Nintendo 3DS VS Sony NGP (PSP 2)

Wow... I thought that choosing between Marvel VS Capcom 3 and Dead Space 2 was a tough decision, but I think this one takes the cake.

Usually I rant about Sony VS Micro$oft but today it is Sony VS Nintendo.  Both companies have kicked ass in the portable gaming market.  Nintendo has probably been the dominating force with their history of handhelds: Game Boy, Gameboy Color, Game Boy Advanced and the Nintendo DS.  Sony, while not as experienced in the portable gaming scene, has struck gold with their powerful Playstation Portable.

Both companies have now reached the next generation of handheld gaming:
Nintendo's 3DS which boasts stereoscopic 3D imaging without the need for glasses possibility of graphics that could be as good as the PSP.  (The 3DS has already been out for a few months).

Sony's NGP (next generation portable) which will be released later this year, will have a slew of features and connectivity and the promise of graphics that could almost rival the PS3.

Both handhelds show lots of promise for me as a gamer which makes my decision SO much harder.  Do I save up for a 3DS or do I hold on to that money and save up for the NGP?  Let's compare the two in depth! (most info was obtained and quoted via WikiPedia but have also been confirmed by Ign and other publication).

Sony NGP (Next Generation Portable)

First thing to note about the NGP is that it is still currently in development.  There are probably features yet to be announced.  What I do know is that it will be a powerhouse.  Possibly reaching the kinds of graphics seen on the PS3 which is something the 3DS wont be able to even dream of touching! The console is apparently supposed to be powerful enough to even run a dumbed down port of Metal Gear Solid 4.

Aside from pretty graphics, it will also have a touch screen input (along with the usual Playstation buttons AND sixxaxis controls) and will also have a rear touch pad on the back of the device.  I'm not sure exactly how this will be used in gaming but it has my interest definately piqued.  Along for the ride will also be full PSN connectivity, including trophies, PSN store, etc. 

Also, the NGP will feature a front and rear camera, possibly adding the possibility for augmented reality games similar to Invisimals.

That all kicks supreme ass but there might be a few negatives. 
-First obvious negative will probably be the price.  No price has been officially announced but it is safe to assume that it won't be cheap.  Considering all the powerful hardware being packed in, I would be willing to bet that it will cost somewhere between $300-400. 

-Second negative: The NGP doesn't use UMD discs, which means that it wont be backwards compatible with all your PSP games.  You could re-buy them off the PSN and download them, but that is money you shouldn't have to spend AGAIN.  Actually, this brings me to a possible third negative:
-The games will come out on NVG cards (similar to flash cards).  It has been confirmed that some of the space on the game cards will be reserved for save data, patches, etc.  This might mean that Save data might be exclusive to the game card and lack the ability to save to an HDD for easy transfer or back up.  I also haven't found any evidence online to confirm whether or not there is even a SD card slot or even internal memory.   I hope that these fears are denied.  I am hoping that there is expandable memory and that saving to the NVG card is simply an option to save memory on the SD cards or internal drive.  Fingers crossed!

Nintendo 3DS

Good ol' Nintendo.  Every time I start to think that there is no way you can do anything else different, you prove me wrong.  First it was the Power Glove with it's motion sensing capabilities.  Than there was the Nintendo DS with it's Dual Screens, one of them touchable.  Then you raised the bar with the Wii's motion sensing for gaming.  Just when you think they are out of ideas, not only do they show you a new idea but it is also new technology: 3D gaming without the need for glasses.  That is CRAZY and obviously the main selling point for the 3DS.

3D aside, the 3DS has a slew of somewhat gimmicky but super awesome functionality! 
-Augmented Reality with the front and rear cameras
-Backwards compatibility with virtually all DS games (I say "virtually" because like unlike the first model of the DS, there is no GameBoy advanced port.  So any DS games that require the use of that port will obviously not work).
-Like with the Nintendo Wii, you will be able to create Mii's for your 3DS.
-There is a cool feature called Street Pass and spot pass.  In short, it allows you 3DS to connect to other 3DS consoles and even WiFi hot spots while the system is in sleep mode possibly downloading data automatically to the console.  For more info go here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_3DS#StreetPass_and_SpotPass_Mode
- The 3DS also suppors video content.  Apparently deals have been signed with the likes of Warner Brothers and Disney to deliver 3D movies to the 3DS in the future.

Now, the most exciting feature for the 3DS which is scheduled to be released early next month via an software update, is the Virtual Console Service.  "Why is that exciting?" you ask.  Good question!  I mean, the Wii already has a virtual console service that allows you to play classic games on your TV!  Well, that is true.  However, the Wii has classic CONSOLE classics for you to download.  The virtual console service on the 3DS will feature classic handheld games from Gameboy Color and even some classics will be in 3D.  It hasn't been confirmed whether or not GBA games will be released but one can only hope.

Honestly, I can't think of many negatives with the 3DS but there are a few in my opinion:

-First off (and this is a more of a personal issue which may not apply to everyone) but the glasses-less 3D effect may not be compatible with my eyes.  Your eyes must be capable of taking a separate image from each eye and blending them together.  People like me, who has an eye that dominates over the other might not be able to see the 3D effect.  So I might have to turn off the 3D effect which is possible thankfully.  Still unfortunate...  Also, most people have apparently reported eye strain because of the 3D effect but it doesn't last forever and you get used to it.
-Second Negative is still the price for me (I guess I am a cheapskate).  At $250, it is still fairly steep.  But its better than whatever the NGP is probably going to be.
-I guess if you are a graphics junky, a third negative would be the graphics.  While significantly better than the DS, it wont compare to the NGP in terms of power.

Oh, I forgot one positive about the 3GS: They are releasing a remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time!!!! That almost makes any argument invalid. 

Anyway, regardless of an Ocarina of Time remake, I am still very conflicted.  I obviously want BOTH of these but that isn't really possible in the foreseeable future.  Even saving up for one of them is going to be tough.  The question is, "Which one will it be?"

I love Nintendo!

Anyone who reads my blog may ask: "You seem to rant a lot about Plastation and Xbox but where is the Nintendo love?"

Well, it was probably because Nintendo doesn't really participate in the console war that I like to debate about.  Here are a couple of facts about Nintendo: They are behind the competition in sales and I freaking love them un-conditionally!  Nintendo wasn't the first in the video game industry but in my opinion it is the first important one!  It was really the NES (Nintendo entertainment System) that started worldwide popularity of videogames and of course my ever lasting love for video games.

The first game I ever played was Duck Hunt.  My Dad gave me the gun and before I knew it I was a serial duck killer.  I was good at it, too!  Then I started with Super Mario Bros (which was included on the Duck Hunt cart).  I was hooked!  I loved every game I played.  Whether it be Mario, Zelda, Metroid or even Robin Hood... Each game transported me to a world within the shoes of these amazing characters.  I have many memories with Nintendo.  I can name at least ten of my favorite moments in my time playing Nintendo:

1. As mentioned above, I can never forget my first time playing a video game.  In fact, it is the earliest time in my life that I can remember vividly without the aid of photographs.  The fact that it was my first time and I got really good at it fast, made me really happy.
2. How can I ever forget the first time I fininshed a videogame?  I was probably around 4 or 5 when I first finished Super Mario Bros on the NES.  It was shortly after I started playing games.
3. My next favorite Nintendo memory comes from beating Metroid on the NES.  Not because of the acomplishment of beating the game.  But actually because of the suprise when I found out at the end that Samus was actually a female when she removed her helmet.
4. Playing Double Dragon on the NES with my brother.  It was always a riot because we spent most of the time beating on eachother, rather then our enemies.
5. ***possible spoilers*** Three words:  Metal Fucking Gear (or just Metal Gear for short).  This was the first game to actually immerse me in the experience and trigger actual emotions.  The story was gripping and full of twists that always had me guessing what was around the next corner.  When I found out that the person behind the terrorist plot was none other than your commanding officer, blew my mind all over the place.  
6. ***possible spoilers*** This one brings me to one of my favorite games to this day: Super Metroid.  A huge game with a ton of secrets and an ending that was nothing short of amazing!
7. Travel about 8 years into the future after the release of Super Metroid and out comes Metroid Prime on the Game Cube.  A game which changed the classic 2D exploration into a fully 3D world, experienced in the first person behind Samus' visor.  This game (which eventually turned into a trilogy) are some of the best games ever made!
8. When I heard that the Metal Gear Solid game (formerly released on the PSX) was being remade on the Game Cube under the title: Metal Gear Solid Twin Snakes, it was all I thought about untill it came out.  And it was still all I thought about for months after it was released because I could not put the game down!  With new cutscenes, graphics and re-done voice work, this ranks up there with my favorite games of all time.
9. One cool moment in my history with Nintendo was when I entered a Super Smash Bros Brawl tournament.  EB Games was packed with spectators.  With Link as my character, I wiped the floor with all the other players.  During one round even, my two opponents BOTH chose Falco and tried to take me down.  They both failed! People were even cheering for me!  It wasn't untill the final round when a Korean guy totally whooped my ass with Kirby...  So even though I didnt get to proceed to the next tourney, I won a sweet T shirt and was satisfied with 2nd place and the amount of fun I had!
10. My last favorite memory I can remember is playing Twilight Princess for the first time.  I waited forever for them to release a TRUE succesor to Ocarina of Time and I wasn't dissapointed!  I was treated with an amazing and epic game! 

It wouldn't be too hard to think of 100 awesome Nintendo memories but I don't want this blog to be TOO long :)

I will admit that I am not as much of a Nintendo gamer thes days, though.  A few of my favorite videogame series such as Metal Gear and Final Fantasy jumped ship for Playstation.  My gaming horizon expanded to the next gen consoles (PS3 and Xbox360).  With Nintendo's lack of quality 3rd party support and the rare first party masterpieces, I regret to say that my Wii is a dust collector...

However, as rare as they may be, Nintendo finally releases a Nintendo exclusive which is nearly always followed by a gaming experience UNMATCHED by the competing consoles.  Whether it be Mario, Zelda or Metroid.  Rest assured, shortly after those Nintendo exclusives hit the shelves, it becomes the PS3's turn to collect the dust.

Nintendo for the WIN!

-Jonathan Valor

What's the big deal with Exclusivity anyways?

I am about to rant about something that I used to be very guilty of: Bragging about a video game's console "exclusivity".  I would like to brag to an Xbox exclusive player that they will never get to experience games like Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone or the Uncharted series.  I guess in a way it made me feel more "elite" or "rewarded" that I got to play these masterpieces only because I dropped the cash on a Playstation 3.

But then I started to ask myself: "Really, what is the big deal about exclusivity?".  I remember back in the Playstation 2 days when games like Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X first came out.  Those games were mind blowing!  I remember how excited I was to talk to some of my friends about these games.  However, a lot of my friends could only envy as they only had an Xbox or a Game Cube at the time.  They wanted to play the games I've been playing so badly but were restricted by the console they were using.

The reason I got to thinking about exclusivity is because of how much I LOVE some of these Playstation exclusives.  If I love these games so much, why would I want only select players to enjoy them?  The whole WORLD should be able to enjoy these games regardless of console.  That is why I am glad that some of my favorite series have broken away from Playstation exclusivity.  Games like Final Fantasy XIII and the Devil May Cry series have now been available for more people to play.  Other examples include Bioshock and Mass Effect 2.  At one point or another, these series were only available (console wise) on the Xbox.  However, they have been ported to the PS3 and I couldn't be happier about it!

My point is, there should be no whining if your favorite games are no longer exclusive to the console you own.  We should be happy that the games we love will be loved by more people than ever.

I am glad that Devil May Cry 4 and Final Fantasy were released on Xbox just as I am glad I got to play Bioshock and Mass Effect on my PS3!

-Jonathan Valor

( I should probably remind everyone that Final Fantasy wasn't always a Playstation exclusive franchise! )