What is Nintendo's "Revolutionary" weapon?
by Ajari Wilson · in General Discussion · 07/08/2005 (8:33 am) · 166 replies
I know I'm a big geek for starting this thread. Sorry if it has already been talked about. Like most of us here, I've been following the next generation systems and being an owner of all 3 consoles I have to admit that even though not much information has been told about the Nintendo Revolution, I'm not very excited about the system. (not that I'm too excited about anything "real" I've seen for the 360 or PS3 either) I hear it will be under powered compared to the 360 and the PS3. I've seen the little Metroid Prime 3 demo that looked almost exactly like the game cube version. And the Nintendo spokeperson (Regie Fills-Amie?) for that event was boasting about how "powerful" the system is."As you can see, the Revolution can more than hold it's own when it comes to graphical power". I would have been embarased to show that demo. I'm suprised he got that sentence out with a straight face. Nintendo is a stubborn company that always shoots themselves in the foot with their consoles (violence, cartridge, online, DVD, kiddie image and design, and now HDTV) but still manage to survive through Pokemon or the GBA.
"Revolution" so far means I get to play old games I've long forgotten about from an online service (I'm glad the big N is breaking new ground and changing the industry with online play. Now Microsoft and Sony need to get on the boat), I won't be playing the best looking games compared to the 360 and the PS3, and my system will most likeley look like a teched out Poptart. We have a lot to look forward to from Nintendo.
Anyway, despite my dissapointment with Nintendo and my lack of enthusiasm twards their new system, I am very eager to see this "mystery controller" they have up their sleeves. And I would like to ask you what you think or hope it will be.
This is what I hope Nintendo does to "revolutionize" the industry. The controller is obviously going to have some kind of touch screen (whoopee...) device but what I'm hoping for is some kind of VR headset. (Not like Vurtual Boy but a real VR headset) You ever wonder what happened to VR from the early 90's? Hasn't technology evolved far enough so that VR is very much a possability now? Screw HDTV and the limited pariphrial vision TV gives you in games like Halo, Burnout, and Metroid Prime. I'm tired of being hit from the sides by an enemy that I would have seen had I had the wrap around vision I do in real life. What better way to emerse yourself into the game world than to see nothing but the game and hear nothing but the game with 5.1 headphones. The screen can wrap around the inside of the headset slightly past your parephrials up, down, left, and right so you can never quite see the edge of the screen. The VR headset could also flip up when the game is paused or be flipped up manually. Having the headset wireless would probably be the best thing to do as well if it doesn't hurt costs too bad.
If the system came out for around $200 and the VR headset was $150 or less and came bundled with the system, I would pick it up over the 360 and the PS3 even if it had Nintendo 64 graphics. That alone is something I have NEVER experienced before. That would be a true revolution in games as we know them. And also may be why Nintendo is not supporting HD. But again, Nintendo is a very stubborn company that hates to evolve anything until it comes back to bite them in the ass (cartridge, online, kiddie image and design).
(Least paragraph I swear) To keep the cost down I would probably leave the 5.1 headphones optional. And leave the gameplay completley up to the controller, meaning no head movement will effect the game at all. I feel like a stupid 15 year old (not that all 15 year olds are stupid) with a "great" idea but it is fun to speculate and hope (I'm at work bored anyway). And plus I can say to the world "I KNEW IT!!!" if it is true. Well anyway, what do you guys think is this "revolutionary" device Nintendo has up their sleeves?
-Ajari-
"Revolution" so far means I get to play old games I've long forgotten about from an online service (I'm glad the big N is breaking new ground and changing the industry with online play. Now Microsoft and Sony need to get on the boat), I won't be playing the best looking games compared to the 360 and the PS3, and my system will most likeley look like a teched out Poptart. We have a lot to look forward to from Nintendo.
Anyway, despite my dissapointment with Nintendo and my lack of enthusiasm twards their new system, I am very eager to see this "mystery controller" they have up their sleeves. And I would like to ask you what you think or hope it will be.
This is what I hope Nintendo does to "revolutionize" the industry. The controller is obviously going to have some kind of touch screen (whoopee...) device but what I'm hoping for is some kind of VR headset. (Not like Vurtual Boy but a real VR headset) You ever wonder what happened to VR from the early 90's? Hasn't technology evolved far enough so that VR is very much a possability now? Screw HDTV and the limited pariphrial vision TV gives you in games like Halo, Burnout, and Metroid Prime. I'm tired of being hit from the sides by an enemy that I would have seen had I had the wrap around vision I do in real life. What better way to emerse yourself into the game world than to see nothing but the game and hear nothing but the game with 5.1 headphones. The screen can wrap around the inside of the headset slightly past your parephrials up, down, left, and right so you can never quite see the edge of the screen. The VR headset could also flip up when the game is paused or be flipped up manually. Having the headset wireless would probably be the best thing to do as well if it doesn't hurt costs too bad.
If the system came out for around $200 and the VR headset was $150 or less and came bundled with the system, I would pick it up over the 360 and the PS3 even if it had Nintendo 64 graphics. That alone is something I have NEVER experienced before. That would be a true revolution in games as we know them. And also may be why Nintendo is not supporting HD. But again, Nintendo is a very stubborn company that hates to evolve anything until it comes back to bite them in the ass (cartridge, online, kiddie image and design).
(Least paragraph I swear) To keep the cost down I would probably leave the 5.1 headphones optional. And leave the gameplay completley up to the controller, meaning no head movement will effect the game at all. I feel like a stupid 15 year old (not that all 15 year olds are stupid) with a "great" idea but it is fun to speculate and hope (I'm at work bored anyway). And plus I can say to the world "I KNEW IT!!!" if it is true. Well anyway, what do you guys think is this "revolutionary" device Nintendo has up their sleeves?
-Ajari-
#2
Probably not good enough for games anyway since they were a layer over your regular vision I think.
BTW, proper VR headsets were announced recently that were compatible with both Xbox360 and PS3.
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/8576/Kopin-and-3001-AD-to-Bring-Virtual-Reality-to-Xbox/
bit low res at 320x240 though!!!!! $500 I think it's supposed to be.
07/08/2005 (9:02 am)
About 10 years ago they had what looked like regular glasses frames with lasers mounted on the outside of the frames which fired a laser direct into your retina. They were expected to retail for about $2000 about 8 years ago. Wonder what happened to those.Probably not good enough for games anyway since they were a layer over your regular vision I think.
BTW, proper VR headsets were announced recently that were compatible with both Xbox360 and PS3.
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/8576/Kopin-and-3001-AD-to-Bring-Virtual-Reality-to-Xbox/
bit low res at 320x240 though!!!!! $500 I think it's supposed to be.
#3
As for you mentioning Nintendo's unwillingness to use new technologies, well, they were online in the SNES days with the Bandai Satelliview, and were chasing a CD format which turned into the PlayStation. A bad choice, perhaps, but you simply cannot say they shied away from it. In any case, the only real advantage CD's had over catridges for the consumer is that CD's could be pirated. Which they were, in huge numbers.
Then when you mentioned their 'kiddy' image, well, you lose ten points. Ever play Eternal Darkness? One of Nintendo's franchises. The core Resident Evil titles were re-released for the Gamecube, Metroid Prime is the most critically acclaimed game of this generation and is hardly 'kiddy'. Apart from Pokemon, there's not much Kiddy left. Sure, people like to bag on the Mario games, but they've kept the charm throughout the decades, and frankly if you chose to not play a game based on the fact that it insults your manhood, that's your loss.
When it comes to the actual Revolution's revolution, it's fairly well rooted it's in the controller. The head honchos at N are holding out until the other two consoles are far enough along not to be able to steal ideas from them, and have gone so far as to hint that pretty much every rumour surrounding the controllers is off, which includes touch screens, various VR incantations and gyroscopes.
Anyways, with downloadable classics, free online play and wi-fi for my DS, I'd get one if it had less grunt than a household brick, honestly.
07/08/2005 (10:09 am)
Firstly, when it comes to graphical grunt, Microsoft and Sony spew out all sorts of utter BS, while Nintendo tend to keep it real. Look at the claims for the 'Cube vs the X-Box and PS2, then look at RE4 and Metroid Prime. I think it's more than safe to assume this will be more or less be the case this time around, with Nvidia and ATi both claiming they have the edge through really non-consequential stuff like shared RAM et al. Nintendo had their practice run for the PPC/ATi combo with the GameCube, this time around with Hollywood and Broadway, they're interconnected far deeper than the other two consoles. As for you mentioning Nintendo's unwillingness to use new technologies, well, they were online in the SNES days with the Bandai Satelliview, and were chasing a CD format which turned into the PlayStation. A bad choice, perhaps, but you simply cannot say they shied away from it. In any case, the only real advantage CD's had over catridges for the consumer is that CD's could be pirated. Which they were, in huge numbers.
Then when you mentioned their 'kiddy' image, well, you lose ten points. Ever play Eternal Darkness? One of Nintendo's franchises. The core Resident Evil titles were re-released for the Gamecube, Metroid Prime is the most critically acclaimed game of this generation and is hardly 'kiddy'. Apart from Pokemon, there's not much Kiddy left. Sure, people like to bag on the Mario games, but they've kept the charm throughout the decades, and frankly if you chose to not play a game based on the fact that it insults your manhood, that's your loss.
When it comes to the actual Revolution's revolution, it's fairly well rooted it's in the controller. The head honchos at N are holding out until the other two consoles are far enough along not to be able to steal ideas from them, and have gone so far as to hint that pretty much every rumour surrounding the controllers is off, which includes touch screens, various VR incantations and gyroscopes.
Anyways, with downloadable classics, free online play and wi-fi for my DS, I'd get one if it had less grunt than a household brick, honestly.
#4
I did a bunch of research for a couple of papers when I was in college, regarding VR. The extremely low framerates, and usually very low refresh rates, caused people to have headaches, go into seizures, or literally hurl their guts out. It quickly became a realization that true VR for the masses was still a ways off.
Cost was prohibitive, size was a factor, weight was an issue, and people just weren't ready for it. Now might be a better time for a re-introduction since most of those issues aren't issues anymore. However, the real push for VR isn't as big as it used to be. So, who knows if Nintendo will jump into that arena.
I doubt it.
- Brett
07/08/2005 (10:16 am)
VR was mostly a gee whiz, and ain't it neato kind of technology. The problem was that it made too many people sick. There were many companies that were trying to get into that field and they couldn't overcome the whole "vomit problem."I did a bunch of research for a couple of papers when I was in college, regarding VR. The extremely low framerates, and usually very low refresh rates, caused people to have headaches, go into seizures, or literally hurl their guts out. It quickly became a realization that true VR for the masses was still a ways off.
Cost was prohibitive, size was a factor, weight was an issue, and people just weren't ready for it. Now might be a better time for a re-introduction since most of those issues aren't issues anymore. However, the real push for VR isn't as big as it used to be. So, who knows if Nintendo will jump into that arena.
I doubt it.
- Brett
#5
My guess is that they are doing gyroscopic technology in the controller, so that it can pick up tilting/shaking/motion. They have already tested it in a GBA game, and recently again in WarioWare Twisted!
07/08/2005 (10:33 am)
I don't think it'll be VR, that's too expensive, not multiplayer friendly, and uncomfortable to play with.My guess is that they are doing gyroscopic technology in the controller, so that it can pick up tilting/shaking/motion. They have already tested it in a GBA game, and recently again in WarioWare Twisted!
#6
The specs of a console are insignificant in determining how much success a system will have - just look at the PS2. Compared to Microsoft's power-house, PS2 is definitely underpowered, but the system has sold much better than X-Box and GameCube. Nintendo survives because of its first-party and exclusive deals. Games like GoldenEye, Super Mario 64, and Ocarina of Time are truly remarkable games that have set the bar higher for game developers. The graphical capabilities of the Nintendo DS closely resemble those of the Nintendo64, yet the system is still able to survive with the existence of the PSP. Nintendo's intention is to innovate and produce fun games regardless of the capabilities/limitations of the current hardware.
@Ajari: I'm not quite sure what you mean in saying that Nintendo always manages to shoot themselves in the foot in terms of violence. Resident Evil 4 and Conquer's Bad Fur Day (both exclusives, by the way - not including the X-Box remake) are anything but kids' games. Have you ever heard of Killer 7? That game is definitely not marketed towards kids. I'm not a Nintendo "fan-boy," but I'm just trying to explain why they have been (and will continue to be) in the business for so long.
In terms of virtual reality, I also would like to see that become a true reality. It does seem likely that, if VR is going to make a showing in this next generation of gaming consoles, Nintendo would be the company to introduce it, hopefully making it much better than Virtual Boy.
Finally, @Ajari again, you said that you think Microsoft needs to "get on the boat" with its online service. X-Box Live is one of the best things to ever happen to console gaming. If you mean allowing users to download old games, Microsoft has already done that through X-Box Live Arcade. Since X-Box is Microsoft's first step into the console world, there are no Nintendo/Super Nintendo/N64 equivalents that players could download. The same is true for Sony.
I think Nintendo's "revolution" is going to be the integration of downloadable classics. I'll be looking forward to seeing how this discussion turns out. :-)
07/08/2005 (10:38 am)
Being an owner of X-Box, GameCube, and PS2, I'd like to offer my two cents on the issue of Nintendo's new system being "underpowered." The specs of a console are insignificant in determining how much success a system will have - just look at the PS2. Compared to Microsoft's power-house, PS2 is definitely underpowered, but the system has sold much better than X-Box and GameCube. Nintendo survives because of its first-party and exclusive deals. Games like GoldenEye, Super Mario 64, and Ocarina of Time are truly remarkable games that have set the bar higher for game developers. The graphical capabilities of the Nintendo DS closely resemble those of the Nintendo64, yet the system is still able to survive with the existence of the PSP. Nintendo's intention is to innovate and produce fun games regardless of the capabilities/limitations of the current hardware.
@Ajari: I'm not quite sure what you mean in saying that Nintendo always manages to shoot themselves in the foot in terms of violence. Resident Evil 4 and Conquer's Bad Fur Day (both exclusives, by the way - not including the X-Box remake) are anything but kids' games. Have you ever heard of Killer 7? That game is definitely not marketed towards kids. I'm not a Nintendo "fan-boy," but I'm just trying to explain why they have been (and will continue to be) in the business for so long.
In terms of virtual reality, I also would like to see that become a true reality. It does seem likely that, if VR is going to make a showing in this next generation of gaming consoles, Nintendo would be the company to introduce it, hopefully making it much better than Virtual Boy.
Finally, @Ajari again, you said that you think Microsoft needs to "get on the boat" with its online service. X-Box Live is one of the best things to ever happen to console gaming. If you mean allowing users to download old games, Microsoft has already done that through X-Box Live Arcade. Since X-Box is Microsoft's first step into the console world, there are no Nintendo/Super Nintendo/N64 equivalents that players could download. The same is true for Sony.
I think Nintendo's "revolution" is going to be the integration of downloadable classics. I'll be looking forward to seeing how this discussion turns out. :-)
#7
You gotta be kidding me. Nintendo's decision to stick with cartridge back in the N64 era was the very reason Playstation is as big as it is now. Companies like Square were forced to go with the bigger gas tank. I remember an interview with one of the Square employees stating that had they made FF7 for the N64 it would have taken up cartridges in the double digits. On playstation it took up 4 CD's. Everybody (publishers) left Nintendo at that point and they have been struggling ever since with their consoles.
That's the kind of dumb moves I'm talking about that Nintendo always seems to make. They underestimate the advancements in technology and blow it off as un-needed. If cartridge was so good then why are they now using mini discs? If mini discs are so good then why are they now going to DVD with the Revolution. If violence in games is so wrong why am I playing Resident Evil on the Cube? They brushed online off even after Sega pushed for it on the Cube with PSO but now they wanna support it on Revolution? I wonder if Xbox Live has had anything to do with their sudden change of heart when it comes to online.
You guys make good points about the VR. Maybe it causes motion sickness, but I don't see it as a "fad". I just see it as a technology that wasn't fully developed at the time. It still might not be, I don't know. Videogames were once looked at as a fad as well. Just like the slinky and the view finder. But this is not what my point was. I just wanted to know what you all think will be their revolutionary piece of hardware and how you think it will be used. If not VR, a touch screen, or a gyroscope, then what?
-Ajari-
07/08/2005 (11:07 am)
Matt I realize Nintendo's image is changing. You gotta admit, of all the systems they cater least to adults. They realized they needed to change their image. That is why you had exclusive Residen't Evil titles and Eternal Darkness for the Cube. Nintendo pulled Capcom to make exclusive RE titles, not the other way around. I personally like Mario Cart, Mario Tennis, and Zelda: Wind Waker. Can I have my points back?Quote:the only real advantage CD's had over catridges for the consumer is that CD's could be pirated.
You gotta be kidding me. Nintendo's decision to stick with cartridge back in the N64 era was the very reason Playstation is as big as it is now. Companies like Square were forced to go with the bigger gas tank. I remember an interview with one of the Square employees stating that had they made FF7 for the N64 it would have taken up cartridges in the double digits. On playstation it took up 4 CD's. Everybody (publishers) left Nintendo at that point and they have been struggling ever since with their consoles.
That's the kind of dumb moves I'm talking about that Nintendo always seems to make. They underestimate the advancements in technology and blow it off as un-needed. If cartridge was so good then why are they now using mini discs? If mini discs are so good then why are they now going to DVD with the Revolution. If violence in games is so wrong why am I playing Resident Evil on the Cube? They brushed online off even after Sega pushed for it on the Cube with PSO but now they wanna support it on Revolution? I wonder if Xbox Live has had anything to do with their sudden change of heart when it comes to online.
You guys make good points about the VR. Maybe it causes motion sickness, but I don't see it as a "fad". I just see it as a technology that wasn't fully developed at the time. It still might not be, I don't know. Videogames were once looked at as a fad as well. Just like the slinky and the view finder. But this is not what my point was. I just wanted to know what you all think will be their revolutionary piece of hardware and how you think it will be used. If not VR, a touch screen, or a gyroscope, then what?
-Ajari-
#8
My credit card is ready and waiting.
07/08/2005 (11:09 am)
Their secret weapon is the revolutionary new controller design: My credit card is ready and waiting.
#9
-Ajari-
Edit: LOL @Mark.
07/08/2005 (11:16 am)
Quote:@Ajari: I'm not quite sure what you mean in saying that Nintendo always manages to shoot themselves in the foot in terms of violence.@Joe remember back in the day when Mortal Kombat first came out for SNES and Nintendo didn't want violence in it so they dumbed down all the fatalities while the Genesis version got all the good stuff but lesser graphics? Nintendo was very strong on their opinions when it came to violence back then. That was the first of the big oops they have made that I can remember. You see the end result.
Quote:@Ajari again, you said that you think Microsoft needs to "get on the boat" with its online service. X-Box Live is one of the best things to ever happen to console gaming.I was being sarcastic about Microsoft and Sony getting on Nintendo's online boat. :p I'm on Xbox Live every night.
Quote:when it comes to graphical grunt, Microsoft and Sony spew out all sorts of utter BS, while Nintendo tend to keep it real.@Matt did you see Nintendo's press confrence when they showed off Metroid Prime 3 and the guy was talking about the graphics? Were you impressed? I wasn't. Have you seen Gears of War for the Xbox 360? I personally think graphics should be better than that by now but I'm a lot more impressed so far with the 360 than I am with the Revolution when it comes to graphics.
-Ajari-
Edit: LOL @Mark.
#10
Nintendo
I've always loved Nintendo and I've owned every one of their systems. Nintendo always shines with it's first-party games (Mario, Zelda - they are always great), and these first-party games are pretty much the only reason to buy a Nintendo system since the N64. I personally feel after this next round of consoles, Nintendo will move out of the console market and stick to developing console games and their handhelds. Handhelds is were Nintendo makes their money anyways. They already have 2 out and they are performing very well, even against the PSP. Nintendo has always proven they are the handheld leaders and I think they should focus on that. Start bringing their first-party games to other consoles. Their games are great and they would bring in tons of revenue to further develop their handheld market if they simply brought Mario/Zelda/etc. to Sony and Microsofts systems. Nintendo has dissapointed in the past and essentially lost trust in everyone except their fanboy market. Will I buy a Revolution? Yes, prob. when it comes down to $100 in price, like I did with the GameCube.
Sony
Sony is in a unique position as they don't really have a fanboy following. There is an insignificant number of people that will line up and wait for a PS3 compared to those that will do the same for the N-Rev or the XBox 360. One place where Sony does shine is it's software support. Sony was very smart in building their Playstation brand as they allowed anyone to develop for the PSX. This was bad for consumers as it allowed a ton of very poor games to flood in with the allstars, but when the PS2 launched people knew "Sony has the most games" and they went with that. Unfortunately, Microsoft is on a very strong recruiting campaign, and they are pulling away a lot of Sony's top exlusive developers. Sony's also releasing their system a bit later than Microsoft, which in the past has never hurt them, but I think it will this time. In the past, Sony has always released later in the year than other systems - but the key is, those other systems never performed well. N64 was cartridge based and lacked the developer following, Dreamcast was to hard to develop for and the developers quickly moved on after launch, XBox lacked a flood of excellent launch titles, etc. This year things will be a bit different, simply because Microsoft is heavily focusing on their launch and making sure it's a success (as this is the sole reason XBox didn't perform very well until the past few years). I think Sony waiting out and releasing this late will come back to bite them. When Sony finally releases, XBox 360 will already be releasing their second-generation games which are sure to outshine the Sony launch titles.
07/08/2005 (11:25 am)
I've been following the next generation consoles pretty closely as I am slowly stepping my foot in the media portion of this industry. Here's how I see things going:Nintendo
I've always loved Nintendo and I've owned every one of their systems. Nintendo always shines with it's first-party games (Mario, Zelda - they are always great), and these first-party games are pretty much the only reason to buy a Nintendo system since the N64. I personally feel after this next round of consoles, Nintendo will move out of the console market and stick to developing console games and their handhelds. Handhelds is were Nintendo makes their money anyways. They already have 2 out and they are performing very well, even against the PSP. Nintendo has always proven they are the handheld leaders and I think they should focus on that. Start bringing their first-party games to other consoles. Their games are great and they would bring in tons of revenue to further develop their handheld market if they simply brought Mario/Zelda/etc. to Sony and Microsofts systems. Nintendo has dissapointed in the past and essentially lost trust in everyone except their fanboy market. Will I buy a Revolution? Yes, prob. when it comes down to $100 in price, like I did with the GameCube.
Sony
Sony is in a unique position as they don't really have a fanboy following. There is an insignificant number of people that will line up and wait for a PS3 compared to those that will do the same for the N-Rev or the XBox 360. One place where Sony does shine is it's software support. Sony was very smart in building their Playstation brand as they allowed anyone to develop for the PSX. This was bad for consumers as it allowed a ton of very poor games to flood in with the allstars, but when the PS2 launched people knew "Sony has the most games" and they went with that. Unfortunately, Microsoft is on a very strong recruiting campaign, and they are pulling away a lot of Sony's top exlusive developers. Sony's also releasing their system a bit later than Microsoft, which in the past has never hurt them, but I think it will this time. In the past, Sony has always released later in the year than other systems - but the key is, those other systems never performed well. N64 was cartridge based and lacked the developer following, Dreamcast was to hard to develop for and the developers quickly moved on after launch, XBox lacked a flood of excellent launch titles, etc. This year things will be a bit different, simply because Microsoft is heavily focusing on their launch and making sure it's a success (as this is the sole reason XBox didn't perform very well until the past few years). I think Sony waiting out and releasing this late will come back to bite them. When Sony finally releases, XBox 360 will already be releasing their second-generation games which are sure to outshine the Sony launch titles.
#11
Microsoft
I personally think this is the generation where Microsoft will take the lead. With the success of XBox Live, and the promise that this will continue and be expanded upon in 360 - XBox has the online market wrapped around it's pinky. Yes, Sony will come back and say "We have more subscribers," but there is one reason for that: Final Fantasy XI. XBox Live offers so many services that gamers love, and the new 360 Live is sure to fulfill gamer's needs. Microsoft has also picked up the lead developers of the Final Fantasy series to fill the RPG void that the XBox had. Yes, FFXI is coming out on XBox 360 and you will be able to play with PS2 and PC players, as well as 2 exclusive RPGs under development by the FF developers. Microsoft is also launching their console in the middle of the Christmas mayhem, which is sure to cause thousands of kids the world over to include it on their Santa Wish List. They are focusing heavily on their launch titles as they know they failed the first time around in this, and the amount of games they intend to release is right on par with Sony. As of the most recent Game Informer's publishing date there are 160 XBox 360 titles currently under development, 25 of them by EA alone! Microsoft has promised Perfect Dark Zero will be a launch title, and although Bungie won't confirm it, Bill Gates has said Halo 3 will launch on the same day PS3 does. I also think Microsoft's launch strategy has been awesome. The hype on MTV (albeit the show sucked, the hype was great), the leaking of information days prior to E3, and an excellent E3 showing. As long as Microsoft can maintain that hype through the Christmas season and up to the point of the PS3 launch, I think they will definitely come out on top at the end of this console war.
Either way, it's going to be an awesome time for consumers. Me personally, I intend to get an XBox 360 as close to launch as possible, primarily for work purposes (as my game media company will be launching right around the same time, if not sooner). I was going to wait out and see which one took the lead, between the XBox 360 and the PS3, but with the massive seperation in launch dates, I may as well go ahead and get the 360 at launch. Sony's launch titles will determine whether I buy a PS3 at launch or wait until they come down on price.
What it all boils down to is software. Hardware means absolutely nothing. It literally drives me insane the two companies going back and forth, "Who's wang is bigger?" style. I'm not going to be playing your cell-based processor or your dual heat-sinked video cards. I'm going to be playing the games. The games will determine the winner.
07/08/2005 (11:25 am)
(cont.)Microsoft
I personally think this is the generation where Microsoft will take the lead. With the success of XBox Live, and the promise that this will continue and be expanded upon in 360 - XBox has the online market wrapped around it's pinky. Yes, Sony will come back and say "We have more subscribers," but there is one reason for that: Final Fantasy XI. XBox Live offers so many services that gamers love, and the new 360 Live is sure to fulfill gamer's needs. Microsoft has also picked up the lead developers of the Final Fantasy series to fill the RPG void that the XBox had. Yes, FFXI is coming out on XBox 360 and you will be able to play with PS2 and PC players, as well as 2 exclusive RPGs under development by the FF developers. Microsoft is also launching their console in the middle of the Christmas mayhem, which is sure to cause thousands of kids the world over to include it on their Santa Wish List. They are focusing heavily on their launch titles as they know they failed the first time around in this, and the amount of games they intend to release is right on par with Sony. As of the most recent Game Informer's publishing date there are 160 XBox 360 titles currently under development, 25 of them by EA alone! Microsoft has promised Perfect Dark Zero will be a launch title, and although Bungie won't confirm it, Bill Gates has said Halo 3 will launch on the same day PS3 does. I also think Microsoft's launch strategy has been awesome. The hype on MTV (albeit the show sucked, the hype was great), the leaking of information days prior to E3, and an excellent E3 showing. As long as Microsoft can maintain that hype through the Christmas season and up to the point of the PS3 launch, I think they will definitely come out on top at the end of this console war.
Either way, it's going to be an awesome time for consumers. Me personally, I intend to get an XBox 360 as close to launch as possible, primarily for work purposes (as my game media company will be launching right around the same time, if not sooner). I was going to wait out and see which one took the lead, between the XBox 360 and the PS3, but with the massive seperation in launch dates, I may as well go ahead and get the 360 at launch. Sony's launch titles will determine whether I buy a PS3 at launch or wait until they come down on price.
What it all boils down to is software. Hardware means absolutely nothing. It literally drives me insane the two companies going back and forth, "Who's wang is bigger?" style. I'm not going to be playing your cell-based processor or your dual heat-sinked video cards. I'm going to be playing the games. The games will determine the winner.
#12
I still don't think the 360 will do all that well in Japan, better than the original one, but probably still stuck in third place over there. In the 'States, though, it's success is pretty much assured, assuming it's launch lineup doesn't suck at least.
As far as Nintendo goes.... STILL way to early to say, STILL too many rumors floating around.
07/08/2005 (11:41 am)
Heh, Sony doesn't have a large number of fanboys??? I don't believe that at ALL.I still don't think the 360 will do all that well in Japan, better than the original one, but probably still stuck in third place over there. In the 'States, though, it's success is pretty much assured, assuming it's launch lineup doesn't suck at least.
As far as Nintendo goes.... STILL way to early to say, STILL too many rumors floating around.
#13
As for the fanboys - yes, every system has it's fanboys. But if you look at the amount of "OMG Syt3m XXX pWnZ j00r Sys3m YYY" people, Nintendo and XBox outnumber the Playstation. It seems to me the average person owning a Playstation is the casual gamer, who just likes to sit around the TV every now and then to play games. Maybe once a day, but that's kind of pushing it. Their PS2 probably collects dust every now and then. Hell, my mom owns a PS2 and plays it.
XBox on the other hand, has been focused towards the hardcore gamer. If you're a gamer - you have to be playing XBox is the attitude Microsoft portrays, and they do one hell of a job doing it.
Nintendo is all about the games. So what we cant display 96 bajillion trillion tris on screen, our games are more innovative and fun than yours. A very powerful argument, but it lacks the substance when you only have 3 of these innovative games, the rest of your games are graphical updates of past innovations (ie. Mario Kart).
07/08/2005 (4:06 pm)
Agreed. I didn't really go into the Japan sector. I do believe Sony is to much of a powerhouse in Japan. Microsoft is focusing heavily on their Japanese sector. They actually publicly admit they didn't perform well because they didn't provide software specifically targetted toward the Japanese lifestyle. I think they have a firmer understanding now, that not all games can be released across the world. You're going to have to make alterations to game, or specifically develop games, strictly for the Japanese market to be successful. I still think Sony will pull ahead in Japan.As for the fanboys - yes, every system has it's fanboys. But if you look at the amount of "OMG Syt3m XXX pWnZ j00r Sys3m YYY" people, Nintendo and XBox outnumber the Playstation. It seems to me the average person owning a Playstation is the casual gamer, who just likes to sit around the TV every now and then to play games. Maybe once a day, but that's kind of pushing it. Their PS2 probably collects dust every now and then. Hell, my mom owns a PS2 and plays it.
XBox on the other hand, has been focused towards the hardcore gamer. If you're a gamer - you have to be playing XBox is the attitude Microsoft portrays, and they do one hell of a job doing it.
Nintendo is all about the games. So what we cant display 96 bajillion trillion tris on screen, our games are more innovative and fun than yours. A very powerful argument, but it lacks the substance when you only have 3 of these innovative games, the rest of your games are graphical updates of past innovations (ie. Mario Kart).
#14
First of all, Nintendo will not leave the console market. They have enough money to loose every console war for the next hundred years and still make a console. Microsoft has even more money and I imagine Soney has a pretty penny too.
Now for my personal rant. What is the deal with violence? What makes it so important in video games? And what is with this kid Vs. adult video game stuff. There are plenty of "kids" out there under ten years of age who own an Xbox and play first person shooters. And there are also a lot of "adults" out there who play E rated games on the Nintendo. I think Nintendo has a great balence of these two types of games. I think Microsoft does not. Try getting a game like Mario on the Xbox. They either have ridiculous graphics or you carry huge guns. People have been complaining about Nintendo being too kiddie for a long time and Nintendo fixed it. Let it go. That one's dead. Now how 'bout the Xbox. Why so much violence? Why so many sports and racing games? Why so few puzzle games? Why does everything have to look so realistic or super cartoonish? These are the questions people should be asking. I'm sure someone will try to correct me but aren't most of the games for the Xbox adult games.
Okay. I'm done. Had to get that out of my system. Anyway, I have no idea what Nintendo has cooked up this time but I guarantee that it will make new types of game possible much like the DS did. Xbox will still be trying to make a more realistic first person shooter. Wow. That's what I was hoping for the last time I played Halo. "This is fun, but I sure wish it looked a little more realistic". Some day they'll hit a ceiling on just how good the graphics can look and then what will their next system do?
As far as the next Metroid game, I'm willing to bet that Nintendo wasn't running that demo on a finished Revolution. It was probably on computer emulating it much like what Microsoft did with their demos of the 360. Nintendo will do fine. Especially with the new Zelda game which everyone will buy even though the bad guys dissappear in a puff of smoke which some may believe is too childish for them.
-Peter
Have you played DK Jungle Beat? That game rules! Make a fighting game like that and I would never put it down.
07/08/2005 (11:15 pm)
Well, I wanted to stay out of this, but here I am typing. He's my take on things. First of all, Nintendo will not leave the console market. They have enough money to loose every console war for the next hundred years and still make a console. Microsoft has even more money and I imagine Soney has a pretty penny too.
Now for my personal rant. What is the deal with violence? What makes it so important in video games? And what is with this kid Vs. adult video game stuff. There are plenty of "kids" out there under ten years of age who own an Xbox and play first person shooters. And there are also a lot of "adults" out there who play E rated games on the Nintendo. I think Nintendo has a great balence of these two types of games. I think Microsoft does not. Try getting a game like Mario on the Xbox. They either have ridiculous graphics or you carry huge guns. People have been complaining about Nintendo being too kiddie for a long time and Nintendo fixed it. Let it go. That one's dead. Now how 'bout the Xbox. Why so much violence? Why so many sports and racing games? Why so few puzzle games? Why does everything have to look so realistic or super cartoonish? These are the questions people should be asking. I'm sure someone will try to correct me but aren't most of the games for the Xbox adult games.
Okay. I'm done. Had to get that out of my system. Anyway, I have no idea what Nintendo has cooked up this time but I guarantee that it will make new types of game possible much like the DS did. Xbox will still be trying to make a more realistic first person shooter. Wow. That's what I was hoping for the last time I played Halo. "This is fun, but I sure wish it looked a little more realistic". Some day they'll hit a ceiling on just how good the graphics can look and then what will their next system do?
As far as the next Metroid game, I'm willing to bet that Nintendo wasn't running that demo on a finished Revolution. It was probably on computer emulating it much like what Microsoft did with their demos of the 360. Nintendo will do fine. Especially with the new Zelda game which everyone will buy even though the bad guys dissappear in a puff of smoke which some may believe is too childish for them.
-Peter
Have you played DK Jungle Beat? That game rules! Make a fighting game like that and I would never put it down.
#15
You can also hardly say the Revolution has been revealed, other than the fact that it's in a rectangle. Even that is bound to change.
As for online, Nintendo have confirmed their online service will basically have everything that X-Box Live has, with more. Including linkup with the DS. And being free.
07/12/2005 (2:35 am)
You can hardly call a few seconds of Metroid a competent example of what the system can produce. You do know that the PS3 and 360 tech demos were working the way most tech demos do and were pretty much empty graphical shells?You can also hardly say the Revolution has been revealed, other than the fact that it's in a rectangle. Even that is bound to change.
As for online, Nintendo have confirmed their online service will basically have everything that X-Box Live has, with more. Including linkup with the DS. And being free.
#16
Look back at the SNES years, the system, even in it's final days of being on the market, they were still inovating the technology that was under the hood and constantly refining it, just as they've done with the Gameboy. To be more precise, they released Yoshi's Island: Mario World 2 with a new FX chip just before they dropped the system in favor of the new console technology.
They've done things like this their entire lifespan, and they will continue to evolve and refine games going into this next round as well. Quite honestly, I don't see where they've ever really had a failure outside of the third-party meyhem, and that's always a constant flux no matter what console is being questioned (Sony is learning this quite the same way and I believe MS will in the near future).
I agree, it is the games that sell the system, but it's just as well the other way around, and when it comes to which system will sell the games, I have no doubt the technology and innovation that comes with Nintendo's systems are going to fuel it in every case as a win/win situation.
One more thing to mention - the videogame market, though it isn't exactly fresh, has still to find a suitable, stable niche in the overall entertainment market. There is a lot more ground to cover and social debate in the air than ever and I think these issues will be the focus going into this generation. The ice is broken, now it just needs to thaw out.
- Ronixus
07/12/2005 (3:55 am)
I'd just like to add to the fire a little bit on Nintendo's behalf. One thing they've always done and have stuck through all these years is innovation and focusing on their customer base as a whole.Look back at the SNES years, the system, even in it's final days of being on the market, they were still inovating the technology that was under the hood and constantly refining it, just as they've done with the Gameboy. To be more precise, they released Yoshi's Island: Mario World 2 with a new FX chip just before they dropped the system in favor of the new console technology.
They've done things like this their entire lifespan, and they will continue to evolve and refine games going into this next round as well. Quite honestly, I don't see where they've ever really had a failure outside of the third-party meyhem, and that's always a constant flux no matter what console is being questioned (Sony is learning this quite the same way and I believe MS will in the near future).
I agree, it is the games that sell the system, but it's just as well the other way around, and when it comes to which system will sell the games, I have no doubt the technology and innovation that comes with Nintendo's systems are going to fuel it in every case as a win/win situation.
One more thing to mention - the videogame market, though it isn't exactly fresh, has still to find a suitable, stable niche in the overall entertainment market. There is a lot more ground to cover and social debate in the air than ever and I think these issues will be the focus going into this generation. The ice is broken, now it just needs to thaw out.
- Ronixus
#17
Good to see that Nintendo's new controller is still slightly smaller than the origional XBOX controller.
07/12/2005 (4:11 am)
Mark-Good to see that Nintendo's new controller is still slightly smaller than the origional XBOX controller.
#18
07/12/2005 (4:40 am)
It's still funny! 
#19
Literally, huh? I know people who would pay good money to see something like that.
07/12/2005 (9:12 am)
Quote:The extremely low framerates, and usually very low refresh rates, caused people to have headaches, go into seizures, or literally hurl their guts out.
Literally, huh? I know people who would pay good money to see something like that.
#20
Why does it always have the feel of an election year when the next gen consoles are coming out?
07/12/2005 (9:33 am)
People were throwing their own guts? neat!!!Why does it always have the feel of an election year when the next gen consoles are coming out?
Torque Owner David Tiernan
I do remember feeling wicked drunk playing on one though, something about it made you dizzy. Don't know how improved they are now though.