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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - What are Nintendo's Big 3 "core" franchises?

In terms of sales:

3.Pokemon
2.Mario
1.Wii Name Games

In terms of "Core"

3.Mario(Not all games are "Core")
2.Metroid(I hate Metroid but in terms of what I consider "Core" Metroid is more "Core" than Mario)
1.Zelda(People cry)

In terms of me(My Favorites)

3.Mario(Who doesn't like Mario games?)
2.Star Fox(Star Fox 64 was amazing and may be my favorite Nintendo game on the N64 and Assault had a huge multiplayer mode while Adventure I didn't get into because it didn't feel like a Star Fox game to me.)
1.Pikmin(Pikmin was a great game while Pikmin 2 is my favorite game of all time to date. It is very creative and brings a unique and different game experience unlike anything else and I hope Pikmin 3 keeps up what the francise has done so far!)



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Mario, Zelda and Smash. Bros.

Sales-wise, if we're not counting Pokémon.



Nintendo Network ID: Cheebee   3DS Code: 2320 - 6113 - 9046

 

09tarheel said:

I've seen quite a few comments recently since potentially in 2010 we will see the release of Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid: Other M, and Zelda Wii, that Nintendo's Big 3 core franchises will all release this year. But I'm wondering why people consider these 3 to be Nintendo's biggest. Mario and Zelda make quite a bit of sense, but I think Metroid's inclusion in the list is debatable. Nintendo has other franchises like Donkey Kong, Star Fox, and Kirby, which have been around for around about as long, and ususally generate similar or better sales. Something like Animal Crossing, is a newer franchise but has obviouslly been more of a retail success than Metroid. I guess franchises like Smash Bros, Mario Kart, and Pokemon aren't considered because of using characters from other franchises or being mainly a handheld franchise?

So my main question is do you agree with the 3 franchises typically considered to be the big 3? If so why?

If not which 3 franchises do you think are Nintendo's Big 3 "core" franchises?

It's a matter of association IMO. 

When people think of Nintendo, those are usually 3 of the franchises that many think of most readily.  Obviously it won't be true for everyone, but it is/was true for enough people to get them labeled as "the big 3."



trestres said:
I will bet against anyone that if DK was resurrected, the holy trinity will no longer have Metroid as one of its members.

but that is the thing, they (DK, Kirby (on home consoles), Star Fox) aren't resurrected. Until it is, it will be Mario, Metroid and Zelda.




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Cheebee said:

Mario, Zelda and Smash. Bros.

Sales-wise, if we're not counting Pokémon.


You forgot Mario Kart, Nintendogs, and the Wii series.

I thought there were no such things as core or casual games, only core or casual players.



Pixel Art can be fun.

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Demotruk said:
I always consider Donkey Kong a part of the same IP as Mario, and of course he hasn't had a big game in a while. Smash Bros. is bigger too, but it's sort of a mix of IP's...

Animal Crossing is 'core' in one sense of the word, but I don't think it is in the sense we're thinking of.

Metroid is not that big an IP really, but it's one of the more development intensive series on Nintendo consoles these days, that's why I consider it a 'big game', the costs to make it rather than just the sales it receives.


You have a good point, several could think of DK, Wario, and Yoshi as branching IP from Mario.



Pixel Art can be fun.

Easy: Those three games are announced.



MY ZELDA COLLECTION

Mario, Zelda and Pokemon

Metroid is a "core" franchise, but ain't big near those.



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super mario, zelda, pokemon



“When we make some new announcement and if there is no positive initial reaction from the market, I try to think of it as a good sign because that can be interpreted as people reacting to something groundbreaking. ...if the employees were always minding themselves to do whatever the market is requiring at any moment, and if they were always focusing on something we can sell right now for the short term, it would be very limiting. We are trying to think outside the box.” - Satoru Iwata - This is why corporate multinationals will never truly understand, or risk doing, what Nintendo does.

Mario, Zelda and pokemon.

but who here thinks they should do something new!? *raises hand*