Talking 'Bout A Revolution

Now that the weekend has passed, folks from all over have had their chance to speak up about the revolution behind the Revolution. Hugh Williams writes "The blokes at Next Generation decided to ask a bunch of game designers, media and analysts what they thought about Nintendo's new Revolution Controller. Some were a little skeptical. Others were downright in love." Additionally, Heartless Gamer writes "Heartless Gamer blog has initial comments up regarding the Revolution controller, but more importantly comments on the various reactions around the internet regarding the controller." Finally, LATRINE! writes "Whether you like it or not, the Nintendo Revolution is on the way. Brittlefish has an article discussing some of the challenges Nintendo will face in gaining acceptance in the market."

Comments

Lost Garden

[Apreche]

The genius over at Lost Garden keeps falling under the radar. He consistently has the best articles on the net. His piece on the revolution, and Nintendo in general, is no different. If you read one thing about the revolution, make it this.

Re:Lost Garden

[rAiNsT0rm]

Look I'm not trying to start an argument, but the person you linked to has no real grasp of what he speaks about. Sure, it all sounds logical and thoughtful, but most is simply not true. I've worked in the industry and have a very initmate knowledge of the media/marketing/numbers side of the game.

His attempt to claim that all of the onus is on the game players is very far off-base. Also, his talk about Nintendo and how they "create genres" in the early stages because it is the most profitable is so wildly untrue it stopped me dead. Nintendo may use a fairly (on the surface) basic look, but that is a sylistic artistic direction and is NOT "cheaper" than creating a game with ultra-realistic graphics. In fact, if you take the time to look, Nintendo tends to utilize EVERY hardware feature in every game as far as graphics are concerned. Also it is just plain false that to create the first in a genre is cheaper because it is simpler and has less content. Totally false. Innovation carries a much higher cost than simply following suit and making a few improvements.

I'm sorry but this guys work gets passed over because it is not backed by any credibility or factual insight. It is just my opinion, but a genius he is not.

Odd people quoted in Links

[smbarbour]

In the second link, what they thought about Nintendo's new Revolution Controller , scroll down the page and find the comment from Chris Melissinos, who apparently is the Chief Gaming Officer for Sun Microsystems.

Since when did Sun have a games division?

The Best Reason for this Controller

[Prien715]

Is that it'll differentiate the console enough from the competitiion. Let's say I develop a game for the revolution which uses the new controller. Not only will it give me new freedom to design the game from an interface standpoint, but it'll also make it virtually impossible to port to any other console without a redesign of the game itself.

So while I'll be able to buy GTA4 for either X-Box 360 or PS3, Metroid Prime 3 will not only be a Nintendo exclusive, but other games by 3rd party developers will become de-facto exclusives since porting the control scheme will be so difficult.

Basically, Nintendo is making itself a unique product so that it's not so much competing as becoming a new good in the market.

Re:Controller Intimidation Factor

[Meagermanx]

Insightful.
I don't know anyone who's 'scared' of gaming controllers like they describe. Everyone is willing to try out a controller, even old people. Of course the results are mixed, but as long as you don't use a Gamecube controller, you get used to it pretty fast.
I think their only problem is not giving the player more buttons and sticks. You want these guys to design games that will not only stand up to the modern market, but also attract non/casual gamers, and you're only giving them two buttons to work with? Good plan there, Big N.

Another, more offtopic theory: Our generation games, right (I'm 17)? So most of the non-gamers are dying off, right? So this leaves Nintendo's plan where, exactly, in a few years?

Re:my plan

[rAiNsT0rm]

And you are exactly NOT in the demographic Sony and MS are targeting. This is not a bad thing either, as they are targeting the less savvy "hip/trendy." Anyone with enough brains to see the logic behind your plan is not in their market.

These two new systems are the equivalent of a Ferrari or Lambo. They are mad fast, contain all types of whiz-bang features, look flashy... but have to be driven at 1/3rd their capacity due to road conditions/police/speed limits/weather. The average person (even if they had the cash) would go for something more practical... exactly what you are proposing to do.

I recently traded in a bunch of PS2 titles on a GameCube and Mario Party, Donkey Konga 1&2, and a few other titles and paid $6.00 TOTAL. We've had more fun and laughs in the past month than I've had on the PS2 over it's entire lifespan. At some point most gamers see through the hype and glitz and to the reality. All of those same people will be buying a Revolution. Smart consumers are not in Sony or MS's gameplan at all with this launch.

Amen - My wife likes to play too.

[xplenumx]

I couldn't agree more - I truly wish that more companies out there would focus on the casual gamer. I absolutely love my Xbox, however my wife finds all the games to be too complicated, becomes frustrated within a few minutes of playing them, and never touches them again. It's a shame too since she adored the original NES and loves watching the Xbox games.

Just over a month ago we picked up a copy of Super Monkey Ball Deluxe (SMBD) and have fallen in love with the mini-racing game (think Mario Kart, but you're a monkey in a ball). The game is wonderful! My wife and I can play together (or more accurately, against each other), the controls are very simple to learn, and we can play in short bursts. We've played SMBD every night since we got it, and we're still having a blast.

So here's the problem, we can't find any other games like it - racing games are too focused on photo-realism and don't support the under-dog (it sucks if you're in second place and have to wait for the person in first to make a mistake - missiles and bombs make the game much more interesting for everyone involved), FPSs tend to have a high learning curve and shooting people tends to turn off potential gamers, and fighting games tend to go overboard on the gore and have an extremely high learning curve. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm seriously considering putting my Xbox in the closet and replacing it with a Game Cube (and Revolution when it comes out). I want to play games with my wife. My wife wants to play games with me. I want to have people over and be able to play games with them, even if they've never touched a console before. Seems to me, Nintendo is the only company that gets this.

Re:Amen - My wife likes to play too.

[rAiNsT0rm]

Couldn't agree more. I spent over 4 years covering Sony PS2 titles, and could never play one game with my girlfriend that she would enjoy (except for Space Channel 5, and Katamari Damacy) But she owned a NES and loves games. Even Katamari Damacy was a bit tough for her at times. So I gathered up a bunch of crap Ps2 titles went to Gamestop and got a GC, Mario Party 5, Puyo Pop Fever, and Donkey Konga 1&2... we have a blast. Mario Party 5 is great for a gamer/non-gamer match-up. Super Monkey Ball also. I've even come home to find she had been playing Puyo Pop on her own. The controller is her biggest problem though with the GC, she hates the analog stick and uses the D-pad when possible. She is not alone, nor unique in this respect and the Revolution is custom tailored for her and millions of others just like her.

Go for the GC and some non-gamer games and you'll have much more fun than a solo run through any 1-player game. I find myself dying to play the GC when I get home now, where my PS2 has had a layer of dust build up since Katamari Damacy lost it's luster with me.

Re:Amen - My wife likes to play too.

[Chazmyrr]

Also try Zelda: 4 Swords Adventure and Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles for the cube. Both have multiplayer built in. The downside is you need a GBA for each player. The only reason I got a GBA was to play those with my girlfriend.

I have to keep the PS2 around though. She loves DDR with the dance pad controllers.

Re:Two Words

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually... Ummm...

http://www.gyration.com/intl/uk/pr-nintendo_uk.htm

Oh get over yourself

[DoctaWatson]

He's not saying Nintendo uses crappy graphics or a limited art budget to cut costs of games- he's saying that as competing budgets within the same genre sprial upward, Nintendo does the sensible thing and moves on to make its mark with innovation. And he backs this up by showing that Nintendo's development costs are about half as much as Microsoft's.

You on the other hand, have no numbers, no analysis and no insight other than "Totally false." Things aren't just true because you say they are. He explains why innovation is cost-effective for Nintendo, so why don't you explain why it's not before you go shooting off your mouth.

Metroid Prime and Halo 2 had vastly different budgets. One game took the innovative road and made a new niche genre, and yet the other game had a much higher development cost despite "simply following suit and making a few improvements". See if you can guess which strategy was effective for Nintendo.

Oh, and you aren't a numbers or marketing insider just because you once wrote for Maxim.