Console Games on a Handheld - Definition

written by owen

Dispite the fact that the PSP was as poorly designed as the ps3 IMHO I think the best explanation for the topic of the post is;

"Straight ports of console games which weren't designed specifically for handheld "

A REALLY good game on the console will probably be a good game on a handheld. But such is not the case with all games. And there are some games that will are definitely better off not ported. There are some design changes that must be made to the game to make it play well on a small screen.

You really have to cut down on the Text, the loading, the annoying repeative fetch quests and infinite spawning enemies that many console games use to extend play time.

I can only imagine how the shooting mechanics are going to work in Uncharted. I can forsee many a NGP player getting shot by a off-screen enemy and falling into a pit while using the back touch pad to jump. Its as illogical as the character model being 3/4 the height of the screen (see thumb).

I always wondered why the Gameboy had 2 buttons for so long, its because 2 buttons is all the complexity you really need when you are trying not to get mugged at the bus stop.

Console games are long, complicated and can require the players full attention. Handheld games on the other hand should be unique and only require as much attention from the player as needed to complete a single level or section. Nothing more.

Link Item 1491, posted: Mon, 07th Feb 2011 at 7:20 pm ,  comment

PSP2, NGP Sucks because its all been done before

written by owen

Sony, Sony, Sony. You know that shit is going to cost $599 USD. There is no way you are going to get all those features in a 300 dollar handheld. Sony apparently has yet to learn its lesson. These are the same features they were selling when the PSP1 came out (bigger, better, faster). Might as well they called it the PSP4000. I mean how can a system running at 2.5 times the resolution of the 3DS have comparable battery life? its logically impossible. The battery would have to be as big as the damn screen (also adding to its weight).

I don't know, why change the XMB menu? I don't even know who is going to care about a system that is coming out 9-12 months from now. Why they even announce it? If you announce something, you launch it in 3 months. Better yet you launch it the very next week, but Sony is not Apple. Don't wait until all the hate builds up or the thing gets leaked to the public.

Not to mention the launch line up. All those games might as well be running on a PS3 because it doesn't matter. I hope they port Uncharted 1 exactly to it, EXACTLY! Every feature in Uncharted one, on the system and I hope they sell it for $60. I mean why buy a PS3 for $300 when you can play the same game on the PSP2? Did they even try to develop a NEW game that makes use of all its new features? NO, they just ported the game that they already know are big sellers on the PS3. LBP? on a handheld? Its hard enough to tell when the sack boy is on a TV much less a small screen. Where is Heavy Rain? Where is LocoRoco? Where is God Of War 3? Eco? GTA4?

It plays PSone games? so what? the PSP plays PSone games. Where the hell are the PS2 games?

Having a touch pad on the back is as gay as dual screens on the DS. Its nothing but a reach around. "Touch it on the front, touch it on the back!" should be the new tagline. You will have release your grip on the console to fully utilize the back touch pad. Considering the weight and the size of the thing, people and kids are going to be dropping it left, right, center and back!

Its like someone at Sony is like "wait, how are we going to innovate around this touch screen gimmic? we are not smart enough to really think up anything new but we already have the most powerful handheld on the market, so lets make it more powerful than EVERY CONSOLE EVER CREATED and put the touchscreen ON THE BACK!" and someone else in the back shouts out "yes! and lets re-release all our current biggest PS3 IPs and add that right analog stick and cartridges that the fans have been requesting FOREVER!"

This is a system that will only sell to fanbois. Seriously, everybody who will buy this console will already have a PS3 (which is not alotta a people). The PSP GO flopped, go look that thing up, it costs $300 USD and it didn't even have rumble. Why not just make a portable PS2?

What they should have done

Here I list the things that make a portable console cool;

• 10 hour battery life minimum.
  
• Cheap, small, light weight and solid build.
  
• Lots of portable games, homebrew, and Flash games.
  
• Usb ports and SD card slots.
  
• Simplicity
  

The PSP2, NGP is none of these. Infact the PSP2 is the same as the PSP1. Everything that caused the PSP1 to fail is amplified 4 times.

The perfect PSP2 (update)

The perfect hand held from Sony right now would be a small ps2. Seriously.

• The console will include all the PS2 hardware except the DVD drive, Controller ports and Memory card slot. It would in fact be a miniature PS2 with a built in screen.
  
• It would play PS2 games stored a flash card, downloaded from the ps2 disc inserted into a PS3 or bought from the Sony Store.
  
• Games would be played directly on the hardware. Therefore reducing the need for extra processing power for emulation.
  
• It would have 10 hours battery life. Minimum.
  
• It would play PS2 network broadband games over WIFI.
  
• It would not support connection to a tv (so as not to kill ps2 sales)
  
• New games could be released on it without disrupting the Backward compatibility of PS2 games while making use of extra features and a touch screen. In fact extra hardware features are not even necessary but I know some Sony Fans love to have do dads.
  
• Rumble, Dual Analog sticks
  

Link Item 1489, posted: Sat, 29th Jan 2011 at 10:36 pm ,  comment ¹⁴

Bit.Trip - Runner - Wii Review

written by owen

Runner is a game that could only have been designed by Hilter. Beating/completing the game requires dedicating GIGABYTES of you brain towards memorizing devilish jumping and ducking patterns in perfect order. Failing to do so will result in you getting sent directly back to the beginning of the level - no check point - no short cuts - NO NOTHING.

This game is GOOD but I certainly would not give this game a 10 because clearly there were some awful decisions made in the designs/layouts of some of the levels. You can tell that it is a design issue when EVERYBODY who plays level 1-2 has the same problem with those dam stairs. What makes it worst is that those stairs are the hardest in the whole 1st world. Not even to mention the bonus stages that can only be played once after playing the full stage.

Runner is a novel game but don't buy it unless you have alot of patience and up for the challenge of playing a level ONE HUNDRED TIMES OVER until you are able to commit everything into muscle memory. I give bit.trip: runner a 8 out of 10. Its good but unnecessarily hard.

Link Item 1459, posted: Sun, 12th Dec 2010 at 1:32 pm ,  comment ⁴

Best Homebrew Games on the Wii

written by owen

Firstly you will have to figure out how to install the Homebrew Channel. Note that the older your wii the easier it is to install. Anyway after that you will need a SD card to copy the game onto so that you can play them on your Wii. To download the game click download on the top right of the games web page.

Now here are my top 10 favourite games from wiibrew.org

WiiSPACE

A top down Shoot-'em-up in space along the lines of Asteriods. Using the nunchuck to steer and the pointer to shoot. Very polished game with enough challenge to keep you comming back. Multiple types of enemies and boss battles. Simple graphics and 4 players at the same time give it a arcade feel. Classic and Gamecude controller support make it a must have. 9 out of 10.

Link: wiibrew.org/wiki/WiiSPACE

MahJongg Wii

MahJongg Wii is a Mahjongg solitaire tiles game written specifically for the Wii. One of the most polished games on the Homebrew Channel, great menus and background music. Single or 2 player. Easy game to learn. 10 out of 10.

Link: wiibrew.org/wiki/Mahjongg_Wii

C-Dogs

C-Dogs is an arcade shoot-em-up which lets players work alone and cooperatively during missions or fight against each other in the "dogfight" deathmatch mode. Many missions, various was to customise the charactor and multiple types of guns. Reminds me of true Lies on the SNES. 9 out of 10.

Link: wiibrew.org/wiki/C-DogsSDL

Flying Saucers

A simple 2D space shooting game. in which you shoot flying things on the screen with 1 to 4 players. Good game 7 out of 10.
Link: wiibrew.org/wiki/FlyingSaucers

Homebrew Browser

The Homebrew Browser allows you to download the latest homebrew applications and games all through your Wii. You don't need to take your SD card out. You don't even need a computer! You can also delete homebrew you no longer want. 10 out of 10

Link: wiibrew.org/wiki/Homebrew_Browser

I will add more games as I come across them. To see the full list of availiable game view the List of Hombrew games.

Link Item 1458, posted: Mon, 06th Dec 2010 at 10:34 am ,  comment ¹

Playstation Move Sucks Now

written by owen

I am a long time Wii owner and I played Move over at a friends house. I can safely say that its precision is its downfall - yes its precise but if I have to throw my arm out just to get a gold medal on Sports Champions then its not at all worth it! I like may arms, I play video games to avoid REAL sports. I'm a skinny guy, I don't need exercise, how are you going to beat the game if the simplest most redundant moves make you arm tired after half and hour? Why can't I do a horizontal slash?

I've played wii sports resort for eight straight hours, I wouldn't dare try that with the Move. PSMove fanatics need to start telling people their medal status on Sports champions because I don't think they are playing the game for very long.

The on-screen pointer lags abit too and the menu controls for some of the games are inconsistent. I get tempted to point at the screen and click stuff but some game I played had no screen pointer. Oh and another thing, the dam buttons around the move button, I hope people get accustomed to them eventually but they kinda confusing to use during play. Hopefully in the future the software averages out between exercise machine and gaming controler. If you never played the wii before then The move will be new ground for you but for the millions in Wii land; Precision does not equal fun. But right now I give it a 7 for poorly inplemented Wii Clone.

Bottom Line: Playstation Move sucks right now, at least on the software side until some good software comes out. The hardware maybe precise but that is also its downfall.

Link Item 1441, posted: Sun, 17th Oct 2010 at 9:37 am ,  comment ⁵