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News Mailbag - Issue 7
Mailbag - Issue 7
Curious about some release dates? What's the deal with Hideo Kojima and the DS? Find out more inside.
For starters, I wouldn't call 2006 the year of the PSP. Just take a look at the wonders we got this year: Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime Hunters, the DS Lite. Most likely the new Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and many, many more. Back on topic, Metal Gear Solid. I agree that Metal Gear will most likely face a release on the Sony PSP. Seeing as the original Metal Gear game for the Game Boy Advance was cancelled after a pretty nice beta-version of the game, I believe there's little chance to ever see a Metal Gear game on the GBA or Nintendo DS. Perhaps Kojima is simply not regarding the Nintendo handhelds as a suitable platform for a Metal Gear game.
Little Mathletics:I agree with Dennis - 2006 is hardly the year of the PSP. I realise we're a DS site, and have a certain amount of bias, but I think the PSP has very much missed the chance to catch the DS, despite its strong start. Personally, I'm not sure we are seeing many AAA titles. Sure, there's a few nice looking ones, but nothing of the caliber that we've seen on the DS lately. I'm sure E3 will reveal all, as always.
Anyway, to answer your question, we've seen Metal Gear Acid 1 and 2 on the PSP, but I think Kojima is focusing his efforts on Metal Gear Solid 4 right now. From what I hear, he's thinking of it very much as a way of tying up loose ends, and is now working on a new game for the Wii, so I'd say if we do see a Metal Gear game - on either system - it won't have much to do with Kojima.
FireGalaxy:Well, I dunno what you mean by "2005" being the year of the DS. Sure, plenty of great titles came out (such as Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Super Mario 64 DS, Advance Wars: Dual Strike, etc.) but I'm predicting that 2006 will be a better year. A really great start with Metroid Prime Hunters and Brain Age: Train your brain in minutes a day, I must say. And now that they're starting to utilize the Nintendo Wireless Fidelity Connection service better I'm sure we will see better use of this feature, like what we saw in Metroid Prime Hunters.
But back to your question, I actually do think Kojima will make a MGS game for the DS. Do you remember when we all thought that there was going to be no MGS for the GameCube, and then came Twin Snakes? I'm sure we'll see a MGS game for the DS sometime in 2006, and if not this year, maybe in early 2007.
Chris:Kojima is very clearly a loyalist of the PS line of systems. Like you said, PSP is getting tons of MG love, and from what I hear, the newest PSP addition isn't even a spinoff, but an entirely new entry in the series. It's strange, since the DS is having such phenomenal sales in Japan, you'd think Kojima would lean towards the DS side, but this is clearly not the case. I'd say chances of MGS DS are low. But I'd love to be wrong
Many publishers haven't revealed their E3 line-up this year, while others are only revealing part of their line-up. If Xenosaga I+II will ever hit the US or Europe, the game will most likely be shown next week during E3. If not, I fear the worst for the fans...
FireGalaxy:Hm... I really don't know about this one. It appears there's been a lack of info for Xenosaga for the DS, but stay tuned. Maybe there'll be more information regarding this game in the future.
Chris:If I recall correctly, Xenosaga games have been more succesful in America than they have been in Japan. So I'd say chances for an American release is likely. Not sure for Europe though.
THQ actually has a wrestling-title in the works for almost a year now, but rumour is that said title has been canned. Perhaps this is one of those titles that'll pop up during E3?
FireGalaxy:There was one... entitled "WWE: Superstar Aggression". Unfortunately, I believe that this game has either been delayed or canned, according to some rumours from not long ago.
Hmm, many titles have been announced and i'm sure many more will be at E3. I'm predicting around 20-25 too. Possibly more.
Little Mathletics:I say 31. 31 is a good number - not only is it prime, it's the third Mersenne prime, the fourth primorial prime, a twin prime (along with 29) and a base-dependent Columbian (or self) number. So, 31.
FireGalaxy:25? Don't you think that's a bit... high? I mean, I think along the lines of 10-15. Even that's stretching it quite a bit. Every game that had the WiFi service so far has had quite a commotion and have been of top notch quality, so I don't think WiFi games will be shoveled out like Online PSP Games. Remember, quality over quantity.
No.
FireGalaxy:Expect a late 2006 or early 2007 release. There hasn't been enough info on this game to predict a launch in the 2nd or third quarter of 2006 (just like Xenosaga). But stay tuned, maybe there will be more info at E3.
Matt:Nope, sorry about that.
I would reword that sentance if I were you. And I havn't heard of a American FMA release date for DS yet.
FireGalaxy:There is no current release date scheduled for the US version of Full Metal Alchemist for the Nintendo DS Handheld Gaming System. Stay tuned, though.
As a PC developer myself, I can't say that online is that much hassle to include in your games, since there are many free programs out there that do it for you. I've never worked with the WFC so I couldn't honestly tell you but each game requires you to purchase your own server for online (to my knowledge) modes, which can ramp the cost up a bit depending on the title. Which is one of the deciding factors in including online. But some games just don't suit it, and developers sometimes think that online wouldn't really add anything to gameplay. I mean - I couldn't see Wind Waker being all that great online.
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"Just take a look at the wonders we got this year: Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing, Metroid Prime Hunters, the DS Lite." Mariokart was last year :P
There is no current release date scheduled for the US version of Full Metal Alchemist for the "Nintendo DS Handheld Gaming System". Why in the world did I put Handheld Gaming System? O_O
Get your ass to Wii-x2 for Wario Ware Wii.
"Why in the world did I put Handheld Gaming System? O_O?" I was thinking the same thing, lol. This is DS-x2, not the Wallstreet Journal.
Holy crap ben, thanks for the heads up.
"As a PC developer myself..."? What the hell? Have you even turned 15 yet, Ben? =P
Yup, February. I made myself seem awesome there didn't I? I am working on a game, but meh.
Regarding the first point, Kojima expressed his support for the DS through Boktai DS, telling fans to expect many 'surprises' in a Gamespot interview. His MGS series is much more PS-based as stated (I believe a new Metal Gear tactical game has just been announced for the PSP) but his overall creativity spreads to all the consoles/portables (as evident in not only his DS interest but also his high interest in the Wii). =P Xenosaga-wise, I recollect reading somewhere that Game Informer or EGM reported that Xenosaga I + II was scheduled for a US release later this Fall, although still totally not confirmed. Interesting mailbag overall.
I still stand by the number 25, it's really not that high when we're talking by the end of this year. It's going to be a big year.
I'm the happiest person in the world right now! WarioWare Wii!!! But, great job, you guys. I love to read this stuff every time it comes out. :)
25 online DS games seems realistic if you talk about Japanese titles, since they already got like 13 or something. But for 25 US titles? I highly doubt that. Nintendo makes a seperate section for each game on their WFC website, and anything that is coming in the near future already has the website made up and posted as "coming soon". Personally, I expect to see about 3 more US online titles for the DS this year.
25 is a bit of a stretch, but at the same time I think 3 is a vast understatement. Also keep in mind that a ton of games UNEXPECTED to have online play have been announced to have online, like Zelda: PH and FFIII. Others could follow suit.
"I'm not sure we are seeing many AAA titles. Sure, there's a few nice looking ones, but nothing of the caliber that we've seen on the DS lately." I agree with that statement. Though the PSP has plenty of outstanding titles (don't correct me, bias bastards), there plenty of DS games coming out this year that interest me. Also, the DS is expanding their RPG library with tons of online RPGs, which the PSP lacks. Also, I was the one who posted that question :|
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