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[Amir0x]

It's the weekend. And although we have a hype thread, I thought it'd be good to have a thread based solely on the facts. So in this thread we discuss impressions after having played it, and discuss what we like/dislike, etc...

Also, it'd be kind of nice if we could keep the PSP discussion elsewhere. Anyway, I think we need a thread to focus all the DS launch stuff in so I thought this would be a good one.

Anyway, on to general information that everyone knows etc...

____________________________________________________________________

GENERAL INFORMATION:
____________________________________________________________________

Launch Date USA: November 21, 2004
Launch Date Japan: December 2, 2004
Launch Date Europe: Q1 2005

Price: 149.99
Package: PictoChat, Metroid Prime: First Hunt Demo, 2 stylus pens (aka pointer), AC adapter, and a wrist strap (aka thumb strap).
Final Image of US Packaging:

Nintendo DS Boot Up Image:

___________________________________________________________________

SYSTEM SPECS:
___________________________________________________________________

Size (when closed): 148.7 millimeters (5.85 inches) wide, 84.7 millimeters (3.33 inches) long, 28.9 millimeters (1.13 inches) tall

Top Screen: A backlit, 3-inch, semitransparent reflective TFT color LCD with 256 x 192 pixel resolution and .24 mm dot pitch, capable of displaying 260,000 colors

Touch Screen: Same specs as top screen, but with a transparent analog touch screen

Wireless Communication: IEEE 802.11 and Nintendo's proprietary format; wireless range is 30 to 100 feet, depending on circumstances; multiple users can play multiplayer games using just one DS Game Card

Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad, L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons

Input/Output: Ports for both Nintendo DS Game Cards and Game Boy Advance Game Paks, terminals for stereo headphones and microphone

CPUs: One ARM9 and one ARM7

Sound: Stereo speakers providing virtual surround sound, depending on the software

Battery: Lithium ion battery delivering six to 10 hours of play on a four-hour charge, depending on use; power-saving sleep mode; AC adapter

Languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian

Color: Silver and black

____________________________________________________________________

LAUNCH GAMES
____________________________________________________________________

Asphalt Urban GT
Feel the Magic: XY/XX
Madden NFL 2005
Metroid Prime: Hunters (demo bundled with the DS)
Mr. Driller Drill Spirits - Update! - Will now release November 30
Ping Pals - Update! - Will now release December 7
PictoChat (built-in)
Rayman DS - Update! - Will now release December 14
Ridge Racer DS - Update! - Will now release December 7
Spider-Man 2
Super Mario 64 DS
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 - Update! - Will now release December 14
Sprung - Update - Will now release December 7
The Urbz: Sims in the City
____________________________________________________________________

THE GAMES
____________________________________________________________________


Feel the Magic XX/XY

Publisher:SEGA
Developer:Sonic Team

In this game, you're on a quest to win the heart of miss mini skirt girl. The catch is, every time you try to do something for her... well, something ends up going wrong. The game features a series of mini games, some of which rival the quirkiness found in Nintendo's Wario Ware. In one mini game, a courier with a fish bowl crashes into you and you end up swallowing the gold fish inside. You must then guide the fish out of your body or else they will die in your stomach. Others have you utilizing the games microphone feature by "blowing" to make the candles go out. Contains highly stylized visuals, looks like it will be a memorable one.

Read the IGN Review.
Read the Gamespot Review.
____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Asphalt Urban GT

Publisher:Ubisoft
Developer:Gameloft

A fairly straightforward racing game, but easily one of the most impressive ones visually for the Nintendo DS. Definitely one to keep an eye on, in case it manages to impress us with its gameplay, as well.

Read the IGN Review.
Read the Gamespot Review.
____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Madden NFL 2005 DS

Publisher:EA Sports
Developers:EA Sports

A handheld version of the ever-popular Madden football franchise for the Nintendo DS. Nothing special here.

Read the Gamespot Review.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Metroid Prime: Hunters Demo
NoBoxShotAvailable
Publisher:Nintendo
Developer:Nintendo

Based on Retro's update of the Metroid series, Hunters will take place from a first-person perspective and allows multiplayer via the DS wireless connection. Looks to be pretty cool, definitely. After playing the demo, I am really excited for this one.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Mr. Driller Drill Spirits

Publisher:Namco
Developer:Namco

Mr. Driller makes his way onto the DS with a slew of new puzzles. Basically, you're drilling deeper and deeper into magical multicolored caverns and other things filled with blocks. The puzzle aspect comes in the fact that as you drill, you have to be careful not to get squished under the blocks above that give way as you drill deeper. Can be very fun.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Ping Pals

Publisher: THQ
Developer: ?

This virtual life game will allow up to 16 players to interact with each other. Basically, by all accounts it's a really shitty attempt at presenting a virtual chat environment ala PictoChat, only with some games infused throughout. It won't catch on, but worth a look maybe?

Update: Up to maybe 192 people at once? Jesus!

More in a second...

 

[Amir0x]

Ridge Racer DS

Publisher:Namco
Developer:NST

People who made this made the N64 version. You know what that implies. But seriously, I still have high hopes for this version of Ridge Racer.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Spider-Man 2 DS

Publisher:Activision
Developer:Vicarious Vision

Based on the hit movie of the same name, Spider-Man 2 is coming to the DS as a launch title. In the game, you can use Spider-Man's new powers and moves against a host of villains. Doesn't excite me, but you be the judge.

Read the Gamespot Review.
Read the IGN Review.
____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Urbz: Sims in the City DS

Publisher:EA Games
Developer:Griptonite Games

This urban Sims-style life simulation sees players attempting to become the biggest "player" in a large city--where reputation is everything. As someone who has just played the GBA version, I am thoroughly uninterested.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Super Mario 64 DS

Publisher:Nintendo
Developer:Nintendo

Super Mario 64 DS allows you to play the single-player mode of the N64 classic, as well as a new multiplayer mode with three other players via the wireless connection. There are a total of 36 confirmed mini-games that you can play with other people, and some of them are reportedly very fucking addicting. This is THE game to get at the Nintendo DS launch.

Read the Gamespot Review.
____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005

Publisher:EA Games
Developer:EA Games

EA's popular golf sim is coming to the Nintendo DS. That's basically it. Heh.

No pics here.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________


Rayman DS

Publisher:Ubisoft
Developer:Ubisoft

Well, if you've played the other 3D versions of Rayman in the past, you know what to expect. Technically it's pretty nice to look at, and is comparable to a N64 version of Rayman.

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Sprung

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft

Romantic comedy hits the Nintendo DS in Ubisoft's game in which players "engage in a risqué, daring adventure with sexy singles at Snowbird Mountain, a hip ski resort in Colorado." Uh, so it's a dating sim... that's actually coming to the USA. I can't say this is my sort of thing. But hey!

____________________________________________________________________

IN MOTION:
____________________________________________________________________


Not convinced you need a Nintendo DS? Can't afford it? Want to wait for a PSP (hey, that's cool)? Well, before you make your final decision... check out this baby in MOTION. An awesome video compiling most of the major releases and upcoming releases for the Nintendo DS, this is your one stop for everything you need to know:

VIDEO HERE!

____________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION:
____________________________________________________________________


Well, that's about it. Here's where we discuss the Nintendo DS and its impending launch, and then when it launches... we discuss our experiences, our impressions, and our undying love for all that is Nintendo.

Check out their new website: Here.

 

[krypt0nian]

Excellent post so far!

______

There is some sickness in me that makes me want Ping Pals.......is there something I can take? Maybe a few Vicodins?

It has the pretty colors! Kawaii!!!!!

 

[Amir0x]

That was pretty exhaustive. Did I miss anything?

 

[Kon Tiki]

I thought I read PingPal going past 16 people. I am sure I heard 64.

Guppi on IGN is Matt Bozon, the Lead game designer/creative director from Wayforward, the makers of Shantae.

-time of day sensitive items at the store, ala animal crossing, stocked for a full year of unique items

-192 DS units can connect at once vs PictoChat's 64

-single and multiplayer text-based mini games

-there is a ton of sound customization, which is really fun, and easily overlooked

-you can save pictures that you draw...I believe P-Chat can not.

-if you are alone, you can talk to NPCs or play single player games to build up money"

192 wtf?

Hmm wait. Pictochat has 4 rooms at 16 user each. PP must have 12 rooms.

 

[Amir0x]

I thought I read PingPal going past 16 people. I am sure I heard 64.

If so, I'll edit it. I just got this information from Gamespot.

 

[Amir0x]

I thought I read PingPal going past 16 people. I am sure I heard 64.



192 wtf?

Hmm wait. Pictochat has 4 rooms at 16 user each. PP must have 12 rooms.

Oh, I see. Heh.

 

[lexi]

I'm hyped, haven't had a chance to actually touch the system at all yet, and am looking forward to seeing how well Metroid looks/controls, how well/not well Mario controls/looks, and basically looking forward to playing an enhanced Mario 64 - a game I haven't played in 7 years.

Will post impressions in this thread when I pick it up on Sunday.

Will probably also pick up DKC2 wherever I can find it, I've heard nothing but nice things of what the DS backlight does for GBA games.

Great post btw.

 

[Spiritreaver]

I thought I read PingPal going past 16 people. I am sure I heard 64.



192 wtf?

wtf indeed... I don't even see the purpose... maybe if it can some how eventually go online, but that's just kind of excessive.

Anywho, nice topic Serico. I AM SO HYPED. I will *hopefully* be able to pick up my preorder Sunday, and I can't wait to smack down some impressions here. SO SO CLOSE.

EDIT: ALSO I WANT A DAMN STICKY.

 

[Amir0x]

I'm hyped, haven't had a chance to actually touch the system at all yet, and am looking forward to seeing how well Metroid controls, how well/not well Mario controls, and basically looking forward to playing an enhanced Mario 64 - a game I haven't played in 7 years.

Will probably also pick up DKC2 wherever I can find it, I've heard nothing but nice things of what the DS backlights do for GBA games.

Great post btw.

I can't wait to play US Minish Cap on Nintendo DS. It's going to be pure love.

 

[krypt0nian]

-time of day sensitive items at the store, ala animal crossing, stocked for a full year of unique items

SOLD! I forgot I posted that crap from Matt/Guppi...

 

[Spiritreaver]

I can't wait to play US Minish Cap on Nintendo DS. It's going to be pure love.

Next year is going to start of greatly with those first few months for me. Minish Cap, Wario Ware GBA and DS. That alone has me pretty excited. Pretty sure we'll get other announcements by then as well. Crazy. And luckily my birthday falls into place around then.

 

[Amir0x]

Next year is going to start of greatly with those first few months for me. Minish Cap, Wario Ware GBA and DS. That alone has me pretty excited. Pretty sure we'll get other announcements by then as well. Crazy. And luckily my birthday falls into place around then.

Hype hype.

Anyway, of the launch games, I'm getting Feel the Magic XY/XX and Super Mario 64 DS like pretty much everyone.

I played the DS and it impressed me enough to calm most of my fears about it.

 

[Fowler]

I'm debating picking one up today or waiting for the JP launch with Wario Ware.

 

[Grubdog]

Launch Date Europe: Q1 2005

Might as well be Q2, since I hear it's coming out late March =\. I really hope Wario Ware is ready for the PAL launch, please Nintendo make this happen. Out of the US lineup i'd probably get Spiderman 2, Super Mario 64 DS and Feel the Magic. Those along with pictochat and Metroid Prime Hunters is more than enough to keep anyone busy until the next wave of DS games hit.

I'm so jealous of you Americans.

 

[Amir0x]

Might as well be Q2, since I hear it's coming out late March =\. I really hope Wario Ware is ready for the PAL launch, please Nintendo make this happen. Out of the US lineup i'd probably get Spiderman 2, Super Mario 64 DS and Feel the Magic. Those along with pictochat and Metroid Prime Hunters is more than enough to keep anyone busy until the next wave of DS games hit.

I'm so jealous of you Americans.

Q2? Jeebus. Well, sorry to hear that

Hopefully the price won't be insane either. I can't wait for Wario Ware DS, it's going to be the greatest thing ever.

 

[Grubdog]

I'm debating picking one up today or waiting for the JP launch with Wario Ware.

Why not just get a US one today and get Wario Ware from Japan when it comes out? It's region free right?

 

[Spiritreaver]

Why not just get a US one today and get Wario Ware from Japan when it comes out? It's region free right?

It is, so there shouldn't be a problem play cards from all over the world ont he system. BUt multiplayer may become an issue when you try to play a US version of some game with a PAL copy. But that's not a problem as you can just buy PAL versions of games you want if you wanna play with friends. Things like SM64DS though shouldn't really be worried about, as they offer single cart mode.

 

[Rocket Punch]

Whoa! This is great. Thanx Amir0x, all in one place. I love it! I'm getting SM64 DS and Spider-man

Sunday get here quick!

EDIT: STICKY PLS!

 

[Amir0x]

Whoa! This is great. Thanx Amir0x, all in one place. I love it! I'm getting SM64 DS and Spider-man

Sunday get here quick!

Thanks

Sunday can't come quick enough. Today is going to go so slow. It's going to drag its ass along the pavement until Sunday comes.

 

[AniHawk]

As I already said in the hype thread, I bought a DS on Friday at about 4:40 PM. If I can get my hands on SM64 DS, I may keep it. Though, if on Sunday, DS and games become extremely rare or desired, onto ebay they go (I didn't spend $150+ on this either- it was $70 [through Game Rush] for the DS, potentially SM64 DS, and a PSTwo).

 

[Amir0x]

I remember how I capitalized on the PS2 shortage. I sold my PS2 for 450.

 

[shibbs]

Great thread, sticky this! Cant wait for some good impressions because im still not 100% convinced.

 

[john tv]

I thought I heard Ridge Racer is no longer launch. Can anyone confirm/deny?

 

[kitchenmotors]

Play asia got in their DS units and games and posted a ton of photos, which by far are the best hardware/software photos I've seen, as they do plenty of comparison shots and show things in more detail.

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-17-74-oj.html

 

[Amir0x]

I thought I heard Ridge Racer is no longer launch. Can anyone confirm/deny?

I haven't heard anything saying that it wouldn't be a launch title. I'm looking but I can't find anything.

 

[john tv]

I just checked EB Games. They have it listed as Dec. 7 now. Also, that crappy Ping Pals game (or whatever it's called) is no longer launch too. (Probably a good thing, since it's totally pointless.)

 

[Amir0x]

I just checked EB Games. They have it listed as Dec. 7 now. Also, that crappy Ping Pals game (or whatever it's called) is no longer launch too. (Probably a good thing, since it's totally pointless.)

Ok. I'll make sure to note that in the original post.

 

[john tv]

From EB Games (ship dates, which means in-store dates are one day later):

Nintendo DS 11/20
Super Mario 64 DS 11/20
Mr. Driller Spirit 11/30
Ridge Racer 12/7
Ping Pals 12/7
Sprung 12/7
Rayman DS 12/14
Tiger Woods PGA 05 12/14

 

[Amir0x]

From EB Games (ship dates, which means in-store dates are one day later):

Nintendo DS 11/20
Super Mario 64 DS 11/20
Mr. Driller Spirit 11/30
Ridge Racer 12/7
Ping Pals 12/7
Sprung 12/7
Rayman DS 12/14
Tiger Woods PGA 05 12/14

Yeah, I was just surfing EBGames to confirm release dates and I noticed Mr. Driller Spirit got moved up a week. Damn it!

Anyway, all of those dates are updated on the LAUNCH GAMES list in the first post.

 

[Hellraizah]

This is my impressions so far of the DS :

I only got Metroid Prime Hunters demo, so that'll be the only thing I'll talk about.

I didn't like the controls at first when I tried them one month ago, and now that I can play it a lot more, I tried every control scheme in the game and I can definitely say that I find none of them truly precise. To my surprise, the most precise control scheme was the one I already used one month ago that required you to shoot stuff with the stylus. The drawback of this control scheme is that everytime you want to turn around, you gotta shoot one time (the time you put the stylus on the screen). Overall, I think the control WOULD be great if there was something more precise than the stylus to control it (like analog sticks). The game represents a lot of what would have been playing Metroid Prime with dual analog (you control two axis), and even though I find the stylus to be not precise enough, I can definitely see the dual analog potential for Metroid Prime while playing that game.

I'm not really impressed by the Metroid Prime Hunters demo, it feels like a first person shooter with sub-par controls. I can definitely see the potential in the touch screen tough, just not for this type of games. The DS badly needs a RTS game like Command And Conquer for the touch screen.

 

[Amir0x]

A RTS game would work so well for the Nintendo DS. It would offer unlimited awesome.

 

[borghe]

my thread was better and had more pictures... damn it...

edit - and had info on the launch window games with dates... bastards..

anyway, pingpals isn't pointless... SUPPOSEDLY, when the game actually comes in and the shops stop this $40-50 pre-launch-we-just-make-numbers-up-and-post-whatever-we-want, the game will only cost $20, support 16 DS' out of the box with single cartidge wireless, and give more to do (stuff to earn from chatting, mini-games, etc) than PictoChat.

in other words it just takes one guy to plop down $20 and everyone can have a lot more fun than just picto chat. and if other people decide to buy it also, well, then their cart can save all of the stuff they have bought for their avatar...

I'm not saying it's a killer app, but at $20 (supposedly according to every preview) and single cartridge multi-player it certainly has its place on the system..

and can I call sour grapes on this thread one more time? :\

 

[borghe]

I'm not really impressed by the Metroid Prime Hunters demo, it feels like a first person shooter with sub-par controls. I can definitely see the potential in the touch screen tough, just not for this type of games. The DS badly needs a RTS game like Command And Conquer for the touch screen.

umm.. but it's mouselook.. since when in the history of gaming is mouse/keyboard subpar control for an FPS?

edit - I take that back.. I actually have ONE FRIEND that does have problems with mouse/keyboard.. he is decent with dual analog, just never had a PC before XBox and can't seem to wrap his brain around mouse/keyboard.. so if you just never could get mouse/keyboard, then I can see where you are coming from.. sort of.... aside from the whole "it's not precise" thing..

 

[Hellraizah]

umm.. but it's mouselook.. since when in the history of gaming is mouse/keyboard subpar control for an FPS?

Mouselook and stylus-look is different.

Have you ever seen someone play Counter Strike with this ?

 

[Amir0x]

my thread was better and had more pictures... damn it...

edit - and had info on the launch window games with dates... bastards..

anyway, pingpals isn't pointless... SUPPOSEDLY, when the game actually comes in and the shops stop this $40-50 pre-launch-we-just-make-numbers-up-and-post-whatever-we-want, the game will only cost $20, support 16 DS' out of the box with single cartidge wireless, and give more to do (stuff to earn from chatting, mini-games, etc) than PictoChat.

in other words it just takes one guy to plop down $20 and everyone can have a lot more fun than just picto chat. and if other people decide to buy it also, well, then their cart can save all of the stuff they have bought for their avatar...

I'm not saying it's a killer app, but at $20 (supposedly according to every preview) and single cartridge multi-player it certainly has its place on the system..

and can I call sour grapes on this thread one more time? :\

Eh, sorry. I wasn't trying to "out do" your thread, I just thought maybe it'd be good if we had one that was a bit more focused and not 15 pages of, well, hype. Plus it was pretty big already, so I thought it'd be nice to have a clean slate for a launch thread. There will be a LOT of people discussing the thing in the next few days.

Anyway, I personally don't think PingPals will catch on. Sure, it might be cheap at 20 dollars, but with PictoChat around I don't think most people will even bother.

 

[TheGreenGiant]

so can anyone else say why there is only 1 NINTENDO title at launch? I'm liking the Japanese launch titles more - What are the dates / timeframe like for the release of additional titles (to the ones not on that list?)

Only decent titles @ 1-2 week launch period imo

Mario 64x4
XXYY

Driller

That's PRETTY bad.

 

[Amir0x]

so can anyone else say why there is only 1 NINTENDO title at launch? I'm liking the Japanese launch titles more - What are the dates / timeframe like for the release of additional titles (to the ones not on that list?)

Only decent titles @ 1-2 week launch period imo

Mario 64x4
XXYY

Driller

That's PRETTY bad.

So far, we have... for the DS...

Feb. 14: WarioWare™ Touched! from Nintendo
March 14: Pokémon Dash from Nintendo
March: Yoshi's Touch & Go from Nintendo
March: Atari Classics from Atari
March: Pac Pix from Namco
Q1: Need for Speed Underground™ 2 from Electronic Arts
Q2: Metroid Prime® Hunters from Nintendo
May: Ultimate Card Games™ from Telegames
June: Ultimate Brain Games™ from Telegames

"New titles for Nintendo franchises like Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Advance Wars remain in development."

Eh.

 

[TheGreenGiant]

So far, we have... for the DS...

Feb. 14: WarioWare™ Touched! from Nintendo
March 14: Pokémon Dash from Nintendo
March: Yoshi's Touch & Go from Nintendo
March: Atari Classics from Atari
March: Pac Pix from Namco
Q1: Need for Speed Underground™ 2 from Electronic Arts
Q2: Metroid Prime® Hunters from Nintendo
May: Ultimate Card Games™ from Telegames
June: Ultimate Brain Games™ from Telegames

"New titles for Nintendo franchises like Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Advance Wars remain in development."

Eh.

Febuary. What the fuck have Nintendo been doing? Oooo.. this is suprising AND bad.

 

[seismologist]

How many fucking games do you need? Last time I bought a GBA game was like 6 months ago and I play my GBA almost every day.

 

[TheGreenGiant]

How many fucking games do you need? Last time I bought a GBA game was like 6 months ago and I play my GBA almost every day.

I'm talking NINTENDO. Its their system and they've been working on it for ages and they can't get more than 1 game out in a 3 month period after DS launch?

November - MARIO 64x4

Dec - Nada

Jan - Nada

Febuary - Wario Ware.


That's a fucking disgrace for a a new handheld they're launching. Absolutely pathetic.

 

[radioheadrule83]

I'm talking NINTENDO. Its their system and they've been working on it for ages and they can't get more than 1 game out in a 3 month period after DS launch?

November - MARIO 64x4

Dec - Nada

Jan - Nada

Febuary - Wario Ware.


That's a fucking disgrace for a a new handheld they're launching. Absolutely pathetic.

I dunno. Don't forget Ridge Racer DS (Dec 7) - it's a Namco published game, ported by Nintendo themselves. I think we'll see quick releases for Yoshi's Touch & Go, Advance Wars and a few other things. They've not got a bad lineup IMO.

 

[lexi]

I'm looking forward to the PSP hype threads so I can rain on that parade, too. Can we leave the bitching in another thread? This is the official hype thread, and I see little hyping and much bitching.

 

[Chony]

Staying all night outside of target with five friends. We are going to play Halo 2 all night by hooking up a tv and xbox to targets external outlets. This is going to be a long night.

Im getting a DS + Mario 64x4

 

[TheGreenGiant]

I'm looking forward to the PSP hype threads so I can rain on that parade, too. Can we leave the bitching in another thread? This is the official hype thread, and I see little hyping and much bitching.

Its me TheGreenGiant. No.4 or 5 Nbot on the GAF forum. I am not excited about DS. we have uh oh.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

alright a sticky! party over here!

 

[lexi]

Its me TheGreenGiant. No.4 or 5 Nbot on the GAF forum. I am not excited about DS. we have uh oh.

Turn in your badge, you're officially out.

 

[king zell]

I think most announced titles will start to be revealed and get release dates by E3

I mean I really want to see Castlevania

 

[seismologist]

there's alot of new screenshots of Asphalt GT over at IGN. The graphics in the game look pretty nice , IMO.

http://media.ds.ign.com/media/697/697535/imgs_1.html?ui=gamefinder

 

[evilromero]

I want Ridge Racer badly, but Mr. Driller may be on the table also. I need something to keep me busy until all the big titles hit next year.