DS
Three Things I Expect From Each Console Company at E3
May/21/10 12:05 AM
BY EVAN DUBISKY
Nintendo:
✓ Demo for 3DS
✓ Details on the new Zelda game
✓ Lame Wii Add-On
Microsoft:
✓ Natal release date
✓ Hardware refresh
✓ Paid subscriptions to something
Sony:
✓ Improved online service
✓ 3D BluRay support, Google TV support
✓ More hopes and dreams
Nintendo:
✓ Demo for 3DS
✓ Details on the new Zelda game
✓ Lame Wii Add-On
Microsoft:
✓ Natal release date
✓ Hardware refresh
✓ Paid subscriptions to something
Sony:
✓ Improved online service
✓ 3D BluRay support, Google TV support
✓ More hopes and dreams
Comments
Pokemon Black & White: Wait What?
May/02/10 11:55 PM
BY EVAN DUBISKY
Nintendo announced recently that they're again making a new mobile-platform Pokemon game for us all to enjoy next year; the problem is that I'm not so sure if I even want another Pokemon game in the foreseeable future. Nintendo has taken the lazy route with Pokemon games recently, and in this article I will explain my thoughts behind this.
One problem Nintendo seems to have with the Pokemon series is expanding upon it. Their old routine of creating a new continent with some new Pokemon, some old Pokemon, is just worn out. They should really focus on doing something new with the series -- take it in a new direction that actually interests their fans instead of taking them on the same journey with a different path. Give your trainer a personality, have him live a normal life with his own friends and explore with them on Pokemon adventures. Maybe some wicked tournaments secretly run by Team Rocket or something. Seriously, I've played the same game like 5 times by now.
The Pokemon series hasn't been all that graphically oriented, but putting some 3D graphics into your portable game system's game isn't too much of a stretch. If you can port N64 games to your handheld, you can put in a bit more effort to your own games. Is it too much to ask that I get a little bit of eye-candy improvement when I purchase the same game, released 3 years later?
Oh and on the topic of 3D, how about you make it a flagship title for the 3DS? Pokemon in 3D would be kinda epic.
More Pokemon. Why? There are already so many Pokemon out there, why in the world do you need to make more of them? Legendaries that control space and time? It's just getting ridiculous, instead of making pre-evolutions and adding all of these new ones, maybe build-off of the ones you already have! Just thinkin' out loud here, but maybe something like second variations of Pokemon that do different things based off of their evolutions. For example, a Bulbasaur that is mostly trained at night, and holding a dark item will grow into a Venusaur that is both Plant and Dark types, with stronger Atk and Sp. Atk and some cool new moves. Maybe an appearance overhaul that makes it look badass.
I always have some hopes for Nintendo, because even if they seem like they're making a mistake they are just going to be doing you a favor in the end; however, this cycle of repetition for the Pokemon games is just too tedious.
Nintendo announced recently that they're again making a new mobile-platform Pokemon game for us all to enjoy next year; the problem is that I'm not so sure if I even want another Pokemon game in the foreseeable future. Nintendo has taken the lazy route with Pokemon games recently, and in this article I will explain my thoughts behind this.
One problem Nintendo seems to have with the Pokemon series is expanding upon it. Their old routine of creating a new continent with some new Pokemon, some old Pokemon, is just worn out. They should really focus on doing something new with the series -- take it in a new direction that actually interests their fans instead of taking them on the same journey with a different path. Give your trainer a personality, have him live a normal life with his own friends and explore with them on Pokemon adventures. Maybe some wicked tournaments secretly run by Team Rocket or something. Seriously, I've played the same game like 5 times by now.
The Pokemon series hasn't been all that graphically oriented, but putting some 3D graphics into your portable game system's game isn't too much of a stretch. If you can port N64 games to your handheld, you can put in a bit more effort to your own games. Is it too much to ask that I get a little bit of eye-candy improvement when I purchase the same game, released 3 years later?
Oh and on the topic of 3D, how about you make it a flagship title for the 3DS? Pokemon in 3D would be kinda epic.
More Pokemon. Why? There are already so many Pokemon out there, why in the world do you need to make more of them? Legendaries that control space and time? It's just getting ridiculous, instead of making pre-evolutions and adding all of these new ones, maybe build-off of the ones you already have! Just thinkin' out loud here, but maybe something like second variations of Pokemon that do different things based off of their evolutions. For example, a Bulbasaur that is mostly trained at night, and holding a dark item will grow into a Venusaur that is both Plant and Dark types, with stronger Atk and Sp. Atk and some cool new moves. Maybe an appearance overhaul that makes it look badass.
I always have some hopes for Nintendo, because even if they seem like they're making a mistake they are just going to be doing you a favor in the end; however, this cycle of repetition for the Pokemon games is just too tedious.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - E3 Footage
Sep/18/09 01:20 PM
Spirit Tracks E3 2009 Gameplay
Jun/06/09 12:41 PM
I managed to get to E3 this year. I will talk more on
the podcast, but long story short: It was an amazing
E3; back to its former glory by all means. And
although I was only able to attend one day of E3, I
feel that I got a lot accomplished. After the fact, I
am posting up everything that I recorded. To start
off, here is some Spirit Tracks gameplay:
Iwata's GDC Keynote
Mar/22/09 01:58 PM
-DANIEL FRIEDLAENDER
Alright, before I begin I would like to say two things:
1. This is complete speculation. While I am basing it on announced details, I am completely speculating. I can't say that I have any inside information on this.
2. I was not super pressed to write this. I often write speculation that I feel is just staring me in the face; this is not one of those times. I just randomly felt like writing this.
Alright, now that we have that out of the way, let's begin!
So, recently it has been announced that Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, will be speaking at this year's Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco on March 25th (Press Release). The title of his Keynote will be, "Discovering New Development Opportunities."
Here is the little blurb from the GDC site.:
From this blurb, we see that Mr. Iwata has not been a keynote speaker at GDC since 2006. While I don't really think that GDC is the defining conference for gaming, it is interesting that we will be seeing Mr. Iwata there now.
Recently, Nintendo's stock had its largest single-day drop in 18 years. This is basically due to Nintendo cutting shipment estimates significantly, which is causing people to believe that the growth for the Wii is over. Now, even if this was true, I think that we would be kidding ourselves if we were really disappointed. That is, can we really expect a product to be popular after 2 years of being on the market? I'm also sure that many of you have the feeling that the Wii may have a lot of undeserved success; this would be because of the lack of attention many of you guys seem to be feeling.
Perhaps Nintendo, who provided no official explanation for the bearish forecast, is simply trying to lower expectations for what we may see at GDC or E3. Now, if you're of the belief that we are long overdue for a Zelda title, then you might think that we will soon see an announcement of a new Zelda from Iwata at GDC.
Now here is where the speculation comes in. The natural question to ask would be: Why would Nintendo reveal a Zelda title at GDC when Nintendo already said that we wouldn't see it at E3?
Well, if you look back to the interview with Miyamoto, that said that we wouldn't likely see Zelda at E3, then you might think it unlikely, but if you actually read and picked apart what Miyamoto said, we might be able to say that a GDC announcement is possible.
Miyamoto said, "I'm really not sure when we'll be able to make a public announcement on that. I can't even say if the next E3 will be the right opportunity to do so. But rest assured, our teams are working on new projects right now."
I said that E3 might not be the right opportunity to announce the next Zelda, but that doesn't mean that we can't hear about it sooner, does it? I mean, E3 is becoming increasingly irrelevant, despite the ESA's effort to keep it afloat. GDC, on the other hand, seems to be doing quite well. So, why would I believe that we will see something at GDC in particular? Simple.
I believe that it isn't such a stretch to believe that Nintendo will be talking about Wii Motion Plus at this year's GDC -- it just makes sense. I doubt I will need to convince you about that, but just to be clear: GDC is about the developers and Wii Motion Plus provides much in the way of development opportunities -- the very title of Mr. Iwata's keynote.
Now, many of you have expressed the idea that perhaps the next Zelda would use Wii Motion Plus. We already have heard from Miyamoto that the next Zelda was made from the ground up for the Wii. So, what better tech demo to show at GDC for Wii Motion Plus than a Zelda?
We know Nintendo is interested in attracting developers to the Wii Motion Plus (as evidenced by the video I took below at the media briefing), and serious about 3rd parties. In fact, when Nintendo had that huge stock price drop, Mr. Iwata was quick to say that third parties are benefiting greatly from Wii and DS.
The point it, it seems that Nintendo wants to appeal to the third parties and perhaps wants to encourage them to develop for the Wii Motion Plus. I think Nintendo will show off the next Zelda at GDC so as to send the message that says, "Hey, if we can take one of our most core titles, The Legend of Zelda, and use Wii Motion Plus, then you have no excuses...use it!"
I am almost sure we'll see Wii Motion Plus at GDC, but whether or not we see Zelda is up in the air. We have heard almost nothing about the Wii Motion Plus (or Wii Pay and Play, by the way) since the announcement. And just because Miyamoto said that E3 wasn't the right opportunity, doesn't mean that this is due to it being too early. Maybe they just don't view E3 as the place to announce this sort of thing.
Maybe we will be seeing Zelda at GDC. Mark your calendars: March 25th. What say you?
Alright, before I begin I would like to say two things:
1. This is complete speculation. While I am basing it on announced details, I am completely speculating. I can't say that I have any inside information on this.
2. I was not super pressed to write this. I often write speculation that I feel is just staring me in the face; this is not one of those times. I just randomly felt like writing this.
Alright, now that we have that out of the way, let's begin!
So, recently it has been announced that Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, will be speaking at this year's Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco on March 25th (Press Release). The title of his Keynote will be, "Discovering New Development Opportunities."
Here is the little blurb from the GDC site.:
From this blurb, we see that Mr. Iwata has not been a keynote speaker at GDC since 2006. While I don't really think that GDC is the defining conference for gaming, it is interesting that we will be seeing Mr. Iwata there now.
Recently, Nintendo's stock had its largest single-day drop in 18 years. This is basically due to Nintendo cutting shipment estimates significantly, which is causing people to believe that the growth for the Wii is over. Now, even if this was true, I think that we would be kidding ourselves if we were really disappointed. That is, can we really expect a product to be popular after 2 years of being on the market? I'm also sure that many of you have the feeling that the Wii may have a lot of undeserved success; this would be because of the lack of attention many of you guys seem to be feeling.
Perhaps Nintendo, who provided no official explanation for the bearish forecast, is simply trying to lower expectations for what we may see at GDC or E3. Now, if you're of the belief that we are long overdue for a Zelda title, then you might think that we will soon see an announcement of a new Zelda from Iwata at GDC.
Now here is where the speculation comes in. The natural question to ask would be: Why would Nintendo reveal a Zelda title at GDC when Nintendo already said that we wouldn't see it at E3?
Well, if you look back to the interview with Miyamoto, that said that we wouldn't likely see Zelda at E3, then you might think it unlikely, but if you actually read and picked apart what Miyamoto said, we might be able to say that a GDC announcement is possible.
Miyamoto said, "I'm really not sure when we'll be able to make a public announcement on that. I can't even say if the next E3 will be the right opportunity to do so. But rest assured, our teams are working on new projects right now."
I said that E3 might not be the right opportunity to announce the next Zelda, but that doesn't mean that we can't hear about it sooner, does it? I mean, E3 is becoming increasingly irrelevant, despite the ESA's effort to keep it afloat. GDC, on the other hand, seems to be doing quite well. So, why would I believe that we will see something at GDC in particular? Simple.
I believe that it isn't such a stretch to believe that Nintendo will be talking about Wii Motion Plus at this year's GDC -- it just makes sense. I doubt I will need to convince you about that, but just to be clear: GDC is about the developers and Wii Motion Plus provides much in the way of development opportunities -- the very title of Mr. Iwata's keynote.
Now, many of you have expressed the idea that perhaps the next Zelda would use Wii Motion Plus. We already have heard from Miyamoto that the next Zelda was made from the ground up for the Wii. So, what better tech demo to show at GDC for Wii Motion Plus than a Zelda?
We know Nintendo is interested in attracting developers to the Wii Motion Plus (as evidenced by the video I took below at the media briefing), and serious about 3rd parties. In fact, when Nintendo had that huge stock price drop, Mr. Iwata was quick to say that third parties are benefiting greatly from Wii and DS.
The point it, it seems that Nintendo wants to appeal to the third parties and perhaps wants to encourage them to develop for the Wii Motion Plus. I think Nintendo will show off the next Zelda at GDC so as to send the message that says, "Hey, if we can take one of our most core titles, The Legend of Zelda, and use Wii Motion Plus, then you have no excuses...use it!"
I am almost sure we'll see Wii Motion Plus at GDC, but whether or not we see Zelda is up in the air. We have heard almost nothing about the Wii Motion Plus (or Wii Pay and Play, by the way) since the announcement. And just because Miyamoto said that E3 wasn't the right opportunity, doesn't mean that this is due to it being too early. Maybe they just don't view E3 as the place to announce this sort of thing.
Maybe we will be seeing Zelda at GDC. Mark your calendars: March 25th. What say you?
Shigeru Miyamoto Intrview Translation
Sep/07/08 11:09 AM
So, I was
reading over at GoNintendo.com that Club Nintendo
Magazine had done interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto
and Reggie Fils-Aime. Sadly, both of these interviews
were published in Spanish. Rawmeat Cowboy appealed to
his readers to translate it. One of his readers did
get the high points, but personally, I wanted a full
translation.
Conveniently enough, I happen to know Spanish relatively well. It’s practically a requirement for living in Southern California...
I actually have only translated the Miyamoto interview and was planning to translate Reggie’s but since I have translated it, someone over at GoNintendo had translated both in the comments.
So, here is the original scan of the magazine from GoNintendo.
Here is my translation. Please know that I am not Hispanic and Spanish is just a second language for me:
Club Nintendo: How are you? It’s been two years since you brought us an Epona figurine of yours. Do you remember?
Shigeru Miyamoto: Of course, thanks for having me.
CN: The fans want you to develop a title like The Legend of Zelda with all the functionality of the Wii, like the Wii Motion Plus. We know we have a Zelda on Wii already, but it was a title made really as a Gamecube project.
SM: Yes, we have The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for Wii and Gamecube, but right now our Zelda team is working on a Zelda specifically for Wii; we were simply not ready to show it
CN: Is that why Eiji Aonuma wasn’t here during E3?
SM: Yes, that’s correct.Read More...
Conveniently enough, I happen to know Spanish relatively well. It’s practically a requirement for living in Southern California...
I actually have only translated the Miyamoto interview and was planning to translate Reggie’s but since I have translated it, someone over at GoNintendo had translated both in the comments.
So, here is the original scan of the magazine from GoNintendo.
Here is my translation. Please know that I am not Hispanic and Spanish is just a second language for me:
Club Nintendo: How are you? It’s been two years since you brought us an Epona figurine of yours. Do you remember?
Shigeru Miyamoto: Of course, thanks for having me.
CN: The fans want you to develop a title like The Legend of Zelda with all the functionality of the Wii, like the Wii Motion Plus. We know we have a Zelda on Wii already, but it was a title made really as a Gamecube project.
SM: Yes, we have The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for Wii and Gamecube, but right now our Zelda team is working on a Zelda specifically for Wii; we were simply not ready to show it
CN: Is that why Eiji Aonuma wasn’t here during E3?
SM: Yes, that’s correct.Read More...
A Video Tour of SPORE Creature Creator
Jun/18/08 12:39 PM
The creature editor for SPORE is now up for download
for free here.
The game will be out for DS, Mac, and Windows. The version I show in the video is the Mac version.
SPORE Creature Editor Tour from Daniel Friedlaender on Vimeo.
The game will be out for DS, Mac, and Windows. The version I show in the video is the Mac version.
SPORE Creature Editor Tour from Daniel Friedlaender on Vimeo.
Pokémon Platinum Box Mockup
May/24/08 04:43 PM
Alright, so many of you have probably heard of
the
added confirmation of Pokémon
Platinum
version. Well, I figured I would make a barely
palatable boxart mockup.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Professor
Layton and The Curious Village Review
Mar/04/08 10:49 AM
Geometry
Wars: Galaxy Review
Jan/11/08 07:44 PM
By Nick Raffel
Platform: DS
Rating: E
Developer: Kuju Entertainment
Publisher: Sierra
WiFi: Leader boards
Read
More...
Platform: DS
Rating: E
Developer: Kuju Entertainment
Publisher: Sierra
WiFi: Leader boards
Read
More...
