si
Su Pollard
Bad Wolf! No biscuit!
Posts: 460
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Post by si on Jul 15, 2004 22:56:10 GMT
So, just how excited are we? Very.
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Post by trollte on Jul 16, 2004 15:02:11 GMT
I've just come in my pants! I get so involved in Zelda games... they're all like my best friends ever. Except Ganondorf... he's evil!
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Post by James & The Jaunty Nyasu Vibes on Jul 16, 2004 20:08:42 GMT
Very. I'm a big filthy Zelda-series fan.
What do we want? MORE HORSEY STUFF! Will we get it? YES WE WILL! HUZZAH!
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Post by trollte on Jul 19, 2004 11:26:10 GMT
I hope it's Epona and we get to hear Epona's song again. I loved Epona... here she comes now! If I had a horse, I would call her Epona.
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ste
Jane Asher
Posts: 132
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Post by ste on Jul 19, 2004 19:10:08 GMT
while it's all well and good getting excited about this, and i am, it's unfortunate that it's also symbolic of nintendo's capitulation to the malaise that's ruining (and may ultimately kill) videogaming: fear of innovation, reliance on Things We've Done Before.
it's a game made for teenage geeks who play videogames. and i'm one of those at heart, but the wind waker was a broader thing, loved by everyone (except for those d&d objectionables) who saw it. this will sell millions, and i am sure it will be brilliant; but it's not the game miyamoto wanted to make. we'll be partying like it's 1998, which is a shame.
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Post by trollte on Jul 20, 2004 9:21:00 GMT
I don't think they are afraid of innovation. Nintendo has produced some of the truly innovative games of recent years - Pikmin, Wario Ware, Viewtiful Joe, Animal Crossing. They even managed to make Mario Kart have a non-traditional slant. Saying that, so far this year, there hasn't been that much to get excited about. Maybe, like pharmaceuticals, all that can be thought of easily has been done.
There's definitely a place for nostalgia like this. I see it more as a soap opera. I want to know all of Link's life story. And yes, I am aware that it's sunny outside and I should be frolicking on the beach.
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ste
Jane Asher
Posts: 132
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Post by ste on Jul 20, 2004 12:17:32 GMT
I don't think they are afraid of innovation. Nintendo has produced some of the truly innovative games of recent years - Pikmin, Wario Ware, Viewtiful Joe, Animal Crossing. They even managed to make Mario Kart have a non-traditional slant. Saying that, so far this year, there hasn't been that much to get excited about. Maybe, like pharmaceuticals, all that can be thought of easily has been done. Viewtiful Joe was/is fabulous but nothing to do with Nintendo (other than running on its console - it's Capcom's, and it's coming out on PSP). Pikmin was a supercute idea, but I believe the first one sold on the promise of new Miyamoto more than the actual game, and the sequel bombed. Wario Ware isn't exactly innovative - there've been Japanese arcade games like that for decades (I forget the name of the series - something like 'quiz and game!' or whatever) but it IS brilliant. Though circumstances are slightly different there, since it's a game built for their handheld where they've (currently) got the freedom to create for a market they entirely own. Animal Crossing is fantastic, no arguments. But my worry is that new Zelda is a watershed, that it marks the end the victories you've mentioned. It's just disheartening, to me, a complete redirection, surrender to the boring, tedious fanboys who want gaming to be anime to be d&d to be THEIRS. We get all the classic brands in next-generation form, shinier but rarely as exciting, and that's that. It's an artistic cul-de-sac.
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Post by trollte on Jul 20, 2004 16:07:10 GMT
But my worry is that new Zelda is a watershed, that it marks the end the victories you've mentioned. It's just disheartening, to me, a complete redirection, surrender to the boring, tedious fanboys who want gaming to be anime to be d&d to be THEIRS. We get all the classic brands in next-generation form, shinier but rarely as exciting, and that's that. It's an artistic cul-de-sac. Oh I see what you're getting at now. Soz... didn't quite get what you meant the first time. Fuckwit that I am. A step back in time for Zelda after a progression with Wind-Waker. I have faith in Nintendo, because every now and then they come out with a complete and utter gorgeous gem. Perhaps with Zelda you're right - they've run out of new ideas and need to go to a tried and tested formula (and I know I'll love it too). I don't think they can be berated for squeezing every penny they can out of Zelda... after all that money could go to finding the next gem. I don't think you can discount Nintendo from coming up with something so new it will take over the world a la Pokemon. I see them as far more innovative than other developers. I'm very excited about Pikmin 2 - co-operative! "I'm taking my Pikmin over here, you go and get that frog thing." I'm also looking forward to Donkey Konga which I think will be much fun. But there is something in me that likes the running round collecting things kind of game that doesn't have to be innovative. I loved Banjo Kazooie and when Banjo Tooie came out it was exactly the same. But I loved it. And I wish there was going to be another.
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ste
Jane Asher
Posts: 132
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Post by ste on Jul 20, 2004 16:35:35 GMT
That money could go there, but I'm not sure it will. And with each generation, the money they make will diminish.
Sony is the house of innovation at the moment. All the real breakthroughs have come from there (aside from The Sims, which was EA getting lucky, and they've resolutely failed to take advantage of it). Ico, Eye Toy, SingStar, DJ: Decks & FX; they're where videogames should be going. Even the third parties take more risks - Katamari Damashi, Rez, Mojib Ribbon...
(Which isn't to say we should stop with the Zeldas etc, only that they're made for us, and without new ideas coming in and crossbreeding with our own, we're essentially moribund.)
Konga is a bit shit. It's fun, but way too easy. They try and make it more difficult by hiding what you've got to play, which turns it into a memory test. Cute for an afternoon, but nowhere near the entertainment value of Samba (or even Mini Moni Tambourine).
Mostly I'm waiting for Halo 2. On the Cube, maybe Lionhead's Unity.
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Post by trollte on Jul 20, 2004 16:58:41 GMT
You clearly have broader knowledge than me Ste. I went and looked up Unity and found very little, but got all excited by references to Rez (which I loved). I'm still clinging on to Nintendo blind faith. It's like I'm walking the wrong way on The Poseidon.
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ste
Jane Asher
Posts: 132
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Post by ste on Jul 20, 2004 17:25:59 GMT
Nah, it's just where something I care about a lot meets what I do for a living, and I tend to get soapboxy about it. Also, I'm coming at everything from quite a cynical angle - five years ago I'd have probably loved Double Dash, but now every flaw seems so much more important. Unity looks like this - click. I went to see it about six months ago, maybe a little less, and it looks beautiful moving, just hypnotic. I'm not sure how much of a game there is there at the moment, or whether it'll be as coherent as Rez* - Minter likes to throw everything at games, and sometimes it works perfectly (Tempest 2K, still brilliant), and sometimes it doesn't (Defender 2000) - but it'll certainly be interesting. I think there's a little bit of a Nintendo zealot in everyone who plays games, really, and as long as you can recognise that, it's fine. *Incidentally, Minter's acolytes (and the man himself) don't like comparisons to Rez, since they claim Unity's far more organic; but until we actually see the game working, it's perfectly natural, since all we know about it is that it's a pretty shooter which brings light and music together. As is Rez.
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Post by James & The Jaunty Nyasu Vibes on Jul 20, 2004 18:49:11 GMT
while it's all well and good getting excited about this, and i am, it's unfortunate that it's also symbolic of nintendo's capitulation to the malaise that's ruining (and may ultimately kill) videogaming: fear of innovation, reliance on Things We've Done Before. . I know they tend to rely on their franchises but no-one gets me quite as hyped up as Nintendo. Like their next console, called (for now) "revolution", as it'll be...uhh.....revolutionary. They've said that they dont care about pushing forward graphics and that they want to....revolutionise gaming. HOW exciting?
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ste
Jane Asher
Posts: 132
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Post by ste on Jul 20, 2004 19:08:55 GMT
Like their next console, called (for now) "revolution", as it'll be...uhh.....revolutionary. They've said that they dont care about pushing forward graphics and that they want to....revolutionise gaming. HOW exciting? Completely unexciting, because that's all totally meaningless. I mean, I could say my butt will be revolutionary in two years time, but it is pretty unlikely. Live for the now, not the vague, unrealistic promises. And let's not forget this is the company who, when they announced the DS, provided an example of the innovative gameplay experience it could offer thus (paraphrased): "one screen can show the football pitch, while the other zooms in on a slide tackle!"
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Post by James & The Jaunty Nyasu Vibes on Jul 20, 2004 19:23:24 GMT
Completely unexciting, because that's all totally meaningless. I mean, I could say my butt will be revolutionary in two years time, but it is pretty unlikely. Live for the now, not the vague, unrealistic promises. And let's not forget this is the company who, when they announced the DS, provided an example of the innovative gameplay experience it could offer thus (paraphrased): "one screen can show the football pitch, while the other zooms in on a slide tackle!" But surely that's part of the fun, letting yourself get hyped, being completely uncynical about it? I mean with films, music etc it just doesnt happen, i'm always preparing myself for a let-down, but with video-games it's......I dunno, maybe it's because it's New Technology...or maybe because it reminds me so much of growing up. I like getting excited for something. Colour me uncynical! (which is not to say that you are, etc.)
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Post by Robbing the Dead on Aug 4, 2004 11:47:58 GMT
When is it due out? I coudn't wait for the wind waker to come out ehre so I boiught it on Japanese import. It made the game last longer cos I couldn't figure out what was going on. I think I'll get this new one on US import, depending on how long the difference is between the US and European release. Damn Europeans! They make us wait so long for games!
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Post by Robbing the Dead on Aug 4, 2004 11:49:55 GMT
If I had a horse, I would call her Epona. or Javine.
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Post by Steven on Sept 22, 2004 15:42:30 GMT
Innovation (or lack thereof) aside, this excites me largely because I can usually bank on Zelda games to be, if nothing else, thoroughly playable. I realise that Nintendo are very much a poor second to Sony in the console world these days, but I've never found anything on another system that gives me anything like as much satisfaction to play as Zelda does.
(Which would make me a geeky fanboy, I suppose. Oh well. It's not like I didn't see it coming.)
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ste
Jane Asher
Posts: 132
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Post by ste on Sept 22, 2004 16:58:42 GMT
Innovation (or lack thereof) aside, this excites me largely because I can usually bank on Zelda games to be, if nothing else, thoroughly playable. I realise that Nintendo are very much a poor second to Sony in the console world these days, but I've never found anything on another system that gives me anything like as much satisfaction to play as Zelda does. (Which would make me a geeky fanboy, I suppose. Oh well. It's not like I didn't see it coming.) You know, I'm not sure they are a poor second. I mean, like, in terms of sales, at least in the West, they're a significantly poor third. But that's not what I'm driving at. They're the one true pure games manufacturer left - which is a good thing and a bad thing, but does mean you can almost bank on shit like Zelda being as good as you remember from when you were a kid. This generation, I have loved few games as much as Zelda, F-Zero, Monkeyball and Viewtiful Joe - and AS I TYPE I can hear my flatmate playing Wario Ware and there aren't many games that make people make that kind of noise.
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