So the entire Internet has been buzzing about Nintendo and their new console, but for some reason it’s hard to be excited about it. Right now with Wii, I haven’t had anything to play since Donkey Kong, and the rest of 2011 is looking bleak. I don’t think I will be stopping in for coffee at Nintendo’s next café, and here’s why.
The Games
During the N64 and Gamecube generations when multiplatform titles started to become more common, those games that came to Nintendo platforms always seemed to get the short end of this stick. Take an example from this generation, Call of Duty: Black Ops. While the version Treyarch deliverd for Wii owners was undoubtedly spectacular given the confines of the system, I don’t think anyone would argue that the game that appeared on the HD consoles was the superior one. Until Nintendo proves their console can deliver the huge multiplatform games I desire, count me out for Café.
The Droughts
As a self proclaimed Nintendo fanboy I have been around for every console since the NES. I can tell you firsthand that it can be tough to be a Nintendo console owner in the year or so prior to a new consoles emergence. Remember 2006? It wasn’t the quantity of games that were released, it was that there wasn’t really a first-rate title to enthuse the so called “hardcore” crowd aside from Twilight Princess that year. Will Project Café suffer in the same way?
The Peripherals
My closet is filled with unused plastic doohickeys that are only useful for a handful of games. The Transfer Pak is compatable with a whopping 17 N64 titles. They where cool when I was playing Mario Kart Wii regularly, but where am I supposed to store 3 plastic Wii wheels? Nintendo is notorious for their lack of support for their peripherals, and if I was a betting man, my money would say that it is bound to continue with Project Café.
The Online
Look, Nintendo just doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to supporting online play. DS and Wii was a nice start, but you can’t even begin to compare Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to services found on Xbox Live and PSN. That may be fine if online multiplayer isn’t your cup of tea, but in 2011 many gamers come to expect an always-on online interface that allows for a more social gaming experience. It may be a tad early to count out Project Café as absolutely zero about it has been confirmed by Nintendo; but seeing as how the 3DS didn’t even launch with proper online, Nintendo has a lot to prove this e3.
The Mystery
Nintendo’s veil of secrecy can drive many a gamer nuts. When is Pandora’s Tower going to be localized? What about Pikmin? It certainly has been a long time since we have seen a F-Zero don’t you think? When buying into Nintendo you have to do so knowing that they do what they want.
Be sure to check out the other side of the argument if you missed it.
True, legitimate and accurate… I will say that I am going to wait for E3 to clarify some of these points. Nice job.
The only legitimate and accurate reason I see there is the online component. For many people, not having improved online will be the difference between passing or buying. Everything else is pure speculation and the one about not having a place to store the peripherals is the worst of them on the article. Wii wheels aren't even required to play and add novelty to the game, so you don't buy more if you don't want to.
It's most definitely going to be a competitive high end HD console, so ports of games like Call of Duty are a given; expect many ports at launch with added Café gimmicks.
The droughts: they can't be helped. Even Sony and Microsoft have them, yet Nintendo gets the most bashing for it. What high profile first party game for Xbox 360 other than Kinect games can you count?
The Mystery: Stop the presses, Nintendo doesn't announce games years before they are ready! This has been going on for a long time, and it's a strategy that has been working for them. Since they have a rather different way of making games from the rest of the industry, and lot of time is spent refining the gameplay, so they won't show a lot of the things they are working on until they are sure it is the right time. Even Donkey Kong Country Returns was only announced at E3 and came out in November that year, so there's still a large window of opportunity for new announcements.
@artefacto
What I was trying to convey in regard to peripherals is that there are too many of them. Take Wii: you have the zapper, the wheels, the balance board, motion plus dongles….I could go on but I won't.
Developers won't support something if not many people have it. Look at motion plus. As a developer I wouldn't develop a motion plus only title for the system despite the benefits I would gain from doing so because it would instantly cut my market (people who could potentially purchase my game) in half.
Just ask the PS3 owners what they think of Sony's online support…
these are all great points that are applicable to the hardcore gamer. however, nintendo might be aiming at a different market.
for me it's about online, games, and the power to create new experiences.
Q: if you don't like the term "hardcore", but still distinguish between most wii games and the games "hardcore" players look for, then what do you want to call the "hardcore" players?
@Eugene
Certainly, Nintendo could have done better with Motion Plus. It just didn't pick up as they would have wished for outside of first party games, and they're to blame for that for introducing it late in the system's lifespan. But a lot of those peripherals are successful. The Wii Balance Board is still selling very well and many third party games are out for it, and they're doing fine. The Zapper is mostly a novelty since it doesn't add any function other than holding it like a gun, but third party gun shells are still a healthy market. The article is called "why you won't buy a Cafe" and if you truly find this a reason not to, then I find it very shallow. I do see it as a veritable distate for how Nintendo managed peripherals, but not as a reason not to hop on at all on the next gen for Nintendo. Wii was specifically designed with add-on extensions in mind, but if the news about a new controller with a screen in it are true, I don't see how that has potential for extensions. It would just be all you need plus the wii controllers for motion, specially now that they come with wm+ included.
@Artefacto
Don't get me wrong, I will be the first person in line for Café when it does indeed come out…this article is just me playing devil's advocate.
@deepthought
Good point. I guess a better way to phrase it would be more 'traditional' games. Games such as Brain Age would fall into the category of 'non-traditional' and its target audience is probably not the same as a 'traditional' game such as Zelda.
Or maybe I'm still off-base…
i think the problem with hardcore is that it is unclear what it is describing. also, gamers hate being told that they are playing a casual or non-harcore game, because it sounds like a critique of the player (and in forums is often used as such).
"traditional" likely has the same problem that "hardcore" has, in that it is unclear what characteristics it is referring too. Many would argue that Tetris is hardcore, but it also seems more like Boomblox than Twighlight Princess.
Unless we want to create very specific definitions, we should probably just be specific about what we're talking about. when I say hardcore, I may mean that the game is difficult, time consuming, complicated, or some combination of such factors. When I describe someone as hardcore or casual, I may be talking about how much time they play, how good they are, how dedicated they are to games as a hobby, or some combo again.
Hopefully the context of comments can reveal the characteristics the comments are looking at. Such specificity probably isn't necessary here, since I understand your point. But then I just wouldn't put hardcore in quotes as if I disagreed with the term, while un-ironically using it.
…hmmm this post ran too long. it's a complicated issue. one infendo has explored before (hahahaha)
I think nintendo is basing this console on what the competition has already done. You cant possibly tell me that in 5years nintendo hasn't learned and evovled at all? I dont think so! its a company and companies learn from their mistakes. We dont know when development started what games are being made, hell we dont even know what to call this thing! I do know its going way better than the wii. the 3ds is even better than the wii in virtually every way. Nintendo has never failed me before and now that its coming out with another console i cant see it failing me now. Its strange that a nintendo dedicated site would make a story like this but none of it really matter when its all a shot in the dark. I just wish they would price it at e3 instead of dicking around like they did with the 3ds which i really didn't appreciate at all. All i can say is on JUNE 7th 2011 the way people look at nintendo will be changed FOREVER!!!
You have good points but I'm may just hold off just because I'm invested in the 3DS and it's games so I will get a new Nintendo console in the future after the crows calm down a new console is fine but my mind is set on somewhere else…
haters gonna hate. This article could give the guys up at IGN a run for their money
actually the only reason that i wont be buying it is if i have no money.
and in that case i will definitely save up.
i dont even have to see it to make it an automatic buy.
i think nintendo knows that if they eff this up, they will probably go the way of sega.
zelda and mario on ps3 and 360 anyone?
"The Wii Balance Board is still selling very well and many third party games are out for it, and they're doing fine"
I must be seeing a different market. Outside of Wii Fit/Wii Fit Plus, hardly anything has been released that was any good for the Wii Balance Board or came even close to the potential that was supposed to be involved.
Let's not even forget the Wii Sensor, that still hasn't seen the light of day.
Don't forget the Wii Speak, another peripheral…
Wii Vitality sensor is built into each 6" display controller??? Maybe??
just checked back to see if there were any interesting responses, and remembered I wanted to give you props Eugene for working a dialogue on both sides of the issue!
you've done a set of articles like this before (I think I remember) and I think theyre great ideas. def gets people into the comments without trolling.
cheers!
So the point of the article was to anger people coming to your site, who are
tired of all the Negitivity of the "all systems" sites.
Here is some reality for u,
People wait to see if the games come out, the system doesnt sell well
the publishers say why bother, no games come out, BOOM
Your attitude caused the thing you suspected to happen, happen.
Im getting it day one, reguardless of what it has.
its the only place to get nintendo game.
DONE and done, what i wont get is the 360×2 or PS4
I've always been loyal to the Nintendo brand, mostly on the strength of their software titles. But when new games come out for PS3 and XBOX only, it hurts the brand. I know with hardware they've always gone their own direction, but at some point they need to step up.
You simply can't have games like COD or Madden that come out with better versions on the other platforms, and a graphically inferior version for Wii, Cafe, whatever.
I also don't understand the other side of the coin. Wii has the largest install base, so why aren't more developers producing more titles for that system?
"DS and Wii was a nice start, but you can't even begin to compare Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to services found on Xbox Live and PSN."
LOL! PSN?! You don't read the internet much do you?
At least my credit card and personal info won't get stolen if I play Mario Kart. When was this turd of an article written?