The Gaming Journal #14: Blips and Abberations
Laptop Battery Well, with so much ruckus going on in the past couple of weeks I thought it was time for another edition of Blips and Aberrations! This is where I cover some of the hottest and most controversial news pieces of the past couple of weeks and determine if they're real (a blip) or a false (an abberation). Consider this to be a bit of a rumor control editorial, but I share my insight and support it with reasoning.
Its been a busy August ripe with anticipation for the approaching holiday season. Nintendo has started a new marketing campaign to show off their hot lineup for the winter quarter, the Nintendo DS is rapidly approaching launch day, and the hottest topic of all these days is multiplayerregardless of online or offline. Metroid Prime looks to add it. Nintendo DS promises to offer it via wireless networking. The hottest argument of late is the hint of multiplayer even if its in the form of an outdated patent update. Put all this together and theres a lot to sort through.
Super Smash Brothers DS:
I think the best rumor goes to the Nintendo DS. Super Smash Brothers: Melee is the hottest game on Nintendo GameCube. Its sold over 3.65 million copies worldwide. The one thing people wouldve liked is the addition of online play. In its current form, Super Smash Brothers is experienced best by those who have siblings, roommates, or friends whove forgotten where they live. The game offers an appealing single player mode, but the awesomeness of the multiplayer mode often overshadows it.
This may no longer be a valid point if word out of Camp Hyrule holds true. Of all the games Nintendo is porting or developing from their home consoles, Super Smash Brothers makes the most sense. Its a game built around multiplayer gameplay, which is what Nintendos focus with the Nintendo DS seems to be on. Mario 64 is in development for the DualScreen. Something unheard of is taking place with it, though. Its having a multiplayer mode added to it that promises to refresh the game. Metroid Prime is also being produced for the Nintendo DS. It, too, will feature multiplayer play as a main feature! While these titles are a logical choice to port to a new game system, it seems a bit unorthodox to rely on the best single player games to push multiplayer gameplay.
Super Smash Brothers makes a ton of sense for the Nintendo DS. Its wireless network capabilities make it the best fit for a Smash Brothers sequel. If the idea of online multiplayer gameplay is going to ever see the light of day with Nintendo, it will be with the Nintendo DS and its wireless network features. Of all the multiplayer franchises that Nintendo has, Im not surprised at all by this rumor. Super Smash Brothers has selling power, mind share, and an all-star cast of mascots that no one, not even Walt Disney, can compete with.
While this is just a rumor out of Camp Hyrule, and it is just some NOA representatives idle chat in a chat room with a bunch of kids, Ive been in those chat rooms, myself, talking to the NOA folks, and Ive got enough experience to know that such chatter is enough to get them fired, especially if they are spreading bald-faced lies misinformation. I dont trust everything the representatives say, but I have a gut feeling about this being true. I want to call this a blip so badly. The verdict is still out on this one, I think.
Goldeneye 007:
While on the subject of logical N64 ports that should see their way to the Nintendo DS, another one of the greatest multiplayer games is making waves as it lands on the Nintendo DSs game list. Goldeneye for the Nintendo 64 was one of the best multiplayer first-person shooters to come along. In fact, the mention of the Nintendo 64 was almost synonymous with Goldeneye for a while. It sold 5.01 million copies in North America alone. The only Nintendo 64 game to outsell it stateside was Super Mario 64, which means it outsold the likes of Mario Kart 64 and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time!
So, why wouldnt a port or remake be at the top of the list for the Nintendo DS? Im as baffled as you are. Im not sure Electronic Arts has the right to remake Goldeneye from the N64 since it was Rare who developed it in the first place. A remake should ultimately be up to Nintendo, but we may never know the full ramifications of the sell off. As it is, some parts of Goldeneye are likely the property of Rare. The duplication of such work might not be possible if the original artists dont give permission.
What we do know is that this rumor appears to be an aberration. We feel we have a very reliable source, but I think some miscommunication could be the problem here. Electronic Arts is working on Goldeneye Rogue Agent for the Nintendo DS. We can only hope itll boast the multiplayer quality of Goldeneye for the N64, but Im sure people wouldve rather been assured the quality of the N64 title versus what we see today. Im in the camp that says we need more original titles, though. A console with nothing but old ports is a console Ive already played before.
In any case, EA is not announcing this as a Goldeneye 007 port. This is not even a good rumor let alone an aberration.
Mysterious DS Port:
Not long after Nintendo of Japan spokesperson Mitsuaki Hagishima spoke about the Nintendo DS and added emphasis to the yet-unnamed port did a lot of rumors spring up and anticipation spread like wild fire. We heard every type of rumor for this little plug-in ranging from a camera port to an MP3 port. Some suggested it was a USB port (whatever that would be good for), but a good portion of our readers figured it was a mic port.
Well, as the story goes, we now know its an external microphone port. It sounds like the port will be used for a headset and microphone deal, which doesnt bother me a bit. The internal mics are prone to background noise and reverb. Im sure a camera couldve been fun. I never once expected a USB port or anything MP3 relatedit goes against the grain with Nintendos intentions.
In conclusion, Im appeased to hear that the Nintendo DS has an external mic port for a headset. This suggests that multiplayer gaming over wireless connectivity will reach distances beyond face-to-face communication. We could see it being used long distances. This, perhaps, could even serve as an accessory for wireless internet play. Im only hypothesizing about the usefulness of this feature, but its all within the realm of possibility for our favorite portable game machine.
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