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Gamecube MMORPG Back From the Dead 43
Drakken writes "GamesAreFun.com is reporting that Chunsoft has updated their Homeland website with three new movies, two of them showing off online play. For awhile, Homeland (a GameCube MMORPG) was thought to be cancelled, but it seems it's alive again. This is significant because Homeland will be only the second-ever online GameCube game, making use of the GC's broadband adapter." Probably a JP only release.
Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:2, Insightful)
Nintendo has said that they are sticking to what gamers want, but they don't know. I know several p
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:1)
Really? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:5, Interesting)
No, Nintendo says "Here's the broadband adapter and here's the modem. If you want anything else, go bug the game companies." The reason we're not seeing as much online games on the GCN as we have on the PS2 and Xbox is that Nintendo isn't bending over backwards to run everything but the servers (or even the servers as well), instead expecting game companies to take a PC-esque "Do it yourself" approach.
And in many ways this is the same tactic they're taking with the DS: wireless capabilities are provided, but they expect the software companies to be the ones to do something with it.
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:3, Insightful)
I Don't WANT Online Play (Score:1, Funny)
I'd much rather just play with myself.
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:3)
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:2, Insightful)
While online play covers a wide variety of genres, there are two in particular that are played (from my experience) much more frequently online: first person shooters and sports games.
Nintendo has never been known for sports games. Ever since the Genesis era, Nintendo has lagged behind in sports titles. If you bought a system for sports gaming, you bought a Genesis, a Dreamcast, an Xbox...because everyone knows (or think
A Big AOL Me Too! (Score:2, Troll)
Ditto, Ditto and Ditto.
If the next Nintendo console doesn't have nice online support like the XBox, I will be switching cnosoles.
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:1)
As my stalker will attest to (and stalk me for, for some only god knows reason), I fricken hated Crystal Chronicals. But Four Swords was really fun. I even imported the japanese one which had Tetra's Trackers, which despite what Nintendo wants US gamers to know, was actually pretty fun.
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:1)
Movie nights, going out to bars/clubs, things of that nature? It's called organizing a social activity, and this doesn't stop when you get out of grade school or high school or college or get a significant other or get married. And when you have kids you do this kind of shit all the time. Board games, card games, things that require a group of people in the same place at the same time.
Online play is an attempt at emulating this, satisfying that need every per
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:2)
But that is what a lot of people are using Xbox Live for - to play their friends and relatives online. My brother is away at college in another state - I can't get together with him very often and play games in the same room. And a universal friends list means you don't have to play against strangers if you do
Re:Nintendo's biggest problem (Score:3, Insightful)
I think it's more a problem of not knowing what American gamers want. When viewed in light of the Japanese marketplace, most of Nintendo's recent decisions are fairly understandable, if not always optimal. Only a few, like the early DS release in the US or the upcoming "grown-up" Zelda game betray even a moderate concern with the demands of the American market as it stands.
what was the first? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:what was the first? (Score:3, Insightful)
The LoZ series is all about becoming the Hero of Time. The only thing I could see appealing with online Zelda would be an online implementation of Four Swords, but even that isn't terribly interesting.
The problem I have with online gaming (esp. MMORPG) is this mentality where I have to shell out $50 for the game itself then, on top of that, a fee just to play it. If I can somehow acquire the game for free, I have no problem paying the $10/mo, since I'
Re:what was the first? (Score:2)
Re:oh noo's (Score:1, Informative)
Of note is that there won't be any online fee, a big plus for those interested in playing online.
Fanboy Apologist (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Fanboy Apologist (Score:2)
Third game, not second. (Score:3, Informative)
Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2
Phantasy Star Online Episode 3 - CARD Revolution.
Assuming you count the two different PSO games as being separate games. You could count it as 1.5 games instead or something I suppose.
Re:Third game, not second. (Score:2)
Re:Third game, not second. (Score:2)
(I only got a Gamecube this morning, thank you Argos for your consistant efforts to offload Gamecube as cheaply as possible, GBP £60 for the Donkey Konga pack was very nice.).
Nintendo appeal. (Score:3, Insightful)
They also completely skip the strategy genre. This is primarily dependent on the fact that it's a console, and strategy games historically haven't done well. I feel though that there are enough buttons on the controllers now to allow strategy games to be fun to play. Maybe I'm crazy go nuts.
Nintendo's skipping of the MMORPG genre is a bit weird though. This would seem like a natural source of long lasting revenue stream. It could possibly be related to the number of consoles on the market, possibly it's not enough to make the endeavor profitable on the Gamecube which is has not sold as well as the PS2. What I don't understand is why a software company can't make a cross platform MMORPG. Perhaps part of the problem is that patching on the game discs is impossible since they are read only. You have to get the game righ straight out of the door.
Re:Nintendo appeal. (Score:3, Insightful)
I think that Nintendo is focusing on two things: creating new franchises unlike anything you've seen before (we call that innovation) and milking their brands with
Re:Nintendo appeal. (Score:1)
Re:Nintendo appeal. (Score:2)
If you don't have room for a small plastic bongo drum, you certainly don't have the space for a DDR dance pad.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Nintendo appeal. (Score:1)
I thought this was smart of MadCatz... there are no dance games for the Cube so they made a game and can now sell their dance pads.
Re:Nintendo appeal. (Score:1)
Have you... (Score:1)
But even then, it's oriented more toward asian players which tend to not mind the treadmill so much so I don't think the american playerbase at least will be too interested in the first place (just look at the Lineage games census).