Ping Pals
Encyclopedia
Ping Pals is a chat/accessory program developed by WayForward Technologies
and published by THQ
for the Nintendo DS
. It was released on December 8, 2004 in North America
. The program allows the user to customise their "Ping Pal" avatar
and game interface by selecting from over 1000 different items such as hairstyles, makeup, clothing, backdrops, music loops and sound effects.
Players receive a regular allowance of coins, using the DS' date-keeping functionality, and can get more by playing mini-games (such as Guess the Number and Hot Potato), typing certain secret words in chat (each word works once per file) and even for choosing to display the credits screen more than once.
Up to 16 players can play wirelessly using one game cartridge; each must be within about 100 feet (30 m) of one of the others to exchange text and picture messages.
criticized as not being interactive enough to be called a game
. In addition to this, the DS has a built-in chat program called PictoChat
. PictoChat includes features that Ping Pals lacks, and due to this, the game received poor ratings. For instance, Nintendo Official Magazine gave it 9% in its Nintendo DS special, with the opening sentence saying: "With PictoChat coming as standard, this is a bit like paying money to breathe air." The reviewer gave a one word written summary reading "POINTLESS". GMR
awarded the game a score of 0 on a scale that normally ran from 1 to 10.
Several images in Ping Pals were licensed from QPlay
. These include the Cupimon, a green creature that dances in the startup animation, and several avatar and clothing graphics.
Electronic Gaming Monthly
gave the game an average of 0.5 out of 10, with the game receiving two "0"s and one "1.5".
WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies is a game development company based in Valencia, California. Founded in 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward started by developing games for consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, as well as TV games and PC educational...
and published by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. It was released on December 8, 2004 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. The program allows the user to customise their "Ping Pal" avatar
Avatar (virtual reality)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
and game interface by selecting from over 1000 different items such as hairstyles, makeup, clothing, backdrops, music loops and sound effects.
Gameplay
Items can be unlocked by trading with other players or buying them in a shop. Players must trade to complete their collections, as each cartridge's shop offers a different subset of the items.Players receive a regular allowance of coins, using the DS' date-keeping functionality, and can get more by playing mini-games (such as Guess the Number and Hot Potato), typing certain secret words in chat (each word works once per file) and even for choosing to display the credits screen more than once.
Up to 16 players can play wirelessly using one game cartridge; each must be within about 100 feet (30 m) of one of the others to exchange text and picture messages.
Reception
Ping Pals was released on December 8, 2004. Although it was marketed as a nonviolent, girl-friendly game, it is frequentlycriticized as not being interactive enough to be called a game
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
. In addition to this, the DS has a built-in chat program called PictoChat
PictoChat
PictoChat is a communication utility that comes pre-installed on the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite and Nintendo DSi consoles. Up to sixteen people can paint chat with each other using it, connected wirelessly through a system-to-system wireless connection. It allows for simple input of keyboard...
. PictoChat includes features that Ping Pals lacks, and due to this, the game received poor ratings. For instance, Nintendo Official Magazine gave it 9% in its Nintendo DS special, with the opening sentence saying: "With PictoChat coming as standard, this is a bit like paying money to breathe air." The reviewer gave a one word written summary reading "POINTLESS". GMR
GMR (magazine)
GMR was a monthly magazine on video games that was published by Ziff-Davis — the publisher of such magazines as PC Magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and Computer Gaming World . GMR was launched in February 2003, being sold in only the Electronics Boutique chain of video game stores...
awarded the game a score of 0 on a scale that normally ran from 1 to 10.
Several images in Ping Pals were licensed from QPlay
QuizQuiz (computer game)
QuizQuiz was a massively multiplayer online quiz game created by Wizet which used a super deformed type anime graphical style to portray the players and the few environments or NPCs it contained. The game was released as a free beta download off of the Nexon Inc. website but was later discontinued...
. These include the Cupimon, a green creature that dances in the startup animation, and several avatar and clothing graphics.
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
gave the game an average of 0.5 out of 10, with the game receiving two "0"s and one "1.5".
External links
- Ping Pals at GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...