Spring RTS Engine

Bought Ridge Racer (Riiiiiiiiidge Racerrrrr!!) and Ghost Recon Shadow Wars. Only played Ridge Racer and the built-in stuff so far.

Kicks all kinds of ass. The 3D effect really works incredibly well, but I imagine there's going to be a learning curve for companies to find the best and most effective ways to use it. Some game genres probably just won't benefit from the 3D at all. Ridge Racer at least seems to work very, very well.

The effect is sort of like Avatar, in that it appears exactly as you'd hope. It's so much easier to judge your distance to something, or between objects. The concerns about the effect being more trouble than it's worth due to the viewing angle restrictions seems to be a non-issue. I was concerned about this as well, but it seems I've spent most of my life learning how to precisely hold electronics gadgets, so it doesn't bother me at all.

If you can picture a sphere (not circle) in space about 14" away from the screen and 6" or so in diameter, basically as long as you keep both your eyes in that space the effect works perfectly. So, nearer, farther, a bit to the left, a bit to the right, up, down, etc - all of these must combine to not be more than a certain distance from the sweet spot. I'm making it sound more troublesome than it is - it really works very well and isn't cumbersome at all.

In the worst-case scenario, you can disable the 3D at any time and be left with simply a much more powerful DS.

Disappointments? The price (I'd have liked $200 better), but to be honest, holding it my hands I feel it's built better and more thoughtfully than any previous Nintendo system by far. A more serious disappointment is that the battery life is really piss-poor compared to previous Nintendo handhelds, lasting only 3-5 hours depending on your usage, or something like 5-7 hours when you're playing an original DS title. Yeah, total shit in that regard unfortunately, and battery life was one of the main things I bitched about with the PSP.

Finally, there's the initial firmware, which is lacking a lot of features you'd expect - no store, no web browser, and there's a handful of other less important things that could clearly use some work. For example, the color in original DS games appears washed-out a bit, probably due to a mistake in the conversion code from 6-bit color to 8-bit color.

Even if you have $250 to blow right now, I'd recommend waiting a few months at least to let the game library built up a little. E3 will give us a preview into what the future holds for the 3DS software library in 2011.

If you look for pictures of the PCB inside this thing, it's plainly obvious that there's a ton of stuff that could be integrated into a handful of smaller, more efficient chips. And if this alone doesn't improve battery life significantly, then the space saved internally would allow for a significantly larger battery for sure.

The inevitable 3DS Lite will probably arrive before christmas 2012, and my best guess would be that it'll improve the battery life, main camera quality, and perhaps even have a slightly lower price. This would address all the complaints I've seen about the system, and probably cut the legs out from beneath the PSP2 just as it's hitting its stride.

TL;DR: It's awesome but you should probably wait a bit.

i checked out my freinds one... it constantly gave him health warnings, reminded him not to play for more than an hour at a time and then he went for an HOUR WALK, because the 3DS keeps track of how many steps you take and turns them into faggot points that he could use to buy pokemans... apparently he hasnt realised that his DS has duped him into going outside and getting excersise. besides la appealing to kids, it also comes with webcam software stuff that was out of date in 2005 and a tampon, firmly catering for its secondary audience of computer illiterate women

seriously, almost all the games are for kids and the DS was always shitty and underpowered next to the PSP line... its only strength was advertising. now its super for kids +++, with added safe curved edges, health warnings and a price tag borrowed from the latest mac product. it also fills a non-existant niche for adults. you are at home, or sat down somewhere? laptop. you are travelling? you are in a car, your hands are full, or your on a train, laptop. your travelling to a leisure activity where you dont want to be luggiing your laptop? you should thus be in company, and so talking to friends and failing with women, not playing the DS

FFFFFFFFFFFF adults buying DS.

Caydr wrote:TL;DR: It's awesome but you should probably wait a bit.

best TL;DR: ever.

As with all Nintendo Handhelds I will wait for Pokemon to use the hardware then i will quickly purchase.

1v0ry_k1ng wrote:i checked out my freinds one... it constantly gave him health warnings, reminded him not to play for more than an hour at a time and then he went for an HOUR WALK, because the 3DS keeps track of how many steps you take and turns them into faggot points that he could use to buy pokemans... apparently he hasnt realised that his DS has duped him into going outside and getting excersise. besides la appealing to kids, it also comes with webcam software stuff that was out of date in 2005 and a tampon, firmly catering for its secondary audience of computer illiterate women

seriously, almost all the games are for kids and the DS was always shitty and underpowered next to the PSP line... its only strength was advertising. now its super for kids +++, with added safe curved edges, health warnings and a price tag borrowed from the latest mac product. it also fills a non-existant niche for adults. you are at home, or sat down somewhere? laptop. you are travelling? you are in a car, your hands are full, or your on a train, laptop. your travelling to a leisure activity where you dont want to be luggiing your laptop? you should thus be in company, and so talking to friends and failing with women, not playing the DS

FFFFFFFFFFFF adults buying DS.

Eat shit.

I emulate nintendo games on my 250$, why the hell do I need something not nearly as powerful or versatile because it has new shitty versions of classics?

Sounds good to me, I didn't buy a DS or PSP but may buy a 3DS later in the release cycle. I wouldn't have bought a PSP anyway - Sony hates you and delivers substandard hardware for an inflated price every time, without ever handing over substantial amounts of good games. Most of the titles I found interesting on the PSP were JRPGs, TRPGs and 2D Fighters. On the other hand, the DS had Adventures, more TRPGs, Platformers, Puzzles, etc.

The big thing the PSP seemed to have was reimplementations of some solid PS2/PS1 games like WipeOut and Twisted Metal... at least at launch. I didn't really follow its progress after that. That kind of vehicular gaming was seriously lacking on the DS - Mario Kart stood prettymuch alone.

Coresair wrote:I emulate nintendo games on my 250$, why the hell do I need something not nearly as powerful or versatile because it has new shitty versions of classics?

Exclusives. DS/3DS is a platform that can't be easily emulated due to the unique controls and there are a ton of high-quality games that are unlike what's available on any other console.

http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/ ... =condensed

Check that list for games you can get on another platform. Ok, now check lists for other platforms. See the difference?

Certainly it's not to say that the games are inherently better, but when you have hundreds of games on platform A, B, C, D, E, F, but the ones on platforms B, C, D, E, F are all cross-platform while the ones on platform A are all exclusive, there's added value and you're missing out on a lot of good stuff.

Example, Infinite Space. This was a game with its share of flaws, but it was an excellent game in a virtually dead genre. You'll never see it anywhere else and it's something I'd really have regretted missing.

Also, because it's cheap to develop for you get a lot of games that wouldn't have made it on "HD" consoles or even the PSP. Hotel Dusk, Super Scribblenauts, Broken Sword, etc.

I own a PSP and I've played a lot of PSP games - there are plenty of good ones. But almost all of them are available on any platform. The number of PSP exclusives that were also quality games in their own right... I can count them on one hand. Crisis Core, Patapon, Metal Gear Solid, ... Actually I think that's all of them.

Games were fun before they were "HD". Adding the "HD" just raises production costs and means the games have to be guaranteed-sellers in order for them to be profitable... eg, FPSs.

FYI: Spring's not HD, in fact it can be pretty shit-looking sometimes to be honest, but there's still a lot of fun to be had since graphics have absolutely no bearing on the quality of the game. Even look at TA, its graphics are absolute shit but it's still one of the best games ever made. Descent 1/2, Imperium Galactica, X-COM... there was life before HD.

S/3DS is a platform that can't be easily emulated due to the unique controls

lol? its controls are not remotely unique, and are easily emultated both with the keyboard and by plugging an xbox/playstation/whatever controller into your PC and binding it.

the 3DS game list looks terrible, that list of unique DS games looks to consist almost entirely of rehashes of existing games for other platforms.

I also stand by the 3DS lacking any niche in adult gaming besides appealing to the kind of people that otherwise wouldnt be gaming thanks to its condescending brain trainer games and extensive, brightly coloured advertisement campaign (ie. computer illiterate women.)

1v0ry_k1ng wrote:

DS/3DS is a platform that can't be easily emulated due to the unique controls

lol? its controls are not remotely unique, and are easily emultated both with the keyboard and by plugging an xbox/playstation/whatever controller into your PC and binding it.

I'll agree that the 3DS could be emulated effectively on a touchscreen tablet PC with 2 external cameras and motion sensors and a pair of shutter glasses.

I said I emulate the classics, you know the ones that were what all these high rated games are based off of, I have no interest in emulating THIS. I simply do not feel it is worth 250$.

Coresair wrote:I said I emulate the classics, you know the ones that were what all these high rated games are based off of, I have no interest in emulating THIS. I simply do not feel it is worth 250$.

I was referring to 1v0ry_k1ng's message, not yours.

1v0ry_k1ng wrote:That list of unique PSP games looks to consist almost entirely of rehashes of existing games for other platforms

Just saying.

Coresair wrote:I said I emulate the classics, you know the ones that were what all these high rated games are based off of, I have no interest in emulating THIS. I simply do not feel it is worth 250$.

I used to hold that position, but I am starting to feel that - in handheld and mobile gaming in particular - there are new developments and new games worth playing. Also, there are more than a few new IP in that list which aren't derived directly from the classics, and enough IP derivatives that do different things to be of interest.

1v0ry_k1ng wrote:

S/3DS is a platform that can't be easily emulated due to the unique controls

lol? its controls are not remotely unique, and are easily emultated both with the keyboard and by plugging an xbox/playstation/whatever controller into your PC and binding it.

Forget the 3D, show me a tablet or phone with a d-pad, analog slider, touchscreen, 6 face buttons, 2 shoulder buttons. Without gaming controls, you're taking a ride on the USS Fail.

I can only think of the Xperia Play from Sony, it's not out yet AFAIK but it does look like it could be promising. Too bad Sony's taken so long getting it to market, at the speed smartphones are progressing it's already out of date.

the DS is not a tablet or phone and such comparisons are meaningless, it is a games console and should be judged as such. the PSP has controls of equal complexity. it also has more horsepower, a nicer appearance and is more functional- VERY few games seem to make intelligent use of having two screens. result: all the action takes place on a very small screen.

I used to hold that position, but I am starting to feel that - in handheld and mobile gaming in particular - there are new developments and new games worth playing.

you mean that games are becoming less handicapped and terrible on mobile platforms, which is largely true- the PSP can essentially run what is dynasty warriors 2 on the PS2, and armoured core 2, both mega- while the DS has mario and pokemon. I think its important to realise that even improved, these games are still more limited and ugly than their console/computer variants, you are paying for the mobility only. Which suddenly seems less of an asset when you analyse your life for periods in which playing the DS would be more optimal than using a laptop and find almost none. or and how adults look in public bent over a kids DS.

Yeah but you can play mobile devices lying on your bed in a nonchalant
position.

Where's the portable Xbox already?

3DS and PSP2 both have more power than the original xbox.

Neddie wrote:I am starting to feel that - in handheld and mobile gaming in particular - there are new developments

Can you elaborate? It's been a while since I've visited.

I got the 3DS despite not having that much interest in the launch games simply because my mother's DS was failing and I wanted to hand my DSi down to her so she could continue playing Prof. Layton and Picross 3D. I guess I could have waited some time otherwise but hey, I'm liking it. Haven't played much with the built-in software but the game I got (Samurai Warriors Chronicles) is a lot of fun and will likely last me a while.

From what I heard Ghost Recon is a great launch game, it's by the guy who made X-Com and in a similar vein with plenty of content and depth. Ridge Racer is divisive, Street Fighter is a great game but a late port and Pilot Wings is popular but low on content. Samurai Warriors is generally panned by critics but I don't get why, haven't heard from any regular gamer who didn't like it.

1v0ry_k1ng wrote:the DS is not a tablet or phone and such comparisons are meaningless, it is a games console and should be judged as such. the PSP has controls of equal complexity. it also has more horsepower

Okay, that makes it clear you think we're still talking about the regular DS. This is the 3DS, the next generation handheld from Nintendo. It's more powerful than the PSP. I don't have a PSP at hand (I did see some recently and man, they're huge and clunky!) but the 3DS screen isn't small, the top screen is roughly equivalent to my iPod Touch 3rd gen's screen (slightly wider but not as tall). The bottom screen is mostly for controls which avoids clusterfucks like the iOS systems get with their more complicated FPSes so the top screen can show more of the game.

Also Chou Soujuu Mecha MG wouldn't be possible without the two screens. If you don't know that game that's your problem.

Walking for an hour for your Pokemon is the Pokewalker, the 3DS only counts the first 1000 steps and you can walk those up in 10-15 minutes. It's unhealthy to walk less than that per day anyway.

You know what I can do with my DS that I can't do with my PC? Play it on my commute!

TL;DR: Stop trolling.