Alright for those who hate to read this is going to be a lengthy post.
Now I've owned every Nintendo console since the SNES (excluding Wii) and a GBA and a DS.
I loved my SNES, N64 and the first 4 years of my Gamecube. Resident Evil 4 came out and I loved it so much. I thought the game was refreshing, unique, and mature. The following month (Feb 05) I bought Star Fox Assault hoping to be amazed. I played it for two hours, hated it, and didn't play my Gamecube again.
Let's start at looking at Nintendo's great titles in the N64 and Gamecube Era.
In the N64 era, Rare brought out new IPs and new stories which included Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Banjo Kazooie, Blast Corps, and Diddy Kong Racing. It brought Donkey Kong and Killer Instinct into the 3D world and also released Banjo Tooie and Goldeneye.
In the Gamecube era, Nintendo had a great partnership with Silicon Knights. SK created one of the greatest games on the Gamecube, Eternal Darkness, and recreated one of the PS1's greatest games ever, Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes.
Camelot created the great RPG series Golden Sun. Instead of utilizing Camelot to make more unique RPGs with new stories and new characters, Nintendo rather them make rehashes of Mario sports games.
Retro Studios showed great potential after making one of the most critically acclaimed Gamecube games, Metroid Prime. But since then Nintendo has kept them making Metroid games instead of branching out and making new games with great stories.
Its not unknown that Nintendo has made hundreds of millions with the success of the DS (which is very nifty) and the Wii. Now you think with this comfortable lead Nintendo would be doing something. You have Sony that is trying to suck in gamers with a lot of new IPs even though some have been unnsuccessful. You have Lair, Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, Folklore, Resistance, Motorstorm and Uncharted that have all been released in one year. Gamers want new IPs, look at how well Bioshock and Assassin's Creed did. On the other side you have Microsoft also trying to suck in gamers. They are buying exclusives just to have exclusive games on their system. Exclusives are what matters and Microsoft is trying to make sure 360 owners don't miss any of the best games.
Now Sony and Microsoft were losing money off their systems and are in 2nd and 3rd respectively but they are trying. Nintendo has made hundreds of millions and have not done anything with their money. They haven't got any exclusives besides No More Heroes and Tales of Symphonia 2. Oh wait...I forgot the other 2 million dollar sellers Red Steel and Rayman Raving Rabbids. All I want to know is where is this money going and what is Nintendo going to do with it?
Going back to risks. Nintendo has not made any really. Sure most Nintendo fanboys will defend the motion converter to death but Ill get to that in a bit. Now like I said previously Sony has released tons of new IPs and Microsoft is as well (Gears of War, Shadowrun (well kindof), Crackdown, Kameo, Viva Pinata, Scene it, Mass Effect, Blue Dragon, and Lost Odyssey). Before you judge the 360, thats one third person shooter, 1 first person shooter, 1 sandbox , 1 action adventure, 2 family, and 3 RPG games. Microsoft is delivering exclusive games in all genres. Now getting back to Nintendo...what new IPs have they brought out since the Gamecube. The only one in my eyes is Pikmin and Warioware. Animal Crossing was released on the N64 (the golden age of Nintendo) in Japan so it doesn't really count. So in 6 years Nintendo has made 2 new franchises. And no, Wii Fit/Sports/Play does not count as a franchise. Again, with all this money pouring in what is Nintendo doing. I find it completely pathetic that Nintendo, known for their innovation, has not made new IPs. And Im going to say this, Nintendo has to put Mario in the title for games to sell - Mario Party and Super Mario Galaxy to name two. Galaxy, obviously a solid game in most peoples eyes, does not look like a Mario game. Instead of making a new IP, Nintendo wanted to keep selling out and make it one.
Now looking at the press conferance this year, Nintendo has completely failed. From Mario Kart (released in April - which is a complete rehash) to Animal Crossing (November), Nintendo will not have any games directed to the hardcore crowd. And thats being generous because MK and AC aren't hardcore games at all. Even if Nintendo announces a new Zelda, Mario, or Metroid game soon, I won't understand how people could be interested in them. These 3 franchises have been used to death. There is nothing unique about them. Ganon and Bowser are the badguys. Peach and Zelda need rescuing. Mario and Link need to save the day. Stale.
I always laughed at Nintendo for their "innovation" speeches. They always (and still) think that they are better than Microsoft or Sony because they 'innovate'. Nintendo may make some stride in the gaming world but then it uses it to death and takes seven steps backwards. Wii Sports 2: Beach Edition? Come on.
Nintendo has become a joke and I know my post is all over the place but I can't understand Nintendo fanboys at all when PS3 and 360 owners are getting so many great games.
But I know none of this matters because all that matters to Nintendo is money.
And to all the core gamers owning a Wii. How does it feel that you stuck with Nintendo and now they are turning around, giving you the finger, and giving Wii Fit to your mom and Nintendogs for your sister?
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