Alisha Karabinus: I'm having a really hard time seeing past Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. That could be just beyond awesome... and, of course, it could be crap. I guess we'll find out. It's surprisingly missing from the media round-ups I've seen so far. I think I'm surprised by the lack of a redesign, even though I have been against the possibility of it for so long. By now, I just assumed it was going to happen. Of course, it still could!
I'm excited about the Cooking Guide, even though I just got a copy from the UK (thanks, Chris!), and I don't think it's as good as it could be. Still, it's interesting and novel ... but speaking of novel, I'd have rather seen DS Novel. All I can really say about Guitar Hero is that I'm not surprised at all that we'd see another version already.
JC Fletcher: I'm not a GTA person -- I'm that guy, I guess -- but it's certainly good for my "team" (that team being the DS Sales Force). So much of the presentation was about how awesomely the DS is selling, and now we get GTA!
Personally, I was super excited to see Cooking Guide. It looks and sounds exactly like the Euro version, which is good news. Nintendo of America cheaping out on localization means it won't get delayed for too long! Odd that there wasn't any other non-game stuff this time -- or really that much more game stuff! Pokemon Ranger 2, strong Japanese sales notwithstanding, isn't a flagship title. It just isn't!
I was also surprised that Nintendo didn't show some new hardware. But not upset, because I don't want to have to buy anything!
Personally, I was super excited to see Cooking Guide. It looks and sounds exactly like the Euro version, which is good news. Nintendo of America cheaping out on localization means it won't get delayed for too long! Odd that there wasn't any other non-game stuff this time -- or really that much more game stuff! Pokemon Ranger 2, strong Japanese sales notwithstanding, isn't a flagship title. It just isn't!
I was also surprised that Nintendo didn't show some new hardware. But not upset, because I don't want to have to buy anything!
Chris Greenhough: Lamesville, USA, I'm afraid. Whereas the Wii received plenty of love in the form of Wii Music, Wii Sports Resort, and Animal Crossing: City Folk, DS offerings were awfully meager.
GTA: Chinatown Wars was an interesting and surprising announcement, but after that the surprises really dried up. I wasn't exactly desperate for a redesigned DS or anything, but still, where was the North American date for Layton? Or news on DS Novel? Or maybe some connectivity between Animal Crossing: Wild World and the freshly announced City Folk? 4/10, Nintendo.
Dave Hinkle: Okay, seriously? GTA on DS? I'm pretty shocked by that one. JC mentioned that he thought it would be 3D and I'm not so sure I believe that. Still, it's a big AAA title on the DS, which is just what it needs to push it from being a world phenomenon to the most popular thing in all of existence.
Oh, what's this? A new Guitar Hero for the DS? I guess when that bundle sold over 300K in its first week, this is something to be expected. Personally, I'm not too crazy over the first game and doubt this next installment will get me on board. It's pretty interesting that you can share songs, though!
And FINALLY we get Nintendo's cooking guide game! No longer will I be forced to sustain my life on saltine crackers and crumbs from under the toaster. I can't wait to start making some meals!
Phil Larsen: I won't say that the DS lineup impressed me ... it didn't impress me, so I won't say it. By default, the biggest announcement was easily GTA: Chinatown Wars -- Cammie casually let it slip as she went about her business, which made it even more surprising. After rambling on about "core" titles to be unveiled at E3, this is the closest Nintendo came to delivering on a massive name for the DS. Well, Pokémon is a massive name too, but do non-good games actually count?
The lack of New Super Mario Bros. 2 made me a sad panda, and the inclusion of Guitar Hero: Decades shows commitment to the "Yeah, that actually hurts!" portable guitar peripheral. Aside from that, the DS department was lacking -- though I didn't expect much in the first place. Honestly, the DS lineup is incredibly strong as it is, so going all-out at E3 with premature announcements -- just because everyone else is doing it -- simply wasn't necessary.
Candace Savino: Where's my Fire Emblem DS announcement? Sad blogger is sad.
The only DS announcement that even slightly makes up for that E3-sized hole in my heart is Rhythm Tengoku (or as it'll be called here, Rhythm Heaven), and that wasn't even mentioned in the keynote. The rest of it just didn't do anything for me -- no, not even GTA: Chinatown Wars. I'm just not sure yet that the DS is the right platform for GTA (although I'm very, very ready for Rockstar to prove me wrong). As for Guitar Hero? I didn't even get On Tour, so I'm not exactly looking forward to On Tour Decades (and I won't be unless this iteration has a better track list).
GTA: Chinatown Wars was an interesting and surprising announcement, but after that the surprises really dried up. I wasn't exactly desperate for a redesigned DS or anything, but still, where was the North American date for Layton? Or news on DS Novel? Or maybe some connectivity between Animal Crossing: Wild World and the freshly announced City Folk? 4/10, Nintendo.
Dave Hinkle: Okay, seriously? GTA on DS? I'm pretty shocked by that one. JC mentioned that he thought it would be 3D and I'm not so sure I believe that. Still, it's a big AAA title on the DS, which is just what it needs to push it from being a world phenomenon to the most popular thing in all of existence.Oh, what's this? A new Guitar Hero for the DS? I guess when that bundle sold over 300K in its first week, this is something to be expected. Personally, I'm not too crazy over the first game and doubt this next installment will get me on board. It's pretty interesting that you can share songs, though!
And FINALLY we get Nintendo's cooking guide game! No longer will I be forced to sustain my life on saltine crackers and crumbs from under the toaster. I can't wait to start making some meals!
Phil Larsen: I won't say that the DS lineup impressed me ... it didn't impress me, so I won't say it. By default, the biggest announcement was easily GTA: Chinatown Wars -- Cammie casually let it slip as she went about her business, which made it even more surprising. After rambling on about "core" titles to be unveiled at E3, this is the closest Nintendo came to delivering on a massive name for the DS. Well, Pokémon is a massive name too, but do non-good games actually count?
The lack of New Super Mario Bros. 2 made me a sad panda, and the inclusion of Guitar Hero: Decades shows commitment to the "Yeah, that actually hurts!" portable guitar peripheral. Aside from that, the DS department was lacking -- though I didn't expect much in the first place. Honestly, the DS lineup is incredibly strong as it is, so going all-out at E3 with premature announcements -- just because everyone else is doing it -- simply wasn't necessary.
Candace Savino: Where's my Fire Emblem DS announcement? Sad blogger is sad.
The only DS announcement that even slightly makes up for that E3-sized hole in my heart is Rhythm Tengoku (or as it'll be called here, Rhythm Heaven), and that wasn't even mentioned in the keynote. The rest of it just didn't do anything for me -- no, not even GTA: Chinatown Wars. I'm just not sure yet that the DS is the right platform for GTA (although I'm very, very ready for Rockstar to prove me wrong). As for Guitar Hero? I didn't even get On Tour, so I'm not exactly looking forward to On Tour Decades (and I won't be unless this iteration has a better track list).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-15-2008 @ 4:39PM
TheCoats said...
GTA on DS!!!??
wait whats that...
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d5/sleepinschool123/JackThompson.jpg
Reply
7-15-2008 @ 7:33PM
Eleniel said...
NOOOO. That picture! Argh! Those two things do NOT belong together!
7-15-2008 @ 4:54PM
moo said...
they better change "aubergines" to "eggplants" in the localization, those wacky brits!!
GTA:CTW sounds wild.
i think the message for the DS is that they're expanding the breadth of their game offerings and dabbling into the AO-rated end of the pool, as well as moving beyond learning/braintraining and coming with the navi-type apps like Cooking Guide. Wine Sommelier, Bartender DS, and City Tours some time soon maybe, if Cooking Guide sells well?
Reply
7-15-2008 @ 5:01PM
Peter S said...
I'm sure GTA will sell well, but I have to admit that I could care less about it. I'm not really into that whole franchise to start with and am not really interested in it spreading.
I was pretty disappointed by the whole deal - no major announcements to me on anything I really would care about.
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7-15-2008 @ 5:11PM
Jacksons said...
I was about to post, but yours pretty much sums up everything I had to say. Very disappointed.
7-15-2008 @ 7:34PM
Eleniel said...
Same here.
7-15-2008 @ 5:14PM
jsutcliffe said...
I'd love the GTA game to top-down, like the first two. Looking forward to getting more info.
Reply
7-15-2008 @ 5:58PM
Donald said...
I was made a sad panda by the fact that they made a Pokemon game a focus of the keynote, but it was Ranger 2 and not Platinum.
Reply
7-15-2008 @ 10:42PM
Matthew said...
Does anyone else here own the GTA for GBA? It was top-down, and not that great. Hopefully this DS one is a bit more impressive.
Reply
7-19-2008 @ 6:44AM
FSK405K said...
GTA on GBA was a port of GTA 1, which was made long before Rockstar made the series at all popular by making them in 3D and on the PS2.
7-19-2008 @ 8:58PM
Matthew said...
I looked at IGN and it said it was a completely original adventure for the GBA. Takes place after GTA III. I got all that from the synopsis located at the game info page.
7-16-2008 @ 1:16AM
ajwalker said...
The whole E3 was a disappointment, especially when it came to the DS.
I won't repeat what others have said, but the lack of new games announcments for people who have absolutely no interest in any of the GTA franchise was disappointing in the extreme.
I mean, throw us a bone Nintendo. At least try to offer some reprinted special editions, custom colors - SOMETHING!
Reply
7-16-2008 @ 2:15AM
Matdredalia said...
Rhythm Tengoku is being localized? OH HAPPY DAY
GTA? Not so impressed.
I'm actually kind of disappointed with Nintendo :(
Reply
7-16-2008 @ 2:30AM
kyle hyde said...
No soma bringer, No layton 2, no fire emblem, no surprises. Shame of you Nintendo
Reply