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The games industry has hit a bit of a dead end recently, nothing inspriingly new and original has hit our screens for far too long, so what happens next? Where do we turn where do we go? There are a few open avenues, and the major console manufacturers are touting differnt routes as their main selling points, so for the first time in a long while, the perceptions of a console will truely shaoe the experience you get from a system.
Nintendo are going along the road they have always chosen. They want a maximum of four people playing their games, and they want them all in the same room, or in the same street at least. This is basically a Nintendo philosophy, and has been for quite sometime. They revel in simplistic means, look at any Nintendo game ever invented, and they can all be broken down and looked at with ease. Nintendo go for mini-game style. Little puzzles which, when combined together make one huge game. Look at Mario down the years, culminating in what was the masterpiece of Mario 64. Each level can be taken from the game and played seperately, there is no linearity to the game, and there is no story to pull levels into and out of context. Zelda is the same, the game has dungeons which can be taken out of the game and played without any linearity or context. Zelda does have a central story which acts as a hub to these dungeons though, and that hub is becoming more complex and much more story oriented in recent games.
So it's that simple, if you want puzzles, with little in the way of a story to get in your way then, Nintendo is really the way you should go. Simple methods and simple ideas lead to truely innovative challenges and some truely brilliant multi-player games, just don;t expect much in the way of online exploits on a massive scale.
Microsoft are taking a different route, they are going more for the Sega approach to the indusrtry. Arcade simplicity. This is seen really by the extent of the sports games hitting the console, the Xbox will be an American Jocks dream. Look at American history, and more specifically, recent American cars. They are big, they are brash, they are load and they scream look at me from every angle. They don't have the technical brilliance of the Japanese motors, or the ellegence of the European market, the Xbox follows this philosophy. It is without a doubt a graphical powerhouse, and will not be beaten for graphical ability by any of the new systems. There are plans for online ability in the pipeline, and the games are beginning to appear, but for anyone looking at the system, if you want a true americanised gaming experience, then the Xbox will be the system to go for.
Sony on the other hand have gone for a different route for their strategy. The games are still the main factor, but they are backing up the games side with a total entertainment package. A PS2 instantly provides a user with a system which will play DVD movies and music CDs. With the introduction of a hard drive and broadband capabilities, MP3, internet animation and much more will instantly be available for anyone and everyone. All that will be required is for you to turn on your PS2. For many these facilities are already a reality. Broadband internet already allows PS2 owners the benefits that the PS2 seeks, but it doesn't do it as a set top box. PCs are still very much seen as a work platform, a powerful word processor. As for the games Sony has coming to the PS2, there is no defining genre or style, the PS2 isn't moulded or shaped to suit any particular audience. In basic terms, Sony will allow anyone to make any type of game for the PS2, kiddy games, puzzle games, strategy games, RPGs, adventures, sports the list goes on. No one will/has been restricetd in any way by the PS2 other than with the technicak side of development.
In that way the PS2 is an all rounder that will corner a "casual" side of the market whereas the GC and the Xbox may see a more dedicated follower. But what can be seen is that all the companies are pushing the market in different directions, and it will be a few years before we see what happens next. The industry is diverging and seperating into different styles and tastes, and for those who have best of all worlds now and want to keep it that way on the future, they may find themselves having to fork out on more than one console.
Nintendo are going along the road they have always chosen. They want a maximum of four people playing their games, and they want them all in the same room, or in the same street at least. This is basically a Nintendo philosophy, and has been for quite sometime. They revel in simplistic means, look at any Nintendo game ever invented, and they can all be broken down and looked at with ease. Nintendo go for mini-game style. Little puzzles which, when combined together make one huge game. Look at Mario down the years, culminating in what was the masterpiece of Mario 64. Each level can be taken from the game and played seperately, there is no linearity to the game, and there is no story to pull levels into and out of context. Zelda is the same, the game has dungeons which can be taken out of the game and played without any linearity or context. Zelda does have a central story which acts as a hub to these dungeons though, and that hub is becoming more complex and much more story oriented in recent games.
So it's that simple, if you want puzzles, with little in the way of a story to get in your way then, Nintendo is really the way you should go. Simple methods and simple ideas lead to truely innovative challenges and some truely brilliant multi-player games, just don;t expect much in the way of online exploits on a massive scale.
Microsoft are taking a different route, they are going more for the Sega approach to the indusrtry. Arcade simplicity. This is seen really by the extent of the sports games hitting the console, the Xbox will be an American Jocks dream. Look at American history, and more specifically, recent American cars. They are big, they are brash, they are load and they scream look at me from every angle. They don't have the technical brilliance of the Japanese motors, or the ellegence of the European market, the Xbox follows this philosophy. It is without a doubt a graphical powerhouse, and will not be beaten for graphical ability by any of the new systems. There are plans for online ability in the pipeline, and the games are beginning to appear, but for anyone looking at the system, if you want a true americanised gaming experience, then the Xbox will be the system to go for.
Sony on the other hand have gone for a different route for their strategy. The games are still the main factor, but they are backing up the games side with a total entertainment package. A PS2 instantly provides a user with a system which will play DVD movies and music CDs. With the introduction of a hard drive and broadband capabilities, MP3, internet animation and much more will instantly be available for anyone and everyone. All that will be required is for you to turn on your PS2. For many these facilities are already a reality. Broadband internet already allows PS2 owners the benefits that the PS2 seeks, but it doesn't do it as a set top box. PCs are still very much seen as a work platform, a powerful word processor. As for the games Sony has coming to the PS2, there is no defining genre or style, the PS2 isn't moulded or shaped to suit any particular audience. In basic terms, Sony will allow anyone to make any type of game for the PS2, kiddy games, puzzle games, strategy games, RPGs, adventures, sports the list goes on. No one will/has been restricetd in any way by the PS2 other than with the technicak side of development.
In that way the PS2 is an all rounder that will corner a "casual" side of the market whereas the GC and the Xbox may see a more dedicated follower. But what can be seen is that all the companies are pushing the market in different directions, and it will be a few years before we see what happens next. The industry is diverging and seperating into different styles and tastes, and for those who have best of all worlds now and want to keep it that way on the future, they may find themselves having to fork out on more than one console.
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Meh, you have a point Bonus!
As for Smeagol... I don't believe that. If it's true, it must have been published somewhere. Link?
As for Smeagol... I don't believe that. If it's true, it must have been published somewhere. Link?
Bonus wrote:
> the European market, the Xbox follows this philosophy. It is without a doubt a
> graphical powerhouse, and will not be beaten for graphical ability by any of the
> new systems.
It has been proven that the Gamecube has beaten the X-Box in Graphical quality.
Even games like Madden on the PS2, X-Box and GC were set along side each other and the GC looked the best.
Plus the other multi-format titles.
> the European market, the Xbox follows this philosophy. It is without a doubt a
> graphical powerhouse, and will not be beaten for graphical ability by any of the
> new systems.
It has been proven that the Gamecube has beaten the X-Box in Graphical quality.
Even games like Madden on the PS2, X-Box and GC were set along side each other and the GC looked the best.
Plus the other multi-format titles.
I haven't actually, I refuse to pay £30 for a crappy external ethernet adaptor, I'll wait for the official Sony one and get ripped off for that instead.
I take it you've already plugged THPS3 into your damn dirty Scottish broadband then. What's it like?
Nintendo's "short and sweet antics" and "four local players only" are annoying, but I think that they're mainly playing things down to avoid impossibly high expectations to build up.
I think that Nintendo are making online plans but aren't certain whether to implement them.
And if Nintendo don't break that mould, atleast Rareware will...
In the meantime, great post Bonus.
You managed to be more or less unbiased, in a sort of crude way.
I think that Nintendo are making online plans but aren't certain whether to implement them.
And if Nintendo don't break that mould, atleast Rareware will...
In the meantime, great post Bonus.
You managed to be more or less unbiased, in a sort of crude way.
Nice read, thanks.
I think you hit the nail right on the head with Nintendo. And there are rumours that Mario and Zelda on the Gamecube will be much shorter games to appeal to younger gamers most likely. SOmthin which a lot of die hard ninty's may not like...
Thing about Ninty games not being much on the side of story based. I think that was more probably down to the lack of space on the carts. I'm sure with the optical discs Nintendo should include longer story lines to thier games.
I think you hit the nail right on the head with Nintendo. And there are rumours that Mario and Zelda on the Gamecube will be much shorter games to appeal to younger gamers most likely. SOmthin which a lot of die hard ninty's may not like...
Thing about Ninty games not being much on the side of story based. I think that was more probably down to the lack of space on the carts. I'm sure with the optical discs Nintendo should include longer story lines to thier games.
The games industry has hit a bit of a dead end recently, nothing inspriingly new and original has hit our screens for far too long, so what happens next? Where do we turn where do we go? There are a few open avenues, and the major console manufacturers are touting differnt routes as their main selling points, so for the first time in a long while, the perceptions of a console will truely shaoe the experience you get from a system.
Nintendo are going along the road they have always chosen. They want a maximum of four people playing their games, and they want them all in the same room, or in the same street at least. This is basically a Nintendo philosophy, and has been for quite sometime. They revel in simplistic means, look at any Nintendo game ever invented, and they can all be broken down and looked at with ease. Nintendo go for mini-game style. Little puzzles which, when combined together make one huge game. Look at Mario down the years, culminating in what was the masterpiece of Mario 64. Each level can be taken from the game and played seperately, there is no linearity to the game, and there is no story to pull levels into and out of context. Zelda is the same, the game has dungeons which can be taken out of the game and played without any linearity or context. Zelda does have a central story which acts as a hub to these dungeons though, and that hub is becoming more complex and much more story oriented in recent games.
So it's that simple, if you want puzzles, with little in the way of a story to get in your way then, Nintendo is really the way you should go. Simple methods and simple ideas lead to truely innovative challenges and some truely brilliant multi-player games, just don;t expect much in the way of online exploits on a massive scale.
Microsoft are taking a different route, they are going more for the Sega approach to the indusrtry. Arcade simplicity. This is seen really by the extent of the sports games hitting the console, the Xbox will be an American Jocks dream. Look at American history, and more specifically, recent American cars. They are big, they are brash, they are load and they scream look at me from every angle. They don't have the technical brilliance of the Japanese motors, or the ellegence of the European market, the Xbox follows this philosophy. It is without a doubt a graphical powerhouse, and will not be beaten for graphical ability by any of the new systems. There are plans for online ability in the pipeline, and the games are beginning to appear, but for anyone looking at the system, if you want a true americanised gaming experience, then the Xbox will be the system to go for.
Sony on the other hand have gone for a different route for their strategy. The games are still the main factor, but they are backing up the games side with a total entertainment package. A PS2 instantly provides a user with a system which will play DVD movies and music CDs. With the introduction of a hard drive and broadband capabilities, MP3, internet animation and much more will instantly be available for anyone and everyone. All that will be required is for you to turn on your PS2. For many these facilities are already a reality. Broadband internet already allows PS2 owners the benefits that the PS2 seeks, but it doesn't do it as a set top box. PCs are still very much seen as a work platform, a powerful word processor. As for the games Sony has coming to the PS2, there is no defining genre or style, the PS2 isn't moulded or shaped to suit any particular audience. In basic terms, Sony will allow anyone to make any type of game for the PS2, kiddy games, puzzle games, strategy games, RPGs, adventures, sports the list goes on. No one will/has been restricetd in any way by the PS2 other than with the technicak side of development.
In that way the PS2 is an all rounder that will corner a "casual" side of the market whereas the GC and the Xbox may see a more dedicated follower. But what can be seen is that all the companies are pushing the market in different directions, and it will be a few years before we see what happens next. The industry is diverging and seperating into different styles and tastes, and for those who have best of all worlds now and want to keep it that way on the future, they may find themselves having to fork out on more than one console.
Nintendo are going along the road they have always chosen. They want a maximum of four people playing their games, and they want them all in the same room, or in the same street at least. This is basically a Nintendo philosophy, and has been for quite sometime. They revel in simplistic means, look at any Nintendo game ever invented, and they can all be broken down and looked at with ease. Nintendo go for mini-game style. Little puzzles which, when combined together make one huge game. Look at Mario down the years, culminating in what was the masterpiece of Mario 64. Each level can be taken from the game and played seperately, there is no linearity to the game, and there is no story to pull levels into and out of context. Zelda is the same, the game has dungeons which can be taken out of the game and played without any linearity or context. Zelda does have a central story which acts as a hub to these dungeons though, and that hub is becoming more complex and much more story oriented in recent games.
So it's that simple, if you want puzzles, with little in the way of a story to get in your way then, Nintendo is really the way you should go. Simple methods and simple ideas lead to truely innovative challenges and some truely brilliant multi-player games, just don;t expect much in the way of online exploits on a massive scale.
Microsoft are taking a different route, they are going more for the Sega approach to the indusrtry. Arcade simplicity. This is seen really by the extent of the sports games hitting the console, the Xbox will be an American Jocks dream. Look at American history, and more specifically, recent American cars. They are big, they are brash, they are load and they scream look at me from every angle. They don't have the technical brilliance of the Japanese motors, or the ellegence of the European market, the Xbox follows this philosophy. It is without a doubt a graphical powerhouse, and will not be beaten for graphical ability by any of the new systems. There are plans for online ability in the pipeline, and the games are beginning to appear, but for anyone looking at the system, if you want a true americanised gaming experience, then the Xbox will be the system to go for.
Sony on the other hand have gone for a different route for their strategy. The games are still the main factor, but they are backing up the games side with a total entertainment package. A PS2 instantly provides a user with a system which will play DVD movies and music CDs. With the introduction of a hard drive and broadband capabilities, MP3, internet animation and much more will instantly be available for anyone and everyone. All that will be required is for you to turn on your PS2. For many these facilities are already a reality. Broadband internet already allows PS2 owners the benefits that the PS2 seeks, but it doesn't do it as a set top box. PCs are still very much seen as a work platform, a powerful word processor. As for the games Sony has coming to the PS2, there is no defining genre or style, the PS2 isn't moulded or shaped to suit any particular audience. In basic terms, Sony will allow anyone to make any type of game for the PS2, kiddy games, puzzle games, strategy games, RPGs, adventures, sports the list goes on. No one will/has been restricetd in any way by the PS2 other than with the technicak side of development.
In that way the PS2 is an all rounder that will corner a "casual" side of the market whereas the GC and the Xbox may see a more dedicated follower. But what can be seen is that all the companies are pushing the market in different directions, and it will be a few years before we see what happens next. The industry is diverging and seperating into different styles and tastes, and for those who have best of all worlds now and want to keep it that way on the future, they may find themselves having to fork out on more than one console.
Page: