Filed under: Point/Counterpoint

Point/Counterpoint: Yea or Nay -- Play on Wii?

by JC Fletcher { 1 year ago }

At their October media summit, Nintendo announced plans to release Wii ports of some GameCube games as the Wii de Asobu (Play on Wii) series. Today, we found solid evidence of a North American release. While GameCube games are, of course, currently playable on Wii, these new ports will enable motion and pointer-based control schemes, allowing new players to use the "simpler" Wii controls, and existing fans to play favorites in a new way. At least, that's the idea, we think.

But is it a good idea to port these games and try to sell them again? Is it good for the fans? For the games? For the Wii? For the win? We say yes! And also no. That's kind of how debating works!

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Point/Counterpoint: Voice chat vs. Stylus chat

by Chris Greenhough { 1 year ago }

When it launches in Japan on Christmas Day (and in the west ... hopefully some time soon!), Phantasy Star Zero will allow users to play online and communicate with one another via a unique Pictochat-style system. Using stylus drawings to relay information to your team-mates is certainly an original and novel approach, but is it the best? Wouldn't the speed and efficiency of voice chat suit Sonic Team's RPG more?

While none of the staff are violently opposed to the idea of visual chat or voice chat, each certainly has it merits. Hit the gray button below and read both sides of the debate, and then weigh in through our poll!

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Gallery: Phantasy Star Zero

Point/Counterpoint: Is saving to SD the right way to keep Wii fridges fresh?

by JC Fletcher { 1 year ago }

During Nintendo's conference, Satoru Iwata announced the long-awaited fix for the Wii storage "crisis" -- but rather than the Wii Hard Drive peripheral or the pipe-dream "you can use any USB hard drive!" update that Wii fans dreamed of, Nintendo has chosen to refine the current SD card implementation. Basically, you can now save things from the Wii Shop Channel directly to the SD card. The act of transferring from the SD card to the Wii's internal storage and back will be simplified, as well.

Despite not being exactly what people wanted, will it serve our needs? Is saving to the SD card the right solution? Two bloggers have copied their thoughts on the subject over from their internal memory.

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Point/Counterpoint: Nintendo DSi

by David Hinkle { 1 year ago }

Click to enter our DSi gallery.

It's on everyone's mind. The upcoming Nintendo DSi handheld is quite the attractive gadget ... or is it? We're back with another edition of Point/Counterpoint, this time dealing with Nintendo's upgraded portable system. Click the button below to read the pros and cons of Nintendo's DSi.

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Gallery: Nintendo DSi

Point/Counterpoint: 2D vs. 2D

by Chris Greenhough { 1 year ago }

Arguably the two most eagerly awaited Wii games of September have something slightly unusual and wholly awesome in common: they're both 2D. Mega Man 9 and Wario Land: Shake It! have each been widely lauded for daring to ignore the third dimension, but they're still quite different in terms of how they use 2D.

Mega Man 9 rejects all modern graphical conventions, taking the player through a timewarp to 1988 with its intentionally blocky, charming sprites. Conversely, Wario Land: Shake It! is straight from the Metal Slug school of design, in that it uses painstakingly detailed, beautiful hand-drawn art. Which do the Wii Fanboy staff prefer? Read on to hear both sides of the argument!

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Point/Counterpoint: Does Castlevania need new blood?

by JC Fletcher { 1 year ago }

We're about a month away from getting our hands on the third Castlevania game on the DS, and yes, we are enthused. We loved the last DS game, as we did the one before it ... and the three Game Boy Advance games before that.

Producer Koji Igarashi has definitely found his recipe for Vanias, and he's changed very little since hitting upon the combination of side-scrolling action, free-roaming exploration, and light RPG elements that made Symphony of the Night such a startlingly new experience ... back in 1997.

Let's be clear: both of the bloggers participating in this debate love them some Castlevania. But the issue of the series' increasing potential for staleness is a real one, and worth discussing even just as a thought exercise. Has Metroidvania run its course? Read on and find out ... what two people think.

Gallery: Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

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Point/Counterpoint: WiiSpeak vs. ISpeak

by JC Fletcher { 1 year ago }

Nintendo, who recently introduced the stick controller and the scale controller, is at it again, with the WiiSpeak, a microphone that you put on top of your TV so a whole crowd can share in voice chat as they play Animal Crossing (and, later, other games). Voice chat isn't new, of course, but voice chat for a whole room is.

Is this a worthwhile innovation? Is Nintendo's new approach really preferable to just wearing a headset and having conversations with your Internet pals? Will having the mic several feet away even be a workable solution? We obviously don't know, but we can debate about what we think.

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Point/Counterpoint: Time for a price cut?

by Chris Greenhough { 1 year ago }

Since its release into the wild in 2006, the DS Lite has retained its launch price point in all regions. On the face of it, there's been little reason for Nintendo to tweak the cost of owning the world's greatest handheld. Sales have been consistently sky-high, with demand outstripping supply to an almost embarrassing degree in the early days. But with the holiday season already on the horizon, and the Lite now widely available in stores, should Nintendo consider slashing the price of its handheld phenomenon before the end of this year?

Click onwards to see two bloggers slug it out over this issue, possibly until one meets a bloody, horrible demise, and then cast your vote!

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Point/Counterpoint: Does Clone Wars need MotionPlus to succeed?

by David Hinkle { 1 year ago }

In this edition of Point/Counterpoint, we're tackling the issue of MotionPlus and Lucasarts' upcoming Star Wars game, The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels. Sure, there's a rumor of another game in the works that will utilize the tech, but nothing is confirmed yet. Does a Star Wars game need MotionPlus? Read on for the debate, then cast your vote in our poll.

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Gallery: Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- Lightsaber Duels

Point/Counterpoint: Should GTA be 2D or 3D?

by David Hinkle { 1 year ago }

That's right folks, it's that time again: two bloggers square off in debate over one subject in our Point/Counterpoint feature. This time, we're talking GTA: Chinatown Wars and whether or not the title should be 2D or 3D. So, without further ado, hit the button below and read the arguments.

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Point/Counterpoint: Pros and Conduits

by JC Fletcher { 1 year ago }

High Voltage Software's The Conduit has built up a high-density hype field since the company unveiled it, mostly due to some very enthusiastic words by Chief Creative Officer Eric Hofsinger. Add some nice-looking preview footage and the general frothing desire from Wii fans for the kind of games seen on the other systems (the kind in which players see from the perspective of a large man who shoots guns at aliens), and The Conduit is something that has fanboy eyes lighting up all over the place.

But is it worth all the hype? Are we putting some game on a pedestal, or are we all justified in counting the unspecified number of days until the Q1 2009 release? To explore that question, two Wii Fanboy bloggers have entered into pitched word combat.

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Gallery: The Conduit

Point/Counterpoint: The worth of Chrono Trigger DS

by David Hinkle { 1 year ago }

One of the biggest titles to release on the DS this year is none other than Chrono Trigger DS. But, is it worth the $40 that Square Enix is demanding gamers cough up in order to enjoy this RPG classic on their handheld? The DS Fanboy staff has drawn a line in the sand and been split down the middle, with each side presenting a solid argument that effectively states their case. Instead of letting this get violent and taking it out into the streets, we've decided to turn to our computers and take it out into the virtual streets of the DS Fanboy blog. So, read on and then decide for yourself if Chrono Trigger DS is really worth the price of admission.

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Gallery: Chrono Trigger

Point/Counterpoint: Is WiiWare a disappointment?

by Alisha Karabinus { 1 year ago }

We've had WiiWare here in the U.S. for a little over a month, and already gamers are forming pretty solid opinions on the budding download service. Prior to launch, WiiWare was one of the most anticipated features the console had on offer ... and now that we have it, is it everything promised, or is WiiWare a disappointment? That's the question on the table between two of our bloggers today, so get ready to take sides and let your own voice be heard.


plctext		It burns us!

Point/Counterpoint: Wii Fit

by David Hinkle { 1 year ago }

Click for larger image

With Wii Fit finally hitting store shelves, it's time for us to weigh in with our Point/Counterpoint feature. Within, we tackle the issue at hand both positively and negatively. Sometimes we're serious, sometimes we're silly. Hopefully, you'll find something inside to your liking.

Without further ado, let's get this shindig on the road. So, go ahead and click that Wiimote in the bottom right-hand corner to get started.


		What's the deal, Wii Fit?

Gallery: Wii Fit

Point/Counterpoint: Will a DS redesign be announced this year?

by Alisha Karabinus { 1 year ago }

Lately, there's been a lot of discussion over whether or not Nintendo is planning a redesign of the wildly successful DS Lite. The rumors surfaced, and were drowned in a wave of denials ... but those denials were suspiciously similar to the things we heard when Nintendo was busily denying the move from Phat to Lite prior to the launch of the newer model.

Nintendo redesigns things, especially when it comes to their handhelds. They love to launch the new model, the smaller, better design, and it seems likely that they'll continue that cycle with the DS. But will we see it this year? That's the question on the table today, and we'll look at both possibilities. After that, it's up to you to decide whether or not Nintendo will announce a new DS this year.