Nintendo has certaintly struck gold with their latest game Splatoon, Capturing the fun of FPS games without the violence. Opening the market to everyone including younger kids that have always wanted to play FPS but that have stricted parents and they don't have access to FPS till they are at least 13-14 years old.
Regardless of critical success of the game seem to me that Nintendo release a basic version of the game and is holding back much of the online content for future DLC release. I think the fact that Splatoon release with only 5 multiplayer maps was by design and part of a new online strategy by Nintendo.
Instead of having some content lock away and to be release in future paid DLC. Nintendo is planning on releasing lots of future free DLC contents. Each DLC releases will result in free marketing for the game when gaming media report the news. Each new maps, game modes and weapons free DLC release would also create lots of word of mouth advertising has player try out the new content and tell their friends.
Splatoon was design to be a multiplayer game and did not even feature a single player mode when it was announce. It's clear that with only 5 multiplayer maps, Nintendo is clearly holding back the online content for future DLC.
