The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Shigsy was more than happy to confirm that the recent slew of Gamecube announcements are not the last. In fact a new Pokemon game is in development and Mario 128 is still due for the system. Nintendo also have been promoting Skips "Chibi Robo" as one of these new "Nintendo franchises" that we've been harping on about. In fact there are so many games due out for the Gamecube next year I question where the DS is going to fit in. And whether Revolution maybe launching a little early when it comes to its "2006" date. I can see Christmas 2006 as being the period we'll see the new console if what Miyamoto says is true. And if it isn't then maybe Strafio is correct and perhaps Nintendo will continue to support the Gamecube even during the new generation of hardware.
But that isn't what interests me the most. Instead the company I am most interested in, and Nintendo seem most interested in, is Namco.
Namco are an ideal company for Nintendo, famous for shooting game Point Blank, puzzler Pacman, Racing titles Ridge Racer, the Tales series of RPG's and beat 'em ups Tekken and Soul Calibur. All are franchises that, to be honest, Nintendo could seriously do with.
All of those games are popular but are also franchises that the Big N would love. If you want a Beat 'em up your best bet is the PS2, want a Racer? Look at the PS2 or X-box. Is it an RPG game you're after? Go after the PS2.
So a company like Namco must be a company Nintendo would love.
And it appears so.
During the N64 life this companionship would have been laughed at. Namco constantly criticised Nintendo for its stance on development and praised the Playstation to death. Seems that has changed somewhat since.
It all started when Namco announced Tales of Symphonia would be exclusive for a set period of time in Japan as well as Pacman World 2 to the Nintendo Gamecube. Something most gamers didn't take notice too until Tales of Symphonia caused a massive surge of Gamecube sales and stayed at the top spot for a rather large period of time selling over a million units in a month.
Hmmmm.
Link in Soul Calibur 2 was also a surprise. Nintendo designing a character for another companies game. Nintendo seem desperate to keep Namco on board. So much so that Nintendo gave the 2 licenses they rescued from the RARE sales to Namco.
Donkey Kong and Starfox are two of Nintendo's premier stars and Namco have been made responsible for their Gamecube appearances. There is already 2 Donkey Konga titles released in Japan, that hit the top spot in the homeland and have performed rather nicely in America and Europe with another one to come. In fact by the end of the Gamecube's life I half expect there to be 5 Donkey Konga titles in Japan at least. Starfox Assault (previously known as "Starfox Armada" and "Starfox 2" has been in development for the Gamecube for 3 years. There has also been ANOTHER Nintendo-Namco collaboration title in the form of Mario Baseball, a game RARE would never have been allowed to make.
Baiton Kaitos was also announced as an exclusive Gamecube game whilst Playstion premier title Tekken is all but confirmed to appear on the Gamecube next year.
Nintendo are almost becoming a publisher for Namco, TAles, a game that would NEVER have seen the light of day in America or Europe normally was published by Nintendo over here as was Soul Calibur 2. Nintendo published titles always do better than those published by third parties.
One of the most major shocks was Pacman Vs. This is a Namco franchise developed by Nintendo. Something pratically unheard of in the world of Nintendo who normally have too many of their own games to worry about. In fact the little GBA-GC title were given to Namco so they could use it to promote Pacman World 2 and R-Racing Revolution (another PS2 title going multiformat).
Ridge Racer on the PSP is looks nice but Namco's DS edition uses the touch screen to full effect (even if it doesn't really work) and Namco have confirmed a load of exclusive DS specialised software including the excellent looking Pac Pik.
Namco have never done a major announcement regarding 5 Resident Evil games or 5 exclusive games only to let us down later on in life. Namco never told us we were gonna get 5 exclusive games and reveal that in fact 1 should do.
Without a doubt the biggest "positive" to be taken from the latest generation of Nintendo.
Here's to the future.
Dringo.
Shigsy was more than happy to confirm that the recent slew of Gamecube announcements are not the last. In fact a new Pokemon game is in development and Mario 128 is still due for the system. Nintendo also have been promoting Skips "Chibi Robo" as one of these new "Nintendo franchises" that we've been harping on about. In fact there are so many games due out for the Gamecube next year I question where the DS is going to fit in. And whether Revolution maybe launching a little early when it comes to its "2006" date. I can see Christmas 2006 as being the period we'll see the new console if what Miyamoto says is true. And if it isn't then maybe Strafio is correct and perhaps Nintendo will continue to support the Gamecube even during the new generation of hardware.
But that isn't what interests me the most. Instead the company I am most interested in, and Nintendo seem most interested in, is Namco.
Namco are an ideal company for Nintendo, famous for shooting game Point Blank, puzzler Pacman, Racing titles Ridge Racer, the Tales series of RPG's and beat 'em ups Tekken and Soul Calibur. All are franchises that, to be honest, Nintendo could seriously do with.
All of those games are popular but are also franchises that the Big N would love. If you want a Beat 'em up your best bet is the PS2, want a Racer? Look at the PS2 or X-box. Is it an RPG game you're after? Go after the PS2.
So a company like Namco must be a company Nintendo would love.
And it appears so.
During the N64 life this companionship would have been laughed at. Namco constantly criticised Nintendo for its stance on development and praised the Playstation to death. Seems that has changed somewhat since.
It all started when Namco announced Tales of Symphonia would be exclusive for a set period of time in Japan as well as Pacman World 2 to the Nintendo Gamecube. Something most gamers didn't take notice too until Tales of Symphonia caused a massive surge of Gamecube sales and stayed at the top spot for a rather large period of time selling over a million units in a month.
Hmmmm.
Link in Soul Calibur 2 was also a surprise. Nintendo designing a character for another companies game. Nintendo seem desperate to keep Namco on board. So much so that Nintendo gave the 2 licenses they rescued from the RARE sales to Namco.
Donkey Kong and Starfox are two of Nintendo's premier stars and Namco have been made responsible for their Gamecube appearances. There is already 2 Donkey Konga titles released in Japan, that hit the top spot in the homeland and have performed rather nicely in America and Europe with another one to come. In fact by the end of the Gamecube's life I half expect there to be 5 Donkey Konga titles in Japan at least. Starfox Assault (previously known as "Starfox Armada" and "Starfox 2" has been in development for the Gamecube for 3 years. There has also been ANOTHER Nintendo-Namco collaboration title in the form of Mario Baseball, a game RARE would never have been allowed to make.
Baiton Kaitos was also announced as an exclusive Gamecube game whilst Playstion premier title Tekken is all but confirmed to appear on the Gamecube next year.
Nintendo are almost becoming a publisher for Namco, TAles, a game that would NEVER have seen the light of day in America or Europe normally was published by Nintendo over here as was Soul Calibur 2. Nintendo published titles always do better than those published by third parties.
One of the most major shocks was Pacman Vs. This is a Namco franchise developed by Nintendo. Something pratically unheard of in the world of Nintendo who normally have too many of their own games to worry about. In fact the little GBA-GC title were given to Namco so they could use it to promote Pacman World 2 and R-Racing Revolution (another PS2 title going multiformat).
Ridge Racer on the PSP is looks nice but Namco's DS edition uses the touch screen to full effect (even if it doesn't really work) and Namco have confirmed a load of exclusive DS specialised software including the excellent looking Pac Pik.
Namco have never done a major announcement regarding 5 Resident Evil games or 5 exclusive games only to let us down later on in life. Namco never told us we were gonna get 5 exclusive games and reveal that in fact 1 should do.
Without a doubt the biggest "positive" to be taken from the latest generation of Nintendo.
Here's to the future.
Dringo.