28th April 2008, 4:35 PM
GR, I wasn't going to bring it up but you brought it on yourself. The thing is, you trotted out this extra channel giving the impression that this answered our complaints. It is perfectly reasonable that I'd chime in by noting that while it's an improvement, it does not in fact address everything. Besides, it's a good thing for people to consistently remind others that, hey, while changes are being made, there's more to be done. Look at it this way, the more Nintendo adds, the less stuff I'll keep bringing up every game they release. Wouldn't that be lovely, hmm?
I noted, for example, that my personal score in Geometry Wars is above your's, but my score in Catasomethingorother is below your's (which I should at least try to resolve, but I have yet to take the time to play that game to any extent). I also noted I did that WHILE PLAYING A DIFFERENT GAME. The idea of keeping track of multiple kinds of scores outside the game is a good one though, and with a game where personal bests in time trials are on a per-track basis, that's the way to go. In fact I'd take it over the current achievement system any day (so I've run around in a circle 5000 times and that's worth some sort of "gamer point"? Okaaayy). I'll also note that I can invite someone to a game no matter what game they happen to be playing, and they'll see it and be able to join instantly. Further, I can see what someone else is playing and get a rough description (varying from game to game) of what they are doing in said game, and FURTHER if they are playing a multiplayer game and have turned on the option to allow me to do so, I can JOIN their game already in progress. Setting up a big tournament ladder from the interface is the next step for MS I'll note. Individual games have their own ladders but it's handled in-game instead of via the interface and an interface solution would be nice. I'll add this though. Mario Kart Wii has tournament ladders now? I thought they were against that sort of thing, but it's good to see the spirit of competition alive and well there.
So that's a lot to say this one basic thing. Nintendo has a long way to go, this is a small improvement, and it only barely handles the gamer code issue.
I noted, for example, that my personal score in Geometry Wars is above your's, but my score in Catasomethingorother is below your's (which I should at least try to resolve, but I have yet to take the time to play that game to any extent). I also noted I did that WHILE PLAYING A DIFFERENT GAME. The idea of keeping track of multiple kinds of scores outside the game is a good one though, and with a game where personal bests in time trials are on a per-track basis, that's the way to go. In fact I'd take it over the current achievement system any day (so I've run around in a circle 5000 times and that's worth some sort of "gamer point"? Okaaayy). I'll also note that I can invite someone to a game no matter what game they happen to be playing, and they'll see it and be able to join instantly. Further, I can see what someone else is playing and get a rough description (varying from game to game) of what they are doing in said game, and FURTHER if they are playing a multiplayer game and have turned on the option to allow me to do so, I can JOIN their game already in progress. Setting up a big tournament ladder from the interface is the next step for MS I'll note. Individual games have their own ladders but it's handled in-game instead of via the interface and an interface solution would be nice. I'll add this though. Mario Kart Wii has tournament ladders now? I thought they were against that sort of thing, but it's good to see the spirit of competition alive and well there.
So that's a lot to say this one basic thing. Nintendo has a long way to go, this is a small improvement, and it only barely handles the gamer code issue.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)