Is this how you like your Pacman and Galaga?

Look! It’s 3DS Galaga!

You can find the Japanese website for Pacman and Galaga for the 3DS here. Now, I know what Pacman and Galaga are. What we are going to get instead is a ‘gyroscope’ game where we rotate the 3DS physically around.

“Why do you hate gyroscopes, Malstrom?” I don’t. But is this how people want to play Pacman and Galaga? Software like this will not make people like the 3DS. It’s an example of a game maker saying technology is more important than people, i.e. the technology is more important than gameplay.

But there is something the 3DS can do better than any other handheld: if its online software store is good, it can create a superior handheld experience by having us carry around the handheld without carrying around games. The biggest drag on gaming handhelds ever since the Gameboy has been lugging around the games. DSi and PSP already have a store, but the 3DS should be much better integrated. 3DS software has overshot the audience ($40 for a game?) which would make the 3DS shop more appealing.

Pac-Man Championship Edition and the Galaga remake would be great for the shop. They would actually fit the handheld’s job fairly well. “But Malstrom, that software doesn’t use gyroscopes! It doesn’t use 3d output!” Who cares? People want games, not technology gimmicks.