Nintendo describes 'Demo Play' option in New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Now it doesn't reply when I WANT it to? I clicked the link from my e-mail, which automatically sets the comment box to reply to the active post that you linked to. And it starts a new comment thread. Didn't Joystiq say they were overhauling the comments system "soon" around the time that they overhauled the post system?

What the fuck do you care how people play their games?

I will never use this feature, but to think I have any right to tell someone else that they shouldn't have the option to do so is fucking horrible. This isn't competitive multiplayer we're talking about here, this is some guy off in some house in some place that you've never been or seen, what the hell does it matter to you how he plays the game?

Guess what, right now, as I type this, there are thousands of people across the world typing cheats into their videogames to help them beat the game. Now, knowing that, do you feel any different than you did 10 seconds ago?

"what the hell does it matter to you how he plays the game?"

I can't speak for anybody else but my issue isn't with the players that are going to use this. I don't care who can beat some game on whatever difficulty. I'm all for making games accessible to players no matter what their skill level is.

My only issue is the method that Nintendo is using to help the player. This day and age, designers shouldn't be relying on the game to take control away from the player to show them how to get past a challenge. I don't understand how anybody can disagree with me when I say that there are better methods to helping a player get past some part of the level.

Let's take Uncharted for example, there are some places in the game where if you don't figure out where to go within like 30 seconds, a hint pops up to guide you to where you are suppose to go. Wouldn't you rather see that in the game or would you rather press the start button and watch Nathan go do the puzzle for you? It just seems like Nintendo is taking a step back instead of a step forward.

not like it matters, but I see my large sized response didn't post, bceause Joystiq's comment system hates me today. Let's try again.

I'll try to sum it up, to make my obviously unpopular comment make some sense... I don't care how people play games in their own house. I don't care if people use codes. Contra has codes, but you don't see people calling Contra easy. Games in general have just been getting easier and easier. No, it's not just my skill level getting higher and higher. It's both. I'm getting better, and they are getting easier. Things like Bioshock's Vita-Chambers, Prince of Persia's bird thing, and now Demo Mode are all testament to that. I may be a more skilled gamer than when I was a kid, but there was no defying death without a code or a Game Genie before - now, defying death is a "feature."

I care about this sort of thing because it is a sign of one of the largest names in the video game industry catering to their least loyal customer: the casual gamer. I'm sick and tired of the casual demographic eating up precious development hours that could be spent on BETTER GAMES. This whole time, I've been rallying for MORE difficulty in games, and all they do is put in LESS, because they are too afraid to frustrate the player. You know what? Nothing in life worth doing is easy. That doesn't mean all games need to be difficult...

With gaming, you essentially have two things: The story/atmosphere/art/music all being one category, and the other is gameplay. Games like Bioshock get away with offering unlimited lives and no death penalty by offering great atmoshpere and original story. News flash: nobody plays Mario for the fucking story. That leaves gameplay. The easier you make a game that relies on gameplay to succeed, the less reason there is to play the game at all. Why else are you playing it? To experience the amazing atmosphere? To find out what happens next? You rescue the fucking Princess. Without challenge of some degree, these kinds of games are nothing.

I think everyone can agree with me that they wouldn't buy games if they all played themselves. Of course, this isn't the case, but Demo Mode is certainly a step in that direction. Games don't need to play themselves to be basically useless. If the story isn't intriguing, it's the gameplay, and if the game doesn't offer a challenge, then it basically IS playing itself.

Summing it up, I care about this because it's a sign that gaming is moving even farther from where I wanted it to go. If NSMBWii has a set of really difficult secret levels in the vein of the Awesome, Tubular, Etc. levels from SMW, I will eat my words, but I guaranee the entire game will be easy. The only reason I'll be buying it is because it will be one of the few games my girlfriend might actually enjoy playing with me. Lord knows she'd rather clean the apartment than try playing Prototype.

I agree with you. Although for me it is an issue of a further decline in standards. Erosion is a slow process sometimes, the end result compared to the beginning can be dramatic.

Look at the original Zelda, there's nice difficulty there that required good memory and thinking skills. Look at recent entries in the series - too easy, less thinking and memory required. HEY!!

Seems more like de-evolution than evolution of the gaming sector. To me.

Yes! I'm not alone! :D

Some old school Nintendo fans understand... I just bought Ninja Gaiden and Startropics complete w boxes n manuals.. Those csn't be beaten without dying :D