What Made Nintendo's DS so Popular? [Archive]

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 05:58 AM

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz) has published a summary (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2081&Itemid=2) of an article that originally appeared in Famitsu asking that very question - some of the answers may surprise you.

1. Great Promotions

A famous Japanese actress, Nanako Matsushima, appeared on a recent commercial for More Brain Training, and for once the woman they dragged out to pose with a videogame actually seemed to be really enjoying herself.

2. Demo stations were plentiful

In any department store in Japan, there are DS demo stations. Usually the screens are scratched to high hell (I can't imagine what people are DOING with the stylus), and lately, there are a lot of games to choose from. On the launch day of Xbox 360, I recall seeing a line eight persons deep to play Super Mario Kart DS, and not one person even looking at the 360. This was in Shibuya Tsutaya, statistically the most foot-trafficked game retailer in all of Japan.

continues (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2081&Itemid=2)...
Be sure to check out the rest of this artice - it's good stuff!

DrHogie

01-19-2006, 06:09 AM

It's funny. My first reaction to the DS was "Man, that's one gimmicky console to try and steal the PSP's thunder". But -- as the preview says -- there was a demo station before launch. I've seen demo stations for the DS all over the place.

I still have yet to see a PSP demo station. Period.

Course, that (and game selection, and enjoyment/fun factor, and battery life, and . . .) is why I own 2 DS units (one for me, one for my wife) and don't own a PSP.

Chimpbot

01-19-2006, 06:21 AM

I still have yet to see a PSP demo station. Period.

Have you ever heard of a little place called Electronics Boutique?
They sortakindamaybe have a PSP demo unit.

Of course, demo stations are almost required for something like the DS; it's so different from everything else on the market, so people will definitely want to try it out before they actually go out and purchase one. The PSP, however, is a bit more "standard fare", so people know what to expect for the most part.

Overall, it's been the game selection that's made the DS as good as it is. Personally, I own more DS games than Game Boy, Gameboy Color and GBA games combined. It's easily the best damn handheld I've ever had the pleasure to own.

NoName

01-19-2006, 06:22 AM

It's funny. My first reaction to the DS was "Man, that's one gimmicky console"
Ya Know, I think that was most peoples reactions to seeing the DS for the first time, fanboy or not.

Still, after seeing all the great games that came out for it I eventually had to get one (and one for my girlfriend).

Basically, you can walk up to the download station, take your own DS out of your backpack, turn it on, and choose "Download." You will then see a list of demos available on the stations.
Do we have download stations like this in the US? That'd be really cool...

DaedalusFolly

01-19-2006, 06:27 AM

Do we have download stations like this in the US? That'd be really cool...

Not that I've ever seen or heard, though they did have them at E3. You can however, with the proper wireless router chipset, spoof these terminals on your computer and play alot of the demos that have come out.

I don't have the chipset so I havent tried it, but I have the information around here somewhere if you're interested in trying it.

DrHogie

01-19-2006, 06:28 AM

Have you ever heard of a little place called Electronics Boutique?
They sortakindamaybe have a PSP demo unit.

Actually, I've been in 2 or 3 EBs -- never seen a PSP demo unit in those stores. I don't have an EB locally, but I have been to EB stores here and there. I'm in Starkville, MS, btw. (Been to EBs in Tupelo, MS and Birmingham, AL).

agentgray

01-19-2006, 06:33 AM

Actually, I've been in 2 or 3 EBs -- never seen a PSP demo unit in those stores. I don't have an EB locally, but I have been to EB stores here and there. I'm in Starkville, MS, btw. (Been to EBs in Tupelo, MS and Birmingham, AL).
I'm in Chicagoland and been in up to eight EBs. Not once did I ever see a demo unit, but let's not make this a PSP/DS debate. The article is good in stating that why it was selling well, not as to what it was compared to. I mean, look at Japan's top ten games. That alone should be reason to tell you why the DS is selling.

see colon

01-19-2006, 06:36 AM

i just got off the line wth the reginal manager of EB for my area (he lives pretty close to me). there are no EBs with PSP demo stations in his region. that's about a 100 mile radius from me i think.

as for DS download stations, many DS demo units had nintendogs downloads a while ago. and many DS demo units, assuming they have retail copies of the game, have demos. meteos, polarium, advance wars and other retail games have demos you can transfer to your friends.

thecrazyd

01-19-2006, 06:37 AM

So... Mr. Avatar... do you still stand by your statement that the DS has no features that anyone would ever want?

bapenguin

01-19-2006, 06:44 AM

What makes the DS so popular? One word. Nintendo.

It's all about the name brand in the handheld market.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 06:46 AM

What makes the DS so popular? One word. Nintendo.

It's all about the name brand in the handheld market.
That was too easy! :)

crashedout

01-19-2006, 06:56 AM

What makes the DS so popular? One word. Nintendo.

It's all about the name brand in the handheld market.

That is not how they got me to buy it---> games...always about the games. New, unique games and very good 2d games are what got me. I avoid brand loyalty, it wastes money.

Reanimated

01-19-2006, 07:03 AM

This is easy - it has a shitload of GREAT games.

Games sell systems. Period.

ChaosDent

01-19-2006, 07:12 AM

What makes the DS so popular? One word. Nintendo.

It's all about the name brand in the handheld market.

It was argued before the DS and PSP were released that "Playstation" would hold more sway in the area of brand recognition. What comes with "Nintendo" is a solid understanding of what makes handheld games and systems appealing: low prices and simple yet addictive gameplay. Don't doubt that if Nintendo falters they will lose their dominant position in the handheld market just as fast as they lost it in the console market.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 07:17 AM

It was argued before the DS and PSP were released that "Playstation" would hold more sway in the area of brand recognition. What comes with "Nintendo" is a solid understanding of what makes handheld games and systems appealing: low prices and simple yet addictive gameplay. Don't doubt that if Nintendo falters they will lose their dominant position in the handheld market just as fast as they lost it in the console market.
The Gameboy family and DS have helped keep Nintendo's head above water in the last few years - there's no way they'll lose the handheld battle. Just look at how many competitors have tried, going from the Game Gear, Lynx, etc. right up to the PSP. Granted, the 'battle' between PSP and DS is far from over, but even a true unbeliever would have to concede that the DS is far and away the most popular current handheld.

RGetz

01-19-2006, 07:22 AM

The Gamestop at my mall has a PSP demo, but the EB in the same mall does not.

Taco

01-19-2006, 07:25 AM

What makes the DS so popular? One word. Nintendo.

It's all about the name brand in the handheld market.

Of course that's part of it, but what of the price? I bought one for $120. What's the alternative, an inferior gaming platform in the PSP for $250.00? No brainer to me.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 07:29 AM

Of course that's part of it, but what of the price? I bought one for $120. What's the alternative, an inferior gaming platform in the PSP for $250.00? No brainer to me.
Ah, but you can't watch movies on the DS! That's easily worth the extra $130. :)

thecrazyd

01-19-2006, 07:32 AM

Ah, but you can't watch movies on the DS! That's easily worth the extra $130. :)
Ah, but you can't play games on the PSP! I guess you need to buy both for the full package.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 07:36 AM

Ah, but you can't play games on the PSP! I guess you need to buy both for the full package.
Excellent! Sure you can play games on the PSP, it's just that Sony are more interested in milking the UMD movie market right now.

Taco

01-19-2006, 07:37 AM

I've never really seen the appeal of mobile video platforms. Talk about wrecking an experience.

EternalGamer

01-19-2006, 07:41 AM

I think the DS has shown Nintendo has the real ability to sucessfully go after the "non-gaming" segment of the population, at least in Japan. Animal Crossing is an absolutely brillant game, even for people who don't play games. It's incredibly easy to pick up, and you can play it at your own pace. It plays like no game ever made. I think I've told you all of about the 70 year old guy I rent from and how he has become addicted to it and plays every day. I myself played with the Gamecube version for well over a year and am now having a fanastic time on the DS. I sincerely think Animal Crossing might be the best game I have ever played. It doesn't beat you over te head with a large dose of "awesome," it just charms you subtly overtime. And if there is a more original game and one that does a better job of defying traditional genre paradigms, I can't think of it.

I can't speak for Brain Trainings "genius" the way I can speak for Animal Crossings, but it certainly seems it has suceeded in the same grounds, outside of the traditional gaming paradigm. All this bodes very well for the Revolution, since a large part of Nintendo's strategy is to expand the gaming market and make gaming more intuitive.

Dan

thecrazyd

01-19-2006, 07:42 AM

Excellent! Sure you can play games on the PSP, it's just that Sony are more interested in milking the UMD movie market right now.
Well, if you want to get all abstract on me, then I guess it is feasible that a game could be released on the PSP, on some alternate dimension, but I definately don't think we will be seeing playable games in our lifetime. We will be in flying cars before the PSP gets a playable game released.

EternalGamer

01-19-2006, 07:47 AM

On the subject of demo units, I think every major retailers I have been in in this area has DS systems on display while only one, Best Buy has a PSP, and that only went up very recently (in the last month). In fact, tooling around with it at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago was my first experience ever actually playing a PSP. "Playing" might be the wrong word. What I did was stare at a load screen for "Def Jam" (or some such) for about 20 seconds before seeing an error connection screen only to hit the "go back" button and stare at a loading screen for another 15 seconds to get back to the character selection screen. From there I hit "exit game" (because I thought it was in some type of wireless connect mode) and waited another 10 seconds to get back to the title screen and start the loading game ALL over again in reverse. I literally spent more time watching the screen load than I did playing the game. When the game actually came up, I fiddled with it for about half a minute and lost interest.

Thank God for DS cartridges.

Dan

Taco

01-19-2006, 07:49 AM

Hmm, maybe you were mistakenly playing the hit PSP game Patience. Just takes a little practice.

thecrazyd

01-19-2006, 07:52 AM

Hmm, maybe you were mistakenly playing the hit PSP game Patience. Just takes a little practice.
Well, I will practice on my DS till something other then Patience hits.

EternalGamer

01-19-2006, 07:53 AM

Hmm, maybe you were mistakenly playing the hit PSP game Patience. Just takes a little practice.

Apparently, from what I was able to deduce, every PSP game comes with that game built in absolutely free! Or maybe it was just a special added bonus for Def Jam fans. Either way, I'm seriously not one to usually complain about load screens and I have never come into contact with a situition where load screens are a deal breaker for me (I have to admit I have gotten pretty annoyed with Quake 4's on the 360, though). However, the complaints about the load times on the PSP never hit home until you actually play one and realize that damn games have to LOAD everything. I mean, it had to load the title screen for crying out loud. I admit that it probably would have helped if it were a game I was actually interested in playing to begin with (like Twisted Metal or Lumines). But still, I suddenly became really grateful that Nintendo went with cartridges again.

Dan

Kelegacy

01-19-2006, 07:53 AM

What makes the DS so popular? One word. Nintendo.

It's all about the name brand in the handheld market.
I bought a handheld for the first time since 1989. I'm not a handheld gamer by nature. But I can tell you that the namebrand did not sell the system to me. It was the games.

Taco

01-19-2006, 07:54 AM

Most companies use Pong while Sony builds an entirely new game from scratch. Very impressive IMHO.

Chimpbot

01-19-2006, 07:55 AM

I find it odd that nobody has PSP demo units...because the closest EB to me(which is four hours away...) has one. I live in Maine, mind you.

Thank God for DS cartridges

Keep in mind that the UMD is an entirely new format; kinks need to be worked out. Really, the only advantage that cards/cartridges have over CD-ish formats is the load time...which has been drastically improved with the optical discs in recent years. I do think the UMD is an excellent format, and in a few years it will become a fantastic format for gaming.
It'll just take some time, is all.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 07:57 AM

Well, if you want to get all abstract on me, then I guess it is feasible that a game could be released on the PSP, on some alternate dimension, but I definately don't think we will be seeing playable games in our lifetime. We will be in flying cars before the PSP gets a playable game released.
Yep, that about covers it, although I would like to add that the PSP stores pictures. Still pictures, mind you, not the moving ones. And rumor also has it that the analog nub is a biometric scanner. Having considered all that, it's clear to me that the PSP in not a gaming handheld at all, and to think otherwise only sets one up for an almighty disappointment.

thecrazyd

01-19-2006, 07:58 AM

Keep in mind that the UMD is an entirely new format; kinks need to be worked out. Really, the only advantage that cards/cartridges have over CD-ish formats is the load time...which has been drastically improved with the optical discs in recent years. I do think the UMD is an excellent format, and in a few years it will become a fantastic format for gaming.
It'll just take some time, is all.
Don't forget battery usage, being less susceptable to drops, and the lack of moving parts. The only advantage disk based formats have is greater storage.

Taco

01-19-2006, 08:00 AM

Indeed, what exactly is the point of an optical disc in a portable unit? Other than pushing Sony's perpetual "proprietary crappy media" agenda.

Taco

01-19-2006, 08:02 AM

Quick search reveals the UMD stores 1.8gb and Nintendo lists the DS cartridge at 1+ GB. Worth it?

didragondi

01-19-2006, 08:03 AM

Ah, but you can't watch movies on the DS! That's easily worth the extra $130.
__________________
I cannot figure if you are being sarcastic or not. Having no less than four DVD players already, I cannot imagine why I would want a handheld to play more expensive movies from a brand new format on, rather than just watch it on at the larger screen at home.

ChaosDent

01-19-2006, 08:03 AM

Solid sate media is faster both in seek times and transfer rate, consumes less power and is typically more durable than optical and magnetic media. Really the only advantage optical media have over solid state is capacity, and it will only be a matter of time before solid state catches up in this regard.

EternalGamer

01-19-2006, 08:05 AM

And actually, I think larger storage media is a downside for portables. Portable games are almost always smaller in budgeting scale. Companies that make portable games seem to frequently do well specifically because of this fact. Now Sony has brought the big budget technology race to the portable market, and I dont' think there are many developers itching to spent a million dollars developing portable gaming software.

Dan

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 08:06 AM

EternalGamer

01-19-2006, 08:08 AM

Quick search reveals the UMD stores 1.8gb and Nintendo lists the DS cartridge at 1+ GB. Worth it?

Really? I had no idea the DS had such a large storage capacity. It is still considerably below console based DVDs, of course, but that is much closer than I suspected. It is close enough to make my previous argument a moot point.

Still I think load times, durability and stability are great advantages of the cart based format, especially for portable systems.

Dan

bapenguin

01-19-2006, 08:08 AM

I bought a handheld for the first time since 1989. I'm not a handheld gamer by nature. But I can tell you that the namebrand did not sell the system to me. It was the games.

I think a large majority of young gamers (I'm talking kids like 1st grade though 5th grade) got the system because it was the "New Nintendo" system. My wife teaches first grade and there we numerous accounts of kids asking each other if they got the Nintendo with 2 screens.

Taco

01-19-2006, 08:11 AM

Wasn't too surprising seeing how cheap and large SD disks are these days, which I believe the DS is a hybrid of. I bet if they charged for DS games what Sony does for PSP they could get away with 4+GB.

EternalGamer

01-19-2006, 08:18 AM

And that baps, is the type of thing that makes me feel good about Nintendo. They make the types of games I would WANT a first grader to be playing. My nephew, who is also in first grade, wantede a PS2 with Grand Theft Auto for Xmas, which his dad actually bought him. However, I bought him a Gamecube with Animal Crossingl, Pokemon Channel, and Simpson Hit & Run (a little heavy, but definately a better alternative to GTA for a kid). Guess which one he liked better. :)

But aside from the "kid friendly" aspect, I think Nintendo's games just tend to show more imagination and inspire the development of it (seriously). Animal Crossing especially actually teaches a lot values that I think are really great such as community development and sharing. Things like donating to the museum and to giving money to help the poor people of "Boondocks" (the name of a town you can send charity to in Wild World). It also feeds on kids (and everybody elses) inquisitive nature to explore nature (insects, fish, fossils, astronomy). It establishes a sense of pride in community and encourages people to work together to build that community. It even helps develop reading skills (the writing in both games is really great and full of personality and humor). I can't think of a better game for any first grader to be playing, or really, anyone else for that matter.

Dan

PS. I do wish however, we could keep the first graders playing the game rather than posting about it on our forum. :)

score

01-19-2006, 08:29 AM

Quick search reveals the UMD stores 1.8gb and Nintendo lists the DS cartridge at 1+ GB. Worth it?

1GB? Really?

I thought the GC optical disks could only hold a gig? I wonder why they released the GC with a disk based system instead of the cartridge (unless it only just became feasable...)

Taco

01-19-2006, 08:32 AM

googled for: nintendo ds cartridge capacity. The number is everywhere so I think it's accurate. I don't know, 1gb isn't really that much anymore. I wasn't surprised. I believe I read the GBA had 512mb cartridges.

Edit: Scratch that 512 figure, that may have just been empty cartridged you can buy and write to that the GBA can read. Not sure how large the actual retail games were.

ChaosDent

01-19-2006, 08:32 AM

1GB? Really?

I thought the GC optical disks could only hold a gig? I wonder why they released the GC with a disk based system instead of the cartridge (unless it only just became feasable...)

He's confused, the ds cards started with a 1Gb max capacity not 1GB. There were some indications that the cards could go higher in the future without breaking system compatibility, but for now the biggest games can be is 128 MB.

Edit: The confusion arises because nintendo measures all of their cartredge capacities in bits rather than bytes. It is not an inacurate way of measuring but it can be misleading to people accustomed to typical computer memory measurements.

Taco

01-19-2006, 08:37 AM

oh yeah, you're right my bad :D.

http://hardware.gamespot.com/Story-ST-11722-1231-4-6-x

The DS game card is smaller than the GBA cartridge, and it resembles a hybrid flash memory card. Nintendo states that maximum card capacity is more than one gigabit, or 128MB in size.

Easy to slip up though, no? ;)

subgenius

01-19-2006, 08:51 AM

As a strictly PC gamer, I'm interested in learning how/when you DS owners use the uhhh... DS. I mean, do you find yourselves often playing it *instead* of your PC, or is it strictly for those occasions when you're away from your PC? In other words, is it compelling enough to complement PC gaming in a home environment (I don't have much opportunity for truly mobile gaming)?

Finally, I'm in my late-30's, have loved PC gaming for just about forever. What will I think of the DS crop of games?

A prospective buyer...

Nite_Moogle

01-19-2006, 08:56 AM

My DS has replaced everything i used to use my GBA for. Trips, bathroom time, wind-down gaming before bed, WoW flight paths, etc. The GBA never quite fit in my pockets the way it was so I either carried it in my coat or in a bag and the DS does that equally well.

Really the only reason to have a GBA nowdays is the smaller size or the legacy compatibility. The DS has really turned into a solid product. I just wish the damn postage stamps weren't so easy to lose, I just know one of these days I'm going to pop out Mario Kart on accident and that'll be the end of that...

Taco

01-19-2006, 08:56 AM

It's a fun little time killer for 30 minutes and I use it when I'm away from home in a boring situation. However my PC has been out of commision for a month now(mobo replacement this Monday, finally) so it's gotten more playtime than it usually would.

Finally, I'm in my late-30's, have loved PC gaming for just about forever. What will I think of the DS crop of games?

As a die hard PC gamer I like them for what they are, diversions. They certainly are not as epic or engrossing as a PC game. In the end it's a handheld and can't hold a candle to a reall full fledged gaming machine.

I do like it more than my XBox though ;).

score

01-19-2006, 08:57 AM

Well, Since I got my DS I've barely used my PC for gaming :) but thats probably because there isn't anything really interesting (to me) out for it at the moment...

Taco

01-19-2006, 08:59 AM

Oh, and playing Mario Kart from your couch against four guys over the internet is really really cool. The DS's wireless support adds another dimension.

agentgray

01-19-2006, 09:02 AM

That is not how they got me to buy it---> games...always about the games. New, unique games and very good 2d games are what got me. I avoid brand loyalty, it wastes money.
Exactly. It wasn't Nintendo's name. It was the games. I originally bouught a PSP. Sony had me there, but I wanted to play games, not wait for them (to play and come out) and not to watch movies.

However, I will say this, I own or have owned just about every console and the Nintendo consoles are the ones I keep coming back to the most, time and time again. (Never owned a 64 though)

EternalGamer

01-19-2006, 09:03 AM

I can't speak for PC gaming, but I can tell you it has been taking alot of my console gametime away. I have barely played my 360 since Xmas when I got Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, and Sonic. I almost never play it when I am away from home, but I do take it with me somewhere on occasion, especially if I want to trade something in AC, I've taken it to lunch with me to find a local WiFi spot.

Mostly, though, I play it on my couch, or during study breaks at my desk. Occasionally when there is a television program I am "half interested" in, I will play it while "watching" TV.

Dan

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 09:05 AM

Exactly. It wasn't Nintendo's name. It was the games. I originally bouught a PSP. Sony had me there, but I wanted to play games, not wait for them (to play and come out) and not to watch movies.

However, I will say this, I own or have owned just about every console and the Nintendo consoles are the ones I keep coming back to the most, time and time again. (Never owned a 64 though)
Holy motherfucking shit! Go buy a used N64 for $18 and pick up GoldenEye, BlastCorps, Conker, Zelda, Perfect Dark and Mario 64! Don't forget the RAM expansion pak. You're missing out on some absolute classics.

51|RandoM

01-19-2006, 09:28 AM

Excellent! Sure you can play games on the PSP, it's just that Sony are more interested in milking the UMD movie market right now.

Uh, if Sony had great games for the PSP, they'd be selling them, not sitting on them to 'milk' the UMD market.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 09:30 AM

Uh, if Sony had great games for the PSP, they'd be selling them, not sitting on them to 'milk' the UMD market.
Holy... It was sarcasm. You just made my point.

antoniogaud

01-19-2006, 09:34 AM

I bought both the PSP and the DS when they first came out. Initially, I thought that the PSP would have the advantage - what with all of the technical features, movie playback, etc... I thought that the DS was a BIG mistake... until... I played the Metroid demo at EBGames and was immediately hooked! The gameplay was smooth, responsive, and the stylus was at the very least unique, possibly genius.

Since that time, I have bought 10+ DS games, and 2 PSP games (Tiger Woods, Madden and MLB). Of those 2 games, I liked Madden but I returned it because the load times and gameplay freezes ruined the game for me. The load times in Tiger Woods are even worse. Talk about a way to ruin a game, having to wait 30 seconds between holes.

Overall, although I wanted to like the PSP, I just dont play with it very often. In fact, I haven't touched it in months. I think it is a brilliant but flawed machine. Where is Gran Turismo btw?

As for the DS, their games seem to be just reaching the peak of creativity, and I cant wait for Metroid!! Previous posters are right, the DS is a success because of its gaming library. The uniqueness of the dual-screens and the stylus only add to the gaming experience (when used correctly).

51|RandoM

01-19-2006, 09:35 AM

1GB? Really?

I thought the GC optical disks could only hold a gig? I wonder why they released the GC with a disk based system instead of the cartridge (unless it only just became feasable...)

The same reason everybody has switched to optical media for home consoles, the cost to produce media. In the old days of cartridge-based home consoles, a bad sales estimate could see you producing far more cartridges then you sold, throwing away all your profit. Optical media is cheaper/quicker to mass produce, and cheaper/quicker to make another run of sometime down the road, if demand warrants it.

Nintendo has obviously decided that the issues with optical media in a portable outweigh the production issues of cartridges. I tend to agree with them.

51|RandoM

01-19-2006, 09:36 AM

Holy... It was sarcasm. You just made my point.

No smilies, and not obvious. :-)

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 09:43 AM

No smilies, and not obvious. :-)
I thought it was, especially when taken in context of the back-and-forth myself and thecrazyd had. I'll remember the smiley next time. :o

Magnanimous Gnome

01-19-2006, 09:53 AM

That article was a very good read. I'm excited to hear that Brain Training is coming here - I really want to give it a whirl. They also mentioned that Mother 3 is indeed back in development, which is of course great news.

Here's hoping those download stations eventually come here.

I just got the DS a month ago and haven't had much time to play it yet, but so far I love the system. Mario Kart and Castlevania alone have been worth the purchase, and there are a dozen or so more games out that I will be picking up during the next few months. I'm actually getting excited about videogames again, thanks to Nintendo.

31 Flavas

01-19-2006, 10:10 AM

I think a large majority of young gamers (I'm talking kids like 1st grade though 5th grade) got the system because it was the "New Nintendo" system. My wife teaches first grade and there we numerous accounts of kids asking each other if they got the Nintendo with 2 screens.Didn't Evil, Mr. Avatar himself, say the same thing would happen except for the PSP? As I remember, he said, "Don't forget the 'Please, Mommie!' factor." Some great prediction that was...

So... Mr. Avatar... do you still stand by your statement that the DS has no features that anyone would ever want?Wow, cool, I thought I was the only one still asking the question.

dorkus_malorkus

01-19-2006, 10:27 AM

I've had a PSP since launch and have 7 games (Socom, GTA, Brotherhood of the Blade, Burnout, HotShots, a couple more). I've really enjoyed it and have spent much of my free time playing them. That said, Sony upgraded Sonic Stage to 3.3 and all of a sudden the atrac music (which I listened to every day in the truck) on the PSP would randomly corrupt. No pattern at all and no amount of reinstalling would fix it. But no problems, I'll use WMA since it's supported and problem solved...until I surf the web and if I close the browser while a page is still loading then, bam!, I get a blue screen (no kidding it's blue) in 15 different languages. I have to re-enter my settings, including WEP key, so I can get back online to re-enable WMA playback so I can actually listen to my music. That is, if I'm near a hotspot. I got the Mario Kart bundle for Christmas and am just deciding whether I should ebay the PSP or get the $150 (last I checked) trade-in at EB and buy an iPod? Except I keep forgetting I even have the PSP since I have been on a mad frenzy to beat Phoenix Wright after I finally tracked a copy down...and finally did yesterday! EB had to have one shipped from another city, which I actually appreciated. They usually just give me grief about the fact that I didn't bring anything with me to trade in. But that's another story.

Strand

01-19-2006, 10:51 AM

I play my DS while sitting at the PC all the time. As someone mentioned when you are waiting for stuff to happen in WoW its great. Its also great if you have a wife/girlfriend that makes you watch TV with her - you can sneak in gaming while spending 'quality time' on the couch with her as she watches HGTV! Its also great for any waiting/downtime and travel.

If you were never into Nintendo games you may not enjoy it as much though. I think its partially so popular because it brings back the good ol days of gaming in a refined/updated innovative way. Castlevania, Mario & Luigi, Mario Kart and some others are all like playing modern versions of NES/SNES games without them going into 3D. Add to that the 2nd screen that is very cool in almost every game even if its just for a permanent map display. I play the DS just as much as my new 360.

I also have a PSP and I regret having purchased it. It collects dust. The one thing that suprised me is Tony Hawk on DS vs PSP, I have it on both (they are different versions but same ol game at its core). Of any game on both hand helds you would figure the PSP would be a much better fit for this game. Wrong.

On the PSP the load times totally ruin it, the frame rate and controls seem a tad sluggish. The DS version kicks ass. They used a cell shaded graphic style to make it different on the DS along with many other unique features. It flies along at what seems like 60 fps and the controls are excellent. In conclusion the PSP version is just an inferior clone of the PS2 version with longer load times but the DS verison is unique and fresh and my favorite Tony Hawk game in years on any console handheld or not.

As a strictly PC gamer, I'm interested in learning how/when you DS owners use the uhhh... DS. I mean, do you find yourselves often playing it *instead* of your PC, or is it strictly for those occasions when you're away from your PC? In other words, is it compelling enough to complement PC gaming in a home environment (I don't have much opportunity for truly mobile gaming)?

Finally, I'm in my late-30's, have loved PC gaming for just about forever. What will I think of the DS crop of games?

A prospective buyer...

Pigeon

01-19-2006, 11:00 AM

2. Demo stations were plentiful

In any department store in Japan, there are DS demo stations. Usually the screens are scratched to high hell (I can't imagine what people are DOING with the stylus)

I actually have an answer to this. I used to work at Toys R Us. Our DS demo unit was at a height where any child can reach it. The first thing any small child would do when they walked up to it would be to pick up the stylus and jab it as hard as they could into the screen multiple times. The parents, of course, ignored this.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 11:03 AM

I actually have an answer to this. I used to work at Toys R Us. Our DS demo unit was at a height where any child can reach it. The first thing any small child would do when they walked up to it would be to pick up the stylus and jab it as hard as they could into the screen multiple times. The parents, of course, ignored this.
Argh! That would drive me in-fucking-sane!

RMan

01-19-2006, 11:35 AM

It's all about the name brand in the handheld market.
Absurd, there's no reason or evidence that the handheld market values brand recognition any more than home systems. If you actually think this, then you just don't understand or choose to ignore the real reasons.
My wife teaches first grade and there we numerous accounts of kids asking each other if they got the Nintendo with 2 screens.
So, because children don't know the name of the system (DS is quite forgettable, you know) then they must be buying it purely because it's from Nintendo?

Taco

01-19-2006, 11:39 AM

Nintendo has owned the handheld market by itself for over 15 years now, I don't think that it's much of a stretch.

That said, it's not the only factor.

RMan

01-19-2006, 11:51 AM

Nintendo has owned the handheld market by itself for over 15 years now, I don't think that it's much of a stretch.
Yes, but they owned the console market for almost as long, at least long enough for children to have grown up with Nintendo as far and away the primary gaming system. Nintendo was as synonymous with gaming as Coke was with carbonated beverages in the 50s, and it still didn't make much of a difference with the N64, Sony produced a more appealing product and that was the primary reason for it's winning that war.

They're winning primarily because they understand the market better than Sony, and as of yet they haven't let their ego smack them around like they did with the N64.

Taco

01-19-2006, 11:55 AM

Nintendo was as synonymous with gaming as Coke was with carbonated beverages in the 50s

Keyword: was, a decade ago for maybe 5 years, even then they had more competition than the DS or any of the Gameboys had. It simply does not compare to what they have with their handhelds.

31 Flavas

01-19-2006, 12:09 PM

The first thing any small child would do when they walked up to it would be to pick up the stylus and jab it as hard as they could into the screen multiple times.But those attached styli are completely dulled, in your case, i'd expect the DS screen to be fractured or otherwise signs of impalement. The ones I see just have deep scratch grooves, like some one used a house key. And its not just the touch screen its both upper and lower screens that have every possible portion of the screen completely scractched.

Perhaps it's just the ones i've seen, but it was evident at least to me that someone thought it'd be "cool" to purposefuly scratch the unit up so noone else could use it.

didragondi

01-19-2006, 12:20 PM

Read the reply from thecrazyd and my reply to that. Should be easy to figure out.

I see. Maybe I am just too old. But the notion of wanting by choice to watch them on the small screen still holds no appeal. Now, playing games during lunch break(Not really enough time to watch a movie), I might just get a DS for, after seeing the one we got my son for Christmas and playing around with the demo for Mp Hunters. ANd has anyone else seen how they used the second screen for the MP pinball? You hav e digital flippers, send the digital ball to the top, the upper screen and use english and such while its up there, giving a different unique use of the second screen than just the touch aspect.

didragondi

01-19-2006, 12:23 PM

The first thing any small child would do when they walked up to it would be to pick up the stylus and jab it as hard as they could into the screen multiple times.

Wrong. The first thing a child, mine in fact does with the stylus is use it for a few minutes, lose it, then complain about having lost it until finding numerous other objects like pens for instance that do scratch, and using those instead.

fitbabits

01-19-2006, 12:25 PM

RMan

01-19-2006, 12:32 PM

Keyword: was, a decade ago for maybe 5 years, even then they had more competition than the DS or any of the Gameboys had. It simply does not compare to what they have with their handhelds.
Actually, it's dominance was for more than 10 years. Also, I'd think most people would argue that the PSP is FAR stronger competition than the PS1 was "supposed" to be for the N64. In the end, for various reasons the N64, like the PSP, just didn't (or hasn't yet for the PSP) delivered the games thus not creating the necessary synergy between hardware and software that makes a game system truly appealing. It’s as fair a comparison as we’re likely to get.

In the end, if there weren’t any cool games for the DS and it was still selling, then the brand recognition argument would hold some sway, but the DS has a larger library of cool games. Since as a game system it’s a stronger product (this is a combination of the hardware and software) I’m going to count that as it’s primary success factor, since from my POV brand recognition is having just as positive an effect on PSP sales than DS sales.