If you're going to continue working with old technology, just be happy that 95 percent of games still work for it, and in the case of the phat, that it can still run GBA games.
It's people's own stupid decision to not want to buy a device they already own? It's not like the DS Lite was the SP of this handheld generation. All it did was put the system in a shinier enclosure and add an extra brightness level. Personally I did go ahead and upgrade but I'm just the type of consumer whore who will drop $130 on a prettier slightly better version of a device he already owns. Calling people stupid for not wanting to do the same is just, well, ignorant.
@bkchurch: I'd say it's easily the SP of this generation. It's a massive improvement. It's not just "an extra brightness level". It's technically 3 extra brightness levels, with the lowest brightness setting being equivalent to the pathetic brightness of the DS Phat. That alone is a major, major improvement. If the sun hits a DS Phat in any way, the screen is near invisible. I remember having to bend over in car rides, playing my DS Phat almost on the floor, in order to just see the screen. That's never a problem with the Lite, and games themselves look much better, as you can actually see and fully appreciate all the vibrant colors in games.
Not to mention the Lite is like, almost half the size of the Phat, and has much more comfortable buttons (something I'm sad to see wasn't included in the DSi). And it still has all the functionality of the Phat (GBA games).
I thought those improvements were easily worth the $130 I threw down on launch day for the Lite, and I don't see how anyone can still stand their DS Phat by now.
@Mit: The people still using a Phat, may not be doing so by choice. After all, even though the Lite is the SP of this generation, it had a horrendous hinge problem, which usually stopped most people from using it. Most of the time, the breakage occurs outside of the warranty period, and the cost is about $70/£60-£80.
Don't forget, we're in the middle of a recession, so not everyone can afford to pay that much just so they can continue to play NDS games. If they already have a Phat, they'll just use that, simple.
@Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku: none of the subsequent DS models kept the clicky buttons. therefore, not worth the upgrade. i wore the rubber pads off on my original GBA, and promised to never buy another handheld where that could happen.
@splatternick: I can see the price issue (even though I think the upgrade is easily worth it for the screens, especially if you trade-in/sell-on-your-own your old DS), although the hinges? That's grasping at straws. It was a purely cosmetic issue. I think my DS has a cracked hinge, but it doesn't matter. It's cracked plastic. The actual hinge is fine. I can't even remember if mine is cracked or not because it's not noticeable in the slightest.
@MegaClank: You really prefer the location of the DS Phat's power button? I accidentally pushed that thing more than a few times, having to keep my finger down on it while I desperately saved my game before inevitably having to shut it down. The toggle switch is a huge improvement, and I've never had a problem with it. And I can't see how the start/select button position would be an issue, you should rarely need to press them, and they're down low, out of the way.
@curly haired boy: You should go hands-on with a DSi then, because your beloved clicky buttons are back in that revision. Although, I don't recall the GBA, or DS Lite, having "rubber pads"? O_o
Looking at it I had some misgivings over the left pads being mapped to the D-pad. Initally it looked as if you wouldn't be able to press both at once due to them looking like they're over opposite inputs. Looking at my DS for comparison though I'd say they're mapped to up and right. I'm still iffy over how responsive they'd be though.
I think they've lost the plot a little though. This drum hero seems to be just about mashing buttons rather than hitting things with sticks (which is arguably what drumming is all about). While the screen input would suffer due to the lack of multi-touch it could have been easily solved with D-pad/button input in addition to tapping. Package it wtih a drumstick stylus and you're golden.
@Odin: You're not going to be able to do complex rhythms with a single stylus. You would need two and I just think that would be awkward, moving from drum to drum on screen with either 1 or 2 styluses.
This way at least your thumbs will always be in the right spot and you can more easily bang out a rhythm with your thumbs on a physical pad. It seems more natural to me anyway.
Upon seeing this image, many different things ran through my head. But in a quest to remain impartial until a proper, hands-on, demonstration I have only this to say:
Sorry Activision, I know how much you love your games to ship with peripherals but this is just taking the piss.
Is this peripheral even necessary? What's wrong with, you know, just using the buttons? Are they expecting us to prop up our DS and finger drum away? Go take a look at how well Rock Band Unplugged works using just buttons and rethink this one through.
@TC-14: Well if you read the article it says that if you just use the d-pad you're bound to get blisters. I don't think you have to prop it up. Just hold it in your hands as usual.
Edited by Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science. at 07/23/09 6:43 AM
Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science. was starred
Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science. was unstarred
No, seriously. I hope this fad dies a cruel and painful death. We are like 6 months away from Kazoo Hero at this rate. Which will be a knock off of Harmonix's Kazoo Band.
@RedEye: Perhaps it could be regional, since I think it's an aboriginal instrument (originated in Australia), but I bet you could ask an entire New York block if they know what a didgeridoo is and you'll only get a blank stare.
I meant for "very few" to be taken as relative to the global population.
Honestly, the seems like a pretty pointless game for a portable system. If I'm going to be getting together with a bunch of friends, we'll just play rock band on my ps3. Why downgrade to this?
I think Nintendo really made a mistake by not including a GBA slot on the DSi. Heck Nintendo themselves released at least two peripherals that used the slot.
I laughed so hard at that picture.
Why does pressing buttons (albeit slightly bigger ones) make for a more 'authentic' experience? The guitar grip I can understand, but this doesn't replicate any of the features involved in drumming o_0
It's exactly the same as pressing the face buttons, apart from now you have to carry around an extra piece of plastic...
@Numanoid: I guess the touch screen was't used to the lack of multi-touch (like on the iPhone). Also Activision are trying to force us out of our homes by filling them with plastic,hence another peripheral.
@llehuty:
But then how would you do the kick pedal? I can only presume that it's currently mapped to a shoulder button or something.
And I kinda doubt that those are sensitive enough to detect stylus strikes :/
@Numanoid: As you can see from the quote in the piece, the developers don't think that it's the same to tap the drum pads as it would be to press the buttons. I've gotten my hands on it and it does feel more comfortable. Unfortunately, the system I felt it on wasn't running the game, so I can't vouch for how it feels to play with it. I can only say that it felt good under my thumbs as I pretended to play.
@Stephen Totilo:
Well obviously playing is believing in this case then. :)
It's just I don't particularly see the point in carrying around another piece of plastic for a console which is supposed to be about portability
07/23/09
07/23/09
Thats those peoples own stupid decision.
The Lite was an amazing improvement.
If you're going to continue working with old technology, just be happy that 95 percent of games still work for it, and in the case of the phat, that it can still run GBA games.
07/23/09
It's people's own stupid decision to not want to buy a device they already own? It's not like the DS Lite was the SP of this handheld generation. All it did was put the system in a shinier enclosure and add an extra brightness level. Personally I did go ahead and upgrade but I'm just the type of consumer whore who will drop $130 on a prettier slightly better version of a device he already owns. Calling people stupid for not wanting to do the same is just, well, ignorant.
07/23/09
Not to mention the Lite is like, almost half the size of the Phat, and has much more comfortable buttons (something I'm sad to see wasn't included in the DSi). And it still has all the functionality of the Phat (GBA games).
I thought those improvements were easily worth the $130 I threw down on launch day for the Lite, and I don't see how anyone can still stand their DS Phat by now.
07/23/09
Don't forget, we're in the middle of a recession, so not everyone can afford to pay that much just so they can continue to play NDS games. If they already have a Phat, they'll just use that, simple.
It isn't always someone's decision or choice.
07/23/09
But now with the DSi, at least the Power "button" is a button again and I will purchase whenever I have spare money.
07/23/09
07/23/09
@MegaClank: You really prefer the location of the DS Phat's power button? I accidentally pushed that thing more than a few times, having to keep my finger down on it while I desperately saved my game before inevitably having to shut it down. The toggle switch is a huge improvement, and I've never had a problem with it. And I can't see how the start/select button position would be an issue, you should rarely need to press them, and they're down low, out of the way.
@curly haired boy: You should go hands-on with a DSi then, because your beloved clicky buttons are back in that revision. Although, I don't recall the GBA, or DS Lite, having "rubber pads"? O_o
07/23/09
I think they've lost the plot a little though. This drum hero seems to be just about mashing buttons rather than hitting things with sticks (which is arguably what drumming is all about). While the screen input would suffer due to the lack of multi-touch it could have been easily solved with D-pad/button input in addition to tapping. Package it wtih a drumstick stylus and you're golden.
07/23/09
This way at least your thumbs will always be in the right spot and you can more easily bang out a rhythm with your thumbs on a physical pad. It seems more natural to me anyway.
07/23/09
*Ahem*
Lololololololololololololololololol......etc.
07/23/09
07/23/09
Is this peripheral even necessary? What's wrong with, you know, just using the buttons? Are they expecting us to prop up our DS and finger drum away? Go take a look at how well Rock Band Unplugged works using just buttons and rethink this one through.
Pathetic.
07/23/09
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07/23/09
Ridiculous.
07/23/09
Presumably they'll have to add a microphone peripheral as well seeing as the DS's mic is poorly placed and of poor quality.
Someone needs to film four people playing this on the bus. Just to see the look on people's faces.
07/23/09
That's the LAMEST peripheral idea ever. Drums? Really? I mean, really really? Really really really?
Band Hero DS peripheral + game - $150 includes thumb pillow and petroleum jelly
DAY ONE: SOLD OUT!!!
07/23/09
No, seriously. I hope this fad dies a cruel and painful death. We are like 6 months away from Kazoo Hero at this rate. Which will be a knock off of Harmonix's Kazoo Band.
07/23/09
07/23/09
07/25/09
I meant for "very few" to be taken as relative to the global population.
07/23/09
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07/23/09
Why does pressing buttons (albeit slightly bigger ones) make for a more 'authentic' experience? The guitar grip I can understand, but this doesn't replicate any of the features involved in drumming o_0
It's exactly the same as pressing the face buttons, apart from now you have to carry around an extra piece of plastic...
07/23/09
They are forcing us onto the street!
07/23/09
Well I supouse you can use a pair of stylus and use them as drumsticks.
Wow, I think it's going to be better than that crappy GH:WT drum kit. lol
07/23/09
But then how would you do the kick pedal? I can only presume that it's currently mapped to a shoulder button or something.
And I kinda doubt that those are sensitive enough to detect stylus strikes :/
07/23/09
yeah, I was just kiddin. I don't think this game is a good idea for the DS.
Worst idea if you think of "no Dsi compatible"
07/23/09
Sorry, I'm tired and my sarcasm detector is crap atm -_-
I still feel jipped that I bought the GHWT drum set.
07/23/09
07/23/09
Well obviously playing is believing in this case then. :)
It's just I don't particularly see the point in carrying around another piece of plastic for a console which is supposed to be about portability
07/23/09