Developers like the DS

[Great Rumbler]

Nintendo's mysterious Dual Screen system seems to be getting more widespread support and praise than even Sony's PSP system. As of now, more than 100 software companies around the world have received development kits for the DS, and are planning games for it, if not already developing them. Big names like THQ, Electronic Arts, Activision, Atari, Ubisoft, Majesco, Capcom, Sega, Konami, Hudson Soft, Namco, Bandai, Koei and Square Enix are all planning to back up Nintendo's "third pillar."

"The Nintendo Dual Screen is something that we're really excited about developing for," said Nick Earl, VP and General Manager at Electronic Arts. "It's very innovative, which is classic Nintendo."

"Nintendo DS is going to push hand-held technology to uncharted territories," said Yves Blehaut, senior VP at Atari. "It's going to energize both developers and consumers with amazing new game mechanics and new game design. Once more, Nintendo leads the way with something unexpected and totally innovative."

You'd expect Nintendo to be spouting PR praise like this, but these are third party companies, who don't have to say anything good about the system if they don't want to. George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior VP of marketing and corporate communications, had this to say: "It's exciting to see so many publishers are as inspired about the Nintendo DS as we are. The creative contributions of the publishers will reinforce Nintendo's reputation as the industry's leader in innovation."

Nintendo's Dual Screen system will be officially revealed next week at E3, and is currently on track for release before the end of the year.

So much for the DS being the next Virtual Boy.

N-Philes

[Dark Jaguar]

So how powerful is this thing anyway? I guess we'll find out.

[Great Rumbler]

Nintendo's going to make of wait till E3 before they release any more information, which makes sense since E3 is only a few days away.

[OB1]

TEH MEGATON!!!111!!!

[A Black Falcon]

That's good but still doesn't tell us anything... :)

[OB1]

Four more days!

[A Black Falcon]

Don't get too overexcited, OB1... remember LAST year?

[Geno]

We'll at least look forward to this, but let's not get our hopes up too high.

[OB1]

Yeah but that's because the spotlight of their show was connectivity. Even is the surprise isn't that great we'll still see Prime 2, Wind Waker 2, Prince of Persia 2, Star Fox 2 (lots of 2's, eh?), and the DS. There's a lot to be excited about.

[A Black Falcon]

Star Fox 2, wasn't that there last year, and in not too impressive form? Connectivity...

"and our awesome secret game is, Pac-Man Vs.!"

Yes, this year does have more promise, for sure. But Nintendo doesn't seem to have changed its ways so I am cautious.

[OB1]

Dude, Star Fox was very early last year, and it's supposed to be nearly finished.

[A Black Falcon]

And I hope it's good. I want to see the single player! I wasn't expecting much from the multiplayer anyway, really... not after how brilliant it was in Star Fox 64... :D

[OB1]

Supposedly there will be co-op with one guy doing the piloting and the other the shooting.

[A Black Falcon]

Would that be fun, though?

[OB1]

Every play Mario Kart co-op before?

[A Black Falcon]

Once or twice, yeah... it's weird, and you end up doing less than you would if you were controlling the whole kart... the person in the back just sits there most of the time.

[OB1]

But it's still incredibly fun. Now imagine each player having more control and use and I think that's how SF2 will be.

[Great Rumbler]

Like I've been saying for like a month "E3 is going to be huge"!!! Lots of great games, the Nintendo DS and games, and that secret thing IGN keeps talking about. I don't know about everyone else, but I'm definitely excited.

[OB1]

Muchos excitidos.

[Great Rumbler]

Si.

[A Black Falcon]

Sorry, but I'd rather control a whole control a whole kart... it is unique, but is a bit too odd (and in some ways lacking) to be a main game mode.

Oh, and I wouldn't want to be the gunner. There HAVE been a few games (well, I know of one... Microsoft's massively multiplayer space sim 'Alliance'...) that allowed you to have one person fly a ship and another be in a gun turret... it's hard for the gunner because you can't control where you are headed...

[Great Rumbler]

Sorry, but I'd rather control a whole control a whole kart... it is unique, but is a bit too odd (and in some ways lacking) to be a main game mode.

The co-op was unsanely fun once you got the hang of it. My brother and I unlocked everything in the game playing co-op.

Mario Kart Co-op = More than shooting a barrel of monkeys WITH FISH!!!

[A Black Falcon]

But... the person in the back doesn't do much... it'd be better with more to do, I think.

Somewhat similar was Mario & Luigi for GBA... the person in back did very little out of battles. Still, it's probably better than the MKDD one.

[Dark Jaguar]

Well, in that case it was single player.

Anyway, it's not just about the items, it's about the power sliding. Power sliding is SO important, and done SO often, than in effect the back person has just as much action as the driver.

You know, as a kid, playing some really old FPS games, when the genre was first starting out that is, I used to come up with an odd sort of multiplayer mode with friends. One would man the gun, the other the movement. Now, at the time the person at the gun had pretty much no control except fire or not fire, but with GE and PD on N64, the shooter had aiming control thanks to a special controller setup. Anyway, the point is it was still very fun even though the shooter couldn't control where they went. The fun was in the teamwork.

[Great Rumbler]

But... the person in the back doesn't do much... it'd be better with more to do, I think.

You get to use the weapons. Plus, you can switch seats in the middle of a race.

It was FUN!! I just don't see how anyone could think otherwise.

[A Black Falcon]

It wasn't awful, but not as fun as controlling the whole kart...

[Great Rumbler]

I thought it was MORE fun, but I've always enjoyed playing the co-op mode in games.

[A Black Falcon]

Co-op definitely can be fun... but normally it means 'two seperate characters', not this. This is a bit different.

[OB1]

ABF, answer us this: Approximately how many hours, total, have you played Mario Kart co-op?

[A Black Falcon]

Hmm, should have said something related to that. Not how much I've played it (which I'll certainly admit isn't much, since I don't have the game... I've only played the whole game for a few hours, really...), but that it probably would be more fun if you were both good at the game and were playing with someone you'd gotten used to playing with -- coordination between the two people does add some new ideas to the game. But still, the person in back just doesn't do as much.

[Great Rumbler]

Weapons and power-up usage are an important part to the game. A well timed turtle shell or a mushroom used at the right spot can make the difference between winning and losing the race. And besides it isn't like you're forced to be the person in back for the whole game or even the whole race.

[A Black Falcon]

Sure, but one of you does... and isn't having the tasks split the whole point of the co-op mode? In any game that'd be tricky, and it's no different here.

[lazyfatbum]

It will be tricky, but that's the point.

Unlike Mario Kart, the person who'll be shooting will never stop shooting the waves of enemies and obviously the person piloting has his constant job as well. It will require constant communication between the players unlike the usual split-screen co-op games where each player does their own thing.

It's a good idea. This along with death match modes will give the game a long life.

[OB1]

ABF has only played MK co-op for a few rounds. That's all that needs to be said, really.

[A Black Falcon]

So when you play it more it magically generates more things?

But yes, a shooter probably would work better. The only issue is that if someone else's flying the ship it could be annoying if they make it hard to hit targets... but that'd be part of the challenge so it could work.

[OB1]

If you judge all games by only a few minutes of playtime then it's no wonder you dislike so many great games.

[A Black Falcon]

With the main game in MKDD it doesn't take more than a few races to know that it plays very similarly to MK64...

As for the co-op, I did only play it a few times but while it is unique I would not say that it matches the main multiplay mode. And unless it changes radically after more play, which I doubt in a game like MK, early impressions have some weight...

[OB1]

You cannot get a good feel for the game from just a few rounds. The controls (kart handling) are very different from Mario Kart 64's and it's obvious that you barely scratched the surface of co-op.

[A Black Falcon]

Probably, but it didn't interest me that much...

[OB1]

Fine, but you have to admit that you've barely played it.

[Great Rumbler]

Well, I liked co-op races.

[OB1]

Anyone who isn't a big dumb face loves MK DD co-op, Johnny. :)

[OB1]

I found this site at the GA forums and they're supposed to be pretty reliable, so here's some DS info for guys:

alright, i just got some info from a friend of mine that works for an unnamed magazine.

anyways, here's what can be confirmed...

* Looks like a Game & Watch (i don't know if he means litereally, or if it will have the same layout)

* Has SNES Style Button Layout. Will Have 4 Face Buttons.
* No Link Cable, All Wireless (i wonder if this means there's no expansion ports on the system)
* Alll Games Use Stylus
* Screens Are Far Apart
* Select, Start, and Power Buttons Also on Face
* Microphone
* Backwords Compatible with GameBoy Advance.
* Seperate Slot for DS games.
* Silver and Black

I hope this is true.

[A Black Falcon]

The only potential issue I see from that list is compatibility with GB multiplayer games... other than that, a nice list.

Of course my big question is analog. Oh, sure, the stylus is something, but that isn't quite right... and since this is a 3d system with at least N64 power, I wish it had more than just a d-pad...

[Great Rumbler]

* Backwords Compatible with GameBoy Advance.

That's definitely a plus.

[OB1]

Yeah if it's a 3D system then there better be an analog stick. Or maybe something like the Neo Geo Pocket, but with analog sensitivity.

[A Black Falcon]

Yeah, a proportional digital pad would be fine too. But it really should have one or the other.