Poll: Nintendo DS's microphone feature

[ZenMonkey47]

Paper... Pa-per... PA-per... pa-PER.... PA-PER DAMMIT!!

Have to say I'm not a fan of the microphone feature on the DS and yet so many games like to incorporate it. I mean, it's a great idea in theory, but isn't the whole point of handhelds is that you can play them while out and about? Screaming syllables into it and treating it like a breathalyser isn't something that one wants to do in public.

What does everyone else think?

 

[Dogeman5]

And the problem with it (for me) is that it hardly works correctly

 

[Kermi]

I tend to avoid using it, but I think it's a neat feature if I'm in the mood for it. I'd like to see more of it as long as there's always a way to avoid it.

 

[Kermi]

Sorry. Please don't ban me.

 

[Kermi]

Sorry. Please don't ban me.

 

[Kermi]

Sorry. Please don't ban me.

 

[Kermi]

Really, really sorry for the multi-post. My computer locked up for a minute there.

 

[Yan-Yan]

I like it, so long as they use it right. None of that 'yell into the microphone' crap. But in Cooking Mama, when you're told to blow, a little breeze will do, and you don't have to get your face right up on it, huffing and puffing like you're trying to get the three little pigs.

My French Tutor is the same way. Sensitive enough to catch my voice clearly without having to yell.

Phantom Hourglass, however, did it wrong with all the 'yell so I can hear you' crap. Mostly because even when at home, I find it ridiculous to yell at my DS. And heaven help me if I'm at work and have to get past that point. I'll manufacture ways to get past it. Bang on the desk, turn up speakers, what have you.

So yes to being able to use it, no to having to scream at it.

 

[Alcari]

Well, I generally feel like an idiot when I have to talk to my computer, unless it's to a fellow human being. With Phantom Hoursglass it was a damn shame I couldn't play it in the train (which I have to use quite a lot) because, while talking to your handheld might give you some extra room, it's not really socially acceptable.

Borrowed Cooking Mama from my GF, and they did it a lot better, like Yan-Yan said. You don't have to shout, or articulate like crazy. You can even hold it normally. So I guess it depends on how it's implemented.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

I completely agree with the common theme developing here... Phantom Hourglass gave the microphone a really really really bad rep.

 

[moderndayvampire]

i think its pretty good if they use it right but if you have to scream into it it doesnt work very well when i was playing brain age i had to say blue and it never accepted it when i said blue but when i said ***** it did

 

[The Franco]

I remember during phantom hourglass they asked me to "scream into the microphone." Well, I was in a library at the time, and didn't want to look like even more of a jackass. It seriously took me nearly five minutes of contemplating to figure out a loophole, I just quietly blew into the microphone slot. But yeah, for a system that's designed to be played in public, I'd rather prefer not to be made more of a jackass than I already am.

 

[Voodoo Child]

I like how the microphone was used in Spectrobes - sparingly. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl used it well, too.

But I'm going to say it has so far been a waste. At least until someone makes Singstar DS. That would be awesome.

 

[Yan-Yan]

Singstar DS? Man, now that sounds like a decently fun game alright!

I don't remember where in Pokemon it was used, honestly. And that might be a relatively good thing. I'd rather they did it well and I forgot about it, then do it horrible and remember it.

 

[tiredinnuendo]

I think that the mic might be good for other multimedia functions (something like pictochat, for instance) and I did like the "Blow out the candles" sections of Phantom Hourglass. That said, no game should ever, *ever* ask you to make an actual noise (speaking, yelling, whatever) at the game in order to proceed. Especially that whole, "How loud you yell determines my price," bullshit.

It's long been stated that Nintendo can never make a completely good product. All of their handhelds must be flawed in some vital way. For instance:

GB: Games looked terrible
GB Colour: Games *still* looked terrible, and were now badly coloured too.
GBA: Cannot see the screen properly
SP: No headphones
DS: Absolutely hideous
DS Lite: Mic used in games

It's like Nintendo's calling card, you know? The Riddler always leaves clues, Joker uses Joker-venom, Nintendo makes bad designs into massively popular handhelds.

- J