There's an interview with Shigeru on ign where he talks about Nintendo as a brand. It's actually a pretty insightful look into their philosophy, and it renewed my appreciation for them, which I oftentimes take for granted.
He talks about how Nintendo could make realistic games, but that so many other companies out there are doing it already. Then he asks aloud, why can't Nintendo itself be known as a genre? That's a great point! Thirty-five years on, it's hard to mistake a AAA Nintendo game for anything else.
I don't want a hyper realistic Zelda. Games like Dark/ Demon Souls have that covered. I love Punch Out, and Fight Night covers my realism fix. Nintendo doesn't serve as my second console, it serves as that special place that is unlike the other two.
What do you guys think? By this point, with so much history behind them, isn't Njntendo a genre into themselves by now?
Nintendo as a Genre?
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HardcoreSadism1
- Posts: 526
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
Depends, if you're talking about their involvement post-crash, then I probably have little choice but to agree...?
(not that I need to bring up WHY I'd have to agree)
(not that I need to bring up WHY I'd have to agree)
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Segatarious1
- Posts: 1110
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
I am not sure why appreciation for what they do would falter, they are incredibly consistent.
And that is the main difference - commitment to quality and consistency. The controls will be spot on and the gameplay will be the main feature. Not really a genre unto themselves, other companies do this, but they invariably do not have the size or talent that Nintendo has. The rest of the AAA industry is pretty well stagnant at this point, like most other forms of entertainment. Nintendo makes gaming unique because they still offer a clear choice and product differentiation, from a major player in the industry. Too many other companies just go for the lowest common denominator, and put out very predictable products.
They are old school in that they still follow the fundamentals of game design, and still cutting edge because they are constantly devising and tweaking gamplay and control inputs.
And Nintendo has experience, contrast them will Valve. Valve announces a new controller, and says they will enter the console space. Valve has not committed to any one hardware build, and wants third parties to step in and make the 'consoles'. Then Valve delays the controller and the project is in limbo. We do not know what the finished controller will be like anymore. That is sloppy, and a lack of experience. Nintendo may struggle, Wii U has struggled mightily at times, but Nintendo is experienced and committed. They do not fold their cards, they reward and grow their base with finely crafted products.
And that is the main difference - commitment to quality and consistency. The controls will be spot on and the gameplay will be the main feature. Not really a genre unto themselves, other companies do this, but they invariably do not have the size or talent that Nintendo has. The rest of the AAA industry is pretty well stagnant at this point, like most other forms of entertainment. Nintendo makes gaming unique because they still offer a clear choice and product differentiation, from a major player in the industry. Too many other companies just go for the lowest common denominator, and put out very predictable products.
They are old school in that they still follow the fundamentals of game design, and still cutting edge because they are constantly devising and tweaking gamplay and control inputs.
And Nintendo has experience, contrast them will Valve. Valve announces a new controller, and says they will enter the console space. Valve has not committed to any one hardware build, and wants third parties to step in and make the 'consoles'. Then Valve delays the controller and the project is in limbo. We do not know what the finished controller will be like anymore. That is sloppy, and a lack of experience. Nintendo may struggle, Wii U has struggled mightily at times, but Nintendo is experienced and committed. They do not fold their cards, they reward and grow their base with finely crafted products.
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HardcoreSadism1
- Posts: 526
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
Too bad you can't praise Nintendo without the 15+ lines of Hyperbole.
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pacguy191
- Posts: 201
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
[QUOTE=Segatarious]And Nintendo has experience, contrast them will Valve. Valve announces a new controller, and says they will enter the console space. Valve has not committed to any one hardware build, and wants third parties to step in and make the 'consoles'. Then Valve delays the controller and the project is in limbo. We do not know what the finished controller will be like anymore. That is sloppy, and a lack of experience.[/QUOTE]
Valve delaying things isn't because of a lack of experience -- that's because Valve sucks as a company. They'll talk up unachievable release dates and then push it all back. Even when the product does come out, its usually substandard. Seriously, try working with the Source engine sometime, its a nightmare.
Also, I'm pretty sure Nintendo had just as little experience when the NES came out as Valve does now.
Valve delaying things isn't because of a lack of experience -- that's because Valve sucks as a company. They'll talk up unachievable release dates and then push it all back. Even when the product does come out, its usually substandard. Seriously, try working with the Source engine sometime, its a nightmare.
Also, I'm pretty sure Nintendo had just as little experience when the NES came out as Valve does now.
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Astrosmasher1
- Posts: 1107
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Nintendo as a Genre?
It is a great system for kids no one else need apply. That is what Nintendo says to me. 3 plus... no older the 12...
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Atarifever1
- Posts: 3892
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
[QUOTE=Astrosmasher]It is a great system for kids no one else need apply. That is what Nintendo says to me. 3 plus... no older the 12...[/QUOTE]
I think your understanding of what kinds of games 3 year olds play is pretty far off. They're playing memory game and candy land at that age. Mario and Zelda are a ways off for them.
I think your understanding of what kinds of games 3 year olds play is pretty far off. They're playing memory game and candy land at that age. Mario and Zelda are a ways off for them.
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scotland171
- Posts: 816
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
[QUOTE=BanjoPickles]There's an interview with Shigeru on ign where he talks about Nintendo as a brand.. why can't Nintendo itself be known as a genre? [/QUOTE]
No, Nintendo is a brand, with a mascot, much like Disney. They make games in a variety of genres. Like Disney, what they make is well known and distinctive - strong brand recognition. They should learn from Disney that brands are stable and can change genres. Disney made short cartoons before hitting new heights with feature length animation...which was like a AAA game that could fail and take the company down. So tbey made live action films like Mary Poppins, and so forth. Its always changing, but always Disney. Even if a product is not successful, its okay if the product is aligned with the brand, so the brand is still intact. Products like The Black Hole damaged the brand as being outside subject matter and tone expectations. The direct to tv movies like Lion King 1 1/2 damaged the brand as within subject and tone, but not in quality of story, song, voice, and visuals.
Its not that Nintendo could not make a more photo realistic game, its tbat if they did, it could seriously damage the brand unless it fires on all 8 cylinders. Disney decided it could still do such products, but to spin off such products under a different brand, like Touchstone.
No, Nintendo is a brand, not a genre. Trying to equate the two as synonyms confounds the who and for whom with the what and the how.
No, Nintendo is a brand, with a mascot, much like Disney. They make games in a variety of genres. Like Disney, what they make is well known and distinctive - strong brand recognition. They should learn from Disney that brands are stable and can change genres. Disney made short cartoons before hitting new heights with feature length animation...which was like a AAA game that could fail and take the company down. So tbey made live action films like Mary Poppins, and so forth. Its always changing, but always Disney. Even if a product is not successful, its okay if the product is aligned with the brand, so the brand is still intact. Products like The Black Hole damaged the brand as being outside subject matter and tone expectations. The direct to tv movies like Lion King 1 1/2 damaged the brand as within subject and tone, but not in quality of story, song, voice, and visuals.
Its not that Nintendo could not make a more photo realistic game, its tbat if they did, it could seriously damage the brand unless it fires on all 8 cylinders. Disney decided it could still do such products, but to spin off such products under a different brand, like Touchstone.
No, Nintendo is a brand, not a genre. Trying to equate the two as synonyms confounds the who and for whom with the what and the how.
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Segatarious1
- Posts: 1110
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
Disney is indistinguishable from any other CG movie studio out there, though. They are not unique. Their products blend in with every thing else on the market. They used to be a standard, now they are just a large company that does what every other large company does.
Nintendo however, instantly recognizable.
Sony, generic console gaming - same controller forever and ever.
Ms - hardcore pandering - lots of features, but very little beef in the taco.
Make along list of the features and games Sony and MS took from Nintendo last gen, it is a damn long list. Nintendo has a plan, and they innovate.
Nintendo however, instantly recognizable.
Sony, generic console gaming - same controller forever and ever.
Ms - hardcore pandering - lots of features, but very little beef in the taco.
Make along list of the features and games Sony and MS took from Nintendo last gen, it is a damn long list. Nintendo has a plan, and they innovate.
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pacguy191
- Posts: 201
- Joined: December 31st, 1969, 7:00 pm
Nintendo as a Genre?
[QUOTE=Segatarious]Disney is indistinguishable from any other CG movie studio out there, though.[/QUOTE]
Disney is totally unrecognizable guys. Just another face in the crowd. Everything about them, the same as the rest.
How do you type something like that and go "yup, that makes total sense and in no way makes me look like an idiot"?
Disney is totally unrecognizable guys. Just another face in the crowd. Everything about them, the same as the rest.
How do you type something like that and go "yup, that makes total sense and in no way makes me look like an idiot"?
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