As Nintendo introduced its new 3DS handheld during its E3 presentation this year, it placed special emphasis on the number of third-party developers it'd have on board for the device's launch lineup, something of a departure.
In the past, Nintendo's portable devices were viewed as the company's own terrain, geared at first-party fans and casual audiences, with uncertain room in the middle for more traditional third-party developers.
But things may be different now, says JC Connors, studio head at Foundation 9 Entertainment's Griptonite Games, one of the first studios making games for the 3DS. "I think the third-party publishers are taking this a lot more seriously," he tells Gamasutra, as part of today's in-depth feature on 3DS development from his insider's perspective.
"Certainly, the video game market has changed a lot over the last year," he suggests. "You know, a lot of the casual games that really bombarded the DS marketplace have now moved onto other platforms like the iPhone, so I think everyone looks at this as an opportunity to kind of bring something special back to the gamers."
It's not just the vivid 3D that's likely to appeal to more traditional gamers, Connors suggests -- the analog stick also allows for more options on approaching control schemes on the device.
"Everyone looked at the 3DS with just how powerful it was, and the new features, the analog stick and the 3D, as an opportunity to bring almost console-level quality games to this handheld because they could," he says. "On the DS, you really couldn't."
"And that's something that we've learned over the last six months. You can't treat this machine as just a DS plus," Connors continues. "You almost have to treat it like a console, because many of the things it can do are things that consoles can do. So, you know, why not bring a more 'gamer' experience to that platform, if it can do really well with it?"
The full feature on Connors' 3DS perspective and experiences is now live at Gamasutra.
"In the past, Nintendo's portable devices were viewed as the company's own terrain, geared at first-party fans and casual audiences, with uncertain room in the middle for more traditional third-party developers."
Because traditional third party developers always considered handhelds as second-rated devices and only put their third or fourth string teams on them compared to Nintendo who puts their elite teams on them. And afterwards the third parties whine that they're games don't sell because they have to compete with Nintendo's, who puts real effort in it and gets rewarded for it. Waow, who would have thaught, putting in genuine effort ups your chances to get good sales,waow...
Also, casual games moved to the iPhone...because they didn't sell on the DS! Because the industry thinks casual gamers are idiots, so they make idiot games made again, by their third or fourth string teams which again don't sell so they whine again and move their garbage to another platform.
Offcourse now third-parties are practically forced to take the successor of the DS serious. Their stockholders and investors can read sales-charts as well.
"Everyone looked at the 3DS with just how powerful it was, and the new features, the analog stick and the 3D, as an opportunity to bring almost console-level quality games to this handheld because they could," he says. "On the DS, you really couldn't."
"
I really hope, developers and publishers elsewhere don't see it this way, the Nintendo DS offered gaming possibilities, that were beyond that of the competition. The PSP had a faster CPU and a faster GPU and a higher resolution, it was almost up to par with the PS2, so publishers and developers concentrated on bringing the same games to the PSP, that were successful on the PS2. We all know the result, the PSP didn't brought gaming forward, every bit of innovation in the handheld space was created by DS games during the last 5 years.
It amazes me, that developers are still only focussed on the path, that doomed the PSP, if people want to play the games, that are successful on stationary consoles, they buy them for stationary consoles. If you try to emulate this experience on a handheld you will fail again.
When I'm playing a handheld, I don't want to have a console experience. I'm on the go and moving usually. All I want to play is a quick game that can be accessed and shut off easily. I enjoy the idea of having the remake of Orcaina of Time, but I really don't like that its on a handheld. I'd rather play it on a TV in my living room. Playing the Mario minigames on Mario 64 DS was much more convienent at an airport or bus rather than playing the full adventure.
I was very disappointed that Dragon Quest IX was placed on the original DS for the same reason. I wouldn't play it on the go. I'd play it in my living room, right next to what I could have played it on. A console. I know I'm not the only person this way.
He refers in the article to the analogue sticks, this is something, that hasn't anything to do with "console quality", but with "console type" games. The DS wasn't so inferior, as he tries us to believe. The average FPS was possible, as the average racing game, both in a quality, that was above the level of a PS1. For most people this seems to be sufficient, as PS1 games are highly popular on the PSP.
Griptonite is a great DS studio who also handles licensed IP on hand held very well. Good to know they are taking the 3DS seriously.
Not sure if 'more traditional gamers' will ever be playing on a DS, 3D or not. It just doesn't seem likely considering the historicals and other variables. Sony and Apple will have 3D out soon for their hardware so the 3D party is really just beginning IMO.
More traditional gamers already play the DS. Video games can't get more traditional than 2d mario games and then there are all the rpgs that get released on the system. Wow.
Anyway this guy is only looking at one part of the pie as a whole. The 3DS will have all types of games just the DS did. Cooking Mama 3DS will sit right by CoD 3DS just like it does for the DS.
@ Aaron
I think the standby feature on the DS allows any type of game to work on the go. You can play Dragon Quest while on the go then close the DS and pick up where you left off later. Plus DQ IX is really a bad example since it was made to be played on the DS.
Because traditional third party developers always considered handhelds as second-rated devices and only put their third or fourth string teams on them compared to Nintendo who puts their elite teams on them. And afterwards the third parties whine that they're games don't sell because they have to compete with Nintendo's, who puts real effort in it and gets rewarded for it. Waow, who would have thaught, putting in genuine effort ups your chances to get good sales,waow...
Also, casual games moved to the iPhone...because they didn't sell on the DS! Because the industry thinks casual gamers are idiots, so they make idiot games made again, by their third or fourth string teams which again don't sell so they whine again and move their garbage to another platform.
Offcourse now third-parties are practically forced to take the successor of the DS serious. Their stockholders and investors can read sales-charts as well.
"Everyone looked at the 3DS with just how powerful it was, and the new features, the analog stick and the 3D, as an opportunity to bring almost console-level quality games to this handheld because they could," he says. "On the DS, you really couldn't."
"
I really hope, developers and publishers elsewhere don't see it this way, the Nintendo DS offered gaming possibilities, that were beyond that of the competition. The PSP had a faster CPU and a faster GPU and a higher resolution, it was almost up to par with the PS2, so publishers and developers concentrated on bringing the same games to the PSP, that were successful on the PS2. We all know the result, the PSP didn't brought gaming forward, every bit of innovation in the handheld space was created by DS games during the last 5 years.
It amazes me, that developers are still only focussed on the path, that doomed the PSP, if people want to play the games, that are successful on stationary consoles, they buy them for stationary consoles. If you try to emulate this experience on a handheld you will fail again.
I was very disappointed that Dragon Quest IX was placed on the original DS for the same reason. I wouldn't play it on the go. I'd play it in my living room, right next to what I could have played it on. A console. I know I'm not the only person this way.
He refers in the article to the analogue sticks, this is something, that hasn't anything to do with "console quality", but with "console type" games. The DS wasn't so inferior, as he tries us to believe. The average FPS was possible, as the average racing game, both in a quality, that was above the level of a PS1. For most people this seems to be sufficient, as PS1 games are highly popular on the PSP.
Not sure if 'more traditional gamers' will ever be playing on a DS, 3D or not. It just doesn't seem likely considering the historicals and other variables. Sony and Apple will have 3D out soon for their hardware so the 3D party is really just beginning IMO.
Anyway this guy is only looking at one part of the pie as a whole. The 3DS will have all types of games just the DS did. Cooking Mama 3DS will sit right by CoD 3DS just like it does for the DS.
@ Aaron
I think the standby feature on the DS allows any type of game to work on the go. You can play Dragon Quest while on the go then close the DS and pick up where you left off later. Plus DQ IX is really a bad example since it was made to be played on the DS.
I didn't mean to diss the under 15 year old traditional gamers, sorry. I stand corrected:
"I'm not sure if over 15 year old traditional gamers will ever be playing on a DS."
That Cooking Mama and COD reference is super creative btw!