I am now a proud owner of a Nintendo DS!

[Renzatic Gear]

Pretty impressive little machine here. While it might not be the technological powerhouse that the PSP is, it can hold it's own against it fairly well.

What really shocked me was the quality of the screen. I was expecting it to be about as sharp as a GBA SP, but it's much bright and crisp...GBA games look tons better on it than they do on their home system.

Right now all I have is Mario 64, but it looks like it's gonna hold me over for more than a few. I'm glad I got one, and it looks like I'm gonna have tons more to play here in the near future.

[Renzatic Gear]

Little addition here....is there any way you can force fullscreen for GBA games?

[theWacoKid]

Little addition here....is there any way you can force fullscreen for GBA games?

No, the gba screen aspect ratio is different than the DS, that's why the letterboxed look.. Looks like there could be some vgr mario karting online this xmas if people are set up with wireless internet. Super Mario DS is probably not the best game to show off the DS. This is what you call trying to pound a square peg thru a round hole with the different control schemes, none of which are going to replace traditional analog control.

The two games I'd recommend at the moment are Meteos and Kirby's Canvas Curse. All the games I"ve purchased have been stylus based. I have super mario DS, but it came with the system and I haven't played it in a long while.

The psp is getting its ass kicked and then some right now. All sorts of problems with uninspired ports or games based on existing franchises like Dead to Rights, long load times, over a minute between races in MC3:Dub edition, and then to add insult to injury, the one new original title for the psp, Coded Arms is crap. Argggghhh!

Its not like there's a ton of releases for the DS, either, but at least, they're quality titles, don't have some of these horrendous load times and are cheaper to boot.

[Renzatic Gear]

Mario 64 isn't all that bad, it's little ackward without an analog stick but I've been able to play it without any problems.

Well...almost anyway. O.o

[Aylmer]

I have been playing my DS a lot lately, and it's been weeks since I turned on my PSP. I thought about buying the import Bust A Move for the PSP, but the $60 tag turned me away.

One thing I really like about the DS is it's ergos. Another is being able to have two game carts in the machine at once. I got Riviera (a GBA RPG) yesterday, and with that in the DS's GBA slot, and Meteos in the DS slot, it's an incredible gaming solution. I was playing Riviera last night in bed, and the DS is so well balanced and rests perfectly on my stomach while I'm laying down that I had to make myself quit playing and go to bed.

I would like to get some movies for my PSP, but right now they cost the same as, and in some cases more than, a DVD of the same film. I just cannot justify it.

Who knows, my PSP may be making it's way to eBay soon...

[Renzatic Gear]

That's one thing I've always liked about Nintendo products, everything they make is comfortable, reliable, and usually pretty rugged.

I'm gonna buy a PSP eventually (if you sell yours send me a PM hint hint), but I know that I'm gonna have to sit the thing on a diaper every night and be ultra careful with it if I want it to have a fairly long life span. I don't have to worry about that with the DS, I can throw it around all I want and take it whereever I go and I know it'll still work fine.

[Aylmer]

Well, I wake up in the night sometimes and want to play a handheld, but I do not want to wake my wife. With the DS, it's not a problem. In the dark, I can easily tell by feel how to minimize the volume. Since it's a clamshell design, I don't have to worry about smudging or scratching the screen when I'm grabbing for it in the dark. And, the on-off button is easy to find once I open it.

But with the PSP, it's a different story. I have to gingerly feel for it, and when I do grab it, I have to be careful I don't hit the wrong button. There are buttons all along the outer perimeter of the thing. I have accidently, opened the drive door, opened the memory card cover (which is loose anyway) and worst of all for night time insomnia based playing, I cannot adjust the volume until it's powered up. So, if the volume was up the last time I played it, when I turn it on it is loud until I can turn it down. And in the dark, the volume buttons are a *&%$ to find.

I am going to keep my PSP a while longer, but my DS gets all the play time now.

[Glockstar]

Pretty impressive little machine here. While it might not be the technological powerhouse that the PSP is, it can hold it's own against it fairly well.

What really shocked me was the quality of the screen. I was expecting it to be about as sharp as a GBA SP, but it's much bright and crisp...GBA games look tons better on it than they do on their home system.

Right now all I have is Mario 64, but it looks like it's gonna hold me over for more than a few. I'm glad I got one, and it looks like I'm gonna have tons more to play here in the near future.

It's funny you should post this. I was thinking about starting up a similar thread - only mine would have said the exact opposite.

I got a DS too. About a week ago now, actually. Unlike you, however, I have not been all that impressed with it. In fact, I rather regret the purchase.

The first, and least, thing I regret is my color choice; I got the new Electric Blue one. I don't like it. It's a weird blue. I don't know what it is about it I don't like, except that... I don't like it. I don't know... I guess it's because it lacks... seriousness.(?) It just looks like a throwaway color to me; it looks CrackerJack. Everytime I go to play it I think, 'I should've gotten the silver one'.

Of course, my main regret is with the purchase itself. There are just no games to play! I should've waited - or continued to wait - until I was certain that there would be enough games to warrant the purchase.

I guess I looked thru the damned Brochure one too many times. You know, I'd leaf thru it, and do the "If I had a million dollars" thing... and under those circumstances I'd make a lot more exceptions with regards to the games I'd own than if I actually had to buy them. Somewhere along the way I guess my mind glitched, or I forgot that it was just a dream or something, and I made a snap decision to buy one. But then, in coming back to reality, and looking at actual game reviews, and sticker prices, and weighing such things against the actual real-life funds in my wallet and... well, like I said, it hits me that the system is a waste of time and resources right now; I just don't see much of anything to justify it's purchase at this point in time.

What I was dreaming of...
* Animal Crossing - In my dreamworld I've got money to burn and time to kill, so why not get this game that I really don't have all that much interest in - there's no penalty, right? But in reality, I truthfully don't know what I think about this game - maybe I will get it - when it comes out. Either way though, it's not due out until the holidays.

* Wario Ware: Touched! - Another "why not - I've got a million dollars in my dream" game. I liked the very first Wario Ware game after all. But for $30 real cash I'm going to pass. I know how these "microgames" work - and I am just not interested in fumbling around with my DS - touching, tapping, rubbing, blowing, scratching, scrubbing, pressing, blowing... all within a few seconds time. Besides, I still have that first Wario Ware game, so I'm good.

* Advance Wars DS - I don't care for the games visuals, but I do kind of like strategy games. This one is actually a real-life maybe for me... but, again, it's over a month away. See, reality says the smart thing to have done would have been to wait and see how the game actually turned out before taking the plunge with a new system.

* Metroid Pinball - Now some games you don't need need to wait for reviews for, I know. And I've hunch MP is going to be one of those games. Whenever it is it comes out. It might make out by Christmas, it might not make it unil next year. I'm counting on lots of good minigames and cool boss battles though. It better! Otherwise, why would this be a DS game?

* World Championship Poker DS - If I were to own this game for any system - any system - the DS would be the one. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to part with $30 for the game. Let alone part with $150 for a new DS to play it on. Now that I do own a DS - and in spite of the fact that it's already starved for games - I'll buy WC Poker for $20, and no more - I've read the reviews. Until the price drops the game doesn't exist for me. And even then...

* Feel The Magic - No need to daydream about this game anymore, I own it. And whatsmore, I've decided to keep it. (Even though I bought it used and finished it within a day.) It's interesting enough to keep and poke around with for awhile, I guess. Besides, what else am I going to do with my DS? I need more than one game here!

* Nanostray - Ah yes, Nanostray. More than any other game, this is the one that I was counting on to justify my purchase. That's looking like a huge mistake on my part. I didn't do a thorough research of the game until after I brought my DS home. Oops. If the developers don't do something about that control scheme then this won't be a game that you could give to me! The funny thing is, that if they do do something - and make it control right - then I would have to ask... why is this a DS game?!

* Sprung - If I had a million dollars... and all the time in the world... then, sure, I'd try it, why not. But from what I've read, this is no game. It's certainly no DS game. (There's a lot of these non-DS DS games out there right now, isn't there?) In fact, it's barely interactive at all. Ooh, the amazing innovation and fun that only the DS can deliver!!! :rolleyes:

* Meteos - Okay then. Now we're talking. Great game. This puts a smile on my face. However, and this is nothing against the game here, I need more than one game to justify the purchase of a new system! (And sorry, Feel The Magic is not that other game; that's only, like, half a game.) One more game like this and the dream could well be realized.

* Ultimate Brain Games DS - Chess, checkers, backgammon, dominoes... ooh, the innovation! Hey, all kidding aside, I can dig this. To bad it's not coming out for another 5 months!

* Touch Golf - From what I've read this game sounds sweet. Too bad I've only read, like, 100 words total on it. And as cool I think it sounds, there are three letters that kill all of my enthusiasm for the game: TBA :(

With regards to the system itself (and putting all color issues/preferences aside)...

* The thing is solid, and I when it's turned off and closed I'd say it feels really, really, nice - but when it's on and open... well, I don't care for it's heft. Because most of the time it's held with one hand, I think it's too heavy for any gaming session of length. I'm already finding it to be amongst the worst ergonomics of any "controller" I've ever held - after only a short while my wrists and fingers and neck ache.

* The stylus is too frickin' short! I haven't even lost mine and I'm already searching and shopping around for another stylus.

* Keeping two game cartidges inserted at the same time is cool. But at the same time, what else do you expect? With this kind of design, you better keep a cartridge in each slot - else suffer dust and dirt build-up. Especially if you're thinking about carrying it around and/or storing it without a case.

* That wrist strap/thumb thingie is affixed to a retarded place isn't it?

* The d-pad and face-buttons and shoulder-buttons are the best they've been since the very first GameBoy. Nice!

* When playing/holding it as a GBA player - it's ergonomics are quite nice. Better than the original GBA even. Were it not for the systems weight I'd call it a huge improvement over the SP. But with the weight being what it is, I can't really say that.

* The screen(s) (still can't decide which one to use) are a lot brighter than the SP's too - which is another thing that I haven't gotten used to yet. As of now I'm still remorseful that I traded in my SP. (Of course, I'm remorseful that I bought the DS in the first how, so...)

Oh yeah, I got that Super Mario 64 DS game free with my purchase (in fact, I made sure I bought it from a place that offered that deal) but I pretty much got it just because; I knew I was going to keep it. (Super Mario 64 is one the games responsible for my hatred of all things Mario. Though it's nowhere near as bad as Mario Kart 64.) I gave the main game the obligatory play, but didn't like it. Hey, I can honestly say that that was mostly due to the controls, okay. I also tried the mini-games. Some were okay (I Iiked the one where you lead Mario to the barracudas), a couple I didn't like. None of them were worth keeping (or putting up with) tho'.

[Renzatic Gear]

I think the biggest problem is that you got the DS for Nintendo games, and you don't like Nintendo games anymore. ;)

Right now there aren't many games out for it that I'd want, beyond Mario 64 (how can anyone hate this game?) there really isn't much of anything out at the moment. But there are a bunch coming up in the near future that I wanna play, and that's the reason why I went ahead and picked one up now.

I'm looking forward to:

New Super Mario Bros. - So oldschool, so awesome..I can't wait for this one.

Metroid Prime: Hunters - The demo is pretty cool, albeit a bit on the short and skimpy side. I'm hoping the final game is more akin to the GC versions.

Lost In Blue - Dunno why, but this one really appeals to me.

Mario & Luigi 2 - Like M&L 1, but with dual screen coolness going on.

Mario Kart DS - Cept for MK64 (which did suck), this series has always been a kick in the ass...specially in multiplayer.

Lunar - It might be a Japanese RPG, but it's a GOOD Japanese RPG. I've always had a soft spot for Lunar games, and this one looks to be pretty good.

Viewtiful Joe DS - The DS specific features look to make the game even more awesome.

Castlevania - Same as above. Plus it's Castlevania, and that's always guarenteed fun...even if it is getting a little sameish.

Kirby: Canvas Curse - Not a game I'd expect to like, but I played it at a DS kiosk and it was fun as hell. Makes me wonder why no one has decided to make a Lemming's sequel for the DS yet.

That's quite a few to look forward to next year...at least for me. I pretty much got the DS for the quirky and interesting games that are bound to show up for it, if you don't like those types of games I doubt you'll see much use out of yours cept for playing old GBA games.

[Glockstar]

Right now there aren't many games out for it that I'd want... there really isn't much of anything out at the moment. But there are a bunch coming up in the near future that I wanna play, and that's the reason why I went ahead and picked one up now.

I pretty much got the DS for the quirky and interesting games that are bound to show up for it...

See that's the thing, with the DS it's always about the future, it's never about the present; it's never about what's out now. And how anybody can be be happy with a system that currently offers so little is just beyond me.

Maybe it will have a bunch of games worth owning and playing down the road - I'm hoping it will - but until then, until the future is now and it's potential is realized, the system is near worthless.

My biggest problem is that I thought that future was just around the corner. I was mistaken. It's coming is many months away.

-
Makes me wonder why no one has decided to make a Lemming's sequel for the DS yet.

Heh heh, that would be cool!

[Renzatic Gear]

You can pretty much say the same thing about the PSP as well. Both of them are a little lacking on the games front at the moment...the only reason I got the DS so early was because I could gank Mario 64 for free and it'd only cost me $110 after I traded in my GBA.

Plus I want to wait for Sony to work out all of the PSP's kinks before I buy one. It'd piss me off too much if my square button decided to quit working and their warrenty department told me "TOUGH TITTY!" right up front.

[trebor]

See that's the thing, with the DS it's always about the future, it's never about the present; it's never about what's out now. And how anybody can be be happy with a system that currently offers so little is just beyond me.

Maybe it will have a bunch of games worth owning and playing down the road - I'm hoping it will - but until then, until the future is now and it's potential is realized, the system is near worthless.

My biggest problem is that I thought that future was just around the corner. I was mistaken. It's coming is many months away.

I know you are a demanding sort, but patience is a virtue. You should know better then the average person that new systems sometimes take upwards to a year, or even later, before they really start hitting their stride. I mean, jeez, judging by the list you presented there are at least 10 games you are interested in that our or are coming out within a year - that's damn impressive, if you ask me.

Incidentally, what is amazing to me personally, is that you of all people bought a Nintendo system before I did. :eek:

Color me shocked and awed.

[Glockstar]

You can pretty much say the same thing about the PSP as well.

Hogwash.

I've already got 3.5 games for it and the system's only been out about 3.5 months. And know that I'm not making any concessions for those three games either - I think they're killer (as if my sig isn't indication enough of that). I'm really not ready for any more PSP games at the moment, but I better get ready... because Death Jr. is going to be out in about a month.

Now this is what I'm talking about. Variey and selection; quality and quantity. It's crazy to think that the PSP would have as many games in it's library as the DS even though the DS has been out twice as long - but that's the way it really is!

And I think it's ironic that I can't help but get another game for a system that I don't really need another game for before I get a game for the system that's starving for one.

Sorry if it seems like I'm being overly negative and harsh on the DS - but it honestly deserves it. And you know it. Why just look at your list... what's the game that's going to see the soonest release? Lunar? Is that your next game? That's over two months away! Man, I just think that's an intolerable wait.


-
Plus I want to wait for Sony to work out all of the PSP's kinks before I buy one. It'd piss me off too much if my square button decided to quit working and their warrenty department told me "TOUGH TITTY!" right up front.

Well, to be perfectly honest with you I have been having a little problem with my PSP. (I've been talking about it in the PSP thread - in case you wanted to know the details.) I've also called Sony Customer Service about the problem. The experience wasn't fun, and my report on it won't be very positive, but one thing they did not do is tell me "tough titty". To make a long story short, it's a Warranty Issue and it requires me sending it in for service (or replace). Which means that I'll be without my PSP for about two weeks. It SUCKS; I ain't going to lie to you. If you're afraid this is going to happen to you and think that waiting will help decrease the chances of it happening then you are smart for waiting. Kudos to you and your patience.

-
I know you are a demanding sort, but patience is a virtue. You should know better then the average person that new systems sometimes take upwards to a year, or even later, before they really start hitting their stride. I mean, jeez, judging by the list you presented there are at least 10 games you are interested in that our or are coming out within a year - that's damn impressive, if you ask me.

Ehh, in my dreams it's 10 games. In reality, it's more like 5.

Now, 5 games within a year I don't a have problem with. In fact, I'd be very happy with that. But until I have game number 3 (or 3.5 if we're going to count FTM) in my possesion that state of happiness won't begin. And it's looking like that won't begin for about another 4-5 months. I'm loving Meteos (right now), but there's no way that game lasts me that long.

Anyhow, you're right... the bottom line here is that I should have waited. Like you.

-
Incidentally, what is amazing to me personally, is that you of all people bought a Nintendo system before I did.

Well... for two hundred and ten bucks we can reverse that. ;)
(Two hundred and ten bucks!? Man, I'm an idiot!)


-
Color me shocked and awed.

Hey, anything other than Electric Blue and we're okay.

[Renzatic Gear]

DON'T YOU HOGWASH ME, SON! I WILL BACKHAND YOU!

So Lunar is coming out in a couple of months? I didn't think it was gonna be that early...I was expecting around October-Decemberish, like the rest of the games I want.

I can't deny that, as it currently is, the PSP library kicks the crap out of the DS lineup. It's just that for me there are only 2 games I'd want for it (Wipeout and Twisted Metal), so I don't have a reason to pick one up yet...at least not at full price anyway.

But the cool thing is, come around Christmas there's gonna be so many titles for both systems coming out that it'd be good to own both. It's kinda funny really, right now I'm forward to more PSP and DS games than I am anything on the consoles or PC.

[Aylmer]

I got the DS when it came out in November, and like many gamers I have both new handhelds and am disappointed in the game lineup on both systems.

At first, I disliked the DS. I thought it was boxey and klugey, and big, and I thought, what the hell was Nintendo thinking?

But, I have now taken both systems on road trips with me, and the DS is king. It's battery life and it's ergos when I'm lying down have won me over. Although the current DS lineup is slim, there is plenty of undiscovered GBA country to explore. The difference between the DS display and the GBA display for playing GBA games on the DS is profound, and for me it's enough to buy new GBA titles for. And, I have a sizeable collection of existing GBA titles as well.

I think that Polarium, Kirby:Canvas Curse, and Meteos are three great games. I also have Feel the Magic and Zookeeper and they are only so-so.

It's true the DS is significantly heavier than the GBA, and holding it in one hand, necessary for stylus play, for any length of time sucks, but I usually don't play standing up, and when I'm at a desk or table the DS rests easily on that. And when I play it on the can, it's not for very long anyway.

I find the PSP (and the GBA also) to be tiring, especially on the wrists, for extended play, but at least the PSP is self limiting with it's four hour battery life :)

[Gadfly2317]

Hogwash.

I've already got 3.5 games for it and the system's only been out about 3.5 months. And know that I'm not making any concessions for those three games either - I think they're killer (as if my sig isn't indication enough of that). I'm really not ready for any more PSP games at the moment, but I better get ready... because Death Jr. is going to be out in about a month.

Now this is what I'm talking about. Variey and selection; quality and quantity. It's crazy to think that the PSP would have as many games in it's library as the DS even though the DS has been out twice as long - but that's the way it really is!

First. . . congrats to Renz on his fine new purchase.

Regarding your lenient view on the PsP. . .I've got the same 3 games I've had since launch (I took the unplayable Metal Gear back), plus one purchased since launch (hot shots golf). Lumines has been the standout, and Hot Shots Golf because I'd never played it and its actually suited well for handheld gaming.

Quality and quanitity? What are you talking about? Have you investigated beyond those 3.5 games the pile of ininspired, unoriginal slapped together console style crap that comprises the rest of the PsP library? And of those "good games" I've got, Ridge Racer, HSG, and Wipeout Pure are fun but they break no new ground, the two racers are all versions of games that I had my peak enjoyment with in the mid/late 90's.And they aren't even online. . .at least Mario Kart DS, stale as its getting, is bringing that to the table.


And I think it's ironic that I can't help but get another game for a system that I don't really need another game for before I get a game for the system that's starving for one.

Sorry if it seems like I'm being overly negative and harsh on the DS - but it honestly deserves it. And you know it. Why just look at your list... what's the game that's going to see the soonest release? Lunar? Is that your next game? That's over two months away! Man, I just think that's an intolerable wait.

I'll join you here. . .I'd obviously be in denial if I were to say I wasn't dying for more DS software (I even went so far as to import the mindboggling trip-toy Electroplankton and have been dong multi-track recording with it) It's funny they did a US launch "first" and then did a launch in Japan a week later and all the games are ready first in Japan. There have been big hits released already in Japan this year. . . Another Code, Nintendogs, and the surprisingly hot-selling "Brain Training for Adults." Electroplankton is out over there, too, and I think Lost in Blue and Advanced Wars may already be out.

But you talk about "waiting" but I think you made the perfect choice in getting one now. Meteos and Kirby are both a total breath of fresh air, and the two most addictive and fun games I've played all year. And there's no reason not to enjoy some GBA gaming while you are waiting. . . but its not like you have to have the DS satisfy all your game craving when you've got a PsP and two consoles as well.

If you'd "waited" until more games are out. . . what's the point? There are games out now, play them. Then play Death Jr on PsP, and the GTA game if you want in September. And on the DS from August thru December its a non-stop stream of games I want. We all forget that the summer release schedule is slow for a reason. The holiday is a more lucrative time to release.

Aside from your complaints about the thumbstrap, I think the ergonomics issue will become a non-issue. I thought the small stylus would be a hang up for me because writing with a pen hurts my wrist, and I have large hands. But the way I hold the stylus (which uses much less pressure than writing with a pen) works fine, game for hours no pain. Whether sitting in my lap, or lying sideways in bed, the DS is really comfortable when you find the way that works for you. As far as neck cramp, I can get that with the PsP too if I tilt my head at the wrong angle and hold it that way for too long.

If it weren't for my love of puzzle games on handhelds, and that I'd never played a Warioware game before, I'd probably be dissapointed with the DS to date, but I've got 8 games so far, and Kirby and Meteos are as much fun gaming as I've had since the beginning of the current generation with Pikmin.

The upcoming release schedule is intimidating. To guys like Trebor who are still waiting, I say pick it up now and start digging into Kirby and Meteos. . .you don't want to wait until AFTER all the fall games are released like Age of Empires, Castlevania, Shogun Warriors, Phoenix Wright:Ace Attorney, Trauma Center, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Black and White Creatures, Viewtiful Joe, Metroid Pinball, Lost in Blue, etc, then you'll be perpetually behind.

As much as I was looking forward to the sequels Animal Crossing and Advanced Wars, I'm now most excited about the original game experiences the DS's unique hardware makes possible with things like Phoenix Wright, Trauma Center, and Lost in Blue.

Regarding Nanostray control scheme, I hope it just sticks to button control, not stylus. And you ask "then why make it a DS game?" Because of the long verticle screen (albeit split.) I don't believe every game has to use every feature (stylus, voice control) to be succesful on the DS. And I'm fine with the some traditional genre games using the second screen from nothing more innovative than map/menu/item interfaces.

Maybe you'll keep your preference for the PsP. . .it does make a great first impression. But its like the hot chick who's really superficial and is all concerned with what's "in" and "popular." It wouldn't surprise me if you spend some time with the DS, both with what's out now and what's coming out, that you'll find that this is where the original and interesting stuff in gaming is happeing right now.

[theWacoKid]

For those who are interested, there are a number of DS promotions. At least in canada. Best Buy is selling the DS and packing in two games for free. Super Mario DS and Splinter Cell. EB is packing in Super Mario DS and Urban Asphault as freebies. Nintendo is supposed to come out with a Metroid Prime Hunter's Bundle in about a month. Nintendo's commented that the various promotions have boosted sales considerably.

Meanwhile retailers like Future Shop in Canada are still trying to unload launch gretzky psp bundles. The psp is stinking up the joint right now. The only good thing is that EB is offering good trade in values on psp games and hardware. I could probably get $200 for my psp system and accessories and I'm seriously considering it.

The psp game prices must go down, the software selection needs to improve dramatically. Enough with the overpriced low res umd movies. The graphics seem to be getting worse over time, the stuff EA has shown in terms of fufure psp titles is really looking bleh. Madden psp looks very ps1, ugh. $50 for this?!

DS will have advance wars august 15. A week later metroid prime hunters, along with a metroid prime hunters bundle and nintendogs. And sony will have, ..... hmmn, what will sony have for the psp. Well, how about a bunch of fricking movies, that's what, the lineup is so lame, they won't even have madden, nope, madden for psp won't come out till sept. 27th. LAME! Death jr, is the only game of any interest on the psp for the next two months. Sorry, but we're talking mondo pathetic here.

[Renzatic Gear]

Hey Gadfly, you mentioned wanting to see old Blizzard games brought to the DS, right? If so, this link (http://ds.ign.com/articles/634/634581p1.html) should interest you.

Starcraft on the DS...now that would be a huge kick in the ass. Specially if it has multiplayer support.

[Gadfly2317]

Hey Gadfly, you mentioned wanting to see old Blizzard games brought to the DS, right? If so, this link (http://ds.ign.com/articles/634/634581p1.html) should interest you.

Starcraft on the DS...now that would be a huge kick in the ass. Specially if it has multiplayer support.

Totally. Sweet. Thanks for bringing another smile to my day.

I hope the respondents to Blizzard's subscription poll are more positive than most of the guys at Blizzard's discussion boards. One thing that will help this along is if Age of Empires and Shogun Warrior actually sell. I've been a firm believer since before the DS was even released, that because of its design it was the first non-PC platform capable of doing justice to the tactics/strategy and RTS genres. I've been banging the drum on lots of different message boards. . . and so have other people.

Starcraft on DS, if done right, should take advantage of every feature, from being able to circle units to group them, to map and menu functions on the touch screen, use every button, integrate a voice command system, and of course. . . be wi-fi/online.

Diablo. . . not so interested in for the DS. Hack and Slash seems more suited to the PsP.

[Gadfly2317]

You know, Renz . . .that news probably deserved its own thread. I hope the other DS owners (and soon to be owners like Trebor) on this board weigh in on what they think of this news.

[Renzatic Gear]

I could see some good things being done with Diablo II on the DS. It won't be as stylus dependent as Starcraft, but it could still be pretty damn fun.

I think that the more good games the DS has the better, regardless of if they use it's features to the fullest. A multiplayer enabled version of DII would definately fit that bill.

[Aylmer]

I read an interview with Nintendo's Iwata a short while back, and he was asked why was it that Nintendo had so far not made the leap into networked gaming as had Sony and Mickeysoft.

He replied that according to Nintendo research, less than 8% of console gamers were playing online. It seemed to him that for a gaming network to be successful, the majority of gamers had to be online, as regular players.

So, after significantly more research, the Nintendo engineers identified the problems with online gaming as it currently exists, as to why it is not more attractive to more console gamers.

In Iwata's typical vague fashion, he did not go into specifics, but he did say that the Nintendo gaming network would be unlike anything currently available, and that it will definately address the issues plagueing console gaming today.

He did mention some problems with online gaming as it is now, like cheating, rudeness, vast differences in experience among gamers, and so on.

So, it should be interesting to see just how Nintendo's online effort pans out. My bet is that the 100+ year old company will kick ass and take names.

[Renzatic Gear]

Knowing Nintendo it'll be something really good, but won't have much market appeal. That's the way it always seems to go with them nowadays...

So has anyone picked up Nanostray yet? I'm thinking about grabbing me a copy, but I wanna get some opinions on it first.

[Glockstar]

Regarding Nanostray control scheme, I hope it just sticks to button control, not stylus. And you ask "then why make it a DS game?" Because of the long verticle screen (albeit split.) I don't believe every game has to use every feature (stylus, voice control) to be succesful on the DS. And I'm fine with the some traditional genre games using the second screen from nothing more innovative than map/menu/item interfaces.

So has anyone picked up Nanostray yet? I'm thinking about grabbing me a copy, but I wanna get some opinions on it first.

First, it's always a bad sign when there are no professional reviews previous to or coinciding with a games release. But in the case of Nanostray it's doubly bad because the game has been on the shelves for over 4 days now and there are only 3 reviews! That's more telling than the written words in the actual reviews themselves.

1UP (6.5 out of 10) writes:
Sadly, the challenge level is where the game's problems creep in, and they're pretty significant: Painful design quirks that detract from the game experience for the sake of technology or "innovation."

For starters, there's the whole Nintendo DS thing. I'm as big a fan of the system as anyone, but here's an important message for developers: Not every game is perfectly suited for two screens and a touch interface! It's OK to make games for DS simply because it's comfortable, familiar hardware with modest 3D capabilities! A good shooter is all about getting zoned out and dodging enemy fire in a trance-like state. Nanostray is no different, but oops...if you want to swap weapons, you have to move both your eyes and your trigger finger to the bottom screen, where you toggle between guns by tapping the proper icon. It's nice in theory, but in practice it basically spoils the action by forcing gamers to break their concentration.

GameSpot (6.5) writes:
No one's expecting much of a storyline from a shoot-'em-up, but something, anything probably would have helped here. But there's no plot whatsoever in Nanostray, not in the game and not even in a sentence or two in the manual (the Web site at least mentions something about the ship's pilot losing his or her memory). The main single-player "adventure" mode simply throws you from one vertical-scrolling stage to the next, in no particular order, until the credits roll and your spaceship can be seen pointlessly flying around, apparently having killed everything in the galaxy for whatever reason. ...

The few twists to the gameplay aren't particularly imaginative or well implemented. Since this is a Nintendo DS game, the developers went out of their way to incorporate the touch screen into the gameplay, but the results feel completely forced. Your ship has four different weapons, which you can switch at any time using the touch screen. Forget that there are face buttons on the DS that are left unused by this game--it forces you to fumble on the bottom screen if you want to switch from your different ammo types. There's also a radar on the bottom screen, which, much like the switching of weapons, seems to have been put there in order to get you killed more often. This is a very fast-paced game that requires your undivided attention to be focused on the top screen (where the action is), so the way in which the bottom screen was implemented feels like a waste.

IGN (8.0) :
The insistence of using the touch-screen for weapon selection is a game design mistake. Nanostray features many instances where you'll need to switch from forward-blasting lasers to side-mounted turrets to blast enemies on the left and right of the ship, but to switch between the four different cannons requires players to move their eyes from the action down to the touch screen to tap the on-screen icon representing the particular weapon. This motion forces players to take their attention away from the main screen as well as move their hand off the fire button to swap blasters, which can be extremely hazardous to the ship. Having the L trigger as an additional action button helps things a bit, but what the designers should have done was simply use the shoulder buttons to control weapon switching.

So in answer to your question... NO. I'm going to have to pass on this one. To put it bluntly, Nanostray sounds stupid. #@$% :mad:

[Gadfly2317]

I'm considering getting Nanostray, but am not strongly leaning towards. Glock. . . I think saying it sounds !@#$ing stupid is a bit extreme. . . it sounds like a really pretty looking traditional scrolling shooter with some design flaws.

I really like these type of games so there's some tilt there. . .I've played and enjoyed other less than perfect shooters with 70% scores, like Silpheed on Ps2.

My #1 gripe is that they are using the bottom screen for weapons control on this one when it was unnecessary; the shoulder buttons could have and should have been utilized. Also, from some of the early screens I'd been given the impression the playing field was displayed across both screens, making it a long verticle screen, but those screenshots must have been of "cutscene" footage because apparently all the action is on the top screen and the bottom just displays the weapons selector.

I love games where the touch screen function makes sense, but designers need to consider just using what works for a particular game. There's no reason they could have done a traditional button operated shooter, used the both screens to display the scrolling field. The DS does really nice 3d, and every system needs an old school shooter. Its unfortunate that the designers felt they had to shoe-horn in a control setup that was less than ideal.

Also, regarding only 3 reviews. . . I've noticed in general reviews trickle in slower for handheld games than console games. It's just not the #1 priority of over-stretched reviewers.

I've read some gamer feedback indicating you can use the L shoulder to fire a secondary weapon which reduces the amount of need for bottom screen weapon switching reducing the frustration of the main design flaw a little, and since I like shooters a lot and am very interested to see what is supposed to be a graphically impressive 3d/2d DS game, I might get it anyway. At least its only $29 new. Mainly though, I've purchased 3 solid DS games in the last 30 or 40 days (kirby, meteos, electroplankton) and I have my brain-munching fave Advanced Wars coming in just a few weeks, so I'm not feeling overly motivated to pick up more handheld games at the moment, especially one that could have been so much better. Ah the dillemas and temptations. . . .

[Renzatic Gear]

If there's any one reason to pick it up it'd be to show off what the DS can do. I watched one of IGN's videos, some level set in the skies above a desert, and the graphics were shockingly good. From a tech demo perspective it's a sure buy.

Gameplaywise it looked pretty standard, a tried and true shump that has some neat features thrown in here and there. Having to use the touch screen to switch weapons does sound a little stupid, but I can't see it as being completely game ruining.

I think I'll pick it up when it drops in price and buy Canvas Curse instead.

[theWacoKid]

Meh reviews from EGM as well on nanostray, and IGN overrates like crazy. Their review section is seriously flawed for nintendo handhelds, one reviewer for everything, don't be bought in by their recent crediting of IGN staff. That's bogus, Craig Harris does all their reviews, and the guy over-rates and caters to the message board junkies.

Save your money for Advance Wars DS. A 9, 8.5, 9 from EGM.

[Glockstar]

Save your money for Advance Wars DS. A 9, 8.5, 9 from EGM.

LOL

See, that's what I'm talking about right there. AWDS isn't due out for another month but here we're already seeing reviews for it.

Oh, and imagine that... it's a favorable review.

[Aylmer]

I had high hopes for Nanostray, because I love Iridion II on the GBA. That game had the misfortune to be named after the god-awful launch title Iridion I, and like that game it also uses a password save. And it's too bad because Iridion II is nothing like Iridon I. In fact, Nanostray sounded like a pumped version of Iridion II, with multiple weapons to select and killer graphics.

Now I'll have to wait and see, because a space shooter than you have to take your eyes off the screen to play is way too stupid. What were they thinking?

[Cuddly Knife]

I was also pumped for Nanostray, but when I read the reviews on how the control was, it made me kind of hesitant to get it. I probably will get it still though when I see it on the shelf.

Developers need to realize that they don't have to use the touch screen for gameplay all the time. And if they do, then they should at least offer an option to map your buttons however you wish.

If you want a little variety in your shmup without the touch-screen action, then I suggest getting Sigma Star Saga for the GBA. It's a hybrid old-school style RPG-side scrolling shooter.