Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Daglow defends Wii as next-gen]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/daglow-defends-wii-as-next-gen/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/daglow-defends-wii-as-next-gen/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/20/daglow-defends-wii-as-next-gen/#commentsFiled under:

Stormfront Studios' Don Daglow doesn't see the Wii as two GameCubes duct-taped together. Rather, Don is of the mind that the experience dictates how evolved it is perceived by the player. Sure, it lacks the sheer processing power its competitors do, but its ability to provide us with truly unique experiences trumps that.

"Next-gen hardware is any platform that, upon its introduction, dramatically changes players' view of the potential for interactive entertainment," he adds."If it changes the player's view of what interactive entertainment is; if you think differently about it; if you have a new perspective after playing the game that you didn't have before, to me that's next-gen."

But isn't it all about evolution of the game itself, not just its hyper photo-realistic graphics, when it comes to the next-gen debate? That's why we thought Daglow's remarks during his GCDC speech this afternoon were so in line with our beliefs.

JoystiqDaglow defends Wii as next-gen originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ducttapegcdc07Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Another side to Chris Hecker's duct tape rant]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/another-side-to-chris-heckers-duct-tape-rant/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/another-side-to-chris-heckers-duct-tape-rant/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/12/another-side-to-chris-heckers-duct-tape-rant/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you've followed the Game Developers Conference at all, you probably heard about Maxis programmer Chris Hecker comments that the Wii is nothing more than two GameCubes duct tape together (though, to be fair, that's a 0.5 upgrade from comments that the Wii is "GameCube 1.5"). We're willing to wager that "Product X is just two Product Ys duct tape together" is on track to becoming a popular phrase in gaming circles.

Kim Pallister of Microsoft Casual Games has risen to Hecker's defense, which ultimately led to an apology we feel was somewhat coerced by his overlords at EA and Maxis. The major point in Hecker's argument is that having an innovative control system "should not give them a 'get out of jail free card' on the fact that they have delivered an underpowered machine," according to Pallister's interpretation. And by underpowered, Hecker is referring to computations and not the graphics system, which puts his rant in line with what he said last year that the PS3 and Xbox 360 also underperform in terms of computational power while focusing on a graphics-heavy system.

We're not going to take sides on his point that Nintendo needs to "recognize and push games as a serious art form," though the statement does make for a great discussion. We will say all three companies have pushed for more involvement with independent developers. (Microsoft has Castle Crashers and Roboblitz, Sony has flOw and LittleBigPlanet and Nintendo has Line Rider and possibly Telltale's Sam & Max.)

Don't forget about the heap of praise that the IGDA community gave Hecker just last year after winning the Community Contribution Award. Though, to be fair, that award is just two IGF awards duct taped together.

JoystiqAnother side to Chris Hecker's duct tape rant originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris heckerChrisHeckercultureduct tapeDuctTapeeaElectronic-Artsgdcgdc 07Gdc07maxismicrosoft casual gamesMicrosoftCasualGamespallisterpublishers rantPublishersRantrantMon, 12 Mar 2007 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Spore developer rants on Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/spore-developer-rants-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/spore-developer-rants-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/07/spore-developer-rants-on-wii/#commentsFiled under:

Chris Hecker didn't pull any punches at GDC's "Game Publisher's Rant" session. The Maxis developer began his "Fear of a Wii Planet" diatribe by declaring, "The Wii is a piece of sh*t."

He went on to describe the console as being vastly underpowered, citing low graphical standards and an inability to process complicated AI. According to Hecker's exaggerations, "The way you manufacture a Wii is you take two GameCubes and duct tape." As if that wasn't already enough to break a fanboy's heart, he called on Nintendo to "make a console that doesn't suck ass."

His complaints weren't limited to hardware gripes -- he also criticized Nintendo for not pushing games as an art form. Maybe he hasn't seen Electroplankton or the bit Generations games?

Hecker's rants from previous years were just as brutally harsh on Sony and Microsoft, but we're sure that will do little to tame the wrath of offended gamers. Bringing Spore to the DS might have earned him enough good will to make it out of the session unharmed, but he might want to avoid walking around GDC alone at night until this cools down.

JoystiqSpore developer rants on Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artartisticbitgenerationsducttapeelectroplanktongamecubegdcgdc07nintendonintendowiirantsporeunderpoweredwiiWed, 07 Mar 2007 19:25:00 EST