Nintendo’s E3: Disaster Hardcore in Crisis? |
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BY Ashutosh Chhibbar July 20th, 2008 |
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After Nintendo’s relatively uneventful 2007 E3, which saw the unveiling of Wii Fit with the Balance Board, and Mario Kart with the Wii Wheel, the Nintendo faithful were ready for a decidedly more hardcore event this year. Whisperings of Pikmin, Kid Icarus and even a potential new Zelda were rife, so expectations were as usual sky high. The unveiling of MotionPlus a day before the conference seemed to give even more creedence to the theory that a new Zelda would be demoed at the conference demonstrating 1:1 sword play. July 15th dawned, Cammie Dunaway threw her virtual dog a frisbee, Miyamoto flailed ineffectually, and rest as they say is history…
On the final day of the show in an Interview with MSNBC, Miyamoto remarked: “For a very long time, E3 was an event where — and certainly Nintendo included — catered specifically to the core gamer. Now we look at more … an opportunity for us to introduce new concepts and new types of play that we intend to bring to the broader audience, particularly because of the media that gathers at E3 now.”
What cannot be escaped is that Nintendo did not show any new software at the conference or the show floor that really excited core gamers. Yes Reggie, this also included Animal Crossing. But what’s most curious is that Nintendo would demonstrate so little traditional software at a time when third-party support for the system is clearly burgeoning. A simple 5 minute montage of some of the upcoming high-profile games for the system would have gone a long way to placating many vitriolic gamers. When Nintendo look back and assess E3 2008, they should ask themselves these questions:
Why was Dead Rising Wii shown first in Famitsu, during E3 no less?
Why was Pikmin confirmed only in a low key, secondary event with no footage or art work?
After Miyamoto practically confirmed the game, why wasn’t Kid Icarus shown in video form at least?
As Miyamoto stated above, E3 has now become a place for Nintendo (and others) to show software with the widest appeal due to the presence of the mainstream media. But what Nintendo underestimated was the way the reaction of the hardcore press would filter back to the mainstream media, to the point where even conventional news outlets began to describe the conference as a disappointment.
Nintendo’s short-sightedness can only be matched by some core gamers who unfortunately inhabit message boards everywhere. Cries of “That’s it, my Wii’s on eBay”, and “Nintendo’s completely forgotten the core gamer” were everywhere during the show. Let’s get things in perspective:
- Early next year, we will have true 1:1 motion controls. A jump in interaction that can be compared to the advent of 3D graphics in home consoles. The technology may have been debuted with an accessible title, but its implications for hardcore gaming can only begin to be fathomed.
- Third-party support is gaining traction, especially in Japan. Significant new games seem to be appearing every other day. The Conduit in particular is looking to deliver on the hype, with great graphics, 16-player online and voice-chat through Wii Speak.
- As Miyamoto stated, the teams that have worked on Nintendo’s traditional games are hard at work on the next iterations. Just because they weren’t shown at the conference, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist; Pikmin and Kid Icarus are practically confirmed.
Nintendo may not have had the best of E3s, but things are genuinely looking up for Wii gamers. The only thing that’s really missing is a typical Nintendo developed core game for the holidays. Though even then, there’s still time for Nintendo to suprise us.
July 20th, 2008
at 3:27 pm
I don’t know think Nintendo are ignoring core gamers, but they aren’t exactly helping the situation by appearing to not care as much. At the end of the day, when the casual audience puts down their Wiimote, Wii fit and Nintendogs by early afternoon, it’s the core gamers that will be left. I genuinely think that all those who have bought a Wii just for the novelty will not bother (hence use of the word novelty :s). It’s the core gamers who will buy software steadily all year round given the option - not just at Christmas. Through hard times, it’s Nintendo’s core gamers who have essentially kept them afloat…albeit Nintendo almost always make a profit on their consoles. So I do think Nintendo should start paying more attention to core gamers. But hey, they all go where the money is…even the 360 is trying to become more casual gamer friendly.
July 20th, 2008
at 8:53 pm
This whole “nintendo is abandoning the hardcore” meme is completely ridiculous. Nintendo NEVER catered to the hardcore gamer. Genesis was more hardcore, it had blood and tons of sports games. PS1 had FMV and real voice acting. XBOX had Halo and a million other shooters. No, the hardcore gamer abandoned Nintendo more than a decade ago. It just took them this long to realize they needed to stop wasting money trying to fight for a customer that just had no interest in them. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Nintendo and I enjoy the hell outta my Wii, but never, in no way did I ever think the Wii was going to be a hardcore console. I mean, seriously, did anyone?
So, when I hear the internets shouting, “ZOMG, I’m selling my Wii”, I know that it’s just some idiot kid that probably never owned one to begin with, or someone who was so stupid that he even bought one in the first place.
So, yes, Nintendo has disappointed me in some ways this gen, but not because of the games they’re making, or NOT making. Being a long time Nintendo fan, I have yet to be surprised by the game library.
Anyone who IS surprised, hasn’t been playing on a Nintendo console much recently. Nintendo simply doesn’t make games like what you see on 360 and PS3. And honestly? I think that’s a good thing. Each console needs it’s own identity, so it can have it’s own chance at success or failure. Otherwise, we may as well just have one console.
July 20th, 2008
at 9:57 pm
@ used cisco….
Dude I don’t know what kind of memory you have, but Pretendo birthed a whole generation of Hardcore gamers. Starting with the NES, there were literally a hundred rpgs and rpg like platformers. Think Ultima, that game took like 100 hours or more to beat. Think Milons secret castle, in order to beat that game you had to play for 12 or more hours strait (3 continues, no save memory available) Think bionic commando, sunset riders, rush n’ attack, Ikari warrior, the original zelda, ninja gaiden, double dragon. the same goes for the super nintendo tons of games, yeah there was grey blood in mortal kombat, but when the genesis version outsold pretendo they changed their tune on mortal kombat 2.
Pretendo jumped the shark at the advent of the n64 and got completely stomped by sony. MS saw that consoles would be a better way to sell gaming software, hence the xbox.
Pretendo showed their true colors with the gamecube, out of all the multiplatform games of that gen Pretendos games were the worst and not just due to memory size constraints of their mini disk format,
ps and xbox got way better exclusive content. And they didn’t adopt the credo that gamers quit playing at age 15. Sure content got more mature, but most of the gamers playing those games were watching
R rated movies.
Why do you think GTA sold so well, most of its fans were also fans of movies like Pulp Fiction. Pretendo forgot the golden rule of sales/customer service: Cater to your audience! If you don’t sell what your fanbase wants they will buy it from someone who has what they demand.
When the wii first came out I heard tons of people rejoice on what effect it would have on FPS games. Its just a shame that Pretendo only understands that Japanese gamers don’t like FPS games so they don’t make them. Look at who made Metroid Prime, was it Pretendo directly, I don’t think so!!!!!!!!!
Does NOA really make a whole lotta games??? Hell No!!!!!!! Its all the Japanese studios that make Pretendos games. The wii had a huge chance to capitalize on the core gamer with the wii, but they blew it. The reason they are so successful is that they are catering to the core gamers children and their grandparents.
Pretendo is getting rich off of babysitting money, allowance and retirement checks. Shame on them!
July 20th, 2008
at 10:50 pm
Haha, I’m trying to think of a point you made that’s not wrong. I’ll let you know if I find something.
July 20th, 2008
at 11:43 pm
Thank you, Mr Nintendo Public Relations Representative for this insightful article that practically tells us we’re stupid if we give up on Nintendo.
Nintendo new idea of a hardcore title is Animal Crossing if you haven’t noticed. Practically announced titles? Ha! I can announce titles, there will be a new Mario game, a new zelda game, a new mario party game, a new Pikimen game, a new Kid Icarus game, a new kirby game. See what I’ve done there? There’s still no guarantee that any of those games I just “announced” are in development, even if they were they could be canned (Project HAMMER anyone?). The trend is, cancel all the titles that traditional fans liked or would be interested in and create casual titles. The fact that there’s not as much as a doctored screenshot for these titles says they don’t exist or will not come for 2 or more years.
July 21st, 2008
at 1:29 am
You’re welcome Hamad.
You can practically announce as many titles as you want, but you are not Miyamoto, so why even waste your energy?
Putting the NST developed Project HAMMER into the same category as a new Pikmin or a Factor 5 developed Kid Icarus is ridiculous. I’ll leave you to work out why.
1 canceled game is now a trend? I suggest you go back to school my friend.
The titles wont exist for another 2 years? I thought they were gonna be canceled?
A doctored/faked screen of Pikmin 3 will convince you the game exists, as opposed to Miyamoto saying it’s coming? *Draws you stick figure cartoon*
July 21st, 2008
at 2:19 pm
@Ashutosh Chhibbar, post 6
My god, if I have to read another sniveling retort by another charlatan ‘journalist’, I’m going to be sick.
You didn’t even fully read/comprehend the post you were trying to respond to.
I won’t be back to this site.
July 23rd, 2008
at 10:15 am
I agree with Danny Morgan completely (he was the first post). Nintendo has said that the Zelda and Mario teams are hard at work. They have not forgotten their hardcore gamers. I did want a new Zelda at E3 and I am very disappointed that their wasn’t one. But I still know that Nintendo will make these games, but hopefully it will not be “casualized” like they say.
July 27th, 2008
at 5:03 pm
I Agree 100% with used cisco , I have all 3 consoles, and the wii is used the least, major third party games will never hit the wii, why is a damn shame, all we wii owners can look forward to are the same recycled games forced on us over and over and over again.