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Nintendo generally has good public relations. This latest bit of PR shows me that their record for good PR might be on the decline. I’m not going to go on a rant about hardcore and casual, you can read a previous rant here.
Nintendo’s latest comments about their E3 coverage seem to be borderline desperate. It seems to me they are starting to give into the power of the “hardcore gamer” press, which drove Nintendo into the ground because of E3. I really want to rant about that, but I won’t. Instead here’s the comment made to EDGE Magazine, “We have developers working on popular core gaming franchises but we need longer to complete [them], approximately two to three years”
People have been writing and fuming about having to wait awhile before first party Nintendo games will be released. I’m not sure if they truly understand the gaming world, or if impatience is becoming a core virtue for gamers (actually I think it’s always been there).
A video game takes along time to create. The core first party games that we’ve gotten from Nintendo in its past two years took along time to make. Here’s a list of first party games released by Nintendo in the past couple of years:
Super Mario Galaxy
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Super Paper Mario
Mario Kart: Wii
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wii Sports
Then we have to look forward to Wario Land: Shake It which will be coming out in September. Now, let’s assume for the sake of the argument that all of these game’s dev teams are working on a new game right after those were completed, then 2-3 years isn’t that ridiculous. I know I might be in the minority, but I like to hear about when a game has a long development period. There’s nothing worse in the video game universe than a rushed game. Blizzard is the perfect example of a development company that takes its time to release a game, and in the end reaps the benefits. Nintendo could be taking that road here, which I’m hoping is the truth. If that’s the case, then a couple of years isn’t that long to wait.
With some of the great third party games slated to come out in early 2009, Nintendo could take a backseat and let those games perform well. Or maybe Nintendo will completely surprise us and have something available in late 09. With the way Nintendo is savvy when it comes to the media, and how they treat announcements like gold in Fort Knox, anything is possible.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:57 am
zelda tp is a port from the gc with wii-controls, wii-sports doesn’t have any real depth, mp3c doesn’t have multi player (gc version did) or online and is a slight improvement over the gamecube’s engines like mariokart and smashbros which have throw in some online which is average and some new characters/levels. its more of an expansion pack then anything. Super paper mario’s combat system was dumbed down for the casual and mario galaxy is probably the only game which is fairly fresh in graphics, game play and wii-control yet its fairly short and simple…smells of casual yet again. They have separate teams working on zelda, mario, smash etc and each team will take 2-3 years to bring re-hash after re-hash? Out of the 31 million wii’s sold worldwide the top seller out of that list is wii-sports which is bundled with the console (except japan) @ 25million. The next highest is smash bros at around 6 million so when only 1/5th of the market is core nintendo isnt going to focus on them as they aren’t contributing as much money as say wii-fit. After so many decades of support from core, nintendo does this do us by making us play cooking mama for 2 years while we wait for the new zelda which will probably be dumbed down…oh how i hope not!
August 27th, 2008 at 11:27 am
I’m not going to argue quality of content with you, as that’s not the point of the article. My point is that Nintendo has pretty much laid its “core” cards down on the table really early. Most of their popular franchises have had a game represented on the Nintendo Wii so far, excluding Star Fox and Donkey Kong. It’s unfair and pretty crazy to think we should be getting a first party title ever month or even a few months. Games take time to make, and although Nintendo is bringing in new gamers with more simple games, they won’t forget about core gamers. Most game journalism sites like to hype news up about statements like the one I mentioned because it boosts page views. Just like Rolling Stone publishes controversial news on bands because it sells magazines. The keyword in the statement above is “approximately”. They didn’t say it would be exactly 2-3 years, so this might just be a fall back in case some of the games they have lined up don’t meet development deadlines. Don’t believe all the hype you hear from sites online. They want you to visit, so they’re going to hype things up way more than they should so you keep coming back. Simple as that.
August 27th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
The only games that I’m hopeful to be announced soon are a Star Fox flight sim and Mario Tennis…
August 27th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
yes i agree with you johnny, i was merely stating the most likely reason why nintendo is not focusing on the “core”, and to say that just “nintendo games” are the “core” games on the console is not quite correct. What defines a core game? Depth, storyline etc. anything that isnt casual. Yes the conduit is coming next year but before it is a barrage of casual party games as they are pulling in the money. From a business point of view it would be stupid to spend resources on a “core game” rather then pump out lots of little party games that the new audience will buy. The Nintendo pres himself stated that even he thought his job was in jeopardy the way the company’s machine was going so they took a new direction and got lucky and broke into a new segment of the market. So don’t count on these games pulling in the core of even keeping the core as only fans will stick around for mario sungalaxy in 2010.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
also i forgot to mention that people aren’t expecting a first party title every month they just want a decent selection of core games as 3rd party selection is pretty dismal, so developers and publishers of the core genre will head elsewhere 360, PS3, PC etc. and leave the casual party alone. Nintendo always releases at least 1 first party title per console, mariokart, mario, zelda(x2), smash bros, mario tennis, mario baseball, metroid prime etc. Now that they have an established new audience they will continue with what they havent already released and throw in some wii-mote support eg, mario baseball, tennis, golf? all gc re-hash. I cant wait till pikmin 3 and the new zelda but will they be much different from their previous versions? well i hope so. In the meantime i guess i’ll hit up cooking mama 2.
August 27th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
if you’re lookin for games to hold you over until more core first party releases come out…might i suggest:
Wario Land: Shake it
de Blob
Mushroom Men
The Conduit
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
Tales of Symphonia 2
all of these games are slate to come out in about sixth months. That’s fair share to keep you busy while waiting.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:03 am
it’s okay i’ll think i’ll just go buy a 360 instead. i guess i was just hoping that i could have one console to deliver all and the wii cannot do that!
August 29th, 2008 at 7:59 am
well, i hope you find your video game enjoyment with your 360. Guess you’ll just be missing out on some of the great Wii games coming later this year and early 09
August 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
thanx and i dont consider the next coming wii games to be great so i’m not missing out….i think wii owners are!
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 am
At least Nintendo is being honest and is dedicated to making quality games. Many other companies would a) rush in designing a game and sacrifice the quality in order to just get a game out there or b) lie and say they will have new games out soon and then just keep pushing the release dates back.
And for me it really will work out about great. I still love Brawl and Mario Kart and there are a ton of 3rd party games coming up that just look absolutely sweet, such as Tales of Symphonia 2 and The Conduit.