Nintendo gameboy advance - Nintendo DS, what's the verdict?

Author

Nintendo DS, what's the verdict?

Jason Costa

2004-11-26, 6:45 am

Has anyone gotten it yet? Mine's arriving on Monday, but I've seen
many ads in the paper today, so I'm sure more than several of you have
it

I'm a little disappointed to see that the release dates for
games like Metroid, Advance Wars and Animal Crossing have been pushed
back so far; AC I think is scheduled now for September of next year,
and I could've sworn I saw it listed as either a December '04 or
January '05 release. And I've also noticed that the games so far,
aside from Mario64, are showing up with mediocre reviews. Anyone have
anything to comment on?

Ice Wipe Inc.

2004-11-26, 6:45 am

There is that handy little thing called the Thumb strap, so there sin't any
room to coplain.

"Ollie T" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:7zeod.28877$g21.9374@fe1.texas.rr.com...

quote:

> " don't much like how you have to play Mario
> with the stylus, but other than that it's a good game"
>
> Are you talking about the main game? You don't have to use the stylus to
> control the characters in Mario 64. You can use the regular D pad or you
> can use the thumb strap for an analog control.
>
> HDTV games lists and discussions
> http://www.hdtvarcade.com
>
>
>
> "benstylus" <blacklion@juno.com> wrote in message
> news:GSdod.1925$uV6.393@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
off[vbcol=seagreen]
Channel[vbcol=seagreen]
Ulala[vbcol=seagreen]
restructurings[vbcol=seagreen]
shows -[vbcol=seagreen]
are[vbcol=seagreen]
you[vbcol=seagreen]
it's[vbcol=seagreen]
Incredible[vbcol=seagreen]
story.[vbcol=seagreen]
>
>

Ice Wipe Inc.

2004-11-26, 6:45 am

Well, being totally sold out anyways it doesn't really matter if your have
such weak muscles...

"Preston Crawford" <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in message
news:slrncq33cv.dg0.me@serpentor.cobrala...

quote:

> On 2004-11-21, Jason Costa <jcwatchdog@msn.com> wrote:
>
> I tried playing it (borrowed a friends for about 10 minutes). It cramped
> my hands up whereas the SP didn't. So I'm not buying one. Too bad.
>
> Preston

Dave V

2004-11-26, 9:45 am

Well,

Let me start by saying overall its really nicely done and I like mine
allot. Its a keeper and I will be handing the SP down to my 6yr old son. I
have been home sick today and not much else to do but play the Metroid demo
and surf the web. I havnt been in a Doom 3 mood for a while. My comments are
pretty much what everyone else is saying to one degree or another.

I like FPS games on the PC and am not a Nintendo/Playstation/Xbox type. I
have had GBA, an SP, and now a DS for keeping myself busy on the airplane
and such. The first thought that comes to mind is; When are they going to
port some of the good FPS PC games to it?

1.) It seems like it has allot of horsepower for running a real 3d FPS style
game. The graphics look good and it never slows down. I can hardly believe
the immersion factor coming from a small handheld device.

2.) Its a brick and not very comfortable to reach all the controls. My hand
did cramp up a little until I found a comfortable hand position.

3.)I am using my thumb on the touchpad with the strap device, and there is
real room for improvement in that thing. I put a small tie-wrap around the
cord to make it hold its adjustment better. The touchpad does give some of
the mouse like ability to the device that I am used to with PC shooters. I
am also wondering if someone is going to make some kind of a mouse for it.
If I had wanted something that used a stylus and could type I would have
bought a Palm, but I'm sure it will come in handy for something.

4.)I like the bundled Metroid demo allot, its the first Metroid game I have
played. It really shows off the ability of the DS. I am stunned, amazed and
dumbfounded that I cannot purchase the full product right now. I cant say
any of the other games look interesting to me. I have never played Mario
anything and that seems to be the only other game people are saying is good.

5.)I am concerned about the touchpad getting scratched up.

6.)Why is there no dust cover for the GBA cartridge slot ? I havnt tried any
of my GBA games in it. I'm sure those will run well and Im glad it is
backwards compatible. I wouldnt have purchased it if it wasnt.

thanks,
DaveV

"Jason Costa" <jcwatchdog@msn.com> wrote in message
news:37cabe21.0411211439.491ce9e8@posting.google.com...

quote:

> Has anyone gotten it yet? Mine's arriving on Monday, but I've seen
> many ads in the paper today, so I'm sure more than several of you have
> it I'm a little disappointed to see that the release dates for
> games like Metroid, Advance Wars and Animal Crossing have been pushed
> back so far; AC I think is scheduled now for September of next year,
> and I could've sworn I saw it listed as either a December '04 or
> January '05 release. And I've also noticed that the games so far,
> aside from Mario64, are showing up with mediocre reviews. Anyone have
> anything to comment on?

Hank the Rapper

2004-11-26, 5:45 pm

Ice Wipe Inc. wrote:

quote:

> Well, being totally sold out anyways it doesn't really matter if your
> have such weak muscles...

Some people don't have small girlish hands like yours, Todd. I don't play
handhelds because my hands cramp in five minutes. Nintendo designed those
handhelds for kids, not adults. Will you please tell us again how you're not
a fanboy?

Ollie T

2004-11-27, 12:45 am

I posted the story of my hassel of getting one here:
http://www.hdtvarcade.com/hdtvforum...opic.php?t=1077

I also posted my first impressions.

HDTV games lists and discussions
http://www.hdtvarcade.com

"Jason Costa" <jcwatchdog@msn.com> wrote in message
news:37cabe21.0411211439.491ce9e8@posting.google.com...

quote:

> Has anyone gotten it yet? Mine's arriving on Monday, but I've seen
> many ads in the paper today, so I'm sure more than several of you have
> it I'm a little disappointed to see that the release dates for
> games like Metroid, Advance Wars and Animal Crossing have been pushed
> back so far; AC I think is scheduled now for September of next year,
> and I could've sworn I saw it listed as either a December '04 or
> January '05 release. And I've also noticed that the games so far,
> aside from Mario64, are showing up with mediocre reviews. Anyone have
> anything to comment on?

Ollie T

2004-11-27, 5:46 pm

" don't much like how you have to play Mario
with the stylus, but other than that it's a good game"

Are you talking about the main game? You don't have to use the stylus to
control the characters in Mario 64. You can use the regular D pad or you
can use the thumb strap for an analog control.

HDTV games lists and discussions
http://www.hdtvarcade.com

"benstylus" <blacklion@juno.com> wrote in message
news:GSdod.1925$uV6.393@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...[vbcol=seagreen]
> The DS itself is heavy, the plastic feels cheap, and the non-game
> interface could definitely use some work (I don't like having to turn off
> the system every time I change one little option).
>
> The games are pretty good - I don't much like how you have to play Mario
> with the stylus, but other than that it's a good game.
>
> Feel the Magic is utterly brilliant, although I've heard it's pretty
> short. As a side note, the Sonic Team GBA games (as well as Space Channel
> 5) unlock special wigs in Feel the Magic if you play it while the GBA
> cartridge is in the slot. I've got a NiGHTS wig, a Chao wig and an Ulala
> wig. I don't have Sonic Advance or Sonic Advance 2, but I'm assuming
> they'll be Sonic and Tails.
>
> The minigames are completely absurd, yet fit in perfectly with the game.
> Sonic Team absorbed UGA a while back during one of the Sega restructurings
> (I think this one was just prior to the merger with Sammy), and it shows -
> even without Tetsuya Mizuguchi heading them up, their style and grace are
> unmistakable.
>
> After beating a mini-game it gets put in the "Memories" section where you
> can play it again to earn stars (which unlock costumes). The big
> difference is that there are 5 additional difficulty levels for most of
> the minigames - some of them get very challenging.
>
> All in all, I think this is Sonic Team's finest work since Sonic
> Adventure. While perhaps not everyone would think it's a killer app, it's
> what sold the system for me.
>
> The only other game I can think of that is remotely like it is Incredible
> Crisis on the PS1 - a string of bizarre minigames all relating to a story.
> That game was fun too, but offered no replay.
>
> Anyway, I've crossposted this to r.g.v.sega since I'm talking about a
> relevant game.
>
> Jason Costa wrote:
>

Preston Crawford

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

On 2004-11-21, Jason Costa <jcwatchdog@msn.com> wrote:

quote:

> Has anyone gotten it yet? Mine's arriving on Monday, but I've seen
> many ads in the paper today, so I'm sure more than several of you have
> it I'm a little disappointed to see that the release dates for
> games like Metroid, Advance Wars and Animal Crossing have been pushed
> back so far; AC I think is scheduled now for September of next year,
> and I could've sworn I saw it listed as either a December '04 or
> January '05 release. And I've also noticed that the games so far,
> aside from Mario64, are showing up with mediocre reviews. Anyone have
> anything to comment on?

I tried playing it (borrowed a friends for about 10 minutes). It cramped
my hands up whereas the SP didn't. So I'm not buying one. Too bad.

Preston

Ice Wipe Inc.

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

There is that handy little thing called the Thumb strap, so there sin't any
room to coplain.

"Ollie T" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:7zeod.28877$g21.9374@fe1.texas.rr.com...

quote:

> " don't much like how you have to play Mario
> with the stylus, but other than that it's a good game"
>
> Are you talking about the main game? You don't have to use the stylus to
> control the characters in Mario 64. You can use the regular D pad or you
> can use the thumb strap for an analog control.
>
> HDTV games lists and discussions
> http://www.hdtvarcade.com
>
>
>
> "benstylus" <blacklion@juno.com> wrote in message
> news:GSdod.1925$uV6.393@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
off[vbcol=seagreen]
Channel[vbcol=seagreen]
Ulala[vbcol=seagreen]
restructurings[vbcol=seagreen]
shows -[vbcol=seagreen]
are[vbcol=seagreen]
you[vbcol=seagreen]
it's[vbcol=seagreen]
Incredible[vbcol=seagreen]
story.[vbcol=seagreen]
>
>

Poof

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

In article <slrncq33cv.dg0.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:

quote:

> On 2004-11-21, Jason Costa <jcwatchdog@msn.com> wrote:
>
> I tried playing it (borrowed a friends for about 10 minutes). It cramped
> my hands up whereas the SP didn't. So I'm not buying one. Too bad.
>
> Preston

I tried it in an EB for ten minutes and for the life of me couldn't play
it well with the stylus on various control settings in the Metroid demo.
I could tap well, but any aiming felt awkward. As soon as I heard a
stylus was going to be involved with this system, I guessed I wouldn't
be buying it. I haven't tried the thumb attachment, which I might do
better with.

benstylus

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

Ice Wipe Inc. wrote:

quote:

> There is that handy little thing called the Thumb strap, so there sin't any
> room to coplain.

That thumbstrap is quite unwieldy. I wish there was one that didn't
have the rest of the wriststrap attached.

Preston Crawford

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

On 2004-11-22, Ice Wipe Inc. <birdworm12@hotmail.com> wrote:

quote:

> Well, being totally sold out anyways it doesn't really matter if your have
> such weak muscles...

What are you, Hans of Hans and Franz? That's stupid. It's not a muscle
thing. I'm an athlete. I cycle 15-20 miles a day and lift weights. I
played football in college. I'm pretty sure I can handle it.

The problem is I'm also a computer programmer and as such I have to take
care of my hands (fingers, wrists, etc.). It's hard on the hands for me.
Period.

Preston

quote:

> "Preston Crawford" <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in message
> news:slrncq33cv.dg0.me@serpentor.cobrala...
>
>

dementia

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

"Preston Crawford" <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote in message
news:slrncq48v3.f32.me@serpentor.cobrala...

quote:

> On 2004-11-22, Ice Wipe Inc. <birdworm12@hotmail.com> wrote:
have[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> What are you, Hans of Hans and Franz?

No he is Todd/Ice Wipe Inc. <---- The most insecure Nintendo troll/fanboy.
He lashes out at *anyone* that has *anything* negative to say about Nintendo
in *anyway*.

quote:

> That's stupid. It's not a muscle
> thing. I'm an athlete. I cycle 15-20 miles a day and lift weights. I
> played football in college. I'm pretty sure I can handle it.
>
> The problem is I'm also a computer programmer and as such I have to take
> care of my hands (fingers, wrists, etc.). It's hard on the hands for me.
> Period.

lloydgm

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

I'll throw in my two cents: The DS is everything I expected as the
reviews Internet wide have been spot-on. The only two things I don't
like about the DS are the systems weight (I've never gotten hand
cramps before, but it's not going to keep me from playing) and the
analog control via the touch screen. The touch screen control, for
example in Mario 64, is NOT bad by any means, it just takes a little
thinking to make it work properly. Once you realize that you often
over-compensate, your thumb will slip off of the edges of the screen
less and less.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what developers are going to do
with this system. I'm just really happy that Nintendo is pushing this
risky but promising idea as opposed to some no-name gaming company.

jcwatchdog@msn.com (Jason Costa) wrote in message news:<37cabe21.0411211439.491ce9e8@posting.google.com>...

quote:

> Has anyone gotten it yet? Mine's arriving on Monday, but I've seen
> many ads in the paper today, so I'm sure more than several of you have
> it I'm a little disappointed to see that the release dates for
> games like Metroid, Advance Wars and Animal Crossing have been pushed
> back so far; AC I think is scheduled now for September of next year,
> and I could've sworn I saw it listed as either a December '04 or
> January '05 release. And I've also noticed that the games so far,
> aside from Mario64, are showing up with mediocre reviews. Anyone have
> anything to comment on?

MS#1Fanboy-JoJo

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

In article <none-D34D10.09441622112004@news.easynews.com>, none@none.com
says...

quote:

>
>In article <slrncq33cv.dg0.me@serpentor.cobrala>,
> Preston Crawford <me@prestoncrawford.com> wrote:
>
>
>I tried it in an EB for ten minutes and for the life of me couldn't play
>it well with the stylus on various control settings in the Metroid demo.
>I could tap well, but any aiming felt awkward. As soon as I heard a
>stylus was going to be involved with this system, I guessed I wouldn't
>be buying it. I haven't tried the thumb attachment, which I might do
>better with.

Same thoughts that I had. It seems gimicky like the Virtual Boy. I will take a
pass and continue with my beloved SP. I wonder why Nintendo always comes up
with these strange ideas?

Dave V

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

quote:

> Has anyone gotten it yet? Mine's arriving on Monday, but I've seen
> many ads in the paper today, so I'm sure more than several of you have
> it I'm a little disappointed to see that the release dates for
> games like Metroid, Advance Wars and Animal Crossing have been pushed
> back so far; AC I think is scheduled now for September of next year,
> and I could've sworn I saw it listed as either a December '04 or
> January '05 release. And I've also noticed that the games so far,
> aside from Mario64, are showing up with mediocre reviews. Anyone have
> anything to comment on?

Hank the Rapper

2004-11-29, 12:46 am

dementia wrote:

quote:

> No he is Todd/Ice Wipe Inc. <---- The most insecure Nintendo
> troll/fanboy. He lashes out at *anyone* that has *anything* negative
> to say about Nintendo in *anyway*.

Todd is such a fanboy he thinks attacks against him are attacks against
Nintendo.

dementia

2004-11-29, 9:46 am

"Hank the Rapper" <xflopgoon@REMOVEyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:tPadnRLn_pLS5z_cRVn-tA@giganews.com...

quote:

> dementia wrote:
>
>
> Todd is such a fanboy he thinks attacks against him are attacks against
> Nintendo.

LOL!
True/excellent!

Darth Housh

2004-12-08, 5:47 pm

benstylus wrote:

quote:

> The DS itself is heavy, the plastic feels cheap, and the non-game
> interface could definitely use some work (I don't like having to turn

quote:

> off the system every time I change one little option).
>
> The games are pretty good - I don't much like how you have to play

Mario

quote:

> with the stylus, but other than that it's a good game.
>
> Feel the Magic is utterly brilliant, although I've heard it's pretty
> short. As a side note, the Sonic Team GBA games (as well as Space
> Channel 5) unlock special wigs in Feel the Magic if you play it while

quote:

> the GBA cartridge is in the slot. I've got a NiGHTS wig, a Chao wig

and

quote:

> an Ulala wig. I don't have Sonic Advance or Sonic Advance 2, but I'm

quote:

> assuming they'll be Sonic and Tails.
>
> The minigames are completely absurd, yet fit in perfectly with the

game.

quote:

> Sonic Team absorbed UGA a while back during one of the Sega
> restructurings (I think this one was just prior to the merger with
> Sammy), and it shows - even without Tetsuya Mizuguchi heading them

up,

quote:

> their style and grace are unmistakable.
>
> After beating a mini-game it gets put in the "Memories" section where

quote:

> you can play it again to earn stars (which unlock costumes). The big

quote:

> difference is that there are 5 additional difficulty levels for most

quote:

> the minigames - some of them get very challenging.
>
> All in all, I think this is Sonic Team's finest work since Sonic
> Adventure. While perhaps not everyone would think it's a killer app,

quote:

> it's what sold the system for me.
>
> The only other game I can think of that is remotely like it is
> Incredible Crisis on the PS1 - a string of bizarre minigames all
> relating to a story. That game was fun too, but offered no replay.
>
> Anyway, I've crossposted this to r.g.v.sega since I'm talking about a

[vbcol=seagreen]
> relevant game.
>
> Jason Costa wrote:
>
have[vbcol=seagreen]
pushed[vbcol=seagreen]
year,[vbcol=seagreen]
have[vbcol=seagreen]

Hi,
I am Darth Housh and I bought the new Nintendo DS. It is great. If you
liked the Game Boy Advance SP, then you would love the Nintendo DS. The
OS (operating system) is more of a concept of a Personal pocket PC.
Think of it like a computer. Everytime you change a setting on a
computer, it wants you to restart the computer. The DS is exactly like
that. The wireless part in the DS uses TCP-IP, same properties as a
computer. TCP-IP uses IP addresses that allow people to go online.
Basically, the Nintendo DS has an opportunity to go online wireless.
People will even have a chance to talk online also, because if you look
on the front where the microphone is, You can do things like voice
chat, clapping, and even tell your game what to do. There is even a
headset jack also. Think of the opportunities. It is money well spent.
Darth Housh, Dark Lord of the Sith ;)

oed@yahoo.com

2004-12-19, 5:45 pm

I got mine early and bought "Mario 64" to go with it. A month later, I
traded-in "Mario" for "Feel the Magic" and I feel like now I'm really
using the system for what it was designed for. Most of the "FTM"
controls are touch-only, which suits the ergonomics of the DS much
better.

To summarize the comments I've made in my "blog"...

* I'm excited about the possibilities of the system. The screens look
great, the touch screen is very responsive. But the buttons aren't set
up as comfortable as on the SP. I prefer the SP for long rounds of
"Final Fantasy Tactics Advance", despite the DS' backlit beauty.

* "Mario 64 DS" was okay, but not really all that fun. It's an
ergonomics thing... hard to play extremely action oriented games using
the buttons (though Metroid with the stylus as an aiming device works
well). "Feel the Magic" is much more fun.
My videogame/media review blog: http://memepedia.blogspot.com/

oed@yahoo.com

2004-12-21, 9:45 am