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C3 Special | Idiots's Guide: The Nintendo DS

on 20.09.2005 at 15:21 User Icon

Posted by Adam Riley (jesusraz)
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Idiot's Guide: The Nintendo DS
Everything you could want to know about the system�

Article by Adam Riley < jesusraz :: Sub Editor :: Head Writer >

Good day to you sir/madam...

This particular edition of the continuing Cubed� Idiots Guide series is rather a special one, focusing on the new portable system on the market, the Nintendo DS. This new device is quite alien to many in both the Gaming Industry, as well as in general gaming circles and since it is due to be the Third Pillar of the Nintendo Empire, it is imperative that we all understand how to get the best out of it. With so many different features included in the Nintendo DS hardware, supplementary to the Dual Screen functionality itself, it needs to be understood just how the strengths can be maximised by developers and enjoyed to the highest degree by us, the gamers of the world. But how do you go about making a game of such stunning perfection that it would burn the eyes of any person stupid enough to ignore its majesty.

Adam Riley < jesusraz ~ Sub Editor :: Head Writer >

Many will not quite realise this, but the DS part of the Nintendo DS actually stands for �Dual Screen� due to the nature of the system with its vertical twin-LCD display set-up. This opens up a whole new world of gaming that could never have been fully realised on just a single screen. But just how can the various genres of games be transported over to this new visionary system in a worthwhile fashion? Well, why not let us take a look at what the system has to offer first. Nintendo�s idea for the next generation was to provide gamers with something different from the norm. The company strongly believes that gamers are fast becoming bored with the usual run-of-the-mill gaming products and decided to put on its thinking cap to see what might appeal to the current generation, as well as attract those who might have never even considered playing computer games in their life for various reasons:

Two Screens: So the final idea was to put in two three-inch screens, vertically placed one upon the other, complete with a lovely backlight to ensure games can be played even during those pesky electrical blackout situations�

Touch Screen Input: Then another of the primary inclusions in this new platform is that of a touch screen panel as the secondary screen on the lower part of the DS. The user now has the opportunity to actually input their movement and choice selections without the need for the usual digital controls.

Microphone: Located near the base of the portable is a little indentation that houses a sensitive microphone device that can pick up the sound of voices, tapping or clapping. Interaction with games is something Nintendo believes will revolutionise the Industry and this is key to that vision.

Wireless multiplayer: Portability is restricted when it comes to multiplayer fun, what with the constant requirement for various different cables all the time, removing some of the freedom related with handhelds. This issue has been wiped out now thanks to the wireless nature of the DS.

One Game Sharing: Just as with the cable issue, needing each gamer to own a copy of the game you want to play in multiplayer was not always feasible due to the cost effectiveness of the whole thing. But now only one person needs a DS media card to be able to have the pleasure of enjoying the experience with several friends.

Demo Sharing: Wondering just how good someone�s game is, but not wanting to lose their cartridge when borrowing means that many just miss out. Now, though, demonstrations of games can be downloaded from another person�s copy. The amount, though, depends on what has been programmed in by the developer.

Wi-Fi Networking: Multiplayer with people nearby might be all well and good, but just how can we cope with the fact that Sony and Microsoft owners can be online all the time? Simple � when you are near a Wi-Fi hotspot you will soon be able to play against those around the world. You can even download extras �from the sky�!

Headphone / Headset port: With the wonderful mock-3D stereo sound of the DS, you will be wanting to hear most soundtracks all the time, even in crowded places. So what better than using either your own or the Nintendo earphones? Or even better you should be able to hook-up a full headset to the port next to the headphone one, giving you even more privacy.

Thumb Strap: With such a new style of control mechanic for most games, it will take many gamers a while to adapt and there are those wondering why Nintendo left out an analogue stick. But slipping the tiny plastic strap-pad over your thumb on either hand and moving it over the touch-screen, suddenly it is like your thumb has become the analogue stick!

Stylus functionality: But using this method is not always the favoured one for certain games or programmes, therefore the handy little stylus stick comes in very useful for accurate pointing and clicking. And with various styles of stylus being released to suit user preferences, soon this might prove more popular than the thumb-strap!

Traditional Control Setup: Even with both of the above options, there will still be those who simply do not want to change their ways. So a SNES-like control system has also been included, with a large Digital Pad, A, B, X, Y buttons and two shoulders � R and L. But some games seem to be incorporating the traditional with the new�

Chat capabilities: As a pack-in programme, PictoChat has proven so popular that some are buying the DS solely for that purpose. Being able to quickly write or type a message and then stick a hand-drawn image on as well means that the DS could well be used as a cheaper text messaging device.

Personal Digital Assistant: With the touch-screen it leaves open the possibility of a PDA-style function with easy menu access on the bottom screen and more in-depth detail on the top screen. Suddenly the idea of owning a DS improves, as it can be your organiser as well as your entertainment device.

Translation programmes: Already in the offing is a translation programme that translates between Japanese, Chinese and English. This opens up future opportunities for other language tools that can help with world-wide communication. The possibilities are endless!

Video Playback (DivX Compression): The GBA already has movie playback, albeit about 30-60 minutes of it on the small GBA cartridges, with 90 minutes already being worked on. So the idea of DivX compression techniques being employed to the extra-large DS media cards means that we could be seeing full length films similar to the UMD discs on the PSP.

Music Media Playback: As with movies, the DS can easily handle full music, as has already been shown with the Play-Yan product, which is designed for the GBA but is obviously compatible with the DS. However, with storage of music on the DS cards themselves is definitely not out of the question.

But who exactly will buy such a product? Everything could prove to be so confusing that in the end nobody picks up the portable and it flops when the PlayStation Portable is launched in the West. However, Nintendo is trying its hardest to appeal to the masses and shake off that dreaded tag of �kiddie�. A report over on Video Fenky, though, shows that children in Japan still do not deem the Nintendo DS as being cool, with the PSP coming out as the most popular. But with the future of the system looking extremely healthy in terms of forthcoming software this will likely change drastically over the next few years. Games like nintendogs, Mario Kart DS and Animal Crossing are likely to appeal to both the younger crowds, as well as those of a womanly nature. Then you have darker games, like Metroid Prime Hunters, Splinter Cell, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Another Code that will draw in the casual gamers of the world and regular Nintendo fans in general, as well as PC-orientated titles such as Age of Empires and Zoo Tycoon.

Backing is coming from all over the Industry, but just what could the various companies do to the usual range of genres that are becoming too run-of-the-mill for the average gamer? It would be rather pointless if the same old games were simply churned out without anything special included. For that all you would need a just a plain old Game Boy Advance in all honesty. So let us now move on to have a look at what could be done in the various types of games:

Action: Depending on the type of action game at hand, gamers may be able to use the touch-screen function for a variety of means, such as enemies jump out and you having to tap on them to kill them, or in the case of the upcoming Castlevania title, quickly trace the correct on-screen symbol to trap bosses before finishing them off. The action could become quite intense, relying on a gamer�s fast reactions to make opponents rue the day they challenged you.

Strategy: There have already been rumours floating around about a version of Command & Conquer, but with Age of Empires II and Advance Wars on the way anyway the idea of the Real Time Strategy genre appearing is a reality. Two screens remove the need for many menu screens, splitting the action and stats up for ease of navigation and giving the ability to choose tactics like using a mouse on a PC. Power at the tap of a screen.

Adventure: This particular genre could very well shine on the Nintendo DS, as it encompasses the old classic point �n click PC titles, such as Broken Sword and Monkey Island, as well as what some would call �deeper� games like The Longest Journey, Myst and the Zork series. Nintendo has already gone down this avenue with Another Code and Genki has a similarly inclined detective title in the form of The Masqerade Lullaby. It would appear the DS is perfect for this genre, especially if the quality of Another Code is anything to go by!

Platformer: Yoshi�s Touch & Go takes an on-rails side-scrolling platform title and gives players the ability to draw clouds to determine the progress path. Kirby Canvas Curse takes that idea a step further, being able to send the pink puffball around in loops or dash at enemies to kill them. Mario 64, though, tries to mimic N64 analogue control, using the touch-screen to move the plumber around and initiate his special moves. The possibilities are endless and are already being thoroughly explored.

RPG: Nintendo�s latest Mario role-player, Mario & Luigi 2: Partners in Time has players controlling the characters with the normal D-pad and buttons, but the company is sure to throw in some touch-screen puzzles. However, the big pull is how the two screens are used, with Baby Mario & Luigi being left on one screen, whilst the older versions of the Mario Brothers continue at the bottom. In another example, Lunar Genesis < Dragon Song in the US > opts for main menu data appearing on the lower screen, with the option of touch-screen character control by tapping around the edges of the screen. Curiosity surrounds what Square Enix has planned for titles such as Slime Quest 2 or the remake of Final Fantasy III from the NES�

Beat-�em-up: This type of genre has yet to burst onto the DS scene just yet, but with Jump Superstars and Guilty Gear on the way, it will surely be no time at all until some others, such as Smash Bros, Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur or Street Fighter make an appearance. Now, with these games, the best way to control them would be the standard D-pad / buttons combination, but there is definitely room to include a couple of voice-activated special moves or touch-screen combos to spice matters up, but using your fingers, not the stylus. It will be interesting to see how developers tackle this�

Puzzle: Zoo Keeper has had players tapping adjacent panels to switch them over, Mr Driller involves digging away at blocks beneath your feet and Polarium requires lines to be drawn all over the screen in order to flip them to the same colour. The DS is a puzzlers� dream, with games like Meteos on the way and even Pac-Pix, where players must draw the yellow one to make him come alive - ingenious!

Racing: There have been various attempts at this game type already, with Ridge Racer DS� touch-steering wheel being rather disastrous and Need for Speed�s car paint shop and nitro control both proving to be intriguing additions. But it will likely be in titles like Mario Kart where the touch-screen will come in most useful for firing weapons. Or perhaps voice commands could be inputted in either serious or cartoon racers for specific moves or turns.

Shoot-�em-up: The biggest shooter that is coming out at the moment is Shin�en�s Nanostray, a vertical space adventure that pushes the DS to its first generation limits and uses the touch-screen for item selection. However, there is also the FPS/FPA side, such as Metroid Prime Hunters, where the touch-screen could be used for mouse-like control, tapping to jump or dragging the cursor to aim your fire better. Nintendo is bound to set the standard here, and if done correctly, Duke Nukem, Quake and Doom could see their way DS-wards very soon.

Sport: Being able to draw out your own set-plays in titles such as Madden NFL will now become a reality, or quickly work out your tactics and player positions in football (soccer) simulations thanks to the touch-screen. In fact, using two screens as well, you could possibly be playing along and change the way you play �on the fly�. In tennis players could use the touch-screen to put spin on a serve or control the speed of a return depending on how far you move the stylus across the screen.

Simulation: We have already seen The Urbz and there is the forthcoming The Sims 2 coming to the DS as well. But the traditional Sim City from Maxis or Theme Park would work as well as their PC counterparts as the stylus is fast becoming as user-friendly as a mouse. In fact, that is likely the reasoning behind Zoo Tycoon coming to the dual-screen portable this year � ease of control is the key factor here.

The Nintendo DS is not intended to be solely for one market group. Nintendo has gone on record as stating that it is not an �OR� company, more of an �AND� one. Therefore, this means that as opposed to creating videogame products that are aimed at one particular group OR another, Nintendo tries its best to manufacture creations that encompass as many different groups as possible. The question is, though, does this approach alienate some of the market that relies on certain genre of games?

Pre-teens: The younger sector is something that many companies focus on, especially the likes of THQ and Buena Vista. There is a reason behind this and that is parents are easy targets. Get a child excited about certain games and you can be sure that come Easter, Christmas or any other event such as birthdays, said game will be snapped up in an instance! The best way to get children gripped is to tie-in with a popular movie franchise, such as Disney Pixar or Dreamworks movies such as Monsters, Inc or Shrek. And the key is also to keep the games relatively simple so that they do not get too stuck or bored and ultimately give up completely. Therefore, basic platformers or cartoon racing games are suitable. However, less use of the touch-screen might be best in this case, taking advantage of the two-screens, microphone and wireless multiplayer aspect. After watching my little brother eat his way through the wrist strap and several styli, I think it best to stick to regular controls for this age group!
Teens to mid-20s: This is definitely one of the core market groups, grown-ups that can buy multiple systems and several games every few months. There is a lot of money available in this sector, so trying to get the right sort of game out there is imperative for success. �Nothing cute, please, we are adults� should be a catchphrase emblazoned in the minds of any developer making games aimed at this market sector. If you are going to do a platform title, then it had better be dark like the Jak or Ratchet & Clank franchise, or if it the adventure route then make sure it is mature, rather like Tomb Raider. First-person shooters like the forthcoming F.E.A.R for the PC from Sierra or Halo go down a treat, as being able blast away at the enemy or even your friends is a joy to some. Light-weight RPGs tend to appeal to these gamers-on-the-go, but stick to sports (Pro Evolution Soccer), racing (Ridge Racer), or pure action games with an adult twist (Grand Theft Auto) and you certainly cannot go too far wrong! Yet, as spotted in Japan, the �Gentle Brain Training� version of the Brain Games series does appeal as well�

Older market: Once you hit a certain age, suddenly it becomes un-cool to even pick up a games controller, which is quite a sad situation really. I, for one, do not see myself losing my love of certain genres as I grow older. In all honesty, perhaps I have changed my tastes somewhat, moving toward adventure and role-playing games more than instant action fighting and racing games. However, I certainly do not mind dropping back into my younger years to knock back some other genres, but that is probably because I fit into the previous category. Older folk tend to be more enamoured with Retro Collections that remind them of their �golden years� (Pac Man, Pong, Tetris) or as Nintendo has now found out, Brain Games. Testing the power of the brain using the DS has proved to be very sales-worthy in Japan and the response from Europe testers so far has been more than impressive.

Female gamers: Now this is seen to be one of the most awkward markets to crack, purely because the general consensus is that women do not like to play videogames very much. However, the alarming figure of Pink GBA SPs sold in Europe alone, with one quarter of all SP sales in the UK being attributed to the Pink SP, shows that there is interest out there, it just needs to be tapped into. Demographic studies have shown the nintendogs on the DS has already expanded the female market in Japan and popular favourites include the likes of Mario Kart, Harvest Moon and Sim City (not incessant amounts of Barbies titles!).

Quick Tip: When bringing out games that appeal to individual sectors, it is always best to try and think of ways you can make the same game appeal to wider audiences as well. Nobody likes too much favouritism, after all, as it just breeds contempt.

When initially brought to the attention of gamers around the world, Nintendo stated that the DS was not meant to be in competition with any other system currently on the market or due for release in the near future. That meant that the Game Boy Advance and GameCube were to be exempt from the pressures of this new Nintendo hardware. The Nintendo DS quickly became tagged with the label of �The Third Pillar of the Nintendo Empire� and was in no way a successor to the GBA (currently under the separate code name of Game Boy Evolution) and certainly would not be going head-to-head with Sony�s first ever foray into the portable world with the PlayStation Portable. But how could a new introduction to the marketplace not have any adverse affect at all?

Nintendo GameCube: The GameCube had the right foundations to take on Sony head-on, whilst keeping Microsoft firmly at bay. The initial launch of the platform was a resounding success, despite the lack of a true Mario game on Day One, instead having Luigi�s Mansion. But now, over three years later, things are looking dire for the platform � first of all Zelda: Twilight Princess has been delayed into 2006, meaning that the major hope for Christmas has just flown right out of the window. Then, on top of that, a recent article in trade magazine MCV discussed the issue of rapidly disappearing shelf space in stores like GAME. With the release of the DS, suddenly everything became more cluttered and the fight for space more vicious. And now with the DS due to have its first Christmas, the PSP doing the same and the XBOX 360 launching in November, in addition to the fact that Zelda has gone for the moment, there is little hope of seeing much in the way of GC coverage in smaller stores.

Game Boy Advance: The baby handheld system is not going anywhere any time soon. Many thought that Nintendo would not be able to keep interest alive in it once the DS hit the streets, but against all expectations the SP has continued to thrive. If anything, the SP has been regularly out-selling the DS in North America throughout 2005. But there is also the new factor of the Game Boy micro that was unveiled at this year�s E3, a much smaller, sleeker iteration that is being aimed at a currently untapped market of gadget and gizmo nuts who rush out and buy the latest technology in the form of mobile phones, portable digital assistants or even geographical positioning systems. The micro launches worldwide between September and November and Nintendo is forecasting sales of four million by March 2006. Do not underestimate the power of a platform that has a userbase equivalent to the PlayStation 2 and a back catalogue of titles that far out-strips Sony�s hardware.

Quick Tip: Thinking that there is not enough room on the market for various systems is just purely narrow-minded. However, in the same breath it must be remembered that shops are only so large, therefore trying to get on the right side of retailers so that your promotions actually get noticed by passers-by is a clever idea.

One aspect that can never, ever be forgotten about is that of publicity, both to the mainstream audience and to those loyal fans who stick by companies no matter what happens. That is why Nintendo went all out trying to promote the Nintendo DS around the world and is still doing so at this moment. Initially there were clever touch-centric advertisements from the Leo Burnett group, with an example being somebody breathing on a window and then drawing a smiling face with their finger. These showed the public just how serious Nintendo was about pushing the DS as a system like no other � the result? A lovely million units sold with a snap of a finger! Following this up, in December 2004, just one month later, the Japanese adverts with popular J-Pop sex kitten Hikaru Utade dancing around, wandering up to the DS and gentle touching it with a very cute smile on her face, all being done to the background tune of her very own song �Easy Breezy� had their effect. These schemes captured the Japanese otaku�s imagination straight away and assured Nintendo of a cool one million sales within a short space of time. Finally, starting in February 2005, the European campaign came into effect, with Dutch group Jung von Matt taking the reigns this time to tell a story of a boy who finds power in his index finger.

Quick Tip: Special events are always a great way of raising awareness, as is providing a free bar. There is nothing better than whetting the whistle of eager journalists to get a good write-up the day (or week, depending on how their memory was effected by the intoxication�not talking from personal experience, honest!) after.

But initial marketing schemes are not going to maintain that all-important momentum that keeps systems like the PlayStation 2 in the upper echelons of the gaming world. Getting celebrities to plug a console is a quick way to raise awareness, with a Paris Hilton pink DS in North America and getting Avid Merrion�s �The Bear� character to sponsor the DS for example. Making sure that the system is plastered all over the television, magazines and even cinemas means that people simply cannot miss the new console and as soon as a new game of interest hits the streets then off they will trot to the shops!

Coming up with ideas for the Nintendo DS may seem quite easy without sitting down and really giving it some hard thought. But as soon as you do take time to ponder over the future prospects, you suddenly realise exactly how developers must have been feeling when they first had the DS thrust in front of them � frustrated and confused. Not only are there the two screens, but one of them is touch-sensitive and there is a microphone there for use. So exactly how do you go about trying to make something work properly? Well, here are some possible future ideas:

Art programmes: There is a plentiful supply of art packages for PCs, but on consoles the closest alternative was always Mario Paint on the SNES, which had to be bundled with a special mouse. Then along came the ill-fated disk drive for the N64, the 64DD � for which various different products were underway. These were far superior versions of what was available in Mario Paint, with one particular edition letting you create models that could be placed in other games. Now, on the DS, there is the chance to input your own drawings via the touch-screen, piecing together three-dimensional characters straight from out of your imagination

Language inputting / translation: The Japanese have already been lucky enough to have a Japanese-English translation assistant released on their shores, selling in a decent quantity for such a non-title, but the possibilities are clearly endless around the world. Imagine a range of European programmes that act basically the same as sites such as Babel Fish and other online translators, but prove to be more reliable with direct translations. How useful would it be to pop over to France, Spain or Germany and have the power of multi-linguistics at your finger?

Voice command titles: Talking to your Nintendo DS might get you some crazy looks from people on the bus, train or tram, but when in the comfort of your own home then it can actually be lots of fun. Just think about driving games being played online, one friend could shout out the directional commands to a mate in another country who is driving around a tricky course. Or like in nintendogs, having characters or animals react to your voice commands gives a great feeling of power. �Mario, jump! Good plumber��

Virtual caring: As previously mentioned, nintendogs is already a reality, making the caring of a dog more fun than it has ever been! And already there is talk of other similar products, with Nintendo in the planning stages of a cat version and Cubed��s readers suggesting an entire zoo version. In fact myself, Claire Stocks-Wilson and Alfred Hermida came up with the idea of NintendArk, a popular spin of the Noah�s Ark theme, having to go round collecting two of each animal in your world and look after them on your NintendArk�See how ideas just start to flow easily?

Point �N Click: Cing�s Another Code: Two Memories is one of the most moving, in-depth, brain-teasing and refreshingly innovative titles in the adventure genre that I have played in a long time. However, the buck should not stop there, as a wealth of opportunity is available for developers. Sales of Broken Sword on the GBA were higher than expected in the UK according to developer Revolution, with stock completely selling out. However, Broken Sword 2�s proposed GBA release never happened. Therefore, the idea of bringing it to the DS would not be out of the question. The same goes for any point �n click adventures, with people already creating a DS emulator to play the Monkey Island series on the portable. Developers should jump on-board quickly to fulfil the demand�

Real Time Strategy: Unlike the Point �N Click side, developers have already launched themselves onto the DS with Real Time Strategy titles. Key examples are Age of Empires II, Nights of War Songs and Egg Monster Hero, but unfortunately the initial rumours of Command & Conquer were dismissed as pure hearsay, yet the series would work far better than it did on the Nintendo 64. The same goes for Starcraft, which whilst okay on the N64, would benefit greatly from the extra DS power, dual-screens and touch-screen. The hardware is there, developers just need to be more aware of it!

Rhythm-based games: We have already seen Band Brothers and Ouendan come out on Japanese shores, but so far neither have made the move to the West (although the former is still rumoured as being touted). However, something like Donkey Konga could work seamlessly on the DS, with the touch-screen being used to test the reactionary element and the microphone for either singing into or clapping.

Trying to make sure that the greatest audience finds out about the system is imperative and if it is the non-gaming circles that are to be enticed, then some heavy thought must go into where and when you advertise. For instance, the PlayStation Portable was plastered all over the walls of the Underground in Japan prior to its launch. Now whilst this is not just attracting the attention of people stood around waiting to travel in general, the important fact is that ANYONE can enter the Underground, because ANYONE will want to travel at some point. Therefore, automatically you would be bringing your product to the attention of the masses.

Quick Tip: Showing footage of games is all fine and well, but it must be in moderation. People do not always care about what games are available, more what the thing is that they are going to be buying. Nobody wants a cumbersome, headache-inducing Virtual Boy now, do they? Try to achieve the right balance.

One way of working the crowds is to do nationwide game tours, where people can easily get their hands on the latest hardware and software or through a large pre-release conference to get the Press so excited that they will be singing the praises of the new system for many a month afterward. Nintendo�s Paris Conference was a good example of this, whereas E3 2005 was not quite as successful. Teaser campaigns work extremely well in addition, such as the recent Nintendo Wi-Fi ones from North America with a foreign guy sat eating a banana, throwing the skin on the floor and the scene quickly cutting to downtown USA where suddenly the cars start to skid all over. So not only does this hint at the worldwide playable factor, but nudges at Mario Kart fans all over.

Quick Tip: Simply paying various magazine publications to get the highest scores for each new game release is not always going to work. There are far too many websites around nowadays that do not get a sniff of anything free in terms of bribery, so will just air their downright honest opinions and make other publications look rather foolish for being too sheep-like. The key to getting all round high scores and sales? Make an innovative game that plays better than anything else�It is certainly not rocket science!

In Closing

So there you have it, the Nintendo DS is such a unique system that it will definitely take a while to get the hang of it and developers to get the most out of it in terms gaming product output. But in the short time that it has been on the market, there have been some spectacular releases and announcements for future titles and features that would certainly not be possibly on any other platform. Make sure you stay with C3 to keep up-to-date�

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