On Thu, 14 Dec 2006 03:06:12 GMT, Abraham Evangelista
<daken@verizon.net> wrote:

>On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:08:26 -0500, Rob Browning
><pluvius3@hotmail.com> wrote:

>> and an unergonomic design at home when a 
>
>Woo.  Tried one lately?  Nintendo and friends have been spending
>serious dollars on ergonomics.  I'd argue that the video game industry
>on the whole score better on ergonomics than almost any other
>industry.  Certainly better than big box PC retailers.

Sorry, but it's physically impossible to make a system that's both
portable enough to fit well in a pocket and at the same time is as
comfortable to manipulate as a console controller or keyboard/mouse
setup or as easy on the eyes as a moderately sized TV or monitor. I've
tried the DS and it doesn't break those rules.

>But barring a Notebook, your PC or Console is where you put it.  Your
>portable is where you put YOU.  Wanna game in the kitchen?  How about
>sitting in the sunroom?  Back porch?  In the bedroom?  On the can?

What makes you think I'm talking about the location?  That's only one
part of the comfort equation, and a relatively minor one at that.  If
I have to hunch over the thing and contort my hands to play it, it
doesn't matter if I'm in a frigging meadow; it's still not going to be
comfortable.

>>Because of this, portable
>>games are supposed to be quick to play and enjoy during the time you
>>spend on the subway or a ten-minute coffee break.  
>
>To a lesser extent I agree with you.  Some games are a little bit time
>consuming, which might hurt their viability on a portable platform. 
>
>But that's nothing that a save file can't fix.   

It is if you don't allow the player to save where ever he wants, which
is the case with console RPGs.  And besides that, save files still
don't fix the problem of not feeling like you've accomplished anything
after your ten minutes of play.  Not many console RPGs can give you
that sense of accomplishment in that short amount of time.

Rob
ploovTeHSPaeMBLoKuR@charter.net

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