Nintendo: Kings of Shovelware?

Post by **benheck** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:30 pm

I've never really made it a secret how I feel about Nintendo but with the release of the DS it's got me thinking - they're the KING of Shovelware.

Every new system they make has the folllowing:

A Mario Platform Game (usually remake of existing, IE: Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario 3 or Super Mario DS)

A Zelda Game. Granted they make new ones on the 'Cube but when was the last original full-fledged Zelda handheld game?

A Mario Party Game

A Mario Cart Game

A Metroid Game

...and that's pretty much IT! They just keep recycling old stuff and hoping people will buy it AGAIN. Think of it, people have now been able to buy Super Mario 3 THREE times! (Including the SNES version). Is this how Nintendo figures to keep afloat as they drift into 3rd place? (As more and more people seem to be getting into the XBox)

If you look at the rest of the Cube titles it's a lot of Dreamcast shovelware, remakes and games you can get on EVERY console (Which pretty much means every EA title)

This is too bad because the Cube is a powerful machine, especially compared to the aging PS2. Just look at that Resident Evil game! (Truly to be a huge seller had it come out, oh, when Resident Evil was POPULAR)

I dunno, but I see Nintendo going down the tubes the same way Disney did. They used to be quality but then they just started recycling and making "shovelware" (ie: similar to Disney making crappy Cartoon-Network quality sequels to practically EVERY aniamted film they've every done) Eventually the original content and quality will get so watered down, diluted and "seen this, done that" a-fied that when they finally DO decide to do something (like make games for adults) it'll be too late.

That's just how I feel, and as I've said before I used to love Nintendo and hate to see this happening. If you want to flame me for this go right ahead! But I think it's something to consider against the long-term survival of the company.

-Ben

Post by **gannon** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:53 pm

At this point in time it appears the only thing keeping Nintendo around in the game business are two things, their proprietary use of such games as Mario, Zelda, and Metroid; and their handheld market. If sony does indeed win over the handheld market, I think that in a latch ditch effort, Nintendo may go the way that sega did, as a software developer only. I think that this, although tragic as it would be, may make Nintendo reinvent some game titles, giving them a new edge on todays market (such as what they've done to Metroid with MP and MP2)
With Zelda Wind Waker, they showed that you don't need cutting edge graphics to have wonderful gameplay, but unfortunatly people were put off by the graphics wishing that they could play the visual demo of zelda that was shown with the gamecube hardware. I myself enjoyed Wind Waker, although I was a little upset at their use of the cell shading, it had great gameplay and an even better musical score.
They have indeed been milking their series for the past 20 years, but they have reinvented the titles every 5 years about as well. I do agree that the amount of re-releases is horrible, and that they should just make a "Super Gameboy" type thing for all systems. But that way they reduce the amount of sales that they'd get from those re-releases, and in a hurting business market, I guess that can't be helped.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 1:00 pm

When I heard about the gamecube it wasnt something that intersted me in the least. Granted now I can buy one for almost nothing but it just lacks a lot of games as Ben said for adults.

On G4 they even mentioned this, when the 16bit systems came out Sega had Sonic and Nintendo had Super Mario World. Mario's a great game and all but a little more for the younger crowd obviouly, Sonic I guess they mean is a more difficalt, fast pace game and for the games that have grown out of the age group of mario.

I cant knock Nintendo for what their doing, they're being very consisten to play to the children and have thier parents pick up the tab. You can just look at the way the market is, if we didnt have the GameCube we would have a monopaly of young adult game. If Nintendo really wants to prevent what happened to Sega from happening to them they better look to making at least 2 good new game tittles and have them target the young adults, thats where all the money is for the 128bit so far, think of how the 256bit will be then.

shelter pitfall · Post by **shelter pitfall** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 2:16 pm

Every one knows bout mario, zelda, and metroid. but I haven't played a decent kirby game in ages. I wonder what would happen they started porting saturn games to the cube? (NiGHTS into dreams DX?) I hope the cube can get better features and games... for a more populated audience. In my experience, the little ones follow the teens or adults who talk with them... One little buddy of mine is a great example: I play halo, he plays halo; I play UT2004, so does he. I think nintendo should try and make a system that every one can agree with (developers, publishers, and gamers).

Post by **benheck** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 2:56 pm

Yeah, Kirby was pretty cool.

I think Nintendo should make a game called Mario In Love. Here's the plot:

Young Mario is working his way through college, fixing pipes and cleaning up sludge. Sample:

Mario turns the nut on the pipe with his wrench. The end pops open and a stream of RAW SEWAGE hits him in the face

MARIO
Mama mia!

The PRINCESS and her CAPTIAN OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM BOYFRIEND walk by

BOYFRIEND
Heh heh. Look at MAREEOOOO!!! What a loser!

BOYFRIEND'S FRIEND
See ya, LOSER!

The guys walk on. The PRINCESS looks at Mario with sympathy. Mario smiles through the sewage.

BOYFRIEND (OFFSCREEN)
C'mon!

PRINCESS
Bye....

Mario then decides to become COOL. He goes around on missions jacking cars and doing shrooms (much like Grand Theft Auto). He then clones Yoshi out of DNA and meets Toad at his weekly Dungeons and Dragons play-session.

FINALE:
A large APE has climbed a local building site and taken PRINCESS hostage. Her BOYFRIEND is actually a big wimp and won't go.

The crowd mutters... who will go?

VOICE (UNSEEN IN CROWD)
I will go!

RANDOM PERSON
Who's that?

MARIO (stepping forward)
It's a me, MARIO!

He then proceeds to rescue the PRINCESS, win her heart, and become a professional plumber-turn-Gumba fighter.

Whadda think?

Post by **gannon** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 3:01 pm

It's the Mario movie all over again!!

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 3:01 pm

benheckc wrote:Whadda think?

You've had an extra beer or 2

shelter pitfall · Post by **shelter pitfall** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 3:03 pm

I hated that movie... but I like bens Idea. Didn't Reggie say something bout a mario targeted at an older audience?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 4:19 pm

A Zelda Game. Granted they make new ones on the 'Cube but when was the last original full-fledged Zelda handheld game?

Zelda: The Minish Cap.

Don't worry Ben, Nintendo is trying to change their ways. Here's a quote from Mario's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto:

I guess I was just getting tired of my own style of games.

He said that in an interview a few days ago.

someone · Post by **someone** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 4:48 pm

"wind waker proved you didn't need cutting edge graphics..."

the graphics are actually pretty cutting edge, just in a different way, like the facial expressions.

Post by **benheck** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 6:29 pm

I've never seen the Mario movie, so if my plot is similar then I must be a Evil Corporate Goon reincarnated. But, see, my idea is A GAME!

Post by **gannon** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 6:57 pm

You should be glad you've never seen the mario movie!!
Actually, the plot of your game idea isn't really like the movie, it's just the yoshi thing that reminded me of it

Link89 · Post by **Link89** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 8:32 pm

The mario movie is so funny. But I love those redone games they are great. The zelda games are all new now, with exception of four swords. Wind waker is new and so will the new one. Nintendo is great. (in my opinion) Their only downfall was the gamecube. Before their systems owned! N64 was so awesome I loved it.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 8:51 pm

well all i can say is... you will never see a jak and daxter psp.

although it would befreaking sweet to see a Halo(2) DS!

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:28 pm

cennar wrote:Halo(2) DS!

Perhaps by Rare (Halo would be deasent on the DS). NiGHTS Into Dreams would be cool on the DS (you could touch to contol the guy). Blizzard could make a Warcraft / Starcraft collection with online (you could log into battle.net) and play with PC and DS Warcraft / Starcraft users. An internet cartridge would be nice, a mini laptop. Maybe a PC link for use like a Windows CE (or an iPaq like) device. Maybe a camera that could 3D map the surrounding turrain. A TV remote. A nice PDA. A sweet network MP3 player (or a Winamp radio like device). All those ideas would be awesome for the DS, and probably make it sell well.