Scrumpmonkey said:
In terms of raw Blockbuster effects spectacle Nintendo has missed the boat entirely..
They missed the boat entirely because after the PS2 started stomping the Gamecube in sales, I think Nintendo realized that they had no real hope of competing with that kind of crowd.
But I have a bit of a mouthful to say on that yet (below).
The best AAA games have a tried and tested core but are built on with great original ideas; Bioshock and Bioshock infinite did this exceptionally well.
No joke, I actually had Bioshock specifically in mind when I wrote my previous response.
While it's a phenomenal game that's fairly distinguished from other shooters of its day, it also kinda cribbed 90% of its gameplay from System Shock 2. (though it more than made up for it with style and setting)
Still, it's one of the most interesting games of its generation, and one of the only games I'd call "artistic"; in that it had a theme beyond the usual tropes in entertainment (being a commentary on Objectivism).
I think the problem is that the AAA studios are using safe ideas from the last 5 years whereas Nintendo is using safe ideas from 20 years ago; say what you like about the stale state of the AAA market but they know how to switch fine-tine their releases to respond to the market; there is at least a slow turnover of ideas.
Well, AAA used to know how to switch, but they're becoming more and more shackled to formulas as time goes on.
Right now, I'm sensing great hesitation from them to even attempt; especially when companies openly claim that they're only interested in IP if it can be milked to death (as Ubisoft said last year).
But I concede, that's just AAA. Nintendo is, in some ways worse, because Nintendo is weird.
For one, Nintendo is unique for possessing what I call a "Disney Complex".
Nintendo's strongest sales cater to the family friendly game market; which works especially well because few others even bother with it (Skylanders is the only contemporary non-Nintendo game in this category that springs to mind; maybe Minecraft too).
And in their defense, I can respect Nintendo for giving kids quality games instead of half-assed shovelware.
Kids are an evergreen source of new gamers, and thus new revenue. I think that is part of why Nintendo leans so heavily on recycling old concepts with small refinements than creating new concepts; it's because it has worked for 20+ years.
Mainstream media trends come and go, but children's entertainment is positively glacial to adapt to change (in any medium).
Normally, "Game-Market-Disney" sounds like a great position to be in, but unfortunately Nintendo isn't just a game developer; they're also a console manufacturer.
Even though their primary market targets kids and families, Nintendo behaves as though they're in competition with the same prospective 3rd parties their system wants for mainstream appeal.
A fact that has given Nintendo a reputation among developers as being difficult to work with; much to their detriment.
(I remember the fallout with Squaresoft over Super Mario RPG in the 90s; a move that would cost Nintendo dearly vs the PS1. Today, mandating design for that silly tablet gimmick is only driving developers away.)
To make a long story short (too late): Nintendo is reliant on Nintendo to sell Nintendo systems.
When only their popular franchises keeps them in business, it's no mystery why they're so hesitant to change.
Naughty Dog for example isn't still making Crash Bandicoot games, or even Jak games. Something is lost from these transitions but more is gained. People still play old games; between GoG, XBLA, PSN, Steam and dedicated emulation platforms (ScummVM, Dos Box ect) you can get pretty much ANY old game. It would be nice to see another Crash Bandicoot game but if a feel the need i can just pop my original copy in my PS3 or download it from the store.
To use Sony's studios as an example again in the last 20 years they have created a large roster of ever changing original IPs. If they just made a Crash Bandicoot game, a Spyro game and a Wipeout games every 2-3 years people might be happy wallowing in their childhoods sure but we would have missed out on so many other great experiences and ideas to the determent of gaming.
Indeed.
I will add there's a definite element of "Careful what you wish for" in the market today.
Sometimes, demand for a game series can turn a project around (we wouldn't have XCOM Enemy Unknown if not for the vocal fandom; just The Bureau), but it can just as easily inspire exploitation (recent Dungeon Keeper) and tears.
We live in an era both blessed with and spoiled by nostalgia.
Nostalgia-exploitation is damn near the biggest thing in media right now, for games and films at least.
