So we're all well aware that Nintendo have a selection of really awesome IPs (Metroid, Fire-Emblem, Pikmin, Kirby, and now Xenoblade) that have had incredible titles fall outside the public consciousness. I will admit I am hopeful for Awakening being able to mark the beginning of possible future for Fire-Emblem to join the other group, but I am curious what people think would mark the opportunity for a franchise to move between these too groups.
Lets focus on upward mobility, how would you achieve mainstream interest. You can't change the nature of Nintendo's approach to console design, but you have unlimited marketing funds and get to talk to the individual lead designers for each project. For convienence, lets assume that all these games were pulling constant 88s<->92s on Metacritic...
Ready, set, strategize...
