Comments on: What is Nintendo? http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/ A veteran's view on marketing games Sun, 21 Mar 2010 21:12:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bruce http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Bruce Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:13:15 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/#comment-124 Interesting article here: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070809-report-gamers-largely-clueless-about-next-gen-console-media-capabilities.html Most people just want to play games. Techno features are for a small audience. Interesting article here: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070809-report-gamers-largely-clueless-about-next-gen-console-media-capabilities.html
Most people just want to play games. Techno features are for a small audience.

]]> By: MNTwinsFanID http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/comment-page-1/#comment-114 MNTwinsFanID Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:07:21 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/#comment-114 I have to give you some applause for finally stating the facts that many gamers seem to have a hard time wrapping their head around. From the moment I saw the controller unveiled at TGS 2005, I could see just how much the Wii was going to re-energize the video game world as a whole. I saw my dad, who was l33t at tetris and Super Mario Bros. back in the day (he beat that game before I did!), but hasn't played a game since the NES, all of a sudden getting up and swinging a golf club while playing Mario Golf, Tiger Woods, et al. I saw my self blasting away at Ridley in Metroid, or Wily in Mega Man, and my sister-who really doesn't like games at all, possibly being able to play DDR in 3 dimensions (of course, you could never convince her DDR is a real video game). And really, isn't that the point? I have a co-worker who has a Wii, PS3, and 360, and all he seems to focus on is how "real" an experience it looked. When I ask him if he had fun, he tells me he can't really remember. Isn't that kind of like the movies. Take Star Wars I (I liked it, but this is just for arguments sake). Many will tell you the effects were outstanding, but they really don't remember much of the movie-and that's because after time, you will start to tune it out if there is no substance. Now take a movie like Clerks. Kevin Smith spent about $30,000 to make that movie. And yet many, many people remember much about that movie because it's funny and memorable. In short it's entertaining. Now, as far as innovation goes, most of the innovative strides taken by the gaming industry are directly attributable to Nintendo. Some we immediate smashes. Others were outright flops. Others took a long time to realize the potential, but they did indeed make it. Lets make the list: 1. The D-pad. Many of today's gamers take for granted this still included, but under-utilized, control input. But those of us who are a little bit older will remember the first time you picked up the NES controller, and saw those Huge Atari Digital Joysticks with the base you either had to hold with your other hand, or suction cup to a table, replaced by the simple, elegant crosshair on the left side. 2. REAL Hand Held gaming-The Game Boy was an absolute smash. But it goes back even further than that. The character in SSBM, Mr. Game and Watch, was actually originally found in some late 70's-early 80's single game hand-held units. Simple quartz Crystal Images, yes, but they eventually expanded to include the flagship characters, too, after the NES exploded. And I'm here to tell you the Zelda one is pull your hair out hard. 3. The Dance Mat-This is one that took a LONG time to finally hit-but when it did it went supernova. Dance Dance Revolution (or some variant of it), is now an arcade staple, and ever system has at least one version for it. But would the idea have ever been Dreamed up without the Power Pad? I had the power set-and even though I was horrible at it, World Class Track Meet is still one of my favorite NES games. My only hope is when they release WiiFit, the release WCTM on Virtual Console. 4.3-D Gaming and the Analog Controller-Many different developers had tried 3-D with limited success, until the big N released Mario 64 with the N64. After that every home console released featured an analog stick, and Sony even released a new control for the PSX to take advantage. But Nintendo did it first, and there are some who would argue they still do it best. This is just a small sampling-but make no mistake, the big N is usually right when they change the landscape. Even if everyone else doesn't know it yet. I have to give you some applause for finally stating the facts that many gamers seem to have a hard time wrapping their head around. From the moment I saw the controller unveiled at TGS 2005, I could see just how much the Wii was going to re-energize the video game world as a whole. I saw my dad, who was l33t at tetris and Super Mario Bros. back in the day (he beat that game before I did!), but hasn’t played a game since the NES, all of a sudden getting up and swinging a golf club while playing Mario Golf, Tiger Woods, et al. I saw my self blasting away at Ridley in Metroid, or Wily in Mega Man, and my sister-who really doesn’t like games at all, possibly being able to play DDR in 3 dimensions (of course, you could never convince her DDR is a real video game). And really, isn’t that the point? I have a co-worker who has a Wii, PS3, and 360, and all he seems to focus on is how “real” an experience it looked. When I ask him if he had fun, he tells me he can’t really remember. Isn’t that kind of like the movies. Take Star Wars I (I liked it, but this is just for arguments sake). Many will tell you the effects were outstanding, but they really don’t remember much of the movie-and that’s because after time, you will start to tune it out if there is no substance. Now take a movie like Clerks. Kevin Smith spent about $30,000 to make that movie. And yet many, many people remember much about that movie because it’s funny and memorable. In short it’s entertaining.

Now, as far as innovation goes, most of the innovative strides taken by the gaming industry are directly attributable to Nintendo. Some we immediate smashes. Others were outright flops. Others took a long time to realize the potential, but they did indeed make it. Lets make the list:

1. The D-pad. Many of today’s gamers take for granted this still included, but under-utilized, control input. But those of us who are a little bit older will remember the first time you picked up the NES controller, and saw those Huge Atari Digital Joysticks with the base you either had to hold with your other hand, or suction cup to a table, replaced by the simple, elegant crosshair on the left side.
2. REAL Hand Held gaming-The Game Boy was an absolute smash. But it goes back even further than that. The character in SSBM, Mr. Game and Watch, was actually originally found in some late 70’s-early 80’s single game hand-held units. Simple quartz Crystal Images, yes, but they eventually expanded to include the flagship characters, too, after the NES exploded. And I’m here to tell you the Zelda one is pull your hair out hard.
3. The Dance Mat-This is one that took a LONG time to finally hit-but when it did it went supernova. Dance Dance Revolution (or some variant of it), is now an arcade staple, and ever system has at least one version for it. But would the idea have ever been Dreamed up without the Power Pad? I had the power set-and even though I was horrible at it, World Class Track Meet is still one of my favorite NES games. My only hope is when they release WiiFit, the release WCTM on Virtual Console.

4.3-D Gaming and the Analog Controller-Many different developers had tried 3-D with limited success, until the big N released Mario 64 with the N64. After that every home console released featured an analog stick, and Sony even released a new control for the PSX to take advantage. But Nintendo did it first, and there are some who would argue they still do it best.

This is just a small sampling-but make no mistake, the big N is usually right when they change the landscape. Even if everyone else doesn’t know it yet.

]]> By: Peaceful Pony http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Peaceful Pony Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:23:45 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/#comment-109 Remember those years in the late 90's when Nintendo's console biz was seemingly in jeopardy? Well, Nintendo was (and still is) getting filthy rich from their multi-billion dollar Pokemon franchise. Much that money coming from well outside of their video game biz. In reality, everything that they've done since has paled in comparison. And, without a doubt, Nintendo is in R&D for their next blockbuster franchise. Innovative console hardware? Meh. :) Remember those years in the late 90’s when Nintendo’s console biz was seemingly in jeopardy? Well, Nintendo was (and still is) getting filthy rich from their multi-billion dollar Pokemon franchise. Much that money coming from well outside of their video game biz.

In reality, everything that they’ve done since has paled in comparison. And, without a doubt, Nintendo is in R&D for their next blockbuster franchise.

Innovative console hardware? Meh. :)

]]> By: Evan http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Evan Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:47:45 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/#comment-68 Bruce, I sure hope that third parties begin developing games for the Wii which more experienced gamers can embrace. I think that would be a smart (and profitable) business move. It may also require a new type of Wii controller, but that would be simple enough. The raw power of the 360 and PS3 is seductive, but the Wii has plenty of power to move any genre to a new level if the game developers are creative enough. It really is about immersion, not graphics. Heck, even the creative potential of the previous generation of consoles was dramatically underutilized. The area that most interests me with the more powerful consoles is the AI potential. AI, used creatively to strengthen story development, could be a breakthrough game design element. I would not buy an expensive console for graphics, but I might buy one if developers were tapping the AI power with innovative games. Bruce, I sure hope that third parties begin developing games for the Wii which more experienced gamers can embrace. I think that would be a smart (and profitable) business move. It may also require a new type of Wii controller, but that would be simple enough.

The raw power of the 360 and PS3 is seductive, but the Wii has plenty of power to move any genre to a new level if the game developers are creative enough. It really is about immersion, not graphics. Heck, even the creative potential of the previous generation of consoles was dramatically underutilized.

The area that most interests me with the more powerful consoles is the AI potential. AI, used creatively to strengthen story development, could be a breakthrough game design element. I would not buy an expensive console for graphics, but I might buy one if developers were tapping the AI power with innovative games.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Bruce Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:08:13 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/#comment-66 Thanks for the input Evan. Do you not feel that in the longer term third parties will develop just about everything for the Wii? It is selling in such massive that even the Nintendo agnostic are being forced to sit up and take notice. Thanks for the input Evan.
Do you not feel that in the longer term third parties will develop just about everything for the Wii? It is selling in such massive that even the Nintendo agnostic are being forced to sit up and take notice.

]]> By: Evan http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Evan Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:15:33 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/09/03/what-is-nintendo/#comment-65 I admire Nintendo's business success -- it is good for the industry to have a company that shows how profitable gaming can be. Much of Nintendo's success can likely be attributed to their focus on younger and casual gamers that have not recently been the focus of Microsoft and Sony. Of course, while Nintendo has certainly been innovative in their market niche, they have not done much lately for more experienced gamers, most of whom find Nintendo games simply boring. It will be fascinating to see how things shake out in the longer term. The good news is that Nintendo seems to be bringing new gamers onboard. Once these gamers gain experience, it will be interesting to see if they stick with Nintendo or move on to a more powerful console. I admire Nintendo’s business success — it is good for the industry to have a company that shows how profitable gaming can be. Much of Nintendo’s success can likely be attributed to their focus on younger and casual gamers that have not recently been the focus of Microsoft and Sony. Of course, while Nintendo has certainly been innovative in their market niche, they have not done much lately for more experienced gamers, most of whom find Nintendo games simply boring.

It will be fascinating to see how things shake out in the longer term. The good news is that Nintendo seems to be bringing new gamers onboard. Once these gamers gain experience, it will be interesting to see if they stick with Nintendo or move on to a more powerful console.

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