Issue 48: Versus Apple

Here’s my confession: these days, I spend most of my gaming time on my iPod touch. Now hang on there– it’s not like I have a choice. (Maybe.) What with constant bus commutes and the need to just get up and get out of public transit without so much as a “lemme save first,” even the “burst” gameplay that Nintendo DS popularized is not quick enough. Say what you want about Apple, but they’ve managed to create a kind of gameplay that defeats almost everything that we once thought about gameplay. Angry Birds takes millions of casual gamers’ souls away daily, and yet Infinity Blade comes straight from the people who made Gears of War, for goodness’ sake. No other company so successfully blends this kind of casual gaming with high-octane, adrenaline-rush thrills. No other, that is, except for one.

You can see where we’re going with this.

Nintendo and Apple are pretty similar in many ways, and these parallels only grow closer and closer. Apple’s prone to snapping up Nintendo staff for its own gaming purposes, and Nintendo strikes right back by designing packaging and products that rival anything Apple could throw at us. While Apple certainly seems to know what it’s doing regarding the casual crowd, so does Nintendo– though may we remind you, as is our duty here at Nintendojo, that while Apple does right by us with its library of Capcom, Atari and Konami arcade hits, it’s only on Nintendo that we’ll find Mario, Zelda and Metroid. And besides, Super Street Fighter IV 3D is just so much better than Street Fighter IV on the iOS. Touch pad controls can only go so far.

Regardless of your gaming loyalties, though, it’s just fascinating to see this battle play out. That’s what we’ll do in this week’s issue. And before the flaming starts– come on, guys, I was exaggerating. Everybody knows I only play games like Pokémon White. Try finding that on iOS.

Enjoy,
Andrew

Issue 48: Versus Apple

Separated at Birth by Andrew Hsieh
The similarities between Apple and Nintendo are a large reason behind why we love them both so much.

The End of Gaming-Only Portables by Andy Hoover
Apples and Androids are eating into the handheld market and endangering the future of gaming as we know it.

Apple in Hot Coffee by Adam Sorice
Could Apple’s present fanbase be pulled away by Project Cafe?

Nester64x: Buttons, There Ain’t an App for That! by Nester64x
Nester confronts the evil that is iPhone gaming.

Hot Air: Pacified by Aaron Roberts
Can’t we all just get along?

Taking a Page from Apple by James Stank
In the future, one device in your pocket will do everything.

Additional features in this issue…

Monday

• Nightly News Roundup by Matthew Tidman
  

Tuesday

• Nightly News Roundup by James Stank

Wednesday

• Dojo-Show-Go! Episode 141 by M. Noah Ward
• Nightly News Roundup by Kevin Knezevic

Thursday

• Nightly News Roundup by Andy Hoover

Friday

• Nightly News Roundup by Nicolas Vestre
  

Coming Up Next Week…

Issue 49: OMG! I’m Your Biggest Fan
Nintendo inspires a whole lot of fans to make a whole lot of stuff. Let’s check out the best of the best.