Over at Next-Gen, Ben Reich has penned an article on the worst ideas to hit gaming, with two Nintendo creations in his choices. The first, Friend Codes, we can kind of roll with. They're unwieldy, awkward, and let's face it: there are better solutions. Perhaps they deserve to be there, but the DS's microphone? Not so much. See, we quite like the mic. OK, it's not as widely used as other parts of the handheld's unique feature-set, but we're struggling to swallow the argument that it's one of "gaming's worst ever ideas." Not in a world where the Roll & Rocker exists.
Two things seem to irk Reich about the DS's mic: that it can be embarrassing to use in public, and that not enough game developers have used it well. We partially agree with his first point -- e-nun-ci-at-ing "Buh-loo!" into your handheld while on the bus to work would make most people feel like a bit of a nugget. Then again, nobody is forcing you to play such games in public. It's all a question of choosing an appropriate location.
Secondly, plenty of games find a good use for the microphone. Being able to yell "Objection!" just before you start dismantling your rival in the Ace Attorney games is a fantastic touch! Summoning your hound in Nintendogs with a whistle or a shout of their name is equally nifty. My French Coach, which Alisha is covering all this week, makes terrific use of the microphone, allowing users to record themselves, in a bid to achieve greater fluency.
In other words, Mr Reich, we're going to have to politely disagree with you.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-12-2007 @ 9:02PM
Brello said...
One of few parts I really enjoyed in Zelda was when I got to yell "The cake is a lie!" to the person behind the wall, and telling the parts dealer to "go shove it!" Sure, I could have just mildly blown into the mic, but that's not as fun/ny to do in a public setting. Blowing into the mic for mariokart...take it or leave it, it really didn't add anything for me.
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11-12-2007 @ 9:22PM
Jacob said...
Meh, really poor choice on the Microphone. Yes, friend codes are an abomination, but having an unobtrusive extra hardware feature is generally a good thing.
Sure its underused, but when it is used well, it can be great. I'd rather it be there to be used in a good way every once in a while, then not have it there at all. And since it is completely unobtrusive, it isn't like its causing problems. I'm glad its there really, I didn't have to burn 15+ dollars on a headset when Hunters came out.
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11-12-2007 @ 9:37PM
TheCoats said...
where can we send him an angry letter!!.....LOL.......the microphone on the ds is boss!!........why not pick on other things such as......having to buy an adapter to get online to play online games(that shit pisses me off)....a greedy invention!!!.......and why not even the virtual boy......i played that one time for like 4 hours straight(my friend had it)....and for like 2 days i had red blind spots!!!.....i mean really the ds mic has never taken anything out of the gameand isnt sold sepretly.....well you know what i mean....you dont have to buy the headset there is already a mic and c'mon damnit if we play wifi of course we need a mic!!!!!.......and the power glove was BAD!!!!!! yeeah its cool to have one now but really the functionality is horrible (unlike its late great follow up the WII-Mote.......some people!!!!
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11-12-2007 @ 10:01PM
Risingsun said...
The rest of his article isnt any better. To him Backwards Compatibility is a bad idea too.
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11-13-2007 @ 12:19AM
jesus_bon_jovi said...
If it wasn't for the microphone i wouldn't be able to make Voip phone calls with my DS.
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11-13-2007 @ 2:58AM
shaoron said...
start yelling "objection", "Hold it" and "take that" to the writer of that article...
PS.. just don't hyperventilate...
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11-13-2007 @ 5:25AM
charlotte said...
Have you played Ontamarama yet? It is such a shame, it is a wonderful addictive game and I want to play it everywhere. And I could, using headphones, except for the fact that in hard mode you really have to use the blow-in-the-microphone thing that makes you look really strange.
I think the microphone is fine as an addition. I liked it that way in Bomberman. But I wished developers for handheld consoles did keep in mind that we like to play those games everywhere.
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11-13-2007 @ 5:26AM
Fank said...
How ridiculous, memory cards? Handheld to console connectivity? I loved that in FF:CC, that wacky Pac-man game and Four Swords Adventure, and I hope it wil make a return.
Just because something is underused or used in a weird way, doesn't make it bad. What a complete tool.
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11-13-2007 @ 10:42AM
Karga said...
I think that there should always be a choice.
I loved the first Phoenix Wright and would solve crimes and defend the innocent taking the bus home from work each night.
I have the second game but haven't played it yet, because I know I'm going to have to voice my objections over the mic and scare the straights.
I don't mind it at all if I'm playing at home.
I think like Brain Age, you should be able to specify whether you can talk in public or not when you turn the game on.
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11-13-2007 @ 4:08PM
dan stabbingworth said...
Yeah, it's great when I'm sitting on the train (the only place I play my DS) and I'm forced to yell into the mic to even get the boat guy to sell the crane arm. I mean, wtf, it's a portable system.
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11-13-2007 @ 5:58PM
Hame said...
I hate the microphone, particularly blowing on it. Urrghh.... Awful, embarrassing gimmick.
If Nintendo wants me to shout or blow into a games console on a busy train they can take a hike.
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11-18-2007 @ 7:33PM
nintendolover said...
I have played Phoenix Wrights 1&2 and have used the microphone to yell, "OBJECTION" many times. I also like using the microphone for Cooking Mama games.
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