Reuters
Satoru Iwata told Reuters in an interview that "We (Nintendo) are developing a new home video game console with a plan to release the new system around the same time as rival makers do."
Unlike Yamauchi, Iwata knows what coming too late can mean. "The PlayStation 2 debuted one-and-a-half years ahead of the GameCube. If we had launched the GameCube at the same time as PlayStation 2, the result would have been different. We will get ready for a (new) battle in 2005 although foreign game developers are now saying that rival next-generation systems won't come until 2006."
And Nintendo won't be pulling a Sega anytime soon. "When we withdraw from the home game console, that's when we withdraw from the video game business."
Now, do you think this will make a difference? Before answering, remember the DC was the first of the new consoles, and it was a bigger failure than the GC. Also, remember that the GameCube DID launch alongside the XBox in North America, and it's still struggling. I think it's a start, but Nintendo actually has to follow through and release it before or alongside the others. And they still have to address all the other problems that have held them back. But like I said, it's a start.
but if nintendo releases alongside the PS3 and Xbox2, odds are that the system won't be as underpowered as the dreamcast was. and you won't have a ton of people saying "man, i'm gonna wait for the PS2 it's graphics roxor!"
anyway, it's strange that sony could say "we're developing a more powerful console than the DC" and tons of people just decided to wait for the PS2. but nintendo and microsoft btoh said the same thing and are both struggling to get sales...then again, the PSX was the most popular system last gen...certainly more so than the saturn...i'm rambling
anyway, it's good to hear that nintendo plans to be competative, time wise...now, let's see if they'll launch with a mario title and actively approach developers to make mature games for them. not even exclusives, necessarily. just mature games that'll appear to the casual gamer, like GTA and metal gear solid. oh well, i hope nintendo can wing it through another generation.
i also hope somehting happens that allows nintendo to get rare back. i like rare. and they were a lot cooler before they were bought by microsoft. and i know they're never coming back, since they're a microsoft first party...but still...i miss those crazy limeys.
veddy intesting
Looking at the american and european sales of GC and XBox you can see head to head sales data. If Nintendo can produce a new game system a year or more before anyone else and games have games ready for it that really show off it's hardware, we'll see a huge turn around concerning the Playstation semi-monopoly.
And now I shall quote an old quote.
IGN (I think) "Will the (Gamecube) be backwards compatible with the Nintendo 64?"
Nintendo: "No, but the system after Gamecube will be backwards compatible with Gamecube and all other future Nintendo consoles will be based off its hardware"
IGN "So we wouldn't have to buy a new system after that?"
Nintendo " (laughs) New Hardware will be created, but it work off of the last generations hardware allowing for backwards compatability."
IGN "So the Gamecube 5 will be able to play games from the GC 2, 3 and 4?"
Nintendo: "Something like that."
I'll tell you what makes me worried though
I think this will be the start of a major MAJOR change in Nintendo...
Nintendo MUST set up a real internet play system. Preferably with the Gamecube, before this new system comes out. They must. If they keep ignoring net gaming, even launching at the same time won't save them... net gaming is huge and growing faster than ever, and Nintendo just CANT keep ignoring it! If they do, it'll eventually catch up with them and lead to another failed console as people buy other ones to get online (and, presumably, harddrives too-- another thing Nintendo should have in their next console but I don't know if they will).
As for this announcement, it really was needed. While it probably will hurt the Cube some, its necessary for Nintendo to even TRY to be competitive... the N64 and Gamecube proved that coming a year late doesn't work anymore (unlike like how it worked with the SNES). So this news is good... i just want to see Nintendo break some of its other seeming unwritten rules and come up with a decent internet plan...
I know exactly what Nintendo needs to do to make their next console sell like crazy at launch.
-Launch with a new Mario game and a realistic Zelda game.
-Pack in a collection of classic Nintendo titles for free.
-Release a Pokemon game, Kid Icarus, and Earthbound shortly after launch.
-Advertise it as the second coming of Jesus.
If they did all those things their console would be an unstopable force.
I don't care about any of this.
Just so long as it's a gaming only machine.
Quote:anyway, it's strange that sony could say "we're developing a more powerful console than the DC" and tons of people just decided to wait for the PS2.
That's because it wasn't the power of the PS2 that was the deciding factor.
This is very good news, for the most part. We've all been saying for a while now how Nintendo must launch their new system at the same time as Sony and MS launch their new systems. But in order for the next system to be out on time with some great games, there are going to have to be a few sacrifices. The Gamecube's launch wasn't nearly as good as it should have been, and not having a killer-app really hurt Nintendo and helped Microsoft. Nintendo must launch with at least two AAA games: A true Mario platformer for awesome single-play and a Smash Bros. or Mario Kart game for great online/split-screen multiplay. Nintendo needs to launch their system with all they've got, even if that means cancelling some Gamecube games and turning them into "N2005" launch titles. Miyamoto already confirmed that there will be another Mario and Zelda game for the Gamecube, but it might be wiser for them to cancel one of them and ready it for a N2005 launch.
You're right ABF, they sure as hell better launch the system with some online games. Can you imagine how well the next system would sell if it launched with an online Pokemon game?
And Nintendo has to get a new marketing department to start advertising like crazy.
This is great stuff. I agree with what OB1 has said for the most part. Here is what I think needs to be done with some added stuff... in no oder....
1) Get rid of the people that do their advertisements. It would be cool if they could hire the person or company that came up with the best console launch advertisement ever with the Dreamcast Apocalypse launch ad.
2) Include a DVD drive. Sure, Nintendo is all about games and whatever, but you have to appeal to the common game fan.
3) I really like the design of the GC, but enough with the choice in colors and limited colors to each region. If Japan got the spice colored GC, as gay as it was it should have been brought here. What is important though is the color choice for the ads. Enough with the fruity Purple color (I bought jet black). Go with grey for the next system or black and include some blue LCD lights like the GC Q to make it look hightech.
http://gcelite.vgamin.com/DVD/NewDvD5.jpg
4) Don't make anymore odd controller designs. I love the GC controller, but fighting fans always bitch about it. Miyamoto you don't always have to be an innovator. Chill out with the unorthodox designs.
5) Like OB1 said, you have to launch with the big hits. I agree with each title he suggested. Add to that though a
HUGE exclusive RPG or action title (I know Nintendo wont get MGS exclusive, but if it could get MGS3 (sorry Sam Fisher or whatever has not kiled MGS) as an exlusive launch title they would just... forget it... Just no lame ass titles. Oh and yeah, include a Pokemon RPG.
6) Look its a given that Nintendo will always focus on creating great original content or nice updates to their franchises so that should not be a distraction from them creating the most powerful system. IMO they have to develop the most high tech console and make sure developers actually use the power. How retarded is it that the GC is "easy to develop for" and is the 2nd powerful system yet most of the games other than the top titles look lackluster compared to 2nd tier PS2 and Xbox titles?
7) Include an online plan worthy of caring for (with support for 56k). Yeah they are not huge fans of online games. I was only able to enjoy PSO v1 on the DC because it was free. Im not cheap, but I don't feel like paying for games any more after paying $50 for them. Why the hell isn't F-Zero for the GC online?
8) If you're going to to add a new game to your franchises don't take liberties just to make them any more different. Adding a water cannon to Mario was just rediculous. Sure Miyamoto was just trying to add more to the game, but it wasn't any fun. The next game should include both Mario and Luigi and should take place in the Mario Kingdom with old Mario tunes and not any Jamaican themed Mario tunes. Go back the the Mario 64 camera please... I love how Zelda:WW looks, but it seems that Miyamoto (or whoemever led the project) has tried to change the series too much with the last titles. I never got to play Majora's Mask (came at a time when I didn't care baout the n64, never dropped from the $50+ price range, and sounded too wierd) so I can't say whether it sucked or not, but to me it didn't sound like a regular Zelda game. I am always accepting to change, but chill with the big titles. Both the Mario and Starfox GC games released so far have sucked because of this.
I know we've said it multiple times before, but Nintendo's online "strategy" baffles me... given how successful online gaming is (Just ask Sony how much of that $15 they get per month from the 250,000+ EverQuest (PC, sure, but its online) subscribers goes straight to their pockets... or Microsoft's success with X-Box Live...), and how much influence it has (in making games a more attractive purchase), and how much gameplay it adds to games (would I play even a FRACTION as much Warcraft III or Starcraft without the net? Absolutely not!), it just makes NO SENSE that they seem to think it won't be a good idea. Sure, they may lose money on it at first, but its so important that it'd probably be worth it to get the positive sales impact I'm certain it would have... stupid Nintendo!
Oh, and I think I've said that the whole Nintendo marketing division should be fired several times. Look at any recent Nintendo advertising campaign to see why... as I'm sure most of you agree...
MgL... hmm, I don't know. You make some good points then go back to your usual flamebait stuff... like saying that Mario Sunshine was bad because it wasn't very different. As for the NGC controller, I like it... mostly. I wish it had 6 face buttons.. and only 2 shoulder buttons. Stupid awful Z button! It should have a 6 face button layout... thats the best type (*waits for several people to say I'm wrong, as they always do*). Maybe make the D-Pad bigger too.Oh, and it shouldn't have a DVD drive. I think its good that Nintendo makes it clear that its a game machine, not a appliance or something... they should keep doing that. More colors (and NOT purple as the main one!) would be great, though. Though I do like it in black.
And as for the fact that lots of NGC games look like barely improved (or no good) PS2 ports as opposed to slightly downgraded X-Box versions like they should, that isn't Nintendo's fault. Its the fault of lazy developers who don't care to optimize the game for the platform...
I pretty much agree with what everyone is saying, but I have to say that the new system needs a DVD drive. I personally don't care about it, I've only used my PS2 DVD player once just to see how it was, but a lot of people like the added bonus of a DVD drive. My friend wanted to get a PS2 for Christmas because he wanted a DVD player. He didn't research DVD players, he just thought to get a PS2 because it was a DVD player and he could buy games for it. I don't want to see Nintendo trying to make an all-in-one machine by including Tivo capabilities or anything like that, but I do want them to realize that DVD capabilities mean something to the casual gamer.
That's true.
On a related subject,
here's something that bothers me:
Quote:On a down note, when asked about these lacking sales, Mr. Iwata blamed the videogame market, saying, "Consumers today apparently don't want to sit in front of the television to play games for hours and hours." This comment leaves us completely baffled, as we're not entirely sure how the president of NCL hasn't noticed the millions of PS2 units shipped each month, in addition to the 1.5 million copies of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City that shipped from retailers during the month of December alone.
What the hell? What's wrong with that man?
It's mainly because of your shitty marketing, Nintendo!!! How are they going to fix one of their biggest problems if they're too blind to see it?
Nintendo could just pull an MS and sell a playback kit seperatly, thus keeping the price of the DVD consortium group away from the next system itself. CD playback would require an extra laser (in the same lense of course, which I'd prefer for a following reason), as opposed to DVD playback's mere requirement of software, thus it likely won't be added, UNLESS Nintendo (and then, Sony) follow MS's example and set up the ability to rip and insert music CD songs into games that support it (likely not, most XBox games don't support that feature, and the ones that do suck, though I do believe Rare's games are likely to support it because Rare always taps a system out completely). I would actually like CD playback if only so I can use my CD laser lense cleaner on it (since it's an audio CD, it works on EVERY single optical thing I have, since they ALL support audio CDs, except the GCN).
DC doing worse than GCN is an understatement. Mainly because the GCN is actually doing very well (sheesh, just because they aren't in first place doesn't mean they aren't making lots and lots of money), and secondly because Sega is now out of consoles for good.
Oh, I know Nintendo SAYS they will never make games again if a console ever fails, but I bet that was just lip service to the die hards. Just you wait and see. If a Nintendo console ever actually bombs, first they will still have the GBA, which I highly doubt they are giving up on. Second, there is money to be made in being a 3rd party. If they are still making games for the portable, they are still making games, and it's only a matter of time before the developers start wanting to make 3D games using the latest power again. Trust me, that comment will only be true if Nintendo forgets that they like money.
Anyway, Nintendo needs to design their next system the same way MS has set a precedent for. I do believe the XBox's addition of a hard drive (and the DC's addition of some sort of online adapter) straight from the start IS the move they need to be making from now on. Sony will likely do the same. The difference is that they should certainly do one important step in the form of making hte hard drive removable and replaceble. The other difference is that the online adapters should PROBABLY best be done with the PS2's style of both broad and narrow band support. If during that time broadband is doing better than narrow (possible if it's made cheaper then), they should just go broadband exclusivly. Anyway, XBox Live is doing VERY well, right now. If MS keeps up the current pricing plan of $50 for a year, and if most games keep their content free aside from that, then I suspect it will remain the best possible plan. However, one thing I do think MS should consider, if they keep that pricing plan, is to just stop asking for a credit card number. It should only be required for content that needs to be bought online seperatly from the XBox live fee (which was paid for when I bought the kit). Instead, renewal should be in the form of buying new code numbers at stores, printed on calling card style cards. That removes all the "hey I have to pay for this like water or something" feel.
Um, DC's apocalypse ad is bad based purely on the results. Nintendo's ad team doesn't really make bad ads...per say... so much as they don't AIR the ads they make. Some ads were indeed bad, but most are fine. It's just that NO ONE SEES THEM. Nintendo needs to learn to pay for more advertising time. Remember when the Kingdom Hearts ads played like EVERY OTHER COMMERCIAL in all the good time slots? All the kids around here know the words to Simple and Clean (the ones they played in the ad) thanks to that ad's persistance. They need to do THAT when the new Zelda comes out.
Here's the thing I realized about the GCN controller. It's actually only original in the size and shape of the buttons. I have realized something you will too when you think about it. The placement is EXACTLY the same as a 6 button layout, if you take away the upper left and upper right buttons. Look at it, picture those buttos there (the upper right one kinda hovering in mid air off the side of the controller :D), and you will see what I mean. Keep the sizing and shaping Nintendo, because that DOES help me recognize buttons, but add in the two buttons you subtracted from the six button layout to make it seem totally unique :D. Also, take that abomination of a Z button and place it on the back of the controller. There, my middle finger will be placed just right to press it. Hey, go ahead and mirror it on the left while you are at it.
Add a select button! It's obvious that you want to emulate a lot of NES games, so let us play it using NES button placement! The select button does lots of boring utilitarian stuff anyway, so it's good for some stuff. Set it up so that during emulation of GCN games, it can be programmed as a quick action button for any of the other GCN original buttons (hey, do that for the rest while you are up).
Finally, give us a digital click on the control sticks. Sony really came up with a winner when they innovated that. I know that the L and R digital click thing is an innovation, but it's really more comfort than function. There's nothing that digital click can do that fully depressing a normal DC style analog trigger can't be programmed to do. All the digital click does is allow you to know you are about to hit that bottom floor, which is helpful enough to be worthy of keeping it. However, the control stick click is something you can do without pressing the stick itself in any direction, thus it actually adds previously unavailable function. It's very helpful to be aiming with the right stick and then just click it to switch zoom levels in an FPS for instance.
I will admit that maybe Nintendo should have included a DVD player with GameCube. It seemed that it really was a deciding factor for people. I guess they don't really care what specific games a console plays, they don't know the difference. It just plays games. And this one also has a DVD player. Oooh! But would it really matter next time? Will anybody buy a console for a DVD player in 2005? I know there will be many people without DVD players still (probably myself included), but I can't imagine it will be a big selling point. More like the DC's cd player would be my guess.
Online is obviously a must, and it needs to be set up from Day 1. They really need to get an online network going with GameCube if for no other reason than to see what works. They always used that excuse for stuff like the DD.
If the new console is backwards compatible, they will be able to do what Sony did with the PS2 launch: stick PS2 labels on PSX games. That will help the software problem a little, but they still need to get something like Mario out. And they can't rely on name brand anymore. It has to blow everything else away, even the other launch games for other systems. I'm 100% certain Nintendo CAN make a game that much better than any other, they have done it countless times. But WILL they? I don't know.
Heh, I re-read my post and I now realize that the way I said all that made it seem like stuff about the controller was just as important for success as the actual big stuff, like online. I really need to actually learn to list stuff in reverse order of importance. Oh wait, that's for convincing of a point...
Anyway, the REAL points among that list of stuff (which includes minor stuff as well, as you could see) is this stuff.
They NEED more advertising. Word of mouth alone is selling Metroid Prime and Animal Crossing. It's a tactic that's worked before, but they need to rely on TV for some reason. Movie theater ads are a good move, even though blown up 300 times makes ANY console game look terribly low res (I've seen PS2, XBox, and one GCN ad in theaters, and they all looked horrible on a massive screen), even though PC games have a high enough res to look awesome blown up (that's where you can actually tell the difference, the WC3 ad before Two Towers looked awesome).
They NEED Online support and also a hard drive, and it MUST be there from the start, included in the system, not sold seperatly! The details about these two things aren't as important as actually having them.
They NEED to launch at the same time as the PS3. There may be something bad about launching too soon before the popularest system comes out, but then againt the DC may just be a fluke. I mean, the PS1 did great even though Nintendo was the big dog at the time and they released long before the N64. Anyway, my point is that Nintendo needs to come out when PS3 does, which it seems they are in fact doing.
They NEED huge games from the start. No more of this Luigi's Mansion stuff. Super Smash Bros Melee was the only super title they had, and that we still had to wait a bit for.
Everything else is minor compaired to this stuff. Backwards compatilibity is pretty important after this, and the rest of the stuff is pretty much in the same bag after that.
DJ: I can name a few good X-Box games that make use of the custom soundtrack feature:
1. Rallisport Challenge
2. MSR
3. Tony Hawk 3
4. Tony Hawk 4
5. Aggressive Inline Skating
And um.. a bunch of other racing games.
I thought the custom soundtrack idea was fantastic, until I heard it in use. It was nothing special at all. I just stick a CD in and listen to that instead.
Quote:Originally posted by Laser Link
I will admit that maybe Nintendo should have included a DVD player with GameCube. It seemed that it really was a deciding factor for people. I guess they don't really care what specific games a console plays, they don't know the difference. It just plays games. And this one also has a DVD player. Oooh! But would it really matter next time? Will anybody buy a console for a DVD player in 2005? I know there will be many people without DVD players still (probably myself included), but I can't imagine it will be a big selling point. More like the DC's cd player would be my guess.
Online is obviously a must, and it needs to be set up from Day 1. They really need to get an online network going with GameCube if for no other reason than to see what works. They always used that excuse for stuff like the DD.
If the new console is backwards compatible, they will be able to do what Sony did with the PS2 launch: stick PS2 labels on PSX games. That will help the software problem a little, but they still need to get something like Mario out. And they can't rely on name brand anymore. It has to blow everything else away, even the other launch games for other systems. I'm 100% certain Nintendo CAN make a game that much better than any other, they have done it countless times. But WILL they? I don't know.
the Gamecube is a game machine, nothing more. Many people already own a DVD Player, and there is also a price difference to consider. Although if you don't have a DVD Player and you're looking to buy a game console, sure, you can buy a PS2 and get both, or you can buy a GameCube and one game for the same price.
Online play has been talked about to death, and I don't know why. Sure, if the GC gets hooked up to the net, I'll be first in line to play a few rounds of Melee with some dude in Russia. However, even if the GameCubes online adapter never comes out, I'd think nothing less of Nintendo. I own 19 games, and only 6 of them are multiplayer. I like nothing more than playing some Melee against an actual person with actual strategies, but most of my gaming time is spent, happily, solo.
Also, with the money I've invested in my GameCube, I would be mad if the GC is obsolete in two years and my games can't be played anymore without hooking up the old system. So when the N2005 comes out, I'll tuck my GameCube away in a drawer, but still be able to enjoy my favorite games (people with PS1s, shut up in advance)
So that's my 2 cents. Criticize if you wish, but that's how I feel about the topics at hand.
Already planning the nest console; and GameCube has only been out for a little more than a year. Are they even putting any more thought into these things? I miss the simple, pleasant times of the N64 era... doesn't anyone else?
I miss the days of the NES when you didn't even think about future consoles. Heck, I didn't even really think about future games. I just went to the store every once in a while and bought what looked good. That's kind of the way I first played Zelda, except my parents bought that one for me.
I remember those times :D. Ah, it was good, then The Wizard came out. At that moment, all things changed. I knew of a game that wasn't out yet, but that I still wanted, SMB3. It came, I played, I had a blast, and then on the news, I heard of "Super Mario Bros 4" or Super Mario World to us now on a new "Super Nintendo". Then for the first time, a new system was coming out, and when it did, I made a horrible mistake in giving my NES to my siblings. It was screaming "no, I can still make you happy, to the extreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeme"... Anyway, I got a new one and got most of my games back from them, so it's all good.
Anyway, the main reason we are upset is because Nintendo is falling into a state of "no risks". They read the manager's sacred book and the most holy of commandments within "If all else fails, say "no", because if it fails, and remember, it always could, it will be YOUR butt!" The book didn't have the best grammpr... Online is vastly important to us, and to them it seems.
Oh, and most companies always are planning for the future. I'm sure the GCN was being planned soon after the N64 was out, though it was only a plan at the time. The fact that they have a team currently developing the new system doesn't mean that the other teams working on GCN games will be any less skillful. However, I think I'll stay out from discussing anything else they should do in the future. That's quite some time from now, and we are just now settled into the current generation of consoles. I want to revel in this generation with no concept of the future for a while.
Nostalgia is effective, and we can respect those days, (as we respect and cherish our youths) but the popularization of instant news over the internet has made that difficult. I guess you could cut yourself off from the internet and only rely on buzz from friends and commercials, but then you would be part of the mass consumers. That's cool and all, but I choose the red pill.
As for Nintendo's next console, I fear most that there will be an NFL2K3 v. Madden 2003 debacle. And there are startling parallels:
Is Madden technically any better of a game than 2k3? They're about equal.
Is the PS3 technically any better than GC2? Probably equal.
Is the Madden brand more popular than the 2k brand? Absolutely.
Is the PS brand more popular than the Nintendo brand? Absolutely.
This is the first time the 2k goes head-to-head with Madden.
This is the first time the GC2 goes head-to-head with PS3.
Sega severely underestimates the popularity of the the Madden brand.
Nintendo severely underestimates the popularity of the PS brand? (future) Nintendo has been arrogant before, and Iwata's statements reconfirm that Nintendo does not realize that sales are based on mindshare. He blames overall drop in interest, when it is clear that there is a huge interest in PS2 and GTA. Perhaps he's just throwing the blame off Nintendo, but, if not, he doesn't get the point that Nintendo has an image problem that is holding it back.
Madden 2003 spanks 2k3 in terms of sales (December NPD USA):
3 PS2 MADDEN NFL 2003 Aug-02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 678,412 2,412,996
53 XBX MADDEN NFL 2003 Aug-02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 132,011 424,280
48 PS2 NFL 2K3 Aug-02 SEGA OF AMERICA 147,353 360,148
113 GCN MADDEN NFL 2003 Aug-02 ELECTRONIC ARTS 68,455 181,345
135 XBX NFL 2K3 Aug-02 SEGA OF AMERICA 58,805 176,002
394 GCN NFL 2K3 Aug-02 SEGA OF AMERICA 17,241 41,530
Playstation 3 spanks N2005? Only omniscient beings know.
I too am disapointed that if all goes according to plan, GameCube will be gone too soon. But I expected it, knowing that Sony and MS were pushing for their next consoles to come out in a couple years. I figured Nintendo would be not too far behind. But it is unfortunate. I wish somebody could get all the big executives at these companies together and force them to wait until 2007 before releasing any new consoles. But as it is, we still have at least 3 more years of GameCubeing. And if the new console is backwards compatiable, they will still be making GC games even after it has been replaced.
Think of the N64. It came out in the US in around September 1996. The last game released for it was in Summer 2001 (Madden 2001). That's 4 1/2 years... MUCH shorter than the NES, which was still around for years after the SNES came out, shorter than the SNES (because the SNES lived for a little while after the N64, but not as long as the NES did against the Genesis and SNES), true, but now compare that to the NGC. It came out November 2001. If the new console comes in christmas '05, it'd only be 4 years... I bet the next generation won't be until mid '06, probably, so it is likely that NGC will at least match the N64 in length... so saying that it will be prematurely killed off is saying that it will be more successful than the N64. Of course, it probably is more successful than the N64, but still, 4 -5 years is the average lifespan of a console, so a replacement in '05-'06 is in line with when the other makers will be replacing it... Nintendo's problem (and at least they recognise THIS one) is that in the past they tried to make consoles last as long as possible... and with the N64 we saw how that fails, given how Nintendo had NO new console games released for several months in late '01...
Anyway, Edenmaster, if you say that internet play doesn't matter much to you you must not play many games online. I probably would have said the same thing in early '97... but then I got into playing games online, andsaw how important that was - to games which its good for. Some games, like Zelda, shouldn't be multiplayer. Stuff like the not too good multiplayer modes stuck into some games (like System Shock 2) prove that... but still, online gaming is HUGE! While not having it won't destroy Nintendo, it will be one thing that will help people to decide to get other consoles instead of Nintendo's... and as time passes and online multiplay console games really enter the mainstream (online multiplay has been mainstream for PC games for years, but on consoles its not there yet...), it'll look more and more like the glaring weakness it is...
And Nintendo's statements about online don't do anything to make me think they've even considered changing their policy. Not good.
Oh, and yes, even if they launch simultaneously I do fear that PS's name will give it the victory... despite other factors (like how it probably won't be the best console, just like both PSes so far). :(
Sony and MS have shown us that online is a must. Even if they don't profit much from online games and network adapters themselves, they certainly make up for it with selling more consoles simply because people want to play games online. Nintendo doesn't get that, and it's a real shame. Did you know that the X-Box Live starter kit sold a bundred more units as Wind Waker did in Japan last week? 17,500 units, I kid you not. From ve3d.com:
Quote:Week Ending January 19th
1. GBA Pokemon Sapphire - 47,200
2. GBA Pokemon Ruby - 46,600
3. PS2 KONAMI World Soccer Winning Eleven 6 - 25,600
4. PS2 Kingdom Hearts Final Mix - 23,800
5. GBA Megaman EXE 3 - 21,500
6. PS2 Hudson Peach Taro - 20,800
7. XBOX Microsoft Xbox Live Starter Kit - 17,500
8. GC The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - 17,400
9. PS2 Sammy Practice PACHISURO - 16,700
10. GC Mario Party 4 - 14,000
And that's broadband only, isn't it?
And as far as the GC's longevity is concered, it's unfortunate that it won't have a lifespan as long as the PS2, but Nintendo cannot afford to be a year late with a new system each and every time.
That says something. Broadband only isn't saying much when you are talking about Japan, but the fact that it's Japan, land where people don't like the XBox, DOES say something.
Well, except for one thing. I've never heard of that site.
You've never heard of voodoo extreme before? They're the best PC gaming news site out there.
Uh, DJ, you never heard of Voodooextreme? Where DO you go on the internet? Or do you just ignore PC news sites... have you not heard of Blue's News or Gamespy or something too?
Oh, and seeing X-Box Live sell so well in Japan is surprising... good, too. I really hope it keeps selling well there (and here) and proves to Nintendo that people DO think that online gaming is very important... but given Nintendo's historical dislike of "new" ideas, that doesn't seem too likely. Which is really too bad, given how important internet gaming is to the lifespan of games and how many people probably aren't getting NGC versions of multiplayer games because other ones have online modes (read: most every multiconsole sports game, for starters... or Tony Hawk 4, or Capcom vs SNK 2 EO, or some others...) Stupid Nintendo!
It's depressing, isn't it?
To be honest I went to sites like Gamespy and whatever one GameFAQs is always linking to for PC gaming news. Then again, I'm not exactly first on the line for finding gaming news anyway. I generally talk about news after the fact on message boards. Where I go is here, and that's all you get to know. You'll have to find out the other boards I visit on your own.
Why would I want to find that out?
Because I told you I'm not telling! Admit it, the mystery is killing you isn't it? You know it is! Everyone wants to know about me...MEEEEEEEE!
BTW, GameFAQs links to Gamespot for news...
Quote:Originally posted by A Black Falcon
Anyway, Edenmaster, if you say that internet play doesn't matter much to you you must not play many games online. I probably would have said the same thing in early '97... but then I got into playing games online, andsaw how important that was - to games which its good for. Some games, like Zelda, shouldn't be multiplayer. Stuff like the not too good multiplayer modes stuck into some games (like System Shock 2) prove that... but still, online gaming is HUGE! While not having it won't destroy Nintendo, it will be one thing that will help people to decide to get other consoles instead of Nintendo's... and as time passes and online multiplay console games really enter the mainstream (online multiplay has been mainstream for PC games for years, but on consoles its not there yet...), it'll look more and more like the glaring weakness it is...
You're right, I don't. There were only a few online game I played. Way back when I used to play Outpost 2: Divided Destiny (also when I first coined the name EdenMaster), I loved online gaming. I also played Red Alert 2, Half Life, and other games. Eventually, my 56k restraints made playing online games almost physically painful. Outpost 2s online networks have been shut down entirely, I don't play Half-Life or Red Alert 2 much anymore. So no, online play is not important to me, but good games are. I bought my GameCube for one reason alone, because it had Nintendos name on it. I grew up with Nintendo, as did all of us, and I know they are the hands-down best developer around, and the only place to get some of the best games around right now. Other great games by third party developers are multi-console. My next console will be a Nintendo, and the next, and the next. As long as they keep making them. I'm not a fanboy, I know the benefits of PlayStation, I'm even deliberating on whether or not to buy one (I refuse to acknowledge the existence of the X-Box). Nintendo is the place to turn when you want to play great games, and I don't know why it has fallen from grace as much as it has. Oh yeah, N64...
The disappointing N64 skewed gamers view of Nintendo so much to make them sway to Playstation, and ever since, Nintendo has had a blemish on their reputation. One that will take more than a little bleach to take out.