Topic: Should Nintendo Drop The Family Focus?

No they should not.

Thank you, "how Nintendo advertise themselves" is a great way of putting what I meant, I really should have used that. And yes, it's not the games or the physical technology but the corporate image and ethos.

I was thinking about Sony's Access this morning. I'm not sure if it's still available but it used to be a weekly/monthly video on the PSN that showed trailers for new games, ran brief features with developers, competitions, sometimes had hints and tips etc. It was basically a 'what's new on PlayStation' and presented in a really sensible way. There was no fanboy attitude, no bias on whether the video was for adults or kids, it was just plain information open to all.

Then I went looking for something equivalent on the Nintendo eShop. The only regular information videos on there (the Directs are far from regular) seem to be The Cat Mario Show and for a grown adult, it was a mess. It reminded me of how little Nintendo think of their adult consumers which, to me, is really weird. Nintendo always make a point of promoting their legacy, old games are often retooled and relaunched so they obviously value their rich heritage and rightly so. Yet Nintendo doesn't want to do much for those (now) adult gamers who grew up on Donkey Kong, Mario and Zelda, the same gamers who have been part of that great legacy.

All, or at least a great majority, of their focus tends to be on children. While it's nice sowing the seeds of Nintendo for a new generation (though I would argue that kids today are more familiar with Call of Duty than Mario) it feels like a massive mistake to turn their backs on the gamers who have supported them previously. Think about how much a gamer adult will spend on video games annually, compared to a child, or the parents of a child. Think of how bigger their audience (and thus consumers) would be if they made themselves more approachable to all rather than a margin.

I agree with the comments calling for balance. That would make perfect sense, I just can't see Nintendo being able to last much longer if it continues like it does now.

No. We have enough "mature" games out in the market.

So many of you misunderstood what I mean. I am not saying that nintendo needs to stop making their usual games or make mature games. I am saying nintendo needs to advertise the games that are not their core IPs(bayonetta, fatal frame, devil third etc.) and try to make their advertisements more diverse in what audience they are trying to capture.

I think it would be better just to stay the way it is. It what makes Nintendo what it is. If they drop that, they lose that unque appeal that is not seen that much in modern games. Plus I think it will be pointless to change that for certain people to think of them as "mature" because they will always view them as a system "for kids" instead of everyone even if MA rated games is also on the system. Old habits and labels die hard.

I admit it does feel weird playing bright and lively games while my peers play dark and gritty games, but when you reach a certain age you stop caring about what others think, especially when there is other unusual and weird interest that is becoming more common in today's world.

Because it's often interesting to debate, entertain and speculate ideas which may not necessarily bear any fruit. Heaven forbid we live in a world where free thought is dictated by logic

They should. I been waiting for years that Nintendo can finally release games with a mature title instead of kiddie games with Kirby and Pokemon.

"Nintendo makes me look like a baby with their marketing, now Rockstar games doesn't respect my console! Dammit, we're men, too, Nintendo! Give us marketing worthy of the respect of the gamer elite!!"

Unfortunately, Nintendo isnt going all out or even half way with the 'rated M for MAN' marketing of the other guys. There's no dream console of equal parts M rated content and E rated (Nintendo first party) content all marketed to sell to expectation. Your message is one or the other. Disney doesn't make R rated properties because they just never thought about it. It's about traditional brands and branding. Maybe the year 20XX will serve people better with that wish

@NightmareEater: Like said before the OP wasnt talking about GAMES....

@Sleepingmudkip: Marketing is NoA's fault not Nintendo's as of whole. The Japanese commercials are actually quality compared to US and Europe.

This is a dumb idea in the same way that suggesting Nintendo set a bunch of money on fire is a dumb idea.

It's not really Noa fault. It's more like Reggie fault. He keeps on making bad decisions like not releasing quality games in America and not focusing on the job.
Hopefully, he gets replaced soon.

When I think about it, the last two years both europe and japan had much better advertising then NoA.

It's interesting that you mention Disney because in recent years, they've become a success in appealing a broader age range. Whereas before it was 'just children's cartoons' they've now got theme parks that cater to the young and old, different studios producing varied content and bring us productions that children and adults can each find something in to enjoy. Heck I can go to a Disney park and talk to cartoon animals one second, then play a round of golf the next. That's the sort of mass market appeal which Nintendo could aim for too.

I really hate when people compare nintendo apple and disney but disney lately have been trying to broad their audience with starwars and marvel lately. I think nintendo can do the same.

Yeah but

NINTENDO.

GOLF.

I like your idea of mass appeal. A+ would golf...I mean support!

Disney's PG-13 is negligible in this comparison. For all intents and purposes it's essentially in line with E-Everyone audience in gaming. Nintendo making more T-Teen games would not achieve the results people are asking for in this forum, they'd have to go the full adult audience rating to match the top content of the competition. But the whole comparison relies on some wonky reverse thinking because GTA V in the movie world, for example, is not a top selling title if it's an R rating - which with few differences is the equivalent of 'M'

I personally do not want nintendo make M-rated games but nintendo should try to appeal to the people who wants M-rated games, This could be achieved by pushing games like fatal frame and beyonetta to the front lines of their advertising so that people will understand that the Wii U isn't just for mario party.(I have said this to many times in the forum sigh)

But I thought nintendo titles such as The Legend of Zelda, Xenoblade, and Metroid was the broad appeal similar to Disney's Starwars and Marvel. Unless you mean them obtaining IPs they don't own to expand their brand with those existing audience.

@DreamOn:
Ah but now you're talking about games and this isn't about games (despite what most people here think). It's about how Nintendo present/advertise themselves, how they operate and conduct business, how they appeal to their customers. I'll use the Disney example again if you don't mind because I think it better illustrates what I'm getting at.

Disney (past) was very much child focussed. The cartoons and movies appealed to kids and young families, the products were aimed at the young, the whole Disney 'experience' was magic for children.

Disney (now) has a wider appeal. It's movies range from light cartoons to more somber sci-fi and action movies. Children can go to the parks and enjoy the rides, adults can enjoy the museums and the grandparents (sorry to generalise here) can enjoy the many restaurants or golf courses on offer.

Children were the driving consumers of past Disney because that is who they targeted, everyone is the consumer of present Disney because they've widened their market. Nintendo is still within the realm of past Disney but the potential to grow is massive. Of course it's normal to refer to games when talking about Nintendo, but my intention was more how they present information (Cat Mario vs less childish options) or what freedom they give users online (protective restrictions vs a more open approach) etc.

Those aspects, to me at least, would mean far more maturity than just releasing adult games. In fact, the idea that maturity is only achieved through adult games is kinda childish.