How does Nintendo pay Attention to its Audience?

Nintendo fans are no strangers to disapointment. As the mainstream gaming indusrty moves in a specific direction, as one man refered to as "the obvious choice", Nintendo loves to be different. It is both a blessing and a curse. Nintendo is undoubtedly one of the more major piorneers of the indusrty because of turning the other cheek and heading down a different path. Many developers reference to Nintendo's flagship titles (Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc); recently I read about Batman Arkham Asylum and how the developers took some of their ideas from Zelda/Metroid's design on how to gain new equipment that will allow you to make further progress throughout the game (also Dark Siders made the same reference). But this also poses a major problem, particularly for the consumors.

If any of you have looked at a sit-down with developers, you might have run across some that pointed out that looking at gamers' opinions played apart of their development process, extracting ideas to add contant to their game. Ill take this chance to mention a game that some of you might not have heard about, PyroBlazer.

In an interview with the CEO of Eipix, Mirko Topalski, he was asked, "You have some online forums at EipixUniverse.com, and I noticed that you take ideas & suggestions from the gamers. Have there been useful suggestions so far, and do you think developers should pay attention to audience more often?"

He answered definitly yes. Miyamoto mentioned several times, most recently and this past E3 (FAILURE!) that he develops games that puts a smile on peoples faces. Now with out getting into the whole hardcore/casual conflict, how true is this for the hardcore? Correct me if Im wrong, but Nintendo, to me, isnt really known for listening to its audience. They go on about their mary way, conjoring up their own ideas, sometimes its a phenomenal success (many as we all know can be used as examples), others make u wonder, "wtf were they thinking", and most times they just simply dont do what seems to be an obvious, benefitial success. Now i could go on and on on how this could sevearly hurt Nintendo in the future, but that's not worth my time. Simply, I just want to know if Nintendo listens to their dedicated fan base, and if not, why?

I agree with most of it. Nintendo has my respect for how they constantly trying new things. I consider most of their risks as a blessing on the gaming industry. I'd be lying if I said that some of my favorite games weren't somehow inspired by Nintendo, in some way. But the problem is that where Nintendo experiments, other consoles really know how to run with it, after noticing its success and potential, and make the game more appealing to the "hardcore" crowd.

I guess in there lies the problem though. The Wii was a big risk, but it's still appearing to me as an experiment to me. A very successful experiment, but an experiment nonetheless. I can see Sony or Microsoft borrowing some ideas from the Wii in the future, but actually producing something that won't cause message boards to run rampid with "Sony is ignoring the core fans" topics. That's like how it goes. Nintendo innovates, someone else masters.

So I guess you can't hate Nintendo because they're the ones taking the risks, but it's hard to love them (me anyways) because it feels like we're in such a drought.

I agree with most of it. Nintendo has my respect for how they constantly trying new things. I consider most of their risks as a blessing on the gaming industry. I'd be lying if I said that some of my favorite games weren't somehow inspired by Nintendo, in some way. But the problem is that where Nintendo experiments, other consoles really know how to run with it, after noticing its success and potential, and make the game more appealing to the "hardcore" crowd.

I guess in there lies the problem though. The Wii was a big risk, but it's still appearing to me as an experiment to me. A very successful experiment, but an experiment nonetheless. I can see Sony or Microsoft borrowing some ideas from the Wii in the future, but actually producing something that won't cause message boards to run rampid with "Sony is ignoring the core fans" topics. That's like how it goes. Nintendo innovates, someone else masters.

So I guess you can't hate Nintendo because they're the ones taking the risks, but it's hard to love them (me anyways) because it feels like we're in such a drought.

Lyphe2k

well said. i had a similar converation with a friend of mine about the silly avatars that M$ r soon to relase with their reimagination of live. and he said that that's how it works, its usually the last man that wins as he gathers ideas from everyone else.

Just as they made the transition between playing cards to electronics. . .This is no different. For a company over 100 years old it's only natural to see change. One day video games might not exist and Nintendo will manufacture top of the line body suits for Japanese farmers. You just never know~

P.S. Farmers have these btw.

Just as they made the transition between playing cards to electronics. . .This is no different. For a company over 100 years old it's only natural to see change. One day video games might not exist and Nintendo will manufacture top of the line body suits for Japanese farmers. You just never know~

P.S. Farmers have these btw.

mothergaia

sorry, i dont get ur point. care to elaborate?

Basically they're appealing more to the casual audience because that's the way the market is moving. The days of the H@RDCOREZ is over~mothergaia

ah *sigh* yes.

Nintendo is acting like any other large business. Look at Apple for example, do you think they listen to their Audience? For a large part, No. As a gaming company you have to very careful about following too close what your audience wants, especially when you are wanting to create the game. "Design by committe" often fails. Sure Nintendo is not stupid about giving up on Mario and Zelda, but they do try to think outside the box for new ideas. "Nintendo fans" sometimes makes things dificult because if isn't Mario or Zelda, they want nothing to do with it. How many "Nintendo fans" bought Nintendogs? I would say majority of the buyers were non-gamers. So Nintedo has to broaden their horizen for what non-gamers may be interested in. gooflee

that's a bit of an extreme point of what im saying, but i do understand u, and i think i made a similar point in my post. but, as i had mentioned before, deves do look at gamers ideas for gameplay elements, and if there's enough demand, a full title. but in no way does that mean that their projects soley rest on the ideas of gamers.

Nintendo is surely listening to its audience. The problem is you are no longer a part of it and you fail to realize that and wish for the good ol' days.raahsnavj

He answered definitly yes. Miyamoto mentioned several times, most recently and this past E3 (FAILURE!) that he develops games that puts a smile on peoples faces.

already made that point

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2WP2qAWa2s

here's an interesting analogy.

[QUOTE="raahsnavj"]Nintendo is surely listening to its audience. The problem is you are no longer a part of it and you fail to realize that and wish for the good ol' days.mrjam0

He answered definitly yes. Miyamoto mentioned several times, most recently and this past E3 (FAILURE!) that he develops games that puts a smile on peoples faces.

already made that point

I also think it's important to remember that Nintendo was not founded on video games.mothergaia

I also think it's important to remember that Nintendo was not founded on video games.mothergaia

i fail to see how that's an important point.

[QUOTE="mrjam0"]

[QUOTE="raahsnavj"]Nintendo is surely listening to its audience. The problem is you are no longer a part of it and you fail to realize that and wish for the good ol' days.raahsnavj

He answered definitly yes. Miyamoto mentioned several times, most recently and this past E3 (FAILURE!) that he develops games that puts a smile on peoples faces.

already made that point

i sure as hell hope that what ur saying isnt their intended plan, and i doubt it is. the audience that their aiming for isnt nessessarily the most dedicated fan base. if they continue down that path, they might as well join Tigers market. also, if they decided to just "give up" on trying reconnect with the audience that they lost, them y r they still intent on making hardcore games even thought they r few and far between these days?