Today I read that Todd Howard from Bethesda said he was "not threatened” by the Wii and that “it’s a toy.” He stated that consumers see the Wii as a “kid’s toy” and that the other high end game consoles are “for evil killfests." Public perception on the high end consoles like 360 and PS3 are goign to follow those lines as the most high profile games on the system are killfests, because developers are still chasing that fabled 18-24 male demographic (which in itself is a faulty plan).
I liked Fallout 3, I though it was a good game with a shit ending. I still play Elder Scrolls IV from Bethesda, I love Mass Effect from BioWar, I am a huge fan of the Call of Duty games from Infinity Ward and Treyarc... but I still think the industry is missing the point.
Many publishers and deveopers are trying to be the best looking game on the block, chasing realism and all that (I've already ranted on that topic I know), so when the Wii was announced to be about twice the power of the Gamecube (falling somewhere between the Xbox and the 360) they wrote it off as a failure. When the Wii-mote was shown people claimed Nintendo was doomed. well that was about 3 years ago now, we all know what happened, some places still have the Wii sold out.
The industry was caught with their pants down. Most publishers had no AAA teams for the Wii, using their lesser known and sometimes not so talented teams to make ports and games for the Wii, usually with disaterous results.
The Wii version was a lazy port, but even as a port it should have looked better than the Gamecube game.The Wii has become the home of the lowest of the low, with the majority of games getting around 4.0 out of 10 in reviews. The problem is these games sell to people who don't know any better. The average soccer mom doesn't read reviews before buying a game, they don't lurk on forums or go to gamerankings.com. They buy it based on the idea and the cover.
Nintendos little box that could has become a dumping ground of the industry, with such quick cash ins as Chicken Shoot, a game that started life as a free flash game and got an average review score of 26%. Or Crus'n, a franchise with some pedegree as it was a staple for racing fans on the Nintendo 64. Midway lived up to that pedigree by releasing a game with graphics that could almost be mistaken for the N64 games.
Nintendos little box that could has become a dumping ground of the industry, with such quick cash ins as Chicken Shoot, a game that started life as a free flash game and got an average review score of 26%. Or Crus'n, a franchise with some pedegree as it was a staple for racing fans on the Nintendo 64. Midway lived up to that pedigree by releasing a game with graphics that could almost be mistaken for the N64 games.
Is it sad I prefer the N64 graphics, they look better in some ways!
Recently numerous game developers have closed down or been forced to merge. Free Radical Design was closed and then bought by Crytek (still unconfirmed though). Factor 5 is in a dire situation supposedly. Ensemble Studios was shut down right after Halo Wars was completed. Other companies are cutting people left and right, EA posted record revenues and record losses in 2008. Now, the economy does have something to do with this obviously, but there were problems before everything went belly up. Developers spend million upon millions of dollars on developing a game, and publishers spend millions advertising them. The industry has reached a saturation point and is on the verge of collapse, unless drastic action is taken.
Well, almost the whole industry. Nintendo alone accounted for over 70% of growth in the industry last year... the Wii is still sold out, and people are still buying games. EA recently said they are shifting their focus to Wii, and I applaud them. If more developers took the console seriously (as it should be) we would solve a lot of problems. Companies can still do very pretty and nice looking games on the console.
The problem a lot of them have is the Wii-mote is a hurdle for developers to get over as much as the 16 button 2 joystick controllers are for non-gamers. Well, for developers who want to make more old-school games the Wii supports Gamecube controllers (which Nintendo should put BACK into production), as well as the Classic Controller.
In the end the wii is a double edged sword for developers, it's not the most graphically powerful console, and it is also the best selling. Games that are well done, and well advertised will do well on the system. But they can't expect it to crack the top 10 and make all their sales. The best selling Wii games sell over time, not in a one month time period. Wii Play stays on the Top 5 consistently, Boom Blox from EA sold low every month, but it's consistently sold to the point it has garnered a sequel now.
Here is what developers need to do:
-for CASUAL games-
a) do something other than cram 20 random minigames on the disc to cash in, there are hundreds of these games already.
b) make it something playable in short bursts and/or long bursts, make it addictive and fun.
c) above all else make it good artistically (not necessarily graphically, low poly doesn't mean ugly) and control wise
-for CORE games-
a) ADVERTISE!
b) try to take advantage of the system's strengths and learn your weaknesses (ie. the gamecube and wii do not use normal shaders, they use a proprietary technology called TEV (TExture enViroment))
c) dont' be afraid to require GCN controllers, most CORE gamers have them
d) don't go for the realism and graphics of the 360 and Ps3, you won't get them and the game will look worse for it.
Hopefully this industry is starting to change, I don't want it to crash again and kill off all the companies just because they are too stubborn to change their ways as the market does.
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I would say I'm a gamer with a particular set of desires out of his games. I like games that get my heart pounding - Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid 3 were the last two games that really did that. BioShock, as well, now that I think about it.
ReplyDeleteI also like story that's good but not terribly convoluted - the Zelda series is great that way. Unfortunately, it seems Nintendo sort of isn't focusing on any of that this time around.
I hate to say it, but they are kind of marketing it as a toy. When I watch commercials, I don't see Dead Space. I see bowling. This does not appeal to me. If I wanted to exercise, I'd get the hell out of the house and go to the Y.
When you do see the Wii making an attempt at selling to the bloodthirsty crowd, you have their commercial for Call of Duty World at War, which is just embarrassing. First, if my recollection is correct, it's being played by two kids way too young to be playing that sort of terribly violent game, and they show precisely half a second of gameplay footage right before the end of the commercial DURING WHICH TIME THE GAME IS FRAMING.
Really? You had all that time to pick any half a second of footage and you pick one where the game is stuttering?
I'm not sorry for Nintendo on this one, I'm afraid. Trying something different is a good thing, but where was the 1:1 movement converter when the system was released like all the adverts made it look like? Where is a good shooter game (aside from Resident Evil 4 where you CAN'T MOVE AND SHOOT AT THE SAME TIME)?
If Nintendo wants games with better ratings and more acclaim, it needs to be more accommodating of them.
It looks like a lot of the games showing at NYComicon will be answering your call. Take a look at stuff about The Conduit and Mad World.
ReplyDeleteNintendo is doing the types of games it always has, the reason it seems they are doing all bowling and such is because those games are cheaper to make and come out more often, but never before has Zelda, Mario, Metroid, Smash Bros. and Mario Kart all come out within a year, or a year and a half of a console launch.
ReplyDeleteI say that the third parties are the ones who dropped the ball. they were unprepared because they thought all gamers wanted better graphics, when that would seem to be an error in judgement.
I would have to say that Metroid Prime 2, The Conduit, and Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 are good FPSes on the console.
As for third party "pulse pounding" games (as if Nintendo didn't make Metroid), EA announced they would be bringing Dead Space to the Wii, and CAPCOM announced Dead Rising. Plus SEGA is bringing MadWorld, The Conduit, and I'm sure more will be announced at E3.
In all honesty, blaming third parties isn't the answer. It all comes back to Nintendo. If Nintendo wants the core market, they'll spend on it. Why should MS and Sony have to spend money to get the high profile games but Nintendo sit in a corner not working for them? It's a two way streak bro and I too don't feel sorry for them.
ReplyDeleteNow to switch perspectives, I don't mind the casual games. Yes everyone loves the mini-games and such but it's because they're looking to see the extent they need to spend in order to give casual gamers what they want. You said it yourself there's no need for Realism and the like. Thus if the play is fun and entertaining then I don't see the issue. In fact Nintendo getting some of those flash games aren't bad within reason. Casuals enjoy them on the PC and such, therefore following the market (with some work mind you) they'd like it on Wii.
The best we can do is encourage newer types of casual games so that Wii doesn't become saturated, otherwise I like what Todd Howard said.
Well, almost the whole industry. Nintendo alone accounted for over 70% of growth in the industry last year... the Wii is still sold out, and people are still buying games. EA recently said they are shifting their focus to Wii, and I applaud them. If more developers took the console seriously (as it should be) we would solve a lot of problems. Companies can still do very pretty and nice looking games on the console.
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