Technology always get smaller and smaller.
5 Apr 05
There was a lot of talk about the Nintendo DS handheld console when it debuted. Most of it was about the potential for all the exotic features including the two screens, the microphone, wireless play and the touch screen. While there has been some some use made of all these, most are still in the realm of gimmick rather than gameplay innovation. The DS has also been hampered by the perennial Nintendo bugaboo, lack of games.
It was interesting to see the shift once people got a hold of the DS. Sure it played a little differently, but the first thing a lot of users noticed was the stylus on the touchscreen feels a lot like a mouse. Not enough for a twitch game like a First Person Shooter, but great for quickly selecting, highlighting and pushing screen buttons. The next conclusion was pretty obvious. A real time strategy game would work well on this system.
Fortunately, since Nintendo was pushing for different ideas for the DS, they didn't start squashing anything they felt didn't fit the image of the system. First we got reports of an Age of Empires game for the system. As an aside, it's interesting to see Microsoft supporting Nintendo in the handheld wars. Now, as reported in the
News section, we have word of an original RTS set in Japan, Shogun Warrior: The Lost Army from Namco.
In addition, Nintendo has some turn based options for strategy fans. They have the strategy RPG, Fire Emblem in their arsenal. They also have the war game, Advance Wars they can bring over from the GBA SP. If they desire, they could add ports for Odama and a Pikmin game. All this could make the DS the best choice for strategy gaming on the go.
Then again, the PSP opened with Metal Gear Acid. The NGage QD has a couple of interesting strategy RPGs/turn based tactical games. Then the Gizmondo is coming soon. It's running a version of Windows CE so Microsoft will be supporting them as well. Just think when I started this site, I was lamenting that there was almost no strategy gaming on the go. The times they are a changing.
Jason
