Comments 1,298

Re: Nintendo Confirms New Console

SpentAllMyTokens

The PS3 slim has been $300 for how long now? They can definitely release a more powerful machine for $300 by 2012. Something that can run most games at 1080p at 60fps is really as good as you can do anyway on todays HDTV's. Make it 3D ready, slap in a decent sized hard drive (even directly booting off of 32 GB SD cards would allow a decent file size limit for download titles - especially if they moved to flash memory carts for retail game storage like in the DS - no loading time, no need to put whole games on the hard drive like on PS360).

I'm just worried about controller costs. I hope they continue with motion control somewhat (and improve on it) and a traditional controller with a screen is cool but along with improved motion controllers is expensive. I guess Kinect, Move, and Wii Fit have shown people are willing to pay a lot for extra accessories, especially if you have decent game bundles.

That being said, it's surprising it's being announced now if it will be a holiday 2012 release, which is standard for home consoles. Maybe it'll be a spring release like the 3DS? That'd be nice, because you'd probably see fewer shortages.

Re: Another Zelda Remake for 3DS?

SpentAllMyTokens

We got a remake of Zelda already on the 3DS, and there's a good chance we'll see the GBA port on VC. I'd rather see a new zelda too. Nintendo is planning on doing 3D classics for download, so maybe this will be one of them. Hopefully they'll keep all the new stuff from the GBA port, if they do this.

Re: 3DS Launch Sales Have Been Breaking Records Worldwide

SpentAllMyTokens

I'm sure DS support will continue - but I doubt you will see much out of Nintendo's dev teams/second parties, since they'll be focused on building the 3DS library to make it worthwhile to future buyers. You'll still see some stuff from 3rd parties that haven't made it out yet. I wouldn't expect any "good" games to come out after next year. I mean, most of what's on PS2 now is "Dora the Explorer" type games for little kids, whose parents probably figure they don't need to get a 3 year old a top of the line system.

I'm impressed with these numbers, because there don't seem to be shortages in the US. Maybe because it's not a holiday launch, which is nice. Maybe preordering has gotten more popular, so they can better judge the numbers too.

/me can't decide if I can't wait for shop update to buy 3DS or happy that I have a slow period to work through the backlog.

Re: Review: Physiofun: Pelvic Floor Training (WiiWare)

SpentAllMyTokens

Really good review guys. I know you guys aren't medical specialists, but I'm always impressed with how these "non-game" apps are treated on this site. Very professional and focused on how well the package works (user-friendliness, controls, etc.)

For those who just came on to say "this game sux, haha lame" - Newsflash - it's not a game, and it's not for you. I know Wii Fit is pretty popular with pregnant women, because most of the exercises are low impact and many safe to do even until you're fairly far along in pregnancy. Something like this would be a nice addendum to that. 50% of the population can get pregnant and most of that 50% will at some point. So many people will have to worry about this eventually, and it's not as niche as you might think.

There's been a fair amount of research coming out in the past few years showing how Wii Fit is being used effectively as physical therapy. It would be nice to see more stuff like this developed that people can use in their own home to supplement PT and lower medical costs. I'm not sure if the sub $15 software download model will be profitable enough to put together truly useful PT routines for various conditions/issues.

Re: Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Launches on 19th June

SpentAllMyTokens

Nice boxart. Still sort of wish they had done Wind Waker instead (then you could play that whole trilogy on the 3DS, plus they could have put the dungeons that were cut from the original back in). This will be nice to have though, so I can play Master Quest even if I sell my Wii and can't play the GCN disc anymore.

/plays A Link to the Past in excitement to prepare.

Re: Competition Winners: 3DS & 4 Ubisoft Games (UK)

SpentAllMyTokens

@JJ

This contest is sort of an oddity, if it's established users mainly winning (though, I haven't heard of 2 of them). Generally, contest comment threads are full of comments about having never seen any of the winners before on the comments/forums, so it's mostly new users/lurkers. NLife definitely isn't biased towards regular users.

Re: DS Has Outsold Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP Combined in Europe

SpentAllMyTokens

It's not really fair to compare portables to home consoles:
1 family=1 Xbox and/or PS3 but 1 DS per person.

You also have to factor in people upgrading. There have been 3 different DS models, and the newer ones offered significant advantages making upgrades worthwhile for many. That doesn't really happen with home consoles (no reason to buy a PS3 slim if you have a PS3). I guess this would lead to a larger second-hand market, but it's still something to consider.

Re: Fils-Aime: Next Home Console Unlikely to be 3D

SpentAllMyTokens

If they come out with a new system this year or next year, it would be silly to spend the $ on 3D capability. 3D uptake is so low now (everyone got hd tvs in the last 5 years...ppl. won't upgrade until they start dying, prices drop, and 3d channels are available). That will probably start happening in the next 6 years, but it shouldn't be as much of an issue hd was. They'll have to think of something new, or it will just be "Nindendo PS3 Move" without 3d.

Re: WiiWare, Fez Developer Does Not Like You At All

SpentAllMyTokens

He's got a point. WW BARELY has demos. You have to fight to be one of the couple released every week, they're in a separate section, and they only stay up for a month so only a small percentage of games have demos at any given time. At that point, is it even worth taking the time to make one? M$oft, PSN, and Steam will keep them up permanently. Even the iPhone lets you make free "lite" versions that also stay up forever for people to try.

With so much else out there, I wouldn't bother either.

Re: Retro Handheld Games Now Digitised on the Internet

SpentAllMyTokens

There are only 2 actual Nintendo Game & Watch games on the site (Zelda, which isn't up yet, and DK Jr.). Chef is actually a Russian clone, so it's not like the end of the world if this site has to remove those two games. I don't think they're making money off this site, so it's not the end of the world.

Re: Chrono Trigger is Coming to Virtual Console in Japan

SpentAllMyTokens

y 900 points? That's silly.

Still, I'd pay an extra buck for this game, given how good I've heard it is, and it'd still be cheaper than the DS cart. Guess they've made all they will from those, so now it can go on the VC. Glad I held out to play this game on the glory of the big TV!

Re: Review: Pilotwings Resort (3DS)

SpentAllMyTokens

I wish they had included more locations than Wuhu island too. I've already flown around the entire thing on Wii Sports Resort. I played the demo, and it just didn't seem all that interesting or fun. Perhaps the later missions get more interesting- but fly to a certain point and take a picture? I mean, how different is that than getting the sightseeing spots on WSR?

It IS a really neat demo for the 3DS, and I wouldn't be surprised if the main purpose of this game was to show off the 3D effect on demo console units in stores. Just doesn't seem worth $40 for me. I'd rather see a Star Fox 64 sequel (I know the remake is coming out, but I already have that on VC, so whatever).

Re: Nintendo Likely to Retain Price Control in 3DS eShop

SpentAllMyTokens

I don't have a huge issue with Nintendo being the final say in prices - they better understand the entire library of their downloadable games, so can properly compare to see where a new game fits in.

However, I would like to see more collaboration with devs in the initial price setting phase, and more importantly later on if a game isn't selling well. I think they avoid price drops to keep old games from stealing thunder from new releases (though, it basically means games only really have a shot at selling well as new releases). Sega's shown that Nintendo is amenable to sales, but hopefully they'll make it easier for some smaller publishers. Older games will need price drops too compete - especially as they're getting price drops on other platforms. Hopefully, for us, Nintendo will realize this instead of sticking with their "majority sales near launch" model.

I think devs will be sadder about their game never reaching the sales threshold and getting absolutely zero money from Nintendo than seeing their game drop in price to $1.

Re: Reggie: We're Not Interested in "Garage Developers"

SpentAllMyTokens

No news here. I don't get the whining. It's not like the "Garage developers" don't have anywhere they can release their games. There's the apple store, the android store, etc. If they have an idea that generates a profit - well, then they're professionals, and they won't have any issue moving to Nintendo hardware.

If Nintendo gave out dev kits as cheaply as Apple did, and wanted to maintain a the current level of quality for their games/apps (given there are very few updates when games release buggy), they would have to do A LOT of quality control and testing that apple doesn't have to do (people complain - no problem, just release updates). There would be a lot of devs who waste their money when they find out they CAN'T get through the approval process (even a lot of smaller professional indie devs get delayed a lot). This way the market on mobile devices filters the competent "garage devs" out, so Nintendo doesn't have to.

Re: Review: Plants vs. Zombies (DSiWare)

SpentAllMyTokens

Feel sort of bad for those who dropped the cash on the retail version and missed out on an exclusive minigame for the DSiWare version. That's sort of a jerk move by PopCap.

Can't decide if I want to get the minigames included for $8.00 or if I want to get only the adventure mode on the app store for $3.00. I may just wait and see if some of the minigames are added to the app store version in updates before I take the plunge.

Re: Iwata: Ocarina of Time 3D "Crammed with New Content"

SpentAllMyTokens

I'm hoping they keep the original game intact, as I'm thinking this will be my main version of the game once I get a Wii2, and I can't play the Zelda collector's GCN disk anymore. I wouldn't be surprised to see some art galleries and multiplayer minigames like in the DS Zeldas. I wouldn't mind longer dungeons/extra dungeons either - as long as there's an option to play retro.

Re: Talking Point: Nintendo has Nothing to Fear from Mobile Games

SpentAllMyTokens

My predictions:

1) Adult casual gamers who may have gotten DS/Gameboys in the past for Tetris and Brainage will be playing mainly on their smartphones. The "Blue Ocean" strategy that worked for Wii anymore.

2) 3DSWare will not be successful without a complete price overhall when App Store games are cheaper and offer the same experience (many will be direct ports). Most adult 3DS owners will have a smartphone. Kids don't have credit cards, so won't be able to impulse buy on the shop - where's the market?

3) Nintendo will continue to make profits in the handheld realm for the foreseeable future as long as there is pokemon. You can bet kids everywhere will be putting it on their wish list too after playing it with 3D at Toys 'R Us or Gamestop.

4) It could become mainly a kid's console. Core gamers will probably see better versions of Street Fighter/Metal Gear/etc. released on NGP, and the 3DS will suffer the Wii's fate: gimped ports and games moving to the HD system upgraded. Nintendo's obviously trying to focus more on "core gamers" with their releases - but they're competing directly with Sony in a market that may not be large enough to support two consoles.