10th January 2005, 2:34 PM
Wow... you guys all sound really sour about Nintendo. I've had an awesome time with my GC. It was ground breaking for 4 things I can think of:
1.) The first console system from Nintendo to use optical disks and the first console system use Mini DVD's.
2.) The first 128 bit home console.
3.) The first system to introduce wireless analog controllers
4.) The first system to introduce handheld to console connectivity and interactivity
On N64 we could download info from a GB game to a N64 game, but with GC and GBA we could not only swap data but now in real time, use the GBA as a controller and interact with games in a new way, like the Tingle Tuner or how it was used in FFCC. It's things like the above that I think Nintendo was refering to when they said "experience games in a new way and offer new ideas." with the GC. I dont think they were refering to Mario Sunshine or WW.
Although Mario Sunshine didn't innovate as much as it did improve upon the platforming genre in its structure and coding, it's interesting to note that many platformers, since the inception of Mario Sunshine's water gun, have implemented a simmilar toolfor their games.
Wind Waker gave us GBA connectivity like no other game or system out there could provide, it is the very first Zelda game to offer co-op play.
Luigi's Mansion is often critisized for being too short but it is the first of it's kind. A survival horror game for all ages and Nintendo's first venture in to the genre, leading to their collaboration with Silicon Knights to create Eternal Darkness.
Eternal Darkness is not only the first Nintendo produced game to carry an M rating, but it's also a game that is serious and mature. Truely mature and not blood guts and cursing "mature", but actually dealing with issues for the characters that most kids wouldn't be able to follow. A game made with adults in mind with Nintendo's name on it. Hopefully, Nintendo will offer us more of that, but the first system Nintendo tries it out with is the GC.
Then we have Animal Crossing which puts most of the 'Life sims' out there to shame and the sequel will no doubt have some kind of on-line interface of which, I think, will play a grand part in Nintendo's entire online interface. It is also probably the most interactive game to date.
Then the Pikmin series which meshed action, adventure, real time strategy, platforming and puzzle in to a seamless, highly addictive package. A game series that arguably gave us a completely brand new experience.
Then there's Nintendo's joint venture with Retro in the creation of Metroid Prime. The first Metroid game in like 12 years. It used first person shooting ideas in the vein of Goldeneye and Perfect Dark but then overhauled it with Samus's abilities and trademarks and presented it with a mixture of adventure, action and puzzles. Something that you'd be hard pressed to find in most shooters that are, for the most part, void of substance. It introduced a new term to the real time video game vocabulary as well; the First Person Adventure game.
There's another dozen games or so that should be mentioned but these and other titles are extremely important to the entire industry as they're changing the way serious game writers think of how the game will be played and interacted with. They are highly polished, quality games that deserve recognition.
Do you think Sony would have gone through with marketing their Taiko Drum game in America if they hadn't watched Nintendo's success with Donkey Konga both here and in Japan? Why do you think both Sony and Microsoft are putting extremely high bids on "kiddie" platformers? We watched Sony and Microsoft try and fail in delivering a mascot character for all ages and they cant grab a hold of any of the 'for all ages' market.
Both those companies know that their core audience are people who want a quick fix of something extreme and "mature". Games that dont have to be highly polished, they can be 'just okay' but offer a "mature" appeal and it will be consumed by the audiences but for how long before people grow bored of it because of a lack of substance? You can play any 20 year old Nintendo game and still enjoy it, can the same be said about every Microsoft or Playstation title? Not in the least, I think.
That's the whole reason I keep coming back to Nintendo. It's that level of quality in the games. Think about it, it's a system that can make money and be a large contender in a global market based off of Nintendo of Japan's games alone!
But yeah, the Gamecube (like the N64) has failed to grab the #1 spot. Though, for a time, the GC was #1. But it didn't last. It's important to gain that #1 spot so that we can have the best of both worlds; the best in house and 2nd party games and ALL that 3rd party stuff.
The 3rd party game is what make or break or system, becase it's the 3rd party games that, though they might be less in quality or design, usually bring a new idea to the table. Nothing dramatically different, but new all the same. And slowly, over the lifespan of a console or even consoles, can create some really awesome games. The games you can show to your grandkids. This is true for both 3rd party and Nintendo in house games. But without those 3rd party games, we're forced to hear one side.
I am so fucking excited about E3, I cant wait to see what will be shown... I hope Earthbound is being planned for GBA or even DS. And even if it's not playable yet, new pictures, movies and info on the next Zelda game, Starfox Armada and Mario 128. But the real deal is the Revolution. All i'm hoping for is a 30 second clip of game demos showing off what the Revolution can do and I have a feeling i'll get more than that... but i'm staying conservative. :D
In the back of my mind, i'm imagining Miyamoto opening a box marked 'Revolution' and the lights go out... and all you can see is Link where Miyamoto was standing, opening a treasure chest. The light from inside the chest filling the room and that fammiliar music is playing. The lights come back on and Miyamoto is holding a tiny plug and yells in a loud Japanese engrish: "Nintendo Brain Plug!" A video game device that fits in to your brain and lets you PLAY your DREAMS as VIDEO GAMES. *faints*
1.) The first console system from Nintendo to use optical disks and the first console system use Mini DVD's.
2.) The first 128 bit home console.
3.) The first system to introduce wireless analog controllers
4.) The first system to introduce handheld to console connectivity and interactivity
On N64 we could download info from a GB game to a N64 game, but with GC and GBA we could not only swap data but now in real time, use the GBA as a controller and interact with games in a new way, like the Tingle Tuner or how it was used in FFCC. It's things like the above that I think Nintendo was refering to when they said "experience games in a new way and offer new ideas." with the GC. I dont think they were refering to Mario Sunshine or WW.
Although Mario Sunshine didn't innovate as much as it did improve upon the platforming genre in its structure and coding, it's interesting to note that many platformers, since the inception of Mario Sunshine's water gun, have implemented a simmilar toolfor their games.
Wind Waker gave us GBA connectivity like no other game or system out there could provide, it is the very first Zelda game to offer co-op play.
Luigi's Mansion is often critisized for being too short but it is the first of it's kind. A survival horror game for all ages and Nintendo's first venture in to the genre, leading to their collaboration with Silicon Knights to create Eternal Darkness.
Eternal Darkness is not only the first Nintendo produced game to carry an M rating, but it's also a game that is serious and mature. Truely mature and not blood guts and cursing "mature", but actually dealing with issues for the characters that most kids wouldn't be able to follow. A game made with adults in mind with Nintendo's name on it. Hopefully, Nintendo will offer us more of that, but the first system Nintendo tries it out with is the GC.
Then we have Animal Crossing which puts most of the 'Life sims' out there to shame and the sequel will no doubt have some kind of on-line interface of which, I think, will play a grand part in Nintendo's entire online interface. It is also probably the most interactive game to date.
Then the Pikmin series which meshed action, adventure, real time strategy, platforming and puzzle in to a seamless, highly addictive package. A game series that arguably gave us a completely brand new experience.
Then there's Nintendo's joint venture with Retro in the creation of Metroid Prime. The first Metroid game in like 12 years. It used first person shooting ideas in the vein of Goldeneye and Perfect Dark but then overhauled it with Samus's abilities and trademarks and presented it with a mixture of adventure, action and puzzles. Something that you'd be hard pressed to find in most shooters that are, for the most part, void of substance. It introduced a new term to the real time video game vocabulary as well; the First Person Adventure game.
There's another dozen games or so that should be mentioned but these and other titles are extremely important to the entire industry as they're changing the way serious game writers think of how the game will be played and interacted with. They are highly polished, quality games that deserve recognition.
Do you think Sony would have gone through with marketing their Taiko Drum game in America if they hadn't watched Nintendo's success with Donkey Konga both here and in Japan? Why do you think both Sony and Microsoft are putting extremely high bids on "kiddie" platformers? We watched Sony and Microsoft try and fail in delivering a mascot character for all ages and they cant grab a hold of any of the 'for all ages' market.
Both those companies know that their core audience are people who want a quick fix of something extreme and "mature". Games that dont have to be highly polished, they can be 'just okay' but offer a "mature" appeal and it will be consumed by the audiences but for how long before people grow bored of it because of a lack of substance? You can play any 20 year old Nintendo game and still enjoy it, can the same be said about every Microsoft or Playstation title? Not in the least, I think.
That's the whole reason I keep coming back to Nintendo. It's that level of quality in the games. Think about it, it's a system that can make money and be a large contender in a global market based off of Nintendo of Japan's games alone!
But yeah, the Gamecube (like the N64) has failed to grab the #1 spot. Though, for a time, the GC was #1. But it didn't last. It's important to gain that #1 spot so that we can have the best of both worlds; the best in house and 2nd party games and ALL that 3rd party stuff.
The 3rd party game is what make or break or system, becase it's the 3rd party games that, though they might be less in quality or design, usually bring a new idea to the table. Nothing dramatically different, but new all the same. And slowly, over the lifespan of a console or even consoles, can create some really awesome games. The games you can show to your grandkids. This is true for both 3rd party and Nintendo in house games. But without those 3rd party games, we're forced to hear one side.
I am so fucking excited about E3, I cant wait to see what will be shown... I hope Earthbound is being planned for GBA or even DS. And even if it's not playable yet, new pictures, movies and info on the next Zelda game, Starfox Armada and Mario 128. But the real deal is the Revolution. All i'm hoping for is a 30 second clip of game demos showing off what the Revolution can do and I have a feeling i'll get more than that... but i'm staying conservative. :D
In the back of my mind, i'm imagining Miyamoto opening a box marked 'Revolution' and the lights go out... and all you can see is Link where Miyamoto was standing, opening a treasure chest. The light from inside the chest filling the room and that fammiliar music is playing. The lights come back on and Miyamoto is holding a tiny plug and yells in a loud Japanese engrish: "Nintendo Brain Plug!" A video game device that fits in to your brain and lets you PLAY your DREAMS as VIDEO GAMES. *faints*