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GameSpot: Is Nintendo Trapped by Legacy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter qizah
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I always thought the complaint was that Nintendo didn't try to make big games, not new games, they make lots of off-beat, newly branded stuff.... just no one here gives a shit about much of that software as the bulk was built towards the same kind of crowd mobile phone type fare is made for.

The past generation they never really had to worry about us because cranking out cheap and simplistic content for expanded audiences made them more money than doing huge projects for us nerds that cost them tens of millions of dollars and multiple year dev cycles. Since my guess is still that said expanded audience ain't coming back in the same way, I hope they do try to cater more to the kinds of things I like. :p

I'm always pleased when they try to fund new, big things like a Pikmin or a Xenoblade but it can be so very rare. Have been buying their kit all my life, will likely continue to do so but it'd be nice to have a scenario where they weren't a distant second or third platform for me that got used once or twice a year, one that stings if that big holiday game doesn't deliver (like Skyward Sword).

I don't even care if we're talking budgets or asset quality, I just want shit in a genre I would play, and being someone reared on niche Japanese games and PC games at the same time, I'll play damn near anything.... except Nintendo's expanded audience software and Sony's arthouse content. :p
 
I never said it was shitty anyway, not that the nintendo wii mingames are either, but why bring that up in their new IP's column? XD I love castle minerZ but I'm not going to say that's what's keeping the 360 fresh hahaha. And those games are nothing special. But really beside their big hitters like mario, Zelda, n' all that, where are the other new first party IP's?! It's been like 20 years. Am I the only one that wants to see what else they can do?
Dude they've been listed multiple times in this thread. Just go read.
 
.
McShea also doesn't really talk about one of the bigger announcements from this Nintendo Direct. Nintendo's desire to collaborate with others developers to ensure there's more software on their platform was a big deal for me personally. Working with third parties on collaborations such as Namco Bandai for Smash Bros 4 and Atlus for SMT x Fire Emblem is definitely a right step. Not only that, but going after other developers who have an expertise in that genre to help create some awesome software is a great strategy. Here's hoping that Nintendo can also build these same relationships with Western studios as well.

On paper, you make a good point here... But then in suddenly reminded of Other M and Starfox Command.
 
Yes, I think they are. Part of the issue I have is that they are so incredibly reluctant and scared to let go of characters and franchises of the past to make way for something new and fresh. Yes, they do a great job refreshing these past characters and franchises into something new in a gameplay sense, but they are still the same character and franchise that has been around since the beginning. I would like to see Nintendo break free from the bonds of Zelda, Mario, etc and officially retire the franchises and characters. You can list a ton of new IP's from Nintendo, but has there really been a stingy effort from Nintendo to create the new "Mario" or the new "Zelda"? I really haven't seen it. They are relics of the past and I think it is time for Nintendo to break the legacy and be new. Not new in the sense that they make a new Legend of Zelda game with a new gameplay system, but entirely new franchises with a new iconic character the likes of Link and Mario.

I have personally grown tired of them seeing them rely on their legacy too much. Most of first party related efforts are to be expected as another Mario Kart and another Legend of Zelda or another Super Mario Bros... they do make other stuff though and that can't be questioned. My issue is just the fact that they can't quit those historic franchises to make way for new historic franchises. They rely on them far too much and keeps Nintendo from really growing and changing. We've seen the character of Mario for what, 31 years? Being around for that long sure is one hell of a sign that they made an icon, but it is time to move on. They just seem to want to stick the character on as much as they can and that seems like it is really stunting the expansion of Nintendo into new areas and new heights.

They make incredible stuff... but put that incredible stuff into something completely new and stick with it.
 
It´s not beeing dodged. People answered this like ten times now.

But this is the typical anti Nintendo discussion. "If you don´t count this and that and don´t even think about using this.. then (insert topic here) is really really bad."

This actually applies to 90% of the discussion out there. Not just IPs.

It hasn't been answered correctly by most people. I've seen people mentioning the Wii line of games and games like Pushmo and Steel Diver. If you have to have it explained to you why those games are not on the budget and scale of the big mario and zelda games then you're a lost cause, or you're playing dumb to derail the discussion. The people who answered Xenoblade get it, we can move forward from there.
 
With this thread: Screen Digest: "Nintendo behind the next gen curve; isolated from market" It might be a bit too much Nintendoom, even for GAF.

I love how all these articles popped up after the Nintendo Direct that managed to get me more hyped for the Wii U than their E3 presentation. (Totally hope XenoWHATEVER) becomes one of their staple series. Every platform needs a big RPG with exploration focus.


It's like they have some doom and gloom articles ready to go the second Nintendo does something good. (This may or may not be serious)
 
Kid Icarus
Xenoblade
Last Story
Wonderful 101

And a lot of the best titles on other systems aren't even the AAA games. If anything a good portion of the best games this Gen are downloadable.

Well, KI isn't a new IP, but I guess the other ones don't count because they didn't have budgets of trillions of dollars.
 
Where are their new IPs that are on the budget and scale of their marios, zeldas and smash bros'? I'll ask again because despite this extremely simple question it has been twisted into a bunch of people playing stupid "ohhh they're moving goalposts" or "ohhh tiny handheld game like Steel Diver doesn't counnnnt?". Why is the question being dodged and people pretending they don't know what anyone is talking about? It's a very simple question.
Why does it have to be on a scale of mario and zelda and smash? Thats some dream shit you want. It would be cool if they did but what the hell their franchises are so incredible they are the big budgets, they are what makes this company. They arent like sony where none of the franchises are unrecognizable and have to keep making new IPs in order to be relevant.
 
Yeah, they are trapped to some degree but it mostly has to do with their limited number of studios and staff on the payroll, that forces them to focus on the stuff they usually do with litte to no room to go beyond that. There are some demonstrations of improvement here and there in the past generations, but it seems this time they are gonna improve their efforts by restructuring of its development teams, publishing a combination of new Ips and old school stuff from third parties, improving their influence on the indie sphere and developer collaborations like they are doing with Megaten X FE and Smash bros 3.

What remains to be seen is how big the scale of those changes will be, after all, they has to answer to a board of directors that is most likely a museum of Japanese assholes suits.


Monolithmechastrawman.gif
 
I'd say the biggest difference between people that think Nintendo do or do not innovate with big games is their criteria for a 'Big AAA game', and good fucking lord am I coming to hate the term.

Pouring money on a game's development and marketing does not a good game make, and what a big game means to people is relative. Pokemon? Sells like fucking gangbusters. COD? Sells like fucking gangbusters. The difference between the two is that they're marketed at different people, and the game is made according to that. Both have many, many entries in their respective franchises. Both have sold tons. But COD will be held above Pokemon in the eyes of certain people due to COD's demographic focus, and vice versa.

Has Nintendo put true effort into their recent /new/ games(because an old IP getting their one and only console entry disqualifies them)? If we look at the Gamecube? Yes, yes they have. Pikmin, Animal Crossing, Luigi's Mansion.

If we look at the Wii? Xenoblade, and then what? Punch Out? Donkey Kong Country Returns? Oh wait, old IP, irregardless of the fact that one was dead for over a decade and a half and the other was on life support.

I'm not a fan of Nintendo's efforts on the Wii, but calling shit on them for reviving IPs seems pedantic. Got an old IP? Dead, nearly forgotten? Why not recycle it and make a whole new experience?
 
Yes, I think they are. Part of the issue I have is that they are so incredibly reluctant and scared to let go of characters and franchises of the past to make way for something new and fresh. Yes, they do a great job refreshing these past characters and franchises into something new in a gameplay sense, but they are still the same character and franchise that has been around since the beginning. I would like to see Nintendo break free from the bonds of Zelda, Mario, etc and officially retire the franchises and characters. You can list a ton of new IP's from Nintendo, but has there really been a stingy effort from Nintendo to create the new "Mario" or the new "Zelda"? I really haven't seen it. They are relics of the past and I think it is time for Nintendo to break the legacy and be new. Not new in the sense that they make a new Legend of Zelda game with a new gameplay system, but entirely new franchises with a new iconic character the likes of Link and Mario.

I have personally grown tired of them seeing them rely on their legacy too much. Most of first party related efforts are to be expected as another Mario Kart and another Legend of Zelda or another Super Mario Bros... they do make other stuff though and that can't be questioned. My issue is just the fact that they can't quit those historic franchises to make way for new historic franchises. They rely on them far too much and keeps Nintendo from really growing and changing. We've seen the character of Mario for what, 31 years? Being around for that long sure is one hell of a sign that they made an icon, but it is time to move on. They just seem to want to stick the character on as much as they can and that seems like it is really stunting the expansion of Nintendo into new areas and new heights.

They make incredible stuff... but put that incredible stuff into something completely new and stick with it.

Why should they retire mario and zelda because they're old? Let the new generations enjoy a slice of the pie too since it's as good as it was in the past. New things are welcomed too.
 
Because, for the 80th time, that is what people want when they get pissed at the reveal of yet another mario or zelda game. They want new games on that level.
Who gets pissed other than you? Theres other AAA games. Uncharted, halo, gears, killzone, etc.. I know damn well you dont exclusively game on Nintendo consoles so I dont know why the hell you are complaining.
 
It hasn't been answered correctly by most people. I've seen people mentioning the Wii line of games and games like Pushmo and Steel Diver. If you have to have it explained to you why those games are not on the budget and scale of the big mario and zelda games then you're a lost cause, or you're playing dumb to derail the discussion. The people who answered Xenoblade get it, we can move forward from there.
Why do you keep harping on budget like that matters? Do you only go to the movies to see the big summer blockbusters? I'd rather have 3 good lower budget games then 1 big
budget waste like most of the big budget games these days. Pushmo was leagues more entertaining to me then Max Payne 3.
More budget/scale does not automatically equal a great game.

They already have Kid Icarus/Xenoblade/Last Story with Wonderful 101 coming this year. People have been answering your question, you just don't care about the answers.
 
Yeah, they are trapped to some degree but it mostly has to do with their limited number of studios and staff on the payroll, that forces them to focus on the stuff they usually do with litte to no room to go beyond that. There are some demonstrations of improvement here and there in the past generations, but it seems this time they are gonna improve their efforts by restructuring of its development teams, publishing a combination of new Ips and old school stuff from third parties, improving their influence on the indie sphere and developer collaborations like they are doing with Megaten X FE and Smash bros 3.

What remains to be seen is how big the scale of those changes will be, after all, they has to answer to a board of directors that is most likely a museum of Japanese assholes suits.

They need to keep expanding and buy another company or two. It saddens me when to see that almost all the internal studios are working on iterations. Sequels are fine, but I also want other new stuff.

Why do you keep harping on budget like that matters?

Hardcore Gamer ™
 
Who gets pissed other than you? Theres other AAA games. Uncharted, halo, gears, killzone, etc.. I know damn well you dont exclusively game on Nintendo consoles so I dont know why the hell you are complaining.

I think it's reasonable that people would like Nintendo to take a risk and develop something completely different, yet with the budget and care of a core Mario or Zelda game.
 
Who gets pissed other than you? Theres other AAA games. Uncharted, halo, gears, killzone, etc.. I know damn well you dont exclusively game on Nintendo consoles so I dont know why the hell you are complaining.

Oh yeah because I'm the only one who expressed disappointment at more of the same announcements from that Nintendo direct. You do know we have a thread that's full of people doing the same thing right? The "did they convince you to buy a wii u" thread. It's only a few days old.

Zen_Arcade said:
They already have Kid Icarus/Xenoblade/Last Story with Wonderful 101 coming this year. People have been answering your question, you just don't care about the answers.

Kid Icarus is not a new IP. That's like someone trying to get away with listing Warhawk.
 
Just for fun:

Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo 2 (1999, PSOne)
Gran Turismo 2 Platinum (2000, PSOne)
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2001, PS2, )
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec Platinum (2001, PS2)
Gran Turismo Concept 2001 Tokyo (2001, PS2)
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva (2002, PS2)
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Geneva Platinum (2003, PS2)
Gran Turismo Concept 2002 Tokyo-Seoul (2002, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4: Prologue (2004, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4: Prius Edition (2004, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4: BMW 1 Series Virtual Drive Dealership (2004, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4 (2005, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4: Platinum (2005/2006, PS2)
Gran Turismo 4 Online Test Version (2006, Japan, USA, PS2)
Gran Turismo HD Concept
Gran Turismo 5: Prologue: Spec-I
Gran Turismo 5: Prologue: Spec-II
Gran Turismo 5: Prologue Platinum
Gran Turismo (2009, PSP)
Gran Turismo Collector's Edition (Oktober 2009, PSP)
Gran Turismo 5 (24. November 2010, PS3)
Gran Turismo 5 Collector's Edition (24. November 2010, PS3)
Gran Turismo 5 Signature-Edition (24. November 2010, PS3)
Gran Turismo 5 Platinum (14. Oktober 2011, PS3)
Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition (USA: 17. Januar 2012, PS3)
Gran Turismo 5 Academy Edition (26 September 2012, PS3)



I doubt he ever complained about it.

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

Just for fun:

God of War
God of War II
God of War: Betrayal
God of War: Chains of Olympus
God of War Collection
God of War III
God of War: Ghost of Sparta
God of War: Origins Collection
God of War Saga
God of War Ascen.

Just for fun

Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance: Burning Skies
Resistance: Retribution
Resistance 2
Resistance 3

Maybe it has something to do with this:

1 MotorStorm
2 MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
3 MotorStorm: Arctic Edge
4 MotorStorm: Apocalypse
-----------------------------
5 MotorStorm: RC


They produce too many sequels in a very short time and therefore kill their own franchises sales potential due to the huge quantity. If the IPs they killed would have been still successful, they would continue making sequels, (God of War, Ratchet, Gran Tourismo)

The fun goes on

Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal 2
Twisted Metal III
Twisted Metal 4
Twisted Metal: Black
Twisted Metal: Head-On
Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted
Twisted Metal (2012)
Twisted Metal: Black Online
Twisted Metal: Apocalypse
Twisted Metal: Revolution

The following series is proof for what I was trying to say in my last post, that studios will only be killed if they don´t sell enough for Sony.


Wipeout
Wipeout 2097 / XL
Wipeout 3
Wipeout Fusion
Wipeout Pure
Wipeout Pulse
Wipeout HD
Wipeout HD Fury,
Wipeout 2048

I can't tell if these are serious posts or not.
 
Why should they retire mario and zelda because they're old? Let the new generations enjoy a slice of the pie too since it's as good as it was in the past. New things are welcomed too.

Because I feel if they don't they will continue to rely on them and the new will get buried. There are countless games of the past that new generations can enjoy through avenues like Virtual Console and such, but I just don't want Mario and Zelda and franchises of those characters get in the way. Just let something fresh and new become the new Mario and Zelda.
 
Yes, I think they are. Part of the issue I have is that they are so incredibly reluctant and scared to let go of characters and franchises of the past to make way for something new and fresh. Yes, they do a great job refreshing these past characters and franchises into something new in a gameplay sense, but they are still the same character and franchise that has been around since the beginning. I would like to see Nintendo break free from the bonds of Zelda, Mario, etc and officially retire the franchises and characters. You can list a ton of new IP's from Nintendo, but has there really been a stingy effort from Nintendo to create the new "Mario" or the new "Zelda"? I really haven't seen it. They are relics of the past and I think it is time for Nintendo to break the legacy and be new. Not new in the sense that they make a new Legend of Zelda game with a new gameplay system, but entirely new franchises with a new iconic character the likes of Link and Mario.

I have personally grown tired of them seeing them rely on their legacy too much. Most of first party related efforts are to be expected as another Mario Kart and another Legend of Zelda or another Super Mario Bros... they do make other stuff though and that can't be questioned. My issue is just the fact that they can't quit those historic franchises to make way for new historic franchises. They rely on them far too much and keeps Nintendo from really growing and changing. We've seen the character of Mario for what, 31 years? Being around for that long sure is one hell of a sign that they made an icon, but it is time to move on. They just seem to want to stick the character on as much as they can and that seems like it is really stunting the expansion of Nintendo into new areas and new heights.

They make incredible stuff... but put that incredible stuff into something completely new and stick with it.

You probably want Disney to abandon Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck too.

No corporation is going to abandon trademarks with so much value.
 
I think it's reasonable that people would like Nintendo to take a risk and develop something completely different, yet with the budget and care of a core Mario or Zelda game.

But isn't that what Xenoblade, Last Story, X and W101 are? I kind of doubt Zelda and Mario have budgets as big as implied. I would be surprised if any of them approached HD development costs.
 
I think it's reasonable that people would like Nintendo to take a risk and develop something completely different, yet with the budget and care of a core Mario or Zelda game.
Im not saying its a problem. Just from a Nintendo point of view I dont see the attraction.

Oh yeah because I'm the only one who expressed disappointment at more of the same announcements from that Nintendo direct. You do know we have a thread that's full of people doing the same thing right? The "did they convince you to buy a wii u" thread. It's only a few days old.



Kid Icarus is not a new IP. That's like someone trying to get away with listing Warhawk.
Well in this thread I see you so chill out. Well I dont really care for the ones in that thread its hard to tell the difference between trolls and genuienly dissapointed people.

ZombiU isnt a new IP either is it?
 
But isn't that what Xenoblade, Last Story, X and W101 are? I kind of doubt Zelda and Mario have budgets as big as implied. I would be surprised if any of them approached HD development costs.

but those doesn't count... because... of... emm.. reasons.
 
Because I feel if they don't they will continue to rely on them and the new will get buried. There are countless games of the past that new generations can enjoy through avenues like Virtual Console and such, but I just don't want Mario and Zelda and franchises of those characters get in the way. Just let something fresh and new become the new Mario and Zelda.
That's kind of asking for the moon.
 
Because I feel if they don't they will continue to rely on them and the new will get buried. There are countless games of the past that new generations can enjoy through avenues like Virtual Console and such, but I just don't want Mario and Zelda and franchises of those characters get in the way. Just let something fresh and new become the new Mario and Zelda.

Hmm but why should there be a new mario and zelda? If they put in the effort, they could create something just as popular as them like recently kid icarus: uprisinf and Animal crossing new leaf in japan for example.
 
They need to keep expanding and buy another company or two. It saddens me when to see that almost all the internal studios are working on iterations. Sequels are fine, but I also want other new stuff.

Thats what points me that there are some efforts to change these last few years, they always usually expand their in-house studios and opening new offices in Japan, but in the last few years they have aparently expanded Retro, bought Monolith, improved their relationships with some devs like kuju and Next Leve, brought Sakurai back and gave him a team and are most likely prepping him up for a higher position. Again, its stuff on a relatively small scale, but expanding and improving the variety of their output seems to an objective.
 
Trapped? Nah, don't think so, they can easily create a new stable of IP/mascots if they want. Voluntarily cocooned themselves in a blanket of Mario money? Absolutely.
 
They want Nintendo pumping out BIG new IPs with a similar budget that the new mario or zelda gets.

And what defines BIG new IPs? Marketing? the Wii series is as big an IP as any of Nintendo's other "big,' known IPs. Look towards sales for that proof.
 
Instead of people sayin Nintendo needs to come up with new IPs, I think they should change it to Nintendo should come up with some new characters.
 
Sega went all out on Shenmue, Jet Set Radio + tons of arcade titles such as Crazy Taxi, Daytona USA 2000 and etc on Dreamcast.

I just never saw this from Nintendo that is not Mario, Zelda, Metroid. That's all.

*await a quote reply with stupid sales figures
 
I think Nintendo should at least be given until E3 to show what else they are working on. They have already shown the willingness to invest outside of their comfort zone with games like Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2. Also the collaborations with Platinum, Atlus, and Namco are big. Let's also see what they are doing with their current IPs before labeling them as rehashes
Sega went all out on Shenmue, Jet Set Radio + tons of arcade titles such as Crazy Taxi, Daytona USA 2000 and etc on Dreamcast.

I just never saw this from Nintendo that is not Mario, Zelda, Metroid. That's all

Which console are you talking about?
 
But isn't that what Xenoblade, Last Story, X and W101 are? I kind of doubt Zelda and Mario have budgets as big as implied. I would be surprised if any of them approached HD development costs.

Kinda, but Xenoblade seems to be an outlier because Nintendo took over an amazing studio whilst the game was already in development, I am very pleased they greenlighted X, however.

TW01 and Last Story, whilst published by Nintendo, aren't core projects that Nintendo have set out to design themselves, also doesn't anyone get the impression that TW101 is a low budget side project?

That's kind of asking for the moon.

Nintendo fans shouldn't do a Halo Gaf and defend low standards and expectations, always ask for the moon, especially from Nintendo.
 
But isn't that what Xenoblade, Last Story, X and W101 are? I kind of doubt Zelda and Mario have budgets as big as implied. I would be surprised if any of them approached HD development costs.

These don't count because none of them are by an internal Nintendo studio (because Nintendo doesn't own Monolith Soft, except they do), nor did they have a marketing budget equal to Mass Effect 3's (because marketing budget=quality, evidently).
 
Sega went all out on Shenmue, Jet Set Radio + tons of arcade titles such as Crazy Taxi, Daytona USA 2000 and etc on Dreamcast.

I just never saw this from Nintendo that is not Mario, Zelda, Metroid. That's all.

*await a quote reply with stupid sales figures
But Jet Set and Crazy Taxi aren't the same scale and budget as Shenmue!
 
Are the press having a meltdown or somethin?
Is this what that looks like.

Threatened by Nintendo Direct I would say. It's one of the first signs their days of good business with Nintendo are over, making sure ND fails is a mission.

However, they would have mindlessly talked sht about Nintendo anyway, so it's not gonna make a difference for them. It's impossible to stop Nintendo now, the gaming press had their chance to reason multiple times.
 
Hahahaha, wtf is this guy trying to prove with these posts? lol

He is saying "other companies make a lot of sequels, and I am going to assume you like them despite having no actual clue who you are or what you like, therefore the company I am defending is doing something you normally like, so in conclusion, you are a hypocrite."
 
Sega went all out on Shenmue, Jet Set Radio + tons of arcade titles such as Crazy Taxi, Daytona USA 2000 and etc on Dreamcast.

I just never saw this from Nintendo that is not Mario, Zelda, Metroid. That's all.

*await a quote reply with stupid sales figures

well, there's a huge list on the first page of the thread... you may want to check it.
 
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