Think about it. In the beginning, Nintendo said we were "playing with power". Fair enough. The NES was a strong console, given proof by its ability to play the 1 MB MegaMan game. Then as years went by, Nintendo started getting aggressive, to the point where their slogan was "Get N or Get Out"

Let me emphasize what I just said: "Get N or GET...OUT" How inviting is that to people looking for a new potential console to purchase? That isn't friendly in the least bit, and brings up the attitude that "well, I don't need to buy their system in the first place, so I won't have to get out... SINCE I'M NOT GOING IN!"

Their attitude towards 3rd parties was bad (as we all know), given proof by their release of DMA Design as a business partner (they went on to make a little known game we now call Grand Theft Auto 3).

The public didn't "Smell what the N was cookin'" so to speak, and Nintendo was left cold saleswise.

So now they have been humbled and cater to the casual crowd they Jason Voorhies'd all those years ago. They make games for everyone again, like they did with the NES and they are achieving success quicker unlike anything seen in the industry. Even though the PS3/360 have "the better libraries" that suit the "hardcore" gamer, the same "GET OUT" mindset is rearing it's butt-ugly head. People are afraid of trying to figure out how to control the "POWWAA" of these multimedia systems.

May I be the first to say

wat

this is an interesting concept, but it needs to be better thought out, worded, and compounded on. Right now it just feels like a random stream of consciousness observation

basically, the idea I'm getting is that Nintendo set the attitude that would remain prevalent in the video game industry and is ultimately responsible for the "hardcore" attitude, which is the very reason why they are suffering... well, not suffering, but why they still get heckled despite their success. It's an interesting thought, but I'd like to see some correlating data to support the point and delve further into the issue before someone makes a thread out of it.

 To make a long story, short, Nintendo was marketing with a "hardcore" mindset, and that alienated potential new customers. Sales dwindled over time because of that Elite attitude. Now, Nintendo caters to the the casual audience and are reaping the benefits.

in terms of Hardcore... here's how I see it....

NES > Sega Master System
SNES < Sega Mega Drive
PS1 > Saturn > N64
PS2 > XBOX > Dream Cast > GC
PS3 > 360 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wii

PSP > DS

Just an opinion...

@Dgc: How can you even compare SNES to the Genesis, there's really no comparison at all. SNES was way more core and hardcore than genesis ever dreamed of.

You got it right for the rest, specially this gen.

even GTA for the DS is tonned down, it's cartoony :/

@Jo21: LBP is a casual game right? But.. Bu .. But there's sackboys playing with toys and cardboard monstars!!

Just my opinion... And I found these commercials amazing:

 I agree. Cocaine dealing is child's play.