I thought this would be interesting. I'm pretty much assuming I am the only one who's read nintendo's Investor Relations Q&A and got something out of it other then the possibility of a Hard Drive and nintendo's reason for sticking with friend codes.
A14 Iwata: "I personally feel that, when software creators have done everything possible with one hardware platform to offer ideas and tricks to generate pleasant surprises to the customers, it is the end of the hardware lifecycle. As Nintendo has its own hardware development team, they are always researching into new hardware. Also, while they are working on new video game hardware, they are also working on hardware accessory to the video game hardware, such as Wii Balance Board, which can add extra functions to the original hardware in order to add an element of surprise for people. Such developments by the hardware team can be considered as a way to expand the hardware platform’s lifespan. Most recently, the wheel accessory for Mario Kart Wii falls in that same category. On the other hand, any technology has a breakthrough point. Even today, there are many things that we want to materialize, but that is limited by the currently available technologies or that can be done today but would be costly to be sold as a game console. But when a breakthrough takes place in the future, that technology can be incorporated into a hardware that can be reasonably priced for our customers. At that time, if the software developers believe they have done everything possible on the current platform to surprise the customers but cannot do anything further, that is when a new hardware platform is needed. As semiconductor technology makes progress and the width of the process rule has become thinner, we can put more transistors and the total functionality will increase. However, that alone will hardly surprise the customers any more. So, we have to think in terms of other elements as well."
He basically said they'll keep trying to surprise customers with different products (games, controls, services etc.) for the Wii until there's nothing left. Then at that point they'll make a new console but unlike previous generations they'll do more then just make one with better graphics and processing power.
A17 Iwata: "First of all, our traditional customers are mainly those who proactively seek game-related information for themselves, and we could quickly deliver the information they needed. This is because they are acting to obtain the information from their side. On the other hand, what we are attempting today is to ask those who openly states that they have no interests in video games to give Nintendo’s products a chance and enjoy our games, which takes time. From this perspective, I have to wonder if it is all right to think that this current generation of hardware will have a 4-year lifespan just because the past generation’s lifespan was 4 years. I believe a different time cycle must be considered. Now that they have kindly purchased hardware, it is desirable for us if they can enjoy the machine as long as possible. We are selling the hardware just because we want our customers to enjoy software. This is something that Mr. Yamauchi (the former president of Nintendo) was saying and not something I myself started. But Nintendo thinks that our customers reluctantly buy our hardware (in order to play software). Accordingly, we would like to offer new proposals one after another as long as that hardware can still provide fresh and pleasant surprises. If such efforts can be resulted in the prolonged lifespan of a hardware, that is good to us. So, we are trying to offer new proposals one after another and trying to maintain a high activity ratio of the hardware. At the same time, there are still many people in the world who have not played video games, so if we can reach out to them, the total life cycle will change. The main point of my address today is that, we have reached a stage where an analysis of past businesses that targeted traditional gamers in Japan, the US, and the European markets alone cannot be an appropriate indicator for the future."
So basically they plan on the Wii being around for a long time. (longer then 4 years at any rate)
read more
One of the things that really sucks about nintendo's online service is Friend Codes. I know this is all part of Nintendo's business strategy but it's been a major issue with nintendo products since the DS and I never get tired of talking about it.
"Different services do things differently. Nintendo's three goals for Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection are to make the service free, easy, and safe. These goals are there not just for young players, but also older ones and new players. Nintendo is bringing a lot of new people into the world of videogames, and we want to reduce barriers while making the online experience as enjoyable as possible." - Nintendo
The real reason why Nintendo had put this system into place was probably to get rid of the stereotype of gamers stuck in their room for days at a time without any real human contact. Well, that and to keep kids safe while symuoltaniously not having to educate parents about the parental settings. And maybe, to avoid the atrocities found on XBL voice chat.
I first noticed their suckage when playing Mario Kart DS. Because the few people online who didn't snake (an exploit used to win races) you never got to play against again. That is unless you knew their friend code.
Rather than being able to conveniently click a button in the game you have to find the person on a friend code site and manually put in the code and wait for the person to add you the same way (after telling them to add you).
Nintendo Social Play
“There are plenty of ways to make the service safe and easy to use without crippling it like Nintendo has...“ - says kylenalepa via kotaku.
Well there is; it's called Parental Controls but again nintendo obviously realizes that either most parents are too computer stupid to set them up or they just would rather not have to deal with it (in most cases both.)
So the only thing I'd see them doing, if they wanted to please us core gamers that is, is to created a separate service for those that aren't kids and would like to have a online service comparable to XBL. This would be a separate service that'd cooperate with friend codes and but would only affect the subscribers.
It give 'em all the standard social networking features:
Voice chat
Game lobby
Add to friend list button (only works on Nintendo Social Play users) A search for NSP users.
If anyone doubts that this could possibly happen (my self included) I think their memory solution might prove that they care enough about us "avid players" to also possibly eliminate our problems with their online service.
"Statistically speaking, it is true that there are a small number of customers who feel that the flash memory is too small, while many others find that they have plenty of memory. However, because this small number of people are none other than the most avid players, we know we have to review the best possible solution to eliminate their inconvenience." - Iwata president of nintendo japan. read more
One day I'm on the GameTrailers forums and I see this thread: ”For all those that are clueless about Nintendo's Domination”. I passed on it, half expecting a bunch of Wii defending or at the very best speculative (useless) guesses. Finally when I started to feel the affects of boredom I said, "OK, Why not?” Hoping it might tell me what nintendo's undeniably successful business strategy is. So I open it and there's a link to a article by Sean Malstrom called "Birdmen and the Casual Fallacy". Then, being the open minded person I am, I tried to read it.
Surprisingly enough, it turned out to be a very good article. It was very long read; it took me a couple of hours to finish it but it was worth it. Unsurprisingly, on the same thread I found the article, there were flames from people who either didn't read it or only skimmed through it.
I went to his home page and started looking for other things he wrote. I read all of his articles including his earlier ones from when he wrote for theWiikly. Probably his more enlightening ones talk about the definition of Generation, Hardcore gamers and his experience being a game journalist.
Recently I found this kick a** fan movie from
AMDS Films called "TERMINATOR VS ROBOCOP"
Unlike most fake movies this one was actually very, no, aswesomely edited. So I decided
to look up who created it and found out there apperently was a game made for the SNES
and Genises. (See this is video games related :P)
"In the future, human soldiers of John Connor's resistance force against the machines are fighting a losing war against Skynet and its robot forces. Discovering that one of the foundation technologies for Skynet is the cybernetics technology used in the creation of cyborg police officer RoboCop, Flo, a resistance soldier, is sent back in time to destroy RoboCop and stop Skynet from being built. However Skynet learns of the time travel attempt and sends Terminators to stop Flo. In the game, the player controls RoboCop, who may move across the screen, jump, fire and exchange weapons. RoboCop starts with the Auto-9 which has unlimited ammunition. Other weapons may be more powerful and carry unlimited ammunition as well. Beginning the game on a mission of law enforcement, RoboCop soon meets up with Flo and must engage in battle against Terminators, the forces of OCP and several obstacles. Upon discovering one of the Terminators has infiltrated the OCP building, RoboCop plugs himself into a console to reprogram the security, only to fall into a trap and be digitized. After his body is disassembled and used for building Skynet, RoboCop watches Skynet come to power before using his digitized mind to seize control of an abandoned robotics factory, rebuild himself, and begin to destroy Skynet in the future." Anyway, this sounds like it would make a very cool movie and the fake movie was good
enough I think this just has to be done.
Space Invaders has been one of my favorites since I first played it on the gameboy back in Super nintendo days. It the space aliens were so cool looking and the task of shooting them all before they landed was not always a easy task. I had a tough time getting pass level 5 (I was like 7 or 8 so sue me.)
So when I heard they were making a new game much in the same vein as Pacman CE I was intrigued. So I looked for some video' of the PSP version (there's mostly videos of the DS version going around) and now I just can't wait to get it.
It kinda reminds me of Rez and Every Extend Extra. read more
Anyone, who's ever loved their Dreamcast (I've loved mine many times over)would no why I enjoy making these. They took me awhile to make but I thought they turned out good.
Recently, me and my sister were cleaning out the attic and found some of her old gaming mags.
A couple of these are before the days of world launches. Back before people started calling consoles multimedia devices or whatever. Before G4 tv tech Tv some even before Zdtv.
Anyway, here's some of the one's we've found.
“Ultra 64” woulda been a stupid name anyway kinda like “Revolution”
It's fun looking back on predictions especially the one's that were wrong.
(kinda like people are making for that revamp sonic game.)
“Sega's Jet Grind Radio THE NEXT BIG THING” (it didn't sell very well; wonderful game though)
She musta gotten a playstation 1 in the military because I don't remember ever playing it and yet she received all this “extreme” “hardcore gamer” mail from sony.
That's spider-man 2 the game (not movie) poster other wise it wouldn't be in the picture. read more
With a lot of people associating a certain game console with “kiddie games”, and rightfully so, there has been a lot of needed discussion on what are kiddie games and
why people are put off by them. Well I thought this could be a nice “Good Idea/Bad Idea” (Without Mr. Skullhead) post.
Good Idea: Games that use kid themes.
Look at any old NES game and you'll find a kiddie theme under it:
Mario - Plumber going down pipes to rescue a princess from a dragoon/dinosaur.
Contra - Commando taking down a alien army too save the planet from invasion.
Metal Gear - Special Op. sneaking through hostile territory to destroy a giant ROBOT.
Ghosts 'N Goblins - Knight killing zombies, demons etc. in order to rescue a princess.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Where do I even begin? Just look at the title.
Just pixelated games with a silly story(if any) and the occasional bad English.
("CONGRATURATION THIS STORY IS HAPPY END. THANK YOU." ).
These games are fun (if you like side/top scrollers) because of their well thought out gameplay and imagination. Because of the limited graphics games back then had to
try really hard to be different. Also, on the NES (the dominate console at the time.) they could only release 3 games a year.
Of course newer games fall in the same category. Like Spyro the Dragon, Rachet & Clank and Jak & Daxter. Ive, also heard Zack & Wiki is one of these games to but I
tend to think it sounds like one of those games belonging in the latter category.
Bad Idea: Games that use kids uncritical nature.
Usually games heavily marketed towards kids while maintaining a low cost to develop. Games with very little thought in what might be considered fun to anyone old
enough to use the toilet by them self:
Barnyard (video game)
Bionicle Heroes
Hot Wheels: Beat That!
Bleach: Shattered Blade
Action Girlz Racing
Boogie
Carnival Games
Ninjabread Man
I'd guess for alot of them they take your standard platformer and put licensed characters in them.
Probably throw in quotes and cut scenes from the Movie/TV Show. Maybe add in some mini-game for replay value. I'd guess they spend no more than $200 developing
them (or at least I hope they don't).
So you see kiddie games can be good as well as bad, usually bad. Which is why a lot of gamers have such a bad association with them. Even though there are still good
Kids games that come out to this day. read more
Lately I've been wondering where are the new color Wii's I heard were coming out after Christmas. I know it's usually cooler to have it custom painted:
Or go the cheaper, warranty safe skins/stickers route:
I just wanna be the guy who waited and got exactly what he wanted the first time around.
And be like "oh I'm glad I waited unlike those early adopters". Because mine can also play DVD's which is neat because It's a video game console and I've never heard of such a thing happening. read more
My names Jeffrey. I'm from Nashville, TN.
I want to make comic books/graphic novels someday.
I started with Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World, Super Mario AllStars, and Super Metroid. (I mostly just watched my big sisters play).
On the Gameboy I played Tetris, Mario Land, Wario Land and Space Invaders.
Later in life: N64 was the 1st system I bought (I was still like 10-12 or something) I got Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64 on it.
I also got a GBC with Pokemon Blue. (I gave it away before I caught 'em all)
I Love my DS and PS2. I love Mario Kart. -- but don't like snaking
I love Metal Gear Solid -- I've only played the 1st one.
I love Sonic Rush.-- Even though it's kinda short.
about comics:
I just love to draw and I love comics (and the like).
So naturally I want to make them myself-- hopefully for a living.
