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[Gaybrush Threepio]

hi there everyone - we're analysing the success of Bark Mode on Nintendogs, and looking at ways in which we could improve this feature in the future. Does anyone have any feedback on whether they used Bark Mode - and if so how enjoyable and easy-to-use was it - please suggest any improvements.

Thanks all!

 

[Fuzzy]

I'm sorry but we can't help you without weekly sales numbers.

 

[demi]

Honestly I wouldn't say Bark Mode was even the least bit successful

I know some of the JPN Gaffers used it during the Drinky Puppy Blog and got decent results

 

[DDayton]

hi there everyone - we're analysing the success of Bark Mode on Nintendogs, and looking at ways in which we could improve this feature in the future. Does anyone have any feedback on whether they used Bark Mode - and if so how enjoyable and easy-to-use was it - please suggest any improvements.

Thanks all!

Honestly, it's nearly useless in most of the USA, as folks aren't often surrounded by strangers. In some of the larger urban centers, you MIGHT run into more strangers with DS systems due to mass transit, but generally it's a bust.

 

[Timen]

the chance of actually running in to someone with;

a) a nintendo ds
b) nintendogs
c) bark mode activated

is way too small for me to carry my DS around all the time.

The idea is pretty neat, but I have yet to run in to someone who is also in bark mode.

 

[Beezy]

Ouendan with japanese tracks intact please.

 

[Xellotah]

Revolution in UK by June please.

 

[Beezy]

You're really pushing it buddy.

 

[cvxfreak]

I think online play would be nice... as dementedly odd as it sounds.

 

[HeadsUpSevenUp]

LOL at you guys...

Seriously though, bark mode would be better integrated with WFC.

 

[Roders5]

The idea behind bark mode was good, but as mentioned above the chances of running into someone else with it on was about the same as winning over 100 million on friday night past. Although I guess it might be used more by younger kids in schools and whatnot, where the chances are probably much greater.

As for improving it, thats a tough one. Maybe something where if you had a WFC game and you walked past someone it would transfer their friend code over with a personnal message like "if you want a challenge on tetris, i'm your man". Basically you'd be picking up friend codes from people in your area as you walk about, with the option to add any who sound interesting.

 

[BudokaiMR2]

I would also like to order DS Super Smash bros. before the end of summer 2006. Yeah thanks.


Okay seriously, only way I can see it being improved is if there was a way to have it always on, but that is pretty much impossible i suppose. These situations just never seem to pop up, and most people aren't going to go through the trouble of putting it on bark mode.

 

[DefectiveReject]

Bark mode is useless unless 1in10 people or so actually have a DS that you pass everyday.
Nintendogs needs an online option to meet in a park, and swap gifts if you pass certain challenges or something. Maybe with the DSlite, people in the UK who are very fashion conscious might carry a DS around. I was playing mine on the tube the other day and no one else was From Liverpool street to Ravenscourt Park!
It is a nice gesture if you have friends though.
One thing that got me though was, I had a UK and a Japanese copy and I couldn’t exchange items, which grated me. Why have a region free console and games yet the games themselves don’t speak?

With Nintendo WiFi should do what Animal Crossing does and delivery gifts and dogs when you connect.

Anyway stop screwing around on here and tell us when we are getting

Zelda
DSlite and Revolution, or be damned to an existence of a bog toad

 

[Drensch]

WiFi

 

[Sunski]

Nintendogs needs an online option to meet in a park, and swap gifts

Nintendogging?

 

[1337]

For 100$ an hour I'm more than willing to give you the info on this one.

 

[Gee]

Integrate it with NWFC:

Perhaps you could offer a online meeting place, like a park or something where people can choose the pup they want their pup to interact with. There should be a lot of things to do at the meeting place(s) if you want the owners to visit them regulary. for example:

- friendly matches between the dogs.
- exchange special items.
etc

 

[M3wThr33]

I used it at school with a local faerie.
I gave a bark ball and got a balloon in return.
Thanks to that, I've ignored the cheapass ever since.

 

[Nester]

I used it at the Minnesota State Fair, which was a few days after Nintendogs came out. I managed to connect to three other people during that time.

After that, I used it twice at the Mall of America, connecting to one person each time. Other then that, I haven't really used it much.

To use bark mode, do you have to open up your DS when the two DS systems connect, or will it store the information of anyone you connect to, even if you check the system later when you're out of range? I never heard the bark go off, since both places were pretty loud areas, and everytime I did connect, it just so happened that the other person was right near by checking their DS at the same time.

 

[M3wThr33]

I used it at the Minnesota State Fair, which was a few days after Nintendogs came out. I managed to connect to three other people during that time.

After that, I used it twice at the Mall of America, connecting to one person each time. Other then that, I haven't really used it much.

To use bark mode, do you have to open up your DS when the two DS systems connect, or will it store the information of anyone you connect to, even if you check the system later when you're out of range? I never heard the bark go off, since both places were pretty loud areas, and everytime I did connect, it just so happened that the other person was right near by checking their DS at the same time.

It doesn't matter the range. If it found someone, next time you check your DS, it'll tell ya.

 

[Nester]

It doesn't matter the range. If it found someone, next time you check your DS, it'll tell ya.

Thought so. Guess I just didn't walk past enough people that had it.

 

[Flynn]

I used it at the Minnesota State Fair, which was a few days after Nintendogs came out. I managed to connect to three other people during that time.

After that, I used it twice at the Mall of America, connecting to one person each time. Other then that, I haven't really used it much.

To use bark mode, do you have to open up your DS when the two DS systems connect, or will it store the information of anyone you connect to, even if you check the system later when you're out of range? I never heard the bark go off, since both places were pretty loud areas, and everytime I did connect, it just so happened that the other person was right near by checking their DS at the same time.

That's so crazy. I tried it at the same places and had no luck. Maybe you connected to my dog?

 

[Azure Dream]

the chance of actually running in to someone with;

a) a nintendo ds
b) nintendogs
c) bark mode activated

is way too small for me to carry my DS around all the time.

The idea is pretty neat, but I have yet to run in to someone who is also in bark mode.

Ditto. I was walking around Ohayocon with Animal Crossing in tag mode all three days, and I only ever tagged 4 times (including one person twice). And we're talking about an anime convention, geek central, and a recent game. It also stunk that it could only accept one tag at a time, and I kept having to buy bottles and rewrite messages (sometimes even when it hadn't tagged anyone). But Nintendogs didn't have quite that same limitation, to my understanding.

I don't think it's a thing that could be improved by Nintendogs specifically, but it'd be nice if Nintendo games could watch for other Nintendo games in Local Wireless Mode, and alert you that you can switch to that game and connect with someone, or switch to downloading the demo/one-cart multi.

 

[Flynn]

I also think Nintendo should organize more events. I attended their mall tour, which was a great way to connect via Bark Mode with other trainers.

 

[Aponi]

I've had one hit with Bark Mode and that was with my husband on his copy/DS. We used it a couple of times to watch the dogs play, but it's worthless for trying to connect to people you don't know here in the States. Having a WFC "tag" mode would be a lot better, even if it was an AC style system where you have to input the user's friend information.

 

[Nester]

I also think Nintendo should organize more events. I attended their mall tour, which was a great way to connect via Bark Mode with other trainers.

I had to work that day, couldn't make it out there. Was there a lot of people there?

 

[DiGiTaL MaStEr 87]

I agree with the others. It's a novel idea, but it's just not working out well. However, there is one game that could change all that: Pokemon. If Pokemon Diamond / Pearl had a similar mode, it'd be much more successful due to the fact that Pokemon will be the monster hit of 2006.

On a side note: Please bring Daigasso! Band Brothers (a.k.a. Jam with the Band) to North America soon, please!

 

[Flynn]

I had to work that day, couldn't make it out there. Was there a lot of people there?

There were at least 20 people there. It was a cool event. One of the Nintendo reps let us hold the book that gave you access to Dalmations.

I think a lot of people are mistaking the idea that random hook ups are the primary use of something like Bark Mode. Perhaps you should better define that fact that you can purposefully connect with users via wireless so they're not disappointed with the fact that they can't hook up with random users.

 

[mrkgoo]

I tried the bark mode once, and by the time I got anywhere, my battery had died.

Really chews through power, it seems.

But they need to have the mode more rewarding...but I guess that's difficult, because people will just connect to others they know - but maybe the first time you connect to someone, you get exclusive gifts or something.

 

[Nester]

I tried the bark mode once, and by the time I got anywhere, my battery had died.

Really chews through power, it seems.

But they need to have the mode more rewarding...but I guess that's difficult, because people will just connect to others they know - but maybe the first time you connect to someone, you get exclusive gifts or something.

That's odd. I went almost 10 hours from a full charge on bark mode, opening the system occasionally to check on it. Unless you're talking about much longer trips, then I guess 10 hours is short.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

I think a lot of people are mistaking the idea that random hook ups are the primary use of something like Bark Mode. Perhaps you should better define that fact that you can purposefully connect with users via wireless so they're not disappointed with the fact that they can't hook up with random users.

Sure, but Nintendogs had very limited connection possibilities in general. Its closest relative is Animal Crossing's Tag Mode, which was just a subset of that game's wireless possibilities, and was only active if you specifically chose that mode and weren't playing the game. If non-random hookups were the main purpose, I'd expect things to not connect automatically, and give a list of nearby people to choose from.

 

[brandonnn]

I had good luck connecting with random developers and game-dev staff with the import version last E3, but was a bit disappointed by the one-per bark mode limitation.

The hall was entirely too noisy to hear if you'd connected with someone else, especially with the DS in a bag -- without checking every 15-20 minutes, I'd go hours hitting the first person I encountered and ignoring the rest.

I understand that's by design, especially given the purpose is to share a single item, but some sort of queue or way to meet up and not exchange gifts after your first Bark would be my first suggestion for future features.

 

[Koomaster]

Rather disappointed that when connecting with friends, the two DS' weren't synched up. It was as if I was visiting the park rather than playing with mine and my friends' dog.

Should be able to have both owners throw out toys/items and have the two synched up so that the same action is happening on both screens.

 

[jamesinclair]

hi there everyone - we're analysing the success of Bark Mode on Nintendogs, and looking at ways in which we could improve this feature in the future. Does anyone have any feedback on whether they used Bark Mode - and if so how enjoyable and easy-to-use was it - please suggest any improvements.

Thanks all!

Will we get complete January NPD data in return?



I like the idea of bark mode, but the DS wireless is too weak + the US population to big for it to work.

Definitly something that should be put into Pokemon, since more people will buy that.


Incidently, Yoshi Touch and Go had Pictochat integration, in which is checked if anyone was around with Pictochat. Why dont more games have this?

 

[Fuzzy]

Will we get complete January NPD data in return?

Why ask a European that?

 

[DrGAKMAN]

hi there everyone - we're analysing the success of Bark Mode on Nintendogs, and looking at ways in which we could improve this feature in the future. Does anyone have any feedback on whether they used Bark Mode - and if so how enjoyable and easy-to-use was it - please suggest any improvements.

Thanks all!

Thanks for taking suggestions!

The Nintendogs "Bark Mode" seems pretty neat-o, in theory, but is limited TOO much 'cos both users have to have all of the following:
-a NDS on them
-in a sleeping mode (most people probably don't even know if this feature)
-with Nintendogs plugged in
-with the game set in the "Bark Mode"

It would be MUCH easier for each user to have a more viable/visable method of meeting/identifying each other. I think having a keychain or (maybe more approprietly) a dogtag that's simply worn that can be used to identify people who own the game. In the case of a Nintendog's game, the dogtag could be in the shape of a bone with a Nintendo emblem on it...or it could be a mini case to house your Nintendogs NDS game card. Either way, other people could more visably see it and (if they own the game too) they'd know that you have the game so they could then communicate with them and set-up a playing session. Nintendo could get even more creative and give the dogtags lil' sounds to help gain the attention of someone else wearing a Nintendo dogtag. Mario coin bling, first 7 tones of the SMBros theme, Animal Crossing character saying Nintendo, Nintendog owner whistling or dog barking, PokeMon chants, themes or calls.

I, myself, as an N-Tard would garautee that this would not only help accomplish what Nintendo set out to do with the Nintendo's "Bark Mode" more easily, but help spread Nintendo's word of mouth approach. What person doesn't recongnize the lil' Mario Bros. theme or coin bling? This not only works for the people using it to identify themselves, but also in bringing back memories to those who aren't Nintendo gamers today. Nintendo fans love to collect things like this too...and out of all the console fanboys, I think we're the most willing to nerd out and wear game T-Shirts or hats...so why not a dogtag or keychain?