R.O.B. Regenerated?
Nintendo has promised the world great things over the last few months. The next console will be ‘revolutionary’ and the GameCube apparently plans to host all manner of peculiar peripherals in the near future. So when Nintendo trademark a selection of bizarre phrases, words and pictures, we have to start getting excited. The big question is: what on earth does Nintendo mean by 'commander', 'commander pack', 'mission', 'Princess Hime', 'manebito' and 'ningen-copy'?
To speculate in a suitably wild style, this could indicate a variety of exciting developments. “Manebito” means camera, and the trademarked logo also seems to feature some kind of GameCube-based camera add-on. It would therefore seem sensible to predict that there is some kind of Nintendo EyeToy in the works. That would certainly explain the Manebito theme.
'Princess Hime' is otherwise known as Princess Peach, so that particular trademark is easily understood. This could potentially hint at a camera based Princess Peach game, perhaps along similar lines to Eyetoy: Groove, or even something more exotic involving another separate peripheral. If Nintendo was to produce a game that utilised a camera, the bongoes and GBA connectivity all at the same time, you've got a mini-gaming revolution right there.
However, the ‘ningen-copy’ bit is more mysterious. It has been linked to the same 'Manebito' theme, so presumably it will involve this same camera peripheral, but it directly translates as ‘person imitator’. Trusting that Nintendo has no plans to introduce the elaborately irritating street performer practise of copycat miming to the games industry, we think this could mean a very good thing - the return of ROB, the NES’ Robotically Operated Buddy.
Nintendo has dropped strong hints that its future strategies would relate to gaming trends of yesteryear, and this could be one such revival. Perhaps this ‘Manebito Ningen-copy’ thingamajig will be some kind of peripheral robot that can learn or respond to certain actions by observing the player’s camera-tracked movements. Perhaps 'commander' and 'commander pack' point specifically towards these devices. Perhaps players will be competing against these robots in a crazy camera-based 'mission'. Perhaps none of the aforementioned suggestions will bear any resemblance to the truth. At this point in time, a speculative explanation is the only one possible.
Stay tuned for the definitive facts as soon as they're discovered.
To speculate in a suitably wild style, this could indicate a variety of exciting developments. “Manebito” means camera, and the trademarked logo also seems to feature some kind of GameCube-based camera add-on. It would therefore seem sensible to predict that there is some kind of Nintendo EyeToy in the works. That would certainly explain the Manebito theme.
'Princess Hime' is otherwise known as Princess Peach, so that particular trademark is easily understood. This could potentially hint at a camera based Princess Peach game, perhaps along similar lines to Eyetoy: Groove, or even something more exotic involving another separate peripheral. If Nintendo was to produce a game that utilised a camera, the bongoes and GBA connectivity all at the same time, you've got a mini-gaming revolution right there.
However, the ‘ningen-copy’ bit is more mysterious. It has been linked to the same 'Manebito' theme, so presumably it will involve this same camera peripheral, but it directly translates as ‘person imitator’. Trusting that Nintendo has no plans to introduce the elaborately irritating street performer practise of copycat miming to the games industry, we think this could mean a very good thing - the return of ROB, the NES’ Robotically Operated Buddy.
Nintendo has dropped strong hints that its future strategies would relate to gaming trends of yesteryear, and this could be one such revival. Perhaps this ‘Manebito Ningen-copy’ thingamajig will be some kind of peripheral robot that can learn or respond to certain actions by observing the player’s camera-tracked movements. Perhaps 'commander' and 'commander pack' point specifically towards these devices. Perhaps players will be competing against these robots in a crazy camera-based 'mission'. Perhaps none of the aforementioned suggestions will bear any resemblance to the truth. At this point in time, a speculative explanation is the only one possible.
Stay tuned for the definitive facts as soon as they're discovered.
Companies:
Nintendo
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Comments
Nintendo King 2 Jun 2004 18:23
1/10
I'd rather have the Revolution soon. All these add-ons sound great and all, but I think it's too late for GameCube to be creating add-ons. There's still not even an internet plan for them!
Mecha Ghandi 2 Jun 2004 18:35
2/10
It's never too late for add ons!
I'm still saving up for Beatmania decks for the PSOne, Samba De Amigo maracusesizziz, a Seaman microphone and a Densha De Go train cockpit for my Dreamcast, let alone the Silent Scope Sniper Rifle and Steel Batallion tank controller that I NEED for my Xbox... Oh yeah, and I need one of those PS2 Onimusha 3 swords as well...
Once I've acquired these (along with an extra lock-up garage to store them in) I will then purchase each and every peripheral that Nintendo make, regardless of what it is or how it works... and then I'll still want more.
I'm still saving up for Beatmania decks for the PSOne, Samba De Amigo maracusesizziz, a Seaman microphone and a Densha De Go train cockpit for my Dreamcast, let alone the Silent Scope Sniper Rifle and Steel Batallion tank controller that I NEED for my Xbox... Oh yeah, and I need one of those PS2 Onimusha 3 swords as well...
Once I've acquired these (along with an extra lock-up garage to store them in) I will then purchase each and every peripheral that Nintendo make, regardless of what it is or how it works... and then I'll still want more.
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Joji 2 Jun 2004 19:36
3/10
I never experienced R.O.B for NES. To bring back this sort of thing today would be cool considering how far technology has moved on. They have to think of something decent for it to do than load you games.
A thought of this possible R.O.B2 with a built in modem would be nice. Perhaps it's eyes would double as the eyetoy part. It would be also good to manage save files etc, or maybe something to play against when you are on your own.
A thought of this possible R.O.B2 with a built in modem would be nice. Perhaps it's eyes would double as the eyetoy part. It would be also good to manage save files etc, or maybe something to play against when you are on your own.
Pandaman 2 Jun 2004 22:05
4/10
Bring back ROB in a menu system or something, but the Lord knows that if Nintendo shows up at the E3 show floor with a robot with claw hands, Nintendo will need a miracle to survive the next generation.
AM2Kid 2 Jun 2004 22:08
5/10
Ninty - you can't look cool playing a game with a plastic robot. Plus - ROB ain't going to last long if he keeps getting thrown against the wall for 'cheating'.....:-)
animegt 3 Jun 2004 05:18
6/10
Oh my god.... too much imagination in this article.
mrnull 3 Jun 2004 05:23
7/10
I hope Ninty doesn't go to far with thier peripheral-pushing innovations. It's a great way to beat out the competition creatively, but I just can't see it working.
Peripherals, many of which you only use for one game, cost WAY to much to be bought by the average gamer. Does anyone remember the dissappointments of the SuperScope and Menacer? Dance games, like Donkey Konga and DDR, have broke through the barrier bust are still far from mass-marketable (Did I just make that word up?)
On the other hand, if too many games start to use a peripheral then some gamers will feel alienated.
Ha! Noone wins!
Peripherals, many of which you only use for one game, cost WAY to much to be bought by the average gamer. Does anyone remember the dissappointments of the SuperScope and Menacer? Dance games, like Donkey Konga and DDR, have broke through the barrier bust are still far from mass-marketable (Did I just make that word up?)
On the other hand, if too many games start to use a peripheral then some gamers will feel alienated.
Ha! Noone wins!
ohms 3 Jun 2004 10:07
8/10
coool, I'm a peripheral nut too...
the maracas are still 'peripheral king', waiting for the konga drums, doubt if we'll see them this year, so anything else they announce won't see the light of day till 2005.
the maracas are still 'peripheral king', waiting for the konga drums, doubt if we'll see them this year, so anything else they announce won't see the light of day till 2005.
bulwer 3 Jun 2004 10:35
9/10
Would a Nintendo Eyetoy sell? Game had a PC version which ended up in the sales after only a couple of months.
It would probably depend on whether people have just a Gamecube or a Gamecube and a PS2. Sony have got their claws into the Eyetoy market and only people without one are likely to buy a Gamecube version.
It would probably depend on whether people have just a Gamecube or a Gamecube and a PS2. Sony have got their claws into the Eyetoy market and only people without one are likely to buy a Gamecube version.
Komrad 17 Aug 2004 09:43
10/10
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