Nintendo Announces Raft of New Games, 3DS Details 240
A major theme for Nintendo's presentation was the arrival of classic franchises on new systems. This includes a new Kirby game for the Wii, entitled Kirby's Epic Yarn. It's a sidescrolling platformer with a new art style based on a yarn theme, and it's due out this fall. In sharp contrast to Kirby's cartoony graphics was Nintendo's next presentation on Metroid: Other M, which had visuals in the same vein as other popular shooters, showing Samus fighting her way through intricate 3D stages to fight some nasty-looking alien monsters. Other M was given a release date of August 31. Just in case that wasn't enough nostalgia for you, they next showed a new project from Retro Studios: Donkey Kong Country Returns. It's (another) platformer, but with its own unique style and feel, and it's planned for the holiday season.
From there, Nintendo shifted its focus to the upcoming revision to their portable console, the 3DS. Since it's impossible to show the 3D effect on stage, they contented themselves with showing off software and features, but they also brought a massive amount of test consoles, so you can expect to see hands-on reports coming out in a day or two. The 3DS has a slightly larger screen on top — 3.5" instead of 3" — and the bottom screen is a touchscreen. There's an analog nub, an internal gyro-sensor, and a 3D slider, which will control the level of depth you see on screen. You can turn it to maximum, turn it off, or anywhere moderate level of depth in between. There are two camera lenses on the back, which will allow you to take photos in 3D. In addition to the 3D effect, they've also made more standard improvements to the graphics hardware, which has apparently impressed some of the developers working on games for the 3DS. They also briefly touched on the 3DS's communications capabilities. Apparently it will silently look for updates, new maps, ghost data, rankings, and more regardless of what game you're playing, communicating over Wi-Fi or through connections with other nearby consoles.
Headlining the software side of the 3DS was the announcement of Kid Icarus: Uprising, another return to a very popular franchise of old. Granted, it's tough to judge a game by its trailer, but the graphics looked extremely good for a portable system. Nintendo said that in addition to games, the 3DS would play 3D movies as well, though details are sparse as to what will be available and how. But their real concern was the perception that the system would have too few games to interest customers, so they went out of their way to list a bunch of developers and game projects that are targeting the new system. The list is really, really impressive: Kingdom Hearts, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed, Metal Gear Solid, DJ Hero, Saint's Row, Madden, FIFA Soccer, Nintendogs + Cats, Ridge Racer, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Mario Kart, Star Fox, and more.
What 3d tech? (Score:3, Interesting)
So every article I've read so far has stated that Nintendo is mum about the technicals of the 3d system, there is no indication of what 3d system it is using.
But this is Slashdot, surely someone must know?
I would guess it uses a lenticular lens, but would love to see some more details...
Re:But I'm lazy..... (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't care for the idea either, but not because I'm too lazy. It's because it's a terrible idea. It seems like lately Nintendo's formula for a great game is the degree to which motion control is forced on you. The wiimote is such a gimmick.. I own a Wii and let me tell you, motion gestures do not make a game any more fun.
But I thought (think) that a touch screen is a ridiculous choice for a handheld game console, so what do I know.
Re:But I'm lazy..... (Score:2, Interesting)
Imagine playing a game like Team Fortress 2 with the Wii Remote, it would be terrible there is a reason why I'm not a sniper in real life, I don't like holding my arm at an angle for extended periods of time in a single spot.
The Wii remote has its uses, its just those uses are a whole lot more limited than the possibilities offered by a traditional controller like the Classic Controller which I use every chance I get.
New consoles (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:New consoles (Score:4, Interesting)
Normally yes, but with these 7th gen systems, not really. The hardware has obviously not been maxed out yet, as console games have been getting more complicated and looking better each year since the big three were released. I think we will see announcements for new consoles next year, or at the very least some "leaks" regarding them.
Re:New consoles (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:I'll give it to Nintendo (Score:5, Interesting)
When I was ten, I read fairy stories in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.
-C. S. Lewis
Re:I'll give it to Nintendo (Score:2, Interesting)
Maybe one day you'll learn a thing or two about outgrowing peer pressures. Specifically one about avoidance, by teens, of things perceived by them as a sign of "childishness"...
Re:I'll give it to Nintendo (Score:4, Interesting)
There's exactly one "adult" game I've enjoyed more then Mario and Zelda: Bioshock. It did have a great adult story, the creepy wasn't overdone for it's own sake, all in all one of the best games of any type.
If you check on Metacritic, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 have higher scores then *any game ever released on PC*. The only game that outscores them on any platform is Grand Theft Auto IV(which I've never played).
If you're too insecure in your own gender identity to enjoy Mario, that's up to you. Plenty of grown men think it's a good time though. Just out of curiosity: Have you actually played Super Mario Galaxy?
Re:I'll give it to Nintendo (Score:4, Interesting)
I think you're confusing "adult" with "adult-only." Plenty of the things that we enjoy as children are still enjoyable as adults. (Granted, not everything.)
A lot of people, in their preteen and teenage years, distance themselves from from the stuff we liked as kids. Probably because there's a lot of social pressure not to be seen as childish, and so to stay away from things that are marketed to children or as being "family-friendly." I know I had a phase when I thought that if a movie wasn't rated R, it probably wasn't worth watching. I still like most of the movies I liked back then, but since then I've rediscovered, say, Disney movies.
This idea that you must make a Sin City style game to appeal to adults is patently ridiculous. The 40-year-olds, if they're buying a console, are all buying Wiis, and not just for their kids. The people who won't touch a good game because it's "kid stuff" are mostly insecure adolescents.
Re:But I'm lazy..... (Score:2, Interesting)
Motion will only become the way forward when it's coupled with force feedback. Until my wiimote actually offers RESISTANCE to my movements, it's just another gimmick like the touch screen for the DS. Granted, that was a gimmick that I'm more or less willing to use, I wish they'd have let me beat Metroid Prime 3 with a Gamecube controller. It would have made things a lot easier.