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Many years ago now a stupid stuck up company messed around with a CD giant, a giant that wanted a piece of the gaming market. Because of this said CD giant murdered the market, SEGA fell and Nintendo were forced to retreat from their headlined position. Sony was here.
Nintendo's survival depended on three things, their unique, totally different style to Sony meant Nintendo offered something Sony didn't. Nintendo also have the hardest dying fan base you'll ever see, a fan base filled with us lot. These two factors help but it was the Gameboy, a franchise left untouched by Sony's rampage that meant Nintendo could re-group and re-build.
Nintendo hid in their niche market, their fan base and their Gameboy franchise allowed them to soldier on as Sony's user-base tripled, quadrupled and whatever came after that. Could anyone stop this jugganaught?
Enter Microsoft. The biggest, richest company in the entire world... and all of a sudden Sony didn't look that strong. Microsoft has slowly chipped away at Sony over the past 2 years, eating more and more into both their and Nintendo's user base. Microsoft are a company that, no matter how hard they try, Sony cannot defeat even in their elevated position.
There is no room for 3 consoles, it is time for Sony to finish off Nintendo once and for all.
And this was the perfect time to do it. Despite unbelievable sales of the Gameboy Advance the Gamecube was falling. Nintendo's die hard fan based were annoyed, the company they loved so much was fiddling with franchises and ultimately creating games that were not up to the usual standard. Wind Waker, Sunshine and Pikmin... the Gamecube's self-proclaimed lead titles were, to some Nintendo fans, disappointing. Only Mario Kart and Metroid Prime proved that Nintendo did indeed still have it. The sale of Rare to Microsoft was another massive blow to Nintendo's fan base, the constant loss of third party developers every week made Nintendo appear doomed to failure.
Enter the death nail, the killer blow.... The PSP.
If Sony want to fight Microsoft then a handheld is the key. A platform that is said to be the future of gaming, a handheld would not only extend the already strong Playstation userbase but also cripple Nintendo beyond repair. Getting a massive head start over Nintendo's next Gameboy, introducing MP3 playability and what looks set to be the sexiest piece of kit ever created.
E3 2004
How Sony didn't expect this. Suddenly everything changed. Nintendo's third parties may be leaving but what at first seemed like a weak first party line up became stronger than ever. The die-hard Nintendo fans were happy with a line up that featured a brand spanking new realistic Zelda game, a fantastic looking Metroid Prime and what is set to be the best Resident Evil title ever made. With Mario Tennis, Donkey Kong, Geist, Starfox, Pikmin 2 and Paper Mario 2 all on the release list it was safe to say Nintendo have protected their die-hard assets.
Nintendo will also launch the next Gameboy before the end of the year.... sorry I mean the 'DS' before the end of the year... undercutting Sony. The DS may not look as cool as the PSP but for pure functionality the system is cool. The games looked gorgeous, the new way of holding games is fantastic and backward compatible with the GBA. Brilliant.
The PSP is launching with GT, Tekken and Metal Gear Solid. Despite those 3 games being some of the biggest in the world their popularity (a bit like Mario's) have taken a knock after their dissapointing latest outings. The PSP also needs to implement a jog proof system for the CD based hardware, a laser as well as an inbuilt memory. Could battery life be a problem? Yes the Playstation name sells, but can Sony sell a handheld console to an adult market? I won't underestimate them, they can do it but there is no way they can have as many PSP gamers as they have PS2 gamers... handheld gaming just is not popular with the adult gamers. Just look at the N-Gage. The DS is launching with Mario’s, Metroid and even Sony’s own Final Fantasy. It is also launching with Nintendo’s first full online mode, boasting touch screen, Wireless connection, a protected clam shape and an in-built microphone. Not all of that may appeal to the casual gamer. But some of it will.
Confessingly the Playstation Pocket looks more dangerous than I originally thought. It looks utterly stunning, lacks clutter (something the DS suffers from) with a beautiful screen. This alone could sell the system... but with the GBA SP set for a large price cut before the end of the year can the PSP defeat Nintendo’s massive, 95%, handheld empire?
If Nintendo are going down they are not doing it without a fight. If Sony’s PSP is forced out by the Gameboy, a system that has forced out many of Nintendo's competitors before, what can Sony do to stop Microsoft?
Dringo.
Nintendo's survival depended on three things, their unique, totally different style to Sony meant Nintendo offered something Sony didn't. Nintendo also have the hardest dying fan base you'll ever see, a fan base filled with us lot. These two factors help but it was the Gameboy, a franchise left untouched by Sony's rampage that meant Nintendo could re-group and re-build.
Nintendo hid in their niche market, their fan base and their Gameboy franchise allowed them to soldier on as Sony's user-base tripled, quadrupled and whatever came after that. Could anyone stop this jugganaught?
Enter Microsoft. The biggest, richest company in the entire world... and all of a sudden Sony didn't look that strong. Microsoft has slowly chipped away at Sony over the past 2 years, eating more and more into both their and Nintendo's user base. Microsoft are a company that, no matter how hard they try, Sony cannot defeat even in their elevated position.
There is no room for 3 consoles, it is time for Sony to finish off Nintendo once and for all.
And this was the perfect time to do it. Despite unbelievable sales of the Gameboy Advance the Gamecube was falling. Nintendo's die hard fan based were annoyed, the company they loved so much was fiddling with franchises and ultimately creating games that were not up to the usual standard. Wind Waker, Sunshine and Pikmin... the Gamecube's self-proclaimed lead titles were, to some Nintendo fans, disappointing. Only Mario Kart and Metroid Prime proved that Nintendo did indeed still have it. The sale of Rare to Microsoft was another massive blow to Nintendo's fan base, the constant loss of third party developers every week made Nintendo appear doomed to failure.
Enter the death nail, the killer blow.... The PSP.
If Sony want to fight Microsoft then a handheld is the key. A platform that is said to be the future of gaming, a handheld would not only extend the already strong Playstation userbase but also cripple Nintendo beyond repair. Getting a massive head start over Nintendo's next Gameboy, introducing MP3 playability and what looks set to be the sexiest piece of kit ever created.
E3 2004
How Sony didn't expect this. Suddenly everything changed. Nintendo's third parties may be leaving but what at first seemed like a weak first party line up became stronger than ever. The die-hard Nintendo fans were happy with a line up that featured a brand spanking new realistic Zelda game, a fantastic looking Metroid Prime and what is set to be the best Resident Evil title ever made. With Mario Tennis, Donkey Kong, Geist, Starfox, Pikmin 2 and Paper Mario 2 all on the release list it was safe to say Nintendo have protected their die-hard assets.
Nintendo will also launch the next Gameboy before the end of the year.... sorry I mean the 'DS' before the end of the year... undercutting Sony. The DS may not look as cool as the PSP but for pure functionality the system is cool. The games looked gorgeous, the new way of holding games is fantastic and backward compatible with the GBA. Brilliant.
The PSP is launching with GT, Tekken and Metal Gear Solid. Despite those 3 games being some of the biggest in the world their popularity (a bit like Mario's) have taken a knock after their dissapointing latest outings. The PSP also needs to implement a jog proof system for the CD based hardware, a laser as well as an inbuilt memory. Could battery life be a problem? Yes the Playstation name sells, but can Sony sell a handheld console to an adult market? I won't underestimate them, they can do it but there is no way they can have as many PSP gamers as they have PS2 gamers... handheld gaming just is not popular with the adult gamers. Just look at the N-Gage. The DS is launching with Mario’s, Metroid and even Sony’s own Final Fantasy. It is also launching with Nintendo’s first full online mode, boasting touch screen, Wireless connection, a protected clam shape and an in-built microphone. Not all of that may appeal to the casual gamer. But some of it will.
Confessingly the Playstation Pocket looks more dangerous than I originally thought. It looks utterly stunning, lacks clutter (something the DS suffers from) with a beautiful screen. This alone could sell the system... but with the GBA SP set for a large price cut before the end of the year can the PSP defeat Nintendo’s massive, 95%, handheld empire?
If Nintendo are going down they are not doing it without a fight. If Sony’s PSP is forced out by the Gameboy, a system that has forced out many of Nintendo's competitors before, what can Sony do to stop Microsoft?
Dringo.
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Strafio wrote:
> I know. 9/10 and 6/10 would've been fairer... ;-D
8/10 and 8/10 for me.
> I know. 9/10 and 6/10 would've been fairer... ;-D
8/10 and 8/10 for me.
gamezfreak wrote:
> To be honest, the concept images of the DS aren't exactly exciting are
> they.
>
> It just looks like the old double screen Game and Watch things.
>
> PSP will make an impact Dringo, and you know it, so you may aswell
> pull that limited edition Zelda cartridge out of your rectum and face
> facts.
A small impact.
The concept pictures are crap. But the real look is a quite a bit better.
The PSP is selling itself to a different market to Nintendo.... and Nintendo's Market is bigger.
> To be honest, the concept images of the DS aren't exactly exciting are
> they.
>
> It just looks like the old double screen Game and Watch things.
>
> PSP will make an impact Dringo, and you know it, so you may aswell
> pull that limited edition Zelda cartridge out of your rectum and face
> facts.
A small impact.
The concept pictures are crap. But the real look is a quite a bit better.
The PSP is selling itself to a different market to Nintendo.... and Nintendo's Market is bigger.
Mav wrote:
> I had a certain amount of respect for their opinion, but never
> trusted them completely. Then they started giving games like Halo
> 10/10, and Double Dash 5/10... I just don't trust them any more.
I know. 9/10 and 6/10 would've been fairer... ;-D
> I had a certain amount of respect for their opinion, but never
> trusted them completely. Then they started giving games like Halo
> 10/10, and Double Dash 5/10... I just don't trust them any more.
I know. 9/10 and 6/10 would've been fairer... ;-D
I've not read every post thouroughly but I'll pick up on points as I go:
I think I'm mostly agreeing with Bonus.
Nintendo haven't really produced the goods, the best games have come from first and second party devellopers, and Miyamoto has been spread too thinly.
What made Metroid an FPA was the third person controls and the Zelda style lock on. Other than that it was pretty much an FPS.
I wouldn't dismiss Halo, because other than rushed level design it was a pretty much flawless experience.
Smooth controls and playability to almost a Nintendo standard, epic level design, large open areas and great use of vehicles.
It does better Goldeneye in most ways, simply because it took everything that made Goldeneye great and brought it forward. Such is evolution.
It's not quite the "Goldeneye of its time", but I don't think anything ever will be.
Vs Perfect Dark?
I've been thinking about this, and have decided that Halo comes out on top, but ONLY because the N64 can't hope to compete with the Xbox.
Had Perfect Dark been designed on Xbox hardware then I think I'd rate it better. (It's not just the graphics, the N64 just couldn't handle the framerate no more).
And Biggles, I know that all Zelda, Goldeneye and Perfect Dark had bits of levels that looked similar to parts you'd seen before, but at the worst it was similar (in rare cases) but no exact replica's.
Halo's repetitivity was so bad that you didn't know whether you were going backwards or forwards in the level because the part you were in was EXACTLY the same as the bit you were in five minutes ago...
... and ten minutes before that! :-D
I think I'm mostly agreeing with Bonus.
Nintendo haven't really produced the goods, the best games have come from first and second party devellopers, and Miyamoto has been spread too thinly.
What made Metroid an FPA was the third person controls and the Zelda style lock on. Other than that it was pretty much an FPS.
I wouldn't dismiss Halo, because other than rushed level design it was a pretty much flawless experience.
Smooth controls and playability to almost a Nintendo standard, epic level design, large open areas and great use of vehicles.
It does better Goldeneye in most ways, simply because it took everything that made Goldeneye great and brought it forward. Such is evolution.
It's not quite the "Goldeneye of its time", but I don't think anything ever will be.
Vs Perfect Dark?
I've been thinking about this, and have decided that Halo comes out on top, but ONLY because the N64 can't hope to compete with the Xbox.
Had Perfect Dark been designed on Xbox hardware then I think I'd rate it better. (It's not just the graphics, the N64 just couldn't handle the framerate no more).
And Biggles, I know that all Zelda, Goldeneye and Perfect Dark had bits of levels that looked similar to parts you'd seen before, but at the worst it was similar (in rare cases) but no exact replica's.
Halo's repetitivity was so bad that you didn't know whether you were going backwards or forwards in the level because the part you were in was EXACTLY the same as the bit you were in five minutes ago...
... and ten minutes before that! :-D
Bonus wrote:
> Damarus wrote:
> Halo this, Halo that. Why do all Xbox fanboys still praise this
> game.
> I bought it for the PC and it's nothing special at all. The graphics
> are nothing above average (even on the PC at full specs) and the
> game
> itself gets tedious and boring. I admit I enjoy the co-op on Xbox
> (Damn PC version with no co-op) but that's about it.
>
>
> You're last comment is that grpahics don't matter, so don't
> contradict yourself when slagging off Halo.
I was refering to the people that say this game is the best because it has awesome graphics. And believe me, that's the main reason I get when people say Halo is amazing.
> Halo is the ONLY game on current generation hardware to receive 10/10
> from the most respected games magazine currently being published,
> Edge.
Then they obviously hired an idiot to review it.
> The physics in Halo are top notch. The graphics in Halo are
> representative of a 3 year old Xbox game (Geforce 3ish only) just
> remember that.
Precisely, so why do people, 3 years on still buy Halo because they think it has top notch graphics. I don't think they were particulary good for the time it was released either.
> The AI is second to none on higher difficulty levels. The weapons
> are well balanced, the ability to only carry two weapons provides a
> challenge, especialy later in the game, the vehicles are particularly
> excellent to control, and Halo is by far the best game I have played
> on the current games consoles.
The AI's not all that good, sure it's good but not amazing. From what I've played on the PC is that the enemy are programmed to attack you constantly and that's about it.
> My opinion, you don't need to agree.
Good, because I don't.
Like I said before though. I enjoy the co-op and the multiplayer. Yes it is fun, but theres so many games better than it. Always has been.
And I am looking forward to giving Halo 2 a go.
> Damarus wrote:
> Halo this, Halo that. Why do all Xbox fanboys still praise this
> game.
> I bought it for the PC and it's nothing special at all. The graphics
> are nothing above average (even on the PC at full specs) and the
> game
> itself gets tedious and boring. I admit I enjoy the co-op on Xbox
> (Damn PC version with no co-op) but that's about it.
>
>
> You're last comment is that grpahics don't matter, so don't
> contradict yourself when slagging off Halo.
I was refering to the people that say this game is the best because it has awesome graphics. And believe me, that's the main reason I get when people say Halo is amazing.
> Halo is the ONLY game on current generation hardware to receive 10/10
> from the most respected games magazine currently being published,
> Edge.
Then they obviously hired an idiot to review it.
> The physics in Halo are top notch. The graphics in Halo are
> representative of a 3 year old Xbox game (Geforce 3ish only) just
> remember that.
Precisely, so why do people, 3 years on still buy Halo because they think it has top notch graphics. I don't think they were particulary good for the time it was released either.
> The AI is second to none on higher difficulty levels. The weapons
> are well balanced, the ability to only carry two weapons provides a
> challenge, especialy later in the game, the vehicles are particularly
> excellent to control, and Halo is by far the best game I have played
> on the current games consoles.
The AI's not all that good, sure it's good but not amazing. From what I've played on the PC is that the enemy are programmed to attack you constantly and that's about it.
> My opinion, you don't need to agree.
Good, because I don't.
Like I said before though. I enjoy the co-op and the multiplayer. Yes it is fun, but theres so many games better than it. Always has been.
And I am looking forward to giving Halo 2 a go.
gamezfreak wrote:
> If the concept images look like the final product, I highly doubt it
> will be comfortable.
You'll have to appreciate my position, though - I have abnormally large hands! While many may like the design of, for example, the GBA SP, I can't play for very long without getting cramp.
When I see the DS - portable and small, yet something you can properly hold onto, it suddenly looks a lot more attractive.
> If the concept images look like the final product, I highly doubt it
> will be comfortable.
You'll have to appreciate my position, though - I have abnormally large hands! While many may like the design of, for example, the GBA SP, I can't play for very long without getting cramp.
When I see the DS - portable and small, yet something you can properly hold onto, it suddenly looks a lot more attractive.
For me the DS is the obvious choice. Nintendo has always made beautiful and fun games for their older consoles and handhelds and I am sure they will do it this time also. And I do not like the PSP's design more than the DS' design. I guess I have to trie them before I judge them. I have not seen many people playing on GBA in the public, and I doubt that the PSP will change that. Since I already have a little collection of GB/C/A games I do not see any other option than to buy the DS. And the PSP looks to deliever the same crap that the PS2 pumps out these days. I do not care if it has GTmobile or MGA. I want Mario Kart and Metroid. By the way; do anyone know if you can link your GBA games to the gamecube with the DS?
I seriously hoping by the end of today Ninty will have a "just joking!' conference, and show us the proper DS - the one that actually looks nice.
Mav wrote:
> compact
> and comfortable.
If the concept images look like the final product, I highly doubt it will be comfortable.
> compact
> and comfortable.
If the concept images look like the final product, I highly doubt it will be comfortable.
By the by, was there actually any news on the GBA2 at E3?
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