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Well, the DS has been shown, whoopee, I bet Dringo wet his pants this afternoon.
So, anyway, this dual screen malarky, revolutionary? A brilliant change to the way games are played by the industry?
Well, guess what, I don't agree, and I'm going to be called a Sony fanboy, or at very best, an anti-Nintendo zealot for it ;)
Anyway, here's my gripe, there's nothing revolutionrary about the DS what-so-ever. People are talking as though they have never seen dual screen hardware in gamers lifetime, well, I hate to dissapoint you all, but the dual screen handheld format was tried, tested and loved by us golden oldies a little short of 20 years ago.
[URL]http://www.infa.abo.fi/~buck/misc/gizmos/pix/nintendo.game+watch.mickey+donald.open.jpg[/URL]
This picture shows a NINTENDO Game And Watch handheld single game device from almost TWENTY years ago.
[URL]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/12/nintendo_ds_comms/[/URL]
This image shows an almost identical looking handheld game platform, released by the very same company, but claim this dual screen arhitecture to be new, revolutionary, and well, good.
I'm not saying there may be some niche elements available to gamers, but I feel that most games developers will not use the additional screen for anything useful. Football games will have a top down radar, metroid will have a map, mario kart will have the track and player positions, basically world information about locations and the layout of the world will be used on this screen.
There is a good reason for this too, people can only concentrate their vision to a single focal point at a time. No one can concentrate on both of those screens at the same time, so one screen will be used for gameplay, and the other for displaying information.
This is a good thing given the paltry size of the DS screen, it means the game screen can be uncluttered with HUDs and the like but concentrate solely on letting the player play the game.
I will be truely amazed if anyone on this forum can come up with an original gameplay dynamic which could actively use the two screens of the DS in a way that could not be done on a single screen.
I'm even thinking of having, say, a heat sensor camera on the top screen, and a normal view on the bottom. This would be done MORE effectively on a single screen as a current day frame rate is at a higher reresh rate then the ability of a person to change their point of focus from one screen to the other. Sinply hitting a button to change views whilst focusing on a single point is a more natural way of playing a game.
So, I suppose I have set myself up for a fight by challenging the might of Ninetndo, again, but surely there are more innovative things happening in the world of gaming than a twenty year old handheld design being rereleased to a massive fanfare with no clear cut example of how this creates a revolution.
Nintendo should be commended for spinning up some dust to hide Sony's far nore impressive PSP handheld entertainment device.
The PSP is much more of a students system, good games, good movies, good sounds, wireless and one decent big widescreen which will let people who commute, or like to enjoy the comforts of their bedroom in some glorious sunshine.
The DS is not a gaming revolution, it's a bit like 90s pop music, a remix of something old people liked twenty years ago, just with more colours and more marketing hype. Take the DS with a pinch of salt, it's not worth the hype.
So, anyway, this dual screen malarky, revolutionary? A brilliant change to the way games are played by the industry?
Well, guess what, I don't agree, and I'm going to be called a Sony fanboy, or at very best, an anti-Nintendo zealot for it ;)
Anyway, here's my gripe, there's nothing revolutionrary about the DS what-so-ever. People are talking as though they have never seen dual screen hardware in gamers lifetime, well, I hate to dissapoint you all, but the dual screen handheld format was tried, tested and loved by us golden oldies a little short of 20 years ago.
[URL]http://www.infa.abo.fi/~buck/misc/gizmos/pix/nintendo.game+watch.mickey+donald.open.jpg[/URL]
This picture shows a NINTENDO Game And Watch handheld single game device from almost TWENTY years ago.
[URL]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/05/12/nintendo_ds_comms/[/URL]
This image shows an almost identical looking handheld game platform, released by the very same company, but claim this dual screen arhitecture to be new, revolutionary, and well, good.
I'm not saying there may be some niche elements available to gamers, but I feel that most games developers will not use the additional screen for anything useful. Football games will have a top down radar, metroid will have a map, mario kart will have the track and player positions, basically world information about locations and the layout of the world will be used on this screen.
There is a good reason for this too, people can only concentrate their vision to a single focal point at a time. No one can concentrate on both of those screens at the same time, so one screen will be used for gameplay, and the other for displaying information.
This is a good thing given the paltry size of the DS screen, it means the game screen can be uncluttered with HUDs and the like but concentrate solely on letting the player play the game.
I will be truely amazed if anyone on this forum can come up with an original gameplay dynamic which could actively use the two screens of the DS in a way that could not be done on a single screen.
I'm even thinking of having, say, a heat sensor camera on the top screen, and a normal view on the bottom. This would be done MORE effectively on a single screen as a current day frame rate is at a higher reresh rate then the ability of a person to change their point of focus from one screen to the other. Sinply hitting a button to change views whilst focusing on a single point is a more natural way of playing a game.
So, I suppose I have set myself up for a fight by challenging the might of Ninetndo, again, but surely there are more innovative things happening in the world of gaming than a twenty year old handheld design being rereleased to a massive fanfare with no clear cut example of how this creates a revolution.
Nintendo should be commended for spinning up some dust to hide Sony's far nore impressive PSP handheld entertainment device.
The PSP is much more of a students system, good games, good movies, good sounds, wireless and one decent big widescreen which will let people who commute, or like to enjoy the comforts of their bedroom in some glorious sunshine.
The DS is not a gaming revolution, it's a bit like 90s pop music, a remix of something old people liked twenty years ago, just with more colours and more marketing hype. Take the DS with a pinch of salt, it's not worth the hype.
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There's already been loads of ideas on this forum as to what exactly the DS could achieve, with touch screen, two screens and, to a lesser extent, voice recognition, developers have a lot of room to play around with the technology and before too long somethat that fully uses it will come about.
The PSP's possibiltiies? Erm... games?
The PSP's possibiltiies? Erm... games?
At least it has a tiny bit more innovation than the PSP...
"possibilities" is a great word isn't it. You don't need to have marketability, leading technology, or original games. If you want to succeed, you only need "possibilities"... and you don't even have to define what they are.
Erm... possibilities being exactly that. I'm disappointed that the DS feature wasn't fully shown shown off, but developers seem to think that this is a completely new way to play, and further more the initial line-up is wonderful.
If you want proof of Nintendo's innovation, [URL]http://cube.ign.com/articles/514/514271p1.html[/URL]
If you can't see how much the DS has going for it you obviously need your brain checked.
If you want proof of Nintendo's innovation, [URL]http://cube.ign.com/articles/514/514271p1.html[/URL]
If you can't see how much the DS has going for it you obviously need your brain checked.
"have already shown the strongest launch line up... ever. Mario 64, Mario Kart, a new Mario Bros., Metroid... "
Strongest launch line up ever, how's that? it looks exactly the same as every launch line up Nintendo have ever had for any of their machines. New versions of the same games (exactly like the PSP)
Strongest launch line up ever, how's that? it looks exactly the same as every launch line up Nintendo have ever had for any of their machines. New versions of the same games (exactly like the PSP)
It is a gimmick. It's N64 games + map screen. If the possibilities are endless, name a few. And don't fob us off with "they'll come up with something". Like I said, Nintendo should have been ready to dazzle us with the possibilities right off the bat.
The DS is a new playing experience, you nonce. What exactly were the new screens for on Game & Watch titles? Nothing more than making the play area big, occcasionally different, but most of the time, not. The DS promises touch-screen (which has already shown it's promise from developer quotes and ideas from SEGA etc), voice recognition and mroe room to play around with. If you can't see how much scope the duel screen scenario holds, then you truly are a retard.
I was expecting a little more than maps, but that doesn't mean that's it, the power of each screen is more than enough, from typing/reading text, selecting weapons in Zelda or even having multiple views (which I mentioned a while ago) to make for very interesting games.
The possibilities are endless, all I see from Sony is some multimedia device that plays games, and so far I've been less than impressed other than by the graphics. But of course, graphics don't equate to great games, but you know that? What, you didn't?
What really excites me about the DS, thopugh, are the titles. Nintendo are really pulling out all the stops and have already shown the strongest launch line up... ever. Mario 64, Mario Kart, a new Mario Bros., Metroid... they all have mass appeal and, above all, look brilliant.
It's strange how you seem to think that the DS is simply a gimmick, yet developers around the world are hailing it asa revolution in gaming, isn't it? Ah yes, that's because you know sod all about it.
Your argument truly is a weak one.
I was expecting a little more than maps, but that doesn't mean that's it, the power of each screen is more than enough, from typing/reading text, selecting weapons in Zelda or even having multiple views (which I mentioned a while ago) to make for very interesting games.
The possibilities are endless, all I see from Sony is some multimedia device that plays games, and so far I've been less than impressed other than by the graphics. But of course, graphics don't equate to great games, but you know that? What, you didn't?
What really excites me about the DS, thopugh, are the titles. Nintendo are really pulling out all the stops and have already shown the strongest launch line up... ever. Mario 64, Mario Kart, a new Mario Bros., Metroid... they all have mass appeal and, above all, look brilliant.
It's strange how you seem to think that the DS is simply a gimmick, yet developers around the world are hailing it asa revolution in gaming, isn't it? Ah yes, that's because you know sod all about it.
Your argument truly is a weak one.
Yes indeed, good point. Mario 64 without an analogue stick??? Emmmm....
Bonus wrote:
> You might be surprised to know that I don't actually prefer any
> manufacturer over any other :D
>
> Unlike some people around here.
Hehe! Nintendo seem to get the most abuse though...
Then again, I've not seen the Xbox/PS2 forums for a while, so God knows what you're doing to those poor cretins! :-O
As to your point, I can see where you're coming from, but you're being way over cynical and you know it! :-P
Not every game is going to make full use of the screen, infact I reckon that only a select few will make full use of it in the main game.
I see it more as the "communications screen" for linking.
See the animal crossing video, it's used as a keyboard and options screen so you never have to take your eyes of the action or stop moving.
Yes, I know you can change the screen with a button, but pressing a button isn't as easy as flicking an eye, and bringing up a menu is slower (because devellopers don't want to give you epilepsy with a quick flashing screen). Besides, you want all the buttons reserved for gaming.
Now why don't you stop trying to be a smartarse, and pick at REAL issues, like how it's trying to make 3D games without an analogue stick!
I mean, Nintendo of all people should know better!
> You might be surprised to know that I don't actually prefer any
> manufacturer over any other :D
>
> Unlike some people around here.
Hehe! Nintendo seem to get the most abuse though...
Then again, I've not seen the Xbox/PS2 forums for a while, so God knows what you're doing to those poor cretins! :-O
As to your point, I can see where you're coming from, but you're being way over cynical and you know it! :-P
Not every game is going to make full use of the screen, infact I reckon that only a select few will make full use of it in the main game.
I see it more as the "communications screen" for linking.
See the animal crossing video, it's used as a keyboard and options screen so you never have to take your eyes of the action or stop moving.
Yes, I know you can change the screen with a button, but pressing a button isn't as easy as flicking an eye, and bringing up a menu is slower (because devellopers don't want to give you epilepsy with a quick flashing screen). Besides, you want all the buttons reserved for gaming.
Now why don't you stop trying to be a smartarse, and pick at REAL issues, like how it's trying to make 3D games without an analogue stick!
I mean, Nintendo of all people should know better!
Haha, and that's all that really matters in the end isn't it.
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