Olongapo

What? No hot coffee feature? Lame!

"Let's face facts. Nintendo did well in America at first because it was the ONLY option. "

Um no. Nintendo's localization team recognized that the video console market was in dire straits and stores were reluctant to carry them, so they had to change their approach on how to market the Famicom. What they did was pack in a robot and a light gun and said "Video game console? What video game console? This is an ENTERTAINMENT system." And people ate it up. Packing some bizarre game about a plumber, fire breathing turtles, and body altering mushrooms also seemed to help. Once the NES started gaining momentum, Nintendo relegated the robot and the gun to their deluxe package while producing more of the mainstream package without those items.

Know your market, and adjust accordingly.

I find it amusing that folks are going "Duh! It's Mario, ya stupid redneck" while having the luxury of being informed that it was a prank hours after the incident occurred. Hindsight is always 20/20, you know.


I'd be surprised if the bomb squad was NOT involved if this incident occurred in any city, regardless if it's looks like.

"I think I remember reading a few months back that Nintendo is unsure if the shell will be included or not. I personally think it should be included b/c there will probably be some titles that won't use/need/can't use the one-handed remote controller."
-- JAGO


Personally, would I agree with your sentiments, but I feel like playing devil's advocate.


Nintendo is staking its future on a new way to play games. Their mantra is that they are not going to compete with the other two, and have accepted that their machine will not be as powerful as the other two. Adding the classic shell will be like a crutch for developers who can't think out of the box (ooh linked clich?), and that would deter whatever vision of the future Nintendo has in store.


Consider this:

If the Revolution is your second system, and RE 5 comes out utilizing the classic shell scheme. Why would you buy it? It will bring nothing that your other, more powerful system currently possesses.

If the Revolution becomes almost everybody else's second system, then a fairly small minority will have the Revolution as their first system. Porting a game to the benefit of a small minority may not be worth it.

A small benefit for adding the classic shell is that it may lure indie developers who do not want to think out of the box since the development costs would be considerably cheaper...but I'm trying to play devil's advocate, so ignore just ignore that tidbit.


Going off-topic now...

"Capcom really does try and make unique experiences with Nintendo, so I have no doubt that they will try different things with the controller."
-- Pip

I can imagine Ookami using the pointer as a calligraphy pen. That would be so cool.

"if developers aren't ready to release a product (eM, 99 Nights, DOA4) there's not MS can do"

They could have delayed the launch until some decent games were ready. Sure there would have been some grumbling that the Westerners got their systems first, but MS could have taken the Japanese route, apologize (like Nintendo) for the tardiness of their system, and guarantee (hype) that the games that would come out at launch would be worth it.

However, they were so fixated on this world-wide launch window that they didn't care if there were any decent games for the Japanese. Few people bought it, and instead of a late system, the perception of the Xbox 360 is that of a failing system.

I question the logic he had tying some systems with the white arrows. Is he thinking cosmetic similarity?
Technical similarity. Am I mulling over this too much?

I've always thought that the first hand-held electronic games were made by Mattel with its Electronic sports (loved by Electronic Football 2) games series and Merlin. I guess the author was only considering removable media games...

I'll be surprised if Sony does not announce anything at the CES, especially if it concerns a Spring 2006 launch. Spring is only a few months away. Why not lure away the folks who are still waiting for an Xbox 360?

If don't have a showing at CES, then it could mean two things.

1) Sony thinks that anyone who pre-ordered an Xbox 360 is a Microsoft fanboy and it would be pointless wasting any marketing money to lure them to the PS3.

2) The PS3 will launch not launch in spring 2006 and Sony does not have anything substantial to show (e.g. playable games that look good).

Oh well. We'll find out soon enough...