EXACTLY.

Game journalists are very uninformed, and that ends up creating a lot of confusion. They don't do their research which is their responsability, and that results in unrealistic expectations. Nintendo is all about differentiation, they don't think about "hardcore" gamers as a market segment to put all their resources into, but rather consider the Core market to be a very broad spectrum. Such that even so-called "hardcore" gamers can casually be converted onto. As differentiation, as with Wii Fit. That's why she doesn't want to brush hardcore gamers off, she knows, and Nintendo knows, that hardcore gamers can enjoy Wii Sports. And they would like the most hardcore gamers possible to do exactly that, and a lot of them are.

Iwata at E3 2007:

"Some veterans gamers fear that Nintendo might have lost its passion for traditional videogames, or that user expasion products have *talks slowly*'nothing to do' with them" (He's trying to get across that user expansion products are nothing else but traditional videogames)

"Above all we at Nintendo would like to make new proposals so that our products will not be narrowly classified causing remarks like 'this game is for beginners' or 'that one is for core players'. To state simply: we must accept that games are for everyone"

WATCH THIS(it's short): 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFcjPeTZzl8

@Erik Aston:Good points.Also, about not simply "core", but "hardcore", although I really can give a clear definition for either, I liked this:

And maybe most of us can be casual, core or hardcore depending on the franchise, the single game or even the mood of the moment.

Saying anything bad about nintendo is garunteed to incur the wrath of a flock of fanbois who will nay-say any amount of reason to death.

Thats my disclaimer.

This interview is a picture perfect example of percisely how nintendo views "core" gamers, that it to say... with contempt. Contempt so far as to willfully engage in semantics over what "core" means when the heart of the question is clear.

where are the clearly awesome game equivilents of:

     Halo 1-3

     Gears of War

     Call of duty (not dumbed down half ass version with crappy MP)

     Medal of honor (great controls, see above)

     Mass Effect

     GTA (3, VC, SA, 4)

     Assasins creed

     tekken

     FF (not the kiddy versions)

     Elder SScrolls

     Fallout

     FarCry

     BioShock

     MGS

     Resistance

     Uncharted

Some people will blame the developers.

Some people will claim "the games are comming" now that the Wii is market leader

Some people will attempt to throw out a couple sub-par games as being comparable.

Some people will say "well that isnt ' core' " and argue about what the definition of a silly word is.

Some people will claim that these arent core games at all (more semantics).

A couple willfull idiots will say that many of those are exclusives, and that Nin has its own "equivieltn" exclsuives.

And it will all be BS. I own a Wii, i dont have a 360 or PS3, and i want almost all of those above games... on the Wii, to play with my awesome WiiMote... i have nearly 30 (thirty) Wii games, and i find them enjoyable and cool, but only a nut-job will compare WoW (great game) or MoH (heroes) to their 360/ps3 counterparts, much less the PLETHRA (yes plethra!!) of other similar AAA games available on those platforms.

Nin makes great games, I LOVE Zelda TP, Galaxy, Kart, Wii Fit, etc... But to pretend, or "redefine" those games as "core" is utter Bullshit. I work directly for a major in game advertiser, we deal directly with clients such as target, skittles, etc.. placing their ads into a variety of games (from EA and ubisoft down to no-name publishers) on all three platforms (i know very evil), and core has a very very very clear meaning, and let me tell you something, nintendo is very far from having 'core' games.

The most 'core' games nin (first party) has produced so far is MP3 & TP, and no pun intended, those games would be more like 'softcore'

Instead of more aggresively bringing in games that arent predominately watered-down, party-centric, or kid-safe, nin tells us that core gamers like wii fit, and core gamers like cute mario games, and core gamers dont need realistic environments, see those core gamers buy these games too!!

Its just dumb, yea i like mario, and ill play wii ski and Shaun White, ill fire up the Wii fit too, but just cause i'll eat hot dogs and cotton candy doesnt mean i dont want filet mignon and wine too.

every generation Nin's arrogance has really screwed gamers over, and almost killed them with the cube. If it wasnt for miyamoto i seriously wonder if they would have survived.

And i say all this as the guy who owns (and loves) every nintendo system since the NES.

Realistic environments? So there weren't any core games before high definition uber 3D graphics? Kid safe? So there weren't any core games before rating systems came about? What the hell are you rambling on about?

If SMG isn't a core game, I want to be a goddamn casual!

Screw you hardcore gamers! I'm sick and tired of being a part of your waning, whining elitist group.

:P

We need to find definitions for "hardcore" and "core" that we can all agree on. I'd suggest just throwing them out altogether, but I'm sure they do serve a realistic purpose.

lol. They seem to not get it. Yes people want the best of both worlds!

You should be able to expect those old school revivals and new ips every single year. You'd think they would be able to do that with all their money.

@ MR. Y

  clearly this discussion is above your inteligence.

@ wfz

    EXACTLY, there's nothing wrong with not being a "core" gamer, i mean... who gives a shit.. play what you like. No-one should feel burnt for liking the party games, mario's, and so on (like the ps3/360 fanbois would like to believe). And alternatively, no-one should realisticly believe that nin "core" gamers dont have a legitimate gripe about a lack of equivilent AAA games such as are on the other platforms, which brings me to

@ outlawauron

     hello!!!  you could hardly have said it better, nin's attitude (as a company) is clearly a roadblock, they're making money hand over fist and wont pursue strong 3rd party IP, MS (god hate em) on the other hand will do anything it takes to get the best games and developers on their platform, they have taken exclusive after exclusive from sony and continuously bend over backwards to make developers happy (good god they stole Tekken!!??). It reminds me of the days when Nin refused to allow any game to be released with even the slightest bit of "mature" content, and they got eaten bad by sony for it.

Was this a discussion? I thought it was just people whining.

Erik, Erik why do you make such good posts?

The rest of us have families to feed too, you know.

lol. I completely agree.

Nintendo can not insult their core.