The Great Debate Thread (Topic: Nintendo's Struggle With Audience)

It sort of bothers me when everyone takes a dump on Nintendo.

C_Mill24 wrote:

It sort of bothers me when everyone takes a dump on Nintendo.

Yeah, i know how you feel. I grew up nintendo and still like their games, but I have an Xbox

C_Mill24 wrote:

It sort of bothers me when everyone takes a dump on Nintendo.

to be fair, nintendo has made a joke of itself numerous times in the past 10 years

GAMEfreak329 wrote:

I am kinda on the fence here because on one hand, I do agree that Nintendo has been behind on the graphics department and has been going downhill ATM, but I feel that they can come back.

Nintendo has always had an emphasis on trying new things with each console iteration. the Wii had motion control as the basis for most of the games, which was something well received. Same goes for the DS; it has multiple iterations that have improved over each new version.

Sure the 3DS didn't have very many good launch titles with the system, but it brought portable 3D gaming to the table and revolutionized the way we look at games. The Wii U has the same principle: taking what the Wii revolutionized and added HD Graphics, A gamepad that is like a tablet and even full on standard dual analog controllers to the already successful console.

What I am trying to get across is that Nintendo will rebound in a really big way. The Xbox and the playstation aren't really innovating that much, just adding better graphics to the next generation. The only reason why Sony and Microsoft made the move and kinect respectively, is because Nintendo innovated first and foremost. The Wii still has a wide appeal to this day because of the controller.

I feel that the reason why Nintendo games sell better than those of Microsoft and Sony is due to the fact that they have effective control schemes that make them more accessible to casual gamers so they sell better. Not only that but the games have a greater emphasis on having fun, rather than doing specific tasks to get trophies or achievement points. That is why their games have a longer lasting appeal. Haven't you played a game before where it is almost impossible to control? that is where Nintendo succeeds; games with great controls that work well.

Nintendo has started a revolution in gaming and they will rebound because they have a strong hold on the casual market and are easily accessible to gamers of all ages and sizes. Once better casual games come out, the Wii U will start gaining momentum.

I have decided to be on Team B, because Nintendo can and will rise from the ashes.

1. Indeed, graphics have been a major problem to those that do care. And it seems like the ones who want high-quality graphics increase in numbers as generations pass. Nintendo does improve its graphics each generation, but they always fall several steps back with other competition consoles always overpowering them in the graphics department. If this pattern continues, it could give the consumers the impression that Nintendo consoles are just outdated devices that doesn't meet the standards of what today's gamers want.

2. Yes, Nintendo does tend to be innovative. The problem is that, sometimes they tend to stand out too much to where it can sometimes come back to haunt them. Not many players are willing to adapt to a whole new way of playing every single generation. The Wiimotes & GamePad for example. Nintendo was lucky to pull it off with the Wiimote, and might be lucky to have lightning strike twice with the GamePad. New ways of playing is good, but if you make the new experience of playing the primary option to play, people can grow tired of having to switch their ways of playing generation after generation. This is one factor that they have been criticized for the most courtesy to veteran gamers.

3. The launch titles is another huge problem with Nintendo these days. You would think with the problems that the 3DS had to go through during launch would've been a lesson learned, but we were wrong. As of now, the Wii U struggles to push sales for their new console due to the lack of must-have games during launch date & launch window. Nintendo needs those BIG games to come out early in their console's lifespan. They could've at least tried to get some of these big titled games developed a bit more early at least. Other than having the chance to pre-order your Wii U, buy a Wii U early is rather pointless due to its lack of big games as far as the consumer is concerned.

4. Sure, Nintendo will very likely pull through in this generation since they still have a bit more to offer. But, with the direction they are going, it doesn't look promising for future Nintendo consoles. Sony & Microsoft, though not as innovative as Nintendo, knows how to draw the core audience. They know that the core audience are the people who will keep buying game after game, console after console. In other words, core gamers are a loyal demographic that any gaming company can find reliable since they will always stick around for more. Aiming for the casual audience like Nintendo has is a gamble. Casual audiences are sometimes open to try new things, but it takes alot for them to follow and stick with the content afterwards. And yes, Wii Mote has its wide appeal, but only to the casual audience & Nintendo loyalist. Other gamers likely feel different about it and it hurt Nintendo's 3rd party audience, which is a reputation that now follows it to today's Wii U. Most players arguably prefer to use a traditional controller rather than a massize touchscreen to play COD or Assassin's Creed.

5. Nintendo games selling more than anything Microsoft & Sony has to offer is quite debatable. You have to consider the fact that Nintendo is also in the portable gaming competition, so that widens their choices of franchises like Pokemon, Ace Attorney, etc. While in the other hand, Microsoft is not in the portable gaming competition. Not to mention that Nintendo consoles have been around since the early 80's while Playstion consoles didn't debut till the 90's & Xbox didn't appear until the 2000's. So Nintendo already has an advantage based on gaming industry seniority alone. So how would comparing Nintendo game sales to Sony & Microsoft even fair when each company debuted 10-20 years apart? And sure, Nintendo controllers have work extremely well for Nintendo games, but its obvious that it would work for 1st party games. Yet, that doesn't seem to be the case for many of its multi-plaform franchises. Lots of 3rd party companies have turned down porting their games to the Wii, and to the lesser extent the Wii U cause of the complications of the controls, memory, etc. So, Nintendo's own innovation works perfectly well with its own franchise games & fewer outside games, but it takes a major blow in the 3rd party department to some fair extent.

6. I don't see how more casual games will draw more people to the console. Drawing more attention to the casual audience is what's hurting Nintendo, one of the reasons that is. There is a reason why many core gamers switched to Xbox or Playstation. Nintendo is trying too hard to appeal to every existing demographic with the cost of decreasing their focus on the core market. The casual market is a "hit or miss" target in the gaming industry these days. Reason being that casual gamers can easily switch to a different source of gaming as quick as they have with Nintendo. With apps & computer games drawing the most casual players due to its simplicity & little to no cost, Nintendo is aiming for an audience they know are not a sure-keep with their over-priced gimmick consoles.

To add to that, Nintedo is going to be hurt by it's consoles price. For a "casual" system, $350 is a massive price tag, especially in a rough economy. That's the kind of money you expect veteran gamers to put towards their next Playstation or Xbox, not a casual gamer towards a Wii U.

I see, you both have very valid points. But take into account that Nintendo is trying to win back the core crowd with more popular games and tons of third party support this time around.

GAMEfreak329 wrote:

I see, you both have very valid points. But take into account that Nintendo is trying to win back the core crowd with more popular games and tons of third party support this time around.

Problem is it wont work. Everyone knows deep down it will not work.