Is Nintendo finally listening to their core fanbase?

There's no doubt that Nintendo is still the best developers in the world. But lately, some of their games were feeling too accessible even in their biggest franchise games. Games like Super Mario Galaxy, Zelda Phantom Hourglass, or New Super Mario Bros. for the DS were all fantastic, yet there was still something missing in them. Although the level of production values and quality has still been among the best, we know that the casual bug did creep in a little. Some of these games felt to easy for more experienced gamers. In other words, they were more accessible, a nicer word for saying "dumbed-down." Doesn't mean they were bad games. Of course not! Super Mario Galaxy is almost tied for the 2nd highest rated game of all-time! But it did feel a bit lacking in the challenge department, am I right?

But I think that's finally changing, which is good for all of us.

We're already seeing this in Nintendo's latest offerings. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is challenging like the Super Mario games of old and rave reviews are claiming that Zelda Spirit Tracks, not only triumphs over Phantom Hourglass in every way, but it also follows the longstanding Zelda tradition with awesome puzzles, amazing boss battles, and a lengthy adventure that is over 25 hours! And last but definitely not least, Miyamoto is assuring us that Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be a challenging game.

So has there been enough outcry from their core-base for Nintendo to make their games less for casuals but more like their past traditional excellence? I think so. It's evident right now!

I think we'll be seeing less of these "My first 'so and so game' experience." And with Metroid the Other M and the next console Zelda coming out I think I can finally say with confidence that Nintendo isn't just thinking about casuals anymore, which I'm feeling very pleased about!

The core Wii fanbase is the casual

That's the one who supports the Wii the most

Wii Fit 23 million
Mario Kart 18 million up from 6 million last gen because of the casuals
Sports Resort over 7 million
Mario and Sonic over 7 million
Carnival Games over 3 million
EA Sports Active over 2 million

That's why Nintendo is going out of their way to make games that play themselves when needed and offer the Wii in stores like Sports Authority and on TV from QVC

Nintendo knows that with the casual gamer behind them they can do anything in the industry and they're trying more then ever this year to make sure the casual is taken care of first and foremost. Handle the majority first.

The more casuals there are on the Wii the better the Wii is. We need every single person who doesn't play games on the Wii. If they're going to take up playing games they have to do it on the Wii. The casuals move software, they're the ones buying titles and more importantly they're the ones always buying games new.

They are the Wii's core and Nintendo has taken good care of them in 2009

The core Wii fanbase is the casual

That's the one who supports the Wii the most

Wii Fit 23 million
Mario Kart 18 million up from 6 million last gen because of the casuals
Sports Resort over 7 million
Mario and Sonic over 7 million
Carnival Games over 3 million
EA Sports Active over 2 million

That's why Nintendo is going out of their way to make games that play themselves when needed and offer the Wii in stores like Sports Authority and on TV from QVC

Nintendo knows that with the casual gamer behind them they can do anything in the industry and they're trying more then ever this year to make sure the casual is taken care of first and foremost. Handle the majority first.

The more casuals there are on the Wii the better the Wii is. We need every single person who doesn't play games on the Wii. If they're going to take up playing games they have to do it on the Wii. The casuals move software, they're the ones buying titles and more importantly they're the ones always buying games new.

They are the Wii's core and Nintendo has taken good care of them in 2009

Jaysonguy

[QUOTE="Jaysonguy"]

The core Wii fanbase is the casual

That's the one who supports the Wii the most

Wii Fit 23 million
Mario Kart 18 million up from 6 million last gen because of the casuals
Sports Resort over 7 million
Mario and Sonic over 7 million
Carnival Games over 3 million
EA Sports Active over 2 million

That's why Nintendo is going out of their way to make games that play themselves when needed and offer the Wii in stores like Sports Authority and on TV from QVC

Nintendo knows that with the casual gamer behind them they can do anything in the industry and they're trying more then ever this year to make sure the casual is taken care of first and foremost. Handle the majority first.

The more casuals there are on the Wii the better the Wii is. We need every single person who doesn't play games on the Wii. If they're going to take up playing games they have to do it on the Wii. The casuals move software, they're the ones buying titles and more importantly they're the ones always buying games new.

They are the Wii's core and Nintendo has taken good care of them in 2009

BrunoBRS

That's the brilliance of their plan, people used to games can play all of the ones on that list.

Nintendo isn't going to ramp up the difficulty with games because that cuts off their core. Once games start being too complicated it scares off the novice user but also scares off anyone from trying them too. If Nintendo loses them then they don't have enough of any section of gamer to keep the Wii afloat

That's why you see New Super Mario have the ability to play itself and games like Endless Ocean 2 next year have even better production values and simpler controls.

That's the brilliance of their plan, people used to games can play all of the ones on that list.

Nintendo isn't going to ramp up the difficulty with games because that cuts off their core

Don't forget about Punch-Out!! It's easily Nintendo's toughest offering in years. Maybe even a decade

Don't forget about Punch-Out!! It's easily Nintendo's toughest offering in years. Maybe even a decade

Pikminmaniac

Yeah, I got my ass kicked by Glass Joe in Title Defense mode. :(

There's no doubt that Nintendo is still the best developers in the world....

ASK_Story

Your signature tells a different story.

The casual numbers are good, but a lot of core gamers buy those games too. Just like on the PC I use it for Games, Photoshop, Flash Games, Word. I buy 'casual' titles for the Wii and core titles, as well as classic / retro / indie titles.

Which is why I bought a Wii.

And own a PC.

And would be tempted by the PS360 for media streaming more than games that I can mostly play the same sort of thing on my PC.

[QUOTE="ASK_Story"]

There's no doubt that Nintendo is still the best developers in the world....

so_hai

Your signature tells a different story.

[QUOTE="Pikminmaniac"]

Don't forget about Punch-Out!! It's easily Nintendo's toughest offering in years. Maybe even a decade

X-Remnant

Yeah, I got my ass kicked by Glass Joe in Title Defense mode. :(

I think Nintendo is balancing their assets better now going into 2010. There will be more challenge with core games but they also have the Super Guide and other very big mainstream enhancing developments like the Vitality Sensor.

[QUOTE="so_hai"]

[QUOTE="ASK_Story"]

There's no doubt that Nintendo is still the best developers in the world....

BrunoBRS

Your signature tells a different story.

I think Nintendo is balancing their assets better now going into 2010. There will be more challenge with core games but they also have the Super Guide and other very big mainstream enhancing developments like the Vitality Sensor.

thedude-

Agreed. I think the challenge of creating games that are enjoyable by both expanded and established audiences is harder than a lot of people realize, and I think Nintendo has been making subtle experiments with its games to see where it can strike the right balance. It seems as though the Super Guide was one of the first breakthroughs Nintendo has managed to come up with in this regard, and I think it will continue to come up with concepts right this to ensure that its games challenging enough for gaming vets, but still playable for newcomers.

Breaking the games down from an individual perspective, I think Nintendo is making the upcoming games in mind with the information it has gained so far from this gen. With Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Zelda: Spirit Tracks, in particular, I think Nintendo realizes that these games would appeal more to a more established gamer than a less experienced gamer, so it offers the freedom to make them tougher without as great of a worry about it being too tough for a large portion of people who would pick it up. And with NSMBWii, you have the aforementioned Super Guide. And finally, with Metroid: Other M, you pretty much know that the Metroid series isn't one of those franchises that have ever been beginner-friendly or appealing, so there's no harm in getting a developer like Team Ninja to go all-out with the project.

In short, I think this has been a learning experience for even Nintendo, and I think the upcoming ideas and projects are a result of going through some difficulties here and there. I don't think it was ever about looking at or listening to one group over another, but it just proved to be more difficult to execute a development momentum where you're able to make your games that are pleasing to those who are able to breeze through the most challenging of games and those who have never really played a game before. More than anything, I feel the games to come will be the results of those development bumps and bruises that Nintendo may have gone through earlier.

[QUOTE="thedude-"]

I think Nintendo is balancing their assets better now going into 2010. There will be more challenge with core games but they also have the Super Guide and other very big mainstream enhancing developments like the Vitality Sensor.

Agreed. I think the challenge of creating games that are enjoyable by both expanded and established audiences is harder than a lot of people realize, and I think Nintendo has been making subtle experiments with its games to see where it can strike the right balance. It seems as though the Super Guide was one of the first breakthroughs Nintendo has managed to come up with in this regard, and I think it will continue to come up with concepts right this to ensure that its games challenging enough for gaming vets, but still playable for newcomers.

Breaking the games down from an individual perspective, I think Nintendo is making the upcoming games in mind with the information it has gained so far from this gen. With Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Zelda: Spirit Tracks, in particular, I think Nintendo realizes that these games would appeal more to a more established gamer than a less experienced gamer, so it offers the freedom to make them tougher without as great of a worry about it being too tough for a large portion of people who would pick it up. And with NSMBWii, you have the aforementioned Super Guide. And finally, with Metroid: Other M, you pretty much know that the Metroid series isn't one of those franchises that have ever been beginner-friendly or appealing, so there's no harm in getting a developer like Team Ninja to go all-out with the project.

In short, I think this has been a learning experience for even Nintendo, and I think the upcoming ideas and projects are a result of going through some difficulties here and there. I don't think it was ever about looking at or listening to one group over another, but it just proved to be more difficult to execute a development momentum where you're able to make your games that are pleasing to those who are able to breeze through the most challenging of games and those who have never really played a game before. More than anything, I feel the games to come will be the results of those development bumps and bruises that Nintendo may have gone through earlier.

*sigh* easy does not equal causual or mainstream or any variation of that. Galaxy was likely easier because it was Nintendo's first shot at Galaxy style game and you cant do everything at once. And please don't come with the whole "but teh Mario 64!" because Mario 64 was no more difficult than Galaxy and if it did feel harder, thats probably simply because you were accustom to 2D.With Galaxy 2, they have all the groundwork in place for the game, they just have to craft the stages and therefore can put more of a focus on difficulty balance. The same can be said about Phantom Hourglass, if Punch Out has been radically different, it probaly wouldn't have been as bitterly tough as the older games.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="so_hai"]

Your signature tells a different story.

bekkilyn