Has Nintendo Lost Its Edge? 255
Thanks to GameSpy for their 'Spy/CounterSpy' editorial discussing whether Nintendo has lost its way in the increasingly competitive gaming world. On the one hand, an editor argues: "One of the few concrete things [Nintendo have] said is that the successor to GameCube is coming out sooner, rather than later, but what's the point if it's as lacking in software as its two predecessors? Or if the software is as samey as the current stuff?" But on the other, there's counterpoint and optimism: "In fact, it's the companies with lots of resources who are falling behind in the race who typically come up with the biggest and riskiest innovations. Given Nintendo's ability to create good hardware and its strategic position in the handheld space, that could mean some VERY cool things in the future."
Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Yes (Score:5, Insightful)
Yup. That's the GC library. Except, of course, for Zelda, Metroid, Eternal Darkness, Pikmin, F-Zero, and Nintendo's lock on the Super Monkey Ball, Rogue Squadron, and Resident Evil series.
As you said, Nintendo's games are not much different from what they did before. So perhaps its your idea of fun that's changed, not Nintendo's games.
In a given year, Nintendo will make 2-3 of the best games of the year. Last year they did Eternal Darkness and Metroid Prime. This year, it looks like Zelda and F-Zero, though with Mario Kart, Pikmin 2, and their Metal Gear Solid remake, all still coming out this year, they might easily get another. On top of these instant classics, they line the edges with games that are great and worth owning - Pikmin, Mario Golf, etc.
There is no other game company that comes close to that level of quality, for either consoles or PCs. Blizzard takes 2-3 years to come out with one game as great as Zelda, Metroid, or Eternal Darkness.
Considering that, I can't imagine buying a console other than the Nintendo console. Especially since the alleged highlights of other systems - Final Fantasy X, Grand Theft Auto 3, and Halo, for instance, did nothing for me.
So, do I think Nintendo has lost its edge?
I think Nintendo are the only people left who have an edge.
Re:Yes (Score:2, Insightful)
I bought my GC and XBOX within a month of each other. That was about a year ago. At the time I had no idea that 1 year later I'd own 10 GC games and only three XBOX games.
To be honest with you Nintendo are the only ones doing anyhting different. Sure the characters are the same but the games are inovative and fun.
XBOX and PS2 re-hash the same tired games with the same tired gr
Pikmin 2 pushed back (Score:2)
Unfortunately, I've read on several sites that Pikmin 2 has been moved to Q2 2004 (may was the prediction). Definitely a disappointment, as it was the one title I was really looking forward to this fall. Almost 2 years later, the game I still play the most on my GC is Pikmin.
Re:Yes (Score:2)
Yes, but Tomb Raider I, II, and III were essentially the same game with different levels from what I've heard. Nintendo has pretty much never done that.
Re:Yes (Score:5, Insightful)
SMB 1 was the classic, shitty control formula that was ground breaking at the time but doesn't hold up so well.
SMB 2J (LL) was more of the same with diffrent levels. Oh, and Luigi had slightly diffrent control in that one.
SMB 2 was a side scroller, but you didn't kill bad guys by jumping on them, the emphesis ws on throwing things and bad guys.
SMB 3 was slightly like SMB 1, but there were so many game play and control changes as to make it a new game.
SMB World was also, again, similar to 1 and 3. But there was enough of a diffrence to make it unique.
SMB World 2 was NOTHING like any of the others. Mario was barley in it. It was just "Baby Mario" riding on Yoshi's back. Basicly you played Yoshi. Totally diffrent game.
Mario 64 was unique again still. But I though it was bland and uninteresting. They moved to 3D too soon.
Mario Sunshine has something going for it. The water pack makes for fun, diffrent gameplay, and things like the multiple jumps make for lots of crazy manuevering within levels. Maybe if I'd played Mario 64 further through, Id have encountered cool stuff like this, but it just didn't hold my attention.
Zelda I started that series.
Zelda II was a side scroller, and people hated it because it was too diffrent (I think it may have been the best in the series).
Zelda III reminded me of Zelda I a bit. But the first was so simple, and III so complex, that it's hard to compare the two.
Ocarina of Time was like none of the others. It made Hyrule feel like a vast place. Unlike I and III. II did the same. I guess this is why these two are my favorites.
I never played Majora's Mask, but it used OoT's engine. I can understand the two being very similar.
I've hardly played Wind Waker at all, but it seems very OoT like as well, graphics not withstanding.
Pokemon, I can't comment on at all. I've never played any of them.
From my point of view, the biggest thing is that there's no new franchises. Oh wait. Eternal Darkness. Pikmin. Animal Crossing. Damn.
The point is that Critisizing Mario games for being jumping platformers is like critisizing Warcraft for being RTS. Or Half-Life for being FPS. That's just the meat of the series.
Re:Yes (Score:2)
Nintendo's strength is making fun games with good play control (though super mario bros. 2 wouldn't give you any hint of that, really.)
Re:Yes (Score:2)
I never played Majora's Mask, but it used OoT's engine. I can understand the two being very similar.
It's not. Your constantly repeating the same three days. It has vastly more interaction with NPCs, as you learn their schedule over the three days and solve the puzzles for them. You get masks that let you transform. And, unfortunately, th
Re:Yes (Score:5, Insightful)
So in your case "Mario" means "any Nintendo property that has had another game come out in the series"? That's an interesting definition.
I suppose my question would be why reinvent the wheel with new characters? Yes, they could have made Mario Golf with characters who weren't Mario characters... but why? Mario is a perfectly good franchise to use for a cartoony golf game.
Perhaps in your opinion they will, but not others. The only game out of that lot deserving high praise is Eternal Darkness. MP was just Metroid in 3D, and not as good as I had hoped. And how can Metal Gear Solid be so critically acclaimed, when it is just a remake of an older game?
I'd say Eternal Darkness is, on the whole, less inventive than Metroid Prime. Eternal Darkness is a Zelda-esque dungeon hack with some shiny insanity effects. It does a great job on them, and so is still a great game, but Metroid Prime takes the first-person-shooter in a direction it had never been taken before. More to the point, it did things with the first person shooter that people said couldn't be done - platforming sections that didn't suck, exploration based gameplay, etc.
And, I mean, what were you hoping for from Metroid Prime? Something that wasn't Metroid?
But Nintendo only developed Zelda themselves - the other two were done by other development studios.
Second party development studios that, with heavy input and control from Nintendo. I do not consider the fact that Nintendo has begun to expand and take in some other development studios to mean that those games are not Nintendo games.
You yourself said that their games do not change much - so how can they have an 'edge' if that is true?
Nintendo continues to do what it's always done - perfect styles of games, and invent new styles of games. Even their new styles of games, though, have a certain... Nintendoness to them. They display elegance of control, and are typically very easy to pick up and play, but not nearly so easy to beat, and harder still to "fully" beat (i.e. unlock everything, get 100% completion, etc).
Regardless, in every genre and style Nintendo has attempted, they are reliably among the best at it.
That seems an edge to me.
Re:Yes (Score:2)
I don't know what the hell to say.
Okay, I've managed to collect myself after a few minutes.
The innovative thing is that Nintendo took something old and infused it with something new without fucking destroying it. This is extremely difficult to do with anything, including video games. It's like
Re:Yes (Score:3, Insightful)
Mario's simply a character to Nintendo, not a game formula. It's kind of like saying you're sick of movies that have Edward Norton in them. Could be worse, Mario could be like Jean Claude Van Damme.
Re:Yes (Score:2)
Typecasting is the problem, not seeing the actors. Notice not all celebrities follow that formula you've created.
Re:Yes (Score:2)
I think you're confusing Mario for Sonic the Hedgehog. Seriously, what exactly is so insightful about this? The GameCube is not known for 'rehashes'. Now if you want to have a peek over at Sony and Microsoft's camp...
Frankly, I think this guy's just forgotten what fun gameplay is about. You can look at Mario Sunshine and say "yep, he's running around
Re:Yes (Score:2)
I think you're amazed because you think you know what you're talking about, but you don't. Having familiar characters in a game does not a rehash make. Is What Dreams May Come just like Death to Smoochy?
"Strange as it may seem, what is fun to you may not be fun to other people."
I think his point is that you've got your head up your ass. You're to
Re:Yes (Score:2)
Heh, no, it doesn't.
"No, it is the usual GC-owner response that signifies that they cannot understand why not everyone finds Nintendo games fun."
Nice try, but no. This isn't Nintendo zealousy talking, it's somebody who's arguing with your details that sound an awful lot like frequent complaints made by the people who ha
Re:Yes (Score:2)
This comment alone disproves your point.
Re:Yes (Score:2)
"Half arsed assumption is believing that SMS is significantly different to Mario 64"
This alone disproves your point. If you don't see the difference between SMS and Mario 64, then how can anybody take you seriously? It's got some of the same fundamentals, no argument there. It is, though, a hell of a lot richer of an experience over Mario 64. Being good at Mario 64 does not make you good at Mario Sunshine. You still have a lot to learn in order to do an
Re:Yes (Score:2)
Funny, I went skimming around the reviews. I found one that supported your statement, and a handful of others that had lots of good things to say about the evolutions of the game. There's something I'll concede to: the game's not revolutionary, but it's a heck of an evolution. I'll settle onn that. However, somethin
Re:Yes (Score:2)
In general, that may or may not be true. In this case, though, you made a really stupid comment. If I were you, I'd own up to that instead of trying to pass the blame off on Nintendo enthusiasm.
AnonV was absolutely correct that your comment likening Super Mario Sunshine to Mario 64 was disputable. One would really have to oversimplify to say they're the same. I have a feeling that's how you hit is hot button. I don't think he's
GC 2 (Score:5, Interesting)
It's so obvious that this is a wining strategy IMHO.
Re:GC 2 (Score:2)
Re:GC 2 (Score:2)
Re:GC 2 (Score:2)
poor nintendo (Score:5, Insightful)
With such pathetically unoriginal titles like Pikmin, Warioware, and Metroid Prime, it seems like the Gamecube is little more than trash that they through out because they refuse to let well-enough alone.
What Nintendo really needs is to start pumping out some derivative First-Person shooter titles with laggy internet support so I can get my ass kicked by cocky assholes with bad grammar.
Re:poor nintendo (Score:4, Funny)
Re:poor nintendo (Score:2)
Re:poor nintendo (Score:2)
But, if you are going to knock other people's grammar, make sure you can spell 'throw' right. 'Through' is close, but they mean different things, and actually don't even sound the same.
Re:poor nintendo (Score:2)
Re:poor nintendo (Score:2)
WTF? (Score:5, Insightful)
If this is what dying things are like, I hope that more things that I currently enjoy go into a perpetual state of dying.
F-Zero GX (Score:2)
Re:F-Zero GX (Score:2)
FZero-GX: Good Game, Crappy Gameplay (Score:2)
It sucks, because everything else about the game is great, and I'
Re:F-Zero GX (Score:2)
I'm hardly a bad-ass gamer (I had to use an Action Replay to make it through Devil May Cry), but I was able to finish all four F-Zero GX cups on Master difficulty and all but one of the story missions on Hard difficulty with a bit of practice.
GX is definitely my favourite game so far this year. The only one that I know is going to overtake it is Defiance.
Re:WTF? (Score:2)
Nintendo - the Apple of game systems (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm beginning to see parallels between Apple and Nintendo, particularly in predictions about their demise. How many articles have their been since gamecube came out saying that Nintendo was going down the tubes?
The fact is, the gamecube is an excellent platform and there are a huge number of great games available, (not as many as PS2, but plenty). They also have a dedicated fan base that's not likely to embrace either of the other platforms any time soon. For those who complain that they have too many "kids" games, there will always be lots of kids playing games, so it's not like they'll have a declining market. For that matter, so many of their games are great for any age: windwaker, animal crossing, soul caliber 2, various sports games...how are these for kids only?
Why does Nintendo get bashed so much? What, you'd rather support Microsoft or Sony?!
Re:Nintendo - the Apple of game systems (Score:2)
Could be worse. Apple doesn't have to work practically next door to a major competitor.
I wonder if the NOA crew have managed to TP the MSFT compound yet...
Re:Nintendo - the Apple of game systems (Score:2)
I always tell people, "Don't worry. Some day, you're going to get married, have kids of your own, and find that Nintendo is right there where you left them, waiting with open arms to entertain you and your family once again."
Kinda? (Score:2, Interesting)
Mario Sunshine was ok.. but it just didn't seem like Mario.. as well they have been trying to have the gameboy advance be apart of alot of new games.. (Metroid Fusion/Prime, Animal Crossing, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicals) as well they still have the stigma of being the "family system" despite there attemps to draw in the older audiences.
After they sn
Re:Kinda? (Score:2, Insightful)
I am going to take issue with you saying they still have the stigma of being the "family system". Why is that a stigma? Are kids, or for that matter adults, too "cool" for platformers, or what amounts to an adventure/RPG, or some of the other original games they've put out recently?
Not everything in life is about shooting up the bad guys or watching the bounci
RPG point (Score:2)
I for one looked at PS2 because it had FFX, and I'm a huge fan of the series. Too bad that the FF series stopped at the SNES, because for me it's been a huge part of my gaming experience.
If my PS2 didn't also work as a DVD player, I'd daresay that I perhaps wasted a bit of money buying it just for FFX - though I've recently found a few "bargain" RPG's that seem promising (PS2 lent
Re:Kinda? (Score:2)
Are you kidding? (Score:4, Insightful)
Worst of all, in my opinion, was the system's mediocre performance. Games generally seemed to have less polygons than similar PlayStation titles and had terribly blurry textures and sub-SNES quality music. The hardware that had looked so hot in 1996 aged incredibly quickly, and many gamers noticed.
Play any title that's on both PSX and N64...tell me which is better. Tony Hawk for instance.
The Playstion is a horrid splash of bouncing, jaggie-filled, sparkling textures, and the N64 version is a smooth, antialiased, 3D world.
Re:Are you kidding? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Are you kidding? (Score:2)
Re:Are you kidding? (Score:2)
And the only way to get AA out of a Playstation was to play it on a crappy TV. (Still no perspective correction, tho)
--Jeremy
Re:Are you kidding? (Score:2)
The N64 is a superior platform but many of the ports from PSX were sloppy, and plenty of the games were just craptacular. I bought some racing game once and got it home only to find out that when you turned, the cars pivoted around their center point, not around the rear wheels. Great. This is probably because nintendo is seen as the kiddy konsole and people assume that children won't have standards as high as teens and adults.
Sony's global presence and utter worldwide ubiquity - I can probably name sev
bah (Score:2, Insightful)
Gamecube titles (Score:5, Insightful)
Some signs that Nintendo has lots its edge (Score:2)
Refusal to come out with "Vice City"-style Zelda game in which Link has a Hookershot weapon.
Mario now jumps and smashes Geritol bottles instead of bricks.
Rumors of R&D department having the next-generation console load games off of a "Close and Play" phonograph.
"Dharma and Greg" TV tie-in game, coming soon!
Re:Some signs that Nintendo has lots its edge (Score:2)
Am I the only person to read that and immediately think that suction-cup gun Ataru pulled on Lum in the first chapter of Urusei Yatsura?
How come nobody's build that?
Completely Untrue (Score:3, Interesting)
First, look at the controller. Sony decided to copy its last system almost whole-sale. X-Box is absolutely abysmal.
Round two. Software. I don't know who's been saying Nintendo hasn't been making innovative games. Two words: Metroid Prime. It's won game of the year practically every major gaming site and is the only game to really combine the FPS and an adventure game in such a tight package. The newest Zelda game has some of the most revolutionary graphics I've seen in a while. Lastly, is there any multiplayer game more fun and unique than Smash Brothers (or the sequel)? If anyone can find what game they've decided to copy with that, I'd be really curious.
On the flipside, the X-Box's main draw is yet-another-first-person-shooter. Sony's best are available for other consoles (Madden on everything, GTA on PC).
While Nintendo's games tend to star familiar characters, that doesn't mean the gameplay involved cannot be truly innovative, which is really the same its always been.
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2)
Probably the best thing they did was the control scheme. The last few bosses would've been near impossible with a dual-analog control scheme. You need quick access to all your abilities
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2, Insightful)
Most games fail at this, it's very difficult to transform 2D platformes in to the 3d world. I for once DON'T like 3d Games. I stay playing my SNES (Super Metroid), Saturn (Radian Silver Gun, Megaman, Dracula X, Metal Slug, Stree fighters, etc.) and DreamCast (Bangai-o, ikaruga, mars matrix).
There are a feew 3D games that I do like like Metroid Prime and Wolfestein Enem. Territor
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2)
That's not innovative. It's something that's not easy to accomplish, and rarely happens, but that doesn't mean it's innovative. Innovative would be if they went in a new direction with the series.
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2)
I'm personally amazed at how dynamic the controller is. I've discovered that it's better (for me and my gargantuan hands, at least) to put your middle fingers on the L & R triggers (and my right-index on the Z) in games that use the analog stick while games that rely on the d-pad feel better when I have my index fingers on L & R. I'm tempted to say it was designed to work that way. All the dynamics of the N64 controller without looking like one.
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2)
By the way, I don't know anyone who doesn
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2)
However, this is slashdot and trolling is your god-given right.
What I find amazing is that you say that Metroid Prime is just Metroid in 3d. Pardon my question but have you even played the game for more than a minute? I own all three consoles as well as a pretty
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2)
Re:Completely Untrue (Score:2, Insightful)
>Nintendo is doing more innovation with its system
>than either X-Box or Sony.
Yes, the whole GC-GBA connectivity is SO much more advanced over online gaming on the Xbox and PS2 (yes, I am being sarcastic).
The only difference between Sony's online offering and Nintendo's is that Sony is putting more support into it. Otherwise, both companies did the same thing: offer an online adapter and let the developers decide how to support it. At the least, Nintendo's working with it in terms of LAN gaming, th
well, maybe (Score:2)
I don't see the gamecube as beeing all that behind. Sega maybe, but in the US Nintendo is #3 behind the PS2, and xbox, in Europe it in #2 behind playstation, and in Asia it has been #2 for awhile with a su
Differentiation... (Score:3, Interesting)
Before I sold my consoles (I moved out of the U.S. and haven't gotten around to buying local versions yet), I had a Gamecube and a PS deux (yes, I'm in France now). The Gamecube, which has much less software than the PS2, I used to play Zelda, Metroid, Pikmin, Mario, Luigi's Mansion, Super Smash Bros., and Super Monkey Ball. This basically breaks down into two categories, platformers and party games. On the PS2, I played Ico, Dance Dance Revolution, and Squaresoft games. I looked at the Xbox, and sort of envied the Xbox Live thing...
Anyway, what it all comes down to is that each console serves a certain area the best. If you want platform games, you get a Gamecube. If you want DDR, Square, or edgy games, you get a PS2, and if you want online play, you get an Xbox...
hardware? (Score:2, Insightful)
This statement perplexes me. How can you equate overheating N64's, asinine controllers, stupid battery backups in your stupid carts, etc. good hardware?
Nintendo admitted that they fuck stuff up on purpose with the Advance SP. WHY did you remove the ordinary, industry-standard, easy to use 1/8" headphone connector, Nintendo? Oh yeah. So you could trick us into buying "the perfect game boy" and then rip us for $15 for your stupid fucking cable.
that headphone cable is all of $0.99 (Score:2)
Not having the headphone jack built-in is pretty silly, though. But PLEASE don't go justifying Nintendo's stupidity by paying them $15 for their intentional feature-pruning.
Re:hardware? (Score:2)
Re:hardware? (Score:2)
It was good enough for Sony. There is nothing that Sony did to their PSX/PS2 controller that Nintendo didn't do first. Even the basic premise is a rip-off of the SNES controller (or is it coincidence that Sony made the first non-Nintendo console ever to have a "Select" button on the controller?)
that time again... (Score:3, Insightful)
Nintendo has a niche. It occupies and fulfils that niche extremely well. Other consoles aren't going to take its niche. Its niche (two, really) is 1) Game Boy, 2) fun, non serious games. There haven't been competitors for it since Sega's handheld that died out (but was arguably better than the Game Boy...little larger, backlit, etc). The backwards compatibility of the GB ensures that people will keep buying it since there are quality games of all genres represented that you can get for CHEAP (read: under $10 on eBay).
Gamecube would have to be my choice, if only because the XBox and PS2 seem to be copying the PC mentality of games, only without the control interface (I like the mouse). Playing the PS2 is fun, but it's fun in the same way Quake was fun. Nintendo opens a completely separate world, one that you can only get (well done, at least) on consoles.
Mostly, that's side scrolling arcade games, what Nintendo did FAMOUSLY back in the 80's/90's. With exception to Commander Keen, I haven't played a lot of side scrolling PC games that I really dug. Mega Man, Castlevania, Mario, Life Force, all these are side scrolling games that were/are Nintendo 's bread and butter. They aren't complicated, don't involve every button and you can play for just a few minutes. There are still lots of people that like them, so Nintendo isn't going away anytime soon.
--trb
So I decided to buy a Game Cube (Score:4, Insightful)
I'll never understand all of the arguments that you shouldn't get a Game Cube because it doesn't have very many titles. I don't want very many titles, I just want about six great titles a year. My pocket book can't take much more, what with the PC gaming habit and the rent and food and all the other stuff.
On top of that, a big chunk of the best games for Xbox and PS2 will make their way to the PC at some point (GTA, Halo, and so on). Often with a better control scheme. I really don't want to plunk down a bunch of money for redundancy.
Game Cube, here I come.
Re:So I decided to buy a Game Cube (Score:2)
I most whole-heartedly concur. That's why I got a GameCube. My younger siblings have all three and with the titles I've played, I've preferred the feel of the GameCube controller and found that without too much work I can find a good game to play on the GameCube. Note that I also used to sell all three of these systems at EB Games.
When it comes to gaming, if it's complex and I can't get out and get back in quickly, I want it to be a PC game where I can stare at my high refresh-rate monitor (or LCD that's c
Nintendo's situation in different levels (opinion) (Score:2, Interesting)
Why all the Nintendo doomsday predictions? (Score:2)
Least Popular? (Score:2)
I mean, slashdot is not the average users' demographic, but it always just seems to me that a LOT of people here have a gamecube...
Have they lost their edge... (Score:2)
Ever notice how much more practical Nintendo is? Ever notice that their audience follows them no matter who the competitors are? Ever notice that Nintendo titles constantly sell in the millions?
Okay, Nintendo may not be on top, but they're in a much more secure position than Sony and Microsoft are. Either one of those companys could suddenly 'lose' to a newcomer who sells the right mix of hardware and hype. Nintendo's pretty much a sure hit as long as
Re:Nintendo's Problem (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Nintendo's Problem (Score:2)
Re:Nintendo's Problem (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm not too happy with Nintendo's decision to cater to a younger crowd... or rather, to make their games "family friendly" - but I think that's just what they're doing.
Every business has a business plan, or mission statement, or something along those lines - and I think Nintendo's underlying philosophy is summarized in the name of their original system in Japan "Famicon" (short for "Family Console").
Nintendo isn't trying to put out games FOR kids, rather, they're trying to put out games that everyone
Re:They don't realize: (Score:2)
On all disc based systems the manufacturer of the system produces the discs. Doesn't matter what format they're in, they all cost pennies to make. Nintendo cut their licensing fees
Re:They don't realize: (Score:3, Insightful)
The fact that it couldn't play DVDs, and the other two consoles could, definitely kept me from seriously considering it.
People who only have enough money for one console, probably look for the one with the most functionality. Especially if they are looking to get it for their kids.
Re:They don't realize: (Score:4, Insightful)
cost of GameCube + DVD Player = cost of PS2/Xbox
The PS2 DVD player blows. My roommate had a PS2, and we'd often try using it to play DVDs. But half the time I'd end up taking the disc out and putting it in my computer due to the PS2 having trouble. It just doesn't like certain scenes. You pretty much have to buy the DVD remote for the PS2 as using the controller to play a DVD is completely unintuitive.
I know I'd much rather have a GameCube + DVD player combo. About the same cost as a PS2, but better DVD playback. Haven't heard anything about the Xbox's DVD playback quality, but I doubt it tops a dedicated player.
Re:They don't realize: (Score:2)
Frequently it gets mentioned that the DVD playback ability costs $30- that is true. But, you don't need to buy any memory cart
Re:They don't realize: (Score:2)
The PS2 DVD player blows. My roommate had a PS2, and we'd often try using it to play DVDs. But half the time I'd end up taking the disc out and putting it in my computer due to the PS2 having trouble.
Funny, I use my PS2 as my primary DVD player, it never gives me problems.
It just doesn't like certain scenes.
Maybe the disc is scratched? Maybe it wasn't burned right?
You pretty much have to buy the DVD remote for the PS2 as using the controller to play a DVD is complet
Actually, it depends on the age of PS2? (Score:2)
Re:They don't realize: (Score:2)
At least you don't have to buy the remote to get the DVD driver update. Oh, wait...
Re:They don't realize: (Score:2)
The PS2 aspired to be both a game machine and a DVD player, and didn't excel at either. The games may be fun on it, and the DVD player may more or less work, but both suffered. PS2 games have a soft blurry look to them due to a RAM bottleneck (to the point that side by side, the Dreamcast looked superior), and there are numerous complaints about the DVD playing abilities of that mac
Re:They don't realize: (Score:2)
Somehow I doubt that this will affect your decision to buy a next gen machine. You've already got a DVD player now, why would it be a factor next time around? Even if you would, it's not so clear anybody else would. Who'd buy a game machine that plays VHS tapes?
Re:They don't realize: (Score:2)
What's not "standard" about mini-DVDs? They're still DVDs, just smaller. I think you're confusing "standard" with "I can't easily buy blank media to pirate games onto." If you're so desparate to rip-off Blockbuster, wait a little while for somebody to make a digital camera that writes to 8 cm DVD+RWs, because until then burning GCN games is the only possible market for such a medium.
Or are you bemoaning about the GameCube's inability to play DVD movies? With thi
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
Look around at a college some time. The Nintendo multiplayer games are really popular.
The game developing companies Nintendo has lost are the companies that would release a buggy port of a 2nd rate game with a low framerate on the GameCube 6+ months after it came out on the other systems, and then wonder why it didn't sell.
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
You are the kind of male that bugs me. You fall into the stereotype set by society and thus reinforce the idea that all that men are interested in is violence and sex. It's unfortunate that an entire gender is thought of in those terms.
"most guys don't want to be caught playing something like Mario Golf or Mario Party"
In my experience this is not true. Some men may be like you, but most just don't care. In the student center at the local unviersity, they have a room set up wi
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
"M" rating != Matrure Gamer (Score:2)
Well I am a guy, and I don't have a problem with other guys seeing me play those games. Most all of my guy friends like these games as well. Most of our significant others enjoy playing these games with us as too. What better kind of game is there tha
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
I guess I should've mentioned Capcom then. Or take your pick of any other company that isn't developing for Nintendo.
The point is this, as a person looking at potential games to play, i'm not looking at Mario Golf and saying to myself, wow that looks like it has great gameplay. If you're not attracting anyone to your product, who will ever know how good/bad the value of the game is. And given the chanc
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
I guess I should've mentioned Capcom then. Or take your pick of any other company that isn't developing for Nintendo.
Capcom?! Capcom has made two Zelda games. Capcom made Resident Evil exclusive to the GameCube. Capcom is coming out with Viewtiful Joe for the GameCube real soon now. Capcom is very much making games for Nintendo.
As for other companies, what other companies? Acclaim, like Eidos, is
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
When my friends come over, the GC is the first thing that is turned on, and we are not under 10.
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
Re:disappointed (Score:2)
Um... seeing as how gc version of Soul Caliber 2 is outselling PS2 and Xbox combined, I'd say yeah.
Re:Nintendo's Image (Score:2, Interesting)
Nintendo's biggest issues right now are:
1. They don't appeal to a more mature audience
2. They keep losing third party developers
3. They have a very weak home-console standing (their most popular product is the G
Re:Nintendo's Image (Score:2)
Thursdae
Lush
Re:Nintendo's Image (Score:2)
If you stop listening to Microsoft and Sony press releases, then you'd realize the Xbox is, in fact, in third place worldwide. Just not by a whole lot. The Xbox has maybe a 2 million unit lead in the world outside of Japan over the GameCube. The GameCube has over a 2.5 million unit lead in Japan over the Xbox.
If we do the math, we see a 2.5 million lead, min
Re:From an industry perspective (Score:2)
Specifically, Sega showed us what can happen to a company that has a history of totally abandoning its hardware (and customers) in the middle of its lifespan. Since Nintendo persists on keeping its consoles around long after most other companies would have moved on, the Sega model is misapplied.