Am I the only one with the feeling that Nintendo may want to make the 3DS into the successor to the Wii and the DS?
I'm not really sure what else they could do with the concepts introduced by the Wii, especially considering the way the system has--software-wise--been spinning its wheels since very early on. The DS on the other hand has been a gigantic success both financially and creatively.
At this point, making a Wii 2 seems like it would have a lot of problems, and trying to suddenly play catch up with the HD systems seems unlikely as well.
Nintendo stayed in the home console business after the N64 and the Gamecube. I can't imagine they'd jump ship when they're back on top.
"[Microsoft and Nintendo] are starting to run out of steam now in terms of continuing to be relevant in 2011 and beyond," Tretton said. "I mean, you've gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I'm doing true accurate motion gaming?"
Tretton also called Nintendo's market-leading handheld consoles a "great babysitting tool," adding that "no self-respecting 20-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those. He's too old for that."
Tretton is a troll.
Couscous on
0
Brainiac 8Don't call me Shirley...Registered Userregular
Tretton: Platforms Must Have 'Cutting Edge' Tech At Launch To Stay Relevant
by Kris Graft [Console/PC, Business]
April 8, 2011
Tretton: Platforms Must Have 'Cutting Edge' Tech At Launch To Stay Relevant
Nintendo found big success in recent years by releasing hardware that revolved around new kinds of interfaces instead of pushing technical boundaries. Microsoft's Xbox 360 is on the upswing partly thanks to the new Kinect and a gradual addition of new features to its console over the years.
But Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Jack Tretton told Fortune in a new interview that a game console must launch with the best technology available at the time in order to stay relevant for a long period. And that's been PlayStation's philosophy.
"If you're really going to sustain technology for a decade, you have to be cutting edge when you launch a platform," he said.
"Here we are four years into the PlayStation 3, and it's just hitting its stride," he said, echoing another recent interview. "We'll enjoy a long downhill roll behind it because the technology that was so cutting edge in 2006 is extremely relevant today and is conspicuously absent in our competition."
The PS3 launched in 2006, sporting a complex Cell processor, an advanced RSX GPU co-developed by Sony and Nvidia, a standard hard drive, Blu-ray playback, Bluetooth connectivity, built-in wi-fi and HDMI support.
The build costs were high -- estimates found that Sony was selling at a loss of over $300 for the 20GB launch model, which sold for $499. The 60GB model sold for $600 at a reported loss of around $240 at launch.
Since then, Sony has used its expertise in electronics manufacturing to gradually cut costs, and only last year did reports emerge that the company is no longer taking a hit on every console sold. To Tretton, that investment is paying off in the long run.
"[Microsoft and Nintendo] are starting to run out of steam now in terms of continuing to be relevant in 2011 and beyond," Tretton said. "I mean, you've gotta be kidding me. Why would I buy a gaming system without a hard drive in it? How does this thing scale? Motion gaming is cute, but if I can only wave my arms six inches, how does this really feel like I'm doing true accurate motion gaming?"
Sony appears to be once again following its cutting-edge tech philosophy with the PSP successor, the codenamed Next Generation Portable. The NGP will have high-end features, including 3G and wi-fi support, a five-inch multi-touch OLED display, a multi-touch pad on the back, dual analog sticks, flash card support for software, motion sensors, built-in GPS and a four-core CPU, among other features.
At least one analyst expects the NGP to cost "at least" $299 in the U.S. When it launches later this year, it will go head-to-head against Nintendo's $250 3DS. Tretton previously said that price doesn't "make or kill a platform" -- the challenge is providing value for consumers.
Tretton also called Nintendo's market-leading handheld consoles a "great babysitting tool," adding that "no self-respecting 20-something is going to be sitting on an airplane with one of those. He's too old for that."
I guess many of us here are not self respecting adults. Woo, what a mouthful this guy gave.
Edit: Beat by Cous, but here is more of the article Cous posted.
Am I the only one with the feeling that Nintendo may want to make the 3DS into the successor to the Wii and the DS?
I'm not really sure what else they could do with the concepts introduced by the Wii, especially considering the way the system has--software-wise--been spinning its wheels since very early on. The DS on the other hand has been a gigantic success both financially and creatively.
At this point, making a Wii 2 seems like it would have a lot of problems, and trying to suddenly play catch up with the HD systems seems unlikely as well.
It's unlikely that Nintendo's next home console will be built around 3D visuals, so says NOA chief Reggie Fils-Aime.
During an interview with CNN following the 3DS launch at the weekend, Fils-Aime said "Glasses-free is a big deal. We've not said publicly what the next thing for us will be in the home console space, but based on what we've learned on 3D, likely, that won't be it."
It seems that Nintendo only believes in 3D if special glasses aren't involved - a feat which, given Fils-Aime's comments, it currently views as out of reach for home consoles.
"I think at Nintendo, we realise that any sort of goggle-type 3D technology was not going to work," said 3DS creator Hideki Konno elsewhere in the piece while discussing Nintendo's new handheld. "In order to make 3D technology viable with video games, we thought we needed to have glasses-free 3D."
Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about its plans for a successor to the Wii. Back in November CEO Satoru Iwata told investors, "We are of course studying and developing the next console to Wii. However, there is a big difference between studying a product and announcing what it is and when we will release it."
Why in the world would they simply give up the whole market? Cross-platform ports have always been a huge and valuable part of their business, and they've learned some lessons on that from the Wii.
The remastered Splinter Cell Trilogy, in development for PS3, is based on the PC versions of the original games, confirms Ubisoft's Alex Monney. "When we started this project, one of our main goals was to provide the players with the best possible content," he writes in a post on PlayStation Blog. "Hence we decided to port the game from the PC version which had more content and detail compared to the PS2 version."
It's not well documented in any one place (come on Wikipedia!), but there are actually a lot of subtle and blatant differences between the various platform releases of the games; most notably in the first Splinter Cell, according to MobyGames, where level design and bonus content differ between versions. While it would have been neat to have been able to toggle between these versions in Splinter Cell Trilogy, the PC ports are probably closer to the original Xbox sources than any other versions, and feature the highest-resolution assets (which are going to be bumped up to full HD in the Trilogy release).
Additionally, Monney notes in a response to a comment that "the online part of the original games won't be included" in Splinter Cell Trilogy -- just the single-player campaigns. While part of the post URL suggests that the collection will be "coming-to-ps3-in-june" (confirming an earlier report), Monney's officially sticking with, "No firm release date yet, but we'll update you guys once we know!"
It's funny since lots of modders have basically been doing such things for awhile now making the games look better and even HD in some.
I tried to buy the Wii at launch. You've never had to experience a bunch of silly geese running and trampling over you just to get to the gaming part of Wal-Mart. I got punched in the face and had a good black eye for the next month.
One of the reasons I never try to get tech or the new hotness day one.
People have no self-control.
I should have known better, I went to the PS3 launch. Which started similar to the Wii launch, I got the PS3, but I had to get escorted out of Wal-Mart by a cop because people were trying to steal from me and attack me.
Edit: I was thirteen then, and adults were still attacking me.
Did you live in the only area of the country with a shortage? I had people returning them because they couldn't unload them for a huge profit on eBay.
I'm pretty sure the entire launch shipment of the PS3 sold out instantly - but a significant portion of the initial buyers were scalpers. Some saw the PS3 as easy cash. If a $250 Wii could be sold on eBay for $400, think of how much a $600 PS3 could sell for! It turns out a $600 PS3 sold on eBay for $600, so a lot of scalper dreams were crushed.
You guys forgot the Wii being used for people in nursing homes as a distraction from uncaring families and upcoming deaths. The official system for toddlers and geezers!
MistaCreepy on
PS3: MistaCreepy::Steam: MistaCreepy::360: Dead and I don't feel like paying to fix it.
I never thought this could happen to me. I was flying in a business-class seat, wearing my suit, blue shirt, and non-aggressive tie like all good consultants, on a cross-country flight. Having just placed the finishing touches on the presentation I was helping give to the worldwide sales team for a small, US-based cargo airline, I opened my briefcase and pulled out my Nintendo DS for some Etrian Odyssey II action.
And that's when it started - first with some scattered chuckles, and then, with a single guffaw, the whole business section of the aircraft was laughing. At me! The flight attendent even took away my glass of red wine! I was so disenheartened that I messed up the presentation, and got fired.
If only I'd been mature enough and had the self-respect to bring a PSP instead!
I never thought this could happen to me. I was flying in a business-class seat, wearing my suit, blue shirt, and non-aggressive tie like all good consultants, on a cross-country flight. Having just placed the finishing touches on the presentation I was helping give to the worldwide sales team for a small, US-based cargo airline, I opened my briefcase and pulled out my Nintendo DS for some Etrian Odyssey II action.
And that's when it started - first with some scattered chuckles, and then, with a single guffaw, the whole business section of the aircraft was laughing. At me! The flight attendent even took away my glass of red wine! I was so disenheartened that I messed up the presentation, and got fired.
If only I'd been mature enough and had the self-respect to bring a PSP instead!
So the other day when I saw that Minecraft had made 33million in revenue, I asked myself: Could it be possible that videogames are too expensive? Minecraft is a lot of fun and all, but I'm pretty sure a lot of people got Minecraft because it was only 9 euros or whatever it started at.
Would big titles benefit from a tentative $30 price tag? Sure, people in richer countries can definitely afford $60 games, but what about most of the world not having such great income?
It would be interesting to see a big title start at $30 on launch.
So the other day when I saw that Minecraft had made 33million in revenue, I asked myself: Could it be possible that videogames are too expensive? Minecraft is a lot of fun and all, but I'm pretty sure a lot of people got Minecraft because it was only 9 euros or whatever it started at.
Would big titles benefit from a tentative $30 price tag? Sure, people in richer countries can definitely afford $60 games, but what about most of the world not having such great income?
It would be interesting to see a big title start at $30 on launch.
Nintendo’s US liaison on the hunt for studios “with a sense of craftsmanship”, with mixed results.
Nintendo’s Kensuke Tanabe is on the lookout for more developers of the calibre of Retro Studios, who so impressed the Nintendo producer during development of Donkey Kong Country Returns – but admits that too many US game companies are “running a business for business’ sake.”
Retro has been working under Nintendo’s wing for a decade, developing the Metroid Prime series for the firm, before taking on last year’s Donkey Kong reboot. Now Tanabe, who works with Nintendo-affiliated US developers, says he wants to find more studios of a similar standard.
Asked if it was important for Nintendo to strengthen its relationships with foreign developers, Tanabe tells us: “I absolutely believe so. I work with other development partners, such as [Punch Out!! developer] Next Level Games in Vancouver and Monster Studios [of Pilotwings Resort] in Minneapolis.
“And they, much like Retro, really get our development philosophies. I want to find as many people as we can, as many great companies as we can to get involved with. I’m really looking for developers with a sense of craftsmanship.”
That, Tanabe admits, has proven hard to find, with his personal feeling being that “there’s a real increase in the number of companies that look like they’re really running a business for business’ sake. There are many of those certainly within the midst of the gaming industry as a whole, or at least I feel that way.”
You can read the full interview with Tanabe, and Retro Studios president Michael Kelbaugh, in our next issue. E227 should be with subscribers any day now, and will be with newsagents next Tuesday, April 12.
They should pick Platinum. They'd benefit from having a damn good studio, and Platinum would benefit from selling good numbers.
"US liaison".
And seeing as they just got out from under Capcom's thumb, what makes you think they'd want to work for a far more controlling publisher like Nintendo?
They should pick Platinum. They'd benefit from having a damn good studio, and Platinum would benefit from selling good numbers.
"US liaison".
And seeing as they just got out from under Capcom's thumb, what makes you think they'd want to work for a far more controlling publisher like Nintendo?
I've got no real hopes that would happen. It's just a pipe dream
A more realistic guess would be one of the larger indie devs. I can't think of any teams that are Retro Studios size that would go with Nintendo.
They're so slow, that while Valve was e-mailing out clues to a puzzle, which were a part of an ARG, Slowtaku took so long to release the image sent to them that someone managed to generate a fake version of the image and convince everyone it was real, long enough to gum up their attempts to solve the puzzle. A day later Slowtaku finally gets on the ball.
The 3DS slidepad renders the Dpad totally unnecessary, though, except for occasional menu navigation, and it's not like you need a great-feeling Dpad for that.
I'm pretty sure the 3DS d-pad is actually one of the best Nintendo's ever made, but it's in a completely unusable position.
It's too flat and hard. The lite's D-pad was perfect, I don't know why they insisted on messing with it in the DSi and now 3DS
It was not perfect. It sunk into the system and was too mushy. And objectively, it was god-awful at diagonals, the worst of the DS line at doing them in fact.
They should pick Platinum. They'd benefit from having a damn good studio, and Platinum would benefit from selling good numbers.
"US liaison".
And seeing as they just got out from under Capcom's thumb, what makes you think they'd want to work for a far more controlling publisher like Nintendo?
I've got no real hopes that would happen. It's just a pipe dream
A more realistic guess would be one of the larger indie devs. I can't think of any teams that are Retro Studios size that would go with Nintendo.
Your pipe dream is my nightmare. I'd love to see Platinum work with someone other than Sega but of all the publishers, I'd prefer they work with Microsoft before Nintendo (and I've no intention of owning a 360). EA Partners would probably be my ideal choice.
I'm pretty sure the 3DS d-pad is actually one of the best Nintendo's ever made, but it's in a completely unusable position.
It's too flat and hard. The lite's D-pad was perfect, I don't know why they insisted on messing with it in the DSi and now 3DS
It was not perfect. It sunk into the system and was too mushy. And objectively, it was god-awful at diagonals, the worst of the DS line at doing them in fact.
I know, the cushioned response is what made it the best DS d-pad. Compared to the hard, un-reactive buttons on the original, DSi, and especially the 3DS
That may be, but I've gone back to the lite, for pokemon at least, because the D-pad is too hard and the slide pad is too finicky for games not designed for analogue control
Posts
Nintendo stayed in the home console business after the N64 and the Gamecube. I can't imagine they'd jump ship when they're back on top.
Zeboyd Games Development Blog
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire, Facebook : Zeboyd Games
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34012/Tretton_Platforms_Must_Have_Cutting_Edge_Tech_At_Launch_To_Stay_Relevant.php Tretton is a troll.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34012/Tretton_Platforms_Must_Have_Cutting_Edge_Tech_At_Launch_To_Stay_Relevant.php
I guess many of us here are not self respecting adults. Woo, what a mouthful this guy gave.
Edit: Beat by Cous, but here is more of the article Cous posted.
Nintendo Network ID - Brainiac_8
PSN - Brainiac_8
Steam - http://steamcommunity.com/id/BRAINIAC8/
Add me!
No, they're working on the Wii's successor.
Why in the world would they simply give up the whole market? Cross-platform ports have always been a huge and valuable part of their business, and they've learned some lessons on that from the Wii.
Going for the Fox News method of repeating something enough times that people will think it is true.
If I keep saying Nintendo is for the kiddies then people will keep believing it.
I'm so ashamed.
Nintendo Network ID - Brainiac_8
PSN - Brainiac_8
Steam - http://steamcommunity.com/id/BRAINIAC8/
Add me!
Witty? He's talking about this one.
Yeah, the whole situation was pretty pathetic on Sony's part. But then, all their situations usually are.
It's funny since lots of modders have basically been doing such things for awhile now making the games look better and even HD in some.
Meanwhile, I'm playing Bayonetta and parts of the Dead or Alive series and I have nothing but respect for myself. Because those are games for adults.
3DS FC: 0817-3759-2788
I just finished playing a bit of Gears of War, and was just about to put pokemon white in my 3DS
But jack said...
I'm so confused...
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
I'm sure she'll want her own 3DS when it becomes the portable Tetris and Netflix Machine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEPdRPxR_i0
I wish there was a depository of these videos somewhere.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
I never thought this could happen to me. I was flying in a business-class seat, wearing my suit, blue shirt, and non-aggressive tie like all good consultants, on a cross-country flight. Having just placed the finishing touches on the presentation I was helping give to the worldwide sales team for a small, US-based cargo airline, I opened my briefcase and pulled out my Nintendo DS for some Etrian Odyssey II action.
And that's when it started - first with some scattered chuckles, and then, with a single guffaw, the whole business section of the aircraft was laughing. At me! The flight attendent even took away my glass of red wine! I was so disenheartened that I messed up the presentation, and got fired.
If only I'd been mature enough and had the self-respect to bring a PSP instead!
Signed,
Now Actually a Babysitter
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
He's trolling you.
Would big titles benefit from a tentative $30 price tag? Sure, people in richer countries can definitely afford $60 games, but what about most of the world not having such great income?
It would be interesting to see a big title start at $30 on launch.
I can't believe Notch earned 33 million dollars.
Twitter
"US liaison".
And seeing as they just got out from under Capcom's thumb, what makes you think they'd want to work for a far more controlling publisher like Nintendo?
I've got no real hopes that would happen. It's just a pipe dream
A more realistic guess would be one of the larger indie devs. I can't think of any teams that are Retro Studios size that would go with Nintendo.
Twitter
Pretty damn good for a handheld game.
My favorite of the 3DS launch titles.
While we're on a tangentially 3DS related subject - the 3DS dpad is awful.
Platinum FC: 2880 3245 5111
Yes but the slide pad is absolutely amazing, which makes up for it for the most part.
And at least the dpad isn't the mushy piece of shit the lite had. By far nintendos worst dpad ever.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
They're so slow, that while Valve was e-mailing out clues to a puzzle, which were a part of an ARG, Slowtaku took so long to release the image sent to them that someone managed to generate a fake version of the image and convince everyone it was real, long enough to gum up their attempts to solve the puzzle. A day later Slowtaku finally gets on the ball.
It's too flat and hard. The lite's D-pad was perfect, I don't know why they insisted on messing with it in the DSi and now 3DS
It was not perfect. It sunk into the system and was too mushy. And objectively, it was god-awful at diagonals, the worst of the DS line at doing them in fact.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
Your pipe dream is my nightmare. I'd love to see Platinum work with someone other than Sega but of all the publishers, I'd prefer they work with Microsoft before Nintendo (and I've no intention of owning a 360). EA Partners would probably be my ideal choice.
This is a joke, right? Worse than the GC's? No. No no no.
I know, the cushioned response is what made it the best DS d-pad. Compared to the hard, un-reactive buttons on the original, DSi, and especially the 3DS
Yah but you never really used it like you need to on the lite. In fact I don't recall ever using it more than a handful of times.
@Spoit
Whatever you say, but you're in the minority in thinking that, theres a reason why they've kept with the buttons theyve been doing since the DSi.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083