Electroplankton coming to US Jan 9, 2006
by Dan Choi 
{ Oct 19th 2005 at 6:15PM }
Electroplankton has finally received a
release date for the DS here in the States:
January 9, 2006.
[UPDATE: The product page now lists the Release Date as "Announced" instead of 1/9/06. What's unknown now is whether
this pushes the game further back or moves it up to the mid-November dates seen on
your typical retail web site. Thanks,
Nintendo Gal!]
The hard-to-describe music-interaction simulator (with cute digital creatures) fits perfectly with Nintendo's recent
strategy of releasing titles, like Nintendogs, which break the mold and don't fit our traditional notions of
what a game can really be. (Check out some "gameplay" videos
here.)
If you're put off by
the primitive-looking
graphics, keep in mind that 'plankton is the work of but one man, the "media artist"
Toshio Iwai (who supposedly crafted the game's Japanese
manual as well). Get ready to sample some funky Mario remixes on your DS in the new year.
[Thanks, Abhinav]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Not Impressed (Dmitri) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
WTF! EBgames.com said November.
God damn them.
O well. Looks like that makes 2 games I have to get after my 360 (metroid and electro)
Frexy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I'm from Europe and had the game ordered and sent to me this last summer. Had tons of fun with it. It's the perfect example of a boredom killer. It's nice to mix some things.
A minor is the fact that you can't save anything you make
A very great plus is that nothing you make sounds bad! Only a bit quirky sometimes =) But then again, it's a matter of what 'instruments' you pick and play with.
Everywhere I go with my DS, I like to show off the game. And believe it or not, everyone likes it and loves to give it a go. A very interesting fact is that people love different plankton for different reasons. I didn't expect that.
The only thing I need to buy in order to save my mixed music is some cable so I can link it to my pc...
And I got to agree, the manual (although I'm not that good in Japanese) is great and artistic. Really nice to 'read' through ^^;
The box the game was in was wonderful too, got earbuds with it too =)
Man, I wish more ppl had the game over here, some plankton require more DS's to make a lovely tune...
But this is great news to us, Europeans, it enlarges the chance of it coming to us too =)
1337Thespian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I imported it. The Japanese manual is sweet. The whole product is a work of art.
OTAM @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
This game will blow your fucking minds,seriously.
I can't wait for this shit.
Kristian @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Finally. E3 really sparked my interest in this game, so now I've gotta make sure I get it.
ryan lukens @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
YES!!!
matt @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I was just about to import it. thanks Joystiq!
kojo87 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
this game looks totaly wack in a good way. im surprised its so welcomed. i thought people would be down on it for being differant, the same way people are down on the DS itself.
Frexy: what is the multiplayer like and where can you get that cable? saving music to a PC interests me a bit...
Oshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
great news!
Bloo (formerly Glenn) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Yet another reason why my PSP sits with a dead battery and my DS gets rubbed more than... you decide.
mushroom @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Just ordered this from Lik-Sang two days ago. I thought it would be out in November but I still couldn't wait(been wanting it since E3). Now that it's confirmed for Jan. I am glad I did. (only 10 bucks more then it will be here and it's free shipping)
I actually bought the blue DS a few days ago BECAUSE of this game, although the fact that mario kart and animal crossing wi-fi are on the way doesn't hurt.
This is a true system seller for those of you who can appreciate a game that has no beginning or ending and it allows the user to guide the experience instead of the relatively rigid narrative we are normally presented with.
If you have a shred of creativity within you and would like to express yourself through music, there is no more simpler or cost effective way.
Also, regarding not being able to save your songs. That was a design choice, not a limitation. It was engineered that way so that each and every time you play the game you will have encountered and created something wholly unique. Allowing you to save songs, while seemingly harmless, would stunt that initial impulse of creativity that comes with each new session.
BlackYoshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Not really into the rhythm/music/creating your own music game genre. So this is pretty meh to me. But I understand why some people would like it.
Nintendo Gal @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Just would like to know where the date came from because all the sources I can find just say TBA.
Kamalot @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
This is the game I keep in my bag to break out after a frustrating day at work. On the train ride home, if I am feeling tense or *GRRRRR!* I slip in a little Electroplankton. By the time I get off the train, I have a smile on my face.
It works every time.
Stephen @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Finally! What about price? $29.99 or $34.99?
bluebren @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
YUSSSSS
...Although, I think I'll wait to see how it compares to the Japanese package, because that is awfully snazzy. If it's a choice between reading the manual and those earphones... well. :0
norebonomis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
god i can't wait to play with this while i'm high on pot!
nate @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I've heard that Daigasso (Jam With the Band) is the better music/game hybrid. Anyone who is knowledgeable about both or played both care to comment?
Innovate Me @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
The release of one of the most innovative games of 2006 has a release date. There is only one thing to say.
HAAAAALELUYA. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALELUYA. HALELUYA HALELUYA HALELUUUUUUUUUUUYA.
SargeMonkey @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Still, its not a REAL game, more of a toy... Bet ya it'll sell a lot of DS's in japan, I thinks its out there, right?
Jobbox @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Yeah, this is definitely a great trip tool. Get your friends in a room with a nice stereo, plug your Electroplankton-equipped DS in and trip away...
By the way, I played this everynight for 4 straight months to help me go to sleep. It's amazing.
As to what is the better music game...Daigasou, Ouendan, and this game are all different and all great.
Fuzz @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Everywhere I looked, it is coming out November 14th.
Vexorg @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I bought my copy back in May, and I really don't see why it took this long for them to bring it over to the US. There's virtually nothing to localize in the game itself, and what little text there is is pretty much unnecessary anyway. That said, Electroplankton still gets plenty of time in my DS and is definitely worth getting, especially if you've got some good speakers to hook it up to.
And since someone else mentioned it, I'll put in a second recommendation on Ouendan as well.
JJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Man, when did DS become the must-have console of the year?
Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"Just would like to know where the date came from because all the sources I can find just say TBA."
Interesting, Nintendo Gal... when this article went up, the official Nintendo product page still listed "Jan 9, 2006" for the Release Date as described. Now, the date reads "Announced" while the page retains the same Article source, "Nintendo Power." Very interesting... I'll have to update the original post, but thanks for the heads-up!
Nintendo Gal @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
It would seem they either had a slip up or just don't want the news out yet. Interesting indeed.
larryh @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
why must they release what seems like a perfect traveling time-waster AFTER the holidays? i guess they don't want it to get lost with all the other holiday games, but still... would seem perfect for those long trips.
SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"I've heard that Daigasso (Jam With the Band) is the better music/game hybrid. Anyone who is knowledgeable about both or played both care to comment?"
Nate, these are the only two games I have ever imported.
Band Brothers is a great game. If you like rhythm games and J-Pop, you will get hours and hours out of this game. You play the DS like an instrument, and the game allows you to mess up the song. That is pretty unique, because, like cars in GT, the owners of the songs usually do not like their product to look bad at any time.
Electroplankton isn't really a game. It's more of an interactive AV toy. I like it, but if you need an object, a goal, it may not be for you.
As far as what you should import: Band Brothers. Why?
1) We don't know if it is going to make it to America.
2) It will have a completely different soundtrack if it does. I like J-pop. That would be bad for me.
3) I got $50 worth of play out of it.
We know Electroplankton is coming here, and there is no need to spend the $20 premium to import it.
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Man, when did DS become the must-have console of the year?
--
Um, since pretty much every game released in the last 5 years has been a rehash of either Goldeneye, Zelda 64, or FF7. People want something interesting and fun.
Frexy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
@ kojo87 (#8)
this isn't a multiplayer game the way you think it is. It has no multiplayer capacities. However, if you've got 2 copies of the game (and 2 DS's ofcourse) you can both make some interesting tunes with the both of you mixing music.
It says so in the manual, but I haven't had the chance of testing it out (I'm like one of the only ones in Belgium owning the game atm =))
That cable, I dunno. It's not something from Nintendo you know. I just know some of these things exist, but not sure exactly how this works. I think I'll just hop into an electronics store and explain what I want. I hope they'll help me with it then =)
I guess it's just something that has to do with the output of the DS (earphones) and input of the pc. I dunno exactly... =)
JJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"Um, since pretty much every game released in the last 5 years has been a rehash of either Goldeneye, Zelda 64, or FF7. People want something interesting and fun."
You missed the point. I think it's great, and I agree, I'm just saying that it seemingly came out of nowhere and now they have a blitz of original, interesting must-own games like no other system has this season.
Bud @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I tend to be a cheapskate and wait 2 or 3 years to buy any system, but Electroplankton looks like it might be the killer app for me to buy DS right away. Plus another for my soon to be wife.
B-Dizzle @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Hey, I got your cable- just get an earphone cable and run it from your DS to the mic/line in on your computer. Then you can use a variety of programs (or even the included "Sound Recorder") to capture your electroplankton..ing. I know its rudimentary, but if you really want to do it, its possible.
BlackYoshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
How sad. "DUDE THIS GAME WILL BE AWESOME WHILE YOU ARE ON DRUGS". What sad lives you guys live. You don't even go to raves and take ecstasy and listen to weird techno/trance music. Now you'll just sit at home and do it.
Patrick Shields @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
>18. Posted Oct 19, 2005, 8:22 PM ET by nate
>I've heard that Daigasso (Jam With the Band) is the better music/>game hybrid. Anyone who is knowledgeable about both or played >both care to comment?
I have both, as well as Ouendan. They're all worth having in different ways. Electroplankton is definitely something you can play a few minutes at a time and still get something out of it. It's like how most people can't resist playing with electronic keyboards in stores, even if they can't play the piano.
>24. Posted Oct 19, 2005, 9:44 PM ET by JJ
>Man, when did DS become the must-have console of the year?
I agree totally! I don't even care about the next gen consoles anymore.
>2) It will have a completely different soundtrack if it does. I like J->pop. That would be bad for me.
My thinking is that any Western version will be like a sequel! A whole new roster of songs to play. I just got the expansion cartridge and really got back into the game a lot.