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Analysis: Nintendo Press Conference
If nothing else, Nintendo’s press conference revealed how difficult it is for the company to maintain its current position as the world’s leading console maker.
A presentation that struggled to reconcile old and new, with demonstrations of already familiar technology and games alongside new announcements of familiar properties, it only suggested the barest indication of where Nintendo intends to go next. Its main new announcements – a sequel to Super Mario Galaxy, New Super Mario Bros Wii and Metroid: Other M – don’t yet entirely demonstrate Nintendo’s storied trick of taking the old and making new again.
The kind of future-shock that in 2005 seemed ordinary to Nintendo was restricted to Satoru Iwata’s Vitality Sensor, a heart rate monitor for the finger that he promised would open up games to ‘the inner world of your body’ in the way the Balance Board did your centre of gravity. But with no game to show it working, it was difficult to take entirely seriously.
Not that this was what most of the conference’s audience was actually looking for. And it appeared from the outset that the conference would be all about them with the early claim that Miyamoto had finally solved the problem of bringing Mario into the fourth dimension with New Super Mario Bros Wii. In the first of a series of disappointments, it turned out the fourth dimension was that of four-player gaming rather than that of a new Mario title that one-ups Blinx: The Time Sweeper. Taking Zelda: Four Swords Adventure’s principles of rolling cooperative and competitive play into Mario’s platform world, it looked vivacious enough, if a little insubstantial, but it appeared to bode well for the rest of the presentation – even if it confirmed the news that Miyamoto wouldn’t be providing it with his idiosyncratic brand of theatricality.
After this early point, however, the conference’s structure did all it could to deflate hopes that Nintendo would finally make good on its claims that it was finally looking out for the hardcore. The expected announcement of Wii Fit Plus was followed by an extended look at Wii MotionPlus, hardware that led its presentation last year and is, in fact, already available in shops, albeit without Nintendo-developed software to support it. And it’s hard to forget that MotionPlus’ capabilities were once claimed to be achievable by the vanilla Wii remote.
The demonstration came with the statement by Reggie Fils-Aime that MotionPlus would present new challenge to games, with every inability to perform techniques in the real world entirely replicated in the game. A nod to the hardcore, perhaps? EA Sports fans might be satisfied, but MotionPlus-only Red Steel 2 still has a lot to prove.
Nintendo’s second raising and subsequent dashing of hopes came with the dangling of the return of a classic RPG, which turned out to be bringing middling GBA adventure series Golden Sun to DS. Other games for DS and DSi failed also to demonstrate the wit and creativity that has helped make the DS platform so successful. THQ’s interactive versions of James Patterson’s crime novels (graphic adventures rife with minigames), hardly push the limits of a potentially great IP. Professed commitment to user generated content through puzzle game Mario Vs DK for DSi and the forthcoming Flip Notes Studio animation app did little to inspire, either. But the summer release of an update that will allow users to upload their edited DSi photos direct to Facebook represents a surprising but fitting new partnership.
Iwata’s appearance hardly lightened the mood, with a speech that aimed to refute claims that the games market couldn’t expand much further. “We still have a long way to go,” he said. Just maybe his Vitality Sensor, which seems to have the same air of pseudo self-improvement that Brain Training and Wii Fit did, will help to do that.
It was only then, almost at the end, that the news to placate the hardcore began coming. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is somewhat unprecedented, though, in that it’s a direct sequel to a Mario game. As such, it’s hard to imagine it will boast the sheer vitality of its predecessors – indeed, it betrayed some re-use of ideas. A sign, perhaps, that the appetites of the hardcore have forced Nintendo’s hand?
Metroid: Other M, meanwhile, continues Nintendo’s practice of using external developers for the series, working now with Team Ninja. As befits the studio behind Ninja Gaiden, the action in the trailer was more kinetic and dramatic than the Prime series, switching between first and thirdperson and featuring a spry, less Westernised Samus, a good reason to believe the series might be thoroughly reinvigorated.
“I’ll be honest. I read the blogs, too,” said Fils-Aime at one point. Metroid and Mario will go some way to appease those blog writers, but there was the sense throughout the conference that Nintendo wasn’t writing its own future with quite the imagination, courage and focus on the future that formed the generation on which it’s currently capitalising. Where next for Nintendo? In trying to appease all its many audiences, this year’s conference couldn’t possibly say.
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All this whining about Nintendo not making games for its “hardcore” audience is pure nonsense, period. The company has ALWAYS catered to as wide a user base as possible. I've been gaming since 1972 and can clearly remember the NES, Original and Color GameBoy, SNES, N64 and GBA all had many, many games geared toward players of all ages and skill levels.(er, that Virtual Boy... not so much, however =^P).
In case you need a quick history lesson: in Japan, the Famicom (ahem: FAMILY Computer) had hundreds of “casual” releases from its launch date to the console's retirement that helped sell the system to people who'd never even touched a gamepad previously. The same can be said about the GameBoy with Tetris being the key example of a “simple” game that became a worldwide blockbuster thanks to the original GameBoy version. This generation, Nintendo is still focused on reaching out to new and casual gamers, but with more emphasis (and possibly a tad too much worrying) on keeping them as Nintendo consumers.
Despite all the negativity coming from the online community (and game journalists who should know better) Nintendo KNOWS their “core” gamers will always be there in the end (or at least the smart ones will). “Casual” players may require less visually impressive/innovative games, but they also tend to require more variety in their gaming experiences (partly based on the wide difference in skill levels). Of course, that's not to say someone who buys that silly Wii puzzler won't be interested in a Zelda or Mario game thanks to Wii Sports Resort or something else a few noses got turned up at during the conference.
Iwata's comments on “Evergreen” games from last year's E3 make even more perfect sense because a new to Nintendo older user or family-themed buyer simply doesn't discriminate between a game that's a week old or a year old when they shop. Walk into Nintendo World here in NYC and it's almost always packed with folks buying all sorts of games, not just "core" gamers picking and choosing only "A" releases.
Of course, it does means a lot of less than good budget stuff mixed in with quality content at retail, but again, these value-priced games aren't geared to the “core” market at all. You might hate seeing these games, but are you crazy enough to try and stop someone from buying a Wii because they're interested in the system? Think for a second: let's stop Auntie Roo from getting that Wii and some goofy gesture-based puzzle game or overly simplistic licensed game for the nephews because you want to play a new Mario or Kid Icarus? Kind of childish, isn't it? There's room at the inn for everyone and serving everyone else is a tiny bit more important to Nintendo's strategy than giving a small few (yes, you're "hardcore" but you're still only a small percentage of Nintendo's total market) what they crave when they crave it.
Besides, good games take time to create, kids. Griping up and down the Internet on how Nintendo is letting you down by not shoving a yearly Metroid, Zelda, or Kid Whatever out the door at E3 only shows you have no clue about how long it takes to put together an “A” title. Sure, Nintendo could have trotted Miyamoto out on stage with his trusty sword and shield to show off renders and character art for that new Zelda game, but without a firm release date or release window, you'd probably all be complaining about THAT aspect more than the actual game.
It seems that lots of vocal “Core” gamers tend to want new experiences too quickly and too many tend to overlook otherwise solid third-party Wii or DS releases in favor of throwing bricks at Nintendo whenever they feel they're not being served quickly enough with a sequel or remake. Personally, I'd rather play a new IP such as The Conduit and Dead Space: Extraction (trust me, both are brilliant stuff) over holding my breath for a Kid Icarus rehash or yet another Mario (no matter how good it is). Red Steel 2, No More Heroes 2 (yeah, sequels - but each is fantastic) and a couple of other games are all begging for your undivided attention this year and into 2010.
Hate it or not ( I sure don't), Metroid: Other M is absolutely going to be worth waiting for, given what Team Ninja can do with any hardware it touches. Hell, I say give them that Kid Vaporware project people seem willing to wish would happen. Maybe turn it into a God of War clone (as it seems copying GOW is turning into a trend). I'm kind of kidding here, of course... maybe. In a way, Nintendo is forcing you to the edge of your collective fanboy seats, but you should be confident that you'll be happy if you simply keep supporting them whether you're a Wii, DS or DSi user. The games are there - you just need to open your eyes and look.
In short: you fanboy gripers need to dig your heels in deep, take the hints dropped at the conference and actually BUY some of those third-party games in addition to whatever first-party titles you saw at the show. In the meantime, Nintendo has 140+ million other reasons to hold off from constantly announcing what they're cooking up for the "core" to keep you overly giddy. Hell,if you don't have one already, buy a DS and play some of those excellent RPGs (there are LOADS of them), action/adventure games or even something addictive and goofy (101-in-1 Explosive Megamix, perhaps?) while you're waiting.
I agree w/ Alex V.
IMO, the third party developers are the ones who need to step up in order to support a "core" audience. Nintendo is a business and they are making money hand over fist. There's little reason, besides pure loyalty why they should even try to appeal to the "core" audience. I'll go even farther to say that they never really tried to go after a "core" audience, but simply tried to create games that could appeal to a wide audience, therefore creating a larger market.
At the same time, they are still releasing the strong titles they've been releasing for years. Also, no one seems to be disappointed about the annual Call of Duty iterations or continuing the MGS and Halo sequels, despite Bungie and Kojima stating at one point or another that Halo 3 and MGS 4 were the last of their respective series. Not to say that I don't want them to continue, but the whole industry is rife with endless sequels.
Either way, No More Heroes, I also feel RE4 on the Wii controlled better than RE5 on 360. Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 had good controls and showed the potential for shooters that can control better than any other console. Now that 360 and PS3 have motion control, maybe the competition for truly immersing control experiences will now begin.
Honestly, quite boring. However, I find it odd that everybody gets in a tizzy over the Halo and Metal Gear Solid spinoffs, despite them being just as "by the numbers" as the Nintendo products.
Yaddah yaddah, complain complain complain. Honestly, none of the conferences were downright as bad as everybody complains. I wouldn't say the Xbox one was as good as Edge puts it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the "fans" at the bottom of that article argued.
I'm not a fan of peripherals, so I'm actually pretty glad at the lack of them. The Xbox peripheral looks, to put it bluntly, like an Eye-Toy ripoff.
Also, I don't like the direction Metroid: Other M is taking the atmosphere and story (Remember when we were all lonely in the galaxy in Super Metroid and Prime? REMEMBER???), but the gameplay looks like Ninja Gaiden, and I AM a Ninja Gaiden fanboy.
And LOL at "less Westernized Samus." Yeah, I'm sure that you can deWesternize a woman whose defining feature is a giant, robotic suit of powered armor. After all, she had such a Western Culture thing going for her with her habit of speaking in only one game in the entire series! Perhaps "flesh-out" would be a better word to use. Eh, at least we'll get Adam, most likely (I personally would have liked a post-fusion sequel).
Nintendo's conference told me one thing. The DSi has great support while the Wii doesn't. The DS has great support from third party companies and, while simple in nature, provides great gaming content. It's a shame when I get more excited about a portable's games than I am about the home console's games.
Also, Nintendo's perceived "poor" display at 2006 E3 coincided with massive massive sales. The simple fact is, Ninty are generating most of their sales from a totally different audience than the type which E3 journalists cater for.
I haven't watched the show, but i've read most of the announcements, and for me, nintendo gave me what I wanted.
Best three wii games by far?
Mario Galaxy, Metroid 3, Mario Kart Wii
Sequels to two of those, = happy stealthbadger. Now, the trailer for Metroid was a bit alarming though. It looked like they're trying to turn it into Halo-Wii. The puzzles are really important to the metroid experience, and I agree with an earlier poster, that it's sort of about solitude. I don't like the idea that there would be an army on my side, a la KZ2 or halo. Metroid was never about big open battles (except the epic bosses {which will hopefully be a bit less brutally difficult than in corruption..}).
News Flash: Nintendo Gives Hardcore Gamers What They Want, Complaints Begin.
Seriously, For two years I have been reading about how people wanted new Mario , Zelda, Metroid games etc. They wanted Nintendo to pander to their needs.
Nintendo then listens and gives these people wanted and now they are complaining that it is "more of the same"
What is your deal?
These Mario, Zelda and Metoird games are "more of the same."
Yet Assassin's Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2, God of War 3, Crackdown 2, Final Fantasy 13 and 14, Uncharted 2, Forza 3, more new Halo games, more new Metal Gear Solid games, more new Gran Turismo games, and PSP versions of just about every game the PS3 has seen in the past 2 years are, what, new and exciting ideas? The hypocracy of "hardcore" fanboys is amazing.
Thank you. It drives me nuts when people complain when they get what they want. Spoiled brats is what I call them.
I don't think they're spoiled brats at all... I think they're just extremely butthurt and bitter that Nintendo is finding success without their support.
I thought Nintendo had an excellent show. I thought it was edged out by Microsoft's, but miles ahead of Sony's. But no matter what Nintendo does, these people will *always* find something to bitch about.
It's crazy running around the net and reading the responses to E3 and how all of a sudden, like you and Ozz mention, people are saying there's nothing new coming from Nintendo. But turn around and gawk at the next Halo or Metal Gear spinoff. Also, notice how motion controls are suddenly acceptable now - it's just pathetic!
The only thing that's happening here are the bitter fangirls being exposed of how truly bias they are. It's gonna be a great year for the Wii - and no matter what new motion tech the HD Twins employ - Wii's marketshare is only going to increase. ;)
True. I guess spoiled brats is a bit off. But yes. They have been begging for Nintendo to throw them a bone and now that they have, their complaint is that the bone is not a Ribeye steak.
Remeber when people didn't like motion controls because "i don't want to flail around and look like an idiot while playing my games? I want to sit on the couch and relax while I play" Now, Microsoft and Sony release the same motion thing (Sony even going so far as making you hold a "wiimote" in your hands) and suddenly it's "great technology....I can't wait to try it"? Some people are very sad.
Exactly!
But you know what this all means? It means that Nintendo was right all along. The direction they went is the right direction, as evidenced by the fact that their competitors are quickly trying to follow suit and be 'me too'. They'll fall on their faces, yes, but they completely validated (and 'legitimized' in they eyes of the fickle fangirls) the path Nintendo trailblazed.
Get a room you three!!! (Just playin).
Are these waters safe? You three do point out hypocrisy that's ever present on these forums (and probably many others) and I'm not going to shy away from discussing that (as an obvious 360 "fanboy").
We HDers have criticized the Wii and its "flailing around gameplay" and now we're ready to embrace motion control, right? Well, personally I have been disappointed with (for the most part) the direction the Wii took motion control. There has been more gimmick than true innovation with the use of the motion control and that's the sad part. I worry the 360's motion stuff will go the same route. I don't really want mini games, a million bowling games, or tennis games using my Avatar (not a dig at Nintendo I'm being sincere). I want totally new gameplay experiences that couldn't be had with a standard pad (more than just games using a swinging motion of sorts). The "game" with the boy where the two worlds sorta interacted in a way not common in games is the direction I'd like to see developers go (as far as attempting new things is concerned).
If the 360 releases me-too mini games, games that mirror shovel ware on the Wii (not all games are shovel ware I'm not saying that) I'll be just as critical as I have been of the Wii. I'd truly like to see new game ideas as opposed to MS just trying to pry into Nintendo's fan base. I don't want MS's (or Sony's) intent to be on sales or pulling in the casual, I want the intent and focus on bringing in fresh ideas and new ways to play, cause that's what it should be about.
edit: I want to be clear if I wasn't enough already. I think there are (from what I've read) some truly great games on the Wii and some games that use the Wii-mote in some really creative ways. Those are the types of games I would look forward to on the 360. Creative and intuitive ways of using the motion sensing, instead of just lazy ways.
Ever since Metroid Prime 2 they've been buttraping what I least I found the most unique about the Metroid games: the solitude. I remember reading the reviews of the original Metroid Prime. The whole mystery-feeling and iceberg exploration was one of the things critics hailed the most.
Now they're just turning it into yet another space marine universe with elite soldiers and monsters. Sad.
Your conclusions sound pretty categorical, considering they are based on about 20 seconds of gameplay footage.
i wasn't expecting anything impressive and they didn't disappoint. im just not sure if they were intentionally trying to bore everyone into a coma. seeing Cammie Dunaway stroll out at the beginning, instead of Reggie, certainly didn't help.
they spent an inordinate amount of time talking about 'Wii Fit Plus' and 'Resort' to an indifferent audience that simply refused to fake adulation. both titles that'll sell (no question) but, after last year's embarrassment, there was a palpable sense of impatience.
the "new, 4th dimension" Mario game announced was easily the low point. the way they talked about it, you'd have thought they just invented multiplayer gaming. in their minds, they probably think they did.
by the time Galaxy 2 and the new Metroid were announced, the applause came more out of exasperation than genuine excitement. add to this that Miyamoto wasn't there to talk about a new Zelda or even Pikmin and well...yea. i can't help but feel sorry for the faithful. they deserve far more than this.
I actually thought the clip of SMG2 WAS the original in a prelude to the unveiling of the sequel. The 4 player NSMB looks to be as shallow as spit and Metroid? No thanks.
It was a joke of a conference really,. the audience (non) reaction being extremely telling. Did Nintendo even receive a round of applause when it ended?
I don't really agree. It seems to me that Nintendo have the same strategy that they've always had - a few highly polished games. Alongside Sony and Microsoft's muscle it can seem a bit underwhelming, but I don't see it as a sign of anything in particular for Nintendo.
There seems to be a so-called 'hardcore' demographic that have recently decided that anything that Nintendo do is wrong. A generation who grew up on Mario, Zelda, Metroid and the like are suddenly deciding that Mario, Zelda and Metroid are no longer good enough for them. I don't really understand that shift in perception - it says more about a certain demographic of gamers than it says about Nintendo.
Do we think Wii Fit 2 and Sports Resort and the 2 mario titles will sell? Of course they will. And if Nintendo's pedigree is anything to go by they'll be extremely well-designed products. If that's a crisis for Nintendo, then I'm Princess Peach!
I think many of us are recalling the SNES days, where one console had all the hardcore titles and quality games were at its peak. the only market developers had to cater to were the core; there was no casual mass market.
Now we have to swim through all the crap to get to any gems, and unfortunately, all the quickly-assembled and horribly shadow fad-games are more profitable than the long development, deeper titles. Worse, Nintendo is getting away with a scheme they've been tryign to pull off since the NES days -- constantly creating and selling peripherals to 'add' to the game experience. It didn't work so well for the NES and SNES cause the gadgets hardly worked. For N64 and GC, the market simply wasn't there to support it. Now suddenly we buy into every gimmick they have -- and nintendo is laughing its way to the bank.
For the time being, casual games are cheap to make and quick to profit...and Nintendo knows it.
I think this notion of the 'casual mass market' is an absolute red herring. We need to judge games on their merits, rather than pigeon-holing every title or peripheral. The faintest sniff of accessibility for any title seems to have the so-called 'hardcore' turning their nose up. It's cultural snobbery of the worst kind.
What's the difference between the two new Mario games announced, and the Mario classics of the past - there's no difference. It's the attitudes of gamers that have changed.
I'd love to know what Nintendo could announce to appease this 'hardcore', especially as a new Wii Zelda was unofficially announced as well. It seems to me that Nintendo announced pretty much everything they possibly could yesterday.
red herring? The Wii Fit sales speaks for itself. Nintendo is doing so fantastically well because they expaned to the casual market, every single developer and publisher has acknowledged this, INCLUDING nintendo. It is not like it's just a secret or speculation; Nintendo is specifically targeting the mass market. How many times did they have to point it out in their press conference from this year and last until you believe them?
and actually showing a new zelda would've satisfied most hardcore. a direct mario sequel and a metroid that has no demo to play ain't gonna cut it.
It's obvious today's Nintendo isn't the same one we grew up with. They need to totally break off and focus on finding new gamers with these new pseudo-fitness games and not even try to pander to "Hardcore" gamers. What we end up with is, The Conduit. On any other platform it would get laughed off the stage.
I believe this was Nintendo's strategy from the start. They've had to update all the classic franchises because we demand it, but I don't think this would have been their first choice. Even knowing that they love selling us the same games over and over.
I think they shouldn't even show at next years E3. Instead bring back Spaceworld or call it something else.
Better show than last year but that isn't saying much. The new take on metroid should be interesting...but I'm not so sure I care much about a sequel to mario galaxy. how much further can that concept really go? The lack of any zelda presence was also similarly sad -- it's been longer since the last zelda than the last mario.
I also agree with previous posters, it's time for Nintendo to develop some original IPs that are as substantial as Zelda without *being* Zelda.
I would've thought Nintnedo would learn its lesson from last year's E3. Unfortunately it seems like the lesson was that the casual market is where the money is at. They don't seem to feel core gamers are needed anymore, and for the Wii, they may be right.
To restate what has already been said about new IP:
That is what 3rd party devs are for. They are the ones that are going to give you the new IPs you want. Why don't you take a look at them for a while and stop complaining about Nintendo doing what they have always done.
There are some serious problems in store for Nintendo right now:
1st: While no one can deny the success of Wii Fit and Sports, their record breaking sales numbers depended very much on them feeling fresh and truly original - thus it is completely unsure whether sequelizing will work. On the other hand, new revolutionary ideas were simply non-existent. There are still so many things untried on the Wii, it seems a bit cheap if Nintendo stops innovating (come on, Wii Motion Plus is a joke if you look back at the original promise of Wii).
2nd: Many of us have been loyal fans for many years and in a way played a crucial role in making Wii successful, due to us adopting early, trying out the new possibilities of Wii and showing them to our friends, Wii received early acceptance and word of mouth. And thus and most importantly, if Iwata-san wants to reach out even further, he will heavily depend upon us!
3rd: Give Link, Mario and co a rest and get something original for gamers out there. Don't get me wrong, I do embrace the promise of a new take on Metroid, but sometimes I just wish for something as substanial as say Zelda but completely new and priorily unimagined! For Mario and co, the old rule still holds true, the same trick just doesn't look as impressive the second time round...
4th: E3 is for the hardcore, thus your show has to be targeted at your audience. In this format, the Nintendo conference was completely useless, as the people watching were the true fanbase and videogame addicts, not the casual gamers.
5th: Going forward, I think Nintendo will have to be even more innovative and aggressive in trying new ideas, even at the cost of the existing franchises. In order to maintain the existing fanbase, huge thirdparty support and success is needed!!!
In response:
1. They are not really sequels. Wii Sports was designed to show consumers and developers how to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. Wii Sports Resort is to show consumers and developers how to use the Wii Motion Plus. Sure they will make a load of money from it. But if developers will pay attention to what makes Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort fun rather than trying to make mini game collections then they too can succeed. Next, I see nothing wrong with improving on Wii Fit and adding new functionality. It can provide a more comprehensive experience for fans of the first. Just because you didn't find it compelling hardly means that people who liked Wii Fit won't buy it or think that it was a bad idea to make a sequel.
2. Yes, because 10% of the consumer base (I think I am being generous there) should really drive a large company's direction. I think you need to get over yourself.
3. That is what 3rd party devs are for. They are the ones that are going to give you the new IPs you want. Why don't you take a look at them for a while and stop complaining about Nintendo doing what they have always done.
4. No. E3 is for the press. It just happens to be mostly gaming press.
5. Hey you actually mentioned 3rd party devs. Well. Why don't you actually go out and support them. You, the customer, are the ones who will determine whether 3rd party titles succeed or not. Nintendo did what they have to do and that is give them a platform to develop for. What more is Nintendo supposed to do?
Nothing!?! No software expansions!!! NOTHING!
I want to steal everybody's thunder....What do I do?
The dolphin-emu team have successfully emulated the Wii. Within the limitations of the device, they found - without knowing the source code - that you can stretch the GFX processor to the limit & redraw in 720p. The Wii can output component. What a surprise that would've been. This fall, Wii's going HD...without any extra hardware!
The show had some good stuff , it's interesting to see the new direction they're taking.
There was also a definite focus on female gamers , despite the lack of any big surpises , I'm sure Nintendo products will continue to sell well.
Wii fit is great fun , and I do want wii sports2 + SMG2 , also No More Heroes 2 - the show wasn't as bad as some make it out to be. The new Metroid looks good also!
Ha! Nintendo! What a waste of time. A direct sequel to a Mario game and a 2D Super Mario Bros on a home console!?!?! That's just so pathetic. A peripheral that measures your heart rate!?!? WTF??? MS and Sony come out guns blazing and this is the best Nintendo can do. Nintendo are no longer a serious games console maker. Lord only knows what they have become.
Why do Nintendo even bother turning up at E3?! Their show was awful.
Just as lackluster as last year's e3 conference.