Who Has Changed? — Nintendo Or The Gamers?

I strolled into the office today, just wanting to get through the day so that Thanksgiving could finally get here. Turkey was/is calling my name…..That was until I read this little “gem” by Matt Casamassina of IGN. I have respected IGN’s views towards the Wii, until now.

The article is titled, “Editorial: Has Nintendo Lost the Hardcore Gamer?” Oh, boy. If you’re a frequent reader of WiiBlog, then you’ve more than likely read my views towards the media created, and fueled dichotomy of ‘hardcore vs. casual’. I expect there to be a fighting game based on this long, blog commenting, editorializing whine-fest that “core” gamers and the media have carved out these past couple of years. Just like I expressed in my past post, it’s just about all I can take anymore. I’m just about to give up on gaming media altogether and just enjoy games for what they truly are. Not what the online gaming media world makes them out to be.

Casamassina’s article isn’t just ridiculously long, it contradicts itself to the point I’m not sure what point he’s truly making. He starts the article by criticizing the Animal Crossing: City Folk ad, that still leaves me puzzled. So, at the beginning I was with Casamassina and the point he was making. After his Animal Crossing ad rant, is where I started to roll my eyes.

First let’s start with this calling he makes to his fellow ‘core’ gamers who have emailed him about their problems with Wii’s lineup,

This is the state of Nintendo’s Wii console, easily number one in monthly hardware sales and reliably dead last where the hardcore gamer is concerned. Is this an unfair criticism? I don’t think so. It’s not an assertion I make lightly or without ample evidence, either anecdotal or factual. As a so-called “core” gamer, I feel it and I see it. The slim selection of AAA titles from Nintendo this holiday. The missing truly big guns. The countless e-mails I receive from longtime readers who find themselves just as discouraged as I am.

In the year 2008, we’ve already had the oppurtunity to play Mario Kart: Wii, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Can anyone remember the last time that Nintendo released two big console heavy hitters like that in a span of one year? Just first party titles mind you, not from third party developers? In 2007 we also got the chance to play Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, and Super Mario Galaxy. Ok, but before that have we ever had a year where so many huge first party developed titles were released?

2006 – Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
2005 – Super Mario Strikers, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
2004 – Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
2003 – The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
2002 – Metroid Prime, Super Mario Sunshine
2001 – Paper Mario, Luigi’s Mansion, Pikmin, Super Smash Bros. Melee
2000 – The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.
1999 РSuper Smash Bros., Pok̩mon Snap
1998 – 1080 Snowboarding, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
1997 – Mario Kart 64, Star Fox 64
1996 – Wave Race 64, Super Mario 64
1995 – Super Mario World 2
1994 – Super Punch-Out, Super Metroid
1993 – Super Mario All-Stars, Star Fox
1992 – The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Mario Kart
1991 – Super Mario World, F-Zero
1990 – Super Mario Bros. 3, Dr. Mario, Star Tropics
1989 – N/A
1988 – Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, Super Mario Bros. 2
1987 – The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Punch-Out
1986 – Donkey Kong (NES),
1985 – Super Mario. Bros. (NES)

First, thanks to Island.net for providing a great chronology of Nintendo’s history dating all the way back to 1977. This is some of the most fun I’ve had writing for a post on WiiBlog. Going back and studying the history of Nintendo and seeing how everything unfolded through the years was a treat. I’m not going to get sidetracked from the issue at hand (of course that list is going to be perfect for a future post). I wonder if Casassamina has done his research and really looked at how Nintendo has released first party developed titles in the past.

We’ve gotten two huge releases this year, and two major releases last year. Before that there were only three times in a span of 23 years that Nintendo dropped more than 2 major game releases on us that were developed in-house. So my question is, has Nintendo really given up on its core audience? Have they left Mario, Link, Samus, Fox, Donkey Kong, and other series left out to dry? Are all the games we’re going to have in the future be mini-game compilations, and workout routines?

NO, and this isn’t me blindly defending Nintendo. The facts are right there for you to view yourself. Is Nintendo trying to reach out to a new market, and attract gamers? Hell yes they are, and who’s to blame them? Having a company and releasing a product is about making money, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar. So, Nintendo is doing what they think needs to be done to sustain a profit. If that means inducting non-traditional gamers into the foray so be it.

But I’m so sick and tired of reading these asinine editorials by the gaming media, like they all sit on some cardboard crafted Mt. Olympus. Peering down and making sure everything fits in their little “hardcore” niche. Video games should be for everybody, and Nintendo is treading down that road in a way no one has ever seen before. Are they leaving the ‘core gamers’ behind? Well, what I consider true core gamers and the truly informed gamers; the answer is irrefutably, No.

What I do think has changed in this newly crafty dichotomy is the mindset of gamers. We’ve gotten so ingrained with always having a video game controller in our hand, that we expect something great to come out every month. If there’s a down period, or slow spell then everyone is ready to give up. There hasn’t been a major first party release since March?? Well then I guess Nintendo has just moved on and sold us out to the Wii Fit, and Carnival Games crowd.

In conclusion, it’s my hope that the “hardcore” gamers that sit in their basements throwing around ridiculous comments on forums about the Nintendo Wii not being for them would open their eyes. There’s so much great gaming to be found on the Nintendo Wii, as well as the other consoles. What makes the Wii so special is that it is ushering in an era where games can be for everybody. Instead of pulling out pitchforks, and rallying in our favorite sites to whine let’s try and embrace it. Maybe, we can show these new gamers some of the games that we love to play. Or we can keep having the same elitist attitude like the people that have emailed Casassamina.