Blowing into the microphone must be banned!

Blowing into the microphone must be banned!

To quote IGN: "...microphone blowing is so 2005. It wasn't a whole lot of fun when developers did it in the DS' early years, and it's still not fun now..."

I had hoped that due to the general opinion that it sucks (or blows!) developers were no longer using it, but to my horror it is going to be used in Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (is nothing sacred?!) Blowing into the microphone is a horrible, horrible gimmick. It is irritating, contrived, tiresome, impractical, and embarrassing (for all concerned). It is intensely annoying that you have to bring the console up towards your mouth, that you therefore can't really see the screens, that you get spit on the screen, that it gives you a headache, that it is totally inconsistent, that you can't play the games in public (ie. on the bus or train which is what handheld games are for!) because it's utterly humiliating.

It is not "innovative" or "immersive" it's just an annoying, cheap, nasty gimmick! It is not taking gaming forwards, it's just taking it sideways. It's just being different for the sake of being different. I know that (luckily) it's barely used, but still, it completely ruins any game that does use it.

Every time I "blow into the microphone" a little piece of me dies on the inside.

Posted at 10:47AM on Aug 15th 2007 by Hame on ds fanboy

Blowing into the microphone must be banned!

To quote IGN: "...microphone blowing is so 2005. It wasn't a whole lot of fun when developers did it in the DS' early years, and it's still not fun now..."

I had hoped that due to the general opinion that it sucks (or blows!) developers were no longer using it, but to my horror it is going to be used in Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (is nothing sacred?!) Blowing into the microphone is a horrible, horrible gimmick. It is irritating, contrived, tiresome, impractical, and embarrassing (for all concerned). It is intensely annoying that you have to bring the console up towards your mouth, that you therefore can't really see the screens, that you get spit on the screen, that it gives you a headache, that it is totally inconsistent, that you can't play the games in public (ie. on the bus or train which is what handheld games are for!) because it's utterly humiliating.

It is not "innovative" or "immersive" it's just an annoying, cheap, nasty gimmick! It is not taking gaming forwards, it's just taking it sideways. It's just being different for the sake of being different. I know that (luckily) it's barely used, but still, it completely ruins any game that does use it.

Every time I "blow into the microphone" a little piece of me dies on the inside.

Posted at 10:47AM on Aug 15th 2007 by Hame on ds fanboy

jn696

I agree with you 100% blowing into the mic is so rubbish I dont understand why any game developer would even consider making gamers use it at all I would avoid any game that tries to make me humiliate myself by blowing into it like an idiot...

I do agree that it is rather pointless and not much fun, but the way you describe is very dramatic and a bit too harsh, its not THAT bad....._Charlie_

I completely agree. It's dumb. Let's all boycott Zelda now!

... or not :).

I personally thought that blowing into the mic was used quite well in Warioware Touched.TheMadcapLaughs

it would be cool if it actually worked half the time. Oh and mic blowingfor life baloons ruined mariokart battle mode!

What the hell? You don't have to get that close to the mic. Well, atleast I don't. You can see the screen and still blow. It works fine for me, but then again my sister can't do it.

And as long as its used sparingly, I think its fine. I agree with one of the users above, it does sound clever the way it will be used in ZPH.

Maybe you should learn how to blow better. You don't have to spit.

What the hell? You don't have to get that close to the mic. Well, atleast I don't. You can see the screen and still blow. It works fine for me, but then again my sister can't do it.

And as long as its used sparingly, I think its fine. I agree with one of the users above, it does sound clever the way it will be used in ZPH.

Maybe you should learn how to blow better. You don't have to spit.

wnba15

Well, if it is used like in Zelda or Diddy Kong Racing i thinks its okay because it kinda makes u part of the game, as weird as that may sound :P

in Mario kart there should be an option to turn it off because i also almost fainted few times trying to get a balloon while my opponent just kicked my ass because i couldnt play and blow at the same time :(

well, the mic isn't just for blowing on Zelda. you actually yell at the mic for some of the quests.

and yeah, i did yell at the mic saying: "why the hell am i yelling at my DS!?!? this is ridiculous-----ly awesome!!". well, not really....

Maybe you should learn how to blow better. You don't have to spit.

wnba15

The only time I thought mic blowing was kinda fun was in nintendogs for the bubble blower...something you didn't actually have to do to progress in the game.

I agree with you on everything except for the can't play in public thing.

Why not?

When I'm cold in public I cup my hands and blow into them...I never think, oh god, that guy I don't know and will probably never see again is judging me right now.

If I had no idea what a DS was besides a handheld gaming device, and I saw some kid blowing on his...I'd probably think he was cleaning the screen or something. Even if I couldn't figure out blowing must be some part of the game, the most I'd think is "man, that kid is weird" and I'd never see him again anyways so what does it matter what I think about him?

IF you're that worried about being judged by people who don't know you, you should just give up on life now...becasue you can't avoid going out in public forever.

Besides, think about it, there are always people judging the cloths you're wearing or your haircut...you can't get a haircut and wardrobe that nobody will think is dumb.

I'm going to go blow on my DS wearing a speedo while riding a bus now just to prove my point.

The only time I thought mic blowing was kinda fun was in nintendogs for the bubble blower...something you didn't actually have to do to progress in the game.

I agree with you on everything except for the can't play in public thing.

Why not?

When I'm cold in public I cup my hands and blow into them...I never think, oh god, that guy I don't know and will probably never see again is judging me right now.

If I had no idea what a DS was besides a handheld gaming device, and I saw some kid blowing on his...I'd probably think he was cleaning the screen or something. Even if I couldn't figure out blowing must be some part of the game, the most I'd think is "man, that kid is weird" and I'd never see him again anyways so what does it matter what I think about him?

IF you're that worried about being judged by people who don't know you, you should just give up on life now...becasue you can't avoid going out in public forever.

Besides, think about it, there are always people judging the cloths you're wearing or your haircut...you can't get a haircut and wardrobe that nobody will think is dumb.

I'm going to go blow on my DS wearing a speedo while riding a bus now just to prove my point.

IXIWhistIXI

I personally have no problems whatsoever with the mic system, other than one incident where I was on a bus playing Phoenix Wright and the thing wouldnt detect my voice. I screamed OBJECTION as loud as I could, and it turned into a ratherawkward moment.

Nono, I love the mic system, I was just sharing one of the many awkward moments in my life related to it. Sorry if it was off topic.

I personally have no problems whatsoever with the mic system, other than one incident where I was on a bus playing Phoenix Wright and the thing wouldnt detect my voice. I screamed OBJECTION as loud as I could, and it turned into a ratherawkward moment.

hmm, you could have just used your stylus and press "present" hehehe anyway, i dont hate the mic, but blowing into a handheld in public and even talking or screaming something into it does make you look weird.

Sesshiroth

okay. first off, major lol to the reply above mine. :)

second, it seems okay in Zelda and it was very cool in MKDS. But for the week that I had DKR DS, omg I hated it! I got really lightheaded from it. I very quickly got used to not using a boost at the start of hovercraft races.

Yep, I almost died from lack of oxygen and almost cough to death and spitted a lot of saliva all over my DS, but it was funny for a short while anyway.

I blow a narrow stream of air right on top and that works fine. You can't just huff and puff at it.