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DS Daily: Ongoing costs
While DS games are mercifully cheaper than software on the home consoles, the sheer volume of must-have titles can make owning the handheld an expensive pastime.So we've got a bit of math for you this morning, to keep that DS Fanboy-reading brain of yours sharp: on average, how much cash do you lavish on your DS per month, in terms of games, accessories, and other DS-related stuff? Is it more or less than you spend on other consoles? Have you just frightened yourself?
DS Daily: Phantasy Star ZOMG
Despite it only existing in scan form, we're already absolutely ga-ga about Phantasy Star Zero, Sonic Team's new online RPG that will use an ingenious, Pictochat-style chat system. If you're as ridiculously excited as we are, then you've probably played one of the glorious Phantasy Star Online titles on the Dreamcast, GameCube, or PC.So today, because we just can (and because we can't think of a decent question), we're opening the floor to Phantasy Star Online chat in general -- feel free to regale us with your favorite memories of previous PSO games, your hopes for the DS version, or, if you want to be a total spoilsport, how the online games ruined the series for you.
DS Daily: Celebrating villainy
Villains: easily some of the most interesting characters in the gaming kingdom, more often or not thanks to their megalomaniacal tendencies, difficult relationships with fathers, and the plain, simple fact that being evil pretty much rules, man. But who's the best bad dude on the DS for you? The devious Don Paolo? The crooked Caulder? The hard-to-take-seriously Bowser?And no picking Dracula. 'Cause we totally just did. Ha!
DS Daily: In the public eye
As portable gaming reaches more and more people, so an increasing number of DSes and other gaming devices begin to appear in public areas. Nowadays, it's perfectly typical to spot at least a couple of gamers on the morning commute to work, or in your local Starbucks.It wasn't always like this. Years ago, this blogger can recall how whipping out a gaming device in public would occasionally prompt odd looks, or even smirks from others. It's not quite as noticeable nowadays, but it does occur now and again, and there are still places I probably wouldn't play my DS -- in a bar, for example.So here's what we want to know: what sort of reactions do you get from playing your DS in public? Where would you still not play it? And are you left frustrated by such reactions, or do you simply not care?
DS Daily: Do you plan on catching this?
Click to embiggen. Pokémon Platinum will hopefully be arriving in the States at ... some point later this year, but until then Nintendo needs to get us in the right frame of mind for parting with our monies. To this end, the company is releasing the above limited edition Onyx DS Lite with Dialga and Palkia art, along with a pile of appropriately themed freebies. Our Pokémon-branded calendar confirms that this is launching tomorrow in the States, so who's picking it up? And has anybody else managed to pick it up early, like jammy DS Fanboy reader Tom?%Gallery-25539%
DS Daily: Revisiting old friends
When was the last time you returned to a DS game that long sat neglected in your collection? (Okay, so the answer to this probably isn't Ping Pals; and if it is, consider yourself a buffoon.)Had you already completed the game in question, or did you purchase it and get immediately sidetracked by something else? Are there any older games you plan to return to in the near future? This blogger is currently on his third trip through the Yggdrasil Labyrinth in Etrian Odyssey (hence this topic) -- I never completed the title in two previous attempts, but I'm determined to not get distracted this time!%Gallery-29310%
DS Daily: 'Is ... that it?'
As gamers, we've all experienced it: the slightly crushing disappointment of finishing that special game, the one we wished was just a few hours longer, or simply more replayable.What was your defining "Is ... that it?" game on the DS? For this blogger, there can be only one: Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Ten hours of glorious puzzling, a charming, twisty storyline, and barely any replay value to speak of (apart from the weekly downloadable puzzles, though it isn't the same!).%Gallery-12504%
DS Daily: License to thrill
In yesterday's edition of Bury the Shovelware, Kaes dug a shallow grave for Sensory Sweep's atrocious game adaptation of Jackass. Nobody here was surprised. Throughout pretty much all of gaming's history, licensed spinoffs of anything -- be they movies, TV shows, comics, or any other non-game property -- have turned out to be utter dreck.There are exceptions to the rule however, and it's those we want to ask you about today. Which license-based games really struck a chord with you and defied your expectations of what a movie/TV show/comic tie-in could offer? We know the DS is short on these, so we'll let you choose titles from the GBA library if you so wish -- such as this, for example.
DS Daily: E3
As the sun sets on another E3, we thought today's DS Daily would be the ideal spot to round up all of your thoughts on the DS-related happenings of the last three days.The biggest news -- insofar that it will probably interest the most people, anyway -- is the announcement of a Grand Theft Auto game for the handheld, a genuine bolt from the blue. Another Guitar Hero is relatively big (if totally predictable) news also, and we were personally delighted by the announcement of Wii-to-DS connectivity for Animal Crossing: Wild World, and the localization of Rhythm Tengoku.What about you? Highlights? Lowlights? Favorite moments? Most shocking omissions? We like numbers, so give the DS's E3 a mark out of ten if you like!
DS Daily: Taking it in
E3 is simultaneously the most chaotic and thrilling date in the gaming calendar, a relentless whirl of news, soundbites, speculation, and even megatons.But how do you, as a reader, absorb it all? Are you the sort of individual who pores over live feeds of conferences and refreshes the DS Fanboy page every ten minutes as the outside world ceases to exist? Or are you a more chilled consumer, the kind who likes to kick back and simply check up at the end of each day? Exactly how much do these gigantic, massively hyped industry events drag you in?
DS Daily: Hitting the streets
My aversion to communicating face-to-face with other people means that I've rarely seen the inside of a bricks 'n mortar videogame store since ... well, since I worked in one last year! I also have a keenness to keep as much of my money as possible -- we all know that shopping online can guarantee excellent bargains.On the other hand, I occasionally miss the days of rooting around in GAME's bargain bin and finding F-Zero X incorrectly priced at £0.99. I used to find some enjoyment in collecting loyalty points, of scooping neat pre-order bonuses that were exclusive to high street stores, and of having new stuff in my hands instantly.Do any of you fine folk still prefer shopping at your local games emporium? If so, what are the perks for you? Are there perhaps specific products you will only buy at said stores? And a broader question: what do you think high street retailers could do to combat the growing threat from their online rivals?
DS Daily: FPS
The latest footage of Renegade Kid's Moon convinced us (and IGN's Matt Casamassina) that the game could be something special, though a few of you evidently still need some encouragement. In the comments, reader John B. argued that no matter how much impressive technology Renegade Kid throws at Moon, it wouldn't be enough, because first-person shooters just don't work as well on the DS.We're of the opinion that the handheld currently lacks a great FPS, but do you think the DS will ever see a triple-A game in this genre, given its obvious technical limitations?
DS Daily: Near-death experiences
After spilling half a bottle of Coke across my DS earlier this week, this blogger immediately feared the worst. I need not have fretted, however. History has shown that Nintendo makes some pretty hardy, um, hardware, and after a frantic mopping and drying operation involving half the towels in the house and a hairdryer, the console functions perfectly. The R button is slightly sticky, but nothing major. It was a close call, mind you -- I very nearly had an excuse to buy one of the new red DS Lites! Bah.What's the worst you've put your DS through, only for the tough little blighter to keep on going?
DS Daily: Importing from Europe
U.S.-based reader Sandy recently contacted us with a quandary: s/he (sorry, Sandy, we weren't sure!) is desperately attempting to track down a new copy of Billiard Action. Unfortunately, there appears to be one major obstacle: the game is only available in the UK and Europe, and Sandy is struggling to find anywhere that will send European games to the States. Ebay is one obvious answer, we suppose, but it has its downsides. Can any of our fantastically wise readers help out? Incidentally, we feel Sandy's pain here -- it doesn't happen often, but occasionally a Europe-only release will be cruelly out of our grasp. Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland is one recent example of this, and Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? will become another, when it launches tomorrow.For the rest of you, where do you import your DS gear and games from? We all know about the likes of Play-Asia and NCSX, and as excellent as they are, are there any smaller sites you feel are just as worth buying from?
DS Daily: Gaming merchandise
Because we're all massive, shameless nerds here at Fanboy Towers, we like to bang on about gaming merchandise, be it plushes, gashapon, game soundtracks, figurines, or inflatable Slimes. We're not feigning enthusiasm for much of this, either -- our cluttered shelves are a testament to our love for non-game gaming items. We accept that so much of it is pointless, yet we find the desire to own a plush in the shape of a cartoon lawyer is not one that can be resisted by most mortal men.Are you similarly hooked on gaming merchandise? Tell us about your collections, and make us feel better about ourselves.
DS Daily: Keeping it clean
Although this blogger personally prefers the cool, Mac-esque appearance of the Polar White DS (it is, after all, the perfect match for the Wii), there's a good reason I don't own one: it gets hella dirty, hella quickly. It's just fairly unavoidable -- the thing is called a handheld. Hands aren't always clean.Not that DSes of a different shade are much better. Indeed, as beautiful as the DS Lite is, they all have their fair share of grooves for dirt to creep into. Fingerprints on the glossy casing and grime that accumulates around the edges of the screens are particular culprits.So today's question is simple: what's your cleaning routine for keeping your DS sparkling and muck-free? How often do you give it a clean (you do clean it, right?), and are there any useful techniques you'd like to share for those of us who'd prefer to keep our DSes skinless?
DS Daily: Local laughs
It goes without saying that all of the DS Fanboy team are colossally (some would say inexplicably) popular. However, despite the fact that we're swimming in chums, here's something not a lot of us have: DS-owning friends who will play games against us on a regular basis. Like, in the flesh.What about you lot? Do you have a large crowd of friends who are equipped with a DS and regularly indulge in local multiplayer? Or are you like most of us, sadly limited to battling over Force Gems and taking out tank units with strangers from afar?
DS Daily: Something extra
Like some sort of delicious extra content jam, Nippon Ichi is spreading exclusive content all over the DS edition of Disgaea: Prince of the Demon World and the Red Moon, hoping to reel in those who have already played previous versions. Will what has been announced so far -- multiplayer, new characters, and touchscreen controls -- be enough for you hardened Disgaea veterans to pick up the DS game? And, speaking more broadly, how effective is extra, DS-only content at luring you into purchasing a game you've played extensively elsewhere? %Gallery-17933%
DS Daily: Playing catch-up
We're convinced that nobody finishes absolutely every game they buy, so which titles in your collection have you not yet completed? Do you have plans to return to them, or is your gaming schedule (or, heavens forbid, life) just too crammed right now?Personally speaking, this blogger must be a good 80% through The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, but I suspect it was another blasted visit to the Ocean King's Temple that finally put me off. I've had my copy for around a year, and now it simply sits on my shelf, sneering at me. For shame.
DS Daily: That tricky extra dimension
Tecmo's announcement that Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff would be a "classic 2D game" cheered us no end. Too often for our liking, developers seem desperate to recreate the kind of 3D games we'd find on beefier home consoles, and the results are rarely pretty. This blogger recently got around to trying out Brothers in Arms (on the advice that the game was a technical marvel), and found it to be a mess of treacly frame rates and choppy visuals. If World War II had moved at this pace, we'd still be fighting.Occasionally, however, 3D on the DS does work, and quite splendidly in some instances. It may sound odd, but I still consider Nintendogs to be one of the best uses of 3D on the platform, simply because it wouldn't have been a tenth as engaging in 2D. How about you, dear reader? What do you consider to be the finest 3D offerings on our humble handheld?
