Tim the Wiz
Banned
So I was down at the local shopping centre the other day, and decided to take a look in EB. I walk up to the GameCube section, nothing much to see there or at the Xbox section, anyway I continue on to the GBA section and lo and behold the sign that says: 'The Nintendo DS is now instore, ask one of our employees for your first look!' or something to that effect.
I guess I should explain why I haven't seen the DS before now. The simple answer is I live in Australia, and the DS is not coming out 'till Feb 24. In any case I walked up to the counter and asked the clerk to show me the DS. He says 'sure' and away we go.
I was quite surprised at the width of the machine. Very surprised. At first it was a bit awkward but I did get used to it. The other thing that took me off balance at first was the size of the face buttons (A, B, X, Y), much smaller than I expected.
So, I started off playing it with a SM64DS mini-game, I was quite impressed. It was the slingshot game. The use of the stylus, touchscreen and two screens were awesome. Pull back the sling with your stylus on the bottom screen and try to hit the bombs on the top. Excellent stuff.
I didn't try the main game, as there wasn't much time with the whole store gathering around me and watching me play. I think it's the first anyone had seen of the system. More evidence of Nintendo's poor marketing in Europe and Australia.
Afterwards I tried out Metroid and Wario Ware. The former wasn't too good, more than likely because the bottom screen had the map, so I couldn't use the stylus to shoot. The store clerk never gave mention on how to swap screens so I just went on my way. My thoughts on the game so far as it went was 'meh'. It just didn't feel Metroid, more like a stale and generic FPS on a handheld. Hopefully stylus control improves the game somewhat.
Wario Ware was Wario Ware. Good and I could see alot of use on the boring train trips to and from school.
So all in all the experience was great. Good enough to warant a purchase in my eyes, all the niggling doubts vanished and I slapped down ten dollars as a pre-order then and there. I think I'll be getting alot of use from the system by the end of the year with games like Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, Kirby, Castlevania, Viewtiful Joe, SMB, Mario Kart, Yoshi and Advance Wars coming out. Not to mention the Squeenix RPGs coming out as well.
The only thing that ticked me off the whole while playing through it was the store clerk who was with me while I was playing, evidentally he was a big Nintendo fan. :lol
Him: The DS has sold 2.1 million in the USA alone at launch.
Me: No, its sold 1.3 million in the US and 1.5 million in Japan. You should get your facts straight.
Him: Well, that's what I know. Nintendo has been the market leader in the industry for 10 years.
Me: Well, the GameCube and the N64 have been second to Sony's consoles. I don't see where that comment comes from.
Him: (Ignores me, talking to another customer watching me play) This is kinda like Nintendo's first handheld. (Looking at me now) Well before your time I think.
Me: Oh, the Game & Watch?
Other Customer: No mate, I was part of the Space Invaders generation.
Him: (Continues to ignore me) They had this game where you try to get to the top of the screen as Mario. Umm, what was the name of the game, ah yes, Donkey Kong. Nintendo's 1st game.
Me: Um, that was Shigeru Miyamoto's 1st game, not Nintendo's and Mario wasn't called Mario then, he was Jumpman in that game. And have you even gotten past the first level of that game?
Him: (Pretends to notice me again) Mate, you done there? There are other customers you know.
Me: Sure. Here, let me pre-order it. (Get's it pre-ordered and leaves store in disgust)
And before you say it, no I won't be getting a PSP as well. (Luminies is the only game on the system to garner any interest from me) I just don't have the money to get both. So if you want, any advice or warning in purchasing a DS will be much appreciated.
I guess I should explain why I haven't seen the DS before now. The simple answer is I live in Australia, and the DS is not coming out 'till Feb 24. In any case I walked up to the counter and asked the clerk to show me the DS. He says 'sure' and away we go.
I was quite surprised at the width of the machine. Very surprised. At first it was a bit awkward but I did get used to it. The other thing that took me off balance at first was the size of the face buttons (A, B, X, Y), much smaller than I expected.
So, I started off playing it with a SM64DS mini-game, I was quite impressed. It was the slingshot game. The use of the stylus, touchscreen and two screens were awesome. Pull back the sling with your stylus on the bottom screen and try to hit the bombs on the top. Excellent stuff.
I didn't try the main game, as there wasn't much time with the whole store gathering around me and watching me play. I think it's the first anyone had seen of the system. More evidence of Nintendo's poor marketing in Europe and Australia.
Afterwards I tried out Metroid and Wario Ware. The former wasn't too good, more than likely because the bottom screen had the map, so I couldn't use the stylus to shoot. The store clerk never gave mention on how to swap screens so I just went on my way. My thoughts on the game so far as it went was 'meh'. It just didn't feel Metroid, more like a stale and generic FPS on a handheld. Hopefully stylus control improves the game somewhat.
Wario Ware was Wario Ware. Good and I could see alot of use on the boring train trips to and from school.
So all in all the experience was great. Good enough to warant a purchase in my eyes, all the niggling doubts vanished and I slapped down ten dollars as a pre-order then and there. I think I'll be getting alot of use from the system by the end of the year with games like Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, Kirby, Castlevania, Viewtiful Joe, SMB, Mario Kart, Yoshi and Advance Wars coming out. Not to mention the Squeenix RPGs coming out as well.
The only thing that ticked me off the whole while playing through it was the store clerk who was with me while I was playing, evidentally he was a big Nintendo fan. :lol
Him: The DS has sold 2.1 million in the USA alone at launch.
Me: No, its sold 1.3 million in the US and 1.5 million in Japan. You should get your facts straight.
Him: Well, that's what I know. Nintendo has been the market leader in the industry for 10 years.
Me: Well, the GameCube and the N64 have been second to Sony's consoles. I don't see where that comment comes from.
Him: (Ignores me, talking to another customer watching me play) This is kinda like Nintendo's first handheld. (Looking at me now) Well before your time I think.
Me: Oh, the Game & Watch?
Other Customer: No mate, I was part of the Space Invaders generation.
Him: (Continues to ignore me) They had this game where you try to get to the top of the screen as Mario. Umm, what was the name of the game, ah yes, Donkey Kong. Nintendo's 1st game.
Me: Um, that was Shigeru Miyamoto's 1st game, not Nintendo's and Mario wasn't called Mario then, he was Jumpman in that game. And have you even gotten past the first level of that game?
Him: (Pretends to notice me again) Mate, you done there? There are other customers you know.
Me: Sure. Here, let me pre-order it. (Get's it pre-ordered and leaves store in disgust)
And before you say it, no I won't be getting a PSP as well. (Luminies is the only game on the system to garner any interest from me) I just don't have the money to get both. So if you want, any advice or warning in purchasing a DS will be much appreciated.
) out there, but also guys that are just doing their jobs. Sometimes I feel for people I know working at these stores, because apparently they HAVE to sell a specific number of pre-orders and such every month or they can lose their jobs.