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OneTwoThree on 06 January 2011
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Boutros said:
OneTwoThree said:

(...)

3rd parties lack the IPs and gameplay quality of Nintendo, so they are dependent on eye candy, and on the Wii there's no way to visually impress buyers like on the HD consoles. 

My 2 cents.

That is a rather overrated belief.

The best-selling games by Nintendo hardly have a great gameplay. I'm thinking of games like Wii Party, Wii Play, Wii Music, Wii Sports or Mario Party 8.

OK, the "Wii something" games don't have great gameplay; in these cases it's more about pioneering the kind of gameplay that defined the Wii. Nintendo got it perfectly right (well obviously, they made the console with the "Wii something" games in mind and vice versa). 

So let's split it up: There are the 'strong IP / unrivalled gameplay quality' type of games (Mario Kart, SMG1 2, NSMBWii, Zelda:TP) and the 'fresh experience / motion control pioneering' games. The problem is that Nintendo is unbeaten in all the biggest genres. No 3rd party ever topped the best motion control games (Wii Sports / Resort / Fit ...), the best Jump'n'Runs (SMG1 2, NSMBWii), the best racing game (Mario Kart), the best action adventure (Zelda:TP). So whatever 3rd parties do, N is already there, setting the bar too damn high. 

I mean, I'm one of those guys myself: I hardly ever buy a game that is not made by N. And if I do, I am often disappointed that some basic qualities I was taking for granted aren't there. Interesting side note: On the DS I've played much more 3rd party games, and some very good ones too. It's weird, isn't it? Graphically, the DS is behind the PSP just as much as the Wii is behind the HD consoles. But it doesn't seem to hurt 3rd party efforts in the same way.