@TobiasAmaranth What? How is a fox supposed to look?
@RoomB31 I disagree. Miyamoto's quote is just as true today as it was back then. No amount of patches can disguise an inherently poor game - not to mention the fact that the disc-based versions still exist in their original shoddy glory. I was playing the first Witcher recently, and despite it receiving massive fixes, to me, I can still see the mediocre game design that pales in comparison to something like Twilight Princess (which was released a year earlier).
@fluggy What? I'm not interested in TriForce heroes - but it's hardly "trash". It's a spin-off, like Four Swords Adventures and Link's Crossbow Training.
Also, Yoshi's Woolly World and Fatal Frame have gotten generally positive reviews.
Sorry Nintendo, but I just don't feel this game. A shame, because Zelda is my favourite franchise. The requirements to play this effectively is just absurd. Seriously, no two player? Really? And I'll be damned if I'm going to pay full price for a terrible single-player mode. Pass.
@toadma I have a spare code, but I don't know if they're region-specific (I'm in Australia).
@Quorthon Ah yes. The old 'Wii and DS were flukes' rhetoric never disappoints. Who's to say the NX can't be another 'fluke'? Who's to say Nintendo can't unexpectedly capture the market again? Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. But to dismiss Nintendo's highest-selling consoles as a one-time deal is very naive.
My thoughts on third parties - screw 'em. The 'triple A' industry is becoming a bloated, misshapen monstrosity with every passing year. Studio closures, buggy/incomplete products, and penny-pinching practices are just some of the issues running rife in the industry. Nintendo kowtowing to their demands would be the worst thing they could possibly do. Instead, they should further foster relationships with the indies - who represent the future. Both Microsoft and Sony are now firmly clasped in the iron grip of the thirds. Both companies have been duped into handing over their independence to the EAs and Activisions of this world. Multi-million dollar 'exclusivity' bidding wars are now commonplace, and specialised networks like EA Access and UPlay (or whatever it's called now) are slowly encroaching upon the established revenue streams. More and more, these publishers are sucking their host consoles dry - like parasites. Just take a glance at all the accounts you need with most of them, and the features they lock away behind paywalls. Additionally, many of them are abandoning the console marketplace in the pursuit of the almighty mobile dollar.
Ironically enough, emulating the competition is something Nintendo shouldn't do if they want unprecedented third party support. They shouldn't cater to their whims, but rather focus on creating an entirely new ecosystem that presents fresh opportunities. Basically, build it, and they will come. Even the mobile space is regressing in terms of revenue (shock!) - which reinforces the notion that nothing is infallible. Iwata once said that Nintendo needed to be paranoid, and never rely on the same old, same old. He was right - and Nintendo cannot be dictated by what is perceived as 'right' or 'common sense'. They shouldn't bow down to the whining of those that want them to 'fall in line'.
Of course, such a philosophy can be detrimental oftentimes (as seen in the current state of the company), but it is one built on long-term fortunes - rather than the short-term. I'm not saying that Nintendo haven't made mistakes - of course they have. However, to suggest that the firm should blindly follow the business methods of others ignores why they have lasted for so long.
And people wonder why Nintendo keep making Mario games...
Stop crying about F-Zero/Star Fox/Pikmin/ if you don't buy the damn things. Games like Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem and Splatoon show that the audience is there for new stuff - so what's the excuse for the lackluster sales of Bayonetta? Wonderful 101? Chibi Robo?
Here's my helpful hint for today. If you haven't already, go and preorder Xenoblade Chronicles X. You want Nintendo to invest in more franchises? Then do it. Now.
EDIT: Sounds like I'm bitter towards this news. I'm not. I love Mario, and Mario Maker is brilliant 😁
@Xenocity I dunno where you pulled that number from, but I can guarantee you that Zelda Wii U will cost Nintendo a wee bit more than $5 million. More like $50 million, at least. You do realise there isn't a set definition of what constitutes a 'AAA' game, do you?
@Grumblevolcano No, I don't think so. If NX comes out next year, then the Wii U would have a had a lifespan of about four years - that's around the same as Gamecube. Not the longest time on the market, but not exactly Virtual Boy or Dreamcast.
@PlywoodStick Actually, both 3DS and Wii U were initially sold at a loss (though a single game was enough to turn a profit for the latter).
@russellohh Obviously the Wii U isn't for you. If you can't find anything to like from its high-quality library, then there's no convincing you. Must suck to hate fun.
As usual, people hoping for a powerhouse that will blow the competition out of the water will be disappointed.
At most, the NX will compete with PS4's and Xbox One's specs - not surpass them. Like it or not, but Nintendo places greater emphasis on new types of hardware experiences, rather than simply cramming 'grafix' into a box and calling it a day.
As such, something's gotta give. Cost will be a big issue, and people must remember that Nintendo is still a toy company. This isn't going to be some sleek, stylish gadget akin to an Apple product. Or even a Sony/Microsoft one. They want users to have fun above all, and the NX will reflect that in some ways through cheaper (or 'outdated' if you prefer) components. And it will have them.
What's utterly vital is in how they'll market the thing. This is one area that Nintendo cannot screw around with. It's not about power (though it obviously is important to an extent), but how they'll be able to sell it as the next big thing. Smartphones aren't popular because of their specs; it's because of how easy they are to use. Minecraft also proves that the biggest games aren't the most photo-realistic. Even the PS4 isn't selling because of its superior RAM; but because Sony hit a homerun with their marketing. The fact that it can use buzzwords like '1080p' over Xbox's '900p' is just a pleasant side-success. Look at the PSOne, PS2, Wii and DS. Nintendo's biggest potential audience isn't one that cares about arbitrary numbers behind a non-existent hood - and those that do will buy the thing anyway. Loyalists like myself are already guaranteed to part with the cash - the Wii U audience.
@Peek-a-boo Well, the Wii U isn't doing so hot - but the 3DS is picking up the slack; 65 million combined sales compared to Sony's 35 million (PS4 and Vita) and 15 million for Xbox One. Software sales for both machines are also very strong, considering their exclusivity.
Wanting proper treatment is fair enough - but this to me sounds like a bunch of crybabies wanting their bottle.
Stunt people for dangerous motion-capture sessions? "Stunt pay" for "vocally stressful" recording sessions? A cut of game royalties? Get some damn perspective, you fools. You have a dream job that is the very definition of indulgence. Try being a police officer or an aid worker - or hell, even a lowly game developer.
I'm a writer, and I don't go around demanding benefits for us poor, starving artists.
@DarthNocturnal I see. I still prefer Mario Kart myself, but I definitely understand your points. Though your last grievance was more of an opinion than anything - there is nevertheless signs that Nintendo may incorporate more franchises into MK in the future. I reckon the Zelda and Animal Crossing DLC is just the start 😊
On topic; the 3DS version of Lost World was possibly the worst game I've ever played on 3DS; just awful.
The Wii U version - while better - was still very average. The visuals were gorgeous and the sound was brilliant, but it falls into that old Sonic trap of poorly designed levels and overly-complicated gameplay. I get the impression that Sonic fans who ardently defend the games don't really understand effective game construction. Sonic Team simply doesn't have the design chops possessed by Nintendo.
What is wrong with these people? Don't they bloody THINK when launching these campaigns?
So glad I've never supported a Kickstarter. Apparently asking for thousands of dollars and the trust of many people is just a big lark. Sure, there are professional, well-run campaigns (like Yooka-Laylee and Bloodstained), but its the Mighty No. 9s and the Armikrogs of this world that are ruining it for everyone.
On topic; great story. This is where Nintendo's family-friendly image shines; you won't ever see a frightening Master Chief mural in the middle of Russia 😂
Though not life-and-death, this list certainly reflects Nintendo's current situation in the market. The company certainly has its work cut out when it comes to regaining the mainstream spotlight. Hopefully 2016 will be the start of its resurgence.
Ugh. Dave Perry has always rubbed me the wrong way. He reminds me a lot of Jason Rubin, who is similarly too big for his boots.
@Spoony_Tech What a load of rubbish. Downfall? Worst choice ever? Exaggerate much?
Yes, Nintendo helped hand the videogames market to Sony on a silver platter - but people tend to magnify Nintendo's lack of sense regarding the cartridge format. Physically, they were more stable, and harder to pirate. Also, they lacked the load times present on CDs. Of course, it was small comfort in face of the PlayStation's immense sales.
Nevertheless, I always find it humorous when critics proclaim that Nintendo has been on a downward spiral for years, yet Wii and DS somehow 'don't count'.
No offense, but this isn't really something worth talking about. Stock fluctuates constantly; that's par for the course in multibillion dollar companies.
No matter how 'irrelevant' they become, there's simply nothing that'll replace magazines for that feel. Also, when the internet goes out in an apocalyptic scenario, then who will you turn to, eh?
@Jimtaro Really? Saying stuff like "Nintendo are holding gaming back", "there's no improving going on", "I feel sorry for you", and "I'm truely thankful that we have a company like Sony taking the lead with gaming while a fossil like Nintendo is getting left behind" aren't the opinions of a poor, innocent chap who is getting bullied by the big bad Nintendrones. They're the ravings of a troll.
Brilliant piece, Damien! Really top-notch work, as usual.
CVG was a great magazine (shame about the horrible website it spawned). Reading this really took me back to my childhood. Magazines were everything to me... I didn't even get my first computer until 2006!
@Raien How asinine. Who would Nintendo become third party for? Sony? Microsoft? What makes the PlayStation or Xbox brands a safer haven than Nintendo's own? Because, last I checked, third-parties are going bankrupt left, right and centre. SEGA is a shell of its former self. Hudson is gone. Konami looks like it's ready to give up games all together. Capcom didn't even have enough money to publish another Street Fighter.
Hardware sales are still a big money-maker for Nintendo, despite the Wii U's failings (let's just conveniently forget the 3DS, eh?), and its games still sell far more (over a wider range) than the competition. Mario Kart 8 has sold over five million copies,yet the PS4's highest selling title (Killzone) has only shifted over two million. Shuhei Yoshida himself said that only 30 to 40% of Sony's games make money... I guess they should quit then, and focus on exclusively making hardware?
The Xbox brand too, is a big money sink for Microsoft. It has lost billions since its introduction, and Microsoft are trying to salvage it by unifying everything with Windows 10.
Never mind how terrible Nintendo leaving the console business would be from a gamer's perspective. Less competition means less variety and choice... And again, Yoshida himself has said that Nintendo needs to thrive.
Oh, and people were crying for Pikmin 3 for nine years... And now that Miyamoto wants to make another, that's somehow a horrible thing? That its existence is somehow emblematic of a flawed mantra within the company? Didn't Nintendo just create a hit new IP with Splatoon? That's what they need to do, right? Create that next big breakout hit like Wii Sports or Wii Fit? Well, that kind of success simply isn't guaranteed - people latch on to the darndest things, seemingly without rhyme or reason. How did Minecraft get so big? Why are vampires all the rage? How? Why? Where? When?
Creating videogames that will sell will always be a crapshoot, because it's an inherently creative business that must co-exist with financial sense. 'Gamecube' games, as you so (confusingly) put it, sell because of brand loyalty. Maybe they won't sell gangbusters (like Pikmin, Metroid or F-Zero), but Nintendo makes them because they are an investment toward the continued support if the 'hardcore' fans that in turn help to keep them afloat during times of distress. The Wii U didn't sell badly because of this; it was because of this, it sold at all. Also, by delivering quality games (that aren't necessarily blockbusters) and building a rapport, Nintendo have managed to avoid the nasty post-fad syndrome - like we're now seeing with Angry Birds, Call of Duty and even Apple (judging by the increasingly lukewarm responses to its new products). It's a long-term strategy, and one that has kept Nintendo alive for so long; the company goes through ebbs and flows, and while its games often lack the immediate pizzazz and 'coolness' of its moneybags competition, they often get the last laugh by being a lot more timeless and ingraining themselves into the psyche of gamers long after the other cash cows have been milked dry. It's an alternative business model that doesn't see immediate results (relatively speaking), but is equally as effective.
Yes, you can blame Nintendo on many of its concerns, but like any company gong through uncertain times, there are external factors that have simply been beyond their control. Were the locomotive businesses poorly run, because they were superseded by automobiles? Should newspapers have been scolded, for not automatically predicting the internet's influence? Similarly, you can't pin the entirety of the company's woes on the company. Aside from a multitude of financial and economical reasons, there's also the fact that Nintendo is a dedicated videogame company - perhaps the last of its kind in the world. A double-edged sword, it's this business model that has ensured its success for so long - and also the reason why it has struggled to 'adapt' for so long, because of how ingrained and specialised the company is (compared to the multi-talented Sony, Microsoft, Google and Apple). It isn't as simple as 'getting on with the times'; a firm the size of Nintendo has many parts that run the machine, and simply doing what many people want them to would require a massive - and potentially deadly - overhaul of everything the company stands for and represents. Not that they aren't making changes (DeNA, QOL, NX, etc), but to simply chuck 30+ years of hardware R&D away because of some low sales (or brats who just don't want to buy Nintendo consoles to play the games they want to play) and armchair analysts pushing them to emulate the latest fad for a quick buck, is downright ludicrous.
"Although it is an editing game, if we over-emphasised the game's tool aspect then it would tend get too complex, and make the game look too intimidating. We instead designed the interface around the idea that Super Mario Maker should be something fun that anyone can play."
I think this is something a lot of people don't seem to understand. The appeal of Mario Maker isn't just the fact that you can create - but also, that it's very easy to do so. The easy UI is just as important as any editing features that the game may include - if it was dry and stuffed with text (like 99% of other editors out there), it just wouldn't be appealing, no matter how much content it would have.
Haters would cry 'casuals!', and to that I say - yes, exactly. The casual/family audience isn't a new phenomenon that emerged with Wii and DS - it's a demographic that Nintendo has partially catered to since the NES days (simple hardware, inoffensive material, non-intimidating games).
Love this video. I wonder what Miyamoto thinks of all the sad losers who obsessively try to make sense of Mario's world and timeline. That's like trying to figure out the sociological structure of Looney Toons.
Add me to the crew of folks happily living under their rocks.
I don't care about Apple, and have never owned any of their products. With that said, maybe this Apple console can at least keep the big three on their toes, if nothing else.
@antonvaltaz Yeah, I remember reading that Nintendo has quite a following in France and Germany. They're also surprisingly popular here in Australia, as well as New Zealand. I've always found it interesting how certain countries prefer on brand over another.
Either way, Nintendo seriously needs to improve its standing in the UK - much like how Microsoft is always facing an uphill battle in Japan. It's a shame too, as I feel both Wii U and Xbox One are far superior to PS4 ATM. Sony is blatantly coasting along with remakes and a woeful online/customer service. It's amazing how much hype and smart marketing can do for a mediocre product (see: Apple).
@Lord No, you don't need to say more. Because you are blatantly making up rubbish.
"He himself requested voice chat to be removed from splatoon."
No, he didn't.
"he also wanted starfox to be a single player re-release."
So... A new game = re-release? Well, maybe if you played PS4. And single player is now a bad thing? That's news to me.
"hate to think what he has told retro to do with metroid. (No online, no chat etc)"
He has very little to do with Metroid. And Retro isn't making a sequel at all at the moment. Nintendo itself said as much.
"and what was the big discovery that stopped us getting zelda initial reports said it was the lack of action and random encounters."
Source?
"I worry that Nintendo spreads it self to thinly to produce games instead of focusing on 1 or 2 with all the game delays we get most appear to be delayed and then we game some trashy infill title."
You do realise Nintendo has more than one development studio?
"Examples crappy games that they need not have made (wasted labour) blast ball thing, animal home designer, animal crossing board game, steam game ds, rusty baseball, kirby paintbrush, art academy, Amiibo 3 min game, and I could go on."
Translation: "I don't like these games, so that means they suck, WAAAAH."
@Volke93 Get a new hobby. Or some anti-psychotic pills. Either one works.
On topic; I've already purchased Devil's Third. Not because I was particularly interested in it, but for the sake of my Wii U collection. It's pretty obvious this is no GOTY contender (as arbitrary as such a distinction really is), but I can still see myself having some dumb fun with it. If the community is there, I think the multiplayer could be somewhat of a sleeper hit - though those microtransactions really put a dampener on things; much like MGSV - which is just a wee bit better than this game. Just a bit.
Took me a while to find it, but here's an older interview with Michael Pachter. Here are some choice quotes:
"Most of my comments are intended to be humorous, and since I've behaved this way for over 50 years, my experience counts for a lot. Most people take my not so serious comments as jokes, and few have been offended."
"I think that it is fair game to poke fun at fanboy attitudes toward hardware (and I do so often about the Xbox 360 and PS3 as well)."
Note: I've NEVER seen this happen.
"I've covered the industry for 12 years, and my estimates are consistently close. I am wrong on every individual estimate, but the sum of my errors generally adds up to a very small miss."
"It's fair to assume that everything I say is pure speculation, unless I say otherwise."
"The commentary that it's [the 3DS] selling better than the DS at the same point is a bit disingenuous (by Nintendo, not by you), since the comparison is to the original fat DS. In the first 17 months of existence, the original DS averaged U.S. sales of 255,000 units a month, and in the first 17 months of the 3DS, sales averaged 310,000. However, in the first 17 months of the DS Lite, sales were 530,000 units, on average in the U.S. FYI, in the NEXT 17 months of its existence, the DS Lite averaged 920,000 units per month, or close to three times the level of the 3DS"
"Most people who meet me tend to understand that I'm a joker, and that I make comments that are intended to be taken lightly and not seriously."
"I don’t think Nintendo fans are so stupid they would buy a piece of cardboard. A box on the other hand, that says Nintendo on it, they probably would. Remember when you were a kid and you get gifts, and when you’re really little you like the box better than the gift? That’s how I think of Nintendo fanboys.”
Note: He actually refers to Nintendo fans as ‘fanboys’ 13 times!
I also have an old issue of the Australian Game Informer (which I don't get anymore, due to it being a glorified Gamestop catalogue). It was issue 50, where Micky P said this:
"My bias on all four companies is positive. Nintendo's the biggest one to avoid right now because they not only don't seem to have mastered what to do with hardware, but they're kind of blissfully ignorant that they're not doing well. It's almost like they're the only ones who don't know it."
So, why the constant poking and prodding of Nintendo? Why doesn't he ever point the finger at Sony and Microsoft - both of which have their own failings? Maybe...
@HollywoodHogan A broken clock is right twice a day. Pachter also said that both Wii and DS would flop and the Xbox One would dominate - and that's just the tip of the immense BS iceberg he's created over the years. Whenever people call him out on it, he twists his words (usually to the effect of "I'm an analyst! My job is hard, and you just don't get it!") or insults Nintendo and its fans.
This is an utter non-story which means nothing. Basically a bunch of twits guessing things. Gotta love games 'journalism'.
"On the Wii U, I think people downplay how many units they've sold."
This statement in particular interested me. The Wii U hasn't moved a whole lot of units, but I'm wondering if Spencer is implying that there is more to console success than sheer numbers (like overall profit, or revenue streams from games and other services).
Either way, I'll be getting an Xbox One pretty soon. Scalebound looks amazing.
@IceClimbers Nintendo isn't in a "distant 3rd". If you're going by the amount of Wii U consoles sold, then sure; but there's also the 3DS. Even then, units shifted isn't as important as overall profit - in which case Microsoft is actually the one that is 'third'. It's all semantics, though.
@night "His interview damaged Nintendo's reputation even further than it already has been for a while now"
LOL. Nintendo has a damaged reputation? Since when?
@gatorboi352 I (and many others, I'm sure) are getting sick of your constant negative remarks. If you hate Nintendo so much, then leave.
Mods, do what you will, but it's something I feel needs to be said.
On topic; I can't believe it's been 15 since Paper Mario came out. I still remember getting it ordered via my video store, as I was paranoid that I wouldn't be able to buy it in stores... Turned out I was right, as the game got a limited release in Australia, and I lived in a small town which had virtually no games to purchase. This was pre-internet days, and the only way to get the games I wanted was to order them over the phone or ask a shop clerk. Still, I got the game, and played it non-stop over Christmas. Good times.
@IceClimbers But Smash Bros isn't just a fighting game - it's also a party title, designed for casual players. Sakurai designed the series to be different from traditional fighters like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.
Like it's other games, Nintendo has never let the protestations of 'fans' get in the way of doing new things. If it were up to the hardcore fighting game community, the Smash series wouldn't have evolved beyond Melee. Hell, they still whined that Smash Wii U originally wasn't going to use the near 15 year old GCN controller - and Nintendo was forced to release an ugly peripheral just to placate them.
A series can only go so far by doing the same thing over and over. Exclusively catering to a hardcore minority isn't Nintendo's style - they want as much people as possible to play their games, and Sakurai himself lives by the design philosophy of disrupting conventional norms. Heck, Smash wouldn't have existed in the first place if not for this mindset.
People have blasted Nintendo for sticking to their guns with Metroid: Federation Force, and that the company has somehow insulted them by insinuating that the fans don't know what they want. You know what? Most of the time, it's true; hardcore fans don't know what they want - they are conditioned to stick with what's familiar, and condemn anything that's new. That is, until they try said new thing, and then that becomes the norm. It's human nature - and any perceived arrogance on Nintendo's part is validated by 126 years of successful business.
As much as I love Smash Bros, I think the next sequel needs to make some radical changes to its core gameplay in order to avoid franchise fatigue.
Of course, the next game can easily use whatever innovative new hardware NX has - but on a basic gameplay level, I just can't see it being yet another 2D fighter/party game.
Sakurai and Nintendo cannot be afraid to change things up at the risk of pissing-off the fanbase. They can (and likely will) cry and moan all they want, but Smash Bros needs to evolve in order to stay fresh.
What those changes would actually be, I have no idea - but I do remember an Iwata Asks interview where he and Sakurai talked about how the multiplayer for Kid Icarus: Uprising could serve as a foundation for a future Smash title; so maybe the series could go 3D ala Power Stone?
Comments 540
Re: The Wii U's Broad Audience Means Star Fox Zero's Delay Won't Matter, Says Nintendo UK
@TobiasAmaranth What? How is a fox supposed to look?
@RoomB31 I disagree. Miyamoto's quote is just as true today as it was back then. No amount of patches can disguise an inherently poor game - not to mention the fact that the disc-based versions still exist in their original shoddy glory. I was playing the first Witcher recently, and despite it receiving massive fixes, to me, I can still see the mediocre game design that pales in comparison to something like Twilight Princess (which was released a year earlier).
Re: Review: The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS)
@fluggy What? I'm not interested in TriForce heroes - but it's hardly "trash". It's a spin-off, like Four Swords Adventures and Link's Crossbow Training.
Also, Yoshi's Woolly World and Fatal Frame have gotten generally positive reviews.
Stop exaggerating.
Re: Review: The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes (3DS)
Sorry Nintendo, but I just don't feel this game. A shame, because Zelda is my favourite franchise. The requirements to play this effectively is just absurd. Seriously, no two player? Really? And I'll be damned if I'm going to pay full price for a terrible single-player mode. Pass.
@toadma I have a spare code, but I don't know if they're region-specific (I'm in Australia).
Re: Talking Point: Five Key Challenges Nintendo Faces with the NX
@Quorthon Ah yes. The old 'Wii and DS were flukes' rhetoric never disappoints. Who's to say the NX can't be another 'fluke'? Who's to say Nintendo can't unexpectedly capture the market again? Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. But to dismiss Nintendo's highest-selling consoles as a one-time deal is very naive.
My thoughts on third parties - screw 'em. The 'triple A' industry is becoming a bloated, misshapen monstrosity with every passing year. Studio closures, buggy/incomplete products, and penny-pinching practices are just some of the issues running rife in the industry. Nintendo kowtowing to their demands would be the worst thing they could possibly do. Instead, they should further foster relationships with the indies - who represent the future. Both Microsoft and Sony are now firmly clasped in the iron grip of the thirds. Both companies have been duped into handing over their independence to the EAs and Activisions of this world. Multi-million dollar 'exclusivity' bidding wars are now commonplace, and specialised networks like EA Access and UPlay (or whatever it's called now) are slowly encroaching upon the established revenue streams. More and more, these publishers are sucking their host consoles dry - like parasites. Just take a glance at all the accounts you need with most of them, and the features they lock away behind paywalls. Additionally, many of them are abandoning the console marketplace in the pursuit of the almighty mobile dollar.
Ironically enough, emulating the competition is something Nintendo shouldn't do if they want unprecedented third party support. They shouldn't cater to their whims, but rather focus on creating an entirely new ecosystem that presents fresh opportunities. Basically, build it, and they will come. Even the mobile space is regressing in terms of revenue (shock!) - which reinforces the notion that nothing is infallible. Iwata once said that Nintendo needed to be paranoid, and never rely on the same old, same old. He was right - and Nintendo cannot be dictated by what is perceived as 'right' or 'common sense'. They shouldn't bow down to the whining of those that want them to 'fall in line'.
Of course, such a philosophy can be detrimental oftentimes (as seen in the current state of the company), but it is one built on long-term fortunes - rather than the short-term. I'm not saying that Nintendo haven't made mistakes - of course they have. However, to suggest that the firm should blindly follow the business methods of others ignores why they have lasted for so long.
Re: Super Mario Maker Grabs Sixth Place in NPD US Results and Boosts Wii U System Sales By Over 100%
And people wonder why Nintendo keep making Mario games...
Stop crying about F-Zero/Star Fox/Pikmin/ if you don't buy the damn things. Games like Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem and Splatoon show that the audience is there for new stuff - so what's the excuse for the lackluster sales of Bayonetta? Wonderful 101? Chibi Robo?
Here's my helpful hint for today. If you haven't already, go and preorder Xenoblade Chronicles X. You want Nintendo to invest in more franchises? Then do it. Now.
EDIT: Sounds like I'm bitter towards this news. I'm not. I love Mario, and Mario Maker is brilliant 😁
Re: It's Official, Hideo Kojima Has Parted Ways With Konami
@Xenocity I dunno where you pulled that number from, but I can guarantee you that Zelda Wii U will cost Nintendo a wee bit more than $5 million. More like $50 million, at least. You do realise there isn't a set definition of what constitutes a 'AAA' game, do you?
Re: Sources Suggest Nintendo NX Is A Fusion Of Home And Mobile Hardware Powered By "Industry-Leading" Tech
@Grumblevolcano No, I don't think so. If NX comes out next year, then the Wii U would have a had a lifespan of about four years - that's around the same as Gamecube. Not the longest time on the market, but not exactly Virtual Boy or Dreamcast.
@PlywoodStick Actually, both 3DS and Wii U were initially sold at a loss (though a single game was enough to turn a profit for the latter).
@russellohh Obviously the Wii U isn't for you. If you can't find anything to like from its high-quality library, then there's no convincing you. Must suck to hate fun.
Re: Sources Suggest Nintendo NX Is A Fusion Of Home And Mobile Hardware Powered By "Industry-Leading" Tech
As usual, people hoping for a powerhouse that will blow the competition out of the water will be disappointed.
At most, the NX will compete with PS4's and Xbox One's specs - not surpass them. Like it or not, but Nintendo places greater emphasis on new types of hardware experiences, rather than simply cramming 'grafix' into a box and calling it a day.
As such, something's gotta give. Cost will be a big issue, and people must remember that Nintendo is still a toy company. This isn't going to be some sleek, stylish gadget akin to an Apple product. Or even a Sony/Microsoft one. They want users to have fun above all, and the NX will reflect that in some ways through cheaper (or 'outdated' if you prefer) components. And it will have them.
What's utterly vital is in how they'll market the thing. This is one area that Nintendo cannot screw around with. It's not about power (though it obviously is important to an extent), but how they'll be able to sell it as the next big thing. Smartphones aren't popular because of their specs; it's because of how easy they are to use. Minecraft also proves that the biggest games aren't the most photo-realistic. Even the PS4 isn't selling because of its superior RAM; but because Sony hit a homerun with their marketing. The fact that it can use buzzwords like '1080p' over Xbox's '900p' is just a pleasant side-success. Look at the PSOne, PS2, Wii and DS. Nintendo's biggest potential audience isn't one that cares about arbitrary numbers behind a non-existent hood - and those that do will buy the thing anyway. Loyalists like myself are already guaranteed to part with the cash - the Wii U audience.
Re: Rumour: A List of Unreleased Titles for the eShop and Virtual Console Just Leaked
@AlexSora89 I imagine a digital version of Brawl would be difficult, because of Snake. I can see Konami making things frustrating.
@BertoFlyingFox Skyward Sword without motion controls is likely impossible. The game was built from the ground up to use the Wiimote.
Re: Apparent Confirmation Emerges of Shovel Knight for Super Smash Bros., Denied in Vain By Yacht Club Games
Insert Character Here is a horrible choice for Smash Bros! Insert Character Here should go in!!!
Re: Nintendo Enjoys Market Share Dominance in Japan
@Peek-a-boo Well, the Wii U isn't doing so hot - but the 3DS is picking up the slack; 65 million combined sales compared to Sony's 35 million (PS4 and Vita) and 15 million for Xbox One. Software sales for both machines are also very strong, considering their exclusivity.
Re: Voice Actors Union Authorises Strike Action With Landslide 96.52 Percent Vote
Wanting proper treatment is fair enough - but this to me sounds like a bunch of crybabies wanting their bottle.
Stunt people for dangerous motion-capture sessions? "Stunt pay" for "vocally stressful" recording sessions? A cut of game royalties? Get some damn perspective, you fools. You have a dream job that is the very definition of indulgence. Try being a police officer or an aid worker - or hell, even a lowly game developer.
I'm a writer, and I don't go around demanding benefits for us poor, starving artists.
Bloody first world problems.
Re: Sonic Lost World's Wii U Exclusivity Ends With Budget PC Release
@DarthNocturnal I see. I still prefer Mario Kart myself, but I definitely understand your points. Though your last grievance was more of an opinion than anything - there is nevertheless signs that Nintendo may incorporate more franchises into MK in the future. I reckon the Zelda and Animal Crossing DLC is just the start 😊
On topic; the 3DS version of Lost World was possibly the worst game I've ever played on 3DS; just awful.
The Wii U version - while better - was still very average. The visuals were gorgeous and the sound was brilliant, but it falls into that old Sonic trap of poorly designed levels and overly-complicated gameplay. I get the impression that Sonic fans who ardently defend the games don't really understand effective game construction. Sonic Team simply doesn't have the design chops possessed by Nintendo.
Re: Midora Developer Admits He Knew Kickstarter Funds Wouldn't Be Enough To Complete The Game
What is wrong with these people? Don't they bloody THINK when launching these campaigns?
So glad I've never supported a Kickstarter. Apparently asking for thousands of dollars and the trust of many people is just a big lark. Sure, there are professional, well-run campaigns (like Yooka-Laylee and Bloodstained), but its the Mighty No. 9s and the Armikrogs of this world that are ruining it for everyone.
Re: How A 165-Foot Super Mario Mural Helped Heal The Upset Created By Russian Military Propaganda
@Kirk *its
@KTT I know, right? Gosh, reading is hard!
On topic; great story. This is where Nintendo's family-friendly image shines; you won't ever see a frightening Master Chief mural in the middle of Russia 😂
Re: Sonic Lost World's Wii U Exclusivity Ends With Budget PC Release
@DarthNocturnal What does Mario Kart keep messing up?
@CTMike Sonic Unleashed used the Hedgehog Engine, which was also used in both Generations and Lost World.
@shani Nintendo had nothing to do with Lost World's development.
Re: Nintendo Drops Out of Interbrand 'Best Global Brands' Top 100
Though not life-and-death, this list certainly reflects Nintendo's current situation in the market. The company certainly has its work cut out when it comes to regaining the mainstream spotlight. Hopefully 2016 will be the start of its resurgence.
Re: Star Fox Zero Delayed To Achieve a "Platinum Feel" in Quality
@OlicityBlows @MrRight I'm sorry, but what is a Platinum game supposed to look like?
@Yorumi "They seem to have sacrificed all game play in order to force an awkward control gimmick on people that no one asked for."
Of course no-one 'asked' for it; that's the whole point of doing something new.
Re: Shiny Founder Dave Perry Wasn't Keen On The N64 From The Start
Ugh. Dave Perry has always rubbed me the wrong way. He reminds me a lot of Jason Rubin, who is similarly too big for his boots.
@Spoony_Tech What a load of rubbish. Downfall? Worst choice ever? Exaggerate much?
Yes, Nintendo helped hand the videogames market to Sony on a silver platter - but people tend to magnify Nintendo's lack of sense regarding the cartridge format. Physically, they were more stable, and harder to pirate. Also, they lacked the load times present on CDs. Of course, it was small comfort in face of the PlayStation's immense sales.
Nevertheless, I always find it humorous when critics proclaim that Nintendo has been on a downward spiral for years, yet Wii and DS somehow 'don't count'.
Re: Talking Point: Why Does Investor Confidence in Nintendo Continue to Dip Under Tatsumi Kimishima?
No offense, but this isn't really something worth talking about. Stock fluctuates constantly; that's par for the course in multibillion dollar companies.
Re: Weirdness: Just Dance 2016 Will Include An Exclusive Song About Stepping On A Chihuahua
In terms of the family social ladder, my chihuahua steps on me 😔
Re: HyperPlay RPG Is A Glorious Throwback To The Pre-Internet Days Of Homemade Fanzines
Well, what's old is new again, as they say!
No matter how 'irrelevant' they become, there's simply nothing that'll replace magazines for that feel. Also, when the internet goes out in an apocalyptic scenario, then who will you turn to, eh?
Re: Video: Ocarina of Time's Kakariko Village Gets a HD Makeover In Unreal Engine 4
@Jimtaro Really? Saying stuff like "Nintendo are holding gaming back", "there's no improving going on", "I feel sorry for you", and "I'm truely thankful that we have a company like Sony taking the lead with gaming while a fossil like Nintendo is getting left behind" aren't the opinions of a poor, innocent chap who is getting bullied by the big bad Nintendrones. They're the ravings of a troll.
Re: Scottish Indie Dev Stew Hogarth Passes Away Aged 34, Super Mario Maker Levels He Created Get Shared Online
Wow, my brother also has a heart disease.
Rest in Peace, Stew Hogarth. Hopefully you're now having a blast with Iwata 😏
Re: Nintendo Is Merging Its Prized EAD And SPD Teams Into A Single Group
Business Development Division AKA the internet 😜
Seriously though, these are some huge changes. I can't believe EAD is no more! Nintendo clearly isn't messing around anymore.
Re: Feature: The Short But Sweet Games Journalism Career Of Renegade Kid's Jools Watsham
Brilliant piece, Damien! Really top-notch work, as usual.
CVG was a great magazine (shame about the horrible website it spawned). Reading this really took me back to my childhood. Magazines were everything to me... I didn't even get my first computer until 2006!
Re: Talking Point: Tatsumi Kimishima Is A Safe Pair Of Hands In Changing Times
@Raien How asinine. Who would Nintendo become third party for? Sony? Microsoft? What makes the PlayStation or Xbox brands a safer haven than Nintendo's own? Because, last I checked, third-parties are going bankrupt left, right and centre. SEGA is a shell of its former self. Hudson is gone. Konami looks like it's ready to give up games all together. Capcom didn't even have enough money to publish another Street Fighter.
Hardware sales are still a big money-maker for Nintendo, despite the Wii U's failings (let's just conveniently forget the 3DS, eh?), and its games still sell far more (over a wider range) than the competition. Mario Kart 8 has sold over five million copies,yet the PS4's highest selling title (Killzone) has only shifted over two million. Shuhei Yoshida himself said that only 30 to 40% of Sony's games make money... I guess they should quit then, and focus on exclusively making hardware?
The Xbox brand too, is a big money sink for Microsoft. It has lost billions since its introduction, and Microsoft are trying to salvage it by unifying everything with Windows 10.
Never mind how terrible Nintendo leaving the console business would be from a gamer's perspective. Less competition means less variety and choice... And again, Yoshida himself has said that Nintendo needs to thrive.
Oh, and people were crying for Pikmin 3 for nine years... And now that Miyamoto wants to make another, that's somehow a horrible thing? That its existence is somehow emblematic of a flawed mantra within the company? Didn't Nintendo just create a hit new IP with Splatoon? That's what they need to do, right? Create that next big breakout hit like Wii Sports or Wii Fit? Well, that kind of success simply isn't guaranteed - people latch on to the darndest things, seemingly without rhyme or reason. How did Minecraft get so big? Why are vampires all the rage? How? Why? Where? When?
Creating videogames that will sell will always be a crapshoot, because it's an inherently creative business that must co-exist with financial sense. 'Gamecube' games, as you so (confusingly) put it, sell because of brand loyalty. Maybe they won't sell gangbusters (like Pikmin, Metroid or F-Zero), but Nintendo makes them because they are an investment toward the continued support if the 'hardcore' fans that in turn help to keep them afloat during times of distress. The Wii U didn't sell badly because of this; it was because of this, it sold at all. Also, by delivering quality games (that aren't necessarily blockbusters) and building a rapport, Nintendo have managed to avoid the nasty post-fad syndrome - like we're now seeing with Angry Birds, Call of Duty and even Apple (judging by the increasingly lukewarm responses to its new products). It's a long-term strategy, and one that has kept Nintendo alive for so long; the company goes through ebbs and flows, and while its games often lack the immediate pizzazz and 'coolness' of its moneybags competition, they often get the last laugh by being a lot more timeless and ingraining themselves into the psyche of gamers long after the other cash cows have been milked dry. It's an alternative business model that doesn't see immediate results (relatively speaking), but is equally as effective.
Yes, you can blame Nintendo on many of its concerns, but like any company gong through uncertain times, there are external factors that have simply been beyond their control. Were the locomotive businesses poorly run, because they were superseded by automobiles? Should newspapers have been scolded, for not automatically predicting the internet's influence? Similarly, you can't pin the entirety of the company's woes on the company. Aside from a multitude of financial and economical reasons, there's also the fact that Nintendo is a dedicated videogame company - perhaps the last of its kind in the world. A double-edged sword, it's this business model that has ensured its success for so long - and also the reason why it has struggled to 'adapt' for so long, because of how ingrained and specialised the company is (compared to the multi-talented Sony, Microsoft, Google and Apple). It isn't as simple as 'getting on with the times'; a firm the size of Nintendo has many parts that run the machine, and simply doing what many people want them to would require a massive - and potentially deadly - overhaul of everything the company stands for and represents. Not that they aren't making changes (DeNA, QOL, NX, etc), but to simply chuck 30+ years of hardware R&D away because of some low sales (or brats who just don't want to buy Nintendo consoles to play the games they want to play) and armchair analysts pushing them to emulate the latest fad for a quick buck, is downright ludicrous.
Re: Talking Point: Tatsumi Kimishima Is A Safe Pair Of Hands In Changing Times
@The_Dude_Abides Sounds like the Dude's brain has been fried beyond recognition.
Re: Tatsumi Kimishima Named As New Nintendo President
Wow, congratulations to Tatsumi Kimishima. It's crazy to think he'll only be the fifth leader in Nintendo's 126 year history.
He certainly has the credentials. Here's to the future 🍷
Re: Interview: James Hoag on Aiming High With Wii U Platformer Mekazoo
@14thTry This interview was cool! I'm definitely looking forward to your game, James 😃
Re: Interview: Yosuke Oshino On The Origins And Evolution Of Super Mario Maker
"Although it is an editing game, if we over-emphasised the game's tool aspect then it would tend get too complex, and make the game look too intimidating. We instead designed the interface around the idea that Super Mario Maker should be something fun that anyone can play."
I think this is something a lot of people don't seem to understand. The appeal of Mario Maker isn't just the fact that you can create - but also, that it's very easy to do so. The easy UI is just as important as any editing features that the game may include - if it was dry and stuffed with text (like 99% of other editors out there), it just wouldn't be appealing, no matter how much content it would have.
Haters would cry 'casuals!', and to that I say - yes, exactly. The casual/family audience isn't a new phenomenon that emerged with Wii and DS - it's a demographic that Nintendo has partially catered to since the NES days (simple hardware, inoffensive material, non-intimidating games).
Re: Weirdness: The Bizarre Truth of Bowser Jr.'s Mother, According to Shigeru Miyamoto
@bezerker99 He wouldn't. He'd only shrink...
Love this video. I wonder what Miyamoto thinks of all the sad losers who obsessively try to make sense of Mario's world and timeline. That's like trying to figure out the sociological structure of Looney Toons.
Re: Apple Just Announced Its Own Wii, Almost A Decade After Nintendo
Add me to the crew of folks happily living under their rocks.
I don't care about Apple, and have never owned any of their products. With that said, maybe this Apple console can at least keep the big three on their toes, if nothing else.
Re: Devil's Third Fails to Hit UK Top 40 in Poor Week for Nintendo Titles
@antonvaltaz Yeah, I remember reading that Nintendo has quite a following in France and Germany. They're also surprisingly popular here in Australia, as well as New Zealand. I've always found it interesting how certain countries prefer on brand over another.
Either way, Nintendo seriously needs to improve its standing in the UK - much like how Microsoft is always facing an uphill battle in Japan. It's a shame too, as I feel both Wii U and Xbox One are far superior to PS4 ATM. Sony is blatantly coasting along with remakes and a woeful online/customer service. It's amazing how much hype and smart marketing can do for a mediocre product (see: Apple).
Re: Review: Devil's Third (Wii U)
@Lord No, you don't need to say more. Because you are blatantly making up rubbish.
"He himself requested voice chat to be removed from splatoon."
No, he didn't.
"he also wanted starfox to be a single player re-release."
So... A new game = re-release? Well, maybe if you played PS4. And single player is now a bad thing? That's news to me.
"hate to think what he has told retro to do with metroid. (No online, no chat etc)"
He has very little to do with Metroid. And Retro isn't making a sequel at all at the moment. Nintendo itself said as much.
"and what was the big discovery that stopped us getting zelda initial reports said it was the lack of action and random encounters."
Source?
"I worry that Nintendo spreads it self to thinly to produce games instead of focusing on 1 or 2 with all the game delays we get most appear to be delayed and then we game some trashy infill title."
You do realise Nintendo has more than one development studio?
"Examples crappy games that they need not have made (wasted labour) blast ball thing, animal home designer, animal crossing board game, steam game ds, rusty baseball, kirby paintbrush, art academy, Amiibo 3 min game, and I could go on."
Translation: "I don't like these games, so that means they suck, WAAAAH."
Re: Review: Devil's Third (Wii U)
@Volke93 Get a new hobby. Or some anti-psychotic pills. Either one works.
On topic; I've already purchased Devil's Third. Not because I was particularly interested in it, but for the sake of my Wii U collection. It's pretty obvious this is no GOTY contender (as arbitrary as such a distinction really is), but I can still see myself having some dumb fun with it. If the community is there, I think the multiplayer could be somewhat of a sleeper hit - though those microtransactions really put a dampener on things; much like MGSV - which is just a wee bit better than this game. Just a bit.
Re: Rumour: XSEED Less Than Happy With Nintendo's About-Face On Publishing Devil's Third
NoA: Damned if they do, damned if they don't.
Re: Analysts Suggest That Nintendo's Quality Of Life Initiative Has Been "Put On The Back Burner"
Took me a while to find it, but here's an older interview with Michael Pachter. Here are some choice quotes:
"Most of my comments are intended to be humorous, and since I've behaved this way for over 50 years, my experience counts for a lot. Most people take my not so serious comments as jokes, and few have been offended."
"I think that it is fair game to poke fun at fanboy attitudes toward hardware (and I do so often about the Xbox 360 and PS3 as well)."
Note: I've NEVER seen this happen.
"I've covered the industry for 12 years, and my estimates are consistently close. I am wrong on every individual estimate, but the sum of my errors generally adds up to a very small miss."
"It's fair to assume that everything I say is pure speculation, unless I say otherwise."
"The commentary that it's [the 3DS] selling better than the DS at the same point is a bit disingenuous (by Nintendo, not by you), since the comparison is to the original fat DS. In the first 17 months of existence, the original DS averaged U.S. sales of 255,000 units a month, and in the first 17 months of the 3DS, sales averaged 310,000. However, in the first 17 months of the DS Lite, sales were 530,000 units, on average in the U.S. FYI, in the NEXT 17 months of its existence, the DS Lite averaged 920,000 units per month, or close to three times the level of the 3DS"
"Most people who meet me tend to understand that I'm a joker, and that I make comments that are intended to be taken lightly and not seriously."
"I don’t think Nintendo fans are so stupid they would buy a piece of cardboard. A box on the other hand, that says Nintendo on it, they probably would. Remember when you were a kid and you get gifts, and when you’re really little you like the box better than the gift? That’s how I think of Nintendo fanboys.”
Note: He actually refers to Nintendo fans as ‘fanboys’ 13 times!
Source: http://gonintendo.com/?mode=viewstory&id=184047
I also have an old issue of the Australian Game Informer (which I don't get anymore, due to it being a glorified Gamestop catalogue). It was issue 50, where Micky P said this:
"My bias on all four companies is positive. Nintendo's the biggest one to avoid right now because they not only don't seem to have mastered what to do with hardware, but they're kind of blissfully ignorant that they're not doing well. It's almost like they're the only ones who don't know it."
He also said Nintendo are "still in denial" about the failure of the Wii U, despite the company's actions indicating the contrary: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/02/10/pachter-interview-nintendo-still-in-denial-about-failure-of-wii-u.aspx
Also, let's not forget about this whopper: http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2014/01/pachter_nintendo_should_publish_its_games_on_the_ps4
So, why the constant poking and prodding of Nintendo? Why doesn't he ever point the finger at Sony and Microsoft - both of which have their own failings? Maybe...
http://playeressence.com/microsoft-gametrailers-can-not-be-trusted-michael-pachter-and-geoff-keighley-exposed-by-the-leveledheadgamer/
http://pietriots.com/2012/07/31/durp-pachter-two-two-seven/
Put simply; the guy says crap to get attention. Why do you think he's always plastered all over the gaming sites?
Re: Analysts Suggest That Nintendo's Quality Of Life Initiative Has Been "Put On The Back Burner"
@HollywoodHogan A broken clock is right twice a day. Pachter also said that both Wii and DS would flop and the Xbox One would dominate - and that's just the tip of the immense BS iceberg he's created over the years. Whenever people call him out on it, he twists his words (usually to the effect of "I'm an analyst! My job is hard, and you just don't get it!") or insults Nintendo and its fans.
This is an utter non-story which means nothing. Basically a bunch of twits guessing things. Gotta love games 'journalism'.
Re: Hands On: Devil's Third - Sampling Online Chaos and Fearing the Devilry of Microtransactions
@Pod Hey, Mario Galaxy came out in 2007. That was an awesome year
Re: Exclusive: MercurySteam Has Been Working On A Metroid Prototype For Wii U And 3DS
Wow, sounds intriguing.
I'd love to see a more isolated, horror-based Metroid - maybe like Alien: Isolation, but more action-orientated.
Re: Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Acknowledges Nintendo as a 'Beacon' for First-Party Games
"On the Wii U, I think people downplay how many units they've sold."
This statement in particular interested me. The Wii U hasn't moved a whole lot of units, but I'm wondering if Spencer is implying that there is more to console success than sheer numbers (like overall profit, or revenue streams from games and other services).
Either way, I'll be getting an Xbox One pretty soon. Scalebound looks amazing.
Re: Chris Prangar, Nintendo Treehouse Staffer Who Recently Spoke About His Work, Confirms He's Been Fired
@IceClimbers Nintendo isn't in a "distant 3rd". If you're going by the amount of Wii U consoles sold, then sure; but there's also the 3DS. Even then, units shifted isn't as important as overall profit - in which case Microsoft is actually the one that is 'third'. It's all semantics, though.
@night "His interview damaged Nintendo's reputation even further than it already has been for a while now"
LOL. Nintendo has a damaged reputation? Since when?
Re: Editorial: Paper Mario is 15 Years Old Today, and Provides a Reminder of Nintendo's Wonderful Whimsy
@gatorboi352 I (and many others, I'm sure) are getting sick of your constant negative remarks. If you hate Nintendo so much, then leave.
Mods, do what you will, but it's something I feel needs to be said.
On topic; I can't believe it's been 15 since Paper Mario came out. I still remember getting it ordered via my video store, as I was paranoid that I wouldn't be able to buy it in stores... Turned out I was right, as the game got a limited release in Australia, and I lived in a small town which had virtually no games to purchase. This was pre-internet days, and the only way to get the games I wanted was to order them over the phone or ask a shop clerk. Still, I got the game, and played it non-stop over Christmas. Good times.
Re: Oddworld Inhabitants Is No Longer Working On Wii U Stranger's Wrath, But It's Not Canned
For Christ's sake, I wish developers would stop BSing us. Of course it's cancelled!
Re: Nintendo Stock Value Rises Following Better Than Expected Sales, Amid Calls For A Speedy Leadership Decision
@FLUX_CAPACITOR Great posts.
Re: Nintendo Stock Value Rises Following Better Than Expected Sales, Amid Calls For A Speedy Leadership Decision
Ah... financial and industry analysts; those revered, under-paid clairvoyants.
/s
Re: Wii U Squeezes Past 10 Million Lifetime Sales as Nintendo Remains on Target With Profits
I'm sure the usual Negative Nancys of NLife (you know who) are crying into their business degrees as we speak.
Nintendo WILL die! Even if it takes another 126 years!
Re: Editorial: Super Smash Bros. Should be Integral to Nintendo's NX Future
@IceClimbers But Smash Bros isn't just a fighting game - it's also a party title, designed for casual players. Sakurai designed the series to be different from traditional fighters like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.
Like it's other games, Nintendo has never let the protestations of 'fans' get in the way of doing new things. If it were up to the hardcore fighting game community, the Smash series wouldn't have evolved beyond Melee. Hell, they still whined that Smash Wii U originally wasn't going to use the near 15 year old GCN controller - and Nintendo was forced to release an ugly peripheral just to placate them.
A series can only go so far by doing the same thing over and over. Exclusively catering to a hardcore minority isn't Nintendo's style - they want as much people as possible to play their games, and Sakurai himself lives by the design philosophy of disrupting conventional norms. Heck, Smash wouldn't have existed in the first place if not for this mindset.
People have blasted Nintendo for sticking to their guns with Metroid: Federation Force, and that the company has somehow insulted them by insinuating that the fans don't know what they want. You know what? Most of the time, it's true; hardcore fans don't know what they want - they are conditioned to stick with what's familiar, and condemn anything that's new. That is, until they try said new thing, and then that becomes the norm. It's human nature - and any perceived arrogance on Nintendo's part is validated by 126 years of successful business.
Re: Editorial: Super Smash Bros. Should be Integral to Nintendo's NX Future
As much as I love Smash Bros, I think the next sequel needs to make some radical changes to its core gameplay in order to avoid franchise fatigue.
Of course, the next game can easily use whatever innovative new hardware NX has - but on a basic gameplay level, I just can't see it being yet another 2D fighter/party game.
Sakurai and Nintendo cannot be afraid to change things up at the risk of pissing-off the fanbase. They can (and likely will) cry and moan all they want, but Smash Bros needs to evolve in order to stay fresh.
What those changes would actually be, I have no idea - but I do remember an Iwata Asks interview where he and Sakurai talked about how the multiplayer for Kid Icarus: Uprising could serve as a foundation for a future Smash title; so maybe the series could go 3D ala Power Stone?