Games - News - What's Happening in the World of Video Gaming - Page 4

onionroach · 03-05-2005, 06:20 AM

I'm ignoring the XBox power cord thingy. We don't have any problems with it. Our XBox is on tile flooring and it is only on when we're playing games so I think we're okay.

Joshua · 03-05-2005, 11:49 AM

Nintendo President Talks Revolution
Says third party support may not be in the cards. Full story.
by Matt Casamassina

March 4, 2005 - In a recent interview with overseas trade publication MCV, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata talked about the company's forthcoming home console, codenamed Revolution. Iwata reiterated that the platform would be fundamentally different from other game systems, and said that its unique make-up could potentially alienate third party publishers, or in contrast draw them in.

"If the next generation platforms are going to create even more gorgeous looking games using further enhanced functionality, and if that next-gen market can still expand the games industry, then I'm afraid that third-parties may not support Nintendo," he said.Iwata once more compared Revolution to Nintendo DS, and said that like its portable the machine could gain the eye of consumers who normally don't care about games. "On the other hand, what we are trying to do is such a different thing, and people have come to realize that the approach we have taken with Nintendo DS can actually expand the market beyond what existing platforms can do. Therefore I believe there should be more third parties who are willing to support Nintendo's new ideas."

Nintendo's president suggested that third party support for Revolution could depend entirely on whether or not publishers find the console appealing. "If we receive the support of the licensees, I believe we will expand third party support," he said. "If our ideas cannot be appealing enough, then we cannot receive third party support."

Iwata indicated that the next-generation is a risky business for all hardware manufacturers and not just Nintendo. "Already publishers are not hesitant in disclosing their concerns over next generation gaming platforms, and development costs are rising. Publishers are afraid... of whether [the next-gen] consoles can appeal to people who are not the avid game fans of today."

Nintendo plans to unveil Revolution at the May Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Stay tuned for more on the machine.

Joshua · 03-05-2005, 11:53 AM

I thought this was an interesting read..

Is it me or does it seem Nintendo messing up again with their new system?

-Kelly- · 03-05-2005, 11:30 PM

Touch screen gameboy what else are they going to bring out

onionroach · 03-06-2005, 05:14 AM

I disagree with that article. There are already third party publishers lined up for the next gen of Sony and Microsoft's. I think Nintendo is scared and is trying to cover their bases. I've heard that Nintendo's next gen console will not have internet capablities but rather have intranet where you can play with friends. I think they've missed the point somewhere. It's great that they still have Mario and a couple of other games to keep them afloat. As for the DS....whatever.

UnsilentMajorty · 03-06-2005, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onionroach

I disagree with that article. There are already third party publishers lined up for the next gen of Sony and Microsoft's. I think Nintendo is scared and is trying to cover their bases. I've heard that Nintendo's next gen console will not have internet capablities but rather have intranet where you can play with friends. I think they've missed the point somewhere. It's great that they still have Mario and a couple of other games to keep them afloat. As for the DS....whatever.

I completely agree with your disagreement

IBM is already producing the Cell processor for the PS3 and Intel Pentium is powreing the XBox 2 as is ATI and Nvidia -- All of which are very powerful third party hardware vendors in the PC games markets.

I don't know who Nintendo thinks they are fooling, to be honest. I think we are going to see an end to them unless they just "get with the times" and jump on the bandwagon with what is really going on in this industry and don't try and pretend it isn't.

If they do not change their business practices and focuses, Nintendo will continue producing Pintos when the rest of the industry is producing Proches for three main reasons:

1) Internet gaming (not intranet which is what XBox already has in addition to XBox Live; Systemlink) is where it is at for most of the gaming markets, both PC and console. Single Player (SP) games have very limited replay value on any platform, so what keeps a game popular and fuels its continued sales after the initial peak sales (at launch) is in fact the online MP (Multiplayer) component. Period.

Nintendo keeps ignoring this both on their hand-held and console systems.

2) Nintendo also refuses to carry any adult ("M") rated games and is intent on appealing to the younger (6-14) demographics with their Mario and other "E" rated games...

But this is going to get them nowhere in the long run because kids play violent games (GTA; Rainbow Six; Ghost Recon), regardless, and to ignore this potential market share just will not benefit them in the long run as these more mature titles are in fact the most popular among the younger gamers because they are so "mature" and "adult".

4) Focusing on hand-held systems may be the wave of the future... But there is no way they can compete with the PSP because of everything I've listed above.

And if they think no third party is "interested" in next-gen consoles then I'd like some of what their CEOs are smoking because the world must really be rosy from their POV

-Kelly- · 03-06-2005, 10:46 PM

One thing for sure, I won't be getting the touch screen one

onionroach · 03-10-2005, 05:26 AM

Rumours are about the XBox3 will be out by the holidays and that the ps3 will be much more powerful. That's intersting. And the prices will be high...around 500 or so.

Gardenia · 03-11-2005, 07:58 AM

$500?!

Wow. I guess I understand why they'll be so much, seeing as they're going to be so equipped, but whoa! I don't t know many people that can afford to drop that much money just like that...

Joshua · 03-11-2005, 12:33 PM

PSP - It's Official
SCE America launches the official site for PSP.
by Nix
March 10, 2005 - Sony Computer Entertainment has taken its dear, sweet time in getting some of its PSP promotional plans out to the public. We had to wait until just weeks ago for PSP pricing and release info, and the teaser advertising campaign for the highly-anticipated system has just barely begun (with billboards and bus decals showing off the system to little licks like "Wi-Fi, Hi-Fi, Sci-Fi."

Time has come for an official site to launch, and SCEA got it done and open to the public at last. The official PSP site is a mini-feature on the PlayStation.com board, and currently only has a fwe screenshots and gameplay details on the titles coming to PSP (and even though it's an official site, it doesn't have the Smart Bomb box art either -- come on, Eidos, our Launch Box is just one away from completion!) Plans for the site look to be ongoing and hopefully deep, with a PSP section on the site's special PlayStation video player (which hosts a lot of OPM disc content, as well as trailers and other clips) and a growing list of announced PSP games.
There are also some minor details on the official site that had not been stated officially before and clarify a few questions gamers have had about the handheld. Game Sharing is elaborated on in the PlayStation.com PSP FAQ, stating that the feature's purpose is to "share pieces of a game you have with another PSP system user wirelessly even if the other person does not have the same game." Interestingly enough, the FAQ says that shares will only last while a PSP is running -- this is the same way with GBA and DS games that run a similar function, but with the PSP's Memory Stick open to saving data permanently, we're surprised that this mode seems specifically closed off from saving shared downloads. No game is confirmed for US release yet to use the feature (either on the site or on the plans of any publisher we have contacted about the feature), but Japan's Namco Museum included the feature, and we were able to get some shared time with PSP Game Sharing to see how it works.

Other minor details include mention that certain Hotspots will not work if they require web-based log-ins -- most log in through WEP, but a few demanding services require web goers to go through custom Java applets that are designed for PCs only. Indications are that this may be in the plans for addressing. The Spider-Man 2 movie, which is a freebie for launch buyers, looks to also be released separately for sale once the first million have been served. And, quite importantly, the elusive wrist strap is listed in the accessories department and in the Value Pack pop-up (you may have to refresh the page several times to see that Value Pack listing ... why must they tease us so?)

Enjoy the official PSP site , and look for any relevant new details to be gleaned and posted here for you to check out as well.

***Catherine*** · 03-12-2005, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnsilentMajorty

Nintendo also refuses to carry any adult ("M") rated games and is intent on appealing to the younger (6-14) demographics with their Mario and other "E" rated games...

Well, lets be honest..this isnt entirely true. I hardly doubt one of their latest releases, RE4 is rated E. That is "M", for sure.

But I agree that Nintendo is in big trouble...I love my gamecube, but Nintendo has to step it up soon..

Gardenia · 03-12-2005, 10:21 AM

Well, I think the issue with Nintendo is that they don't carry enough 'M'-rated games to maintain an older audience like the other systems do. While they may carry the occasional title, it's not enough to sway the older gamers away from systems that will ultimately provide them with more of what they're looking for. Even though I'm in college, I just flat out don't like 'M'-rated games; not because they're rated M, but because I've just never played one that suited me. It's not my genre. Therefore, the Gamecube is fine for me, but I don't
know any guys my age who own a Cube...they all have a PS2 or Xbox.

onionroach · 03-12-2005, 03:19 PM

I want a GameCube but with the price of consoles and games you can't get everything you want. You have to make choices, and right now there are more game choices for ps2 and XBox owners.

UnsilentMajorty · 03-12-2005, 04:42 PM

Catherine, Gardenia

Good points.

But that is also part of Nintendos identity as well. They cater more to the younger gamers and this is what have established themselves on thus far. It's a Catch-22 in that respect.

===

$500 is about right.

Let's consider the system specs (rumored; not confirmed) for each:

Xbox 2 (3):

Pentium 4 3.0 GHz CPU
ATI X850 Platinum-type VGU
512+ MB of RAM

PS3

IBM Cell Processor @ 3.4+ GHz
Nvidia 6800-type VGU
512 MB of RAM

Anyway you slice it... These are high-end computers without the keyboard (rumors are that both of these systems are going to include native mouse/keyboard interfaces) and using your TV instead of a monitor

Systems like these, in comparsion for hardware specs to their PC counter-parts run around $1000+ minimum for good, third party hardware like Nvidia, ATI, VIA, ASUS, Gigabyte, Mushkin, Kingston, Soundblaster Audigy (for 5.1 sound), etc, etc.

$500 is a bargain in comparsion (half the price) and you know they WILL sell even at this high launch price because rumor also has it that both of these systems are going to be backwards compatible which means consumers can play their current PS2 and XBox games on these new systems without having to buy new copies of the older games.

I still would wait and see how well the hardware itself performs and what kind of games are being offered. Let the design evolve a few notches (v1.0-1.3, 1.4) before you jump in as you'll probably get a more stable and better system since all of the initial launch bugs will hopefully be worked out by then.

Gardenia · 03-12-2005, 08:40 PM

I completely understand why the systems would cost $500. But alas, I don't have and will not have that much extra cash just lying around, so it will be after a price markdown or two that I get a new system.

Although I think the advancing technology is great, it's kind of sad when you think about it...so many people will be eliminated from the field of gamers because of their being unable to afford the new systems.