More Anti-Nintendo feelings of late?

[Genesaturn]

Anyone else notice that compared to all the previous generations and out of all the home consoles, that lately Nintendo has been being heckled the most? For some God knows what reason I continue to torture myself by reading IGN and Game Informer. Lately though its "Does Nintendo have what it takes?" "The WII-U needs to do this to survive" on and on. My favorite is lately IGN has been posting these stories about the WII U and if a new Super Mario Brothers is "super enough" or "mario enough" to sell the WII U...which I find HILARIOUS since IGN has been THE biggest whiner about how the Gamecube and Wii LACKED a Mario title at launch..now that they are getting one they are complaining if it will be good enough. I've finally broke down and subscribed to Nintendo Power since I'm tired of reading stories by the idiots ate IGN/1UP/Game Informer to name a few.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I consider myself to be highly platform agnostic and I think that in this generation (which perhaps is why I don't see Nintendo getting it any worse than anybody else), and in this era of modern internet media outlets/blogging/etc, that nothing is free from a constant stream of criticism.

All three companies in the console/portable race(s) (as well as companies on the fringe) get pretty regular reports/headlines running with gloom, doom, doubt and negativity.

In some cases its editorializing and/or genuine pointed bias, in others it's just a means to generate thought-provoking discussion amongst the readership of whatever news site/blog that the stories are going out on.

Since media is so entrenched in social interactivity/responses now, it's not necessarily a terrible thing to pose a controversial position in an article if it means that you're going to get 100 pages of responses and exponentially thousands and thousands of clicks, views, etc.

I don't see a huge problem with it, mainly because I don't see any universally unfair/unbalanced treatment of any one company. Nintendo came out of the last console and portable generation with a pretty significant lead, so expectations are high, as they typically are for them, and despite any large or small success that any company has seen, they've all taken their lumps in the press for various things, and continue to do so.

And at the end of the day, most of these things are just opinions/speculation...

And you know what they say about opinions, it's like, everybody has assholes and elbows ... or something.

[Gameguy]

Nintendo came out of the last console and portable generation with a pretty significant lead, so expectations are high, as they typically are for them....

Nintendo came out of the Gamecube era with a significant lead? Out of that generation of home consoles it was in last place. People do have high expectations but I think that's more to do with people wanting a return to the golden years of Nintendo with the NES and SNES, the last few Nintendo systems were lacking in comparison. Their handhelds seem to be doing well, though the 3D gimmick with the most recent one seemed to remind people of the Virtual Boy so there was less optimism there.

A lot of complaints with the Wii were that it was aimed at casual players instead of serious players. In a way that's how they marketed the NES. They didn't call it a video game console, it was an "Entertainment System". Those weren't video game cartridges, they were "Game Paks". They marketed it differently at a time when people were starting to avoid buying video games, it's a lot like how the Wii was being marketed. The games were much better on the NES than the Wii but I can't really fault their marketing of the Wii when they've sold so many of them.

[kupomogli]

I used to be a Nintendo fanboy. Then Nintendo killed my parents. True story.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Nintendo came out of the Gamecube era with a significant lead?

Sorry, I was referring to THIS console generation, which is winding down. I'm being preemptive in my statement, but the Wii generation is pretty much over.

[wingzrow]

My main problem with them this generation was their refusal to Localize the following Wii games, even though they were already in english in the united kingdom.

The Last Window
Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories
Disaster Day of Crisis
The Last Story
Xenoblade
Pandora's Tower

I know xenoblade came out, and the last story is coming out as well, but we had to have project rainfall do that for us. Even so, we missed out on the amazing red wii classic controller europe got, we're likely to not get collectors editions as nice ( or at all)m of pandora's tower and the last story.

We don't get the commemorative coin set europe gets for registering these games

oh, and the entire mother three thing, though that game does have legal issues so I can understand why.

It's like they've completely abandoned their american fans, even though american numbers for xenoblade were comparable to europe's in it's first week, and that was without the free controller.

[Bojay1997]

My main problem with them this generation was their refusal to Localize the following Wii games, even though they were already in english in the united kingdom.

The Last Window
Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories
Disaster Day of Crisis
The Last Story
Xenoblade
Pandora's Tower

I know xenoblade came out, and the last story is coming out as well, but we had to have project rainfall do that for us. Even so, we missed out on the amazing red wii classic controller europe got, we're likely to not get collectors editions as nice ( or at all)m of pandora's tower and the last story.

We don't get the commemorative coin set europe gets for registering these games

oh, and the entire mother three thing, though that game does have legal issues so I can understand why.

It's like they've completely abandoned their american fans, even though american numbers for xenoblade were comparable to europe's in it's first week, and that was without the free controller.

Have you actually played Last Window, Another Code R or Disaster Day of Crisis? They are mediocre at best and didn't sell well in the UK. They are also very easy and cheap to import. Xenoblade was released as a result of Gamestop and Nintendo partnering and Last Story is coming out from Xseed. Pandora's Tower is likely going to be released. Operation Rainfall had zero to do with it. The red controller is just a regular Classic Controller Pro in a different color and it cost extra, it wasn't a freebee. Are you gonna really hold that against Nintendo? Sony releases unique colors of consoles and controllers in other markets all the time and I never hear people complain about it. Similarly, there are literally tons of PS3 games that never get localized but nobody really seems to complain much.

I hardly think Nintendo has abandoned anyone, especially since these three JRPG games only came out in Japan last year and Nintendo released many other niche titles over the life of the Wii in the US. In the end, people just like to bash the front-runner or any company that makes a profit. Personally, my disappointment with the Wii has been that there have been so many long gaps with a total lack of games I'm interested in. Thankfully, I have a PS3 and 360 and those have both filled in the downtime.

[Griking]

Anyone else notice that compared to all the previous generations and out of all the home consoles, that lately Nintendo has been being heckled the most? For some God knows what reason I continue to torture myself by reading IGN and Game Informer. Lately though its "Does Nintendo have what it takes?" "The WII-U needs to do this to survive" on and on. My favorite is lately IGN has been posting these stories about the WII U and if a new Super Mario Brothers is "super enough" or "mario enough" to sell the WII U...which I find HILARIOUS since IGN has been THE biggest whiner about how the Gamecube and Wii LACKED a Mario title at launch..now that they are getting one they are complaining if it will be good enough. I've finally broke down and subscribed to Nintendo Power since I'm tired of reading stories by the idiots ate IGN/1UP/Game Informer to name a few.

It's been almost 30 years now and I'm not the least bit interested in yet another Mario title. The same goes for Zelda too. The problem is that when I think of Nintendo these are the primary games that I think of. That's a problem for Nintendo IMO.

[Press_Start]

It's been almost 30 years now and I'm not the least bit interested in yet another Mario title. The same goes for Zelda too. The problem is that when I think of Nintendo these are the primary games that I think of. That's a problem for Nintendo IMO.

That's not a problem. That's the face of your company. It runs along the line of scrapping Superman/Batman cause they're first things popping into your mind when people think DC comics or, going niche, like Atlus dropping their Shin Megami Tensei series since you can't name one other game besides Persona 4. Nintendo's got plenty others bread winners fall back on (Kirby, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Smash Bros, Pokemon etc.) and still room to spare for others (Pikmin, Punchout, Warioland, Fire Emblem, Sin & Punishment, Luigi's Mansion, Advance Wars, Rhythm Heaven, etc.). So why make an unnecessary change? Unless you're Sega and putrefy a 90's household money machine like Sonic for the good part of the last decade, Nintendo still remains a better example of good brand keeping and if you're sick of Mario, I hear Xenoblade is very good.

[Griking]

That's not a problem. That's the face of your company. It runs along the line of scrapping Superman/Batman cause they're first things popping into your mind when people think DC comics or, going niche, like Atlus dropping their Shin Megami Tensei series since you can't name one other game besides Persona 4. Nintendo's got plenty others bread winners fall back on (Kirby, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Smash Bros, Pokemon etc.) and still room to spare for others (Pikmin, Punchout, Warioland, Fire Emblem, Sin & Punishment, Luigi's Mansion, Advance Wars, Rhythm Heaven, etc.). So why make an unnecessary change? Unless you're Sega and putrefy a 90's household money machine like Sonic for the good part of the last decade, Nintendo still remains a better example of good brand keeping and if you're sick of Mario, I hear Xenoblade is very good.

Every one of those Nintendo games that you've mentioned are franchises that have been around for 20 years now. I'm not saying that Nintendo should drop all of them but they need to come up with some fresh new ideas.

[Press_Start]

I'm not saying that Nintendo should drop all of them but they need to come up with some fresh new ideas.

Newsflash! So does the whole goddamn video game industry! Whatever Nintendo's doing "wrong", I bet ya everybody else is 10x more guilty. Don't you think Activision should try something else beside pumping CoD and Guitar Hero year after year? EA's got a stranglehold on that NFL license, why not take the Madden series from a different angle or release the franchise and let a different developer take into a new direction? Let's not forget the endless drool of First-Person Shooters, Third-Person Shooters, Zombie Survival Shooters, Military Shooters, Western Shooters, Tactical Shooters, Space Shooters, Outdoor Shooters, Rail Shooters, RPG Shooters, Cat Shooters, Dog Shooters, Brown Shooters, Grandma Shooters, and Shooter Shooters and gamers say Nintendo needs fresh ideas? What a laugh!

Here's my final thought: I believe what the OP refers to as "anti-Nintendo" isn't necessarily hate directed to the big N but really establishing an incredibly unfair/stupid double standard where Nintendo's picked n' prodded and scrutinized by gamers/media for all their faults big/small, while all other developers are given a pass in a sense. Recently, Nintendo's made their first loss in 30 years and I've been hearing "SHIT-tenD@N'T f#ck!" comments nonstop. Sony and MS bleeding money every nanosecond and it's business as usual.

Steel Diver, Captain Rainbow, Spirit Camera, Xenoblade Chronicles, Last Story, Pandora's Tower, Drill Dozer, Trace Memory, Hotel Dusk, Eternal Darkness, Geist, Chibi Robo, Pikmin, Day of Disaster, AR Technology, etc.....all new ideas Nintendo presented in the last decade. They're probably not the best Nintendo offers but they can honestly say they tried, which I can't say the same for the rest of the industry.

[Greg2600]

I think by now it's safe to say the Wii was sort of a fad. By fad I mean the Wii mote and it's motion controls. Somewhat from the release of Kinect and Move, but mainly because the genre was a fad. Now, there's no denying Nintendo is king of portable systems, and their game franchises are second to none on average. However, like Gamecube, they're on their way back to being the child's console. Nothing wrong with any of this, they can still make plenty of money. That said, the 3DS has been a big money loser from the hardware standpoint, though that didn't kill Sony or Microsoft and their systems sell at a negative gross margin. I guess my question is whether they continue as #3 like Gamecube was, because the Wii U is going to be third when all the new stuff shakes out. Honestly I don't see how they can price themselves that far under MS or Sony, because the hardware in the Wii U is going to cost a lot more than the Wii did.

[RCM]

It's been almost 30 years now and I'm not the least bit interested in yet another Mario title. The same goes for Zelda too. The problem is that when I think of Nintendo these are the primary games that I think of. That's a problem for Nintendo IMO.

While I did like what I played of Mario Galaxy, I'm pretty much with ya. Nintendo seems very content to do the same thing over and over again. Some love it, but many don't. While I'll buy 3DS and Wii U eventually, Nintendo largely bores me.

[WCP]

I forever give Nintendo a pass with anything they are doing, because of what they have already delivered. So many of their games dominate my top 10 of all time list. I know they just keep doing the same thing over and over, but still, of all the Japanese developers out there, Nintendo is the one developer that seems to deliver what the western world enjoys.

[duffmanth]

I was such a huge fan of both the NES and SNES as a kid. They both had great games both first and third party that satisfied every genre. However, starting with the N64, that's when Nintendo began to fall apart in my opinion. Their stupid decision to stick with cartridges instead of going with CD's along with everyone else at the time, cost them huge third support that they lost to Sony and have never really regained. I grew out of Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong 20 years ago and Nintendo still milks and relies far too much on these franchises. Just once I would love to see Nintendo come out with a game that's totally new and original, something that's targeted towards the mature crowd and not 5 year olds. A game that can compete with Uncharted, God of War, Metal Gear, GTA, Halo, whatever...it's fine to keep making Mario and Zelda, but offer something new every now and then. The Gamecube got destroyed by the PS2 for these very reasons, the Wii enjoyed so much early success simply because it was coasting on its motion sensing abilities and now most people I know that have Wii's have either sold them off or they're paper weights. I would love to see Nintendo offer some new and original games with the Wii-U, but I think that might be wishful thinking?

[BetaWolf47]

Anyone else notice that compared to all the previous generations and out of all the home consoles, that lately Nintendo has been being heckled the most?

Lately? Were you in cryogenic sleep for the N64 and Gamecube?

[Genesaturn]

Lately? Were you in cryogenic sleep for the N64 and Gamecube?

No, I was playing Saturn and Dreamcast :P lol - but I get your point. It just seems like people are complaining about things Nintendo is doing now, that they were complaining about them for NOT doing then.

[Rob2600]

Anyone else notice that compared to all the previous generations and out of all the home consoles, that lately Nintendo has been being heckled the most? For some God knows what reason I continue to torture myself by reading IGN and Game Informer.

I've been working in the publishing industry for nine years. Most people don't realize this, but articles are written to draw attention and get an emotional response from the reader (not necessarily to inform the reader with facts...magazines aren't encyclopedias). Same goes for headlines. On the internet, we call it "link baiting".

When editors are sitting around a table coming up with next week's story ideas, they purposely try to think of controversial topics to get readers riled up. Just because IGN or Game Informer continually posts stories speculating about Nintendo failing, that doesn't mean it's true. It doesn't even mean the people at those publications believe what they're writing.

When you see headlines or stories like that, you can't take them seriously. You just have to laugh them off and move on with your day and avoid falling for the link bait.

Video game journalism has almost never been good, but it's slowly evolved into a complete joke.