Pokemon X/Y Announced! (Looks good this time!)

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Nintendo Direct Link Here (Juicy bit starts here)

It actually looks like an improvement! At least, the Pokemon models are now animated and the world is presented in a more "behind the player" perspective. (I skipped the Black & White series precisely because it looked like it was exactly the same as the previous generations, although I keep hearing good things about the story)

Hopefully, they've listened to me and let you pick your adventures, so you can let the Team Rocket Expies do their thing if all you want to do is get gym badges, or screw the Elite Four and just beat on Team Rocket. Or, let me play with my Pokemon however I want even if it means not battling ever. Seriously, they always tease us with "it's a Pokemon world" but no. It's a Pokemon... railroad... that goes up, down, left, and right. :/ It's really just an RPG instead of the promised 'world'.

Anyway! Thoughts! Speculations! And yes, Pokemon Red & Blue (and Gold & Silver) were the best generations. Done that, been there. Let's talk about this as if we've never heard of Pokemon before!

[DankPanties]

If Nintendo had their shit together they'd make a Pokemon MMORPG.  Instead they just keep making the same game over and over again.  I guess because people keep buying the same game over and over again.

Graphically X & Y look improved, but it's just window dressing.

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Hey, at least they're finally giving us window dressing this time and not regurgitated material... In a ways, this could even feel like Pokemon Coliseum but for portable.

Although it seems like movement will still be tile based. If it is, that sucks. :/

And I agree with you, as you can tell from my post. A Pokemon MMO, even if it's confined to the 3DS, would be better than retreading old ground. They seem to be under the impression that people want new Pokemon, however. *sigh*

[granz]

Isn't there already 700 or more PokeMon to catch? I'm beginning to wonder how Nintendo even fits sprites / models for every PokeMon into a single game at this point. As I recall, the first GB games had to be compressed pretty extensively to store data on the original 150, then Gold, Silver and Crystal probably pushed ROM capacity to its absolute limits.

I agree it would absolutely make a good MMORPG. Nintendo stands to make tens of millions of dollars on monthly subscription fees and combined sales. It would also bolster the demand for whatever console Nintendo has developed for that generation, giving them a leg up over Sony and Microsoft.

[SargeSmash]

DS carts are pretty large, though.  Or they can be.  I know the Pokemon games are a bit larger than the usual games on the system.

If Sony doesn't do something to fix Vita sales, though, this pretty much will ensure Nintendo's dominance of the handheld market.  Again.  (Provided they don't lose too much to the iOS / Android market.  I'm coming to the conclusion that tablet gaming is terrible, and I want to see traditional handhelds stay afloat.)

[Garoth Moulinoski]

Tablet gaming is terrible... but somehow, some games for iOS (and Android) actually end up fun. Like Final Fantasy Dimensions, for example.

But I do prefer my proper handhelds, with proper buttons...

[SargeSmash]

I've played through a few things.  I finished Chaos Rings on my iPhone.  But most stuff is terrible.  I'm marginally interested in Dimensions, even though it looks like an RPG Maker game.

[Rhys]

It looks RPG Maker-ish but the game itself is damn fun. I was skeptical about it myself until I played through the first (free) chapter. I'd give it a shot if I were you

[Garoth Moulinoski]

It looks RPG Maker-ish but the game itself is damn fun. I was skeptical about it myself until I played through the first (free) chapter. I'd give it a shot if I were you

It has my recommendation and blessing as well. Play through the free first chapter and see if you like it, Sarge.

Also: Wolfenstein RPG. Good stuff, I swear!! And Sonic & Sega All-Stars racing is great on iOS. There's also a Transformers strategy game (I kid you not) although this one's a little minimalistic.

Oh. And Game Dev Story. It will steal your soul. XD

[DankPanties]

If Sony doesn't do something to fix Vita sales, though, this pretty much will ensure Nintendo's dominance of the handheld market.

Yeah... having Pokemon AND Monster Hunter on the 3DS is a one-two nuclear knockout punch, at least for Japan.

I was excited about the Vita, but its seems already dead in the water.  I've never been excited about the PS3, nor am I excited for the PS4.  It really makes me sad.  I adore the PS1, I still make hot sweaty love to the PS2, and the PSP was a surprise treat.  WTF happened to you Sony?  Oh, arrogance, yeah.

[SargeSmash]

I'm waiting for a price drop and Ys before I even think about a Vita.  I'm sure it's a perfectly fine system, but...  I dunno, it just feels like they don't have a market for it.

The PS3 isn't a bad system at all, actually.  There are a few exclusives that are worth looking at (Uncharted, R&C, MGS4, etc.), and it's pretty much on par with a 360.  They still screwed up launching it so expensive, though.  And the trademark Sony arrogance reared its ugly head, as you say.

EDIT:  I'll see if I can try the first chapter of FF:D.  $19.99 is pretty pricey.

[DankPanties]

I don't have a problem with the Vita from a hardware perspective.  I have a problem with it from a library perspective.  The PSP is chock full of JRPGs and adventure games (my favorite genres), but the Vita... not so much thus far.

The PS3's operating system foibles (long mandatory updates for example) and general lack of astounding exclusives are my problems with it.  And yes, the launch price was utterly ridiculous.  I plan to have a slim PS3 someday, but I would buy a 360 long before then.