Welcome to NShooters, if we feel that you as a shooters fan will be interested in a game or peripheral, we will give it coverage right here on NShooters. If you enjoy other genres of games in addition to shooters, then be sure to visit NAdventures and NSports in order to get your fill of gaming content. Check out http://hub.ngenres.com for the highlight stories from each genre.

Editorials   The Nintendo Online Biggie: Debated
- By Mike Schneider

Everybody has come to the general consensus that Nintendo has at least one big game in store for their online networking launch slated for March. I don't think anybody is going to deny that now, at Spaceworld, would be the time to pump it for all it's worth. Have a read in a free-for-all between NShooters’ Mike Schneider and Ryan Eid as they discuss what they believe to be up Nintendo’s sleeves.


Mike: When I consider which Nintendo franchises have complete global appeal, a few come to mind: Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon. From here, I'm going to say it right now: Pokémon is going to be Nintendo's trump card that kicks of their network with a bang. Imagine it, just for a second. The Gameboy handhelds have basically consisted of training, collecting, and trading Pokémon. Nintendo has already tried hooking up the handheld versions to the N64 to give gamers' more interactivity with their Pokémon and to bring them to life. Therefore, I can see no better game to get it all started for Nintendo. The Pokémon GameCube game would totally cater to what the franchise encompasses: Using your own GameCube [or GBA, with connectivity] to raise a little monster, and then going online to either trade your Pokémon with other gamers, or to bring them to battle against someone from around the world in a game of high-stakes, winner-take-all mayhem. It would be Pokémon, and more importantly, a game that could help fill the all-important RPG genre – especially for stirring up more interest in the system in Japan. It just makes too much sense for Nintendo to not have realized all of this.


Ryan: As you may or may not know, Nintendo is planning to launch their online gaming strategy early next year. But aside from Phantasy Star Online Version 2.0 from Sega, what will there be? Nintendo has something up their sleeve. Something big. And what is the biggest, most surefire bullet Nintendo's gun? Mario.

The title "Marionette" just happened to slip out on Nintendo's official site around the time of E3. For those who don't know, a marionette is a type of puppet. So what would a puppet have to do with Nintendo's online strategy? Nothing. But split the words apart just a bit, and you get "Mario Net". As in a networked Mario game. Nintendo Dream, the Japanese gaming publication, recently revealed the new Mario game will be ready for "early 2002". Hmm, isn't that the same time Nintendo plans on launching their network? Why, yes it is.

Mario is the one game that is can't-miss for Nintendo. EVERYONE, young, old, girl, boy, will play Mario. What type of game will it be? That's up in the air, but knowing Miyamoto's sheer intuitiveness, expect something grand.

As for Pokémon, it doesn't seem likely. For one, Nintendo has repeatedly stated they want to keep the "roots" of the game on the Gameboy. Meaning, the next true RPG installment will more then likely be on the GBA. Perhaps it would be Pokémon Stadium 3, online? Possible, but according to IGN, the next Pokémon game will NOT be Poke Stadium 3. Another option is possible, but as it is Nintendo feels online gaming is not very profitable. And despite how wildly successful Pokémon is, Mario is still more well known.


Mike:I keep thinking about it, and I just don’t see Mario having a major role in any sort of online gameplay. Mario, in his purest form, is an adventure/platforming game – and tell me how you bring that sort of gaming style into an online game plan, as the biggie? You don’t. Granted, there might be little things like “download a new suit for Mario,” or simple things like that. But the core of Mario’s gameplay is single playing action. That’s it.

Once again, Pokémon, on the other hand, can be used in a major way. It’s a sure fire way to launch an online gaming network with, and doesn’t require Nintendo to try out anything new or risky – as they’d maybe have to in order to bring Mario into an online game. As for the supposed launch date of Mario GCN, that is entirely coincidental. That, along with the impossibility of Nintendo releasing a Luigi and Mario game in such a short gap of one-another.


Ryan: But Mario is synonymous with "launch". And even if it's not at the GameCube SYSTEM launch, it seems likely Nintendo will want him at the GameCube NETWORK launch. Miyamoto creates new genres constantly. This is the perfect canvas for his next genre breaking idea, using who else, but Mario. A "platforming online game" may sound silly in concept, but don't put it past Miyamoto to try and create yet another viable genre to gaming.


Mike: If Mario was truly synonymous with launch, they’d have him all ready to go at the GameCube’s actual system launch. Nintendo’s playing their cards a little differently this time. Moreover, TendoBox is reporting that Nintendo announced today that they intend to make "major Pokémon announcements" at this year’s show. Now what those are, we’ll only have to wait and see. But I’d say a Pokémon online game would be a major announcement.