Shock DS Revelations: downloads, free trials, cinema visits and more!
SPOnG starts trembling with excitement
It just keeps on coming. The Nintendo conference in Seattle is showing exactly how big the DS could be, as it opens the finished console’s folded screens for the world to see – like a massive video-game peacock of greatness. We thought we knew it all, and that it would just be a matter of which games when.
But no, Satoru Iwata is about to rock the world with yet more DS revelations. SPOnG wouldn’t want to go into too many details ahead of the official announcement, and needless to say we’ll have a report direct from the conference in the next few days, but in the meantime, here is some of the amazingness that’s about to unfurl.
Remember the wireless-connectivity thing? Well, that’s not just for playing multiplayer games; it will also allow players to download games directly, seemingly out of thin air. Its main purpose will be to encourage ‘game-sharing’, so that DS owners can enjoy multiplayer gaming without necessarily owning multiple copies of that game. Right from the off this feature will play an important part in the machine’s success, and ‘game-sharing’ has been implemented for Super Mario 64 DS as well as Big Concert! Band Brothers.
And for those who praised the inclusion of a Metroid Prime Hunters demo with the conosole, the news that Nintendo is now fully embracing promotional demos will also be great news. Players will be able to simply download a time-limited demo and try before buying. Top stuff in itself, and also a strong indication that Nintendo is confident about the quality of the games.
If that feature in itself isn’t enough to ensure that every DS owner takes their machine everywhere they go, then Iwata-san’s lateral thinking concept of cinema convergence certainly will be. An upcoming Pokemon movie will apparently, communicate with DS owners in the audience, offering all kind of gimmicky interaction. If that’s to become a regular thing, perhaps the ‘Revolution’ is starting…
Frankly, we’re still reeling. As soon as SPOnG’s assorted heads stop spinning, we’ll get back to you with even more DS excitement.
But no, Satoru Iwata is about to rock the world with yet more DS revelations. SPOnG wouldn’t want to go into too many details ahead of the official announcement, and needless to say we’ll have a report direct from the conference in the next few days, but in the meantime, here is some of the amazingness that’s about to unfurl.
Remember the wireless-connectivity thing? Well, that’s not just for playing multiplayer games; it will also allow players to download games directly, seemingly out of thin air. Its main purpose will be to encourage ‘game-sharing’, so that DS owners can enjoy multiplayer gaming without necessarily owning multiple copies of that game. Right from the off this feature will play an important part in the machine’s success, and ‘game-sharing’ has been implemented for Super Mario 64 DS as well as Big Concert! Band Brothers.
And for those who praised the inclusion of a Metroid Prime Hunters demo with the conosole, the news that Nintendo is now fully embracing promotional demos will also be great news. Players will be able to simply download a time-limited demo and try before buying. Top stuff in itself, and also a strong indication that Nintendo is confident about the quality of the games.
If that feature in itself isn’t enough to ensure that every DS owner takes their machine everywhere they go, then Iwata-san’s lateral thinking concept of cinema convergence certainly will be. An upcoming Pokemon movie will apparently, communicate with DS owners in the audience, offering all kind of gimmicky interaction. If that’s to become a regular thing, perhaps the ‘Revolution’ is starting…
Frankly, we’re still reeling. As soon as SPOnG’s assorted heads stop spinning, we’ll get back to you with even more DS excitement.
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Comments
Kaxxx 7 Oct 2004 13:58
1/8
Superb, thats what i wanted to hear about, some innovative goodness.
The downloadable demos sound great and is defintely a first for Nintendo. The more you hear about the DS the more it suprises me.
The downloadable demos sound great and is defintely a first for Nintendo. The more you hear about the DS the more it suprises me.
LUPOS 7 Oct 2004 14:42
2/8
awsome news, good to see nintendo realy trying to make somethign special... real inovations, apposed to some people who think a tiny propriatary video player is a step in the right direction! yeah thats right, i hate sony.
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ohms 7 Oct 2004 14:59
3/8
Amazing stuff !!
The DS news just get's better and better, I've said it many times before, and I'm glad I keep getting the opportunity to say it again. The games industry would be nothing today without Nintendo, the innovation they continue to bring benefits all lovers of videogames.
These are the things Sony and Micro$oft can only dream about, scratch that, these are the things they can only imitate.
When your sole aim is to be market leader, no matter the cost, what do you expect.
I hope that Revolution can bring the same level of exitement and innovation to the console scene, that the DS is doing for handhelds.
The DS news just get's better and better, I've said it many times before, and I'm glad I keep getting the opportunity to say it again. The games industry would be nothing today without Nintendo, the innovation they continue to bring benefits all lovers of videogames.
These are the things Sony and Micro$oft can only dream about, scratch that, these are the things they can only imitate.
When your sole aim is to be market leader, no matter the cost, what do you expect.
I hope that Revolution can bring the same level of exitement and innovation to the console scene, that the DS is doing for handhelds.
almondVanHelsing 7 Oct 2004 18:05
4/8
And I thought that mobile phones in cinemas were annoying! :-)
Now if DS owners are shouting about new Pokemon on the screen, 'cos their DS shows them Poke-deck style details, I may never go back to the cinema again.
Now if DS owners are shouting about new Pokemon on the screen, 'cos their DS shows them Poke-deck style details, I may never go back to the cinema again.
LUPOS 7 Oct 2004 18:25
5/8
do you really intend to go see the new pokemon movie? i mean if they are doing it int he next resident evil movie i might be a little bit anoyed, made the mistake of seeign the newest one, ugh, but i mean if you are goign to see pokemon 17 then you shoudl expect the crwod to be a bit anoying. im not really concerned about it.
NiktheGreek 7 Oct 2004 20:05
6/8
Hmm, I certainly like the idea of downloadable demos and game-sharing. Nothing new as far as I can tell, as it sounds like the single-game multiplayer on GBA.
Downloadable demo copies are certainly nothing new either, but on DS they're perhaps more important than ever. If the software is as innovative as Nintendo suggests, I'm willing to bet that a lot of it will be "Marmiteware", in that people either love it or hate it. Being able to make sure you'll enjoy it is therefore a big concern, and it's good to see it being thought of.
So it turns out that the most innovative feature (cross-media functionality) may be the most annoying and impractical. The previous concerns about it affecting the enjoyment of films is valid, especially since Nintendo handhelds are a hotbed for movie tie-ins (meaning lots of films could feature this, not just Nintendo-related ones). Also, I'm assuming the content will be delivered wirelessly, but how? If the cinema has to install expensive or gimmicky equipment, they may simply not bother.
Far better is the potential for functionality in the home. Many DVDs already have PC-exclusive content; it's possible a DVD could use a PC's wireless networking to send data to the DS... Interesting.
Downloadable demo copies are certainly nothing new either, but on DS they're perhaps more important than ever. If the software is as innovative as Nintendo suggests, I'm willing to bet that a lot of it will be "Marmiteware", in that people either love it or hate it. Being able to make sure you'll enjoy it is therefore a big concern, and it's good to see it being thought of.
So it turns out that the most innovative feature (cross-media functionality) may be the most annoying and impractical. The previous concerns about it affecting the enjoyment of films is valid, especially since Nintendo handhelds are a hotbed for movie tie-ins (meaning lots of films could feature this, not just Nintendo-related ones). Also, I'm assuming the content will be delivered wirelessly, but how? If the cinema has to install expensive or gimmicky equipment, they may simply not bother.
Far better is the potential for functionality in the home. Many DVDs already have PC-exclusive content; it's possible a DVD could use a PC's wireless networking to send data to the DS... Interesting.
255rupees 8 Oct 2004 07:56
7/8
Maybe I missed something? How exactly will the whole downloadable demo thing work? Isn't the DS going to be cartridge based? How much onboard memory will this have? Can someone clarify this for me?
Joji 8 Oct 2004 11:26
8/8
I think you have to look with better eyes than that, Nik.
Downloadable content isn't new to mobile phones or PCs but it is to hand held consoles. I also expect Sony might try something similar eventually with PSPs wifi.
Imagine this spread further than the cinema, kind of like the blue tooth biz that Mobile phones have. Connect to a Nintendo server and download the new Starfox IV demo, then play it multiplayer against strangers. If Blu-jacking is anything to go by this could open up a similar type of gaming with gamers meeting up to play together.
Spread it from cinemas to cafes, McDonalds and arcades, and something special will really take hold in gaming. This would really kick arse something major. Very good idea Nintendo.
Downloadable content isn't new to mobile phones or PCs but it is to hand held consoles. I also expect Sony might try something similar eventually with PSPs wifi.
Imagine this spread further than the cinema, kind of like the blue tooth biz that Mobile phones have. Connect to a Nintendo server and download the new Starfox IV demo, then play it multiplayer against strangers. If Blu-jacking is anything to go by this could open up a similar type of gaming with gamers meeting up to play together.
Spread it from cinemas to cafes, McDonalds and arcades, and something special will really take hold in gaming. This would really kick arse something major. Very good idea Nintendo.