Anyone looking Forward to Field Commander?

[Artimus Gigan]

It's out in a month or so

The game looks like it could really give advance wars a run for it's money in terms of everything. The player Units and combat feilds are entirely 3 dimentional and look very well put together, it also allows for terrain structure(forrests, sand dunes, mountains etc.) to add to the physics of battle, you can use them for cover or to hinder the movement of your enemies. Also each usit has primary and secondary modes of operation, like you can fire a weapon if you stand still, but if you move you fire a different weapon. Also if you build up enough ability points, units can use an ultra super weapon or ability. They're also allowing every single type of military vehcile/soilder imaginable, so this could be a very interesting military stratagy game with all the variables they will implement.

[Chad Bonin]

I hadn't even heard of this game beforehand, but looking at it on IGN... it looks very handheld unfriendly. Advance Wars succeeds on it's incredible simplicity that covers a rather deep, if you wish it to be, game.

[Artimus Gigan]

I hadn't even heard of this game beforehand, but looking at it on IGN... it looks very handheld unfriendly. Advance Wars succeeds on it's incredible simplicity that covers a rather deep, if you wish it to be, game.
I don't think calling it Handheld Unfriendly would be correct. The PSP has pretty much all of the buttons used to play games like Front Mission on the Playstations and it has worked well. It's just that they are providing more depth to the units and allowing more variables in the outcomes. It's sort of expanding on what Advance Wars has already done. I mean Battalion Wars tried to do the very same aspect but it did not pull it off all that well. I think this has a pretty good shot at expanding the gameplay.

[Chad Bonin]

Yes, unhandheld-friendly meaning that it's much more deep, to the levels of a console or PC strategy game. It looks like a game that you'd be up to 3AM playing on your PC, instead of a game that you'd play for 13 minutes between classes.

[Vermunium]

I like the concept, but It might not run so good from an Idea on paper to an actual hand-held game.

[Artimus Gigan]

I like the concept, but It might not run so good from an Idea on paper to an actual hand-held game.
Juding by the gameplay foottage, it doesn't seem all that more complicated than Front Mission or Command and Conquer

[Chad Bonin]

Which are, at best, console or PC games. Not handheld games, and there's a reason.

It may be a quality game, and it'll most definitely be more realistic/deep than the Advance Wars. But, will it be a better handheld game? Time will tell, but I'm betting no.

[.Automatisch]

Hadn't heard of it prior to this thread, but thanks for the info. It actually does look pretty cool. I think I may get this if it turns out pretty solid... I like how it has online as well... Something I would hope the next Advance Wars would have.

[Artimus Gigan]

Which are, at best, console or PC games. Not handheld games, and there's a reason.

It may be a quality game, and it'll most definitely be more realistic/deep than the Advance Wars. But, will it be a better handheld game? Time will tell, but I'm betting no.
But the line of handheld/console games are blurring

they can match each other in quality and length

this is the case for both handhelds

[Chad Bonin]

But the line of handheld/console games are blurring

they can match each other in quality and length

this is the case for both handhelds
Debatable. If I want a long length game, I'll play it on my console where I can devote time to it. If I want quick play and save, portable's the way.

For example, you can catch me recently playing Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits in the Student Center. I can crank out a level in the time it takes people to decide where we eat. Today, I was playing X-Men Legends on my PS2, taking a good hour and a half to beat a mission or two.

[Artimus Gigan]

Debatable. If I want a long length game, I'll play it on my console where I can devote time to it. If I want quick play and save, portable's the way.

For example, you can catch me recently playing Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits in the Student Center. I can crank out a level in the time it takes people to decide where we eat. Today, I was playing X-Men Legends on my PS2, taking a good hour and a half to beat a mission or two.
But looking at the games for what sold the most for both systems are console quality games

Heck the DS came out of the game with a ported console game

Nintendogs certainly isn't any Gameboy or GBA styled game, it's on the level of Seamen and such in terms of interactvity and length.

Mario Kart DS was even better than all the other previous incernations. Three of which were on a console.

The PSP has a huge roster of console grade games that sold well, and the new ones are pretty much the same.

[Vermunium]

Juding by the gameplay foottage, it doesn't seem all that more complicated than Front Mission or Command and Conquer

Take into consideration how long it can take to finish one Mission in a Front Mission game. Only Front Mission 4 had the ability to quit mid-battle so you could return later. These kinds of RTS games aren't the greatest ideas for hand-helds, but that doesn't mean they still won't do it. Some missions in Front Mission 4 alone took in the upwards of an hour. You better be playing that game at home with your PSP plugged into the wall if it'll take that long.

[Artimus Gigan]

Take into consideration how long it can take to finish one Mission in a Front Mission game. Only Front Mission 4 had the ability to quit mid-battle so you could return later. These kinds of RTS games aren't the greatest ideas for hand-helds, but that doesn't mean they still won't do it. Some missions in Front Mission 4 alone took in the upwards of an hour. You better be playing that game at home with your PSP plugged into the wall if it'll take that long.
The battery life lasts more than that

but I usual;y have my handhelds plugged in anyways

Also it should be noted that Final Fantasy Tactics for GBA allowed for mid-mission save

So it is very possable for it to be implemented

[Chad Bonin]

The average PSP battery life is little over three hours. Given it's a portable system, we'll discredit the use of it being plugged in (It's a handheld; it should be able to stand up on it's own battery for game planning sake). Nintendo would not have made a game that HAD an end that would take over 20 hours in one sitting for the GB, nor would they allow a game nowadays with the same objective (a goal that can be reached) be longer than a full charge. Theoretically, you can always do the PSP's Hold/Sleep function, but that still drains batteries like the dickens.

Midmission saves are good and all, but when you reach the depth of a Front Mission game... that's a lot of data to save. In comparison, a game like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance or Advance Wars simply has to save location of character, and individual stats, on top of inventories and junk. It's all simple numbering. One of these games has vastly more location possibilities, status possibilities, etc. Here's to hoping you have more than the standard 32 meg card that is still included in the bare-bones package (The GigaPack, much like the Premium XBox 360, has faults in it's own; designers must, to guarantee sales, plan for the lowest common denomination. I believe Microsoft has instituted a "No Game Can Use The HDD Alone" rule for the 360, thusly making games that could own WITH it rather impossible to make. Likewise, it'll be rare to see HD-DVD games on the 360, or Revolution Shell games on the NR [assuming it's not packaged... Nintendo would be smart to]; they're not standard, so they're not in 100% of the owner's hands)

[Artimus Gigan]

The average PSP battery life is little over three hours. Given it's a portable system, we'll discredit the use of it being plugged in (It's a handheld; it should be able to stand up on it's own battery for game planning sake). Nintendo would not have made a game that HAD an end that would take over 20 hours in one sitting for the GB, nor would they allow a game nowadays with the same objective (a goal that can be reached) be longer than a full charge. Theoretically, you can always do the PSP's Hold/Sleep function, but that still drains batteries like the dickens.

Midmission saves are good and all, but when you reach the depth of a Front Mission game... that's a lot of data to save. In comparison, a game like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance or Advance Wars simply has to save location of character, and individual stats, on top of inventories and junk. It's all simple numbering. One of these games has vastly more location possibilities, status possibilities, etc. Here's to hoping you have more than the standard 32 meg card that is still included in the bare-bones package (The GigaPack, much like the Premium XBox 360, has faults in it's own; designers must, to guarantee sales, plan for the lowest common denomination. I believe Microsoft has instituted a "No Game Can Use The HDD Alone" rule for the 360, thusly making games that could own WITH it rather impossible to make. Likewise, it'll be rare to see HD-DVD games on the 360, or Revolution Shell games on the NR [assuming it's not packaged... Nintendo would be smart to]; they're not standard, so they're not in 100% of the owner's hands)

Actually many game saves do not take up that much room on the basic memory card that was included, even large games like Kingdom of Paradise do not use a large ammount of space(and you can save anywhere in that game), the only thing that takes up a large ammount of memory would be the Wipeout Download Packages. I've still got room on mine and havn't got the need to buy a new memory card.

Also 3 hours is if you have the screen on the brightest setting, which really does not make that much of a difference and it is beter if you set it on the lowest to save power or have the power save settings on, you get way more battery life than 3 hours. There's also the option of buying a new battery for 10 bucks for a spare, I mean you just pop it in and pop the depleted one out, you don't need a screwdriver like for the DS.

[Chad Bonin]

I've still got room on mine and havn't got the need to buy a new memory card.
You've lasted this long on your 32 meg? I applaud your file management abilities.


There's also the option of buying a new battery for 10 bucks for a spare, I mean you just pop it in and pop the depleted one out, you don't need a screwdriver like for the DS.
Not included in package, not an option for every gamer. Do you seriously believe Sony would advocate people buying an extra battery (outside of better sales) for games to be playable?

[Artimus Gigan]

You've lasted this long on your 32 meg? I applaud your file management abilities.


Not included in package, not an option for every gamer. Do you seriously believe Sony would advocate people buying an extra battery (outside of better sales) for games to be playable?

Dude many of the PSP games do not use that much memory on the card, I think Legend of Heros is the largest game file I have on there. I'd have room for way more than triple than the ammount of games I already have(I have 7) if I did not download the Wipeout Packages, the Wipeout Packages need a larger card for themselves, a typical stand alone game just needs a small ammount of data on the card.

And ofcourse an extra battery is not included in the package, but they provide an option to buy one, just like every single other accessory perpetual released for anything at any point in time in history. There are also newer longer lasting batteries for the PSP and other electronic equipment that uses the same type are out there.

So, yes having a tactical stratagy RPG on the scale of it's console bretaheren will work just fine on the PSP. It shall be just dandy, it is also not the only tactical RPG coming down the pipes either, NIS is making one as well. So I am guessing that there shall be more down the line as well, Sony's release scheduel for the First Quarter is anything but bare.

[Chad Bonin]

Dude many of the PSP games do not use that much memory on the card, I think Legend of Heros is the largest game file I have on there. I'd have room for way more than triple than the ammount of games I already have(I have 7) if I did not download the Wipeout Packages, the Wipeout Packages need a larger card for themselves, a typical stand alone game just needs a small ammount of data on the card.
Dude, so, can I infer that, since you've downloaded the Wipeout Packages, you do not continue to use the included 32 meg card? You've already done something not every PSP owner has done.

And ofcourse an extra battery is not included in the package, but they provide an option to buy one, just like every single other accessory perpetual released for anything at any point in time in history. There are also newer longer lasting batteries for the PSP and other electronic equipment that uses the same type are out there.
Yes, but accessories don't mean "100% Market Penetration". If the DK Bongos were bundled with the GCN when it launched, we'd see many more games use them. If all 360's came with the HDD, every game would use it to it's advantage.

Just because YOU can do something, not EVERYONE can... and companies sell games to EVERYONE. Hence why such games as Donkey Kong Jungle Beat 2 without bongos are such horrid sellers.

[Artimus Gigan]

Dude, so, can I infer that, since you've downloaded the Wipeout Packages, you do not continue to use the included 32 meg card? You've already done something not every PSP owner has done.

Yes, but accessories don't mean "100% Market Penetration". If the DK Bongos were bundled with the GCN when it launched, we'd see many more games use them. If all 360's came with the HDD, every game would use it to it's advantage.

Just because YOU can do something, not EVERYONE can... and companies sell games to EVERYONE. Hence why such games as Donkey Kong Jungle Beat 2 without bongos are such horrid sellers.
But you listed personal actions as well as a baisis for an option or situation, I plan on transfering the Wipeout data to a different card once there's a sale, I can probably save 1 or 2 more games on the card, but after I transfer the Wipeout data I'll continue using the original card for any newer games.

besides Stratagy Games are being released for the DS as well, Age of Empires is being ported to the System, so really if the DS can handle it, the PSP can handle it. Also The PSP was released with Metal Gear Acid which did allow for mid-mission saves, so there really isn't anything to left in terms of concerns about the portables handling the genre's attributes.

[.Automatisch]

^^ AOE on DS is a turn-based strategy game, not real-time. Anyways, the DS vs PSP on this board has gone on long enough IMO... It's futile to carry it on any longer. I think everyone just needs to accept the fact that some people like different things. I have stated my opinions on both, and while the DS has more sales and games overall, the PSP is a better system to some people... Just let it go.