Our erstwhile director gives us a different take on Nintendo predictions.
While many who know me know I have been a Nintendo fan for quite a long time, I have to admit that over the years I have become a pessimist. Sure, I bust out my Wii for the big titles and some Virtual Console and WiiWare gems, and was there on launch day for the 3DS, but for the most part my Nintendo consoles as of late have been sitting stagnant.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m far from a hater, and have a Nintendo wishlist as long as most of you reading this. I hope whatever Project Café turns out to be is all that and a bag of chips. But let’s face it, Nintendo hasn’t been keeping the hardcore Nintendo fans very happy for the last few years. And while some of these things might not be surprising, by avoiding a few key missteps, Nintendo could be well on their way to bringing back not just the casual gamer they picked up with the Wii, but the hardcore gamer who has strayed.
1. Not Having A Normal Controller As The System Standard: Motion control did change facets of the industry, but with the Wii all of the attachments confused the customer and it took away much of the simplicity of the Wii. I’ll admit that these touch screen/tablet theories make me cringe (especially since they could just utilize the 3DS), I would have no problem with a WaveBird sequel with a more normalized button layout as the main controller. If Nintendo wants to keep motion an option with some of their titles, allow Wii owners to use their present controllers including Wii MotionPlus. Backwards compatibility doesn’t have to be just for software.
2. Stay In The Internet Stone-Age: We all had hoped Nintendo would have finally noticed that online services and features are now industry mainstays, but let’s face it, playing games online with a Nintendo console or handheld is an annoyance. Whether it’s a free or a paid subscription service, it’s time for Nintendo to get it together. It should also go without saying that Nintendo should have one shop to tie games, music, movies and media together for the Wii, Project Café and 3DS.
3. No New Compelling IP: Sure, I want updates to the core Nintendo titles like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and no matter how much we complain about rehashes, they’re inevitable. But what happened to the company that regularly brought us new experiences? It’s been quite a long time since we have seen something new for the core fan, and the launch of a new console is exactly the right time.
4. Now You’re Playing With Just A Little More Power: We put up with it with the Wii, but it’s time for a system with some longevity. If Nintendo is going to come out of the gates first, a console with only a bit more horsepower than a PS3 or Xbox 360 isn’t going to cut the mustard or be able to compete in future rounds. The five-year console cycle has been broken and I’d like to see it stay that way. Gamers will thank you, and so will developers.
5. A Difficult Barrier Of Entry For Third-Party Developers: Since the Super Nintendo, third parties have struggled to break out on Nintendo consoles. The Wii was a different beast altogether, and often times forced developers to have a different team working on a port that didn’t sell as well. Iwata has spoken about making that a priority for the company, but developers have heard that in the past. Making relationships stronger will see better games, more console exclusives, and (hopefully) better sales.