Is It Finally Gameover For Nintendo? Part 2

Nintendo fanatics should stop reading here. Go on, get lost. I know you guys can’t handle the truth, so I’m giving you the chance to turn around and exit the premises. Still here? Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Satoru Iwata has finally admitted what we gamers knew all along: the Wii is a shit console. Sure, he didn’t use those exact words, he’s far too dull. Instead, he hid behind a rather long-winded euphemism: “The company was unable to launch much-anticipated first-party titles for the Wii in a timely fashion in the first half of the term. In the game platform business, creating momentum is very important, but the momentum was once lost, and it has had a large negative effect on our sales and profits."

Nintendo effectively abandoned the Wii in preparation for their next console, the Wii U. And that’s why the only notable Nintendo-made Wii games of 2011 – aside from the long delayed Skyward Sword - are Kirby's Epic Yawn and Wii Play Motion. Be still my beating heart.

In a grovelling apology that spans five pages Satoru Iwata told investors he feels “greatly accountable” for Nintendo’s poor performance. He also confesses that Nintendo has learned “a bitter lesson” from 3DS’s failings and would do everything possible to secure a more successful launch for Wii U: "We would like to show the final format of the Wii U at the E3 show next year.”

Final format? It’ll be interesting to see what tweaks and changes Nintendo make to their new console. After it’s rather underwhelming unveiling at E3 2011 I’m sure we’ll see a last-ditch attempt to get the public on board. A next-gen Mario title perhaps?

Nintendo’s lacklustre performance this year has lost the company £578m. The Big N – once the greatest gaming force in the industry – needs a minor miracle to revive its ailing brand. All I know is this: the Wii U, more than any console before it, will prove critical to shaping Nintendo’s future.

Read Part 1 here.

The Evolution Of Mario

The brilliantly named YouTuber "AnOrangePikachu" has uploaded a video compilation entitled "Evolution of Mario" which shows the iconic plumber in over 100 games he's appeared in over the years.

It's a staggering work of editing, and I suspect even the most devoted Mario fan will see some footage that's new to them. Enjoy! I know I did.

Is It Finally Gameover For Nintendo?

Who remembers the Gamecube’s unique selling point? If you’ve forgotten, let me remind you: it had a handle. So you could carry it.

Sadly, it’s been downhill for Nintendo ever since.

Advocates of the Wii are wrong. It's a terrible console, perhaps even worse than its purple predecessor. The initial excitement generated by the idiot-proof Wii remote soon turned to apathy and eventually hatred. In its current state, motion-controlled gameplay lacks the sophistication and accuracy enjoyed by those brought up on traditional control pads.

In short, it’s shit.

Rare glimpses of genius – most notably Mario Galaxy – were smothered beneath an avalanche of cheap and nasty third party titles. Only the prospect of another Zelda title - Skyward Sword - is keeping the Wii from total redundancy.

But it’s too little, too late.

With the Wii U on the horizon and - at last! - the promise of a full-on HD Zelda, anticipation for Skyward Sword has waned, even among the hardcore. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before we jump on the fanboy bandwagon, let’s have a look at just what Nintendo’s next console is all about.

The unveiling of the Wii U at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo was a total balls-up. Even the tech-savvy journos that comprised the audience let out a collective ‘eh?’ after the Wii U was revealed. The source of confusion was Nintendo’s barmy decision to show only the controller. The actual console was nowhere to be seen. In an attempt to placate the bewildered attendees, Satora Iwata hastily tweeted a pic of himself holding both the console and the controller.

It gets worse.

Nintendo's share price hit its lowest value in five years following the Wii U’s calamitous unveiling. "There were high expectations from the new version of the Wii and this fell far short," said analyst Yusuke Tsunoda.

In fact, the Wii U is looking less appealing with each passing day. The console’s “unique” tablet-style controller will feel like yesterday’s news when it finally makes an appearance in 2012. Nintendo’s new console will be born into a world where tablets have already successfully established themselves as alternative gaming platforms.

It’s time Nintendo had a serious fucking reality check. Console sales used to make up 80 percent of the industry as recently as 2000. Today that percentage has halved due to the proliferation of ipads and mobile phones. The revolution is here. Unfortunately, Nintendo seems to be floundering in its wake rather than leading it.

The 3DS is a perfect case in point. Mere months after it launched Nintendo instituted one of the deepest and swiftest price cuts in its history. A whopping third of the retail price was lopped off to counter disappointing sales figures. Nintendo released the 3DS into an intensely competitive market – a market where the iOS platform is growing as a gaming destination at an exponential rate.

Times are changing and Nintendo needs to sit up and take notice or drown in the coming tide. Gamers can pick up their ipod, download several fun, high-quality games for free, almost every day. Nintendo continues to flog us shite like Xevious – originally released in 1982 – for over a fiver. It’s a total fucking shambles. Unsurprisingly, Japanese fund managers and investors have called on Nintendo to move, or buy, into smartphones.

Japanese newspaper Nikkei is reporting that Nintendo is set to report losses as much as ¥100 billion (£823 million/$1.32 billion) for the first-half of 2011.

So then, is this the end for the almighty Nintendo? Will the Wii U go the way of the Dreamcast?

I certainly hope not. My heart sinks at the thought of a world without Mario, Link and Samus. Come on Nintendo, pull your finger out and give us gamers what we want: an end to gimmicky peripherals and a Zelda game that finally tops Ocarina of Time. Preferably in HD. Cheers.

At Last! The Long Awaited Sequel To Duck Hunt

Cor blimey, doesn't time fly? It's been 24 years since Nintendo released its duck-slaughtering masterpiece on the NES.

The game's sniggering mutt became an instant icon and appears in countless internet memes as a mocking symbol of failure.

Nintendo's decision to make the nameless pooch invulnerable to pot shots infuriated a generation of gamers and led to the cackling canine appearing in many people's top-ten most despised videogame characters.

I for one salute you Mr Dog. May your fuck-you attitude continue to blight the lives of all who set eyes upon you. In fact, I want to see this dayglow Muttley appear as an unlockable character in Wii U's upcoming Super Smash Bros game. Special move? Obvious - the ability to vomit half-chewed duck into his opponent’s cheery fizzogs.

Wii U

Hey. Hey you. Yes, YOU. You're in luck. Nintendo’s new Wii U console was made just for you. Well, you and every other sentient being in the universe. Yup, Nintendo is continuing its push to appeal to as wide a demographic as possible. Forget the giddy whispers of a 'core' console for 'core' gamers. The Wii U is the Swiss army knife of gaming: something for everyone.



Ah yes, the Wii U. A Genuinely nifty bit of kit, despite the rubbish name. It's just a shame Nintendo made such a colossal balls-up of introducing it to the world at their E3 conference. Not even the tech savvy journos that comprised the audience seemed to know what Nintendo had just revealed. Inevitably, Twitter exploded in a frenzy of confused tweets. Is the Wii U a new console or simply another Wii peripheral? Wait...what? The Wii U controller can be used in conjunction with the Wii's original controllers? Huh?



After much uncertain deliberation it became clear that the Wii U is indeed a brand new console. Thing is, Nintendo only revealed the console's controller, NOT THE ACTUAL CONSOLE ITSELF. And get this. At the end of the conference Satora Iwata had to tweet a pic of himself holding both the console and the controller 'to help with any confusion' (see below). Total Madness.

Thing is, the absence of the console wasn't a glaring oversight, it was an informed decision. You see, the final form of the console has yet to be decided upon. In fact ,when pressed on the issue of the Wii U's techinical capabilites, Nintendo's CEO Reggie Fils-Aime, dismissed the actual console as 'just a box'.

Tit.

So, what DO we know about the Wii U? Well, it has a sensible amount of under-the-bonnet grunt (an area in which the underpowered Wii suffered from its inception) which means it'll be able to play games like Batman Arkham City and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon. So even though Nintendo hasn’t announced any detailed specs, the Wii U is going to be competent within the current scene, it’ll be able to do what the other consoles can, as well as all the kooky Nintendo stuff on top of that. Don’t know about you, but I’m sold.

Not so sure about this guy though…

New Super Mario Bros Wii Review.

Nope, ‘fraid not chaps. There’s nowt here to rival the brain melting riot of originality that burst on to the SNES twenty years ago in the form of Super Mario World. Twenty long years - a cavernous period of time that has seen Nintendo release the N64, Gamecube and Wii - and we are STILL waiting for a 2D platformer to topple SMW from its lofty perch in the clouds.

New Super Mario Bros Wii is by no means a disaster. How could it be? It’s the spiritual sequel to the best 2D platformer ever made. Yes, it lacks the traditional Mario charm and, yes, it’s too easy (okay, not the tear inducing 9-7), but you’ll enjoy it nonetheless, more so if you block out the giddy delights of its SNES forbear.

Unsurprisingly it’s the newest addition to the game that proves the most fun. Multiplayer, a mode I usually shun, got a thoroughly good seeing to this time round - a testament to Mario's universal appeal. Roping in a couple of playmates is never a problem when you mention the ubiquitous Italian chubster. Faces light up and eyes mist over with childhood nostalgia. That mystical Mario allure has yet to wane after all these years. And, yes, bouncing around the Mushroom Kingdom with a few friends in tow is as fun as it sounds. An air of happy cooperation illuminates the first 30 mins of playtime together. Sharing power ups, boosting a chum to reach a Star Coin, piggybacking a weaker player over tricky terrain - all these wonderful moments of teamwork are integral to the happy, shiny, let's-be-friends feel.

Inevitably the love does not last long. Mischievous tom-foolery soon takes over. Every tactic used in the spirit of collaboration is quickly turned on its head. Stop a pal from pinching a preferred power up by lobbing him into some lava, or force him to play catch up by zooming on ahead. Yes indeedy, there are plenty of ways to ruin it for everyone else and you'll try every single one of them.

Multiplayer is fun, no doubt. But without a few chums to share in the high jinks the levels feel soulless and empty. To truly appreciate the potential for mutliplayer mayhem take a peek inside Princess Peach's Castle. The jaw dropping 'super skills' locked within showcase the astounding tricks and acrobatics that four hardcore platform fans can pull off. Some of the stunts are truly mind blowing. Same goes for the 'endless one ups'. There are some ingenious ways to clock up extra lives, feats of digit crippling dexterity you'd simply never have thought of yourself. Watching these videos is like searching youtube for all those quirky 'look what I can do' clips posted by the public. They also draw attention to the meticulously planned level design and reveal a depth to the gameplay that might have otherwise been overlooked.

Some welcome additions then but nothing like the ground pounding triumph we've been waiting so long for. Me thinks a little context is in order here, a peek into the past to put this game in to perspective.

It took a decade for Nintendo to better Mario 64, but Galaxy was worth the wait. And after 12 years we’re finally due a Zelda that’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with the mighty Ocarina Of Time.

The Big N is renowned for lavishing its most cherished franchises with generous periods of development time. It’s why their end products are often modern day masterpieces. Bum numbing delays are tolerable if, at the end of it all, we have a Galaxy to gawp at. But twenty years? For this? Fuck me, no. Too little, too late.

Interesting NSMBW fact

Is The Gamecube Nintendo's Worst Home Console?

The Gamecube is the weakest link in Nintendo's chain of home consoles, demonstrating that even the mighty Shigsy is fallible. Mediocre at best, Nintendo's purple cube failed to deliver anything near as revolutionary or innovative as its predecessors (or its motion controlled successor).

Yes, the Gamecube offered us some genuine flourishes of excellence. Pikmin was an enchanted oddity and a game that, undeservedly, went largely unnoticed by the public, buried beneath the usual batch of mainstream mediocrity. It was a rose among the weeds but not the rich assorted topiary of creativity we have come to expect from Nintendo. It was simply not enough.

Wind Waker and Mario Sunshine, despite both being solid accomplished games, were the weakest in their franchise. The FLUDD? What was Shigsy thinking? Yoshi aside, Mario is a solo performer capable of bouncing on bonces and bashing bricks unaided. The FLUDD seemed to diminish him somehow. Another gripe: his surroundings were based in reality.

"A strange plane has brought him from his home, an escapist, jolly nonsense-land where the hills have eyes to a world very much more like our own" - EDGE magazine.

Mario belongs in the Mushroom Kingdom or at least in a world that is not weighed down by the baggage of reality. And the tedious boating excursions in the Wind Waker were a cheap and tedious stunt to prolong the life of the game.

And consider this: the Gamecube was the first Nintendo console for which the 'killer app' was not a game made by Nintendo, but instead came from third party developer Capcom in the form of Resident Evil 4.

If you need more persuasion simply pick up a copy of any NGamer and cast your eyes over their Top Ten Gamecube Games Ever Made. Resi 4 clearly holds the top spot. This is utterly unprecedented and speaks absolute volumes about the Gamecube's output and creativity during this period. And Super Mario Sunshine, Nintendo’s follow up to the revolutionary Super Mario 64, is no where to be seen! A top ten bereft of a traditional Mario platformer? Unheard of.

Compelling evidence, don’t you think?

Nintendo’s biggest crime was the failure to deliver upon their unique selling point: the promise of the ‘Nintendo Difference’. The difference in this instance was the lack of a truly memorable Nintendo game.

I agree that Resident Evil 4 was sublime, a game that made the GameCube an essential purchase, but it’s a worrying sign when a third party trumps anything Nintendo produced in the course of its console's life. I’m not dismissing the GameCube as an absolute failure but this was the first time that my hunger for gaming had not been satisfied by the Big N. I found myself looking elsewhere, and I can safely say that not one game on the GameCube could rival the brain melting brilliance of Halo: Comabt Evolved on the XBox.

The GameCube was the only Nintendo console that I sold on (yet I still have my Dreamcast). And the glut of GameCubes’s clogging up the window of every CEX I walk past shows that I’m not the only one who took this step. In fact, and this is truly offensive, I even stopped buying NGC for a small while (my favourite ever Nintendo Magazine), disillusioned as I was by the multitude of mediocrity filling Nintendo’s shelf space.

When the most influential Nintendo Magazine has Mario Party 4 as its front cover (check out issue 75 of NGC) times must be very desperate indeed.

What EVERY Videogame Needs

In a perfect world every single videogame would have at least one of them. They are, after all, the reason we love games.

Nintendo owes its enduring success to them, a testimony to the seemingly innate ability the company has in weaving them, seamlessly, into their games. Microsoft throws millions at developers in the hope that they can produce them and Sony desperately needs an exclusive PS3 title that has one, if it wants to successfully distinguish itself from the competition.

But just what is this indefinable commodity? What exactly is it that transforms a good game into a great game and a great game into a stone-cold classic? What is it that EVERY videogame needs?

A defining moment.

You know, like that bit in Bioshock when you’re given the choice to either ‘harvest’ or ‘rescue’ a Little Sister. Choose to ‘rescue’ and you’re rewarded with one of the most hauntingly beautiful animations to grace a game. Or how about the, genuinely shocking, moment in Final Fantasy VII when Aeris is so suddenly and brutally murdered by Sephiroth?

Yes, in order to leave a lasting legacy, every videogame needs its defining moment, a memorable flash of brilliance that stays with the gamer long after they have finished playing.

Would you care to share you most memorable gaming moments?

Why Super Mario Galaxy Is Nintendo's Best Game - Part 1

Once the ruinous path to over-exposure has been trodden, it’s nigh on impossible to recreate that fresh feeling of novelty and uniqueness. Just ask Madonna. It’s a miracle then that Mario’s appeal – and let’s not forget his appearances in over 200 videogames – has yet to diminish. Far from it. The ubiquitous Italian chubster is as popular as ever.It comes as no surprise then that Super Mario Galaxy is to spawn a sequel. SMG will be the first 3D Mario game to receive a follow-up on the same console. This may very well be the result of the Wii’s longer-than-average shelf life. Or perhaps the riot of originality showcased in SMG was just the tip of the iceberg. It really doesn’t matter. The important thing is this - we are to be blessed with a sequel to the best Mario game, oh fuck it, the best Nintendo game of all time.

Sequel Fatigue
Mario Sunshine confirmed many peoples’ belief that Super Mario 64 was the pinnacle of Nintendo’s platforming powers. How could Shigeru Miyamoto ever recreate the sheer wonderment of seeing Mario fleshed out into full 3D for the first time? Even Sunshine’s numerous additions, which included the Fludd, a controllable 3D Yoshi and a whole new tribe of Piantas couldn’t save Sunshine from feeling like a step backwards. Edge magazine made the shrewd observation that, “a strange plane has brought him from his home, an escapist, jolly nonsense-land where the hills have eyes to a world very much more like our own”. Mario became bogged down with the baggage of reality. Was it possible that Mario had exhausted his plaforming possibilities? Super Mario Galaxy was about to blow this concern, quite literally, into the stratosphere.

Find out how in Part 2.

Why Nintendo Breeds Fanboys...

My passion for Nintendo has often been mistaken for sycophantic adulation. And I’ve always responded to accusations of ‘fanboy’ fanaticism in one of two ways. I’d either vehemently protest my innocence (an unmistakable sign that a nerve had been squarely hit) or slink shamefully away, painfully aware that, yes, my devotion to Nintendo is somewhat pathetic.

But I’ve given it some thought and I think I’ve hit upon why Nintendo is such a fertile breeding ground for ‘fanboys’. The simple answer is longevity. Nintendo has been making videogames since 1975. Time has afforded the Big N the ability to build a rich catalogue of genuinely endearing characters (Mario, Link and Samus to name a few), infusing each with their very own background and history. In many cases, we have grown up with them; life long chums forever by our side. And it’s this comforting familiarity that generates such fierce loyalty.

Parallels can be drawn with Microsoft.

With each new instalment of Halo came an increasingly frenzied level of excitement. Fans were frothing at the mouth when the concluding part of the trilogy was announced. The same eager anticipation will no doubt be seen with future instalments of Gears Of War, Half-Life and Bioshock. In fact, any cherished franchises - Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, Indiana Jones – produce that same intense scrutiny, adulation and loyalty amongst its fans that ‘outsiders’ simply fail to understand. Who can forget those first breathtaking steps into Hyrule Field (Ocarina Of Time)? Or the giddy delight of seeing Mario fleshed out into full 3D?

To those of us who don’t follow Nintendo, these landmark moments mean nothing. But for those of us well versed in Nintendo’s rich history, for those of us who have invested years of our lives following the fortunes of our favourite stars, these moments are what we’ve been patiently waiting for. We’re ‘fanboys’ because there is just so much to be fanatical about!

So there you have it. The next time someone calls me ‘fanboy’ I shall secretly rejoice, safe in the knowledge that I’m in good company. Failing that, I’ll hug my plush Mario teddy and cry.

Shigeru Miyamoto: Groundbreaking Genius Or Self Indulgent Egoist?

Good old Shigsy. Just where would we be without the father of the modern videogame? Hard to say really, but let’s give it a try. Let us, for one moment, suspend our disbelief and envision a world in which Miyamoto simply doesn’t exist.

The Saint
Without Shigsy behind the creative helm, Nintendo wouldn’t be the industry super power it is today. There’s simply no doubting his colossal contributions to the company. Is he a groundbreaking industry player? Unequivocally yes. We’ve all heard of the butterfly effect - the idea that one butterfly could eventually have a far-reaching ripple effect on subsequent historic events. Well it’s not hard to see Miyamoto as the catalyst for Nintendo’s good fortunes. And it’s possible to pinpoint exactly where it all began.

In 1981 Donkey Kong single-handedly helped Nintendo make a name for itself in the U.S. and, consequently, cash in on the lucrative American arcade market. The protagonist of Donkey Kong, known then simply as Jumpman, went on to become the most recognized videogame character in the world, staring in over 200 videogames. I’m talking about, of course, that iconic Italian chubster, Mario.

The portfolio of games that Shigsy has worked on since reads like a guide to The All Time Greatest Videogame Classics: The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, Pikmin, F-Zero. And then there’s the small matter of the Wii and that divisive motion sensing controller – love it or loathe it, it well and truly launched gaming into the mainstream. Unsurprisingly, everyone now wants a piece of the motion sensing action: Sony with Sixasis and Microsoft with Prjoect Natal. Like I said, Shigeru Miyamoto’s influence on the industry is impossible to underestimate. Without him Nintendo might never have made it.

But is there another side to this coin?

The Sinner
Can Miyamoto really be described as a self indulgent egoist? Surely not. How can Japan’s favourite son and one of Time's 100 most influential people, ever be accused of possessing such an unflattering disposition? It could be the case that all this unflagging success and constant sycophantic adulation may have gone to his head. And why wouldn’t it? He’s only human.

Could it be that behind the cheeky grin and the ever-youthful bowl of thick black hair lurks something a little more sinister than meets the eye? Here’s a snippet from an interview with Nintendo Official Magazine:

NOM UK: It seems as though there is a conflict between your real self and your public image that's been built up as this kindly, slightly batty, old man who makes cutting-edge video games for little kids. What do you say to that?

Miyamoto: You want to know my reputation among Nintendo staff members? I'm loud and hard on everybody; I stick to minute detailed points; I'm the guy who changes his opinions one after another; and I'm the guy who is still fighting for his opinion past midnight. People who don't know me say that I just spout things out from my gut feeling, but as they come to know me better they think of me as more of a logical type.

It’s an interesting insight into Miyamoto’s character and perhaps not quite what you’d expect from the brain behind the ultra cutesy Nintendogs. Even Nintendo’s President Satoru Iwata has revealed that, “Miyamoto-san gets pretty scary when he's angry”. Okay, so the man’s a little stubborn when he needs to be. You gotta kick a little ass to get things done, right? Fair play, but there’s a time when stubbornness can veer dangerously close to egotism – like that time when he told Entertainment Weekly, “I could make Halo. It is not that I could not design that game. It is just that I choose not to. One thing about my game design is that I never try to look for what people want and then try to make the game design”. Again, fair play, but we can’t ignore the fact that a Halo-esque FPS is exactly what thousands of Wii owners want - which would explain why The Conduit has stirred up such intense interest. What’s wrong with giving the fans what they want?

And has Miyamoto simply gone too far with the creation of Demo Play . The next Mario game and “future games, too” are to include this controversial little addition. Demo Play is “essentially an option to allow the game to play itself when the player encounters an area too difficult for them to handle.” A game that plays itself? Who on earth wants that? Miyamoto seems to be taking the notion of accessibility in videogames to its most absurd conclusion.

Could this be a sign that Miyamoto no longer cares about the thrill of challenge or the sense of accomplishment that gamers experience when they’ve finally bumped off Bowser? Is accessibility – cramming as many people as possible into the Nintendo demographic – now all he’s concerned about?

Conclusion
While researching this article, the overriding feeling I got from all the interviews, biographies and news articles is that Miyamoto is on OUR side. It’s a well know fact that as a boy he’d often explore his natural surroundings: Rice fields, canyons, grassy hills, waterways and deep dark caves. It was a period of his life that informed all his future endeavours.

Miyamoto wants us to experience the same childlike joy of exploration, creation and discovery that he enjoyed during his own childhood. He wants to share. And there is absolutely nothing egotistical or self indulgent in wanting to communicate the delight of gaming and its infinite possibilities to as many people as he possibly can. If he has to change the way we play – swapping traditional button heavy controllers with a more accessible motion sensing device – he’ll do it.

Yes, he’s a man who follows his own star - refusing to chase trends in favour of innovation. And yes, he may come across as a little stubborn, but it’s exactly this unwavering self belief and intuitive nature that has made him an icon of the videogame industry. If you were to ask the fans, I’m sure they wouldn’t have him any other way. I’d like to conclude this article with my all time favourite Miyamoto quote:

“Video Games are bad for you? That's what they said about Rock 'N' Roll”

Digital Gigolo is mentioned in NGamer

Issue 28 of NGamer posted a link to Digital Gigolo's Exclusive Jes Bickham Interview. Here's what they said:

Fans of ex-NGC editor and professional slaphead Jes Bickham might like to head over to http://tinyurl.com/693vexj to read an exclusive interview with the great man himself.