Slashdot Mirror
Cultural Blinders Lead to Nintendo Fallacy
obchrisj writes "A week long, unscientific poll on FileFront found 61% agreeing with the notion that Nintendo will soon be "going the way of Sega." In an editorial on their website, they ask Nintendo reps and industry analysts what the future of Nintendo really is, taking a glance at the DS, GameCube, and Revolution consoles. Slashdot recently reported on poor sales performance for Nintendo's GameCube. From the editorial: 'According to O'Rourke, Nintendo's U.S. market position has conditioned North American gamers to believe the company's global fortunes are equally down. Such "Nintendo is dying!" hysteria is largely a product of this cultural tunnel vision.'"
... globally the Gamecube has sold almost as much as the Xbox - and that's (up until now) with all cubes going to people who BUY their games. A lot of Xboxes (yes, a LOT) are sold only because they can be chipped - some for piracy and some for the excellent mediacapabilities.
However, Nintendo has a problem since they're doing games everyone can enjoy. I'm 30, and I love their games. They're very well thought through, and you know you cannot "get stuck". I also love the retro-aspects, like the NES parodies in Paper Mario 2.
When I mention Resident Evil 4, and that it's Gamecube exclusive, most Xbox and PS2 owners become very surprised. They have no idea those types of games are on the Gamecube - but when they find out they become quite interested.
Now, they'll become even more so. The cube can (since a few weeks back) be chipped. You still have to swap with an original disc, but the possibility to pirate games has been an enormous factor both in the success of the PSX and the Xbox, when they entered the market. Both times Nintendo has had to rely on the loyal buyers instead of the "cool dudes" who are more interested in building up a huge collection of copied games than actually playing them.
With the incredible autumn-winter lineup of Paper Mario 2, Metroid Prime 2 and Resident Evil 4 - followed up by a new Zelda this summer - maybe we'll see an increased awareness with regards to the Gamecube. It definitely deserves it, the games are THAT good.
Really.
it's in my head
College campus, midwest america - we play games cause there good, and wont tolerate anything else. One of the top ranked engineering schools in the world (4 last I checked), but not for techies like MIT and CALTECH - we do REAL engineering here. So little bias on the tech front.
Dorm Floor:
X-Boxes - in a 15 room hall, there are 25 Xbox's. One room has 5. With 4 PPL. And 3 TV's. No Room has less than 10 Titles, all include either Halo or Halo 2. No other game repeated more than 3 times.
Sony - 8 PS2's - 9 PSOnes btw. Libraries are ridiculous. Multiple copies of Everything - notable: MGS 1-3, Madden, FF 8-11. Titles I have never heard of, imports, the whole gamut. A linux PS2 Dev kit :-)
IN THE ENTIRE BUILDING - 3 GC's. All purchased for either Metroid, Zelda, Or Smashbros. No one with more than 5 games, all franchises. 2 Have gotten RE4 - 1 is waiting for the PS2 Version. 1 Copy of CC and 4 swords - in the same room.
Now - this is the definition of target deomgraphic. all age 18-25, Male, Variety of Genres, online and single player, high speed, network play all available.
Now, Unless the N figures out how to grow up and provide content to Mature, Online audiences, they will forever be tagged as kid friendly, mom approved. It dosent matter how silly the online chats are - the fact is online exists for the interaction. GC fans are missing out - SSB:M online?!?!?! Come on...
To add insult, btw: one of the GC's was used as a stand for the xbox when not in use.
Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!