When Nintendo announced its plans to bring a two screened handheld to the market, even the most hardened Nintendo fans asked themselves “Why?” A lot of people immediately compared it to the ill-fated Virtual Boy. They also said that a gaming system can’t stand on a gimmick alone and that this was the end of Nintendo.
However after months of hype and PR, a good number people have changed their tune. Many say that if the Nintendo DS is anything, it’s unique. They say there has never been another handheld system like it, and they can’t wait to get their hands it. These are the people who believe “Touching is good.”
On November 21st, 2004 Nintendo’s newest baby headed out to the market place to be picked up by those intrigued by its unique premise. The Nintendo DS launched, and it launched quite successfully. Even a month after launch, the Christmas rush was making sure that this system was very hard to get a hold of, and even now stores can’t keep it in stock.
It’s not all roses, however. There is still a dark cloud on the horizon for Nintendo and its DS. There are still those who are unsure about the product, and are unsure about whether they want to spend their hard earned money on yet another Nintendo handheld, especially one with such a strange new gimmick. And they wouldn’t be wrong to be wary, because even with all the potential this system has Nintendo still hasn’t shown anything to make it a “must have item” for the non-Nintendo gamer.
Nintendo’s Major Pitfall
The DS is experiencing what most Nintendo consoles do at their launch: a small amount of quality games. In fact, the DS launch line up is one of the least impressive line-ups most people have ever seen. Games like Ping Pals and Sprung really weigh a launch down in terms of quality. Even though quality games like Super Mario 64 DS and Ridge Racer DS launched with the system and balance the stinkers out, there’s only one game that really makes use of what this system was built for: Sega’s Feel the Magic: XX XY.
Feel the Magic is the only game to use the touch screen effectively, which does nothing but further reinforce in peoples minds that the second screen is a gimmick. Even Nintendo isn’t making full use of the second screen. Sure, you could control Mario, or drive in Ridge Racer DS with the touch screen, but it’s far more accurate to use the D-pad, which in my eyes is counter-productive, and not the direction they said they were going with this system.
Feel the Magic showed me that the touch screen can really be used in some creative ways. It showed me that this is not just the Dreamcast VMU in full color. This does things the VMU couldn’t dream of (no pun intended). I just think it’s funny that it took the company that came up with a feature a lot of people compared it to, to come up with it’s best use to date.
Getting the DS on Track
The thing is, the DS has a lot of potential. Nintendo has a winner here; they just have to make people believe it. With GBA compatibility, wireless multiplayer, 3D graphics, Wi-Fi, stereo speakers, and a second screen that is touch sensitive, this system is stacked. The thing is, they need to keep going in their own path, rather than try to cater to the masses. It works for companies like EA. It works for Sony. It doesn’t work for Nintendo. Here are four easy steps in which Nintendo can help the DS succeed.
1. Stop Using the Touch Screen as an Analog Controller
Super Mario 64 DS, Ridge Racer DS, and even the Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt demo that comes packaged with the system all suffer from the same problem: Nintendo tried to give people what they expected. The games don’t have to control using the touch screen. In fact, the touch screen is a poor excuse for analog control. It obviously can’t snap back to the center, meaning you have no way of knowing where your thumb is on the screen without looking, and in a game like Mario 64 where the platforming is precise, you don’t have time to look down to see where you finger is.
There are more innovative ways to use the screen. Look at Feel the Magic and Wario Ware Touched (which has yet to come out anywhere but Japan). Both are innovative (if not, very similar). If you tell me they aren’t you’d be lying. Sure, they “control” with the touch screen, but not in the traditional sense. I’m sure creative developers will find interesting ways to use the screen that doesn’t mimic analog controls, just like in these two games, and I’m sure there are ways that haven’t been thought of yet.
I know what you’re thinking. “How can Nintendo cut analog like controls and still produce 3D games on the system?” The answer will come to you in step number two.
2. Stop Making 3D Worlds on the System
Yeah, you heard me correctly. Just because this system is capable of creating 3D worlds like the N64, doesn’t mean they should; they don’t have the control scheme to support it. Nintendo needs to concentrate on prettier, 2D type titles that do unique things with the touch screen.
Spider-Man 2 is a good example, even if the game isn’t that good. The game is pretty much your average side scrolling beat-em up, but it does a couple of things right. Aside from choosing special abilities from a menu, the game will sometimes use the screen in boss battles. In one such battle, Doctor Octopus throws debris at you, and you have to bat it down with the stylus.
Spider-Man 2 is graphically in 3D, but it’s actually a 2D game. It looks decent; especially considering it’s a first generation title. Why can’t Nintendo work in 2D, (one of their greatest areas of expertise) and be happy with it? I mean, at least in the portable world. They’ve started doing that with the new Super Mario Bros. title, but they need to do more. Imagine a new 2D Metroid game with 3D graphics; it would be amazing. That’s what a lot of people want.
A lot of people also want to play their Nintendo games online, and that brings us to step three.
3. Mario-net: Nintendo Online
There is a lot of discussion on this topic among Nintendo fans, and it doesn’t help that Warp Pipe (the first company to put LAN enabled GameCube games online that is rumored to have been bought by Nintendo) keeps alluding to it happening soon on their forums. Supposedly, it will be called “Mario-net.” When you step back to look at it, Nintendo has some franchises that would really do well if applied to an online formula.
The obvious choice is Animal Crossing DS, which is rumored to be the game that springboards the entire Nintendo DS online network. You could visit other player’s towns, interact with them, trade patterns, furniture, or other items… the possibilities are endless for what could come of this. Nintendo could plant in their own characters, and use it for contests, or to give away special items. Anybody who has ever played Animal Crossing and has visited another players town via their memory card knows how cool this could be.
A franchise like Pikmin could also thrive online. Look at a game like Warcraft and how it’s formula creates some really fun one on one versus play; though it supports higher numbers of players as well. I’m actually not quite sure how well Pikmin would work in versus mode (though Nintendo could work something out). I was thinking it would work better in a co-op setting, especially if players could create their own levels and trade them with each other. The replay on a title like that would be endless.
There are so many other options for online play when one looks at what Nintendo has to offer. Starfox dog fights, Super Smash Bros. battles, Pokemon MMORPG… or something completely new, which moves us on to point four.
4. New Franchises
Nintendo needs to bring new fans into their fold. The old faithful franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Metroid are all great, but they’re all for the fans now. They’re made for those people who Nintendo knows are going to buy those games, and do little to attract new business. It’s time for Nintendo to reach out and touch new people, and that’s something those games can no longer do.
Look at what Halo did for the Xbox. When the system launched, Halo sold pretty much with every Xbox. It was a new and exciting franchise. It was marketed correctly, and most importantly it was a great game. A lot of people bought Xboxes for Halo, and now for Halo 2. It also meant that since more people had an Xbox, they would buy more Xbox games, further increasing sales. Nintendo needs their system seller. They need a game, or a series of different games that will generate genuine consumer interest; that way even their older franchises will continue to post high numbers. Another, which shamefully looks to be Japan-only at this point, is a nice start. They need to keep going, and keep being creative.
Gimme or Gimmick?
The question a lot of people are asking now is whether to buy a Nintendo DS or not. Right now, it depends on how big a Nintendo fan you are. Chances are if you’re a huge fan you already own one. But for those who don’t, it might be best to wait a little bit. Right now there isn’t very much available for the DS that’s worth your time and money. Super Mario 64 DS and Feel the Magic XX XY are pretty much the only two games I’d consider owning.
However, after a couple of months and as time keeps moving on, this system will become a must have. There is too much coming out for it that you won’t want to miss. Animal Crossing DS, Castlevania DS, an entry in the Baten Kaitos series, a new Super Mario Bros., Wario Ware Touched, Final Fantasy III… the list goes on.
The Nintendo DS is clearly not a gimmick. It’s just going to take a lot of effort from Nintendo to get that across to people. That effort should be applied through original, quality titles, and good old fashioned marketing.
