The next gen hand held war (3DS Vs NGP)

[rmoxon]

edit: @rmoxon - NGP does nothing new? Touch screen on a dedicated gaming platform, rear touch panel, biggest screen EVAR! The mainstream media coverage of the 3DS paints it as a device to make your children go blind! If Sony have an sense they'll use that to their advantage during the advertising campaign:

I doubt most of the people buying either handheld care much that the screen is bigger on the NGP. If you hadnt noticed both the DS and 3DS are dedicated games machines and have touchscreens. Having the touchscreen be the same screen that all the gameplay takes place on does not sound like a good thing to me, you might as well play on an ipad/iphone.

The main draw of the NGP for me would be that it has two sticks, but to be honest I cant see the casual market considering the potential of that much either.

I dont really think we need to play full blown console games on handhelds anyway, you usualy need to play games like that for at least an hour at a time to really get into them and I never spend more than 30 minutes at the most on a handheld.

[Brad]

I admit 3D on 3DS is a bigger 'thing' than the combination of things the NGP has. It is getting (rightly or wrongly) some bad press though. Even bad parents aren't likely to want to risk their kids' eyesight as it'll make them even more of a burden than they are already.

*I* want full-blown console games on my handheld. However, I would also like spin-off games that let me level up my character or do side-missions that contribute to the main game on the console IYSWIM?

[abigsmurf]

The launch lineup has been good. Ghost Recon is a brilliant game.

The PSP had better graphics than the DS, that didnt help sell the machine to people. The PS3 has better graphics than the Wii, but it didnt help sell the machine to more people.

I actualy belive the fact that its 3d, and not wether or not the 3d works, is what will sell the system. Even if I still think it should be the games that sell a system.

The NGP does nothing new so the mainstream wont be as interested.

Ghost Recon isn't a console seller. It may be a good game but it's not going to impress the average man on the street enough to run out and buy it.

The PSP is currently doing very well compared to the DS (and 3DS) in Japan. A large part of that comes down to its capabilities. Monster Hunter simply couldn't be done on a DS

[Dogg Thang]

Ten hours at a time? In ONE sitting?

You're way off on some of this. For a start, yes, it's possible to play games in MUCH shorter doses and many of us (possibly most of us) do. Playing meaty console games with the convenience of a handheld will be a huge draw for some gamers. I'm one of them. And while you're saying the casual market may dismiss the dual sticks on the NGP and I think you could very well be right, if there is a perception that the 3DS is simply a DS with 3D, that it is a big problem when it comes to the casual market, who were recently sold DSis and XLs.

[rmoxon]

I admit 3D on 3DS is a bigger 'thing' than the combination of things the NGP has. It is getting (rightly or wrongly) some bad press though. Even bad parents aren't likely to want to risk their kids' eyesight as it'll make them even more of a burden than they are already.

*I* want full-blown console games on my handheld. However, I would also like spin-off games that let me level up my character or do side-missions that contribute to the main game on the console IYSWIM?

I think its really hard to get a cohesive experience when you bridge 2 different peices of hardwhere, its been done in a relativley unsucssesful way before with thiungs like the VMU and the Pocketstation, but even if that type of thing took place on a proper handheld with proper graphics I think most people just wouldnt bother with it.

You also have to consider balance issues, how would that kind of thing work within the framework of the proper game? If they put too much emphasis on using the feature then it would be required to play the game properly where as if it was entirely optional it would end up making the game too easy as youd be leveling up outside of the game.

[rmoxon]

Ten hours at a time? In ONE sitting?

You're way off on some of this. For a start, yes, it's possible to play games in MUCH shorter doses and many of us (possibly most of us) do. Playing meaty console games with the convenience of a handheld will be a huge draw for some gamers. I'm one of them. And while you're saying the casual market may dismiss the dual sticks on the NGP and I think you could very well be right, if there is a perception that the 3DS is simply a DS with 3D, that it is a big problem when it comes to the casual market, who were recently sold DSis and XLs.

I said an hour, not 10!

Personaly I dont see the point in playing somthing like uncharted on a handheld, youd watch the opening cutscene for 15 minutes and then you might end up turning the machine off, you wouldnt even get into the game. I understand that there are games like that on hanhelds now anyway, but the majority arent like it.

Isnt the whole point of handheld gaming that its quick, portable and easy to acsess, so you can "game on the go", you wont be able to do that as well if youre playing more console type games like the ones FSW mentioned.

[Dogg Thang]

Sorry, I totally read 10 there. I had no idea what you were thinking. 1 hour is far more sensible.

[Baseley09]

iPad tbfh.

[Brad]

I'd play 15 minutes of Oblivion at a time! Half an hour at lunch, an hour in bed. Cool.

If Nintendo wanted us to know the 3DS was more powerful than previous incarnations perhaps they could have rendered arms and legs on the Mii characters!

[Hazuki]

The reason i own a DS and 3DS, is that they both provide a host of features, that allow a substantially different experience to the big home consoles. Its one of the reasons why the DS has done so well, and something that Nintendo really understands. Sony however, seem intent on touting the NGP as a "portable PS3", which for me at least, is totally pointless. If i want to play a PS3 then i'll do just that. On a big 1080p screen, with full proper surround sound, proper dual stick controller etc. I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would choose to play the handheld version of a game such as Oblivion, on a tiny screen with tinny sound, when they could be playing the exact same game, in the exact same way, on a far superior home console set-up. You're essentially spending a **** load of money, to have an inferior experience, playing an inferior version of a game, that will no doubt cost nearly the same, possibly even more than the "real deal". Crazy.

[Dogg Thang]

And yet people are still playing Ridge Racer on their 3DS. SFIV. Lego Star Wars. Some are playing Monkey Ball and I think one person even played Rayman 2.

[Brad]

I'll just haul my PS3, 46" TV and a generator to work shall I?

Tinny sound? Headphones
Tiny (5") screen at arm length = same as 32" tv at 6 feet

Yes, it's a compromise. I get that. But I'm on a bus, or a train, or in the park. I have to compromise. What I don't want to do is compromise the actual type of games I play and it sounds like NGP is taking steps toward making that possible. As Dogg says, playing SFIV3D is a compromise, same with Ridge Racer on 3DS.

You don't have to understand why I want to play the likes of Oblivion on a portable device. Just accept that I do.

[Dogg Thang]

And when the compromise is weighed against the convenience, it's well worth it. Would I start playing Bioshock 3 on my PS3, where I may end up not being able to play two days later because the missus is watching Dancing With The Stars? Or on the NGP, where I can play regardless of what is going on or where I am? I'll take the convenience.

[Brad]

Dancing with the Stars? You're lucky mate. Mine's hooked on The only way is Essex!

[Dogg Thang]

I have no idea what that is and I'll admit, from the sounds of it, I'm pretty thankful for that.