The "Nintendo Games" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only.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.
Now there’s a provocative title to catch your attention!
Does anyone remember those great Nintendo flops of old? The Virtual Boy- supposedly bringing 3D headsets home for the first time. Instead it was a headache inducing, monochromic, fuzzy system that needed to be re-tuned every half an hour and sported no more than half a dozen games.
Then there was the gallant 64DD- an add-on to the N64 that promised so much. It would let you go online, get extras for games and even make your own characters. Instead it was a one-trick-pony that supported a lacklustre list of games, had a very muted Japan-only launch and was only online-enabled for a short few months.
Finally, Project Reality- the CD based games system to replace the SNES. Before the unit was even finished Nintendo’s partners, Sony, quit, the company that was to make the chips for the consoles was changed, and Nintendo had to go back to the drawing board with a cart based console.
See the pattern? Every time Nintendo have tried to release a piece of kit that is ahead of its time (in this case VR headsets and online consoles), it tends to be poorly realised, and as a result the unit flops.
So, it comes as no surprise that Nintendo’s current approach to future gaming trends is very apprehensive…
The Gamecube is the only of the current generation of console not to have online plans firmly set. Meanwhile the opposition have modems, online games and gaming network plans almost ready to be implemented.
I doubt that this will be a huge problem for the console- it has the support to succeed in gaining back ground lost to Sony 6 years ago. However, it does worry you about the Nintendo’s future commitments. Will they continue to stay one step behind the pack when it comes to gaming advances- perpetually releasing their consoles last and with less “extras” than the rest?
Worryingly, my gut feeling to that is “yes”. At the moment this isn’t a big problem- the GC undercuts the price of the competition and aims at a different audience- young gamers and hardcore fans. But what happens if, in 5 years time, Sony too begin to market young gamers? What happens if the Nintendo console comes out so late that the price of the other consoles has dropped enough to cast doubt on which box to buy the kids? Then Nintendo would certainly be in trouble.
Ok, so maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic. Nintendo certainly aren’t going out of business any time soon. However, to realise its potential the company really must learn that the “wait and see” approach doesn’t always work- fate favours the bold.
Sonic
Does anyone remember those great Nintendo flops of old? The Virtual Boy- supposedly bringing 3D headsets home for the first time. Instead it was a headache inducing, monochromic, fuzzy system that needed to be re-tuned every half an hour and sported no more than half a dozen games.
Then there was the gallant 64DD- an add-on to the N64 that promised so much. It would let you go online, get extras for games and even make your own characters. Instead it was a one-trick-pony that supported a lacklustre list of games, had a very muted Japan-only launch and was only online-enabled for a short few months.
Finally, Project Reality- the CD based games system to replace the SNES. Before the unit was even finished Nintendo’s partners, Sony, quit, the company that was to make the chips for the consoles was changed, and Nintendo had to go back to the drawing board with a cart based console.
See the pattern? Every time Nintendo have tried to release a piece of kit that is ahead of its time (in this case VR headsets and online consoles), it tends to be poorly realised, and as a result the unit flops.
So, it comes as no surprise that Nintendo’s current approach to future gaming trends is very apprehensive…
The Gamecube is the only of the current generation of console not to have online plans firmly set. Meanwhile the opposition have modems, online games and gaming network plans almost ready to be implemented.
I doubt that this will be a huge problem for the console- it has the support to succeed in gaining back ground lost to Sony 6 years ago. However, it does worry you about the Nintendo’s future commitments. Will they continue to stay one step behind the pack when it comes to gaming advances- perpetually releasing their consoles last and with less “extras” than the rest?
Worryingly, my gut feeling to that is “yes”. At the moment this isn’t a big problem- the GC undercuts the price of the competition and aims at a different audience- young gamers and hardcore fans. But what happens if, in 5 years time, Sony too begin to market young gamers? What happens if the Nintendo console comes out so late that the price of the other consoles has dropped enough to cast doubt on which box to buy the kids? Then Nintendo would certainly be in trouble.
Ok, so maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic. Nintendo certainly aren’t going out of business any time soon. However, to realise its potential the company really must learn that the “wait and see” approach doesn’t always work- fate favours the bold.
Sonic
Page:
just a comment on the online plans.
Nintendo arent worried about europe because of teh pants uptake of broadband (cable blueyonder is teh way forward!!)
How many people who buy an x-box are gonna be able to use its online capabilities (when they get round to a game that uses em)? Pc owners.The only people who would have broadband and are likely allready die-hard gamers who dont need the x-box because teh pc is the console for FPS's, and as such will have little use for a streamliggned console in a box.
Maybe not as many people want to get online as you think, i know i didnt rush out and get a dreamcast...
And nintendo games arent for children.
(i too will hunt down the next to say that)
They're fun games. As you say Rav aimed at the family,
but that doesnt mean children it means family ,as in everyone. nintendo games are more lighthearted and we live in a world where the only people who are light hearted are children maybe that is why it is wrongly associated with them.
look at crash bandicoot you coudl say hes childish but i bet many adults/ teenagers play that game.
Nintendo arent worried about europe because of teh pants uptake of broadband (cable blueyonder is teh way forward!!)
How many people who buy an x-box are gonna be able to use its online capabilities (when they get round to a game that uses em)? Pc owners.The only people who would have broadband and are likely allready die-hard gamers who dont need the x-box because teh pc is the console for FPS's, and as such will have little use for a streamliggned console in a box.
Maybe not as many people want to get online as you think, i know i didnt rush out and get a dreamcast...
And nintendo games arent for children.
(i too will hunt down the next to say that)
They're fun games. As you say Rav aimed at the family,
but that doesnt mean children it means family ,as in everyone. nintendo games are more lighthearted and we live in a world where the only people who are light hearted are children maybe that is why it is wrongly associated with them.
look at crash bandicoot you coudl say hes childish but i bet many adults/ teenagers play that game.
just a comment on the online plans.
Nintendo arent worried about europe because of teh pants uptake of broadband (cable blueyonder is teh way forward!!)
How many people who buy an x-box are gonna be able to use its online capabilities (when they get round to a game that uses em)? Pc owners.The only people who would have broadband and are likely allready die-hard gamers who dont need the x-box because teh pc is the console for FPS's, and as such will have little use for a streamliggned console in a box.
Maybe not as many people want to get online as you think, i know i didnt rush out and get a dreamcast...
And nintendo games arent for children
They're fun games. As you say Rav aimed at the family,
but that doesnt mean children it means family ,as in everyone. nintendo games are more lighthearted and we live in a world where the only people who are light hearted are children maybe that is why it is wrongly associated with them.
look at crash bandicoot you coudl say hes childish but i bet many adults/ teenagers play that game.
Nintendo arent worried about europe because of teh pants uptake of broadband (cable blueyonder is teh way forward!!)
How many people who buy an x-box are gonna be able to use its online capabilities (when they get round to a game that uses em)? Pc owners.The only people who would have broadband and are likely allready die-hard gamers who dont need the x-box because teh pc is the console for FPS's, and as such will have little use for a streamliggned console in a box.
Maybe not as many people want to get online as you think, i know i didnt rush out and get a dreamcast...
And nintendo games arent for children
They're fun games. As you say Rav aimed at the family,
but that doesnt mean children it means family ,as in everyone. nintendo games are more lighthearted and we live in a world where the only people who are light hearted are children maybe that is why it is wrongly associated with them.
look at crash bandicoot you coudl say hes childish but i bet many adults/ teenagers play that game.
Cooky, who says Ninty target young gamers? Well, Miyamoto-san for one! In his own words, Nintendo target their consoles at the "family gamer" so that their games are just fun and kiddy. Why else do you think all his games are cutesy...
Of course, the third party support is good, but in terms of adult content it still falls WELL below par of the Xbox and PS2 which are primarily targetted at the older market.
Indeed, if you ever read financial reports on Ninty, you'll see that they often make predictions based on the fact that hardcore gamers and young gamers are their biggest customers- which works out nicely seeing as hardcre gamers buy more games than other types of gamers, and kids have more diposable income.
Cooky said:
"Project Reality was the code name for the N64! NOT the CD based "add-on" for the SNES! Nintendo never really made plans for a CD "replacement" for the SNES"
UMMM... do you how Sony got into the games industry? Nintendo teamed up with them (just like they have teamed up with IBM and Panasonic now) to make a CD drive based SNES! They've just recently (4 months ago) released pics of the actual finished console design!
As you should probably know, Sony and Ninty fell out, so Sony went on to develop the idea into the Playstation. Appologies- PSX was the name of the joint console development between the companies... project reality was, as you say, the N64's name after Sony's CD console fell through!
Moving on, Tiltawirl, you make good point about the other consoles' addon plans. In fact, I have already written 2 huge topics on Sony's add ons (and why the HDD will fail!). So don't think that I'm just having a go at the GC now!
However, I must say that you underestimate the use of a DVD in console player. Fact is that LOTS of people- ESPECIALLY IN JAPAN (where DVD players are still hugely expensive) buy a PS2 just because, or partly because of the DVD playback. For months after the PS2 launched, games sales were lower than console sales because people were getting the console for DVDs only!
Sibs, good point about PSO- Naka has already said (many months ago, while standing onstage with Miyamoto!) that PSO would be in the first crop of online games. Amazing since Ninty have almost no online plans.
Finally, Smeagol, STOP SPAMMING LIKE A BL**DY NEWBIE (ok, not all newbies are bad... it's a figure of speech!)
Sonic
Of course, the third party support is good, but in terms of adult content it still falls WELL below par of the Xbox and PS2 which are primarily targetted at the older market.
Indeed, if you ever read financial reports on Ninty, you'll see that they often make predictions based on the fact that hardcore gamers and young gamers are their biggest customers- which works out nicely seeing as hardcre gamers buy more games than other types of gamers, and kids have more diposable income.
Cooky said:
"Project Reality was the code name for the N64! NOT the CD based "add-on" for the SNES! Nintendo never really made plans for a CD "replacement" for the SNES"
UMMM... do you how Sony got into the games industry? Nintendo teamed up with them (just like they have teamed up with IBM and Panasonic now) to make a CD drive based SNES! They've just recently (4 months ago) released pics of the actual finished console design!
As you should probably know, Sony and Ninty fell out, so Sony went on to develop the idea into the Playstation. Appologies- PSX was the name of the joint console development between the companies... project reality was, as you say, the N64's name after Sony's CD console fell through!
Moving on, Tiltawirl, you make good point about the other consoles' addon plans. In fact, I have already written 2 huge topics on Sony's add ons (and why the HDD will fail!). So don't think that I'm just having a go at the GC now!
However, I must say that you underestimate the use of a DVD in console player. Fact is that LOTS of people- ESPECIALLY IN JAPAN (where DVD players are still hugely expensive) buy a PS2 just because, or partly because of the DVD playback. For months after the PS2 launched, games sales were lower than console sales because people were getting the console for DVDs only!
Sibs, good point about PSO- Naka has already said (many months ago, while standing onstage with Miyamoto!) that PSO would be in the first crop of online games. Amazing since Ninty have almost no online plans.
Finally, Smeagol, STOP SPAMMING LIKE A BL**DY NEWBIE (ok, not all newbies are bad... it's a figure of speech!)
Sonic
I strongly disagree with this topic.
as for PSO...depends when it is released. Phantasy Star Offline :)
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
But what happens if, in 5
> years time, Sony too begin to market young gamers?
Doubt that would happen. That could lead to Microsoft taking a huge chunk of the Market. Sony/Microsoft will battle it out for the biggest share of the older market while Nintendo grab whatever they can.
Lets just see how this "appealing to all ages" scheme goes for Nintendo. I aint convinced They can shake off this apparent Kiddy Image, especially after how they have designed the Cube. Lets just see what happens...Hopefully Nintendo can establish itself right up there with the other two if everyone can see they are getting a top quality console for £150.
But what happens if, in 5
> years time, Sony too begin to market young gamers?
Doubt that would happen. That could lead to Microsoft taking a huge chunk of the Market. Sony/Microsoft will battle it out for the biggest share of the older market while Nintendo grab whatever they can.
Lets just see how this "appealing to all ages" scheme goes for Nintendo. I aint convinced They can shake off this apparent Kiddy Image, especially after how they have designed the Cube. Lets just see what happens...Hopefully Nintendo can establish itself right up there with the other two if everyone can see they are getting a top quality console for £150.
Well, I'm frankly suprised that no-one (especially Sonic, the Sega fan) has remembered Phantasy Star Online. Nintendo may have no online plans as such, but Sega definitely have online plans for the cube. It seems to me very ironic that Sonic has appeared in his own game on Cube even before Mario has his own game, and Sonic (again) has appeared on GBA before Mario has his own NEW game. All Mario games on GBA so far (okay, apart from Mazza Kart) are old Snes games, with a couple of added features. And of the initial three release titles in Japan, the one by Sega (Super Monkey Ball) was generally given the best marks by the critics.
Sega are playing a vital part in this console generation. It's just good that Nintendo fans can play some Sega classics too this time round.
Anyway, online plans are all fine, but with past consoles you have had to subscribe to a certain server for your console which is expensive. And I have thought many times how great it would be to play an online RPG, but most charge monthly subscription (Ultima Online for one) and if this were to happen on consoles too, monthly subscription and a large phone bill then could we really afford it? The 'net on PCs is getting cheaper and cheaper to subscribe to, but how do we know the situation on consoles?
And just a final point, Nintendo are not at the back of the pack for innovation. What other company would take a risk like Pikmin was? What other company would risk the N64 controller? It looked very odd back when it was unveiled. Nintendo re-invented platforming with Mario 64. Just because they look to be the last to support online play doesn't mean they are cowardly. Indeed they are being very bold turning Zelda into cel shaded look in the face of such opposition, and they are forking out franchise titles to second parties more than ever. Metroid to Retro, Star Fox to Rare, so Nintendo themselves can concentrate on titles like Mario and Zelda. And Nintendo are pioneers of multiplay, releaseing the first console with more than 2 controller ports, but I think they believe that online play cannot replace face to face multiplay, and to some extent they are right. I for one am hoping that online play is implemented for Perfect Dark 0, but if the cost is too high, I'm not going to use the online feature anyway, so looks like I'm gonna have to wait and see about price...
So long... for now.
Sega are playing a vital part in this console generation. It's just good that Nintendo fans can play some Sega classics too this time round.
Anyway, online plans are all fine, but with past consoles you have had to subscribe to a certain server for your console which is expensive. And I have thought many times how great it would be to play an online RPG, but most charge monthly subscription (Ultima Online for one) and if this were to happen on consoles too, monthly subscription and a large phone bill then could we really afford it? The 'net on PCs is getting cheaper and cheaper to subscribe to, but how do we know the situation on consoles?
And just a final point, Nintendo are not at the back of the pack for innovation. What other company would take a risk like Pikmin was? What other company would risk the N64 controller? It looked very odd back when it was unveiled. Nintendo re-invented platforming with Mario 64. Just because they look to be the last to support online play doesn't mean they are cowardly. Indeed they are being very bold turning Zelda into cel shaded look in the face of such opposition, and they are forking out franchise titles to second parties more than ever. Metroid to Retro, Star Fox to Rare, so Nintendo themselves can concentrate on titles like Mario and Zelda. And Nintendo are pioneers of multiplay, releaseing the first console with more than 2 controller ports, but I think they believe that online play cannot replace face to face multiplay, and to some extent they are right. I for one am hoping that online play is implemented for Perfect Dark 0, but if the cost is too high, I'm not going to use the online feature anyway, so looks like I'm gonna have to wait and see about price...
So long... for now.
Yes, it's true that Nintendo have made several mistakes in the past, like the 64 DD and the SNES CD add-on, but they've shown that they're not afraid to show and try out their new ideas. How many other companies can you say have done this?? Maybe it happened during the Atari and Commodore's reigns but i wasn't around then and didn't know much about them.
No, Nintendo unfortunately haven't announced any plans for their on-line games, and quite a few people, including myself, were looking forward to the possibillities. You can immediatly dream of how amazing a game like Mario Kart or Perfect Dark would be on-line! But by having no immediate plans for on-line gaming Nintendo may be lossing some fans for the time being.
I know of one person (not on these forums) who is a big on-line gamer with his PC, sold his N64, and is now opting for an X-box as Nintendo have made no announcements of their on-line plans! He really is impatient and should wait a while! He also said he won't get a Cube first and get an X-box laterwhen the price has possibly gone down!
No, Nintendo unfortunately haven't announced any plans for their on-line games, and quite a few people, including myself, were looking forward to the possibillities. You can immediatly dream of how amazing a game like Mario Kart or Perfect Dark would be on-line! But by having no immediate plans for on-line gaming Nintendo may be lossing some fans for the time being.
I know of one person (not on these forums) who is a big on-line gamer with his PC, sold his N64, and is now opting for an X-box as Nintendo have made no announcements of their on-line plans! He really is impatient and should wait a while! He also said he won't get a Cube first and get an X-box laterwhen the price has possibly gone down!
Look the way I see the whole "console war" scenario is, Gamecube wee's on all it's oposition, X Box is gay and has bum sex with PS2.
And on that note I think I win the argument.
And on that note I think I win the argument.
Tiltawhirl wrote:
> Game glitches? THis is a console not a PC, you don't proper get glitches in
> console games, you have the occasional "if you walk backwards for 5 minutes
> then you can see through the wall" glitch but it's nothing too write home
> about.
Who the heck would want to play Championship manager on a console in
> the first place? If you really get your kicks out of looking at Football
> spreadsheets then surely you would be better off playing them on a PC?
oooh some games DO have glitches, plus they can release mini-add-on packs free of charge...
secondly you really need to work on the construction of your arguements... its not "kicks" (i could say that about a lot of people and a certain fat-plummer, now if that gives YOU cheap thrills then sorry for any offense..)
- champ is a great game, but aside from that look at sales, if X-Box can even slightly emulate those figures then they would be happy and so would Sports Interactive, anyway it is a popular game that does sell a lot, whether YOU like it or not is beside the point...
> Game glitches? THis is a console not a PC, you don't proper get glitches in
> console games, you have the occasional "if you walk backwards for 5 minutes
> then you can see through the wall" glitch but it's nothing too write home
> about.
Who the heck would want to play Championship manager on a console in
> the first place? If you really get your kicks out of looking at Football
> spreadsheets then surely you would be better off playing them on a PC?
oooh some games DO have glitches, plus they can release mini-add-on packs free of charge...
secondly you really need to work on the construction of your arguements... its not "kicks" (i could say that about a lot of people and a certain fat-plummer, now if that gives YOU cheap thrills then sorry for any offense..)
- champ is a great game, but aside from that look at sales, if X-Box can even slightly emulate those figures then they would be happy and so would Sports Interactive, anyway it is a popular game that does sell a lot, whether YOU like it or not is beside the point...
Page: