Poor Nintendo

[Rakala]

I have several friends, once long time Nintendo fans, changing their opinion based on the Wii. I agree that they aren't doing great with it. I think their big problem is the market their appealing to. If you pay attention most of these games appeal to casual gamers. They need to spend more time advertising games like Twilight Princess than Cooking with Mama. It's almost disgusting.

[Ryudo Lee]

Well the thing is, the causal gamer market is wider than the regular and hardcore gamer market.  They're moving their attention to younger kids, as well as adults and the elderly, whereas the other game makers focus on the young teen to young adult males.  Unfortunately it does put the rest of us out in the cold, and forces us to drop $400 on a PS3.  But Nintendo won't be suffering, so long as they keep the attention of everyone else in the gaming market.

[Amber Williams]

I personally have been enjoying Nintendo's change of pace from the norm in both the DS and the Wii.  And really I think it is a good strategy.  It isn't like older people or casual gamers don't like having fun once they reach a certain status.  Just the other day I mentioned to my husband's mother that we have Wii Fit and she was like "oooh! Next time you visit you should bring it over! I have wanted to try that!"    Its a lot harder to imagine a 58 year old conservative lady saying the same for many other systems.

I think most people are changing their opinion because the change Nintendo is making doesn't benefit their demographic in particular.  People seem to feel entitled in "Oh we are the long-term Nintendo fans so we somehow expect...well...something more than the average gamer." sort of way.   But it doesn't work that way.

It's a video game system. you either like the games, buy them, play them, enjoy them, or you don't like them and you don't buy them, and play other things.  And claiming a company is doing terrible things because you and some of your friends are the ones affected negatively by it is short-sighted at best.

[Lushin]

Well the Wii does have games that the hardcore gamers would like too. They just don't promote those games as hard. The causal gamer is where they will be making their money. I've stopped by a few game stores and saw some games for the Wii that looked awesome. I mean I'm not all that impressed with the PS3 games I see commercials for. I've played games on the Wii and the 360. They both look pretty good, the only thing I have against the Wii is the controllers but seeing as N64 or Gamecube controllers can be used it's not much of a big deal.

[Reese Tora]

I don't think Nintendo is in any sort of trouble, they're just losing the lead they had from releasin the Wii before Sony and MS got out their consoles now that said rivals are starting to flesh out their game libraries.

If anything, I would say Nintendo's only failing is the shoehorning in of gimicky controls into otherwise solid games.  Sorry, nintendo, not every game benefits from motion controls, it has to be said.  But those games that are getting shoehorned are the games that appeal to the more hardcore gamer that are no longer their target audience anyway.  The casual games are gimiky, eye catching, addictive... that works with the Wii's controls

[Rakala]

When I said "it's almost disgusting" I was talking about my friends. I think Nintendo is doing just fine personally, though I think it should have a few more classical Nintendo games. And when I say that they aren't doing great, well that's the selfish part of me talking, but it's not like it comes out often. Although I do think Nintendo should have more games that the hardcore gamer could enjoy. They don't have many out right now. I mean I would love to see a new Zelda or Metroid game. That would be great.

[Jer-oh-me]

I agree that Nintendo's new strategy towards all inclusive demographics is an excellent choice. Fewer new gamers will be lazy couch potatoes, at least, not on a Nintendo system. And I also think the involvement of older generations is brilliant, I've not seen my Grandmothers in a while, but I'd wager they'd enjoy the Wii's library of games, and even my grumpy old Step-Grandpa would probably enjoy the Golf game on Wii-Sports.

However, I am disappointed that they are not putting any focus on their old demographic at all, there haven't been any announcements of games in the sort of vein as Zelda or Mario games, which I think is kind of sad. Also the third party support for the Wii, is not especially rousing from my point of view. I don't know how well that Star Wars game was on the Wii, but if my favorite games reviewer Yahtzee is to be believed it wasn't particularly good in comparison to the versions for the more graphics intensive PS3 and 360.

Speaking as a Twenty-something guy long time Nintendo fan, I'm feeling a little let down, though I'm will ing to hold out hope that Nintendo hasn't forgotten my demographic entirely, I have my suspicions that Nintendo has some more traditional games in the works and is just playing cards close to the chest.

At least they cater to the classic gamers with Wii-ware and Virtual Console. That's something I certainly appreciate, though my scores in StarFox 64 aren't as good as the ones on my old N64 cart of the same title.

[Rakala]

Yeah, they really let down all the people who have stuck with them since the original NES. The last great game they released was Super Smash Bros Brawl and that's reaching almost a year old.

[Lushin]

You must give them time people. It takes aleast a year to get a game made.  Also it all comes down to opinion on the games and of the gamers. I mean I want to get a Wii just to play the Godzilla game and the newest Metal of Honor game they have out. Also that new Star Wars games wasn't that great on any of the consoles. I now alot of people who love the Wii and the games they have out on it. So don't say all when it isn't. In fact everyone I know who has a Wii loves it. I mean when the NES first came out it wasn't for "hardcore gamers" it was just made as a gaming console for people to play. I'm sorry though people can't call themselves hardcore gamers unless they like a wide variant of games. Not just a certain game style. The Wii is putting games out for gamers not just hardcore gamers. I seem to remember something like this happening with another console when it first came out.

[Amber Williams]

I personally have enjoyed the raving rabbid games and am really looking forward to the one I will be able to use my Wiifit mat for.

Not to mention I am drooling over getting Chrono Trigger DS.

I honestly have never been a fan of many of the games most people think make Nintendo great. I hate the metroid series, dislike the Zelda series with exception to Link to the Past, found Star Fox series boring.  I admit I do enjoy Pokemon but even then its not a straight up following.

What I'm really hoping is that a Tales game gets released for the Wii since I really enjoyed Tales of Symphonia.  I found the Paper Mario series incredibly witty and fun.  Smash brothers is ok...but I am not really all that competitive in nature so eh.  Lego batman was pretty fun overall. Will prolly get the Lego Indiana Jones.

Yeah, Nintendo isn't releasing any Wii-exclusive titles that are making me fly into the game store...but I dont see why it has to.  Being able to buy a video game for me is a rare treat that I only ever seem to do when I get enough donations to cover all the bills.  80% of the time I am more worried about if I am going to have enough to pay for the months expenses much less which Nintendo title is being released.  And really...that is the way it is for a lot of people. We don't have the time and money to be gamers...we have enough to be people with everyday lives who get to enjoy video games now and then.

[Eibborn]

Nintendo was stagnating, anyway. You can only re-release the same game so many times, which I think is what happened to most of their long-standing franchises. It's kind of like how Final Fantasy is- it's all the same game after game, so eventually it stops being as fun.

This is a good move on their part. I seriously doubt they will let cash cows like Zelda and Metroid die, anyway. Just have patience, classic gamers!

[lucas marcone]

it's nice that they are making games for "everybody" but whats up with catering to the casual gamer? i really feel like nintendo is selling out.

[Ryudo Lee]

It's simple.  They catering to the casual gamer because it's a larger market.  There's more money in it.  Maybe they are selling out, but they're selling out all the way to the bank.

[Lushin]

For the love of god just cause they are selling games casual gamers like doesn't mean they are selling out. Hardcore gamers need to realize they aren't the only gamers.

[Kenji]

Don't hardcore gamers usually go searching hard for upcoming game info anyways? There's not really much of a reason to advertise it everywhere if most people who would want it would go searching for it anyways.

Besides.. I really don't recall a time where Zelda, Metroid, or any of the greatest Nintendo games were heavily advertised. Maybe in magazines, but not really in video methods.

[Jer-oh-me]

Yeah, Nintendo isn't releasing any Wii-exclusive titles that are making me fly into the game store...but I dont see why it has to.  Being able to buy a video game for me is a rare treat that I only ever seem to do when I get enough donations to cover all the bills.  80% of the time I am more worried about if I am going to have enough to pay for the months expenses much less which Nintendo title is being released.  And really...that is the way it is for a lot of people. We don't have the time and money to be gamers...we have enough to be people with everyday lives who get to enjoy video games now and then.

I know what you mean, I've not even been able to scrounge enough funds to replace my DS Lite let alone any games on Wii for myself & am in constant envy of more well funded gamers, but se là vis.

[ShadesFox]

I love how 'hardcore gamers' tend to have an over inflated sense of self importance.  As though console X or the PC can't survive with out the.

On my end, I've not had time to play video games.  The occasional Wiiware title, which are nice because I don't have to go anywhere to get them, but that is it.

[Jer-oh-me]

Shades, that reminds me of a mock Mac ad in the iPod silhouette style that said something to the effect of getting laid thanks to lack of competition.

[Toric]

Lego batman was pretty fun overall. Will prolly get the Lego Indiana Jones.

Before I forget to say this, don't get Lego Indiana Jones. Lego Batman is a thing of wonder, but in my opinion Lego Indy really fell flat. The whip is hard to manage, using ranged weapons is a pain with limited ammunition, and, as stated by Yahtzee, some of the weapons are actually worst in a fight than your fists. The wrench in particular seems to have so short a range that you're going to get hit every time you try to hit something. Not to mention that the scenery is brown, brown, dark green, and sometimes sandy tan. Find a used copy of the marvel that is Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga instead. Better use of color, funnier cutscenes in my opinion. The combat is fun, and skills are divided by character type instead of item you're holding so it's really less frustrating to swap a character than to destroy the scenery looking for a shovel.

My girlfriend is learning to be a physical therapist, so I'm hearing quite often about how the elderly is getting into the Wii and how good it is for hand-eye coordination and mental activity. My grandfather used to play the NES, so not much has changed, but the mechanism of waving your arm around just seems easier for most people to grasp than pushing buttons with your thumb. And as for Nintendo abandoning dedicated fans, I see so many good games on the Virtual Console for such a cheap, entirely legal availability that I'm really not complaining.

[Kenji]

Agreed. It's good for a bit of a laugh, but Lego Indiana Jones just doesn't have the same flair as the other Lego games do.
And why they didn't just go ahead and toss in Crystal Skull as something for beating the rest of the game, I'm not sure..

But yeah. Lego Jones is the lackluster game of the series.

[Turnsky]

Not to mention I am drooling over getting Chrono Trigger DS.

So i take it DMFA will be going on hiatus shortly after you get that? 

[Jer-oh-me]

Not to mention I am drooling over getting Chrono Trigger DS.

So i take it DMFA will be going on hiatus shortly after you get that? 

Bad Turnsky! Bad! You get a cookie!

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

I know what you mean, I've not even been able to scrounge enough funds to replace my DS Lite let alone any games on Wii for myself & am in constant envy of more well funded gamers, but se là vis.

Ow. Ow ow ow.

Jer, it's "C'est la vie" - French for "that is (the) life". No grave accent on the la, either.

*shudder*

[Jer-oh-me]

Sorry Llearch, content yourself that my mangling of French comes from Yankee laziness.

I probably won't remember your lesson, shamefully enough. C'est la vie.

What is the one that means, 'Do as they please'?

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Sod if I know which one you're referring to. I'm pretty much restricted to "cherchez la femme", "voulez-vous couchez avec moi, ce soir?" and the like...

[Jer-oh-me]

It sounds almost like 'lazy fair'

[Eibborn]

That would be, "laisse faire." I was taught that it translates to 'let it be,' but I'm sure it could mean more.


Also, wow, sorry this is so off-topic, guys. Derp.

[Jer-oh-me]

Ah, thank you! Let's back on topic, good grief, I feel the need to poke at the literal interpretation of the topic. Which is evidence of how bored I am.

[Reese Tora]

I love how 'hardcore gamers' tend to have an over inflated sense of self importance.  As though console X or the PC can't survive with out the.

On my end, I've not had time to play video games.  The occasional Wiiware title, which are nice because I don't have to go anywhere to get them, but that is it.

To a certain extent, 'twas the hardcore gamer drove the advancement of graphics technology and processing power on personal computers.  (with a few exceptions, they ARE the market for bleeding edge)

There is a certain amount of hubris to suppose the entire industry should cater to their needs, but it's somewhat justified in that they pushed the market to carry the high-end consoles and computers that are now common.

Notable is that the Wii does not carry those same high-end graphics and processing elements, perhaps a sign.

[Jer-oh-me]

Well, a lot of people thought the Wii's emphasis on user interface wouldn't pan out.

Guess the nay-sayers were wrong.