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This past Thursday, Nintendo aired the first Nintendo Direct broadcast of 2014, and as was to be expected, it produced a number of exciting new announcements. From surprise eShop releases to new footage of anticipated titles like Bayonetta 2 and Monolith Soft’s X, the broadcast offered a rather clear outline of what Nintendo fans can look forward to in the first part of the new year and beyond (though, disappointingly, there was little in the way of Wii U reveals).
Now that we’ve had a couple of days to reflect on all of the announcements, what did the staff think of the broadcast? Do we feel it set a good tone for the year ahead, or did it fail to live up to our expectations? Read on to see our reactions.
Robert Marrujo
I was fairly happy with Thursday’s Nintendo Direct. I think that it’s really great of Nintendo to be giving the indie devs who are continuing to support both Wii U and 3DS some time in the limelight. Frankly, some of the best video games being made today aren’t coming from the big name developers, but rather these cool little startups. The fan service remains strong during these broadcasts, too; who wasn’t stoked to see Little Mac finally making a playable appearance in a Smash game? (I know all 30 of you who voted for him in our latest poll were!). Plus, ALL of the Koopalings are playable in Mario Kart 8?! Wow! It’s these sorts of moves that make us Nintendo fans happiest.
As much as I enjoyed Thursday’s Direct, though, it still wasn’t quite perfect. I guess I just can’t help but scrutinize Nintendo’s glacial eeking out of information, lately. For example, Inazuma Eleven was spotted on Nintendo’s release calendar back in January, removed, and then randomly confirmed (and dropped) today. Why not build up anticipation? Why not showcase it a little more, especially when the cat was already half out the bag, anyway? These are the questions that keep me up at night, because there aren’t any good answers for them. At this point, Nintendo needs to have the hype meter firmly clocked in at 11. Being cagey is a luxury that Nintendo can’t afford for the time being.
Of course, with Tropical Freeze, Shovel Knight, Treasurenauts, NES Remix 2, and the other awesome titles on display Thursday making their way to us in the coming months, things are undoubtedly looking up for Nintendo. I just hope the next ND pushes the envelope a little and knocks everyone for a loop with an out of the blue announcement like Super Mario World 3 or something!
Jon Stevens
The best news that came from the Nintendo Direct, for me, was some concrete information surrounding GBA games on the Virtual Console. It’s a great trio of games to start with and hopefully is indicative of more great games coming to the Virtual Console– although I’m still surprised that DS games will eventually be coming to Wii U.
Other then that, there weren’t really too many big surprises. The Smash Bros. (Little Mac!) and Mario Golf: World Tour footage were particular highlights for me and I’m still rather curious about Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright, as I love Phoenix Wright, but have never gotten into a Professor Layton game!
The main criticism I have remains a problem faced by those of us in Europe. We are still waiting on Nintendo TVii and haven’t heard a thing about it for a year. Seeing as Nintendo had to update its website to reflect the fact that it didn’t arrive in 2013, it would have been nice to get an update on the service, just to stop us from constantly tapping it in hope. The TVii icon has been sitting unused for far too long on my home screen!
Overall though, it was a fun 40 minutes and I’m already looking forward to more information from the next Nintendo Direct!
Anthony Vigna
If you are a fan of niche titles like I am, then I’m sure you had cause to celebrate during the last Nintendo Direct! Inazuma Eleven, the soccer JRPG series that has only been available in Europe and Japan, finally made its debut in the United States? Plus, it’s available immediately?! Weapon Shop de Omasse, the final Guild 01 game that Level-5 told us would be hard to localize, is actually coming out next week? Yes, sign me up!
However, if you were someone who was looking for the next big first party title, then you were most likely disappointed. While I personally had a lot to be excited about, I knew that there was still not enough Wii U content being shown off. The conference was clearly dominated by 3DS games, leaving Wii U owners in the dust once again. Sure, we were shown X, Super Smash Bros., and Mario Kart 8, but we knew about these games already. Those who are still on the fence regarding Wii U probably haven’t changed their minds from what has been shown.
Oh, and that Little Mac reveal was incredible. I wish all Nintendo games had beautiful teaser flair like that!
Marc Deschamps
Like Anthony, I loved the Little Mac reveal. You’d think a Nintendo fighting franchise would have had its premier fighter in the series by now, but for some reason it’s taken this long for it to happen! Plus, he’s an old Nintendo staple, so even better.
This Direct didn’t really show us too much new, but it definitely reinforced my strong feelings about what I’m already sold on. Mario Kart 8 looks like a lot of fun with the Koopalings now present. Not to mention that Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze trailer makes me even happier to know that I have the game paid for in full at GameStop already. I also find myself really impressed by Ubisoft’s Child of Light. I had no prior interest in the title, but the lighting effects in that trailer really wowed me. I’ll be keeping my eyes on that one.
I was pretty shocked about the Game Boy Advance coming to Wii U Virtual Console. I really expected that to be a 3DS reveal. Since I mostly played Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga on my Game Boy Player, it seems fitting, though. I’ll definitely download it when it becomes available. I wouldn’t mind seeing some Super Game Boy love (complete with the old school frames they used to have) as well!
Angela Marrujo
I’m of course hyped up when any shred of info about Super Smash Bros. comes out, even if they’re just confirming characters that have been in past games, so the Little Mac reveal was the best part about this week’s ND for me. Getting a release date for Mario Kart 8 and seeing the addition of the Koopa Kids got me pumped up– any first-party announcements for Wii U are what I feel Nintendo really needs right now (without getting into the issue of third-party support), and are what I look forward to the most.
However, I have to agree with Anthony: despite the news regarding the aforementioned titles, I was disappointed with, yet again, the lack of robust news for upcoming Wii U titles. While I’m certainly not complaining about the Virtual Console’s impending GBA lineup, I’m left questioning why those games aren’t going to be on 3DS, which seems like it would be a no-brainer. Ah well, I’m at least excited for the prospect of eventually downloading Minish Cap…
Sam Stewart
For me, Smash Bros. news always takes the cake, and even better Little Mac looks like an awesome new character. His moveset looks really interesting, very focused on dodging and rushing in for a big counter attack. I’m very curious about how the power meter will work, and he will certainly be one of the first new characters I try.
Other than that, new trailers for X and Bayonetta 2 are always welcome. These are two of my most anticipated games, and they look better and better in each trailer.
Anthony Pershkin
I think it was a very enjoyable Nintendo Direct overall. One of my favorites, in fact. Not a single minute was wasted on something uninteresting. From a very well done Little Mac reveal to the bombastic Bayonetta 2 trailer, this Direct just oozes with quality. Sure, we didn’t get huge announcements, but we did get a lot of smaller yet still great stuff like Steel Diver: Sub Wars and Rusty’s Real Deal Baseball. Nintendo’s debut free-to-play games sure are weird!
Other than that, it was very nice to see Nintendo give indie developers a lot more space in this Direct. I hope the way they handled this will continue in the future.
We finally saw X’s battle system in action. Looks exactly like Xenoblade, but that’s actually a good thing. Being a huge Platinum Games fan, I was naturally blown away by the new Bayonetta 2 trailer. The Masked Lumen Sage is confirmed to be this game’s rival and apparently there will be a second playable character. Sweet!
The most controversial announcement was the reveal of GBA games coming to Wii U instead of 3DS. It seems a bit odd at first, but then you really think about, it kind of starts to make sense. Wii U desperately needs more exclusive content. Will some GBA games save the system? No, of course not. But hey, at least it’s better than nothing.
What did you think of the latest Nintendo Direct? Were you excited by all of the niche titles announced during the broadcast, or were you hoping to see some more Wii U news? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Man – do those games look beautiful. Yoshi’s Island 2 – Donkey Kong Country 5 – Mario Kart 8 – and Super Smash Bros. 4 look like they are just bundles of amazing fun – that can call back to the glory days while still keeping the formula fresh and the gatherings fun.
Too bad this was all presented in this Nintendo Direct. Too bad it was presented by Iwata.
Don’t get me wrong – I think Iwata is a swell guy. I like this guy being in charge of Nintendo. He showed himself a worthy successor of the brand. I also think the idea of reaching out to your audience via a “Nintendo Direct” makes a lot of sense.
Too bad Nintendo doesn’t seem to have the basics of either advertising or marketing down. First things first – you don’t release a commercial that’s 40 plus minutes long. I’m of the Internet generation – I made the Internet what it is today. When I want to watch something in a format similar to Youtube – I don’t want to be watching an hour-long television program’s worth of content. Also, when there are games in there that I’m interested in, it would make sense that I see them right away.
What the true folly of the Nintendo direct is that it’s not consistent. If you had a Nintendo Direct EVERY Friday at 6 P.M. no matter what – it would be something to look forward to. It would also allow them to truncate the times of each episode to something a little more manageable (like, say, five minutes). Then, in an episode, you could have a full-on talk about Smash Bros. 4 and why it’s going to be awesome.
Then, next week, you can have the episode be about X. But, that’s just the thing, in order to catch next weeks episode, I’ll have to want to tune in. And that’s where the second problem comes in. Iwata.
Again – I love the guy. But having the president of a toy-making firm talk to me like I’m a child, while exploring his finest in broken English, is not my definition of a “successful advertisement.” Again – no ill will towards Iwata – but when he talks about these games – he really doesn’t say anything at all. Really Iwata? I’ll be able to collect stars, coins, and flowers in Yoshi’s Island 2? Like all the footage I’ve just been watching for five minutes seems to suggest, like, every two seconds? Auuuuuugggghhhh!!!
Get a personality in there. Heck, even get Reggie. Actually, wait. No. Don’t get Reggie. Get someone who comes across to us as someone who hasn’t just had their thousand dollar suit laminated at the “Good Innocent Guys For Always” shop. Again – I don’t have anything against Reggie or Iwata – but man, I don’t feel as if someone I would hang around with is telling me anything worthwhile. And that, in terms of advertising, is like breaking the stone tablet.
Perhaps someone . . . younger? Someone who . . . looks like they actually play these games when they get home? Someone who . . . I dunno! Can speak English?!?
Again, again – not hating on the Iwata. But, he’s not giving himself too much credit in these things. He’s just not the man for the job. He dresses up in a clown suit, supposedly for our entertainment, and then proceeds to bore us with his very scientific, business-like, calming and patience-filled expose against excitement. While talking about video games?
And if there’s a reason the world ain’t paying too much attention to Nintendo – it’s because Nintendo isn’t really putting itself out there. If a forty-minute once-in-every-three-months business-conference with the head of the company is supposed to make me excited as a player/purchaser, then they’ve got their heads in the wrong place. No one who isn’t a Nintendo die-hard would care about who Iwata is. And anyone who isn’t a Nintendo die-hard would wander first who this guy is, and then why this guy is supposedly telling the world what’s going to be happening next with Nintendo.
I get it – a Nintendo Direct is supposed to be a message to the fan-base about what’s coming up next. That was a good idea when you had already moved dozens of millions of hardware units and “fans” were in plenty supply. Now who are they releasing these directs towards?
The minority of the audience who probably already knows about these games and thus follows the “have-to-look-hard-to-find-it” Nintendo Direct’s – or the majority of the audience who probably doesn’t even know what a Wii U is and doesn’t feel like sitting down for an hour to find out.
I dunno – as I said above – Nintendo doesn’t seem to have a problem with polishing the old formula in terms of their games. Just too bad they don’t have any old formulas lying around for their advertising and marketing appeal.
“At this point, Nintendo needs to have the hype meter firmly clocked in at 11. Being cagey is a luxury that Nintendo can’t afford for the time being.”
Agree on this point. Nintendo doesn’t seem to have any idea how to communicate beyond their immediate fanbase – and even suggesting that they do a good job with established fans is probably stretching the truth.
That said, more hype for Bayonetta 2 and X is a good thing and I was glad those games got some love!
@Ejamer: What the real shame here is is that both Bayonetta 2 and X look like the kind of games and brands that could convince North American audiences to invest in the machine.
Nintendo got lucky in a certain fashion – their “year head start” might actually be a little longer in terms of the obviousness between the power levels. The graphics on the newer gen consoles, while they do look promising, aren’t necessarily heads-and-tails above where the previous generation was (unlike say, the PS2 compared to the PS3). If Nintendo could release two titles that just look like amazing fun to play and look like they’re just good -games- (without the usual “Nintendo-esque” vibe), then that would be starting down the right path.
To really synch it – they would make a few game-play mechanics that only the second screen can pull off – and which are easy to understand when watching someone play – to follow it up with an actual advertising blitz. I’m a Nintendo fan. But I don’t see Nintendo ads anywhere. Ever. I go to gaming news sites – tons of Warcraft and Halo ads – I don’t recall seeing anything from Nintendo. All my gaming programs I watch on the Youtube – think Nintendo could manage to squeeze an ad or two in there? No such luck. Even when I come to places such as this and hear the staff talk about these games, it’s sincerely done in a “Well, we sure hope, by golly, they remember to tell their -own- fan-base these games are coming out,” manner, and it’s just too heart-breaking.
Nintendo is a serious brand. Or, at least, I hope they should want to be one. Continuously investing in seven-year old technology, making no games for launch, not showing up at conventions, issuing next to no advertising, messing up the branding of their own console, failing to assure exclusives are released when they’re supposed to, or at all, and the list goes on.
It’s great that Nintendo thinks their games can get them by on their own. But maybe they should back these games up a bit? Get the word out? Let people know amazing stuff is going to be happening? So you can make money? I don’t know – it’s kind of hard to want to buy something when the very creator seems reluctant to put it in your hands.
And that’s just the problem. I think the Internet presents an equation to Nintendo that it just can’t wrap it’s head around. I think they honestly wished it were still 1989. When I go through the down-town mall, and see a girl standing besides a Wii U cabinet in the middle of it, working for Nintendo, and not even trying to get people to try the machine, I see that Nintendo themselves are lodged in an era that just doesn’t want to acknowledge what’s happened with the rest of the world. To a certain degree that’s fine. When you want to make games based on the purity of games – and want to directly control the environments those games are created in – it makes perfect sense. But the whole world doesn’t work like this. The world is a bit more of an open environment, where ideas are challenged, and work-places and spaces are shared. A real sense of community can form there, and despite there being a real dedicated following of the Nintendo brand, it’s almost as if they’ve got nowhere to actually hang out.
There’s nothing like that on the Internet – and there’s nothing like that within the game worlds Nintendo has. Do you still need friend codes? Because, that idea was straight from the 1970’s. But Nintendo didn’t care. Nintendo’s way or the high way. Don’t meet the world half way – force the world to come all the way to your door-step. Don’t go to the video-game convention filled with all your peers – declare yourself better than it, outside of it, and then fail to show up when your direct competition takes over a continent of 300 million potential customers.
Continuously – Nintendo wants to believe that the whole world works exactly the way they please. They lose millions of dollars (is it billions – with 6.2 million less units sold than expected, you’d almost imagine it’d have to be) – and they still prefer to pretend. As if acknowledging the world and saying that it’ll make some concessions for it will somehow equate to the destruction of their gated-off creativity zone.
Nintendo doesn’t have an identity. They don’t have tournaments, web-sites, or the ability to make things go “viral.” They are lacking in the very fundamentals of how to have a conversation these days. Any wonder no one’s been talking about the Wii U? Nintendo really hasn’t even been talking about it themselves.
Either way – an extended olive branch reminding players of all the good that exists in the world of Nintendo could do them no harm. Outside of those who’ve already dedicated themselves to the Wii U console – who knows about Bayonetta 2 and X? I know next to nothing about these games – and I actively come to places like this.
Everything about Nintendo feels old and creaky. Their seven year old technology. Their Internet infrastructure that seems to have been written by a sci-fi writer in the 50’s. Literally taking something as expansive and massive as the Internet and shrinking it down the capacity of two cans and a string. Their main screen, when you turn the machine on, that asks, “Why have two steps when you can have seven?” And then proceeds to pretend to have never seen how a computer works ever before. And the worst part is – they seem to do it for no other reason than being cheap. There’s no reason their users can’t have the top of the line experience – albeit the fact that Nintendo doesn’t want them to.
Despite all of this – it comes down to the games. Now that the Wii U looks to finally be getting a few, most of the video gaming planet doesn’t know they even exist any more. Who knows, maybe, just maybe, they’re rethinking that whole “tell the world we’re not competing with video game makers and then don’t show up at one of the biggest conventions our ‘former’ medium had” strategy.
How do I think X and Bayonetta 2 are going to fare? Just like Operation Rainfall did. Into the gutter of human awareness, without so much as a whimper.
That’s a lot of words to say Nintendo is behind the times and unreasonable. I disagree though, at least partially. Nintendo can be annoying when it doesn’t concede to some of the basic things that fans have come to expect, like the situation with friends and achievements, to name a couple. Still, outside of Wii U’s struggles, if you look at 3DS, it goes against the grain and is a force to be reckoned with. You don’t always have to play to people’s so-called wants, because if Nintendo did, 3DS would be Vita and failing.
@Robert: A lot of words – but a lot of actual points. I like the fact that Nintendojo is a fan site – and I really dig the “we just want to have some fun with our favourite worlds, memories, and good times” vibe you guys put across with everything – but there is indeed another side of the coin there.
And you can see it peer and peak through – here and there – where the news Nintendo can’t cover up as bad leaks out – or they actually have to face investors with the grim reality – and everyone here just chimes in, “Well, you’ll be releasing -this title- soon, we hope it picks up for you Boss!” And while there’s nothing technically wrong with saying that – let’s be honest here – it really doesn’t confront the issue, or even address it, so much as hoping it away or wishing it didn’t exist. Nintendo is going through a tough time (with the Wii U at least). It would make sense, at least, if this were a web-site that were dedicated to “over-all” Nintendo coverage – actual Nintendo news – that there would be someone here to cover it.
And not necessarily in the grim “Nintendo’s going the way of the Dodo” way – but realistic nonetheless. If Nintendo isn’t bringing the game somewhere – have someone investigate it. Look at what properties they have, what traditional moves they’ve made in the market, how they respond to certain companies, propositions, partnerships, and actually ask them questions concerning how they plan to move forward. It would bring a lot of different aspects of the “Nintendo experience” together and would hopefully add something to suggest, anything to suggest really, that you guys exist in the world outside of the Nintendo universe as much and as well as the ones inside it. As amazing as it is to have that “we love Nintendo so much” vibe – it can stifle the overall effect, even of it’s own message, when there is absolutely no-one willing to report, research, or even address the glaring issues abundant in Nintendo’s strategy.
You’re absolutely right Robert – Nintendo doesn’t have to play to people’s “so-called wants.” But when those “so-called wants” are basic on-line functionality, a coherent user-interface menu, and some games to play on the system – it’s not so much that Nintendo is conceding some basic things – it’s that they’ve missed the boat on what this medium is supposed to look like entirely.
Imagine going to a book-store with an author signing books inside, pondering the book purchase, and then noticing that you have to read the pages right to left. You raise your hand and ask the author, “Hey buddy, why no left to right?” And the author responds with, “Well, that’s the way I’ve always written, so . . . what are you going to do about it?”
The answer is obvious. Not buy the book.
And while, unlike what Nintendo did to the Wii U, the 3DS is in a better spot – it still hurts my heart to see the really tough time that machine had throughout its life-time. And to this day. For some odd reason, Nintendo seems to have gone backwards on their utilization of the actual 3D portion of the device – and that’s truly a shame. They had already released a few titles that really showed unique gaming worlds – available only through that 3D function – that made that machine really stand on its own.
But Nintendo was still “current” in that scene. For the most part – the people who played handheld games – Nintendo was a leading factor. Even after the sluggish start of the 3DS – people still knew who they were, and were willing to pick one up after a price drop and a few good game releases.
Nintendo doesn’t seem to be “current” with the Wii U. While all the sales numbers in the world would depict the original Wii as an absolute phenomenon, perhaps a greater number of those machines went to the aged, merely interested, or just non-gaming population that used it for Wii Sports – and then never made another purchase again. The Wii was great – but Nintendo had a lot of things going on for it with it. Mad viral underground buzz. A gaming technology that seemed revolutionary, despite running on a five year old platform. And games. My God – did they have games. And advertising! Seeing those Nintendo dudes show up at your house and play some Wii Tennis was a brilliant master-stroke. Let those Nintendo guys in your house – they’re going to blow your mind. Sold. Give me a Wii.
I think that Nintendo figured it still had that avalanche of popular support rolling from the original Wii. And with the year head-start, it would make sure they were the only game in town. Either way, from games to ads, from buzz to the “utilization of its gimmick,” the Wii U showed up at it’s release party with a five o’clock beard and mad wondering eyes. Not like the slick, to-the-point, and effective shine they brought with the Wii.
Nintendo thought the world was still behind them, when in reality, it may have never been entirely there to begin with. That’s certainly what the Wii 2, err . . . the Wii U would suggest.
And now – a year behind – a fraction of their sales predictions having come true – and no means of generating buzz or momentum – it increasingly looks, month by month, release by release, to be a tragic end for so many glorious games.
Games with God knows how large of a budget, or how great a game-play mechanism, being thrown into the shallow end of the pool to what . . . be expected to go deep?
In order to get a break-out hit for any Wii U title, literally every single person who bought the machine, will have to buy the games that are coming out for it. It’s going to get bad enough, if the sales don’t increase soon, that Nintendo’s mainstay properties will be getting sub-million numbers (which probably already has been happening).
Something has to change with the overall approach towards this thing. Nintendo has to make themselves relevant again – and time is running out. Anyone, from gaming sites, to Jimmy Fallon, mentions Nintendo’s struggle and troubles, and then leaves it at that. Nintendo has to change that conversation. Nintendo has to actually show up at the party they’re supposed to make fun, looking like they actually want to have some fun themselves.
These Nintendo Directs should be giving way to a massive over-haul of how Nintendo treats the press, modern social media, and traditional media platforms. They should be lining up their titles to make pushes at key times of the purchasing year – and planning events, tournaments, and major eye-attracting presentations at conventions to keep themselves consistently in gamer conversations. You want to have a movement that builds momentum – where it doesn’t matter what Nintendo’s sales numbers are – because Nintendo is IN.
Or you can release a video of your company president holding a couple bananas in his hand every three months. Perhaps to provide visual aids for the offerings that will be presented to you? Or, to let the humour of the “outrageous” situation be the backdrop for the stunning news that with the next update, your Wii-U user-interface might actually let you go where you want to in a timely and non-infuriating manner.
I know where my money is. I’m looking forward to X’s non-existent commercials, Bayonetta’s non-existent presence at conventions or media events, and then everybody’s complete and absolute surprise here that it barely managed to sell a six-digit figure.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but these massive walls of text are just too much, Kart. Still, I’m making my way through it, and I’m still not meshing with you on this, completely. I thinK Nintendo is misfiring on Wii U and needs to improve. I thinK that Nintendo is behind the times with certain gaming standards. I dont, however, think things are as bad as your’re suggesting. I also don’t think Nintendojo is guilty of anything other than doing what we set to do; report Nintendo news and have fun with our fellow Nintendo fans. I know I’m pretty honest about my feelings towards Nintendo, which haven’t yet required to me to be hurling intense vitriol. Iwata , broken English and all, is someone I like and find pretty genuine. I have faith that he’s going to make the system much better, but he’s going to have quite a struggle to do so.
Wall of text, indeed. Way to much to parse!
However, do you really think that Bayonetta or X could be “system sellers” for the general public (or even for core gamers)? Especially when these games are released on a Nintendo console?
Bayonetta 2 is probably going to sell about as well as the original game (or just about any other Platinum game). That’s not a compliment. Forget about the facts that it’s exclusive to a console with a much smaller install base or that the series started elsewhere so most people buying probably haven’t played the first game in the series. Remember that there was nobody – not a single publisher – outside of Nintendo willing to bankroll a sequel on any console, and be glad you are getting the game at all.
X is a similar story: a niche JRPG title that looks fantastic and is a real gift to fans, but was never going to be a million seller regardless of what marketing it receives or what console it gets released on.
Both games look like gems that deserve to get played, but I think the assumption that they just need better advertising to succeed is an over-simplification.
I don’t know if it’s fair to levy those two games as system saviors. I thinK that it’s more than fair to assume that some core gamers might pick up a Wii U to play either/both of those games. There are people out there who literally buy a system to play a single game. I thinK the more realistic thing to bank on is MK
Sorry, phone cut me off! Anyway, MK8 and Smash are to HUGE system sellers that, if they get the online working solid for both, have the biggest potential of anything on Nintendos slate. I think Bayonetta 2 and X would be in the same boat on Wii U or anywhere else, honestly.
No worries guys – and thanks for continuing to read. I’ll try and keep the responses a bit shorter in the future for sure.
As I said before, I’m not trying to say Reggie or Iwata are bad people, or that people don’t like looking at them, but that they don’t represent a coherent strategy that shows results. The Nintendo Direct is perhaps the only vehicle for Nintendo information around – but outside of getting your bill of information – the Direct itself provides very little.
Great for talking to buyers with their wallets already open and their brand commitments set – not great for talking to the rest of the world, both those who do and don’t play games regularly.
It’s not even that the Nintendo Direct fails as a commercial – it’s that there are next to no commercials from Nintendo. It’s like, the passion, the love, and the history of Nintendo are being presented to me with the same verve as an airline host explaining how to open my air-bag.
There are no real realms for me to get excited about Nintendo. If the people who love Nintendo have a tough time getting excited, how is the rest of the world supposed to jump in?
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Next up – I said already that I appreciate Nintendojo’s “fans for life” style of Nintendo coverage. There are few products or companies out there that deserve such reverence, but Nintendo is definitely qualified. Thing is though – Nintendo exists in worlds outside of the ones they create. And while it’s always lovely to hear that, boy, another fighter got announced for Smash Bros., I find that most of the places I visit for news or speculation regarding video games tend to shift the conversation towards gaming topics like budgets, trend-predictions, development tactics, genre explorations/exploitations, and general production diaries. Not only do I find these items to be . . . actually informative, giving me reason to think, but there tends to be a more robust journalistic merit at play than if every other news item I read was, “The AK30 is in the next CODBLOPS! Bringing the total weapon count to over 30!”
It’s not that being a Nintendo fan is bad. It’s that treating Nintendo as this empirical Daddy-knows-best shuts down many of the interesting conversations that could be had regarding their properties, and not only that, their history as well.
As great as it is to blow on the whole “Earthbound was a great game back in the day, and sure still is now!” horn regarding anything and everything old-school Nintendo – I would be more interested in hearing how these games influenced design on a grander stage – how it reflects Nintendo’s policies on porting games across oceans to this day – or anything that would be willing to look at both sides of the coin – and give a view that takes both into account.
Nintendo isn’t perfect. They’re allowed to make mistakes. And it would make sense that Nintendojo would allow that into the conversation. Not doing so is actually . . . pretty “kiddie,” and prevents any momentum to build with any of the reporting. Everything’s locked into it’s pre-determined, safe bubble of “Everything’s awesome! Let’s just find another way of celebrating how awesome these guys are!” And not only is the greater conversation being missed – but the actual reality that Nintendo is facing is to be found nowhere at all on a site that is supposedly dedicated to them.
Shows that Nintendo aren’t the only ones ignoring this problem.
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Finally – where is this unshakable belief that Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. 4 are going to move great numbers of systems? Will they move a few? Assuredly. But to somehow break the stormy waters and deliver them to a safe shore . . . I don’t see it.
Why couldn’t Super Mario 3D World do that? Isn’t that one of the big ones? Wasn’t that supposed to moves tons of systems? Isn’t that why it was released at Christmas?
And everyone here just keeps repeating that mantra, “MK8 and SSB4 are going to save the day, MK8 and SSB4 are going to save the day . . .”, and I just want to know where this is coming from? Like – I -WANT- to believe it – but if I believe in things without evidence, based purely on faith, then I would hope to realize that I was on pretty non-firm ground.
I’m going to say a word now that will bring this whole subject into focus: Titanfall. I don’t have an X-Bone – but man, if there was a game that was telling me to pick up a system – that would be it. And EA did their work with it – continuously getting it into gamer’s and the media’s hands to be played – continuously making sure that there was coverage worthy of being reported coming out for it – always reaffirming people that this experience was going to be a gigantic breakthrough. It didn’t happen in a day – but they had the gigantic sack needed to tell people that amazing was going to happen, and that they’d better bring their excitement (oh, and their wallets).
That in contrast to Super Mario 3D World, which I didn’t even know was going to be coming out until about a month or two before hand, is like literally comparing “hot” to “cold.” Super Mario 3D World was a reinvention and reaffirmation of everything we love about SUPER FREAKIN’ MARIO. And yet, the game was released with not so much as a whistle from Nintendo.
Even on the television, on that show with the son of George Lucas as the host, he lamented that such a fantastic game is getting absolutely no attention from the world.
I find this topic fascinating. How the world perception can carry (or not carry) a legacy as amazing as Nintendo’s. I would love there to be pieces here that addressed some of these thoughts. I wish Nintendo knew that these thoughts existed.
Just like I wished X and Bayonetta 2 weren’t sidelined because . . . no advertising budget? X could have been a Titanfall. It could have brought the perception that the new way to play RPG’s is here – a world so ravenously beautiful and impeccably presented – the very medium of RPGs themselves will never be the same!
Or, you know, you could hide all information concerning the game, how it’s played, what it proposes to do, or when it’s coming out. Yeah, I think Nintendo’s going to go with that strategy.
But why?