Topic: Should Nintendo Drop The Family Focus?

@gussie:
Fair enough and that's actually a really good point. Why would you want something that you like so much, to change so drastically?

I guess for me it's because I've changed so drastically since when I first started my journey as a Nintendo consumer, until now. I like brands who can speak to me as an evolving customer as opposed to a stagnant one. Nintendo pushes so hard in one direction (the youth) that as an adult Nintendo fan, I feel quite alienated and want to be a part of that Nintendo family circle again. And I admit, these could well be entirely selfish desires.

Bottom line for me (I'm sorry, I've whinged about this far too much tonight) is that I don't mind Nintendo having cute or family friendly games, but I would like to experience them without being made to feel like I should be nine years old. I just want to be spoken to and treated like a grown up...sniffle!

All three titles do but notice how a traditional/Prime metroid been no where lately(that is because the family type audience doesnt want to play metroid...just look at sales and the same could be argued about F-Zero). Its just if they pushed games like fatal frame it would broaden it.

@Jimtaro: you can't talk about Disney's movies and at the same time discourage a discussion about Nintendo's games.

@DreamOn:
That's why I also gave the examples of the theme parks and the different age interactions they cater for. Nintendo doesn't cater to adult interactions right now, that's the point.

They can do both cater to the mature and kiddy.

I disagree. Nintendo does cater to adult interactions, people are just getting their knickers in a twist because they are required to be civil and courteous

@shaneoh:
That's quite interesting, Could you expand on what makes Nintendo civil and courteous as opposed to its rivals? And I'm not saying that to be sarcastic, as a designer I'm genuinely curious.

@Jimtaro:
Sorry, you misunderstood me, I meant that Nintendo requires its customers to be civil and courteous when using their products and services.

@shaneoh:
Ah then do excuse me. Is there any reason (again purely from a design standpoint) why you don't accociate civil and courteous behaviour from other companies? I mean I'd imagine that they require it from their own customers as well as Nintendo, but yet it seems to be a Nintendo thing?

Just thinking about how much others can learn from Nintendo as much as Nintendo from them.

While I don't know about all companies, Nintendo software completely filters out profanities and heavily moderates content submitted to their boards. It has been my experience with many online games and other services that people will abuse their privileges and act immaturely

They should stop advertising that their system is ONLY for families, like they are doing now. But I think Nintebdo would be fine with the balance they had with the Wii.

They missed the mark with one console, the Wii U, and suddenly they need to do a U-turn in their marketing positioning built upon decades?
Nintendo can still be successful as a friendly entry brand for youngsters and families, and that's something their competitors doesn't provide. The 3DS is the first videogame system of millions of children. They need to balance that with the demands of more seasoned, older gamers, and they do try to do that but a 180 degree radical shift would do them more harm than good. Nintendo just needs to put as much focus marketing a Fatal Frame as a Mario game.

The answer is "Why not both?".

Maybe they could try to cater a bit more to "mature" audiences, but Nintendo's main strengh is its family friendly image and its local multiplayer focus. If they wanted to drop it, the company would lose what makes it, well, Nintendo, in my opinion.

They should stop focusing exclusively on kids and families (especially as even kids don't want to play games advertised as 'family fun'), but they should always make at a least certain number of family friendly games. Got to cater for multiple audiences after all, unless you want to turn gaming into the comic book world where teens and geeks on the only readers...

"Nintendo trying to be cool to gamers on the competition's consoles has worked a grand total of zero times, but no guys, I think this time it'll finally work." - this thread

Why not attract to both audience? Square Enix, Capcom, Namco, and Atlus attracts family and mature audience. Why can't Nintendo do the same? Then, everyone can be happy.

No because the amount of studios that need to make a mature games, its nice having games that are happy and colorful.

I think Nintendo needs to focus more on family and less on the lower ages. Kids aren't the only ones wanting games anymore and adults aren't looking for Wii Fit, they want real games. Nintendo should focus on all ages on more of their games. Make it complicated enough for the kids and simple enough to hold adults attention.

Keep in mind that was the nineties, when Nintendo actually had a huge part of the market share.

But I agree with @DefHalan, and I think they should definitely tone down the childishness by at least 75%.
Let's put it this way: when I walk into a Target and your ad plays, the last thing you want is people cringing at it and being totally turned off.
Doesn't help the ad was for Yoshi's New Island.