. While I do miss Need For Speed Shift, I refuse to buy it again--or any other app by EA Mobile. It's a perfect example of what some of you all are talking about. They walked off with my 3 bucks, but they lost a customer for life.
Re: Talking Point: Should Nintendo Have Made the 3DS Download-only?
I still like the compromise of having plenty of memory on the system and giving consumers the option to buy their games retail or download. The one thing that companies are being slow about is passing the savings on to consumers, completely failing to realize that the appeal of download-only lies in the lower price.
Personally, I'm starting to actually prefer gaming on my Droid to gaming on my DS. I'm learning to adapt to onscreen buttons and the games provide the quick bursts of fun I'm looking for on the go. A few games, such as Game Dev Story, completely suck me in the way the deeper cartridge games do but at a MUCH lower price. When I'm ready for Mario or Zelda, I have a Wii. I don't NEED to have every iteration of those franchises to have fun, which is ultimately all I care about.
My students have a lot of electronic devices. Mostly phones, but I also have to tell students to put away a LOT of iPod Touches. I can count on my hands the number of DS and 3DS devices combined that I've seen in my classroom in the past few years. I think the 3DS may eventually take off, but only with better software AND better hardware; not to mention a lower price. And if it doesn't take off, that will be Nintendo's cue to adapt to a changing marketplace and change what it does.
Re: Japanese Hardware / Software Sales Show the 3DS Needs a Boost
High price. Lack of games. What did Nintendo really expect? It took two generations on top for Sony to get overconfident. Nintendo got overconfident after only one.
Honestly, there's just something about this system that doesn't appeal to me. I wish I could put my finger on it. I'm not even all that interested in a new Nintendo console after the Wii unless it's just really amazing. I still prefer Nintendo games to Playstation and Xbox games, but I'm just not ready to shell out for more hardware yet again.
Re: Rumour: Wii Successor Won't Have a Traditional Hard Drive
Hoping this is false. Then again, Nintendo is so used to thinking outside the box that sometimes they miss the good ideas that are actually sitting inside it.
Re: No Waggle Needed to Master Rhythm Heaven on Wii
Thinking about the number of times I've had my motions fail to register on Rhythm Parade and Rhythm Kung Fu in Wii Fit Plus, I can only conclude that this is the right decision.
Re: Nintendo Expected 3DS Sales to be Higher Than They Are
1. No compelling software. This is probably the biggest issue.
2. Poor marketing. I don't know who they've hired that's so much better, but there was much higher awareness of the Wii when it came out. Where are the celebrities that Nintendo has been using for the past few years? Heck, where are the commercials? I've only seen one or two on live TV. By contrast, I saw Wii commercials several times an hour when it first came out.
3. High price. Nintendo knows perfectly well they could charge at least $50 less and still make a profit. The economy sucks and people can now get a PSP at the same price as a DS Lite.
4. Adjustable demo units would help. You don't exactly leave with a positive impression when you have to stand in an uncomfortable position to see 3D. It would also help if the 3DS could push more polygons so you don't feel like you're flying over a children's pop-up book full of flat trees. Just saying.
5. They shipped it before it was ready. The eShip and online features should have been available from day one.
I still think the 3DS is pretty cool, but the launch has been weak. Maybe they could give out $50 coupons for a month to spur sales.
Re: Rumour: Wii 2 to Cost $350, Support 3DTVs, Out in October
It's part of Nintendo's master plan to take over the videogame world by adding a third and fourth pillar. DS and Wii represent the first two pillars for consumers who don't want to spend too much, coexisting with the 3DS and the Nintendo Stream/Project Cafe/Whatever It Ends Up Being Called in Real Life.
Just a thought, but with the higher prices I'm wondering if they're considering this as a new strategy. If you're primarily a videogame company, why not have a range of products to choose from at different price ranges?
Re: Rumour: Nintendo Stream Coming Sooner Than We Think?
Is there any possibility that someone out there is just playing a really good joke on the entire Internet? I vote for the Nintendo Leak myself, at least if these rumors prove true.
Re: Rumour: Retro Studios Working on Game for Wii Successor
At last! Ice Climbers 2!
Re: 3DS Launch Sales Have Been Breaking Records Worldwide
@Supermarioman: Where can I get one of those PS2 handhelds?
Re: Wii Sports Resort and Wii Party Drop to $39.99 Next Week
But...but...if the software is sold at the correct value to begin with, how can the price go down?
Re: Rumour: We May See a New Nintendo Console at E3
If it's released in late 2012, maybe it will be so mind-blowingly awesome that it will actually CAUSE the Apocalypse.
Re: Rumour: We May See a New Nintendo Console at E3
Someone else once pointed out that Nintendo consoles tend to do something revolutionary every other console, followed up by a refinement. The NES was revolutionary in its day, and the SNES refined and perfected it. The N64 was Nintendo's first foray into polygonal 3D gaming, and the GameCube refined the graphics and the controller without doing anything revolutionary.
I expect that the Wii's successor will refine motion controlled gaming, hopefully improving on both Move and Kinect in order to set a new standard for motion control in HD. I don't care if it's announced at E3 or not, I won't get it for awhile anyway unless I hit the lottery.
Re: Fils-Aime: Next Home Console Unlikely to be 3D
Nintendo's next console won't even require TVs. It will use your eyelids. All you have to do is your close your eyes and let Shigeru Miyamoto take over your world....
Re: Angry Birds Dev Calls Nintendo Games "$49 Pieces of Plastic"
He really is almost as funny as Charlie Sheen. I love me some Angry Birds during the work week when I don't have a lot of time, but I usually turn to my DS on the weekends.
The one point that I will give him is that Nintendo games are overpriced. Yes, all games start out overpriced, but most companies gradually lower the price as the game gets older. I dislike Nintendo's current "release the game at the right value point and keep it there" policy. It's a good business decision as long as they stay on top, but it's bad for the customers.
Re: Review: The Sims 3 (3DS)
I always thought the screenshots looked ugly, but The Sims has never been about the graphics. They shouldn't have rushed this out. There was no reason to other than to make the launch window, and if your game is bad word of mouth will get around.
Re: WiiWare, Fez Developer Does Not Like You At All
I like fezzes. I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool.
What? Oh, wrong type of fez....
Re: Nintendo Uncertain Whether 3DS Demos will be Worth the Effort
One solution to people just keeping the demo and not buying the game is to put on some DRM that only allows you to play the demo for a limited time. After that, you have to buy the game if you want to continue playing it. I think that solution is good for both gamers and developers.
Re: Iwata Hits Out at Smartphone and Social Network Game Developers
I think @moosa hit the nail on the head about what Iwata's saying here. If everyone just gives away low-quality games, then the market for big-budget high-quality games could dry up. Personally I think there's room for both kinds of games, as there is a big difference between buying a 99-cent game which basically amounts to a YouTube video and buying a $50 epic game, more equivalent to a blockbuster movie like Avatar.
The trouble is that even Nintendo sometimes charges $50 for something that is worth more like $10-$15. Other times, the developers tried really hard but made some fundamental mistakes. This is where the whole idea of updating games comes in, and this is an area Nintendo needs to explore and implement. Smartphone games, DS games, and console games all have their place, and offering only high-quality games at retail is now more important than ever.
Re: Current Nintendo Points will be Useless on the 3DS
Can I pay for my games using postage stamps?
Re: Reggie Defends High Download, Retail Price Point
It all depends on what you want out of a game. When I want my deeper gaming, I usually turn to my DS or my Wii. This usually happens on the weekends, because my weekdays are very busy.
On weekdays, the games I have on my Droid are absolutely perfect. Games like Flick Kick Football, City Jump, Tank Hero, Fruit Ninja, Need For Speed Shift, Tetris, Angry Birds, and more are absolutely perfect for when I just have a few minutes to play. Hopefully with the 3DS Nintendo will go to a more comparable pricing model for similar games.
Interestingly, the problem on Android is not the 99-cent price point, which is still relatively rare. Most owners of Android phones don't seem to want to pay for their apps at all. Many developers are turning to ad-supported full versions (as Rovio did with Angry Birds) as a way to make money.
Re: Talking Point: Is the DS Dead at Retail?
I love my DS. Although I mostly play quick games on my phone during the week, on the weekends I can sit down and relax with a good DS game. It's nice to have a good handheld gaming system when I can barely ever get on the TV to play my Wii!
The DS back catalogue is one of the most impressive for any system ever. Yes, you have to sort through tons of kids' games, some of which are shovelware, but there are tons of gaming gems that can be unearthed when you do.
It's interesting to me that the software is on the decline while the hardware continues to move surprisingly robust numbers for a system on its way out. Maybe it's piracy or maybe it's all the used games available now. Probably a combination of those, plus the fact that some people might have decided to focus on the DSiWare offerings.
Re: Iwata: 3DS and NGP will Appeal to Different Target Audiences
While I suspect the 3DS will have a better game library, I have to admit that Sony is much better at design than Nintendo. The NGP is a thing of beauty, while the 3DS looks like Dr. Frankenportable's monster. I mean, the black one's not terrible, but I just think it looks horrible to have two screens of two different sizes.
If Sony is true to form and has a high price combined with a limited selection of games, then Nintendo has nothing to worry about. However, if Sony can keep the price reasonable and actually have a wide selection of good games, they could take the handheld market from both Apple and Nintendo.
Re: 3DS Too Full of Gadgets to Make a 3DS Lite Possible
I'm not too fussed. I'm in no hurry to get yet another portable gaming device. There are plenty of DS games I haven't played and my phone takes care of my portable gaming during the work week.
Re: 3DS Hits North America on March 27 for $249.99
Part of the appeal of the DS was getting a great system at a great price. I don't think many casual gamers are willing to part with $250 for what they will see as just a 3D version of the DS.
It seems like everything Nintendo used to do right (keeping costs down by using older tech and getting long battery life out of handhelds) they are doing wrong with the 3DS. They're getting as cocky as Sony was when they launched the PSP.
Who knows? They might be right to be cocky. I wish them well, but the 3DS has more tech than I really need and costs more than I am willing to pay at this point.
Re: 3DS Battery Life Revealed
This does give me pause. Ultimately, it's all about how good the games are. I'm hoping the second iteration of the 3DS will be better, because I will probably wait a couple years for the system's library to build up (and go down in price) before diving in.
Re: Review: Ghosts 'n Goblins (Virtual Console / Virtual Console Arcade)
This is the VCA game I'm looking forward to most. I can't wait for it to come to the USA.
Re: Interviews: Curve Studios - Fluidity / Hydroventure
It was nice to read a positive WiiWare story after the last two. I really loved the demo and next time I can get my hands on some Wii points Fluidity is my number one priority.
Re: Review: Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition (Wii)
Me, personally, I'm furious that Namco didn't release the original Pac-Man on the Virtual Console Arcade. Meanwhile, I can play a crappy port of the Championship Edition on my Droid but I can't play a good version on my Wii. Oh, wait...what were we complaining about?
Re: Research Shows More Consumers are Choosing Their Phones for Gaming
People want convenience and people want low prices. The various smartphone app markets provide both. I have a Droid, which has nowhere near the selection of games that the App Store has. Nevertheless, I can usually find more than enough to keep me busy when I have time to play games. I'm not even sure how much time I've sunk into Pocket Legends, and I haven't paid for any of the premium areas yet.
Don't get me wrong. I like the precision of buttons, and occasionally pick up my DS lite. The DS is definitely the better device for gaming, but my phone does the job for most of my gaming needs and is much more convenient. And Angry Birds is awesome (and free on Android phones).
The 3DS looks like a great device, but it will probably have to succeed as a hardcore device this time around. I don't think the casual gamers will be as enthralled as they were with the DS, especially with the first 3D phones already on the way.
Re: Mission in Snowdriftland Opens for Christmas Business
It's funny how when you take a break from 2D games and go back to them later, they get so much easier. I was struggling to get some of the snowflakes and kept dying over and over again. An hour later I came back and got them all in one try.
Re: North America Gets In On WiiWare Demo Action Next Week
Awesome! Demos just in time for me...to be...out of town, hundreds of miles away from my Wii, until Sunday night....
Good news, all the same. I agree that the demos should really just stay there, but Nintendo just always has to be different. They come around eventually, but they always seem to try everything but the common sense solution first and then settle on the common sense solution after they've figured out that what they were doing doesn't work.
Re: Nintendo Download: 8th November 2010 (North America)
Say it with me, Reggie. De-mos. DE-MOS. It's spelled D-E-M-O-S. These are good things, which help to sell good games.
Re: Gothic Action Heads to WiiWare in Ark of Sinners
It looks pretty good. The writer of the article seemed impressed overall, though he did complain about problems with skidding, especially on smaller platforms. The developers are trying to improve the game, however. The enemy AI is supposed to be good, and avoiding attacks is just as important as building up combos.
The developers spoke about working within the limitations of WiiWare and some of the shortcuts they had to take, such as eliminating some animations and using some models repeatedly.
Overall, this does look good. I hope the final product is as good as the impressions.
Re: WiiWare Gets Second Round of Heavy Fire with Black Arms
Black Arms...Black Ops...hmm......
Re: Our Nintendo Life Begins...
Nintendo Life started three days after my 30th birthday. I had no idea!
Re: Exclusive: Nintendo Bringing Back WiiWare Demos
I'm grateful for whatever we can get, but I am disappointed that it looks they will only be there for a limited time. Quite frankly, developers should have control over whether or not they wish to offer demos, and those demos should be there as long as the developers want them there.
Re: DS to Have Life After 3DS, says Nintendo
I actually seem to remember it took a year or two for the GBA to really get phased out since the DS could run GBA games and there really weren't that many DS games in the early months of its existence. I know I played the heck out of my GBA SP until I got my first DS lite for Christmas one year.
I think the early success of the Wii was a big factor in the GCN getting phased out so fast. It just made sense to have your game published for a successful platform rather than one that was generally deemed a failure (even though the GCN had tons of great games).
Re: Features: Things We Miss About the 8-Bit Era
I never experienced this era of home consoles, but I played lots of games at arcades whenever I could. I've always loved how with arcade games there was no question of ever beating them. You just kept playing until you died and/or ran out of quarters.
One of the problems with the Virtual Console is actually the suspend feature. I know it helps with the modern convenience thing, but the trouble is that unless you force yourself not to keep hitting "continue," you keep restarting right at the point that you're stuck at.
On my Apple IIe I used to play games like Karateka and Kung Fu Master, starting over from the beginning each time. And having a blast doing it.
That said, I always did appreciate that six level Conan the Barbarian game for the Apple IIe. I used to beat it several times a day!
Re: Nintendo Download: 25th October 2010 (North America)
I am so jealous of you DSi owners. I mean, sure, the free Flashlight app on my phone is pretty good, but with only one screen it feels so limited. For just $2, all of you lucky people can have TWO screens worth of flashlight goodness.
Just in time for trick-or-treating, too!
Re: Review: Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)
While the scores have been different, every review I've read so far has said pretty much what Corbie said. (Corbie writes better, though.) Excellent review, as always.
Re: Review: Resident Evil (GameCube)
Referring to @22: I believe the Grenade Launcher glitch only works on this version, the actual GameCube game. If you have the Wii version, you're out of luck.
As for the game, I enjoyed it, but I actually got bored with it after a while. It was creepy and had some genuine scares, but it was sometimes hard to figure out where to go without a walkthrough. I had an easier time with the DS version, but honestly my schedule these days has me playing faster-paced pick up and play games rather than involved games like this.
Re: Japanese 3DS Surveys Reveal Awareness Low, Price Too High
I honestly keep wondering. The prospect of shelling out $250-300 for a device that looks a lot like the DSi (regardless of actual capabilities) may not be that appealing to the general populace. The DS and Wii were popular in part because of their price points, which were significantly lower than the high-end PSP and PS3.
People will buy it if Nintendo's marketing people are able to capture the public's imagination the way they did with the Wii. The 3DS is a gamer's dream device, but I keep wondering: is it the ideal device for the casual gamer who just wants to play Brain Age, Clubhouse Games, and Nintendogs? The success of the 3DS will depend on Nintendo a) proving that it truly brings a new dimension to casual games or b) proving that the 3DS is a must-own portable gaming system for every truly serious gamer, including the ones who currently only have a PSP.
Or a combination of a and b.