Poll: Nintendo's "Kind Code" Explained

[DrDeath3191]

Nintendo's patent on in-game assistance for less skilled players met with mixed results. Some accepted that it is a good idea to assist the non-gamer if they're having trouble. Others saw the option as a 'get out of game' free card. Now we have the full details, and here's how it's going to work in New Super Mario Bros. Wii:

In order to activate the Assist mode, you first need to die eight times on a single level. Since you start the game with five lives, you need to burn through a continue before the option even becomes available. After that, a green box will appear at the beginning of the level. If you hit the box, you enter a guided mode.

The guided mode replaces Mario (the only selectable character in the single-player campaign. Sorry, Luigi fans) with Luigi, and has him start navigating the level. This is not a video: the playthrough is done by an AI in-game. This does not reveal any secret areas, or even show the most efficient way to navigate the level. It will merely get to the end of the level, without going for any secrets or tricks.

At any time, you can press a button, and cancel the computer control of Luigi. You will continue the level from that point. So, if you're having trouble, just hit the green box, and let Luigi run for a little while. After he gets through something you couldn't, jump right in and finish the level yourself.

The major plus is that the levels in NSMB:Wii can be made incredibly difficult for the people who have been playing Mario games for ages, while having the assistance available for less skilled players to get through the tougher bits.

I thought that this was a good idea before, and I still think so now. The less-skilled players can enjoy the game without frustration, and I get to play a challenging Mario platformer. Everyone wins!

Here's the article I got my info from: http://kotaku.com/5374432/kind-code-demo-shows-new-super-mario-bros-on-auto+pilot

 

[Rednog]

I think it is a good idea/concept. It is awfully hard to get new people who aren't kids to play games, and even in some cases kids will quit games because they get stuck at some point. For example I bought my cousins (6 and 12 years old) Lego Batman, the game really doesn't tell you much about what to do and more than once I was confused myself on what to do next. And if I can't figure it out odds are they can't and they just quit the game and never touch it again.

Once again I think it is a great concept, but I don't think it would work for many games besides "simpler" ones. Things like shooters generally make AI pants on head retarded, ie Left 4 Dead has the AI be Chicago Ted Jrs (amazing) sometimes other times they will play like they've been blindfolded.

 

[DrDeath3191]

WTF? No thank you nintendo now get out of the way "This shit will not beat me" *cookie available

Yes, Quoting Yahtzee can be fun.

 

[TPiddy]

Hmm.... doesn't having a game play itself for you (MGS4) kind of defeat the point of playing games? I know games are easier now than when I was growing up (damn you Contra).... but really... are we so lazy?

 

[chronobreak]

WTF? No thank you nintendo now get out of the way "This shit will not beat me" *cookie available

Huh? I don't know what point you're making, but if this bothers you so much, don't use it. It is a good tool for people who aren't regular gamers to still have a good time without getting frustrated and leaving the game on the shelf.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

My argument to this is how are the less skilled players supposed to get any better if the AI finishes all the hard parts for them? Just a thought.

 

[theultimateend]

WTF? No thank you nintendo now get out of the way "This shit will not beat me" *cookie available

Yes, Quoting Yahtzee can be fun.

Yet it never has that same flavor.

My argument to this is how are the less skilled players supposed to get any better if the AI finishes all the hard parts for them? Just a thought.

Same way I learned to read hiragana by cheating in Japanese.

The effort put into examining ways to cheat reveals methods of completing the original goal that wouldn't have otherwise come to light for the individual.

I often learn amazing new tools for various actions by watching what other people do. It is part of development.

 

[gigastrike]

Great idea to force someone to burn a continue before being able to use this.

 

[z0nbie]

I think it's great for kids... and that's who it's primarily aimed at... don't like it ... don't use it ?

 

[ProfessorLayton]

It sort of defeats the purpose of having a challenge, right? The game should challenge you and it should be rewarding to beat a level you were having trouble with. But I guess not everyone is a huge nerd like me, so some people just need an autopilot. I mean, I'm not going to use it and the concept is a bit strange to me but let the people who want to use it use it I guess.

 

[teisjm]

I think it's fine.

Just because a game allows you to enable god-mode doens't mean it's a bad game... It jusy means you're a bad player if you do it.

Giving you additional options is never a bad thing IMO, seeing as you can always play as you would've wanted anyways if teh extra choices doesn't suite you

 

[LilGherkin]

Guess that proves Luigi is the better of the two brothers.

 

[AceDiamond]

It sort of defeats the purpose of having a challenge, right? The game should challenge you and it should be rewarding to beat a level you were having trouble with. But I guess not everyone is a huge nerd like me, so some people just need an autopilot. I mean, I'm not going to use it and the concept is a bit strange to me but let the people who want to use it use it I guess.

Yes it defeats the purpose of having a challenge by giving us a completely optional method of assistance that none of us will use because we're not goddamn children. Let's be perfectly honest here, platformers when we were 6 years old were occasionally mind-boggingly difficult. That's what this is for. It's not for us, it's for the younger people who haven't honed themselves like we have.

I would not be so aggravated by this thing existing if not for the fact that most of the people speaking out against it think it's something being forced upon them. And consider this. With this in place developers could make games that are more challenging because there's something in place to help out people who truly get stuck/are less coordinated.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

My argument to this is how are the less skilled players supposed to get any better if the AI finishes all the hard parts for them? Just a thought.

How are they supposed to get any better if they throw down the controller in frustration and return the game to the store?

We did.

 

[Chuplayer]

When I was a kid in the early 90s, do you know how I beat Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels? I played, and played, and played until I beat the game all by myself.

I weep for today's kids.

 

[fenrizz]

I think it sounds good.
Had no real opinion before, but it seems like Nintendo implemented the feature in the best possible way.

 

[Pain_Inflictor]

It sort of defeats the purpose of having a challenge, right? The game should challenge you and it should be rewarding to beat a level you were having trouble with. But I guess not everyone is a huge nerd like me, so some people just need an autopilot. I mean, I'm not going to use it and the concept is a bit strange to me but let the people who want to use it use it I guess.

This.

 

[wordsmith]

Whatever happened to game guides? "Oh, I can't get past X. I've been trying for three hours, it won't work. *Googles game name, chapter/problem* Oh, you're supposed to hit the red faced man with the armadillo until he gives you a chilli? Why didn't I think of that?"

 

[Twilight_guy]

All I can say is High Five Nintendo, good job! Building bridges while there are still gamers with their heads so far up there own asses that they can't figure out the benefit of bridging "casual" and "hardcore" gap.

 

[quack35]

Sounds all right to me. Don't really see a problem, I mean, it is optional...