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GameSpot: Is Nintendo Trapped by Legacy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter qizah
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Unless you can show the same reviewer having double standards these kind of comments are useless.

how about jim sterling

mario kart 7 - 5/10

"Mario Kart 7 is as derivative as a game can get...an unadventurous and predictable retread. Mario Kart is in need of a severe shake up."

call of duty MW3 - 9.5/10

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 treads familiar ground and focuses on tweaking rather than reinventing, and that's just fine. While there are no major revelations or surprises, this is still a gorgeously produced package that gives military shooter fans exactly what they want."

mario kart, with its seventh game in over 2 decades time, focuses on polishing existing mechanics and giving fans what they want? 5/10

CoD does the same, with its 8th game in less than 10 years? 9.5/10 goty!!
 
It wouldn't totally surprise me...because Nintendo laid the foundation for them.

the people arguing that Zelda is too samey is mind numbing to me. i'm curious what type of changes (more drastic than those already implemented) they are looking for that still fit the franchise.

Vehicles?

511hZxe3J2L._SL500_SS500_.jpg


I enjoyed BK:N&B
 
As already shown though, Nintendo has released a plethora of new IPs in recent years, and they just haven't really taken off

Why is that though? Especially considering that a lot of these IP's aren't easily remembered. An argument can be made that Nintendo is unwilling to push these new IP's with the same vigor that they push the Classics.
 
Just for fun:

Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank 2
Ratchet & Clank 3
Ratchet: Gladiator
Ratchet and Clank: Going Mobile
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank Tools Of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank Quest for Booty
Ratchet & Clank A Crack in Time
Ratchet & Clank All 4 One



I doubt he complained about this as well
 
Asking this question, to me, feels no different than asking if Disney is trapped by legacy.

There's so much iteration in their established IP that I really see no problem with it.

It's like calling every Final Fantasy game the same exact game because they all have Final Fantasy in the title.

Pretty much.

Nintendo iterates between sequels more than most other game devs.
 
Yes they are trapped. It their safe zone. These are the same games that I was playing when I was a kid almost 30 years ago. Easy money at this point...

The biggest reason for the wii success was Wii sports and wii fit. They need something like this for the wiiu. Not more of the same game from 30-20 years ago. The nintendo fans went crazy because they announce these game last week but it just caters to their fans and does not sell systems like new IP can.

Wiiu needs a wii sports. It needs something new that shows how a touchscreen changes the way we game like the wiimote did with wii sports...
 
I don't follow Nintendo games super closely, but is Mario Kart a more stagnant franchise than games in other genres that have a new iteration each console? That's my impression, but I'll admit I don't know the subtleties.
 
Just for fun:

Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank 2
Ratchet & Clank 3
Ratchet: Gladiator
Ratchet and Clank: Going Mobile
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank Tools Of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank Quest for Booty
Ratchet & Clank A Crack in Time



I doubt he complained about this as well

You left out All 4 One.
 
How many new IP's/mascots has Nintendo developed or created in the past decade?
Pikmin/olimar, Pushmo guy, Dillion, Sakura Samurai Guy, Chibi Robo, and Captain rainbow are the first ones to come to my mind.

Edit: These are the newer guys i see having mascot potential if handled correctly. Nintendo creates new IP's often, they just dont follow up with them all.
 
how about jim sterling

mario kart 7 - 5/10

"Mario Kart 7 is as derivative as a game can get...an unadventurous and predictable retread. Mario Kart is in need of a severe shake up."

call of duty MW3 - 9.5/10

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 treads familiar ground and focuses on tweaking rather than reinventing, and that's just fine. While there are no major revelations or surprises, this is still a gorgeously produced package that gives military shooter fans exactly what they want."

mario kart, with its seventh game in over 2 decades time, focuses on polishing existing mechanics and giving fans what they want? 5/10

CoD does the same, with it's 8th game in less than 10 years? 9.5/10 goty!!

This RIGHT HERE is the quintessence of video game reviewer agenda and bias.
 
Thank you.

Nintendo not creating new IPs is THE most annoying lie out there about them. Why it has continued in face of actual proof is something I really don't understand. Especailly since when it's brought up it can and has been refuted. It's not like it's hard to even check before one makes the claim either. Just like it's not hard to check in regards to Sony as well.
It's true that they've developed a lot of new IP, yes. Now let's name the new IP they actually developed, promoted, and marketed as though they had the vaguest intention of crafting it into a success that could stand alongside or supplant their more common IP, rather than a one-and-done side experiment.

That's the difference here. When a Sony team wants to do a new IP, Sony gets behind it, they market the hell out of it, they spin up the hype machine, they treat it like an event. If Naughty Dog wants to abandon Jak and do a new series, if they want to abandon Uncharted and do Last of Us, Sony says go for it, we'll put everything we can behind it.

When a proven Nintendo team wants to make a new IP, we get Drill Dozer and Pushmo. Good games, sure, but they're clearly just side-diversions that Nintendo entertains inbetween putting the devs to work on the same ol' tentpole franchises they've always done. And it doesn't feel like even that is a thing that many teams at Nintendo have liberty to do. If the Zelda team wanted to take a break from Zelda and make a new IP, could they? If EAD Tokyo said they didn't want to do Mario and instead wanted a similar budget to do some new IP they had in mind, would they not be laughed out of the room? It definitely doesn't feel that way.

You have the occasional aberration like Xenoblade, but even that proves the point. I doubt Monolithsoft would have gotten to do a Xenoblade if they were already beholden to an established franchise, and it's exhibit A for Nintendo's failings at really getting behind new IP. It had a proven fan buzz and yet the fans had to pull Nintendo's teeth to even take notice of it for a western release.
 
It wouldn't totally surprise me...because Nintendo laid the foundation for them.

the people arguing that Zelda is too samey is mind numbing to me. i'm curious what type of changes (more drastic than those already implemented) they are looking for that still fit the franchise.

This. Whether you liked them or not, SS made HUGE changes to the franchise.
 
Then people should make it clear what they're complaining about. It's either no new IPs as they always claim or no new super successful IPs. Trying to say niche, moderatly successful or unknown IPs don't count after a list has been provided is goal post moving.
It about the genres, as stated earlier. They seem reluctant to make new IPs in house in the Mario/Zelda/Mario Kart genres (three of the biggest). Where is a new action/adventure IP (something as fresh as StarTropics for its time)? Where is the new 3D platformer IP (e.g., Banjo-Kazooie (obviously not directly made by Nintendo))? Where is the new racing IP (Wave Race, F-Zero, etc.)? Their philosophy seems to be to not want to use in-house studios to make new IPs in these critical genres, and its an interesting point of discussion. Its a trade-off between risk of new IPs versus fatigue from these genres seeing the same characters.
 
It's true that they've developed a lot of new IP, yes. Now let's name the new IP they actually developed, promoted, and marketed as though they had the vaguest intention of crafting it into a success that could stand alongside their more common IP, rather than a one-and-done side experiment.

That's the difference here. When a Sony team wants to do a new IP, Sony gets behind it, they market the hell out of it, they spin up the hype machine, they treat it like an event. If Naughty Dog wants to abandon Jak and do a new series, if they want to abandon Uncharted and do Last of Us, Sony says go for it, we'll put everything we can behind it.

When a proven Nintendo team wants to make a new IP, we get Drill Dozer and Pushmo. Good games, sure, but they're clearly just side-diversions that Nintendo entertains inbetween putting the devs to work on the same ol' tentpole franchises they've always done. And it doesn't feel like even that is a thing that many teams at Nintendo have liberty to do. If the Zelda team wanted to take a break from Zelda and make a new IP, could they? If EAD Tokyo said they didn't want to do Mario and wanted a similar budget to do some new IP they had in mind, would they not be laughed out of the room? It definitely doesn't feel that way.

You have the occasional aberration like Xenoblade, but even that proves the point. I doubt Monolithsoft would have gotten to do a Xenoblade if they were already beholden to an established franchise, and it's exhibit A for Nintendo's failings at really getting behind new IP. It had a proven fan buzz and yet the fans had to pull Nintendo's teeth to even take notice of it for a western release.

Nailed it.
 
If anything it's the press who're trapped by Nintendo's legacy, as they seem to discard anything that isn't a new Mario or Zelda.

The Nintendo Direct didn't focus Mario, Mario Kart or Smash. Those were just mentioned to keep people calm. In what was actually shown there were quite a lot of surprises, plus some more footage from 101 and Bayo2 which were certainly surprising when they were first announced.
 
Seriously N fans should chill out a bit and stop being so defensive!
Define "defensive". :p
The only "denfense" I see, is in this and the other (low tech) thread on which a some always have to bring the topic of age, as in been of a certain age means you're not supposed to enjoy Nintendo games anymore.

Or how "Ninty fans" only play "Ninty games" as if playing Nintendo games suddenly makes people oblivious to other games or technology.

But the response of the posts are to counter the idiotic remarks of "Nintendo has no new IPs", "Nintendo has no games". If that's been "defensive", then why would others be "attacking"?
 
It's true that they've developed a lot of new IP, yes. Now let's name the new IP they actually developed, promoted, and marketed as though they had the vaguest intention of crafting it into a success that could stand alongside their more common IP, rather than a one-and-done side experiment.

That's the difference here. When a Sony team wants to do a new IP, Sony gets behind it, they market the hell out of it, they spin up the hype machine, they treat it like an event. If Naughty Dog wants to abandon Jak and do a new series, if they want to abandon Uncharted and do Last of Us, Sony says go for it, we'll put everything we can behind it.

When a proven Nintendo team wants to make a new IP, we get Drill Dozer and Pushmo. Good games, sure, but they're clearly just side-diversions that Nintendo entertains inbetween putting the devs to work on the same ol' tentpole franchises they've always done. And it doesn't feel like even that is a thing that many teams at Nintendo have liberty to do. If the Zelda team wanted to take a break from Zelda and make a new IP, could they? If EAD Tokyo said they didn't want to do Mario and wanted a similar budget to do some new IP they had in mind, would they not be laughed out of the room? It definitely doesn't feel that way.

You have the occasional aberration like Xenoblade, but even that proves the point. I doubt Monolithsoft would have gotten to do a Xenoblade if they were already beholden to an established franchise, and it's exhibit A for Nintendo's failings at really getting behind new IP. It had a proven fan buzz and yet the fans had to pull Nintendo's teeth to even take notice of it for a western release.

e32012_pr_nin_pikmin.jpg


11.jpg
 
I always like that people list off like 10 or so franchises and go...why is this all we get?

"all nintendo has to offer is Mario (two types), Zelda, Pokemon, Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Wii_, Animal Crossing, and such.."

like dude..that's a lot of damn games. Especially since most of them only hit like once a generation...twice at the most.

I would be hyped to see new stuff too but lets not act like Nintendo is a one trick pony here. They give people sequels to games/franchises they enjoyed on their older platforms...that's kind of a good idea.

Now if you don't like those franchises, fine. But don't say they don't have a variety of shit. Each Mario Kart has added something...not always for the better but something. There have been only 3 Smash Bros. The 3d Mario games are some of the most innovative games there are. And people HATED the new changes in ZeldaSS.

Should Nintendo find a happy medium? yes and it seems like they are trying to do so with some of the games they showed recently (a New RPG, whatever the fuck SMTXFE is, and their connections with Platinum will bring exclusive awesomeness to their console).

I honestly don't get what else they could do. Not make a new Mario or Zelda? Only to have fans bitch and moan about it not being there? Like c'mon. NSMB or Mario Party? yeah that can take a break because they stopped trying with those But every series isn't like that.

also it's not like these are bad games or flops. So what the what?

So it comes down to this; If you don't like Nintendo games, then don't buy a Nintendo console...quit be mad that it's not what you want and go elsewhere..there are a shitton of games out there. Nintendo doesn't have to be like everyone else..

I just find this funny that this board lost their shit over DmC or Tomb Raider's reboot because they lost the essence of their predecessors and yet some of the same ones are asking for drastic ass changes.

Some stuff is ancient and needs some improvement..I get that. But drastic changes? naw.

I hope whatever Miyamoto is cooking up shuts people up for a while...because these type of articles are sad considering Nintendo's output of new shit or revamps.
 
Pikmin, ok. The other two are fun but I don't think any gamers are exactly clamouring for sequels.

I sure as hell am. Brain Academy on the DS was one of the funnest most addicting games I've ever played. Knowing there's a brain age releasing for the 3ds and Wii U (I think) is great news.
 
how about jim sterling

mario kart 7 - 5/10

"Mario Kart 7 is as derivative as a game can get...an unadventurous and predictable retread. Mario Kart is in need of a severe shake up."

call of duty MW3 - 9.5/10

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 treads familiar ground and focuses on tweaking rather than reinventing, and that's just fine. While there are no major revelations or surprises, this is still a gorgeously produced package that gives military shooter fans exactly what they want."

mario kart, with its seventh game in over 2 decades time, focuses on polishing existing mechanics and giving fans what they want? 5/10

CoD does the same, with its 8th game in less than 10 years? 9.5/10 goty!!

Was half of MW3 taken directly from other COD titles?

I sure as hell am. Brain Academy on the DS was one of the funnest most addicting games I've ever played. Knowing there's a brain age releasing for the 3ds and Wii U (I think) is great news.

Was looking forward to it on the 3DS too until they announced it was going to be 30 dollars. Sorry, Nintendo. Nope. There's an endless stream of "brain" games on iOS/Android for 99 cents or free.
 
Do you even know how many IPs Sony abandoned because they didn´t sell enough? Or every other company?

Did you even read the entire message ?
Do you even understand i'm not talking about other companies? we're talking about N.

Where is my F-ZERO where is my STARFOX ? This is the kind of games that i'm talking qbout , they made me enjoy the GC.
 
I always like that people list off like 10 or so franchises and go...why is this all we get?

"all nintendo has to offer is Mario (two types), Zelda, Pokemon, Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Wii_, Animal Crossing, and such.."

like dude..that's a lot of damn games. Especially since most of them only hit like once a generation...twice at the most.

I would be hyped to see new stuff too but lets not act like Nintendo is a one trick pony here. They give people sequels to games/franchises they enjoyed on their older platforms...that's kind of a good idea.

Now if you don't like those franchises, fine. But don't say they don't have a variety of shit. Each Mario Kart has added something...not always for the better but something. There have been only 3 Smash Bros. The 3d Mario games are some of the most innovative games there are. And people HATED the new changes in ZeldaSS.

Should Nintendo find a happy medium? yes and it seems like they are trying to do so with some of the games they showed recently (a New RPG, whatever the fuck SMTXFE is, and their connections with Platinum will bring exclusive awesomeness to their console).

I honestly don't get what else they could do. Not make a new Mario or Zelda? Only to have fans bitch and moan about it not being there? Like c'mon. NSMB or Mario Party? yeah that can take a break because they stopped trying with those But every series isn't like that.

also it's not like these are bad games or flops. So what the what?

So it comes down to this; If you don't like Nintendo games, then don't buy a Nintendo console...quit be mad that it's not what you want and go elsewhere..there are a shitton of games out there. Nintendo doesn't have to be like everyone else..

I just find this funny that this board lost their shit over DmC or Tomb Raider's reboot because they lost the essence of their predecessors and yet some of the same ones are asking for drastic ass changes.

Some stuff is ancient and needs some improvement..I get that. But drastic changes? naw.

I hope whatever Miyamoto is cooking up shuts people up for a while...because these type of articles are sad considering Nintendo's output of new shit or revamps.

It's not that they don't have other IP's but that they don't PUSH them.

Isn't this the same shit that Sony gets for their Handhelds? That they don't actually PUSH the Systems and support it with quality titles and Marketing? Why is Nintendo above that?
 
I don't really care what the setting is as long as they keep giving me new game play experiences.

Take Kirby Mass Attack, a game in a similar vein to LocoRoco. I don't really care that Nintendo didn't create a new IP for it.

Take Kirby Canvas Curse, a game with similar mechanics to Ivy the Kiwi/Lost Winds. Again, I don't really care that Nintendo didn't create a new IP for it.

I would prefer new game play using the same IP as opposed to playing the same mechanics again and again across different IPs. (Medal of Honor, CoD, etc).

One might ask, why not have a game with new mechanics and new game play. The problem is they just don't seem to sell that well. Look at Crush vs Paper Mario. Look at LocoRoco vs Mass Attack. Using old IP helps in many ways. People who just want Kirby are happy. People who want new mechanics are happy. Easier for developers to concentrate on the game play when new artwork and engines are not taking up a disproportionate amount of time.
 
Just for fun:

Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank 2
Ratchet & Clank 3
Ratchet: Gladiator
Ratchet and Clank: Going Mobile
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
Ratchet & Clank Tools Of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank Quest for Booty
Ratchet & Clank A Crack in Time
Ratchet & Clank All 4 One



I doubt he complained about this as well

Why do you continue to bring up these random franchises? What point are you trying to make? Unless he's reviewed any of them and praised them despite little changes (even though the last two Ratchet titles are very different compared to games before them), then it's kind of pointless. Here's his review of a long running franchise that many accuse of barely changing over the years

The Bad
Pointless Kinect support Little difference on the field from previous years Old issues are still present.

http://www.gamespot.com/madden-nfl-13/reviews/madden-nfl-13-review-6393175/

7.5
 
If the argument is now "nintendo doesn't market new IPs sufficiently, that argument fails due to Kid Icarus, which given the time since the last game is practically a new IP.

And the gaming media wouldn't give it the time of day.
 
Solutions now :
-Works with other devs to have refreshing franchise.
-Give that miyamoto full power/time to make new ips
-Take risk with established franchises.
-Use those franchise that dont get millions of sales and try to change them and make them big hits.

Miyamoto? New IPs? Millions of units? Alright, here's his recent output.

Pikmin series: created concept
Chibi-Robo: producer
Doshin the Giant: producer
Eternal Darkness: producer
GiFTPiA: producer
Geist: producer
Nintendogs series: created concept
Wii Sports series: producer
Wii Fit: designer
Wii Music: designer
Steel Diver: designer
Nintendo Land: producer

> 1 million units
> 25 million units
> 100 million units

Not bad for a single guy.
 
I would consider kid icarus: uprising a new ip sorta. They did market it well and the game was amazing and different from the Nintendo norm with great VA.
 
Just for fun:

I doubt he ever complained about it.

I get what you're trying to say but the list shouldn't the list look more like this:

Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo 2 (1999, PSOne)
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2001, PS2, )
Gran Turismo Concept 2001 Tokyo (2001, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4: Prologue (2004, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4 (2005, PS2)
Gran Turismo HD Concept
Gran Turismo 5: Prologue: Spec-I
Gran Turismo (2009, PSP)
Gran Turismo 5 (24. November 2010, PS3)

I don't know why you're counting collectors editions as if they're different games.
 
A lot more than people think:

Electroplankton
Pushmo/crashmo
Endless ocean
Flingsmash
Rhythm Heaven
Elite Beat Agents
Battalion Wars
Geist

And surely plenty of things I'm forgetting

And some more :)
But people only see Mario and Zelda and complain "More of the same".

Nintendo are about to release a second Luigi's Mansion, man it's hard to call that Trapped by legacy, ok it's Luigi but the gameplay is unique.
 
Was half of MW3 taken directly from other COD titles?



Was looking forward to it on the 3DS too until they announced it was going to be 30 dollars. Sorry, Nintendo. Nope. There's an endless stream of "brain" games on iOS/Android for 99 cents or free.

Yeah.

Assualt Rifles, Sub, LMG, Snipers, Shotguns. Nothing New
Over Half of the same equipment, killstreaks, game modes, attachments.
Seeing as though Multiplayer has logged infinite more hours than SP. Yes. Yes. Yes.
 
I think Nintendo is doing fine while Bayonetta has ONE game on other platforms it is still a rather new franchise and completely new on Nintendo systems. Similar things can be said about Fatal Frame. Nintendo is expanding their portfolio to reaching other audiences and looking at Xenoblade and X they seem to have won the checkpot.
 
It's not that they don't have other IP's but that they don't PUSH them.

Isn't this the same shit that Sony gets for their Handhelds? That they don't actually PUSH the Systems and support it with quality titles and Marketing? Why is Nintendo above that?



That doesn't sound like a 3DS problem. I could be wrong.
 
Define "defensive". :p
The only "denfense" I see, is in this and the other (low tech) thread on which a some always have to bring the topic of age, as in been of a certain age means you're not supposed to enjoy Nintendo games anymore.

Or how "Ninty fans" only play "Ninty games" as if playing Nintendo games suddenly makes people oblivious to other games or technology.

But the response of the posts are to counter the idiotic remarks of "Nintendo has no new IPs", "Nintendo has no games". If that's been "defensive", then why would others be "attacking"?

I mean just look at the firsst page !
This thread could have been something a bit different and far more interessting with propositions and real discussions , all we have here is GIF's and lists.
 
You'd wish they are more trapped by legacy. So far, Nintendo doesn't have any problem not to make sequels or even spin-offs of dozens of their IPs.

Baloney. Nintendo has an awesome catalog they've more or less abandoned. Nintendo is trapped by being in love with the fat profits of the Wii/DS phenomenon. And that means they've lost interest in anything that can't do at minimum 5 million units. Unfortunately, that makes their line-up predictable and boring.
Hey, I've bought lots of their niche titles, I've done my part, but I can't blame them not making sequels of games which aren't profitable while people buy 2 sequels of the same AAA game with the same formula in a single gen.
Nintendo can be very narrow-minded, but their handling of the IPs is my least concern compared to every single big company in the industry.
 
Was half of MW3 taken directly from other COD titles?
Are we really going to argue about which game is more derivative than the other? They both are. One is just criticized for it while the other is given a pass.

As far as Zelda goes, I think that series is the furthest thing from stagnant.
 
If the argument is now "nintendo doesn't market new IPs sufficiently, that argument fails due to Kid Icarus, which given the time since the last game is practically a new IP.

And the gaming media wouldn't give it the time of day.

Really? I'd say that Nintendo didn't push Kid Icarus. Everything that I saw regarding the game was generated by the fanbase rather than Nintendo. And you can't expect the Media to pick up an IP and run with it when the company that created it isn't bothering to push it.
 
Being down on Nintendo is the cool thing to do now.

Really? I'd say that Nintendo didn't push Kid Icarus. Everything that I saw regarding the game was generated by the fanbase rather than Nintendo. And you can't expect the Media to pick up an IP and run with it when the company that created it isn't bothering to push it.

They definitely pushed it. There were a lot of commercials and promotional items (the cards).
 
Yeah.

Assualt Rifles, Sub, LMG, Snipers, Shotguns. Nothing New
Over Half of the same equipment, killstreaks, game modes, attachments.
Seeing as though Multiplayer has logged infinite more hours than SP. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Uh huh. Mario Kart 7 recycled half of its tracks. Comparing that to a game reusing guns is hilariously bad. If you're going to do that, then every Mario game that recycles enemies is bad.
 
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