Arkanoid DS to include attachable knob controller (Not in US) | Now with Video!

[7th lutz]

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/01/arkanoid-ds-to-include-attachable-knob-controller/

The first portable version of the game (not counting unofficial homebrews), Arkanoid DS will include an attachable knob controller that plugs into the DS' Game Boy Advance slot, according to a 1up translation of a Famitsu story. The game will also have 140 stages and a quest mode focused on completing specific tasks, according to the story.

The game is slated for a December release in Japan, and while a North American release hasn't yet been announced, the bevy of arcade classics already on the system makes it seem likely.

[dgordon86]

one thought: kickass.

About time one of my favorite nes/arcade games made it's way onto a portable medium!

[cyberfluxor]

Holy Moses! I'm going to need that, and Pong will be a must follow-up.

[Clownzilla]

Well, it looks like game creativity has been brought back from the dead lately with the Wii and DS games coming out lately.

[Damaramu]

Oh shit! I better hide that from my mom! She's loves Arkanoid!

[bcombee]

My mouth salivates at the homebrew possibilities with this controller. While I love Arkanoid, having a homebrew Tempest, Tempest 2000, or Major Havok on the DS would really be most excellent.

[PingvinBlueJeans]

Hopefully it will be released outside Japan...Arkanoid was left off the Taito Legends compilations released in Europe and North America, reportedly due to legal issues.
But perhaps those issues have been resolved.

[Xexyz]

We better get a North American release, and that GBA slot knob better come too!

I love Arkanoid and all, but I can live without it should it stay in Japan only. After all, Break Em All exists. That game's one hell of a polished Break Out clone and plays fantastic thanks to good touch screen programming.

[Damaramu]

Hmm.....I wonder if that knob controller could be used for future racing games?

[MrRoboto19XX]

We better get a North American release, and that GBA slot knob better come too!

I love Arkanoid and all, but I can live without it should it stay in Japan only. After all, Break Em All exists. That game's one hell of a polished Break Out clone and plays fantastic thanks to good touch screen programming.


Although Arkanoid would be excellent if you ask me, it's good to hear someone praising Break em All. A decent breakout game indeed, that break em all. (with Gradius-like power ups to boot!)

[sirhansirhan]

I don't care if it comes to America or not--I'll import this mother first chance I get.

Arkanoid's awesome, and I love the idea of the knob controller in the GBA slot.

[Jorpho]

I love Arkanoid and all, but I can live without it should it stay in Japan only. After all, Break Em All exists. That game's one hell of a polished Break Out clone and plays fantastic thanks to good touch screen programming.

Nervous Brickdown is also apparently rather charming.

[digitpress Jim]

Hey, how's it going everyone?

Check out this cool link below, it shows some of the first images to Arkanoid on Nintendo DS. I love the paddle add on that you plug in. I really hope this makes it to the states like the rumors I have been hearing say. Take care.

http://www.the-magicbox.com/0708/game070826i.shtml

Digitpress Jim

[Graham Mitchell]

Crap, that looks fantastic! I have no decent, playable home version of Arkanoid, just a famicom cart w/no Vaus controller, so this will be fantastic! Maybe even worth importing!

[Mianrtcv]

I can definitely see losing a lot of time to that. Also can see..."hey, can I try that?" I wonder how much they'll ask for it? Or did I miss that while remembering some funny memories of arkanoid at the local arcade.

[2Dskillz]

Nice, I really hope we see this in the states.

[PapaStu]

We've already got a thread with this going, but not with gameplay being shown.

Go Go Merge function!

[Rob2600]

Wouldn't it be more economical to have players use the touch screen to control the ship instead of releasing a paddle add-on?

Don't get me wrong, I think the paddle is great. It's just unusual that a company doesn't cheap out on us.

[rbudrick]

Damn, if you spin one of those weighted knobs too fast like in the arcade, wouldn't you break the DS? I mean, arkanoid can piss you off like that.

-Rob

[Icarus Moonsight]

Rough-up on that dial and Mr. Stylus will kick your ass! They're cousins afterall. LOL

Nice! Now bring it over. Thanks for the heads up folks. :)

[Bassgrabber]

Woohoo!!!!!!!

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Damn, if you spin one of those weighted knobs too fast like in the arcade, wouldn't you break the DS? I mean, arkanoid can piss you off like that.
I doubt it's weighted. That requires a whole gearing mechanism that I'm sure they couldn't fit into a GBA cart.

I really do hope that it's at least a continuous rotation style paddle, not just potentiometer like most home paddles.


...word is bondage...

[Tron 2.0]

If i had a DS i pick it up,Arkanoid it's still one of my favorite breakout clones of all time.

Still if it doesn't get a u.s release then f.u to atari.

Dunno why a french company would care in the frist place...if arkanoid was released here :p

[The Batman]

Badass, it better come here!

[geneshifter]

OMG!! I'm going out and getting that crimson/black DS lite special with Brain Age 2 in anticipation of this! I will loose copious amounts of my life to this game guaranteed. And, so will my wife who's the biggest arkanoid fan out there. Wow, these are the types of games I want. And, yes, the homebrew possibilities are off the hook.

[geneshifter]

Badass, it better come here!

At least we can import since DS is non-region.

[boatofcar]

Anybody import this? If so, how's the spinner controller?

[Kaboomer]

I imported it and the Spinner Controller kicks major ass. This thing is brilliant. Very solid feeling add-on. High quality. You can hear the bearings spinning when you whip it around. Kind of a metal knob, first class all the way. And since it's not going to be available with the US version, better get your now :)

It also works with the new Space Invaders DS as well.

[boatofcar]

I imported it and the Spinner Controller kicks major ass. This thing is brilliant. Very solid feeling add-on. High quality. You can hear the bearings spinning when you whip it around. Kind of a metal knob, first class all the way. And since it's not going to be available with the US version, better get your now :)

It also works with the new Space Invaders DS as well.


That's the best vg news I've heard in a long time. Play-asia, here I come!

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

I agree with Kaboomer, the Arkanoid paddle is excellent. Contrary to what I thought before it came out, it actually is geared so there's a sense of inertia to it unlike the paddle controllers for the 2600 or NES. It doesn't have the weight of an arcade spinner, but much more than I would have expected out of such a tiny little mechanism. The only thing I don't love about it is that since it's designed to fit both the original DS and the Lite, it doesn't look as nice in the Lite as it could have. That's pretty minor stuff, though.

Arkanoid DS itself is a lot of fun, but nothing super special, in my opinion. Space Invaders Extreme, on the other hand, is amazing.

I'm also currently working on a homebrew game that works with the paddle and have ideas for two more games that will use the paddle and actually could see myself making even more since I love paddle games.


...word is bondage...

[Kaboomer]

I wish there was some way to play freakin KABOOM with this thing. That is the best paddle game ever !

[swlovinist]

I got to play this thanks to Brian Moy. The import is excellent. Between Arkanoid and Space Invaders Exteme(also paddle compatible), even some stubborn fuddyduddy naysayers of the DS system will probably have get one now! The paddle is awsome, I hope the US gets that part of it. It reminded me of playing a tabletop when playing it. Awsome!

[sirhansirhan]

I imported it the first day I could, and I love both the game and the add-on paddle. This is the first I've heard about the upcoming U.S. release not coming with the paddle--sucks for those who are import-shy. That's pretty much the reason to get the game.

[DKTheArcadeRat]

I know you can just get the paddle add on, will it work with a US Arkanoid? If not, I will just import it, if it will work with the US game, then I will get the controller separate and the US version of the game. (Doesn't make much sense to anyone but me I bet)

[diskoboy]

I wish there was some way to play freakin KABOOM with this thing. That is the best paddle game ever !

Anyone wanna give Kaboomer a copy of Warlords?? :)

[xfrumx]

I know you can just get the paddle add on, will it work with a US Arkanoid? If not, I will just import it, if it will work with the US game, then I will get the controller separate and the US version of the game. (Doesn't make much sense to anyone but me I bet)

I am planning on doing the same thing ... if it works.

[meancode]

I imported this last year from Play Asia. The knob will work with the US releases of Arkanoid DS and Space Invaders Extreme, which are coming in July to the states.

I confirmed that it will work on the US releases with my Square-Enix contact. So import away!

[Kaboomer]

Anyone wanna give Kaboomer a copy of Warlords?? :)

Warlords is the second best paddle game :) Unless you are playing the cocktail cab w/ four, then it IS the best.

[rbudrick]

When's it come out in the US? Screeeeew them if there's no knob. I'm not buying it without. Don't they realize that the knob will discourage piracy?

-Rob

[xfrumx]

Got a silver one(for me) and a pink one (for my girlfriend). Ran around $30 shipped for the pink and I don't know where she got the silver one but it was $28.

So now her and I will be playing these games the right way less than a month from now!