Nintendogs

[Matt Young 0]

After wanting to get a DS since the system stole the show at E3 (I was there and played the games) I finally purchased one tonight. Unfortunately, the Mario 64 bundle has been discontinued, but I did pick up Nintendogs: Chihuaha and Friends. I figure my fiance has a chihuaha and I have a German shepherd, which is also in that version of the game, so it suits both of us.

 

I generally love innovative and quirky games, as well as sims. I adored Seaman and Animal Crossing (a DS version comes out later this year!), to give a couple examples. Nintendogs is quickly becoming my new addiction.

 

I created a facsimile of my real life German shepherd, Thunder, and played for about an hour. I gave him food and water, petted him, taught him to sit (which I had to erase since it sounded too much like "shake"), shake, and lie down, before he grew tired of learning tricks. I also took Thunder for a walk, stopping by the park for a game of catch the frisbee, and there was an encounter with another dog whom he seemed interested in. He also pooped once and pissed twice, lol.

 

This game is so charming. I love caring for my puppy, and it's something I plan to play every day. Plus I can take it wherever I go. If you have a DS, get this game now. If you don't, buy one. I hadn't bought a portable since the game Boy Color, but Nintendogs and many other releases coming this year make the DS well worth a purchase, plus it can play 99% of GBA games out there.

[LJSexay 0]

fiance??

 

one of my best friends has ninten-dogs. It's brought back the Tamagotchi-madness in all of us.

[Matt Young 0]

fiance??

 

one of my best friends has ninten-dogs. It's brought back the Tamagotchi-madness in all of us.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Yep. I planned to explain all to you, but I have been evry busy with work. Ashleigh tried to get a hold of you last weekend so we could all hang out and get drunk, but she never got in touch with you apparently. I would have called, but I don't have your number now. PM it to me or something.

 

Also, I never even tried Tamagotchi, but I'm pretty sure Nintendogs is way better.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

I just don't see the appeal of this game. Why not just get a real dog?

[Matt Young 0]

I have a couple real dogs. I dunno, I just love quirky, innovative sim games, and this one is strongly appealing. I can't really explain it. It's likely a game that some people will be hopelessly addicted to (me, and the majority of message board posters I've read reviews from) and the rest will completely despise it (anti-cute stuff, manly men like Agent of Oblivion, lol).

[Use Your Illusion 0]

Because you don't have the RSPCA breathing down your ass (yes, your ass) should you neglect to feed it etc.

 

This title doesn't really appeal to me though and I'm not particularly interested. Still waiting on Mario Kart...

[Guest Smues]

I got Dachsund and friends and picked the husky. Damn Nintendo always coming up with simple addicting games.

[dubq 0]

I have to get a copy of Dachsund as well, mostly for the Husky.

 

Nintendo could release NintenCats where you pick a feline and try to teach it tricks, but all it does is sit there and stare are you like you're an idiot and I bet it would still rake in tons of dough

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I'd pick up if I had DS. I love dogs and can't have a real dog in my place (animal zoning rules, argh)

[Eclipse 0]

The game is very addicting. I got the Daschund version. Though, the main complaint is the voice recognition...

[Matt Young 0]

I have to get a copy of Dachsund as well, mostly for the Husky.

 

Nintendo could release NintenCats where you pick a feline and try to teach it tricks, but all it does is sit there and stare are you like you're an idiot and I bet it would still rake in tons of dough

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Nintendcats has actually been confirmed for release.

[dubq 0]

I have to get a copy of Dachsund as well, mostly for the Husky.

 

Nintendo could release NintenCats where you pick a feline and try to teach it tricks, but all it does is sit there and stare are you like you're an idiot and I bet it would still rake in tons of dough

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Nintendcats has actually been confirmed for release.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Are you shitting me??

[Matt Young 0]

According to CheapAssGamer.com, Nintencats is indeed set for release. They linked to this article:

 

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=60624

 

It's almost here - the game that's taken Japan by storm and been credited with everything from getting more girls into gaming to increasing sales of the Nintendo DS console five-fold. Now Nintendo's popular puppy sim has been given a European release date of October 7, and we caught up with the man holding the game's leash, Hideki Konno, to discuss how he reckons the game will be received over here, what the future holds for the franchise and who keeps Shigeru Miyamoto's feet warm at night.

 

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Eurogamer: So what came first - the idea of doing a pet sim, or the idea of creating a killer app for the Nintendo DS?

 

Hideki Konno: Actually, the original idea was to make software dealing with various types of animals for consoles, and we were doing a number of different experiments based around this.

 

Then Nintendo DS hardware development project began, and once we realised the DS was going to feature the dual screens, touch screen, microphone and wireless capability, we decided to make the software for the DS. We saw that by making use of the DS's unique functionalities, we could make a game based around puppies, and that it could be a lot of fun.

 

Eurogamer: You mentioned there that you were looking at other types of animals... Why did you pick puppies in the end?

 

Hideki Konno: We narrowed down the candidates into dogs and cats - after all, they are the two main types of companion animals loved by people all around the world. Why dogs instead of cats? Well, one of the things we really wanted to do was to let players teach tricks by utilising their own voices.

 

Cats are at a disadvantage when it comes to learning tricks, and also we wanted to have animals with much more fun-loving natures - we wanted the animals to be able to take part in contests, such as agility competitions, and we wanted people to be able to take their pets for a walk. So we decided that dogs were more preferable than cats when it came to realising those elements.

 

Eurogamer: Hmm... So does that mean you have no plans to do another version of the game which features cats?

 

Hideki Konno: Actually we are not excluding the possibility of developing games based on other animals. Now, with the success of Nintendogs in Japan, we are considering other options.

 

Eurogamer: So, er, Nintencats is a real possibility then?

 

Hideki Konno: To tell the truth, we were already starting to develop a cat-based game at the outset of this project. So we already have the cat models, voice data and so on.

 

Eurogamer: All righty then... When do you reckon we can expect Nintencats?

 

Hideki Konno: Give me more time to review the possibilities!

 

This beret is just one of a range of hats you can choose from if you want to make your puppy look stupid.

Eurogamer: Fair enough. So, how did you choose which breeds of dog to put in the game?

 

Hideki Konno: I have to admit, the personal tastes of each developer involved in the production came into play when selecting the breeds in Nintendogs. However, we also did research as to which breeds are preferred in which regions.

 

For example, in Japan, we have the Pet Owners' Club and the Kennel Club, and they disclosed how many of their members own which breeds of dog to us. Similar organisations can be found in the US and Europe, so by looking at their data we were able to find out which are the most popular breeds of dog in each area.

 

Eurogamer: Did you always plan to develop three different versions of the game?

 

Hideki Konno: No, actually we were thinking about doing many more! Initially, Mr Miyamoto and Mr Iwata suggested that if we are going to have 15 types of dog, we should have 15 different packages, so that users can visit videogame stores as if they were visiting a pet shop and identify their favourite.

 

However, we had to look at what was feasible in terms of marketing, and talk to retailers about the possibilities, and in the end we opted for just the three different versions.

 

Eurogamer: Would it be technically possible to combine all of the breeds into one game, so that people don't have to buy more than one version of the game to get access to all their favourite dogs?

 

Hideki Konno: Yes, technically it's possible. But after careful discussion, we decided to introduce three versions for two main reasons. The first is that we wanted people to start playing Nintendogs from the moment they arrive at the videogame store - in other words, choosing one package from three is the start of the gameplay.

 

The second reason is to do with the existence of Bark Mode in Nintendogs. When the game is in Bark Mode and the DS is in Sleep Mode, you are alerted if you pass by a total stranger who has done the same with their DS. You can then exchange verbal messages, text messages, items - and dogs.

 

So, you might not have a particular type of breed in your version of the game, but you can eventually collect them all by interacting with other users. The Bark Mode is very popular in Japan.

 

Eurogamer: As, indeed, is Nintendogs, which continues to top the gaming charts over there... Are you confident it will be as successful in Europe?

 

Hideki Konno: I think the Nintendo DS is always going to be popular with people all around the world - after all, what we are doing is very unique and unprecedented, and features such as the touch screen and the microphone input mechanism offer brand new experiences. Also, what we are dealing with in Nintendogs are cute looking puppies, and I believe their appeal is universal - regardless of whether you live in Japan or Europe.

 

Your pup will regularly present you with surprise gifts, and not all are of the brown and sticky variety.

Eurogamer: And regardless of whether you're male or female, which is maybe why the game is so popular with girls?

 

Hideki Konno: Yes, I think so. And that's not all - a wide variety of different audiences are now playing the game. From very small children to senior citizens, there are many non-traditional gamers who are playing Nintendogs. Plus the game is appealing to people who can't afford to own their own dogs in real life, and also to actual pet owners.

 

Nintendogs is only part of a range of games which we hope will expand the total gaming population. We are now introducing titles to the Japanese market like the electronic dictionary, the brain training software and other unusual titles which can't be categorised into any of the existing genres.

 

Eurogamer: How did you go about making the dogs so intelligent and so realistic to look at?

 

Hideki Konno: Well, since we were dealing with dogs, we could not make use of motion capture. So we just had to gather as much data as possible, and take as many opportunities as we could to observe and scrutinise the unique movements of puppies with our own eyes.

 

I myself have a dog, and Shigeru Miyamoto also has a dog - in fact, he's something of a semi-professional breeder. So we were able to observe our dogs and have many discussions about the way they move.

 

Eurogamer: What are your dogs called?

 

Hideki Konno: My dog is a Shetland sheepdog called Koro, which is a typical Japanese name for dogs. Mr Miyamoto also has a Shetland sheepdog, but I can't remember its name!

 

Eurogamer: Why did you decide not to let the puppies become full-grown dogs in the game?

 

Hideki Konno: When we came to choose the main themes of Nintendogs, we decided that the primary entertainment aspect of the game must be communication with the puppies. And we wanted to eliminate the sense of responsibility for the user – for example, we don’t want people to feel obligated to feed the dogs every day. Those kind of priorities were what helped us decide that the puppies shouldn't grow up.

 

I know that there are already many other software applications based around the idea of caring for pets, but they tend to feature a wide variety of different elements. What’s different with Nintendogs is that we’re concentrating on the communication with the puppies – and that means you can have a very different type of experience.

 

Unlike real dogs, Nintendogs won't dine on your decaying flesh if you end up dying alone. Probably.

Eurogamer: Did you ever consider letting the puppies breed, wirelessly perhaps?

 

Hideki Konno: That was one of the options we considered, but as I’ve said before, we really wanted to concentrate on the communication between the gamer and the puppies. If we tried to expand the gameplay – with puppies growing up, breeding and even dying – then there are more elements to the experience, but those elements can become shallow.

 

In the end, we decided to opt for a more intense experience, where the focus is on communicating with the puppy.

 

Eurogamer: One of the key elements to Nintendogs is the different items you can collect and swap. Which is your favourite?

 

Hideki Konno: There are many items that I really like… To name but one, I think the Mario Kart is one of the best. [At this point, Mr Konno showed us his favourite Nintendog – he’s called Luigi, by the way, and wears the familiar green cap – and illustrated how you can control the Mario Kart toy like a remote control car, using the D-pad. Wicked].

 

What’s interesting is that depending on the nature of the puppy, some may like to chase the Mario Kart if they are curious – while others, if they are timid and scared, may try to hide from it. That’s very interesting to see.

 

Another thing I like is the soccer ball, because it’s interesting to watch how two or three different puppies react, and I also like the helicopter [also a remote control toy, demonstrated by Mr Konno for us, and very cool].

 

Eurogamer: So what's the main focus for your next project? Can we expect another pet sim, as you've suggested?

 

Hideki Konno: Well, when I was working on Nintendogs, I was (and still am) working on Mario Kart DS and several other titles simultaneously. Personally, I am inclined to make something along the lines of Nintendogs next.

 

I haven’t come up with any concrete ideas about what, exactly – there are many options to choose from, and I have a lot of possibilities to think about.

 

Eurogamer: And what of the Nintendo Revolution – is there any way Nintendogs technology could translate to a regular console?

 

Hideki Konno: I am involved with the development of the Revolution, and just as when I was involved with the DS hardware development, I have to think in terms of the unique nature of the console and how best we can use the hardware. So it’s more about focusing on how we can create completely original gameplay, and how we can do something that’s very different from before.

 

Also confirmed was a holiday edition of Nintendogs.

[Downhome 0]

I bought the Lab version, and I picked up Advance Wars: DS while I was at it. Two fucking great games on the same day...awesome. Anyway, Nintendogs is great. It's going to sell an ass load of DS systems, and the game is going to be a huge hit.

 

I adopted a lab, and named him RJ (I have a real one, named Rocky...thus, R.J.). So far I have taught him to sit, shake, lie down, chase his tail, jump, sneeze, roll over, shake his back leg, and to stand up all the way on his two back legs.

 

I also taught him to beg, but the bastard wasn't doing that one so great, so I'm going to have a go at that one again. It takes a while to teach a Nintendog to beg, and it can be a pain in the ass...in a good way sorta though. It took a while for me to teach my dog to jump also.

 

I also have it where he does the thing on the floor like the Three Stooges, where he goes around on his back/side. He can also do a complete back flip, but I haven't officially taught him to do it yet.

 

Right now, I have 1,540 Trainer Points as well, and I have $708.40 to spend. I might get another dog soon, but I'm trying to get R.J. really trained first. He's won a few of the competitions so far also.

 

I also bought a keyboard, which is pretty cool seeing how the dog will "sing" along with whatever you play.

 

There is a shitload of stuff to do in this game. I usually hate games like this too. I hated Tamagotchi and PC games like Dogz and Catz, but this one is about as different as it can be but still be the same "sort" of game. I'm really interested in new and unique things, which is why I think I'm playing this right now. To think that you can communicate with your video game using your voice, and it will obey your commands...it's just really, really cool.

 

The DS is alive and well folks.

[Downhome 0]

Here is a really good mock-cover for Nintencats that someone made:

 

[Damaramu 0]

I have 6 dogs......they're funner to play with than a video game dog I think.

[Matt Young 0]

Well no shit... But if you're a dog lover and aren't one of those guys who refuses to play anything that apepars kiddie, cutesy, or effeminate, I can almost guarantee you'd love this game.

[Star Ocean 3 0]

I know some magic spells and they're more fun to cast in real life that's why I don't play RPGs anymore.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Nintendcats is going to blow the roof off any virtual life simulation you've seen this far.

 

I can't wait to talk to my virtual cat and be ignored, just like my real ones.

[dubq 0]

I know some magic spells and they're more fun to cast in real life that's why I don't play RPGs anymore.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

[Renegade 0]

Nothing like stabbing the screen to pamper your pet.

[Downhome 0]

I forgot we had this thread, so I'll post this here also:

 

Oh my God:

 

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/nitendogs/ind...one-week-123340

 

The numbers are in and people really do love Nintendogs. The DS-only puppy simulator sold about 250,000 copies in its first week, according to Nintendo. Tendo goes on to say that the game is both America’s hottest selling video game and the best-selling new game franchise ever to hit a portable system. (Both statements are based on Nintendo’s internal tracking of sales, the independent numbers won’t hit for a week or two.)

 

Nearly 15 percent of all DS owners bought Nintendogs in just a week, a virtually unprecedented adoption rate for any title on an established system. And it’s also helping sell new DS hardware. Coupled with a price drop to $129.99, retailers are reporting DS sales up between one and a half and three times previous levels, and last week DS comfortably outsold our portable competitors

 

It looks like the game is well on its way to having the same impact on the gaming market here that it did when it hit Japan. Just goes to show that gamers are hungry for games that break the mold. Let’s hope that developers and publishers are paying attention.

[Guest JesusJuiced]

I wonder what the sales figures are for each version. Chihuahua sold the worst in Japan, judging by this thread (I have Dachshund too) it'll probably be the same.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

I'm surprised by the lack of reports of parents ruining DS's over the Bark button.