@djsumdog @coolboymew That's a screenshot from the unreleased Earthbound 64.
@Calvin @djsumdog @coolboymew N64 is an overrated and terrible console (the games are good in spite of it's flaws). In fact, EB64 probably would have been finished if the system wasn't a nightmare to program for.
@xianc78 @djsumdog @coolboymew
the games are good in spite of it’s flaws. In fact, EB64 probably would have been finished if the system wasn’t a nightmare to program for.
This is all true, though. The N64 is a very unique console and that goes both ways. I see its flaws as quirks and desire to work with them, rather than against them. Either way, it is amazing what people managed to accomplish with it and what they probably could have, had they been allowed (or forced) to continue working with it for a few years or so longer (like Dinosaur Planet).
@Calvin @djsumdog @coolboymew
>The N64 is a very unique console and that goes both ways.
Sure. I'll take Rare's and Factor 5's word and say that their games took advantage of the cartridge format (using cart space like additional RAM), but you can only take advantage of the format if you are good at optimizing. However, most N64 games feel like they had wasted potential just because of the cartridge problem among other things.
@xianc78 @djsumdog @coolboymew
but you can only take advantage of the format if you are good at optimizing
I see this as a good thing and I wish more designers conceived their games from this perspective, instead of from a pragmatic and marketable one.
the cartridge problem among other things
The inherent lack of space? Or something else?
but the console was designed by an absolute maroon
Moron*? How would you contrast it with your idea of “good design”? Complaints about the trident design don’t really count.
@Calvin @Tadano @djsumdog @coolboymew
>The inherent lack of space? Or something else?
Cartridge space, limited texture cache, the system being a nightmare to program for, Nintendo reserving certain microcode and not letting third-parties use it.
@Tadano @djsumdog @coolboymew
Yeah, that's what I thought. The cartidge space being limited was a bit of a problem, but I think a lot of that can be circumvented by combining procedural generation techniques with allocating space for that pseudo-RAM technique.
The limited texture cache is definitely a problem, but there may be ways around that, as well.
However, the issue of Nintendo not giving clear details and hiding stuff from developers is the biggest roadblock to that.
Any games you think are good examples of wasted potential?
@Calvin @Tadano @djsumdog @coolboymew I always felt that the two Zelda games could've included more content (both were originally DD games).
And I think most games could've used some voice acting, but it wasn't really common on the system.
@Tadano @djsumdog @Calvin @coolboymew I like MM, but both Hyrule Field and Termina Field feel like over-glorified hub levels.
