Nintendo Slammed by Time

[Justin-GCA]

Not sure you fellows saw this but I just read this on IGN and well, Time was not too kind to Nintendo, though they did have reasons to be a bit blunt:

<i>Nintendo Reiterates Baffling Philosophy
Company president says richer graphics and complex gameplay is not the answer.

December 09, 2003 - News publication Time Magazine recently featured an article in which it dissected Nintendo's game plan, or seeming lack thereof. The magazine criticized Nintendo's short supply of pioneering software and indicated that the company "seems to be suffering from game-development gridlock."

It also dismissed Nintendo's Pac-Man vs., stating; "The fact that the program itself was an update of Pac-Man (which debuted in 1980), however, tended to undercut the message that this was a particularly thrilling innovation."
Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata reiterated the company's feeling that prettier, deeper, online-supported games are not the answer. Time wrote: "Online video games have been a false start so far, Iwata asserts, which is why he has no plans to lead Nintendo in that direction. The current path taken by game developers toward more cinematic graphics, richer story lines and complicated controls is a blind alley that, he says, will only worsen the current 'nothing's new' ennui felt by many consumers."

Iwata pointed once more to simplistic, intuitive software that anybody can play as the way to go.

Time Magazine, meanwhile, suggested that Nintendo's future may be as a third-party software company and not a hardware manufacturer.</i>

Boy, I tell ya, I agree that graphics aren't that important but it seems Nintendo doesn't even want to change a little bit, saying that they make games that everyone can play will only add the fuel of Nintendo being a kidde console. Iwata saying online gaming off to a false start I don't agree with, it's starting to pick up speed now, guess this answers that the N5 or whatever the next console WONT be online, not a good move Nintendo, not a good move.

I don't want Nintedo to make a 180 change, but for God's sake, but somewhat a bit more flexible, I mean, I'm a huge Nintendo fan from way back, but its not looking good for the big N if they don't at least make some compromises.

What about you guys?? Feel the same? Different? Indifferent?

[JustUsOwls]

I hate how stubborn Nintendo is to suggestions, they shrug online play off like it's nothing.

And btw, Iwata stated that the day Nintendo stops making consoles is the day they stop making games. (So no third party Nintendo)

[Rensa]

It's all okay to say that gameplay need sto be the focus; that it needs to be simple, etc - but that doesn't mean that the artists get to slack off (artists in the graphical sense). IMO graphics and gameplay are equally important. If a game has bad graphics, consumers are turned off by it. If The gameplay's bad, it's not fun to play.You can't put one over the other, even if you're Nintendo.

[prime_timer]

Yeah, but i read on an interview with George Harrison on this site a month or two back, he clearly stated while on the topic of online games "We realize that online is going to get big, and that we will have to try to utilize it in our next console.

[JustUsOwls]

The problem is Iwata is too stuborn to implement online play. I seriously doubt we will see many more GameCube online games this life cycle.

If you want to purchase...lets say "XIII" and you could chose between the GameCube version and the Xbox version. The GCN version has NO online play, while the Xbox version has Xbox Live support. The choice is pretty obvious.

[Boondock Saint]

...yeah, i saw this story the other day while browsing the net, and i found it really interesting...

the fact that nintendo's not willing to make more complex gameplay or any innovations in the graphics department (and by that i mean they don't view it as necessary) is really a letdown to their fans and the people that have been loyal to them since they were very little (most people on this board).

nintendo needs to do something, though, or they're gonna get left behind on consoles...

and as for the quote about not making games if they're out of the console market, yeah, whatever. they'll go third party just as sure as fox is going to move around every single show it has to a different time slot this week.

[blablamax]

JustUsOwls you had showed the case in the best way. Nintendo decision to not support the Online gaming is another big mistake and she go blind in the Console market and I really have a doubt we will see her creation in the future, if their attiude will continue.

[blablamax]

One More thing, Nintendo is Huge company which if they will stop the develop of Hardwer I have no doubt they will go for software, or they will became lot of parted develop groups....

If Nintendo will continue to support to connection attiude in the future upon the Online support I will go crazy!

[Jaga]

yeah, i rather have online gaming then have connectivity... i, personally, would rather beat people online on GCN then on a GBA that only connects with my GCN

[Bkbro429]

Yes, this is not the best story we have heard from Iwata, but I still wish he would change his mind about online gaming.

[bill TSM]

I hate to admit this... but I'm actually not going to preorder the N5... they're going to have to do a lot to get me to buy it. I have owned every Nintendo system since the GameBoy in 1989 (my parents couldn't afford a Nintendo for me :( ). I loved my RPGs on SNES, and I missed out on all of them when I owned the N64.

I don't think Nintendo will ever leave the console business because as it states it, Sony and Microsoft are not its competition. As much as Nintendo hates to admit it, its main audience is kids. Unless Nintendo finds a way to capture the adult audience, Resident Evil is a good start but... I'm going to have to move on soon.

Sure, I'm going to enjoy Mario, Zelda and Metroid, but I'm going to have to wait for a price drop in the system.

If Nintendo can impress me with a great launch lineup and a system that isn't purple, especially a genre defining Mario game (not a sequal to a 7 year old game), then I might just put aside some cash to reserve the N5.

[Rensa]

Ya know, it amazes me they way so many ppl say that Nintendo is the innovative company, and yet when a competitior innovates, it tends to get brushed off by Nintendo fanboys as having the "wrong focus". Take XBox Live! for example. It's a great system, and Microsoft took a huge risk in going all out with the service, in making it easy to use, comprehensive, etc. Yet many Nintendo fans swallowed Nintendo's excuse, that Microsoft were doing the wrong thing, that they were rushing in.

When Nintendo innovates, it's called "being different", or "taking the industry in a new direction". When they play it conservative, everyone else is accused of "being hasty and unwise". Eye Toy is another example for this.

[MoN]

Who reads Time Magazine anyway? lrmfoflma

On a serious note, while I do play Nintendo games, I've very much slowed my console gaming down...gaming on a whole actually...but when I do play it's usually older games with friends...and sometimes on my PC...

GBA really gets the most of my time right now...

About the situation, though. As long as Nintendo makes (or has games made) like Metroid Prime, I'm fine with...games like StarFox Adventures, Super Mario Sunshine, and The Wind Waker aren't so great as their past games were....but they were decent. Yeah, Nintendo may be declining...just hope they continue making Fire Emblem in America and I'd be pleased. hay wft

[Fierce Deity]

I think that Nintendo really needs to get more games online, and also needs to get their RPG titles rolling. Since the SNES Nintendo hasn't been known for their RPGs anymore, and i know there are alot of RPG fans out there (Me being one of them) That are thirsting a real good, long and in depth game.

On another note I really do enjoy the games they're putting out, i.e Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, Resident Evil, Smash Bros. Etc. I think Nintendo will be in the console development industry for a long time to come, and i'll forever be a fan.

[Neo_Hawke7]

Yeah, I saw this at a different forum too.

Time magazine should stick to writing articles about important issues and such. Gaming news is handled best by the experts such as EGM, PSM, etc.

It amazes me though, these people don't know a thing about the gaming industry and they're slamming Nintendo. I guess all those GameCubes that were sold after the price cut don't count do they?

[Nemesi24]

online games would be really cool. but i can live without it. nintendo makes awesome games and everyone knows it. online gaming is just a fad and i dont think it will ever be used by even a quarter of the gaming populace. think about it, say youre playing mario kart or soul calibur 2 with a friend or three. wouldnt you prefer to be able to dance around and rub your victory right in their faces in person? its seems like a shallow victory without that.

[Rensa]

Online games aren't just a fad. Tehy're not going to just fall away; however they aren't the only type of game that will exist i nthe future. That's what the sentence from my last post meant: online gaming is necessary, and shouldn't be ignored. But at th esame time, it won't be the single future of the games industry. Don't ignore it, Nintendo...

[thanhyboi]

most ppl see the price cut as a "last choice" move...so not too many ppl are impressed by the increase in numbers...i work in a gaming store and even tho i see lots of cubes being sold...not too many cube games are goin w/ it
i am a big fan of nintendo, but at this rate (wise up nintendo), i dun think my first choice of system in the next console race will be nintendo...ps3 is lookin mighty tasty rite about now...=1

[Lovebird]

you monster! you fiend! how frightfully rude, i certainly hope someone stabs you in the eye! well....not really, but i know what you mean. i hang out at a game shoppe when i ain't here, and cubes are sellin like hotcakes...unfortunately people don't buy a lot of software....but whatever, i thin nintendo's next console will deermine if they stay in the bussiness...but they may drop console and go strictly handheld...who knows....do you? what? you don't?...o....

[andre]

Connectivity sucks. Nobody uses it. Yet millions of people play online games. It is true that they (Sony, Microsoft) are losing money, so Nintendo doesn't want to rush in. But if they enabled their hit franchises, it would be stellar. Don't f*ck up Nintendo.

[prime_timer]

I said this a while ago, and i'll say this again: Nintendo has all the right titles to go online IN THEIR OWN 1ST PARTY. I'll play out the scenario again: You wake up and decide to flip on the good ol n5 (or whatever console it may be). You decide to start off the day light, so you pop in mario golf for a few rounds. then you decide you want some fact paced insanity, so you toss F-zero in, followed by a quick run down the slopes in 1080. its about lunchtime now, so you break to grab a sub, then come back and decide to play the completely decked-out complete battlefield edition of Rogue Leader(a tiny wish of mine :).). You then hunger for a good thrashing, and throw in Super Smash Bros. World Tour edition. Then its time to go questing with your buddies in 4 swords online, mocking into your headset, "I got more rupees than YOU, i got more rupees than YOU!". Now its deathmatch time, and what better for that than some spectral action in Geist 2. Finally the day has become.... the next day and you decide to shut that loudmouth from Connecticut up with a dog ol StarFox dogfight.....

again this is only my little dream that i hope happens sometime in the future.

[kelly]

Originally posted by Rensa
Ya know, it amazes me they way so many ppl say that Nintendo is the innovative company, and yet when a competitior innovates, it tends to get brushed off by Nintendo fanboys as having the "wrong focus". Take XBox Live! for example. It's a great system, and Microsoft took a huge risk in going all out with the service, in making it easy to use, comprehensive, etc. Yet many Nintendo fans swallowed Nintendo's excuse, that Microsoft were doing the wrong thing, that they were rushing in.

When Nintendo innovates, it's called "being different", or "taking the industry in a new direction". When they play it conservative, everyone else is accused of "being hasty and unwise". Eye Toy is another example for this.

It may be "Innovation" to add a washing machine to an Xbox, but I don't want a washing machine on my GameCube. I choose Nintendo b/c they have the best (read: most enjoyable) games. I could care less about playing online and, since there have been 10's of millions of consoles sold and only a few 100,000 people playing online, I'd say most people agree with me. And WHO in their right mind gives a hoot about Eye Toy. Give me a good game that will keep me entertained for days and days and you can keep the consoles with the toaster ovens.

[Matt]

Nintendo deserves this slam. They need to get with the times and catch up in the industry.

[Nigel]

Originally posted by kelly
It may be "Innovation" to add a washing machine to an Xbox, but I don't want a washing machine on my GameCube. I choose Nintendo b/c they have the best (read: most enjoyable) games. I could care less about playing online and, since there have been 10's of millions of consoles sold and only a few 100,000 people playing online, I'd say most people agree with me. And WHO in their right mind gives a hoot about Eye Toy. Give me a good game that will keep me entertained for days and days and you can keep the consoles with the toaster ovens.

w00t! amen to that!

[Cooolcorey]

Nah, you guys have to admit, XBox Live! is pretty cool. It would be one of the first things I got with my XBox if I went and got an one. Think about when PD0 comes out. That's gonna be deathmatch heaven! A while ago I read that Nintendo was doing something like this with GameSpy, where GameSpy would supply the servers and it wouldn't cost anything to the users. But now, I guess they're going with AOL for the same thing.

[Rensa]

If Nintendo put a toaster in their next console, though, everyone would think it was innovative.

I hear Rainbow Six 3 uses some pretty good voice recognition, will that be Live? That's be pretty good. :]

[Nigel]

LOL, a toaster. You know what, i slammed Time. I stopped subscribing to their crap. I like Newsweek better. Time is a grocery store rag.