1. The products are assumed to be tested on the same time, at the present moment. Every product that came out were "new" and fashionable when it was first launched. What you felt about a new product now could be the same as what you have felt when you find a similar product years ago.
2. The products are assumed to be fully functional while being tested. That means even when a product has been out for a long time, we assume that that product we're testing is still working at its optimum condition.
So yup without further ado, let me present to you the review of 3 handheld console game systems, comparing the visceral, behavioral and reflective sense of things.
Product 1: Nintendo Gameboy (1989 Original Version):
The grandfather of all handheld game consoles which use the catridge packs. Prior to the gameboy, handheld gaming was limited to electronic games which consist of devices which is designed to play only one game, using liquid crystal display. The Nintendo Game and Watch series are the popular handheld electronic games of the 1980s. (For more info check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handheld_electronic_game , but we shall now focus on the Gameboy)
The popular puzzle game Tetris was shipped along with the Gameboy and it was the defining game that made the Gameboy globally popular. It was also one of the longest surviving handheld console of its time, lasting almost 13 years before it was finally overtaken by newer handheld game consoles. Nevertheless let us review the Gameboy now and see what experiences it would bring us:
Visceral:
The design looks blocky and unappealing. The dot matrix screen look primitive. But the Gameboy does possess a nostalgic look, where somehow the design instantly reminds one of the late 1980s and early 1990s where technology was more about functionality than form. The plain control interface showed that it was designed to be solely as a gaming machine. (There were add-ons such as the gameboy camera later in the mid-90s, but those devices failed to impress the market)
Behavioral (while playing tetris):
The controls are simple and intuitive. Sound is expected to be sub-par by today's standards. Screen has no backlight, thus you have to find a good spot with ample lighting to play the game. Colors are limited to greyscale display.
Reflective:
Playing the Gameboy now would lead to a feel of nostalgia, of the classic Nintendo 8-bit era. Games then were more focused on addictive gameplay, rather than flashy graphics. But the Gameboy feels outdated, unsophisticated and obsolete, and seems that only puzzle games are worth playing on the Gameboy. It is also associated to children as there was a period where the Gameboy was popular solely due to Pokemon.
Product 2: Nintendo DS
(For simulated product testing you can try this: http://www.warioware.biz/touched/launch/index.html )
DS can stand for "Dual Screen," and Developers' System, from Nintendo's belief that the system "gives game creators brand new tools which will lead to more innovative games for the world's players." First released in 2004, the DS is innovative in a sense that it provided input using a stylus, a first for handheld console gaming, and a microphone that allows limited voice control in some games. How does it fair according to the exprience rating?
Visceral:
Sleek and stylish; the dual screen is a unique refreshing change from a single screen display.
Behavioral (while playing Wario touched!):
Using the stylus to control is unique. But switching from stylus to gamepad is cumbersome at times.
Graphics are bright and colourful. Sound is catchy and chirpy. Controls are intuitive and simple. Had fun exploring the microphone function where for some games, you need to blow into the microphone to push the objects.
Reflective:
Innovative gameplay, but right now most of the good games come solely from Nintendo. Not exactly mainstream type of console.
Product 3: Playstation Portable
Among the 3 this would have been known by many who are reading this blog. The PSP is currently the most popular handheld console, but is it really the best?
Visceral:
Looks sophisticated. Sleek and high performance hand held console.
Behavioral (While playing Ridge Racers) :
Check out what Amirul said in his blog about the PSP. The PSP seems to be designed for people with small hands. Alot of buttons, but control wise it's not that comfortable as both the DS or even the Gameboy.
Graphics are definitely the best in PSP, but somehow there's lag experienced while the game gets too intensive. Soundwise it's the superior of the 3.
The PSP is also capable of playing video recordings and MP3. Memory card serves to be useful in storing saved games and multimedia.
Reflective:
The PSP is the mainstream choice. It is easier to find another person having a PSP. I would probably buy a PSP out of the 3 choices...
Wait a minute... didn't I just say about the controls and the lagginess being below from DS and Gameboy? Hmm... Network effect or lock-in effect somehow plays a part too. Even though some "bad designs" are made, if it was able to gather enough consumers to use them, it will form strong lock-in. The QWERTY keyboard is a good example of a bad design that is still popular. Despite the fact that the keyboard was made to slow down typing speed of typewriters, modern day computers still follow the exact same layout of a type writer!
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