Maybe Nintendo’s Just Not Into You

[BengaBenga]

I couldn't post it either, funny is that I included Randy's reply in my response, not knowing he's bardiverce. Pretty funny.


I have to disagree with you here.

First of all, your whole article can be proven wrong with a single game: Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. Nintendo's most hardcore franchise (arguably the most hardcore current gen game on any system) but yet Nintendo decides to make this game. Why would they make this game? I'm pretty sure it didn't sell over half a million copies worldwide, so even tough it's probably profitable it does take away valuable recources (especially manpower) from developing the casual money-makers. The obvious answer is that Nintendo likes its fans. Even a relatively small fanbase like Fire Emblem is catered with a great game.

Also your repeated mentioning of fanboys makes your article very hard to take serious. It's like you're saying that everyone that still insist that the Wii is a great system for the core gamer is somehow delusional and can't be taken serious. That while the Game of the Year 2007 is on Wii. That while the biggest revolution in videogaming since 3D gaming is on Wii. That while the ultimate version of the best game of last generation, a very mature one as well, is on Wii. If anything a real hardcore gamer needs at least a Wii next to one of the HD systems to get the complete gaming experience.

Finally I'd like to comment on Randy Wilson, who points to something that's hardly mentioned, yet very much significant. Without the Wii it is quite possible that the whole industry would have imploded. GTAIV costed an insane $100 million. Sure that's profitable for a franchise like GTA, and maybe a few others, but the incredible rise in development costs basically leads to an environment in which only the EA's and Ubisofts of this world can develop games anymore. Also because the standard is set by these games. The typical HD gamer won't accept anything with sub-par graphics anymore. This does lead to amazing game experiences like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Gears of War, but also to a unification of the games that are released.

And think about this: Konami probably would have earned more money if they put their development budget for Metal Gear Solid 4 on the bank. This is Konami's biggest franchise, which releases only once every 3-4 years. If that's not capable of bringing in big money, the industry is doomed. Please take a look at some annual figures of publishers and developers. Despite videogame sales are at an all time high, the average company presents losses.

Now Wii is heading to a 50% marketshare there's room to develop games like Trauma Center and Little King's Story. And that's very good for the videogame industry in general.
Sure, cinematic games are a very important step in videogaming as well and will continue to attract the gamers that like that style of gaming, but without the Wii it's quite reasonable that all you would have played in the coming years is these kind of games. And that all the small developers would have been out of business or bought by a major.