May 18, 2005
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The Hope That Is Nintendo
So, Microsoft and Sony have both busted out with their next-generation game systems: the Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively. They both look ridiculously powerful and full of cool potential.
But where is the game company to which I owe the most allegiance? Where is Nintendo?
As usual, wandering off in some other bizarre direction.
Big N has unveiled its next-generation system, the Revolution, but details are scant. And honestly, the thing doesn’t even seem designed to compete with Microsoft and Sony’s next-gen machines.
And yet, two things tantalize:
- Is Nintendo building a platform and toolset that will make it possible for normal nerds to once again make games in the fertile darkness of their basements? The possibility is raised by hello, nintendo. Some context: Games have become ridiculously complex and costly productions. It’s like making a movie… except… harder. And you have to do it faster. It requires dozens, sometimes hundreds, of people and many millions of dollars. So the indie game makers of yore are few and far between these days, especially on consoles. Could Nintendo bring them back? How?
- Nintendo is also saying you’ll be able to play 20 years of awesome Nintendo games on the Revolution. Ya gotta admit… that’s cool. Because amazingly, Super Mario Bros. 3, published in 1988, still holds up.
Comments
It seems to me like Nintendo is banking on everyone wanting to play their old games as a major selling point for the Revolution. Nostalgia is cool, i love those old games, but I question how many people will buy the revolution because it's not just not that much of an improvement over the gamecube. granted, they haven't really said anything about it yet. Even the prototype they showed isn't the final size or design.
I wonder if they just whipped something up really quickly the past couple weeks when they realized MS and Sony were showing their new consoles...
I like nintendo, i hope they do well, but this doesn't seem like the best start.
It's undeniable that they've got a hole to dig themselves out of. The Gamecube had some great games, but was a disappointment to me overall. And the DS, whaaa?
Have you seen this before? It's a number guessing game: http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/guessthenumber.html. I guessed 77453, and it got it right! Pretty neat.
Hmm, thanks to comment spam this post is brought to my attention again. I retroactively amend my DS snarkout -- turns out it's totally cool.