Nintendo: has the mighty fallen?

[V TheSystem V]

I remember the days of the Nintendo 64, and how Nintendo gave us game after game which was pure quality, and genuinely fun. The Gamecube came along, and the games were still great, but had declined in quality (Mario Sunshine. Irritating on so many levels on some occasions). The Wii came along in 2006, and Nintendo had moved consoles into the future...but that future was flawed. Very, very flawed.

All that console gets is shovelware like Carnival Games, and Nintendo don't seem to care. Mario Galaxy, Mario Galaxy 2, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii are games that were genuinely fun and great, but there isn't much else. A lot of remakes, some great (Resident Evil 4), some bad (Modern Warfare Reflex), and they are DEFINITELY catering for the casual gamers too much (all the Mii games, from Wii Sports to the upcoming Wii Party), which is making me think that Nintendo has gone the way of the dinosaur. They aren't providing for the hardcore any more, what with the motion controls and the fact that they won't do online gaming as well as the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Also, why bring out WiiMotion Plus? If they wanted to have 1:1 motion sensing, they should have mastered it BEFORE putting the Wii on the shelves.

 

[iFail69]

Nintendo have faded more into the casual gaming sector, where the PS3 and xbox fall into the more serious gaming consoles.

so in that aspect, nintendo hasn't fallen, it's just moved on to new markets

 

[Cherry Cola]

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of me playing No More Heroes 2, one of the best games this year.

Man Nintendo has got some good games.

 

[Beltom]

Nintendo does what it feels is the best way it can make money. If that way involves shovel-ware and "casual" games then that's the way they'll do it.
I agree that they did have better games in days gone by, but since then their business model has changed significantly and their audience has changed.

Edit:

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of me playing No More Heroes 2, one of the best games this year.

Man Nintendo has got some good games.

How is that game anyway? I've heard it's good but I'm not sure if I should play the first one first.

 

[Mr. Mike]

What happened to you Nintendo? You used to be cool... then you went all mainstream on us. What happened?

*poke jost*

 

[GLo Jones]

Nintendo's changed, and it's aims have been altered. But just because it no longer caters as well for the more hardcore gamers, that doesn't mean it isn't where it wants to be.

They've seen the gap in the market, and jumped on it. Thanks to working mainly on casual gamers, and aiming more at the entire family unit... Well, the figures on console sales should say enough about their success.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Nintendo does what it feels is the best way it can make money. If that way involves shovel-ware and "casual" games then that's the way they'll do it.
I agree that they did have better games in days gone by, but since then their business model has changed significantly and their audience has changed.

Edit:

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of me playing No More Heroes 2, one of the best games this year.

Man Nintendo has got some good games.

How is that game anyway? I've heard it's good but I'm not sure if I should play the first one first.

One of the first conversations in the game goes somewhere along the lines of this:

"WOAH! Why are we having a sequel? I don't remember us setting it up for one in the first game!"

"Screw continuity! Now go kill stuff!"

So no, you don't have to play the first. All you need to know is either in the game or in the manual.

 

[aPod]

At the end of the day Nintendo is a business, and they'll go whatever route will generate the most capital, for them cheaper consoles which they make money on everyone sold was the way to go.

This is fine, they're just headed somewhere less in tune with my personal choice in games. I won't be buying a Wii anytime soon but i am sad i dont get to play some of the games that came out.

I'll feel that way until Red Dead and Alan Wake get shipped in oooh, then i'll forget about smash bros.

 

[MGlBlaze]

Nintendo has not "gone the way of the dinosaur". It isn't dying, it's just evolved to fill a different role. Even so, nintendo does still have a few 'hardcore' (and I'm really starting to hate people who use the hardcore/casual terms. What's the point?) games that I pick up. No More Heroes 2, for instance, is waiting for me after I get my exams out of the way.

Personally, I actually like my Wii more than my 360. I'm not sure why, I just don't care that much about the 360's games compared to the PC, PS3 and Wii. I think the only games I care about that are on the 360 are Alan Wake and Ace Combat 6.

But anyway.
Nintendo has not fallen. Not even close.

 

[Woodsey]

I strongly dislike them.

I don't like the Halo series (at all, in any way) but people go on about them cashing in when you've got Nintendo making the same game for the past 30 years.

Then there's the Wii; hugely over-priced and definitely the worst £180 I've spent. I played it for 2 months, then it collected dust for another 6 months before I got rid.

And then there's their treatment of 3rd party developers. MS and Sony might not be perfect, but Nintendo...

LucasArts were releasing that Star Wars: Lightsabre Duels game, then around the time it was released Nintendo announced the Wii Motion Plus with it's 1:1 control (why didn't the Wii have that when it came out?) - a product with which only 3 games actually require it, and only about 20 support. And it was released a year ago!!

 

[Beltom]

Nintendo does what it feels is the best way it can make money. If that way involves shovel-ware and "casual" games then that's the way they'll do it.
I agree that they did have better games in days gone by, but since then their business model has changed significantly and their audience has changed.

Edit:

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of me playing No More Heroes 2, one of the best games this year.

Man Nintendo has got some good games.

How is that game anyway? I've heard it's good but I'm not sure if I should play the first one first.

One of the first conversations in the game goes somewhere along the lines of this:

"WOAH! Why are we having a sequel? I don't remember us setting it up for one in the first game!"

"Screw continuity! Now go kill stuff!"

So no, you don't have to play the first. All you need to know is either in the game or in the manual.

Rightyo, sounds good. No More Heroes 2 is now on my to buy list. Now all I need is money to buy the stuff on that list with.

 

[wheeman]

You know there are still kids out there in the world, and a lot of them don't really like games like call of duty.

 

[Sir-jackington]

Screwed up with the Wii

 

[Urgh76]

I think Nintendo is trying to get most of the attention on their Hand-held systems like the DSi

Also I think this is in order:



Yes, yes it is real

 

[Individuo]

Nintendo haven't gone less the way of the dinosaur and more the way of early man. Migrating away from "Hard-core Valley" towards "Casual Bay".

 

[JoJo]

I strongly dislike them.

I don't like the Halo series (at all, in any way) but people go on about them cashing in when you've got Nintendo making the same game for the past 30 years.

Then there's the Wii; hugely over-priced and definitely the worst £180 I've spent. I played it for 2 months, then it collected dust for another 6 months before I got rid.

And then there's their treatment of 3rd party developers. MS and Sony might not be perfect, but Nintendo...

LucasArts were releasing that Star Wars: Lightsabre Duels game, then around the time it was released Nintendo announced the Wii Motion Plus with it's 1:1 control (why didn't the Wii have that when it came out?) - a product with which only 3 games actually require it, and only about 20 support. And it was released a year ago!!

I don't think Mario has been around for 30 years, more like just over 20, but anyway the Mario series is no way the "same" game every time, compare Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 with the original Super Mario Bros. and the difference is just huge... and consider all the spin-offs as well e.g. Mario Kart, Paper Mario... and ofcourse Nintendo also make Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon and many other games which are still highly acclaimed after all this time (unlike a lot of other long-time series like Sonic, Spyro which are generally agreed to be well past their best...)

 

[kimba_lion]

I remember the days of the Nintendo 64, and how Nintendo gave us game after game which was pure quality, and genuinely fun. The Gamecube came along, and the games were still great, but had declined in quality (Mario Sunshine. Irritating on so many levels on some occasions). The Wii came along in 2006, and Nintendo had moved consoles into the future...but that future was flawed. Very, very flawed.

All that console gets is shovelware like Carnival Games, and Nintendo don't seem to care. Mario Galaxy, Mario Galaxy 2, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii are games that were genuinely fun and great, but there isn't much else. A lot of remakes, some great (Resident Evil 4), some bad (Modern Warfare Reflex), and they are DEFINITELY catering for the casual gamers too much (all the Mii games, from Wii Sports to the upcoming Wii Party), which is making me think that Nintendo has gone the way of the dinosaur. They aren't providing for the hardcore any more, what with the motion controls and the fact that they won't do online gaming as well as the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Also, why bring out WiiMotion Plus? If they wanted to have 1:1 motion sensing, they should have mastered it BEFORE putting the Wii on the shelves.

ALAS!!!!!

you miss a few really good things that nintendo have accomplished really well to date!
For one what about the gameboys?? they were amazing!
and the Nintendo DS... need i say more. Sure nintendo wasted there time and brains bringing ous the DSi and DSi XL... i mean WOW it has a crappy camera...

i use my DS Lite every day and while i do my wii collects dust.. it will be wiped down late this year when the next zelda for wii is released because i will be buying it and (hopefully) enjoying it!

 

[Woodsey]

I strongly dislike them.

I don't like the Halo series (at all, in any way) but people go on about them cashing in when you've got Nintendo making the same game for the past 30 years.

Then there's the Wii; hugely over-priced and definitely the worst £180 I've spent. I played it for 2 months, then it collected dust for another 6 months before I got rid.

And then there's their treatment of 3rd party developers. MS and Sony might not be perfect, but Nintendo...

LucasArts were releasing that Star Wars: Lightsabre Duels game, then around the time it was released Nintendo announced the Wii Motion Plus with it's 1:1 control (why didn't the Wii have that when it came out?) - a product with which only 3 games actually require it, and only about 20 support. And it was released a year ago!!

I don't think Mario has been around for 30 years, more like just over 20, but anyway the Mario series is no way the "same" game every time, compare Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 with the original Super Mario Bros. and the difference is just huge... and consider all the spin-offs as well e.g. Mario Kart, Paper Mario... and ofcourse Nintendo also make Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon and many other games which are still highly acclaimed after all this time (unlike a lot of other long-time series like Sonic, Spyro which are generally agreed to be well past their best...)

It's interesting how you thought I was talking about Mario when I didn't specify any game...

Anyway, Pokémon, Mario, Zelda - they all hit similar notes and they barely evolve in my eyes. Mario's got spin-offs, but even they are recreated in nearly the same way each time.

 

[JoJo]

I strongly dislike them.

I don't like the Halo series (at all, in any way) but people go on about them cashing in when you've got Nintendo making the same game for the past 30 years.

Then there's the Wii; hugely over-priced and definitely the worst £180 I've spent. I played it for 2 months, then it collected dust for another 6 months before I got rid.

And then there's their treatment of 3rd party developers. MS and Sony might not be perfect, but Nintendo...

LucasArts were releasing that Star Wars: Lightsabre Duels game, then around the time it was released Nintendo announced the Wii Motion Plus with it's 1:1 control (why didn't the Wii have that when it came out?) - a product with which only 3 games actually require it, and only about 20 support. And it was released a year ago!!

I don't think Mario has been around for 30 years, more like just over 20, but anyway the Mario series is no way the "same" game every time, compare Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 with the original Super Mario Bros. and the difference is just huge... and consider all the spin-offs as well e.g. Mario Kart, Paper Mario... and ofcourse Nintendo also make Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon and many other games which are still highly acclaimed after all this time (unlike a lot of other long-time series like Sonic, Spyro which are generally agreed to be well past their best...)

It's interesting how you thought I was talking about Mario when I didn't specify any game...

Anyway, Pokémon, Mario, Zelda - they all hit similar notes and they barely evolve in my eyes. Mario's got spin-offs, but even they are recreated in nearly the same way each time.

You speak some truth that the franchises you mention barely evolve, however from my point of view this is not just limited to Nintendo franchises, COD and GTA are two examples of popular series that haven't really changed that much over time, but then again as they say "why fix what's not broken?"

 

[AMMO Kid]

Nintendo can't hear you over the billions of dollars it's currently rolling in.


How in the hell has Nintendo fallen?

Nintendo hasn't fallen off the profit charts
Nintendo has just fallen from Gamer's Hearts

A poem for you