Random Gaming Thoughts

[Key-Glyph]

What makes me sad about smart phones (and even cell phones in general) is not so much how individuals use them, but that in many places every single person is expected to have one. If someone chooses to opt out, it's not simply accepted as a quirky life choice and left it at that. It's often considered a personal affront to the opt-outer's social contacts. And those contacts frequently get angry about it.

I have a landline because I prefer to have my phone tethered to my house. When I'm out, I want to be out. But even when I relied heavily on a cell phone in college I experienced the anger problem, because it was assumed that I always had my phone on my person and was aware of incoming calls. I wasn't. Other times I was out doing stuff and/or just didn't feel like talking right then. For certain friends and family members this wasn't acceptable. They felt rebuffed when I didn't pick up or return their messages right away. "You must have known I was calling you," they'd say. "Why didn't you answer? Why didn't you call me back?" "Are you upset with me?" "Don't you care?"

I experienced the same thing when I dropped off Facebook. Some friends were legitimately sad that they wouldn't be getting goofy pictures of me every few days, and that was one thing. But others felt I was deliberately removing them from my life (the ultimate unfriending?) or was making myself deliberately, aggravatingly unreachable. Note that this was when I was in college, and my dorm room and phone number were publicly listed in our student directory. And I also provided everyone with my personal e-mail address.

Nowadays it's the same story, but the focus has shifted entirely to e-mail. I will ask a co-worker, "Do we know where the office party is going to be?" and their immediate response will almost always be, "Didn't you get the e-mail?!" No, I didn't. I was commuting. And it was only sent eight minutes ago.

Even if I had a smartphone, I doubt I'd check it enough to live up to the basic standards of owning one.

/ramble

TL;DR: No, I would not buy a Nintendphone, even though I think the idea has marketing merit.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Furu Furu Park....... how was I not aware of this game until now?!

[BoneSnapDeez]

Agreed on the cell phone stuff, Key. Never cared for 'em. I have one, but it's very basic. I use a landline at home here.

I was thinking about video games last night. I always tell people that I "like platformers" but I'm beginning to realize that it's a big fat lie. What I like is Nintendo platformers. Mario, Wario, Yoshi, Kirby, and Donkey Kong rule this genre.

[RCBH928]

@Isiolia

Nintendo's market cap is $24B, how big should you be before you can compete with the "big" guys?

Any way, the whole Nintendo Phone could work out or could be a silly idea all along depending on the execution of it. If anything, Apple taught us the "adapt or die" ideology. It turned form a PC company to ->a music player manufacturer-> a retailer-> content provider-> dominating the cellphone market.

Not talking, just fucking around with their phone. I can't think of a better time to take advantage of these no attention having clowns.

Distraction = $$$

I find it ironic that you mention this in a videogames enthusiasts forum

[Ziggy]

/ramble

Just so you know, you're not alone.

You can read some of my cell phone rants here. In short, I can't do without my cell phone at this point, but I really hate cell phones. That opinion of mine really hasn't changed much.

So I have a decent Android now with a data plan, but I hardly use it as such. I actually keep data turned OFF. The only time I turn it on is when some one sends me a pic, or I wanna send some one a pic. Other than that, it's only on a rare occasion that I want to use Google to check the price or reviews or something while I'm in a store. I never set up my email on it, and I wanna keep it that way. Email is something I check when I get home, not something I need ASAP everywhere I go.

I also don't have Facebook. The look on some people's faces when I tell them I don't have Facebook is funny. "Whaaaaaa?" So occasionally I'll be out of the loop with something in my circle of friend or even in my family. But that's not my fault, it's theirs. I remember a conversation I had with a friend. He told me he wouldn't even know how to organize a party without Facebook. Like, how to invite/inform every one. I told him, DO WHAT I DO! Call or text each INDIVIDUAL person and talk to them. God forbid you can't just go on Facebook and type "Party at my place on Friday @ 8PM BYOB!" and be done with it. Oh my God, it takes too much effort to call or text all those people, and then I'll have to talk with them!

I also have, what I consider, proper cell phone etiquette. If I'm at the counter or something and my cell phone start ringing, I'll reject the call and put it back in my pocket. I'll call the person back in (HOLY SHIT THIS IS SUCH A LONG TIME) 1 or 2 minutes. If there's some sort of urgency, of course, answer the phone. "I'm sorry, I HAVE to take this!" But since that's not the case 99.99% of the time, it's just plain rude.

I also hate when I talking to some one and their texting the entire time. I can't help but feel like "HEY! I'm here with you, they're not!" If I'm hanging out with someone and I get a text, I'll check it. If it's crap, I'll just ignore it and respond later. If I really have to respond right away (like, "Hey I'm stopping for pizza do you want any?") I'll say something like, "Sorry, let me just respond real quick" and then put my phone back in my pocket.

But yeah, I really like having a smart phone. I like having functions in my pocket like a flashlight, camera, alarm clock/stop watch, calculator, calender, audio recorder, notepad, etc. And when I'm at my work bench, I like having apps like resistor color codes and various electronics calculators a PDF reader for datasheets, etc. I pretty much only use my phone for practical stuff. But damn, I still miss having a physical keyboard.

[Xeogred]

I basically agree with everything there Ziggy. It's a double edged sword for sure.

[MrPopo]

I definitely lean in your camp Ziggy. But I also don't have a landline because having a landline gives the impression that people can reach you when you're at home. My phone sits upstairs when it charges and I'm downstairs when I'm relaxing and I'm not going to hear the phone. And I'm ok with that, since there is absolutely nothing that's urgent enough that it can't wait until a few hours later when I perform a regular check of the phone when I go upstairs for food.

Edit: Since this is the gaming thoughts thread I might as well add one of those. I've been spending some time playing R-Type (just when I've got some time before bed) and it has a real flickering problem. I've down several times to bullets I didn't notice because they weren't being rendered. By contrast Gradius NEVER flickers, though it does have slowdown in level 5. I'm guessing the slowdown is due to whatever math they're doing to control the arms, since it's based on the number of arms on the screen.

[isiolia]

@Isiolia

Nintendo's market cap is $24B, how big should you be before you can compete with the "big" guys?

That's...not even in the same league as Google, MS or Apple (which are in the $370+ billion range for Google/MS, and over $760B for Apple). A fair bit more than Blackberry, of course, but they're probably a good example of why it would be so difficult for Nintendo to even break into the market.

Still, my point is more the sheer amount of stuff that goes into a successful product in that market, much of which Nintendo has either demonstrably sucked at, or hasn't touched.

[Markies]

/ramble

You are not alone.

I am 33 years old. I don't own a cell phone. I have never signed up for Facebook. And the only phone I have is a landline phone.

I hate cell phones. I understand their purpose, but they are not for me. And I hate many people that have cell phones. They impair drivers, they are rude and they are spending way too much time staring at a tiny screen. I don't have many friends, so it's not like I need to constantly be reached all the time and I really enjoy my alone time. It's my preference and I doubt I'll ever get one.

And when it is found out that I don't own a cell phone, I'm looked at like I have three heads. College/High School kids are absolutely amazed that I can survive without one. Everybody else thinks that I am 80 years old.

I have seen many cell phone games and if that is the hope/future of the gaming industry, then I'm glad I only play retro games.

[Erik_Twice]

I hate many people that have cell phones.

I don't have many friends

You don't say?