Looking at DS vs PSP, why does Nintendo do what they do?

TheDiave

Banned
Am I the only one who looks at screenshots of PSP games and asks themself, "man, why can't the DS games look this good?" It seems like nearly every round since Sony entered the ring, Nintendo makes all the right decisions, but doesn't go far enough with them. From my perspective, here's the chain of events:

Nintendo 64: Undoubtedly had more graphical umph than the PlayStation, no denying that. But the problem is, they again stuck with cartridges -- favoring them over the loading time sacrifice -- and it became apparent the medium was just too limited compared to the PSX's. Squaresoft wanted more space, FFVII went to the PSX.

GameCube: A system with an unbelievable amount of graphical umph. We've seen games that trump the best on PS2 and the Xbox alike, but again, Nintendo ignored trends and refuse to take gaming online and the 3.5 discs, while certainly stylish and unique, don't hold nearly as much space as DVD's.

Nintendo DS: Took gaming to new plateaus of creativitity, many we've yet to see no doubt. Dual screens and touch control offers so many possibilities in the way we play games. But the system it's up against, the PSP, has much more graphical power and again, a larger storage medium.

Flames and trolls aside, why does Nintendo do what they do?
 
TheDiave said:
Am I the only one who looks at screenshots of PSP games and asks themself, "man, why can't the DS games look this good?" It seems like nearly every round since Sony entered the ring, Nintendo makes all the right decisions, but doesn't go far enough with them. From my perspective, here's the chain of events:

Nintendo 64: Undoubtedly had more graphical umph than the PlayStation, no denying that. But the problem is, they again stuck with cartridges -- favoring them over the loading time sacrifice -- and it became apparent the medium was just too limited compared to the PSX's. Squaresoft wanted more space, FFVII went to the PSX.

GameCube: A system with an unbelievable amount of graphical umph. We've seen games that trump the best on PS2 and the Xbox alike, but again, Nintendo ignored trends and refuse to take gaming online and the 3.5 discs, while certainly stylish and unique, don't hold nearly as much space as DVD's.

Nintendo DS: Took gaming to new plateaus of creativitity, many we've yet to see no doubt. Dual screens and touch control offers so many possibilities in the way we play games. But the system it's up against, the PSP, has much more graphical power and again, a larger storage medium.

Flames and trolls aside, why does Nintendo do what they do?


:lol the nintendo bias is clear as day. this should be fun :)
 
Flames and trolls aside, why does Nintendo do what they do?

They do it so that more people talk about them on Internet messages boards. I mean what would we talk about if they would do everything right. Free publicity is always useful.
 
TheDiave said:
Am I the only one who looks at screenshots of PSP games and asks themself, "man, why can't the DS games look this good?" It seems like nearly every round since Sony entered the ring, Nintendo makes all the right decisions, but doesn't go far enough with them. From my perspective, here's the chain of events:

Nintendo 64: Undoubtedly had more graphical umph than the PlayStation, no denying that. But the problem is, they again stuck with cartridges -- favoring them over the loading time sacrifice -- and it became apparent the medium was just too limited compared to the PSX's. Squaresoft wanted more space, FFVII went to the PSX.

GameCube: A system with an unbelievable amount of graphical umph. We've seen games that trump the best on PS2 and the Xbox alike, but again, Nintendo ignored trends and refuse to take gaming online and the 3.5 discs, while certainly stylish and unique, don't hold nearly as much space as DVD's.

Nintendo DS: Took gaming to new plateaus of creativitity, many we've yet to see no doubt. Dual screens and touch control offers so many possibilities in the way we play games. But the system it's up against, the PSP, has much more graphical power and again, a larger storage medium.

Flames and trolls aside, why does Nintendo do what they do?


This is going to get very scary, very quickly. So I'm going to give very direct, straight answers. Agree with them, disagree, I really don't care. This is my first and last post in this thread.

1) Nintendo chose carts for the Nintendo 64 for both legitimate and completely irrational reasons. They were right in their stance that it would complicate piracy, they were just plain short-sighted in thinking that load times would affect gameplay. Sony proved that gamers didn't care, and that developers would find ways to minimize them.

2) The Gamecube media, during the launch, was touted as a standard - if unusual - format of DVD, just with Nintendo's own encryption protecting the game data. I have no intention of going through Google to determine the veracity of this claim, simply because I just don't care. Given that there were no mod chips for the Gamecube until very late into 2004, I'd call Nintendo's move on this particular issue a particularly good one. Piracy doesn't really help anyone outside of those who don't even want to pony up for used games. Whether the media's data capacity is hindering development...it depends on who you ask, whether or not they're just trying to be polite, and what game you're talking about.

The bigger issue with Nintendo, up until either mid-2003 or mid-2004 (I forget) was that their royalty fees were higher than Sony and Microsoft's. The Gamecube is also the "middle child" of development. The PS2 is what everyone goes to as a lead platform most of the time; the XBox is, by all accounts, the easiest to develop for, so companies port stuff over just because they can (this goes double for PC developers). Unfortunately, given how strained money is in development these days, this means that Gamecube versions of games probably need to be justified more than PS2 or XBox games. The disparity between the XBox and Gamecube in worldwide sales is a strawman. The difference between the two is very slim.

Nintendo not going online is a sign of just how conservative a Japanese company can be. They don't want to lose money on it, that's the beginning and end of it. Altruistic gestures of "We want to make it as easy as possible," make sense, but aren't the heart of the matter in the boardroom.

3) The DS is both Nintendo trying to extend deeper into a market they already own, and toying with new technologies without possibly harming the Game Boy. I still - and always will - see it as a one shot. A double-screened system is inherently a gimmick, and while Nintendo PR states that they're trying to innovate and get new games out of developers, that statement places way too much faith in developers to break from the safety of more sequels, more licenses, and generic platformers. I appreciate the spirit that made the DS what it is, but I don't think it's realistic. What I do hope comes out of it is a great GBA2, with a single touch-screen, and amounting to be a portable Gamecube, maybe even backwards compatible with it.
 
moneybag.jpg
 
Nintendo does what they do because the cash keeps on coming in.
There is no other reason.
If they do something wrong, they won't get money for it, and they will do something else.
 
xsarien said:
3) The DS is both Nintendo trying to extend deeper into a market they already own, and toying with new technologies without possibly harming the Game Boy. I still - and always will - see it as a one shot. A double-screened system is inherently a gimmick, and while Nintendo PR states that they're trying to innovate and get new games out of developers, that statement places way too much faith in developers to break from the safety of more sequels, more licenses, and generic platformers. I appreciate the spirit that made the DS what it is, but I don't think it's realistic. What I do hope comes out of it is a great GBA2, with a single touch-screen, and amounting to be a portable Gamecube, maybe even backwards compatible with it.

The problem is that even u make good use of the NDS's function. Does it make it a perfect game? No, I don't think so, look at Sega's Feel the Magic, it uses most of the NDS function well but it still not a great game. Interface >>> graphic ? Most of the consumer says no. In our place, Hong Kong, lots of people buy PSP even the price is quite higher compare to the offical price. Why? the form factor and the great graphic / display attract them so much.

I don't know what they really plan to do with the GBA next. But, most likely, it's just about the same as PSP, i guess.
 
TheDiave said:
GameCube: A system with an unbelievable amount of graphical umph. We've seen games that trump the best on PS2 and the Xbox alike, but again, Nintendo ignored trends and refuse to take gaming online and the 3.5 discs, while certainly stylish and unique, don't hold nearly as much space as DVD's.

Nintendo released the modem/adapter a long time ago, its up to publishers to decide what they want to do with it. Just like the expansion pack.

Space isnt an issue with the discs, they are very cheap, you can ship a game on multiple discs if you wish.
 
I love Nintendo, I really don't understand the bitching. Too many people are fucking OBSESSIVE over these little things when all it comes down to is -- if you care about 3rd party games buy a PS2 or Xbox. If you care about Nintendo buy Nintendo. They will make great games regardless of whatever limitations you can dream up. Gameplay is always greater than any graphical update, and gameplay is where Nintendo shines. If all you like is staring at pretty graphics and don't mind staring at a progress bar then enjoy your (insert other console here) and shut the fuck up. The Nintendo rants are getting to be too much. Gaming-Addiction-Forum, seriously :P
 
While I appreciate what you're saying, and agree with some of xsarien's points...there isn't anything about the DS bringing us to the "plateaus" of creativity in gaming. Nothing now, nothing I've seen in the pipe. Some fun games? I'm sure of it. But basically it's a machine that makes the GBA games look better and adds PDA like touch screens to a few other games that mostly don't really benefit from it. It will sell well because like every consumer I've met outside this board says, "have you seen the new GameBoy?" I think when the competition is here in comparison it's going to be a rude awakening. Not right away, but soon.
 
Nintendo, like John Conner and Skynet in T2, has us by the balls. We keep buying their systems for three or four first party games. I didn't care what TPs were putting on the GC, as long as I got my Zelda and Mario, I couldnt give a shit. I bought those two games and wasnt dissapointed.

You know, they could have soldered Mario 64 to the N64 and I'd still be happy.

It's absolutely sad, what Nintendo did to us, but you know what, I own just as many games on my PS2, GC and XBOX and I'm pretty happy with them all.

I really don't care who is numba-one.

Nintendo; keep being wacky

Sony; I like your style

MS: Sega was nice to you.

I love you all.
 
xsarien said:
the XBox is, by all accounts, the easiest to develop for
says who? i've yet to hear anyone from the development community say that. infact, Yu Suzuki straight out said that GameCube has the easiest, and best development enviroment for developing games.

having a PC enviroment doesn't mean it's the easiest by default you know .
 
TheDiave said:
Am I the only one who looks at screenshots of PSP games and asks themself, "man, why can't the DS games look this good?" It seems like nearly every round since Sony entered the ring, Nintendo makes all the right decisions, but doesn't go far enough with them. From my perspective, here's the chain of events:

Nintendo 64: Undoubtedly had more graphical umph than the PlayStation, no denying that. But the problem is, they again stuck with cartridges -- favoring them over the loading time sacrifice -- and it became apparent the medium was just too limited compared to the PSX's. Squaresoft wanted more space, FFVII went to the PSX.

GameCube: A system with an unbelievable amount of graphical umph. We've seen games that trump the best on PS2 and the Xbox alike, but again, Nintendo ignored trends and refuse to take gaming online and the 3.5 discs, while certainly stylish and unique, don't hold nearly as much space as DVD's.

Nintendo DS: Took gaming to new plateaus of creativitity, many we've yet to see no doubt. Dual screens and touch control offers so many possibilities in the way we play games. But the system it's up against, the PSP, has much more graphical power and again, a larger storage medium.

Flames and trolls aside, why does Nintendo do what they do?


You're so off base. The best looking PS2 titles smack the best looking Cube titles every which way, including the overrated Rogue Squadron. Show me a game on the Cube that looks as nice as MGS3 or GT4. Many here, including myself, preferred the look of the PSX's games to the N64's blurred titles. I quite like definition to my gaming. The DS isn't even worth discussing. I'm not sure how the last minute inclusion of a touchscreen "took gaming to new plateaus of creativitity (sp)," but I do know the system's visuals, save for 2D efforts, are embarrassingly bad.

Anyway, to answer your cry for answers, Nintendo does what they do because people like you keep buying their half-assed efforts. As long as you keep Nintendo profitable, they will always conduct themselves arrogantly.
 
Nintendo DS: Took gaming to new plateaus of creativitity, many we've yet to see no doubt. Dual screens and touch control offers so many possibilities in the way we play games. But the system it's up against, the PSP, has much more graphical power and again, a larger storage medium.

Flames and trolls aside, why does Nintendo do what they do?

It's not up against the PSP. They're not in direct competition. Each system is out to accomplish something different. The PSP is for providing near current generation consoles on-the-go while the DS is aimed at audiences interested in a unique experience not possible on home consoles. The GBA 2 will be the one up against the PSP.
 
Personally I think GT4 doesn't look so great in game and though I haven't seen MSG3 I can't imagine in my wildest dreams it looking better than Metroid Prime. Hell there aren;t many Xbox titles that look that good. Your're the same guy that keeps spouting that their are only marginal graphical differences between the PS2 and the Xbox. Is he way off base? I don't think so. I think you are when you say stupid shit like the best PS2 titles smack the best Gamecube titles.
 
Nintendo somehow figured out that people nowadays enjoys to talk about game companies on the internet more than playing games, so they are just trying to create topics for you guys.
 
Sysgen said:
Personally I think GT4 doesn't look so great in game and though I haven't seen MSG3 I can't imagine in my wildest dreams it looking better than Metroid Prime. Hell there aren;t many Xbox titles that look that good. Your're the same guy that keeps spouting that their are only marginal graphical differences between the PS2 and the Xbox. Is he way off base? I don't think so. I think you are when you say stupid shit like the best PS2 titles smack the best Gamecube titles.

I know what you mean about GT4... whenever it's in-game first person view, I go limp with deja vu. But that shit you said about MGS3 vs. Metroid Prime? I suggest you at least look at MGS3 before you shoot your virtual mouth off.
 
XS+ said:
You're so off base. The best looking PS2 titles smack the best looking Cube titles every which way, including the overrated Rogue Squadron. Show me a game on the Cube that looks as nice as MGS3 or GT4. Many here, including myself, preferred the look of the PSX's games to the N64's blurred titles. I quite like definition to my gaming. The DS isn't even worth discussing. I'm not sure how the last minute inclusion of a touchscreen "took gaming to new plateaus of creativitity (sp)," but I do know the system's visuals, save for 2D efforts, are embarrassingly bad.

Anyway, to answer your cry for answers, Nintendo does what they do because people like you keep buying their half-assed efforts. As long as you keep Nintendo profitable, they will always conduct themselves arrogantly.

I like the ones who don't play the games and criticise the console the worst fanboys. Seriously. If you play/own a GC/PS2/XBOX; you'd find no reason to have that little diatribe you just had. They're just plastic+silicone.

And all against one company. Please.
 
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