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February 18, 2006
Child's Play
Children of the Playstation era have grown up in a totally different world from that of what most of you have. A recent focus group (the second of 2) conducted by Electronic Gaming Monthly reveals that these kids have no respect for many of the video games we hail as all time classics and yet to be matched by any of today's hyper realistic games. So what gives?
The kids were all shoved in a room and asked to comment on many of yesteryears console and arcade classics. Their responses shocked so many of EGM's older readers, the magazine was flooded with letters and emails regarding the kid's lack of respect from where games came from and blamed today's uber realistic graphics brainwashing them to go for aesthetics over innovative gameplay.
The games the kids were asked to play were;
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out (Nintendo Entertainment System - 1987)
Adventure (Atari 2600 - 1978)
The Legend of Zelda (Nintendo Entertainment System - 1987)
Star Wars (Arcade - 1983)
Defender (Arcade - 1980)
720ยบ (Arcade - 1986)
Grand Theft Auto (Playstation - 1998)
Gunstar Heros (Sega Genesis - 1993)
Galaga (Arcade - 1981)
Street Fighter II (Arcade - 1991)
The general comments from the kids were about the simplistic graphics. They seemed unable to focus on actual gameplay when characters are represented by simple dots. Many of the kids haven't even seen what some the characters looked like outside of their current 3D form. In the first focus group, one kid commented about how the original Mario looked so weird because he was flat. Another kid asked what buttons to press to make the blocks in Tetris explode. When the interviewer explained to him that you can't make them explode, the kid became totally disappointed and dismissed the game.
I am only 25 and still game nearly daily, but I still recall the feelings I got playing the "classic" games. I am from the Nintendo generation and the Playstation generation is only one after mine so in a way I can still see where the kids are coming from. However, I wonder what many of you, whom are from the Atari and Colecovision days, think of the articles.
via 1up
Posted by tranism at 1:30 PM | Permalink
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February 16, 2006
Nintendo DS TV and Browser
So yesterday Nintendo put together a little press conference to announce a digital TV turner AND an internet browser based off the very powerful Opera browser.
With both these products being directly supported by Nintendo, this officially pushes the DS into the realm of multimedia. Although its function is and will always be primarily gaming, it's nice that consumers now have options to expand their system.
The TV turner will only work in Japan (DOH!) not because Nintendo doesn't want to release it in Europe and America, it's because we aren't as fast as the Japanese. In Japan they have digital signals transmitting from the ground, hence the system's name, "ground tv". The interface is simple. The lower touch screen gives you all the controls schemas while the top screen shows the channel you're watching.
On the other hand, the browser will be released world wide and works in conjunction with Nintendo's free Wifi service. The Opera browser has been specially designed to take advantage of the system's unique specs. The bottom screen provides you with your controls, tabs, and multiple page views while the top screens shows content scaled or magnified.
Now obviously comparison with the PSP is inevitable and even tho the PSP comes with a built in browser (not fully web compliant like Opera is), it's still cumbersome to input text without a touch screen or keyboard attachment (the DS owns the PSP in that respect). Also, the PSP doesn't have enough built in cache memory so you are often faced with page rendering errors. The DS has even less memory so how will it overcome that challenge?
Although Nintendo hasn't confirmed this but I believe the answer lies in the little Gameboy cartridge slot. Nintendo has confirmed the browser application will be purchased separately and comes in a Gameboy cartridge. A cartridge has MORE than enough memory for caching and since there is no latency time for information to pass from cartridge to system bus (about the only advantage a cartridge has over optical media), I can see the DS using the cartridge as the "cache". Take it a step further and the cartridge could also remember recent visits, tabs, and even allow full stream of multimedia such as quicktime, WMV's, and maybe even flash? The possibilities are there.
So now I'm totally excited and more than willing to get a new (another DS). I now have to go spend some time with my original DS so he doesn't feel lonely and outdated.
Posted by tranism at 10:02 AM | Permalink
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February 8, 2006
Dog Biters!
biter (adj.) - copier, follower
i.e., "He is such a biter, he copied my outfit."
Well lookie lookie. It seems a developer is working on a new game for the Sony PSP called "The Happy Dog Life". You can choose your dog, take photos of him/her, decorate your home, play with your dog, and download new accessories. Sound familiar?
Now I'm not saying this is a crappy cheap copy of Nintendogs because other than this one screenshot, I know nothing about the game. Certainly a dog simulator on the more powerful PSP could be interesting.
What I will say is many wrote off Nintendo when it announced Nintendogs. If competitors are now coming up with similar games, then it proves Nintendo's point; create fun innovative games and you can bring in people who normally don't play video games. Being the best game doesn't mean hyper realistic graphics. It means gameplay mechanics. My PSP is itchin' for a good game so lets hope this one's it.
via british gaming
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Osawar Tantei Ozawa Rina
Whoa! Try saying that 10x fast. It's a new adventure game for the Nintendo DS. The concept is intriguing and is more evidence the DS is home to innovative fun games. This one's a point and click game and it puts you in the shoes of a young girl name Ozawa Rina whom sets out to investigate dreams and their paths.
Obviously a Japanese release but here's hoping Nintendo brings this beautifully styled game over to the west.
Posted by tranism at 1:33 PM | Permalink
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February 3, 2006
Legend Of Zelda Turns 20
Link is officially 20 years old! Well not exactly. Link's age seems to fluctuate with each iteration but technically its been 20 years since the original Legend of Zelda game graced the NES.
I seem to be on a video game binge today but there's just so much awesomeness going on in that world right now. :)
Available only in Japan, the 20th Anniversary pixel block for The Legend of Zelda. I so wish Nintendo of America would release here. Nintendo of Japan always gets all the cool stuff. :(
Posted by tranism at 12:27 PM | Permalink
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Possible Black DSlite
Barely a week after Nintendo announced a slimmer and lighter white DS, images of a rumored black version are making the rounds. Christ, I can't decide which one I want!
Just to recap, the new DSlite is 40% smaller in volume than the current DS while still maintaining all the same features. Ergonomics and industrial design have greatly improved. The new design also mimics the Nintendo's current design philosophy seen first on the Gameboy Micro and the upcoming revolution. For years, people have criticized
Posted by tranism at 12:15 PM | Permalink
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Show Some Love For Ice Climbers
1984 was the year when Nintendo set loose Ice Climbers on the original NES. The game's premise was simple. You played the role of Bobo and Nana - Eskimo ice climbers scaling obstacles, meanwhile knocking birds and bears out of your way, and eating veggies to replenish your life, all just to get to the top.
They triumphantly returned on Gamecube's Super Smash Bros. Melee appearing as a tag team duo tethered to one another, cooperatively executing deadly war-hammer moves, throwing large blocks of ice, and flying thru the air using each other as a counterweight.
I wanna see them back in a new game. Although some criticize Nintendo for constantly rehashing their old mascots over and over but if done well, I have no problem with that. I would love to see Bobo and Nana again in new adventures. Don't you?
more pictures after the jump
Posted by tranism at 10:41 AM | Permalink
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