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View Full Version : Electroplankton coming January 9th

bapenguin
10-25-2005, 05:42 AM
IGN (http://www.ign.com) has the scoop (http://ds.ign.com/articles/661/661092p1.html) that we should see Electroplankton for the Nintendo DS on January 9th, 2006 here in the US.

The musical toy will feature all of the ten different modes that put the DS system's touch screen and microphone to use for gamers to create some trippy and occasionally harmonious music.

"Electroplankton represents just one of the many ways that Nintendo is developing new kinds of software to reach new audiences," said George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Even if you have never played a video game, you can pick it up and start making amazing musical combinations with no instruction."
It's a shame they couldn't get this out for the Holiday rush.
KamaItachi
10-25-2005, 05:49 AM
It's a shame they couldn't get this out for the Holiday rush.

I'm sure Online Mario Kart will ease your pain, bap.
disc
10-25-2005, 06:10 AM
Electroplankton had sold about 5000 copies in Japan until September. I cant see why they bother.
Vandenh
10-25-2005, 06:12 AM
It is a weird "game"... but I liked playing around with it.
KarmaGhost
10-25-2005, 06:30 AM
That's the second DS game (that I've heard of) that requires you to use the microphone in some way. It might be a great thing, but I thought this was a portable system? I don't feel like talking to my handheld in public.

Of course, I guess the simple solution to that would be to not buy the game in the first place.
Lizard Dude
10-25-2005, 06:56 AM
That's the second DS game (that I've heard of) that requires you to use the microphone in some way. It might be a great thing, but I thought this was a portable system? I don't feel like talking to my handheld in public.

Of course, I guess the simple solution to that would be to not buy the game in the first place.

There are definitely more than two games that require mic. (Off the top of my head: Feel the Magic, WarioWare: Touched!, Nintendogs.)

Electroplankton really doesn't seem like an "in public" type of game to begin with, anyway. :/ I did play the downloadable demo of it at E3 and it was really neat.
Demo_Boy
10-25-2005, 08:32 AM
I dont really see the "shame" in it not making the xmas rush.
thecrazyd
10-25-2005, 08:48 AM
And to think I just imported it.
Bone
10-25-2005, 08:55 AM
It's not a game so much as a musical toy... and I want it.
Orosco
10-25-2005, 09:38 AM
Only selling it online and at the World of Nintendo store sure isn't going to help its popularity. Still, glad to see its going to be released here in the US.
mister_slim
10-25-2005, 01:17 PM
At least this way I don't have to see unsold copies on the shelf every time I enter a game store, slowly destroying my faith in humanity.

Anyone know if the NA version will have the full manual?
Harlan Hoyt
10-25-2005, 02:49 PM
Electroplankton had sold about 5000 copies in Japan until September. I cant see why they bother.

This is the kind of attitude that is holding gaming back from becoming something way more interesting and relevant than it is now. Who cares how many copies it sold? It's an interesting bit of electronic entertainment. I would like to see more things in line with this -- kinda like arthouse movies. You can have your big blockbuster action hits, but it's also nice to check out what is going on on a smaller budget and with a different set of rules. I'll be buying this for sure.

I think only selling it online (for all intents and purposes) is genius. As everyone knows, this is not a blockbuster-potential game. Hopefully it will sell enough for Nintendo to justify continuing development of odd, out of the way games.
UnderHero5
10-25-2005, 07:01 PM
I imported Electroplankton about 3 months ago. It's a fun little title. Good sound.

I couldn't wait for a US release, I wanted it then, hehe.
Kind of sucks, because now my sale isn't going toward the US version... so that's one less person who buys the US version and one less reason for them to sell other games like Electroplankton in the States.
Kefkataran
10-25-2005, 07:17 PM
I think it's probably better they couldn't get it out for the holiday rush. This way the quirky little game has a little more of a shot at being noticed instead of drowned in the sea of Christmas releases.
Last of the Red Hot Mamas
10-25-2005, 10:05 PM
Electroplankton had sold about 5000 copies in Japan until September. I cant see why they bother.

I recall hearing that Katamari Damacy sold better in the U.S. than it did in Japan. There's a market for quirkiness here, it's just a tricky one to crack. Selling the game this way minimizes the risk -- they don't have to deal with the Wal-Mart/Target/Costco/etc. market, so if the game bombs they're not going to have tens of thousands of unsold copies to contend with. If the game does well in limited release they can also do a larger roll-out later.
mister_slim
10-26-2005, 05:38 PM
I recall hearing that Katamari Damacy sold better in the U.S. than it did in Japan. There's a market for quirkiness here, it's just a tricky one to crack. Selling the game this way minimizes the risk -- they don't have to deal with the Wal-Mart/Target/Costco/etc. market, so if the game bombs they're not going to have tens of thousands of unsold copies to contend with. If the game does well in limited release they can also do a larger roll-out later.
I think Nintendo still has their retail space solely due to their games not dropping in price as quickly as most. Their games seem to keep selling at full retail for quite a long time. Makes ordering and inventory a bit easier than trying to nail demand that first month and not be left with excess stock.