3DS Launch Party Demo impressions.

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the launch party for the long awaited 3DS - and what a night it was! Me and my mate Ashley got to the Thames side venue quite early and were fortunate to be lining up on correct side of the building. (Literally hundreds of people were stood at the front by the VIP Red carpet and noone told them for at least an hour - that they were waiting there in vain!) After some time in the cold - our QR code phone tickets were scanned in and we were handed wrist straps for entry. This was it! Finally time to play some new games on this thing! (I recieved my 3DS with SSFIV earlier that same afternoon) The games I really wanted to try out were - Pilotwings, Ridge Racer and Nintendogs + cats. We walked through the doors and the adventure began!

Pilotwings ^-^

Approached the nearest 3DS booth and we were surprised to find Pilotwings right in front of us. I noticed the 3D was set to OFF - so I cranked it up to full and the depth was immediately apparent. The horizon stretched into distance and the plane I was controlling with the slide pad looked to be hovering inside the screen rather that on it. I played around with the rocket man and the hand glider and found them all enjoyable - but the 3D had to be dialed down to just above ON otherwise I could just see double images. This will probably differ from person to person but the 3D effect was ultra strong compared to the other 3DS games I would play later. The controls for the game were simple, experience was super smooth and the charm of Miis should not be underestimated. My only gripe is the game seemed slow and laborious. I don't think I could see myself playing this when I have other more exciting and engaging games to play. Maybe one for the bargain bins?

Riiiiidge Raceeeer!

It may sound strange but I have never really played a Ridge Racer game. I tried out the PSone original back in the day and dabbled in the arcade versions but never really liked it till I played Ridge Racer 4 on a demo disc at a friends house...The first thing that struck me was the quality of the 3D while choosing a vehicle. You have the ability to rotate around your choice of racer and zoom in and out. I was shocked. I felt like the screen had been taken out and I was looking at the car through a hole in the 3DS screen! I felt like sticking my hand in a pulling it out! On the road this thing was fast. The sense of speed is accentuated really well by the 3D and the jagged edges, quite simple polygonal graphics and dodgy textures are hidden well by the 3D effect. It was quite a lot of fun once I got the hang of it and I was able to improve my drifting corner after corner. Ash still beat me though. I was super hyped after playing and I was about 99 per cent sure that this would be my third title to compliment SSFIV and Pro Evo 3D. However another game I had not even considered made me have second thoughts...Big time. In terms of 3D It made Ridge Racer, Pilotwings and SSFIV look like they had 'fake' 3D...

Rayman 2 - The Great Escape

To my knowledge there was only one 3DS booth running this game - which is a great shame as this was pretty much the only demonstration of how well the 3D could enhance a third person camera controlled action game. 10 years ago I struggled to get this game to run on my PC and pretty much forgot it existed till the original DS port showed how Ubisoft could take a critically acclaimed title and make it awful...Fast forward to 2011 and Ubi is at it again - but this time they may have done a better job. I say may - as I have only experienced the demo, which was colourful, fantastical and made me feel incredibly immersed. Just moving Rayman around was a joy I hadn't felt since first guiding Mario around in Super Mario 64. Finally i got the first sense of how Ocarina of Time may feel in this new fangled 3D world that Nintendo has unleashed upon the world - and boy it was AWESOME! MORE PLEASE. The only thing stopping me from buying Rayman 2 are the claims of it being archaic in design and plagued with frame rate issues...The jury is still out on this one. But I think I would rather have an adventure rather than an arcade racer at this point. Last word about Rayman - Jumping off a cliff and hovering down below on to a swarm of glowing Lum Lums was simply breathtaking.

Resident Evil: Mercenaries.

First off 3D was not very apparent as you walked around the environment - the graphics were great though and probably the best showcase of what the machine can do. Once you pulled the sights of your weapon up though the 3D effect in first person mode gave a real sense of the proximity from your characters eyes and the barrel of the gun. The shotgun in particular felt like it was hovering out of the screen and ending deep in to the 3DS pointing at the well animated infected village inhabitants. An explosion threw me off guard and I physically moved my head backwards as the devastation flew out of the screen like something out of CAPTAIN EO. The controls on the other hand seemed to take me back to the days of RE4 on the Gamecube, which is a shame because it feels like a step back from the Wii version of RE4, which was so accurate, fast and comfortable to play. Being a score attack game - it's not really my cup of tea, so I guess I will wait till Resident Evil Revelations hits the 3DS in the future.

Nintendogs + cats

It seemed like it was Nintendogs in 3D. The fur effects combined with the new fluid animations really take the game to another level. The room in which your pet plays in actually feels like a real space. The only shame was that the demo got stuck on the part where it forced you to name your pup - but with loud music blaring around the venue it was impossible to progress from that point onwards...Tapping the screen and seeing a dog run towards you and stick its head OUT of the 3DS was pretty magical. May hold out a bit longer till I get this one.

Kid Icarus Uprising

Pit's long awaited return packs a mean punch. The game looks amazing and moves at a blistering frame rate with some crazy 3D effects that will make your face do this :O. The camera also sways and rotates 360 degrees around Pit as he zooms in and out of the screen - the sense of scale and space is conveyed very well. The controls are the only thing that let me down. As a right handed user you would probably be fine - using the touch screen to guide the cursor around and using your left hand to control pit directly. However I am left handed and Nintendo havent implemented an ambidextrous game set up like Mario 64 DS and Metroid Prime Hunters. This is highly annoying as I thought I wouldn't enjoy this game - but came away wanting to play more. The core game is so much fun that even playing with my right hand, in an awkward fashion was enough to sell me. Uprising does not release till the summer so lets hope that Nintendo make the necessary changes for us lefties!

I played a few other games which I will just touch upon quickly.

Super Monkey Ball 3DS

The 3D did nothing to the game and although it played well and was smooth to play - the graphics were offensively simple and the game seemed far easier and less engaging than Super Monkey Ball on Gamecube. The series seems to be hollow and losing its way with every iteration.

Raving Rabbids 3DS

Another 2D game with 3D depth which really doesen't work in my opinion. Seemed a mix between Little Big Planet and some other generic 2D platformer. The assistants nearby kept calling the 3D lame...LOL. Seemed like a DS game up ported.

Pro Evo 3DS

I have already ordered this game, but it seemed a little slow. But then again maybe that is just how Pro Evo is. I was told by the internets that this game was harking back to old school PS2 Pro evo - which I remember to be fast, fluid and responsive. This was slow and hard to control. Which is weird considering it should control at least like Pro Evo on PSP. Shall see if the fact that I played Ridge Racer just before hand effected my view on the pace. Should receive my copy this week.

Thats a Wrap

So that's about it - I didn't get to play Steel Diver - which looked somewhat interesting and unfortunately Splinter Cell 3DS was not available to play. All in all it seems the future of 3DS is bright. Ocarina of time is around the corner and Nintendo is readying Mario to appear in 3D version of Mario Kart, Paper Mario and another 3D adventure. A remake of Lylat wars 64/ Starfox64 is in the works along with Animal Crossing 3DS. Another hope is that more AR cards/games are released as they are some the most innovative and surprising uses of the technology. For now I'm happy to be part of the 3D movement and can not wait to see what other tricks Nintendo and other developers have up their sleeves.

The Music Of Ocarina of Time. # 3 - Gerudo Valley.

Wow - this track was so different to the rest of the soundtrack you actually felt like you were in a different place when you enter the valley. No one can forget the first time they jumped that MASSIVE bridge with Epona and the sun beating down on you giving you that holiday feeling - then you get chucked in a cell...Charming. Still one of the most memorable of all Zelda tracks ever for me anyway. Such a great Tempo. :D

MOST AMAZING OCARINA OF TIME PIANO MEDLEY!

Had to post this, its just well....Perfect.

The Music Of Ocarina of Time. # 2 - Kokiri Forest.

I love the way this tune dances around in your head. :) It feels like home. :)



And heres a bonus! Anyone else want an Ocarina right about now?



<3

The Key to Social and Online Gaming: Maximize then Monetize.

Facebook games.

These two words are enough to send many gamers into a frenzy of rage - but the truth of the matter is 70 per cent of these people play at least one Facebook game on the sly. And you can bet the other 30 per cent at least entertained the idea of seeing what all the fuss was about. Be it through City-ville, Pet Society or Mafia wars, social gaming is reaching out to millions of people all over the world.

This global audience was not created by people having to buy a system, a £40/$60 game and then needing a television set to play them on. It was created by realising that a sort of loss leader approach would allow the barrier of entry to be made pretty much obsolete for gaming. OK - I doubt Mark Zuckerberg thought that he would one day see games on this thing, well not in the way he imagined. But I'm sure that he knew that the potential was there. Facebook is an iterative process and it is one that is always LIVE. This allowed him to create something that was entirely free - but build a base of people that would form the ecosystem that is Facebook. Once he had an audience of many - only then did he decide to turn on the money printing switch. This made so much sense that I'm surprised people haven't cottoned on to this fact and tried it in different markets...But the more I though about it the more I realised one guy has already taken this approach and is applying it to his own creation. That creation is Minecraft and his name is Notch.

Minecraft is game that is still in its beta stage, however it enjoys an audience of over a million users. I am not entirely sure whether it was a conscious decision to maximize a fanbase first and then monetize later - but its clear that Minecraft is a game that has massive potential and could change the way online games are being made forever. To be honest this strategy is not a new one. It has been used in free-to-play Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) RPGS long before the words face and book were uttered by our lips here in the West. The idea is to provide your game for free and then allow users to buy extra game items or content to help them progress through the game. It is not yet known yet if Notch will take this path - but anything is possible with user created content. Minecraft was just the first time the pay nothing and just play method had been used to take an indie game from apartment room computer to server farm and eventually game industry fame. Barrier to entry non existent. Sounds a lot like the way Zuckerberg created his social empire and could in future give hope to indie devs the world over.

Piracy has been a problem that has plagued media for years, now more so than ever. People are putting modchips in their Xbox 360s, Wiis and PS3s in order to play the latest releases. Many are even jail-breaking their iphones and rooting their mobile device in order to download $1/59p apps for free....In an uncertain digital world where profiting from your creation seems to be less a common occurrence - Minecraft is a shining example of a sure fire way how to ensure that you make money from your talent. If Notch doesn't make enough money from this one then I'm pretty sure that the fame he has earned through the Minecraft experience will ensure that his name is one that will be on the credits of many a software product in the future. At GDC he was the talk of the show, reaching almost celebrity status in the space of a year. The way browser gaming is going at the moment - its not hard to see it all come full circle and one day you might just see the words Mine and Craft pop-up on your news feed more than the words Farm and Ville.

Yes its THAT addictive! For those who can't wait till then - You can play Minecraft here. (I purposely did not describe the game here as it's a lot better when it's a surprise)

Happy Crafting!

http://www.minecraft.net

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and the future of Link. (Part 1)

So all day I've pretty much been Playing Twilight Princess on The Wii. A game that started off on the Gamecube and then slowly migrated over to the Wii for the launch of Nintendo's revolutionary system. I think it is a very good game. Apart from the resolution of the textures it hold up pretty well. The dungeons are well thought out and you constantly feel like your on a grand almost never ending adventure. But something is dawning on me as I play. The majority of the things I like about the game - the scale of the environments, the bustling life of castle town and the variety of things to do really only seem to wow me because ultimately, in the back of my mind I still know this game was made using Gamecube hardware.

As a Wii game it holds up like I said, but only just. The expectations I have for Skyward Sword are higher than ever after seeing the GDC trailer and replaying Twilight Princess is naturally making me draw comparisons. The art style of Skyward Sword is fantastic in my opinion, but Nintendo isn't kidding anyone, we all know the reason for it to look like it does is to:

A - Make it look as different to Twilight Princess as possible.
B - Allow them to make the game a little grander in scale and to generally look nice.

This worries me a bit as it seems like Nintendo is forgetting what sets Zelda and even Mario apart from the crowd. Technology. Nintendo don't want to admit it but harnessing new technology has always been at the core of any Mario or Zelda title. Nintendo use these two big names to showcase what their systems can do and in some regard Super Mario Galaxy done its job well - showing the world that in the right hands the limited technology under the hood of the Wii can produce some gorgeous looking games. Although Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 achieved high meta-critic scores - much of its is undoubtedly due to the Pixar like world that Nintendo created for their mascot. It charmed, fascinated and surprised. In my opinion Super Mario Galaxy already excited and delighted more than its sequel but with a game that good, more of the same was more than welcome.

This is where Zelda differs. Nintendo can not simply chuck Link in space. Thank god they didn't do that - they stopped a bit short of leaving the atmosphere and opted for the sky instead. From what we have seen though it seems Skyward Sword is very much following in the form of an Ocarina of time or Twilight Princess. We already know that Links journey will start high up in the clouds and then descend down to the land of Hyrule...After all the things Nintendo have been saying about changing the way this Legend will play out and how they have changed their philosophy in the way that a Zelda game is made - it seems like none of it is coming to fruition. They even showed us artwork of Link WITHOUT a sword to give us some hope that Nintendo is radically shaking things up. But inevitably when finally revealed at E3 2010 - Link had a sword in his hand. The GDC trailer showed us how motion plus will change the way we fight enemies and open doors - but I don't think that is the change that is needed. A big overhaul in terms of the structure of the game would make Zelda feel fresh again. At the moment its a very familiar and nostalgic experience for many players and even though fans still enjoy the games, I can't help but think that It could be so much more! Especially with the help of new technology, a new system perhaps? Could Nintendo be readying another revolution this E3 in june? I hope so, and next time I will tell you all why doing so makes perfect sense. I shall leave you with THE TRUTH though.

The Music Of Ocarina of Time. # 1 - Zoras Domain.

The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time....Sigh - so close to many hearts. A game that we will soon be playing again with spruced up graphics and 3D effects! Unsurprisingly I am getting hyped, watching old videos of the game on Youtube and listening to that outstanding soundtrack. Probably the best soundtrack made for a game ever? Well close especially considering it is all in MIDI! So in the spirit of Hyrulian hype and giddy expectations I have decided to post up some of the great compositions from Ocarina of time in a hope to re-awake stirring memories of Links finest adventure and his passage through time. Enjoy Link lovers. We shall begin with the soothing, relaxing and majestic theme from Zoras Domain.

Uncharted 3 Villainess channels Helen Mirren very well! I'm already scared...

Iwata misses a note. Apple nearly in tune. (GDC 2011)

I love Nintendo.

This is not something I hide.

In fact I downright wear it on my sleeve whenever and wherever I can. But when it comes to their shortcomings as a company people think I worship the ground that they lay and that everything they touch turns to gold. In some respects they may be right. What other company can boast such an astounding catalogue of game titles as Nintendo can? Not many. If Nintendo is the grandfather of the Video games industry than Microsoft and Sony are undoubtedly its veritable grand-children. Yes they may be stumbling as they walk - but they are both growing up very fast and are able to carry out tasks that require a lot more dexterity and agility than their hunched over grandfather. And though the past may have born great fruits for the old man - the youngsters have yet to discover their true potential.

This is the reason I returned to write on this blog - I feel that Nintendo's bones are beginning to creak.

This week the Games Developers Conference was held in San Francisco and as per usual with that came a plethora of game announcements, trailers and business deals. However lest we forget this was supposed to be a GAMES DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE. And if anyone was going to come up with inspiration and words of wisdom for game developers at this turbulent and economically unstable time it was sure to be Nintendo of Japan's President Satoru Iwata....No this was not the case. Instead he spoke of his own history and explaining how difficult it was to make games back in the 80's and touched upon renaming Kirby after Tinkle PoPo failed to ignite any interest.

Meanwhile on facebook - my friends were all like - omg this is boring. Wheres ZELDA? and - Drop the Bomb Iwata! I must admit I was totally taken aback by the hype and momentum of this keynote address but after the dust had settled (And Reggie had come on stage and announced some netflix 3DS deal and an AT&T partnership) I was beginning to wonder whether Mr Iwata and his friends at Nintendo had got drunk off the kool aid and saw the keynote as merely an opportunity to boost 3DS momentum (lol like it needed any) and to show off Super Mario 3DS and Zelda Skyward Sword on Wii.

Ok, lets get things straight. I'm not saying - "WTF man! Why the hell did they have to show us awesome screens of a Mario game on 3DS that look like Galaxy and Link attacking a door to unlock it!" (Where the keys at link?!!? :S) No, I'm just saying there is a time and a place for these things and that is at E3 In June...Or at a press conference before or during GDC. (Ala Microsoft and Sony) Kudos to the kids! If it wasn't bad enough that Reggie came on the stage and did his whole song and dance including the gem - we are still all about the games! - HERES NETFLIX Y'ALL!. Iwata barely said anything inspiring to his audience concerning actual 3DS content development...Instead he bashed the App Store and called them out on not caring about the quality of their games. Sure it reaches the masses but their view of gaming may be tarnished after playing the god awful Gameloft games or maybe even by playing splinter cell double agent...That game is not fun...Not at all. Its bad enough that those who are just starting out developing games are filling it with crap - we don't need the big hitters of the industry doing it to 'cash in' on the whole App store phenomenon.

But Nintendo is charging £40/$60 for the software on 3DS. Does the consumer realise that the quality is with Nintendo software? If I asked a bunch of random people what games Nintendo made - I'm pretty sure they would just list games that were ON a Nintendo platform but not the ones that actually were made by the company...The same goes for movies. Most people dont give a flying crap about who directed/wrote it let alone which film studio was behind it. The games industry is the very same. Iwata is trying to say quality will shine through - but if you are making and selling millions of copies of games like Wiiplay, Brain Training and Nintendogs - why do you care Iwata? Clearly you have decided that you want EVERYONE to play videogames - and yet you shit on the App store which has the ability to reach a greater audience than the games industry will ever hope to touch.

The world of technology is ever changing and Nintendo is showing its age. It needs to learn to adapt to change. So far Nintendo has had very little competition in its lifetime. Even in the Gamecube days they were super profitable and basically printed money with the Gameboy Advance. But Apple isnt just competing anymore is ripping out the ground beneath the games industry and tearing it up. I see Apples strategy as the quickest way to death for the industry. It may reach a global audience but its in danger of cheapening the very industry that is keeping it alive...First apple did it with music then video content and now its hell bent on sucking gaming dry and levelling it with the other mediums. As a consumer its a double edged sword - we are getting masses of content at a very cheap cost, sometimes even free. But true gamers will attest that their just isnt enough substantial quality content on the App store to keep us entertained for longer than 10 mins. And the main reason for this is?....Interface and power.

Games need a certain amount of power these days for us to even recognise them as being worth of wearing the title 'videogame'. A decent ergonomic interface is key to the gaming experience. It always has been. And its the one thing that Apple does not have at the moment...How long do you think it will be till they fix this? As silly as Sony's XPERIA Play might look - it's definitely something I think will be integrated in smart phones sooner or later. Now marry that killer control method with the App Store and BAM! Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are in trouble. Plus the power of these devices is just gonna ramp up higher and higher - just take a look at the iPad 2 as an example. Nintendo used to be the kings of power but in their old age they are growing weak. They are still full of wisdom though. Which can get them out of tight situations, but they need to start adapting around the tech boom happening around them. Iwatas keynote told me that Nintendo are missing the plot a bit. Apple won over a lot of developers at GDC. (And they weren't even at GDC) So unless Nintendo play nice with games developers and give them the tools they need to create compelling content for their platforms - then frankly they can kiss goodbye to first place.