Electroplankton has been promoted as a non-game since day one, even with the Japanese launch. From the first time I heard anything about it, I heard people saying that it was not a game, but instead something of an artistic musical toy that just happens to run on the NDS. I do not understand how people could review the "game" and bash it because there aren't any true goals, storyline, or anything like that.

I'll be buying it in the next couple of weeks, and I'll post my thoughts on it at that time. The game is something I'd be very much into, since I love different things like that. And as far as saving goes, no, you can't save any of your creations, but you can hook your DS up to a PC and record them that way, which is what I'll do myself.

I'm sure the game will last you as long as you can keep your creative juices flowing.

I don't think they were surprised. They just bashed it for not being a game. Maybe that's not the fairest way to review something, but I like it as it clues me in on it being something that will be utterly worthless for me.

I just don't think it's fair. They should have reviewed it for what it was, but also make sure that they mention that it's not a game over and over again, just to nail that point home.

In all honesty, I don't see why they even reviewed it in with the normal game reviews. After all the are Electronic Gaming Monthly.

I honestly thought it was a puzzle game, so I'm glad they harped on it not being a game. I'm all for quirky new games, but not quirky non-games. I've got to have clear goals and objectives to work toward or a "game" can't hold my interest at all.

I agree that they're a gaming magazine, and this is a gaming system. Not to mention that most people will have to be informed that it's "not a game" so they did a good job of it. And one reviewer, I think, gave it a 7 or so, so they did have someone that liked it.

A DS redesign might be coming Jan 16th.

http://joystiq.com/2006/01/11/ninten...ming-jan-16th/

As a recent importer of a Japanese DS, having waited for over a year to buy a DS, I'm excited for the redesign.

I mention this as a pre-emptive strike against those that are going feel "betrayed".

I'm fine with the current design, so no skin off my nose. If mine breaks I'll buy the new design if I like it better, other wise, no need to upgrade.

Personally I like the initial design, there's not too much they could do to improve it, other than the screen. But the screen is good enough for me even though the PSP craps all over it.

Crap. My girlfriend was hinting at getting me a black DS for my birthday (end of this month).. hopefully she hasn't ordered it yet as I'd personally like to her about the redesign first. I'll drop some hints tonight to wait.

I bet the announcement is really just a new color. But if it is a redesign I'm excited to see it, I'd probably upgrade too considering the DS is the only thing I play nowdays.

They also criticized it for not being an instrument, so I don't think EGM really bothered to take Electroplankton for what it is. It's a portable light/sound installation and they failed to communicate that.

Just read the EGM reviews and thought they did a fair job. They just didn't like it, and scored it low for not having any objectives and for not being able to save your creations (which I agree makes the concept pretty pointless IMO).

I got from the review that it's a game where you make weird light and sound creations and can't save them. So I'm not sure what they're failing to communicate there.

And I will definitely not give this game (or whatever you want to call it) another thought after reading the reviews.

EGM makes a living with mean spirited pointless reviews so I have zero interest in their opinion. I actually played the Japanese version of Electroplankton and its going to be a great experience or a dull waste of time depending on you. You will get out of it what you put into it as with any kind of art exercise. I thought it was great and ordered the US version the first day it was available. I do agree that not being able to save your songs sucks, but my friend has been recording his audio to his PC through the line in and remixing it and came up with some really amazing stuff.

My copy should hopefully arrive today. This is definitely not going to be a title for everyone though that is why Nintendo is only putting it in limited release in the US.

As far as Tetris DS goes, holy crap. Can't wait for that one. Wi-Fi Tetris.

Truth.

Actually, 10-player Wi-Fi Tetris!!! WHoah!!!

And Nintendo is making it.. so it should be solid. The GBA Tetris (THQ?) was pretty sloppy.

Looks like it uses items to some extent, a la Mario Kart. That should make things more interesting. Hopefully there's still a "pure" version of the game for mutli-player just in case.

I believe the game is to offer 10 player support locally, and 4 player via internet wifi.

Still not bad. Can't wait to go 0-100 at Tetris online.

So when will we see Dr. Mario DS?

I dig the new style of DS. I hope that it is a bit lighter. The current one makes your hand cramp up after playing with it an extended amount of time.

Pics? Links? Did it leak already?

That's a fair point.

Like I said, I tend to agree as I'm just a negative, critical and cynical of games and like very few games I try these days as well, so their reviews are right up my alley.