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DS Daily: Dual Screen Songs
Thanks to powerful, feature-rich music creation software like Korg DS-10 and Jam Sessions and weird musical toys like Electroplankton and Axe, the DS has become a multifaceted instrument for electronic music.
If you've been using your DS for music, we'd love to hear about it! And, of course, hear it. But also, we'd like to talk about the experience. Is it enjoyable or frustrating? Is the portability convenient enough to positively affect your musical life? Is the software powerful enough for you to accomplish anything?
Gaming to Go: Electroplankton
So, Electroplankton. Many of the longtime readers will know it's one of my favorite DS games. But, what's it all about? Well, it's a pick-up-and-play music game by Toshio Iwai, where you can create a variety of looped tracks for your listening pleasure. And utilizing the headphone jack, you can take your musical creations and export them to your computer or some other device for saving. For those who crave an overall goal or some end to work to, then Electroplankton might not be the game for you. The game may seem a bit shallow to those that aren't intrigued by the prospect of simply making music, but I assure you it's a charming and fun game, and one that is perfect for gaming on the go for any lover of the quirky and unique. If there's one thing you can say about Electroplankton, it's that there isn't any other game on the planet like it.
Gallery: Electroplankton
Tick tock of the clock ringing in your ears? Tell your timepiece to shove it! We live busy lives, but remember this: there's always time to game. Check back with Gaming to Go every week for the latest and greatest titles you should spend your precious few minutes with. And if you're looking for more original content from DS Fanboy (bless your heart), then check out our Point/Counterpoint feature and Bury the Shovelware.DS Daily: Favorite Nintendo game?
Given that, which is your favorite Nintendo game on the platform? Do you absolutely love Electroplankton (we do)? Is Animal Crossing your favorite? Out with it!
DS Daily: On display
Do you have them proudly sitting on a shelf for the world to see, or tucked away in a box? Do you use a dedicated DS game rack? Maybe your DS collection isn't even on display, but haphazardly scattered all over your living environment (that's a display of sorts, we guess). Are you, like this gamer, constantly frustrated by PAL region and NTSC region game boxes not lining up perfectly due to their slightly different dimensions and colors, or how rogue games (like Electroplankton) insist on not conforming? Or am I just incredibly anal?
BAFTAs postponed, no chance for Nintendo love in 2008
No BAFTA game awards this fall? How can this be? The last two years, Nintendo has picked up a few awards and a little bit of sweet, sweet recognition, and we're not sure we want to face a 2008 without the same treatment. The British awards, which lauded Wii Sports in 2007 and Electroplankton and Brain Age in 2006, suffered some problems last year and will be postponed until 2009. Due to the awards' schedule, games that weren't yet released or finished were being considered, and one of the games up for an award last year ultimately wasn't released in 2007. Sounds like the changes are necessary, but an award-free year is a sad proposition indeed. Maybe they'll make it up to us next year.
Electroplankton fuels bands
Using a DS (with a copy of Electroplankton), along with a pair of iPhones, the above trio manage to create some pretty melodious tunes. It's not really the kind of music we would rock out to on our own time, but we must admit that this video is still really impressive.
Also, it reminds us of the end credits to the Hulk TV show.
Wiimote makes music pretty
Using Nintendo products as musical tools has become a recent trend, but we're certainly not complaining. Our only gripe about this new Electroplankton-esque Wiimote application is that we can't download it for ourselves. Of course, the mission statement behind the project known as "wiiwiiwiiwii" isn't "to satisfy those selfish bastards over at Wii Fanboy." Rather, the four fellows who created this program have goals that are slightly more profound, like exploring the relationship between sounds and visuals.
The way in which this application translates Wiimote signals into sounds and images is slightly confusing, but we'll pretend that we know what we're talking about. Essentially, a Mac uses Bluetooth technology to synthesize audio from the Wiimote's signals. The Mac then sends the information to a PC, where a program called "vvvv" makes ambient shapes from the sound patterns (ala Electroplankton). Pretty spiffy, if you ask us.
You can check this website to watch videos of the project in action, but if you just want to know how it works and see the people behind it all, we provided some handy pictures after the jump.
The way in which this application translates Wiimote signals into sounds and images is slightly confusing, but we'll pretend that we know what we're talking about. Essentially, a Mac uses Bluetooth technology to synthesize audio from the Wiimote's signals. The Mac then sends the information to a PC, where a program called "vvvv" makes ambient shapes from the sound patterns (ala Electroplankton). Pretty spiffy, if you ask us.
You can check this website to watch videos of the project in action, but if you just want to know how it works and see the people behind it all, we provided some handy pictures after the jump.
DS Fanboy Favorites: Jason's top five
All this week, the DS Fanboy staff is letting you in on a few of their favorite titles. Each day, a different member of the staff will present their personal top five DS games along with a snapshot of their gaming paraphernalia and habits, in an effort to provide our readers with a little more information on the tastes and personalities of our writers.
It's odd; in the past two years, I've played my DS more than any other system, console or otherwise. However, I very rarely play outside of the comfort of my own room. Sure, I have the ten minute bus ride to campus everyday, and an hour break between classes, but the bus ride is relaxing and the hour I spend on campus, playing chess with some friends. It's really a testament to the quality of the library on the DS, that it would stand against the heavy-hitting consoles without the added advantage of portability.
I'm a bit of a Renaissance gamer, playing titles far and wide. Sure, I've grown tired of the World War II shooters, but if a game is innovative and/or well-crafted, I'll give it a shot. I also like bunnies and salsa dancing and figure skating; I'm so macho.
DS Fanboy Favorites: Dave's top five
All this week, the DS Fanboy staff is letting you in on a few of their favorite titles. Each day, a different member of the staff will present their personal top five DS games along with a snapshot of their gaming paraphernalia and habits, in an effort to provide our readers with a little more information on the tastes and personalities of our writers.
I own a total of 19 DS games. Yes, just 19 games. I've never been too crazy about handheld systems, mostly because I'm the type of gamer that enjoys the escape of playing something more immersive, like console games. That's not to say the DS isn't capable of presenting games that allow me to escape, even some of which are in my collection, but gaming lends itself a bit more to pick-up-and-play, quicker gaming sessions on a handheld when compared with a console.
With that in mind, let me show you my top five DS games.
DS Daily: Your MOM likes video games
And she might! Thanks to the alluring and radical power of the DS. How many of you guys have been searching for your DS high and low for a rousing game of Metroid Prime: Hunters, only to find your mother or sister locked away in their rooms caring for their virtual canines? How about Animal Crossing, Electroplankton, or even more traditional fare?The DS is easier to pick up and play than your elementary school recorder; this causes problems in the DS Fanboy offices when the three butlers and five secretaries all vie for our glossy handhelds.
Ahem.
We love non-games now: Jam Sessions preview
We know Electroplankton sort of covered the musical DS toy thing, but we are so impressed with every aspect of Jam Sessions. It sounds great, it looks fun, the interface, while a little homebrew-looking, is just ... pleasant. Look at that floral background!
We now know a little more about Jam Sessions, like that it will come loaded with 20 licensed songs to play along with, complete with lyrics, and that your playing is limited to strumming rather than picking individual notes-- sorry, no solos. You can also change the sound of your guitar, adding distortion and delay effects. There's still no game attached, just songs you can play along with, or freeform strumming.
This game (well, toy) just goes so far against what usually gets released in the US in so many ways. It looks totally fun and totally relaxing.
Check out a couple of screens after the break.
[Via GoNintendo]
Spore developer rants on Wii
Chris Hecker didn't pull any punches at GDC's "Game Publisher's Rant" session. The Maxis developer began his "Fear of a Wii Planet" diatribe by declaring, "The Wii is a piece of sh*t."He went on to describe the console as being vastly underpowered, citing low graphical standards and an inability to process complicated AI. According to Hecker's exaggerations, "The way you manufacture a Wii is you take two GameCubes and duct tape." As if that wasn't already enough to break a fanboy's heart, he called on Nintendo to "make a console that doesn't suck ass."
His complaints weren't limited to hardware gripes -- he also criticized Nintendo for not pushing games as an art form. Maybe he hasn't seen Electroplankton or the bit Generations games?
Hecker's rants from previous years were just as brutally harsh on Sony and Microsoft, but we're sure that will do little to tame the wrath of offended gamers. Bringing Spore to the DS might have earned him enough good will to make it out of the session unharmed, but he might want to avoid walking around GDC alone at night until this cools down.
Best of the rest: Zack's picks
Tetris DS (DS)
Nintendo is guilty of shoveling franchises at its fans; did we need another Tetris? Does the NEStalgia design make the game more fun? Probably not. (And I think the pixelated graphics on the top screen detract from the game; I'd rather have the classic Russian graphics and music.) But this game with just adequate art direction excels in its online match-ups. I just keep coming back to Tetris DS to battle other action-puzzle dorks online.
What are you playing: Electroplankton edition
We weren't lying when we said this would become a regular Friday feature like how it originated at Xbox 360 Fanboy. So, another week, another asking. What are you playing? Like we said last week, we recently received Electroplankton and Star Fox: Command.
As much as we'd like to say Corneria is saved and currently defended against all ne'er-do-wells, we have to admit that it has been hard to put down Electroplankton. Our favorite gametype in Performance Mode is currently pictured.
Nintendo DS brings home the BAFTAs
Though they were both nominated in multiple categories, Brain Age (aka Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old is Your Brain?) and Electroplankton each picked up a single award in yesterday's British Academy of Film and Television Awards. Electroplankton was acknowledged for audio achievement (color us unsuprised at that one) and Brain Age was named the most innovative of the year's titles by the British organization. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter for the Xbox 360 picked up the nod for game of the year, beating out Brain Age. Trauma Center and New Super Mario Bros. were both nominated as well, but picked up no awards. We're pretty sure that's probably a crime against humanity, but just this once, we'll let it slide.
[Thanks, elbono!]
