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***Morkula*** · 09-27-2007, 12:42 AM

Is Nintendo abandoning the "core" gamers?

Personally, I think that they could be doing a lot more to appeal to gamers. Right now all they seemingly care about is pumping out Brain Age/Wii Sports/Wii Fit type nongames to the casual gamers. Which is all fine and dandy, but what about the loyal fans who've stuck beside them for years? Sure, we get a bone thrown at us every now and then with stuff like Metroid and Brawl, but for every "core" game there's several minigames and nongames. Project HAMMER got canned just to make room for more "expanded audience" projects.

Heck, just look at their E3 presentation this year. It was all Wii Fit and expanded audience stuff, with maybe 10% appealing to the real gamers. They spent no more than 15 minutes or so talking about SSBB, SMG, Mario Kart Wii, Phantom Hourglass, and the other core franchises, yet they spent 30-40 talking about just Wii Fit. Nintendo had the weakest E3 this year because there really wasn't any substance other than sales numbers and casual titles.

Even Nintendo's "core" franchises are getting dumbed down. One of the chief complaints about PH so far is that the game is more linear and easier than any previous Zelda title, and that the controls are easy for casual gamers to get into, but core gamers are going to be begging for traditional controls.

But I'd like to get your thoughts. Is Nintendo selling out to the casuals? Are they abandoning "core" gamers because they don't see dollar signs in them anymore?

NESkip · 09-27-2007, 02:54 PM

I'm a bit undecided on this subject. Sure, Nintendo is putting a lot of emphasis on games like Brain Age and Wii Fit, but we're also getting some awesome games like TP, MP3, SSBB, etc. With that said, Nintendo's consoles could use many more hardcore games. There's no denying that.

I was shocked when I heard Project HAMMER was canceled. Two E3s ago I was so excited about the Wii when I heard that Project HAMMER was announced. I was like, "Oh my gosh! That will be a great use of the wii remote!" That was probably the #1 game I was looking forward to. If not, it was still high on my list.

Regarding this year's E3... yeah. A big dissapointment. We were all looking forward to some new games being announced, new SSBB characters, etc., but no. What we got was some stupid exercising game called Wii Fit. Oh yeah, that was definitely the #1 reason I bought my Wii... to lose weight. I was so dissapointed this year that I didn't even bother to watch the press conference on IGN, a thing I usually do every year.

Nintendo used to be in it for the gamers, but now they're in it for the money.

OrganicSkitty · 09-27-2007, 03:18 PM

I can see where they're coming from in trying to appeal to the casual gamers - after all, if there's money to be made in persuading people who wouldn't normally play many games to buy them, then why pass up the chance? They're a company, and a company's main intent is to make a profit in any way possible. Even if it is by shifting focus to another part of the population...

Though that's not to say that I entirely agree with it. I know I'd far rather play a game like Metroid (and oh god I so would if I actually had a Wii, sigh), than play something like...Wii Fit...ew. My video game time != my workout time, thanks. Less fitness, more fun games, Nintendo, and then you'd be perfect. \o/

NESkip · (This post was last modified: 09-27-2007 07:41 PM by NESkip.)

OrganicSkitty Wrote:I can see where they're coming from in trying to appeal to the casual gamers - after all, if there's money to be made in persuading people who wouldn't normally play many games to buy them, then why pass up the chance? They're a company, and a company's main intent is to make a profit in any way possible. Even if it is by shifting focus to another part of the population...

Well, it appears as though the gimmick is working on the casual gamers since the Wii has become the best-selling console so far this generation. Who knows, though? The Wii could just be a fad.

Autumn · 09-27-2007, 10:23 PM

What I really hope, is that I didn't spend my $250 bucks for nothing but a few "core" game titles. I mean seriously, $250 may not sound like much to most people, but when you really get the big picture, it's disappointing to see hundreds of dollars fly out of our pockets and all we're getting is shitty games in return.

I'm a big time Nintendo fan, and right now, my "fanness" from a guage of 100%, is now probably at 40%. Simply because of the reason that, everytime I go to a nearby Blockbuster, the awesome games are always for PS2, or PS3.

Wii Fit, that's a no-no. I can do push-ups and sit-ups fine on my own. I take a stroll around my block, so that's enough exercise for me, thank you very much.

My main point is, I really hope the core games who currently have the Wii, didn't spend 250 bucks on exercise programs and minigames. They, and I have clearly expected more.

</end of rant>

Dragonfolk2000 · 09-27-2007, 10:26 PM

I'd have to say, this year's E3 WAS a huge disapointment. And they most certainly are swinging away from core games and maybe even losing a series' credibility along the way.

Have you heard about Link's Crossbow Training?

***Morkula*** · 09-27-2007, 10:32 PM

Don't get me started on that game. >>

Wasn't Mario enough of a franchise for you to run into the ground, Nintendo? Why are you whoring Zelda now? x.x

Autumn · 09-27-2007, 10:38 PM

If they whore Metroid, I'm going to be so pissed.

wakachamo · 09-28-2007, 11:32 AM

They can't really whore Metroid because Retro's in charge of it, not Nintendo itself. So even though Nintendo wants an all-out whoring of it, if Retro doesn't agree, then the game won't even be developed.

TRIFORCE89 · 09-28-2007, 11:51 AM

I've always obsessed over Nintendo for the same reason I've always obsessed over Disney. Family friendly fun. So, I'm not exactly depressed that this the direction Nintendo's currently in.

That's not to say that i think they're perfect. They've got problems. But the biggest problem, as far as I can see is not entirely Nintendo fault. The onslaught of move/tv tie-ins, cheap ports, and party games. The GCN, DS, and Wii were designed with developers in mind to make it easier to develop for these systems.

The GCN, not being the most popular console, scared off developers from working on the system despite Nintendo's efforts to be developer-friendly. If a developer doesn't think they can sell their game aswell on a Nintendo platform as they could on another, then they won't.

The game industry, while bigger than the film industry, is falling into the same trap. Especially with the Wii. The Wii is easy to develop for. You can offer junk and for someone reason it will sell (even if not immensely well. Its "The Producers" logic. More profit with a flop than with a hit). With the film industry we see this every summer with the heartless, special-effect filled, blockbusters. They make mega bucks instantly. But are they any good? No. They fade away a week or two after.

Just like all these games developers are pumping out for the Wii. The system was designed so that developers would be able to channel their creativity, but its turned into a way to make a quick buck.

Nintendo has released some party games. But they are also actually releasing the games we want. The latest installments in their core-franchises. And we've gotten a great deal of them so soon after the console was released. They've been spaced out nicely on past systems. But they know we want these games, so they pump them out. Is that good?

For myself, especially with the Zelda franchise, I'd rather they spend six years making a game perfect that rushing out for the holidays to appease us.

But, its a business. Not an artform. Some amazing masterpieces get released. But developers (umm...the people. Not the companies. So, Aonuma for example) despite their best intentions for a game have to rush a game out.

The amount of party games is what bugs me the most. Not the lack of true online games. Because...we were never promised that. I never expected Nintendo to provide that, so doesn't bug me.[/font]