Thad

"a game to kill for"

Groan.

I just had to get my original-model DS repaired because the top screen cracked. Anybody have any suggestions for something similar for the bigger model?

"it's well worth pouring over"

Pouring what, exactly?

"Microsoft ranked #5 for their software innovation"

Huh.

Would that be for the UI that's playing catchup to Apple, the security system that's playing catchup to Unix, the Web server that's playing catchup to Apache, or the browser that's playing catchup to Firefox?

"But Nintendo themselves have said that the design of the SNES controller was based on arcade machines of the day, which often featured two rows of three buttons. (The Genesis controller was based on the same configuration, but did the opposite of the SNES controller - it chopped off a row instead of a column.)"

But it's NOT two rows of three buttons. It's a diamond of four.

"Why did we go to the D-Pad? Nintendo."

"That's a bit of a stretch. It's like saying "why do we have peanuts? Planter's.""

Or "Why do we have terrible analogies? Jeff."

"Nintendo's implementation may have proven the most popular among modern systems, but lots of companies did "d-pads" before Nintendo, they just weren't called that. And I would call this a fairly obvious feature - I mean Nintendo doesn't have a patent on the d-pad, they've only got a patent on the recessed cross shape - one implementation of the d-pad. The generic d-pad itself is too obvious to patent. (I personally think the cross should be too, but whatever.)"

I'll grant it's obvious in hindsight. Obvious at the time is a little more debatable. Yes, a few companies had been moving in that direction, with circles and four-button combos and such, but the cross shape is Nintendo's. And if it was so damn obvious, how come none of the "lots of companies" who you say "did "d-pads" before Nintendo" came up with it and instead banged their heads against inferior designs?

As for the rest, it's been tackled by other commenters. Yes, there are a LOT of cases where Nintendo wasn't the first to do something, but WAS the first to do it WELL -- analog sticks, wireless controllers, and, yes, motion-sensitive controls. The fact that a product existed previously doesn't mean it worked well.

Wow, you know, I never noticed that.

Because not only am I under 20, I am also blind and stupid.

W-H-A-T D-O Y-O-U G-E-T W-H-E-N Y-O-U M-U-L-T-I-P-L-Y S-I-X B-Y N-I-N-E

"Should you perhaps consider that the word "revolution" carries with it complex connotations in a number of cultures?"

Of course.

You should also consider the connotations of "Wii" in a number of cultures.

...Anyway. I find that when I bring it up in casual conversation with non-gamers I generally say "Nintendo Wii".

There's a good point here somewhere -- unlocking songs can be a hassle, especially in a game like this which is suitable for party play. But it's hidden behind a bunch of nonsense, especially that bit about false advertising.

If you don't like the way a game's designed, that's fine. But to claim the way a game is structured is immoral and illegal is absolutely moronic.

At first this sounded impressive.

Then I remembered I live in Phoenix.