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I've been a fan of Nintendo games ever since the N64 / GBC and I have been pretty loyal since. But i have to admit, I’d now like Nintendo to take the same path as Sega - or something similar.
At first, when rumors started to fly about Xbox buying Nintendo I wasn’t very keen - because after all, it wouldn’t have been the same, would it?
But now, if either Microsoft or Sony bought Nintendo out, and had Nintendo making quality games without having to worry about console sales then everybody would be a winner.
Obviously this won’t happen in the current consoles, and I don't think it will happen in the next wave either, although I would like it to. But it’s bound to happen one day.
Just imagine; a Playstation with Zelda, Jak, Mario, Final Fantasy’s and GTA all on one console.
Or an Xbox with Halo, Ninja Gaiden mixed with some of Nintendo’s laid back classics. In fact - if Microsoft bought Nintendo maybe we could see some Nintendo & Rare calibrations. Donkey Kong Country 2 perhaps?
This is the way forward, I’m inclined to admit. Been stubborn never got anybody anywhere.
At first, when rumors started to fly about Xbox buying Nintendo I wasn’t very keen - because after all, it wouldn’t have been the same, would it?
But now, if either Microsoft or Sony bought Nintendo out, and had Nintendo making quality games without having to worry about console sales then everybody would be a winner.
Obviously this won’t happen in the current consoles, and I don't think it will happen in the next wave either, although I would like it to. But it’s bound to happen one day.
Just imagine; a Playstation with Zelda, Jak, Mario, Final Fantasy’s and GTA all on one console.
Or an Xbox with Halo, Ninja Gaiden mixed with some of Nintendo’s laid back classics. In fact - if Microsoft bought Nintendo maybe we could see some Nintendo & Rare calibrations. Donkey Kong Country 2 perhaps?
This is the way forward, I’m inclined to admit. Been stubborn never got anybody anywhere.
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Skies is a good example of SEGA's ability, SEGA also spend so much time on games, they seem to easily wave deadlines. Only their mega franchise Sonic ever seems to avoid delays and that seems more like a curse.
Games like Monkey Ball, Skies, Jet Set Radio Future etc... prove to me that SEGA do have that extra magic that appears after a long development time.
SEGA, Nintendo and to some luck and degree RARE are the only few companies that don't feel obliged to have all there teams release a game a year. I'm also interested to see how much 2 years development time will effect Timesplitters: Future Perfect... releasing Second Sight in September will hopefully mean Free Radical have the money to spend time on the game.
Games like Monkey Ball, Skies, Jet Set Radio Future etc... prove to me that SEGA do have that extra magic that appears after a long development time.
SEGA, Nintendo and to some luck and degree RARE are the only few companies that don't feel obliged to have all there teams release a game a year. I'm also interested to see how much 2 years development time will effect Timesplitters: Future Perfect... releasing Second Sight in September will hopefully mean Free Radical have the money to spend time on the game.
Whitestripes DX wrote:
> SoAL is the most special game ever. And I don't mean it gets strapped
> into a chair and dribbles.
No, that would make it your cousin right?
> SoAL is the most special game ever. And I don't mean it gets strapped
> into a chair and dribbles.
No, that would make it your cousin right?
SoAL is the most special game ever. And I don't mean it gets strapped into a chair and dribbles.
There is life beyond Ninty, but there isn't a better developer than Nintendo.
I'll have you know Jet Set Radio is one of those games that I felt had a Nintendo difference feel to it, and neither of the 2 editions appeared on a Nintendo system (bar the awful GBA conversion).
I can't imagine Half Life 2 having that magic because I find Western games are so contrived.
Wind Waker had a lot of messing about although it was less subtle, from doing peoples favours, delivering mail, to cutting all the grass on an island etc... etc... even the battle system was so much fun.
You turned on Eternal Darkness for some graphical effect? The insanity effects were clever but I'd hardly call them fun... it didn't really feel fun or anything just weird.
As for Prime you'd be surprised how fun it is just jumping around with the ol' moon boots stuff... and rolling around endlessly.
Most games are so obvious, Prince of Persia... they built some puzzles, developed some moves and then added a storyline. Nintendo just add things and just do some really clever, fun stuff.
All done with the extra time they spend on games.
I'll have you know Jet Set Radio is one of those games that I felt had a Nintendo difference feel to it, and neither of the 2 editions appeared on a Nintendo system (bar the awful GBA conversion).
I can't imagine Half Life 2 having that magic because I find Western games are so contrived.
Wind Waker had a lot of messing about although it was less subtle, from doing peoples favours, delivering mail, to cutting all the grass on an island etc... etc... even the battle system was so much fun.
You turned on Eternal Darkness for some graphical effect? The insanity effects were clever but I'd hardly call them fun... it didn't really feel fun or anything just weird.
As for Prime you'd be surprised how fun it is just jumping around with the ol' moon boots stuff... and rolling around endlessly.
Most games are so obvious, Prince of Persia... they built some puzzles, developed some moves and then added a storyline. Nintendo just add things and just do some really clever, fun stuff.
All done with the extra time they spend on games.
I know what you mean about played games like Mario and Pikmin (although I'm not sure about Zelda and Prime) just to have pointless fun, but how is playing Eternal Darkness just to see the sanity effects any different? I'm sure I speak for more people than myself when I say going mental was great fun and worth turning on the console for. Eternal Darkness felt special, to me, just as much as any Nintendo game did.
Then there are games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart that feel no different to any number of games we've all played. they don't feel special at all. Other than specific game themes they don't have a distinct 'Nintendo' feel, they just feel like good games. How you can say Mario Golf is special in any way is also beyond me.
But be honest, if a game like, let's say, Half-Life 2, did have this magic that you talk about so often, and it was a brilliant game (which it will be), you couldn't admit it. You'd say that it's still not the same as Zelda and Mario Sunshine because it doesn't have that Nintendo difference. You know you would too. ;-)
I love Nintendo games, and many are special, but you just seem to ignore the fact that third and second parties are as well. Nintendo aren't the 'be all end all' either, there's life beyond Ninty. Denial isn't a river, you know. :-P
Then there are games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart that feel no different to any number of games we've all played. they don't feel special at all. Other than specific game themes they don't have a distinct 'Nintendo' feel, they just feel like good games. How you can say Mario Golf is special in any way is also beyond me.
But be honest, if a game like, let's say, Half-Life 2, did have this magic that you talk about so often, and it was a brilliant game (which it will be), you couldn't admit it. You'd say that it's still not the same as Zelda and Mario Sunshine because it doesn't have that Nintendo difference. You know you would too. ;-)
I love Nintendo games, and many are special, but you just seem to ignore the fact that third and second parties are as well. Nintendo aren't the 'be all end all' either, there's life beyond Ninty. Denial isn't a river, you know. :-P
As for your final comment Rick I must disagree. Nintendo always state third parties are not the be all and end all. The reason is that Gamecube owners don't own the Gamecube for third party software. I know I didn't buy the Gamecube for Resident Evil and Spiderman 2... I got the Gamecube for Zelda, Mario, Pokemon etc...
I got the Gamecube for Nintendo games, just as millions and millions of people worldwide have. And why do people get a console with less games, No real internet gameplay, no DVD playback or backwards compatabilitiy? What do Nintendo offer that Sony and Microsoft do not?
Marginally better games, helped on by that special little effort Nintendo put in... the extra time they spend making the game.
Come on Pikmin 2 would have been out March last year if it was a Sony franchise.
I got the Gamecube for Nintendo games, just as millions and millions of people worldwide have. And why do people get a console with less games, No real internet gameplay, no DVD playback or backwards compatabilitiy? What do Nintendo offer that Sony and Microsoft do not?
Marginally better games, helped on by that special little effort Nintendo put in... the extra time they spend making the game.
Come on Pikmin 2 would have been out March last year if it was a Sony franchise.
The Nintendo difference doesn't autmatically make the game good Rickoss.
Doshin was AWFUL. It had that unique feel that Nintendo games tend to get but Eternal Darkness was far better because it had a better story, graphics, handling, ideas etc... etc..
The Nintendo difference is only useful when the handling, graphics, sound, innovation is all good as well... e.g. Mario, Zelda. When the game doesn't do those said things then no Nintendo difference is going to change it.
Nintendo have a very different policy on game making to near enough EVERY other developer out there, only SEGA and RARE come close to matching Nintendo's "Who cares if it sells" theory.
Eternal Darkness was technically wonderful. Graphics were very nice, the game was huge, the control system had been worked on a lot, the storyline was to die for, the variety was excellent. The thing is it doesn't, not by a long shot, match the "pure fun" factor of Zelda, Mario and Pikmin. It was far too serious, movie like in some ways, the combat system wasn't enjoyable. You didn't look for baddies just to slice them up. The only thing that didn't stop me playing the game was the ever-growing story.
I turned on Mario to jump off of walls into the sand, to slide on oil and land into the sea, to play the racing mini-games, to pop the ballons on the rollercoaster, to beat the bosses, to play the no-fludd levels. Mario had a factor to it that was just for fun. You may criticise the blue coin collecting game but that made me play the game, it gave me an "excuse" to keep playing the game. It's the same with the trophies in smash brothers or the Nintendo Gallery in Wind Waker... even analysing and collecting everything in Metroid Prime. It gave me a reason to continue playing the game and muck about. Have a laugh.
Most games let you explore, give you set things to do (e.g. GTA) and you can muck about but in the end doesn't get you anywhere. Nintendo invites us to muck about in an effort to actually complete the game.
Still to this day my fondest memory of Pikmin was leaving the blue Pikmin in the water, chucking a red one in just to have the blue ones chuck them out.
This effort, this ingenious conditioning, the Nintendo charm is a major aspect of the difference. I can't say what it is because it varies from game to game. To be honest the best game I've played this year is Prince of Persia, but the games i had the most fun on and smiled at the most are Mario Golf and Pacman Vs.
The Nintendo difference in all its glory.
Doshin was AWFUL. It had that unique feel that Nintendo games tend to get but Eternal Darkness was far better because it had a better story, graphics, handling, ideas etc... etc..
The Nintendo difference is only useful when the handling, graphics, sound, innovation is all good as well... e.g. Mario, Zelda. When the game doesn't do those said things then no Nintendo difference is going to change it.
Nintendo have a very different policy on game making to near enough EVERY other developer out there, only SEGA and RARE come close to matching Nintendo's "Who cares if it sells" theory.
Eternal Darkness was technically wonderful. Graphics were very nice, the game was huge, the control system had been worked on a lot, the storyline was to die for, the variety was excellent. The thing is it doesn't, not by a long shot, match the "pure fun" factor of Zelda, Mario and Pikmin. It was far too serious, movie like in some ways, the combat system wasn't enjoyable. You didn't look for baddies just to slice them up. The only thing that didn't stop me playing the game was the ever-growing story.
I turned on Mario to jump off of walls into the sand, to slide on oil and land into the sea, to play the racing mini-games, to pop the ballons on the rollercoaster, to beat the bosses, to play the no-fludd levels. Mario had a factor to it that was just for fun. You may criticise the blue coin collecting game but that made me play the game, it gave me an "excuse" to keep playing the game. It's the same with the trophies in smash brothers or the Nintendo Gallery in Wind Waker... even analysing and collecting everything in Metroid Prime. It gave me a reason to continue playing the game and muck about. Have a laugh.
Most games let you explore, give you set things to do (e.g. GTA) and you can muck about but in the end doesn't get you anywhere. Nintendo invites us to muck about in an effort to actually complete the game.
Still to this day my fondest memory of Pikmin was leaving the blue Pikmin in the water, chucking a red one in just to have the blue ones chuck them out.
This effort, this ingenious conditioning, the Nintendo charm is a major aspect of the difference. I can't say what it is because it varies from game to game. To be honest the best game I've played this year is Prince of Persia, but the games i had the most fun on and smiled at the most are Mario Golf and Pacman Vs.
The Nintendo difference in all its glory.
Okay then, what is this Nintendo Difference then? For me, Eternal Darkness felt far more special than Mario Sunshine. It was a new, completely original idea that made for a unique and 'special' game. I fail to see how Doshin the Giant is any more special than Eternal Darkness, and your only reason seems to be because it's from Nintendo.
Nintendo do innovate, but so do plenty of other developers, they may make special games but once again ditto for other developers. You just to to, on a whole, refer to Nintendo games as special and other, third-party titles merely good, for no other reason than they're Nintendo.
Granted, F-Zero and StarFox weren't very good, they were never going to feel special, but Viewtiful Joe, Eternal Darkness etc. They all felt new, fresh and special, just as Pikmin did; smooth, unique play mechanics merged with unique-looking environments made them special.
Even Skies of Arcadia: Legends, a Dreamcast port, felt something special compared to other Cube games. Going through the massive worlds, it reminded me of Ocarina of Time; that epic, magical feeling you get when you're playing a classic. Not necceserely a Nintendo game, but a brilliant game.
My point is, Nintendo make brilliant games, third-parties make brilliant games, and second parties make brilliant games, and you only seem to give Nintendo titles extra points for little or no reason.
Nintendo do innovate, but so do plenty of other developers, they may make special games but once again ditto for other developers. You just to to, on a whole, refer to Nintendo games as special and other, third-party titles merely good, for no other reason than they're Nintendo.
Granted, F-Zero and StarFox weren't very good, they were never going to feel special, but Viewtiful Joe, Eternal Darkness etc. They all felt new, fresh and special, just as Pikmin did; smooth, unique play mechanics merged with unique-looking environments made them special.
Even Skies of Arcadia: Legends, a Dreamcast port, felt something special compared to other Cube games. Going through the massive worlds, it reminded me of Ocarina of Time; that epic, magical feeling you get when you're playing a classic. Not necceserely a Nintendo game, but a brilliant game.
My point is, Nintendo make brilliant games, third-parties make brilliant games, and second parties make brilliant games, and you only seem to give Nintendo titles extra points for little or no reason.
I'm not blinded by a Nintendo sticker do you think I'm an idiot?
Not all Nintendo games have that "magic" and some third party games do manage to get it.
RARE managed to grab that magic with Perfect Dark, Conker, Banjo (not tooie), Donkey Kong Country, Goldeneye... not all of them made it but those did.
It's a special conditioning that Nintendo have, play Nintendo games, if you can't see what I mean then you are crazy.
I chose BG&E and POP for a reason, they are both the best third party games to have been released in the last year. They are wonderful, addictive, good looking, clever and well designed... but they didn't quite match Nintendo games.
Not all Nintendo games that have that "special something" are neccessarally that good, Doshin the Giant had a Nintendo difference feel to it. It was still crap.
POP and BG&E bar the flaws essentially did a lot right but it didn't have the Nintendo X-factor. If Nintendo make a game they condition it in such a way that as well as expert graphics, handling etc... etc... it also has an extra factor other developers don't have the money to implement. Doshin had bad graphics, awful handling, sluggish gameplay, dumb storyline.... thanks to a special pixie dust from Nintendo though and it wasn't unplayable.
Eternal Darkness, Starfox Adventures and F Zero GX both didn't have the magic of which I speak. Games such as Prime etc... go through Nintendo's system of game making, therefore it has that little extra.
It's like a secret ingrediant and if you can't tell the difference between a top end third party game and a top end Nintendo title then you are not looking. At all.
Not all Nintendo games have that "magic" and some third party games do manage to get it.
RARE managed to grab that magic with Perfect Dark, Conker, Banjo (not tooie), Donkey Kong Country, Goldeneye... not all of them made it but those did.
It's a special conditioning that Nintendo have, play Nintendo games, if you can't see what I mean then you are crazy.
I chose BG&E and POP for a reason, they are both the best third party games to have been released in the last year. They are wonderful, addictive, good looking, clever and well designed... but they didn't quite match Nintendo games.
Not all Nintendo games that have that "special something" are neccessarally that good, Doshin the Giant had a Nintendo difference feel to it. It was still crap.
POP and BG&E bar the flaws essentially did a lot right but it didn't have the Nintendo X-factor. If Nintendo make a game they condition it in such a way that as well as expert graphics, handling etc... etc... it also has an extra factor other developers don't have the money to implement. Doshin had bad graphics, awful handling, sluggish gameplay, dumb storyline.... thanks to a special pixie dust from Nintendo though and it wasn't unplayable.
Eternal Darkness, Starfox Adventures and F Zero GX both didn't have the magic of which I speak. Games such as Prime etc... go through Nintendo's system of game making, therefore it has that little extra.
It's like a secret ingrediant and if you can't tell the difference between a top end third party game and a top end Nintendo title then you are not looking. At all.
Exactly.
ALthough I must admit, I don't think anyone but Nintendo would try and make a game quite like Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, which looks awesome, I'm not impressed with Mario Golf (or Tennis), and Donkey Konga will be quite crap.
But they'll immediately have a headstart over other similar games becasue they're made by Nintendo?
ALthough I must admit, I don't think anyone but Nintendo would try and make a game quite like Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, which looks awesome, I'm not impressed with Mario Golf (or Tennis), and Donkey Konga will be quite crap.
But they'll immediately have a headstart over other similar games becasue they're made by Nintendo?
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