The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only.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.
Sony have confirmed it. Blu-Ray will be a featured component in what is set to be their most lucrative bussiness move to date.
For those that don't know, DVD is already becoming outdated. Already you can get view high definition TV, that even surpasses that of DVD. In other words you can be watching Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and it'll look better than the latest Star Wars DVD's.
Does this seem right to you? No indeed it doesn't and 2 major companies also agree this. These 2 major companies have developed 2 new forms of movie media, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.
Sony, along with a whole host of other top names, back the Blu-Ray medium to be the next big thing in home entertainment. It is a massive 50GB in size, looks pretty funky and with it being included in the Playstation 3 will autmatically put Blu-Ray in millions and millions of homes worldwide. Hollywood would almost have to support the Blu-Ray system simply because the popularity of the Playstation brand will mean millions will have the ability to play them already. Sony will add pressure with their Tri-star, Columbia and MGM studios... Spiderman, Terminator and Bond already on Blu-Ray. Watch the new system fly.
Unless something incredibly unlikely happens, such as the PSP flops and the PSTwo fails to start then it is likely Sony will be looking at a steam rolling win for the next generation of consoles.
There is one negative aspect of Blu-Ray. Because it doesn't use the simple red laser system for DVD's (something that is now very cheap to implement) and uses Blue laser, it'll mean the cost of the system will be jacked up. Either Sony will have to release it at a high price, wait an extra amount of time or just suffer a loss on the system. The latter isn't something Sony have ever been willing to do.
It is this PS3 decision that makes the Blu-Ray's competitor, the HD-DVD, look bad. Although the system is cheaper to implement the size of the medium is a mere 22GB, under half that of Blu-Ray.
But hope may remain. It is possible that Microsoft's next system, codenamed Xenon, will use it. Microsoft are desperate to release a cheap system out of the box and not to suffer the price point themselves like they are with the X-box. Already they are removing the Hard drive and to incorperate something like Blu-Ray will mean the Xenon will launch at a very high price. In fact Microsoft are hoping to get a years head start (late 2005) on the competiton and Blu-Ray will be even more expensive to use. If Microsoft want a competitive medium HD-DVD may be the only way.
Microsoft with the weaker system is almost a complete role reversal from the current generation.
What of Nintendo? Who honestly knows. No one. Rumours persist that Nintendo will continue to go their own way and buck the trend of the industry. It persists that Nintendo will play down third party support and stick to first party software, that Nintendo will use a totally new system and won't offer movie playback at all.
These rumours are counteracted with the DS almost entirely. Nintendo now base more emphesis on third parties especially with the latest system and the recent GBA Videos indicate Nintendo willingness to develop video viewing means.
But it is also likely that Nintendo will want to fight piracy in such a way that games will be on a totally different form of medium (A.K.A Gamecube/DS) but it is also likely Nintendo will offer a "second medium". Already confirmed is that the Revolution will be backwards compatible. Which points to the inclusion of either very cheap to implement DVD system or slightly more expensive "HD-DVD".
If both Nintendo and Microsoft use "HD-DVD" then there maybe trouble ahead for Blu-Ray after all. Sure Sony may have the sales advantage, but with Nintendo set to launch simultaneously with Sony and Microsoft a year early. It already kick starts a proper war between the two mediums.
On the other hand, with DVD gaining a firm position in society how likely is it that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will be replacing it by 2006? Surly it'll take a good 5 years to properly take off? Is Nintendo likely to just stick with DVD movies? Especially as they lack the experience of it. But launching the system next to the Playstation 3 indicates that Nintendo are being really competitive this time, and they will want that to right down to the specifications and what the system offers.
Sony have a brilliant stratagy in place. Something Nintendo and Microsoft will have to be very clever to counteract. Recent reports indicate Nintendo are on the offensive, and it is likely we will see a far more agressive stance from the legendary developer... with the added bonus of brilliant and innovative "DS style" features. Microsoft are stripping down their system and offering in advance of the competiton. It is a surprise risk from Microsoft, hoping that releasing the system early will mean they get a stranglehold on the industry.
Didn't work for the Dreamcast did it.
For those that don't know, DVD is already becoming outdated. Already you can get view high definition TV, that even surpasses that of DVD. In other words you can be watching Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and it'll look better than the latest Star Wars DVD's.
Does this seem right to you? No indeed it doesn't and 2 major companies also agree this. These 2 major companies have developed 2 new forms of movie media, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.
Sony, along with a whole host of other top names, back the Blu-Ray medium to be the next big thing in home entertainment. It is a massive 50GB in size, looks pretty funky and with it being included in the Playstation 3 will autmatically put Blu-Ray in millions and millions of homes worldwide. Hollywood would almost have to support the Blu-Ray system simply because the popularity of the Playstation brand will mean millions will have the ability to play them already. Sony will add pressure with their Tri-star, Columbia and MGM studios... Spiderman, Terminator and Bond already on Blu-Ray. Watch the new system fly.
Unless something incredibly unlikely happens, such as the PSP flops and the PSTwo fails to start then it is likely Sony will be looking at a steam rolling win for the next generation of consoles.
There is one negative aspect of Blu-Ray. Because it doesn't use the simple red laser system for DVD's (something that is now very cheap to implement) and uses Blue laser, it'll mean the cost of the system will be jacked up. Either Sony will have to release it at a high price, wait an extra amount of time or just suffer a loss on the system. The latter isn't something Sony have ever been willing to do.
It is this PS3 decision that makes the Blu-Ray's competitor, the HD-DVD, look bad. Although the system is cheaper to implement the size of the medium is a mere 22GB, under half that of Blu-Ray.
But hope may remain. It is possible that Microsoft's next system, codenamed Xenon, will use it. Microsoft are desperate to release a cheap system out of the box and not to suffer the price point themselves like they are with the X-box. Already they are removing the Hard drive and to incorperate something like Blu-Ray will mean the Xenon will launch at a very high price. In fact Microsoft are hoping to get a years head start (late 2005) on the competiton and Blu-Ray will be even more expensive to use. If Microsoft want a competitive medium HD-DVD may be the only way.
Microsoft with the weaker system is almost a complete role reversal from the current generation.
What of Nintendo? Who honestly knows. No one. Rumours persist that Nintendo will continue to go their own way and buck the trend of the industry. It persists that Nintendo will play down third party support and stick to first party software, that Nintendo will use a totally new system and won't offer movie playback at all.
These rumours are counteracted with the DS almost entirely. Nintendo now base more emphesis on third parties especially with the latest system and the recent GBA Videos indicate Nintendo willingness to develop video viewing means.
But it is also likely that Nintendo will want to fight piracy in such a way that games will be on a totally different form of medium (A.K.A Gamecube/DS) but it is also likely Nintendo will offer a "second medium". Already confirmed is that the Revolution will be backwards compatible. Which points to the inclusion of either very cheap to implement DVD system or slightly more expensive "HD-DVD".
If both Nintendo and Microsoft use "HD-DVD" then there maybe trouble ahead for Blu-Ray after all. Sure Sony may have the sales advantage, but with Nintendo set to launch simultaneously with Sony and Microsoft a year early. It already kick starts a proper war between the two mediums.
On the other hand, with DVD gaining a firm position in society how likely is it that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD will be replacing it by 2006? Surly it'll take a good 5 years to properly take off? Is Nintendo likely to just stick with DVD movies? Especially as they lack the experience of it. But launching the system next to the Playstation 3 indicates that Nintendo are being really competitive this time, and they will want that to right down to the specifications and what the system offers.
Sony have a brilliant stratagy in place. Something Nintendo and Microsoft will have to be very clever to counteract. Recent reports indicate Nintendo are on the offensive, and it is likely we will see a far more agressive stance from the legendary developer... with the added bonus of brilliant and innovative "DS style" features. Microsoft are stripping down their system and offering in advance of the competiton. It is a surprise risk from Microsoft, hoping that releasing the system early will mean they get a stranglehold on the industry.
Didn't work for the Dreamcast did it.
Page:
Bonus you Crouching Fool: Unhidden Ewok
It looks like a decent enough idea to me, but that would involve spending money to develop it, something Nintendo just don't have to do with Pokemon. I would hazard a guess at Pokemon merchandise selling and making more than the games do, and the fact that Nintendo can rerelease the first two games on a new platform and still have it sell like hotcakes doesn't excactly demand a push towards changing the system.
I couldn't see Nintendo being likely to support it in Europe anyway, not unless they got a network together like Xbox Live, where they aren't dependent upon different ISPs etc for individual games. It's hard enough to get them to release offline games here, never mind something as complicated as a network.
I couldn't see Nintendo being likely to support it in Europe anyway, not unless they got a network together like Xbox Live, where they aren't dependent upon different ISPs etc for individual games. It's hard enough to get them to release offline games here, never mind something as complicated as a network.
This eint over! :-)
But we're not simply talking GB Pokémon with 3D graphics.
Walk around a map until you get into a random battle?
We were thinking of walking around a living breathing world of wildlife.
All on an online server?
Personally, I think the idea would work a lot better for the DS.
The whole battle system would need up-dating though.
Walking around a map until the "random battle" occurs is a bit 8bit now.
I reckon a different screen from exploring to fighting would still be in order but...
Okay, remember near the beginning of Gold/Silver when you saw a Pokémon battle happening. Two trainers with the Pokémon between them, that's how it could sort of look on the exploration screen, and then you could choose to watch it and then you'd see the battle screen.
Likewise, instead of getting into a random battle, and Pokémon would run into you and the battle would start. It means that you can look for fights and you can avoid them.
The battles need serious revamping.
The old view is no good now. It would have to be more of a Pokémon stadium type view (except not 3D - I want NO excuses for crap animation), but that's where the comparisons to stadium ends.
I'd like to see the trainers in the scene, throwing Pokéballs to call out their minions. And instead of Pokémon being stupid and just sitting while they exchange attacks, they could be animated properly, you know?
Even if they haven't been given an order, the could still be reacting to their opponent, manauvering, looking at their trainer to see what to do next...
And then when you did a command you'd see a speech bubble come from the trainer rather than the cheesy "so and so did...".
Add a revamped battle system... perhaps complicate it a bit. Instead of simple turn based, more of a power points bar that falls whenever you do a move and each move requires a certain amount.
A how quickly it goes up again would depend on the condition of the Pokémon... poisoning would actually be worth something this time instead of everyone going for the pure brute strength approaches.
I'm toying with the idea of voice recognised commands, but that's probably pushing it.
Personally, I'd rather see all this in 2D because it'll make it easier for them to push boundaries, rather than be weighed down by the complexities of a 3D game.
But Nintendo are still mongs and they wouldn't let me load up my red/gold team onto it. Hmph!
So as dreams go Dringo, what do you make of that one.
(PS. still no excuse to make a new console!!! :-P)
Walk around a map until you get into a random battle?
We were thinking of walking around a living breathing world of wildlife.
All on an online server?
Personally, I think the idea would work a lot better for the DS.
The whole battle system would need up-dating though.
Walking around a map until the "random battle" occurs is a bit 8bit now.
I reckon a different screen from exploring to fighting would still be in order but...
Okay, remember near the beginning of Gold/Silver when you saw a Pokémon battle happening. Two trainers with the Pokémon between them, that's how it could sort of look on the exploration screen, and then you could choose to watch it and then you'd see the battle screen.
Likewise, instead of getting into a random battle, and Pokémon would run into you and the battle would start. It means that you can look for fights and you can avoid them.
The battles need serious revamping.
The old view is no good now. It would have to be more of a Pokémon stadium type view (except not 3D - I want NO excuses for crap animation), but that's where the comparisons to stadium ends.
I'd like to see the trainers in the scene, throwing Pokéballs to call out their minions. And instead of Pokémon being stupid and just sitting while they exchange attacks, they could be animated properly, you know?
Even if they haven't been given an order, the could still be reacting to their opponent, manauvering, looking at their trainer to see what to do next...
And then when you did a command you'd see a speech bubble come from the trainer rather than the cheesy "so and so did...".
Add a revamped battle system... perhaps complicate it a bit. Instead of simple turn based, more of a power points bar that falls whenever you do a move and each move requires a certain amount.
A how quickly it goes up again would depend on the condition of the Pokémon... poisoning would actually be worth something this time instead of everyone going for the pure brute strength approaches.
I'm toying with the idea of voice recognised commands, but that's probably pushing it.
Personally, I'd rather see all this in 2D because it'll make it easier for them to push boundaries, rather than be weighed down by the complexities of a 3D game.
But Nintendo are still mongs and they wouldn't let me load up my red/gold team onto it. Hmph!
So as dreams go Dringo, what do you make of that one.
(PS. still no excuse to make a new console!!! :-P)
Strafio wrote:
> PS. As great as it sounds, this idea is nearly as ambitious as Mario
> 64 was. Nintendo just don't seem to have that drive anymore...
> Do you think they'd still attempt it?
Ninty have said on various occaisons they like to keep the main games on handhelds so they can be taken around and the monsters swapped easier. But two memory cards in a cube would work fine, even if 3 or 4 way swaps/battling were ruled out without a system link.
In the short-term, I think the new DS games Pearl and.. the other colour (I forget) are going to be the closest to the fanboy's dream we'll get.
> PS. As great as it sounds, this idea is nearly as ambitious as Mario
> 64 was. Nintendo just don't seem to have that drive anymore...
> Do you think they'd still attempt it?
Ninty have said on various occaisons they like to keep the main games on handhelds so they can be taken around and the monsters swapped easier. But two memory cards in a cube would work fine, even if 3 or 4 way swaps/battling were ruled out without a system link.
In the short-term, I think the new DS games Pearl and.. the other colour (I forget) are going to be the closest to the fanboy's dream we'll get.
That sounds fantastic.
Now give me a good reason why it can't be done on the Gamecube.
Heck, I could give a billion reasons why it wouldn't work for a truly obselete console like the PSOne or the N64, but why it couldn't be done on the Gamecube?
I can't see a reason why not. :-)
PS. As great as it sounds, this idea is nearly as ambitious as Mario 64 was. Nintendo just don't seem to have that drive anymore...
Do you think they'd still attempt it?
Now give me a good reason why it can't be done on the Gamecube.
Heck, I could give a billion reasons why it wouldn't work for a truly obselete console like the PSOne or the N64, but why it couldn't be done on the Gamecube?
I can't see a reason why not. :-)
PS. As great as it sounds, this idea is nearly as ambitious as Mario 64 was. Nintendo just don't seem to have that drive anymore...
Do you think they'd still attempt it?
*jisms*
Mario Kart online won't sell as much as lets say Halo.
But Metroid Prime online would compete.
And that won't be Nintendo's big online killer.
Pokemonline with the league charts, the AI controlled gym leaders, wondering around one of many huge 3D lands, meeting other trainers, battling, trading, capturing. Completing caves together. Hunting rare Pokemon of which the game contains hundreds and hundreds and hundreds.
Get grades depending on your amount of victories against the amount of defeats. Allowing people to be wary of the stronger fighters. Tournaments with useful prizes, regular updates with new Pokemon.
This game would sell like hot cakes and push Nintendo into the limelight.
But Metroid Prime online would compete.
And that won't be Nintendo's big online killer.
Pokemonline with the league charts, the AI controlled gym leaders, wondering around one of many huge 3D lands, meeting other trainers, battling, trading, capturing. Completing caves together. Hunting rare Pokemon of which the game contains hundreds and hundreds and hundreds.
Get grades depending on your amount of victories against the amount of defeats. Allowing people to be wary of the stronger fighters. Tournaments with useful prizes, regular updates with new Pokemon.
This game would sell like hot cakes and push Nintendo into the limelight.
So discs that store more information (when you consider that Zelda OOT was a mere 32Mb, it does make it seem a little trivial) and online (which Nintendo could just as easily do on the Gamecube) play.
Would I shell out for a new console.
I say no now but back in my gaming hay day, I probably would've.
But outside of Japan, who's going to choose Mario Kart online over Perfect Dark and Halo?
Online play is a step forward but not enough to warrant a new console.
Would I shell out for a new console.
I say no now but back in my gaming hay day, I probably would've.
But outside of Japan, who's going to choose Mario Kart online over Perfect Dark and Halo?
Online play is a step forward but not enough to warrant a new console.
I think online gaming is cheap to do now and, after evidence of the DS and the amount of pressure to go Online with the Gamecube, we'll have an online Revolution.
A massive community in Animal Crossing, a massive multiplayer online Roll Playing Game with Pokemon, Clever score tables and online tournements with Smash brothers, Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Wario Ware, Mario Golf, Mario Party, Wave Race, Excitebike, 1080 etc... wonderful online gaming experience.
Nintendo don't have to go head to head with Sony. Nintendo are very good friends with Toshiba, Phillips and Panasonic. Companies more than capable with putting up a fight against Sony, some support HD-DVD and some support Blu-Ray... meaning Nintendo can support either. And coupled with Nintendo's expertise with battling piracy it might be a safe bet. It doesn't mean Gamecube will use DVD's for the games, but probably.
My money's on Nintendo using blu-ray. My reasoning is that Panasonic developed the current Gamecube discs which can be used in Revolution and Panasonic are firm supporters of Blu-Ray. It is of course possible that Panasonic will develop a slightly smaller edition of blu-ray for the Nintendo games but allow the bigger DVD discs to work this time.
This is a worthwhile upgrade in my eyes.
DVD and Online pressure will mean Nintendo might leap into both the beds of Sony and Microsoft and win over a few of those gamers on the boundaries. As long as Nintendo have a strong launch line up themselves (Mario 128 and Pilotwings will surffice for a while, and whatever HAL is working on (smash brothers)) and a strong line up from third parties. And I am talking about BIG support for the first year, not a few third party releases but the majority of them.
If Nintendo can keep momentum in the first year it means they can re-gain their footing, third parties won't desert them like the current generation and Nintendo will look strong again. Now Nintendo can take innovative risks in an attempt to topple Sony and surpass Microsoft.
Spending a bit of money to get third parties on board for a while, using a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD format and developing a proper online system will make Nintendo seem dangerous. Rather than a laughing stock.
A massive community in Animal Crossing, a massive multiplayer online Roll Playing Game with Pokemon, Clever score tables and online tournements with Smash brothers, Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Wario Ware, Mario Golf, Mario Party, Wave Race, Excitebike, 1080 etc... wonderful online gaming experience.
Nintendo don't have to go head to head with Sony. Nintendo are very good friends with Toshiba, Phillips and Panasonic. Companies more than capable with putting up a fight against Sony, some support HD-DVD and some support Blu-Ray... meaning Nintendo can support either. And coupled with Nintendo's expertise with battling piracy it might be a safe bet. It doesn't mean Gamecube will use DVD's for the games, but probably.
My money's on Nintendo using blu-ray. My reasoning is that Panasonic developed the current Gamecube discs which can be used in Revolution and Panasonic are firm supporters of Blu-Ray. It is of course possible that Panasonic will develop a slightly smaller edition of blu-ray for the Nintendo games but allow the bigger DVD discs to work this time.
This is a worthwhile upgrade in my eyes.
DVD and Online pressure will mean Nintendo might leap into both the beds of Sony and Microsoft and win over a few of those gamers on the boundaries. As long as Nintendo have a strong launch line up themselves (Mario 128 and Pilotwings will surffice for a while, and whatever HAL is working on (smash brothers)) and a strong line up from third parties. And I am talking about BIG support for the first year, not a few third party releases but the majority of them.
If Nintendo can keep momentum in the first year it means they can re-gain their footing, third parties won't desert them like the current generation and Nintendo will look strong again. Now Nintendo can take innovative risks in an attempt to topple Sony and surpass Microsoft.
Spending a bit of money to get third parties on board for a while, using a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD format and developing a proper online system will make Nintendo seem dangerous. Rather than a laughing stock.
Page: