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This thread has been linked to the game 'Metroid Prime'.
Now that the deceptively provocative title has drawn you in, I must tell you this post is not disputing how original Metroid Prime is or isn’t. It would be stupid for me to do so before playing the game. What I am going to try and do is establish why Nintendo were so hasty with the ‘First Person Adventure’ tag (as opposed to ‘First Person Shooter’) and then possibly why Metroid was brought to the third dimension in the way it was.
Well, first of all, why did Nintendo decide to label Metroid Prime a ‘First Person Adventure’ as soon as it was announce Prime would be played from a first person view? Many people *looks at strafex* assumed it would lose some of it’s puzzle solving, exploration and platforming sensibilities. Maybe it was tagged a FPA in an attempt to quell these fears. Another idea is that Nintendo simply wished to differentiate Metroid Prime from the thousand of other First Person Shooters out there.
But I believe none of these was the over riding factor. Nintendo naturally want to do well in their homeland. And First Person Shooters don’t tend to do too well in Japan. This is likely one of the reasons for Xbox not selling too well in Japan, with a FPS as it’s main ‘Killer App’. So rather than tell the world Metroid is going to be a FPS, Nintendo, using all their cunning, call it a ‘First Person Adventure’. Cunning eh?
Furthermore, was this fear of the Japanese responsible for some of the gameplay in Prime? I’d say it was probably a factor. I’m going by reviews here, but I know there is no circle strafing, something previously unthinkable in FPS. Maybe Japan was one of the reasons for this. Simplify the genre a little and people who previously disliked it may be more receptive. You also lock onto enemies. Another development which seems to be simplifying the genre.
But what about us in the West? Well, Nintendo hate us don’t they? Metroid was previously something Nintendo made that appealed to the West, with a dark, moody atmosphere, and a sci-fi style setting. Oh, and guns. But it also appealed to the Japanese, with the exploration element and puzzles. So have Nintendo upset the balance? I wouldn’t say so. The Japanese get a First Person game (Shooter or Adventure, I’m not going to argue) that they’re more likely to enjoy, and the West gets a First Person game with some much needed originality in it.
So, Metroid Prime. Original? Probably. But strange how even (probably) the most Western orientated genre around still looked to Japan for some more originality.
Well, first of all, why did Nintendo decide to label Metroid Prime a ‘First Person Adventure’ as soon as it was announce Prime would be played from a first person view? Many people *looks at strafex* assumed it would lose some of it’s puzzle solving, exploration and platforming sensibilities. Maybe it was tagged a FPA in an attempt to quell these fears. Another idea is that Nintendo simply wished to differentiate Metroid Prime from the thousand of other First Person Shooters out there.
But I believe none of these was the over riding factor. Nintendo naturally want to do well in their homeland. And First Person Shooters don’t tend to do too well in Japan. This is likely one of the reasons for Xbox not selling too well in Japan, with a FPS as it’s main ‘Killer App’. So rather than tell the world Metroid is going to be a FPS, Nintendo, using all their cunning, call it a ‘First Person Adventure’. Cunning eh?
Furthermore, was this fear of the Japanese responsible for some of the gameplay in Prime? I’d say it was probably a factor. I’m going by reviews here, but I know there is no circle strafing, something previously unthinkable in FPS. Maybe Japan was one of the reasons for this. Simplify the genre a little and people who previously disliked it may be more receptive. You also lock onto enemies. Another development which seems to be simplifying the genre.
But what about us in the West? Well, Nintendo hate us don’t they? Metroid was previously something Nintendo made that appealed to the West, with a dark, moody atmosphere, and a sci-fi style setting. Oh, and guns. But it also appealed to the Japanese, with the exploration element and puzzles. So have Nintendo upset the balance? I wouldn’t say so. The Japanese get a First Person game (Shooter or Adventure, I’m not going to argue) that they’re more likely to enjoy, and the West gets a First Person game with some much needed originality in it.
So, Metroid Prime. Original? Probably. But strange how even (probably) the most Western orientated genre around still looked to Japan for some more originality.
Cyclone wrote:
> Tut-tut Mav.
Indeed. I shall know better next time, than to question er-no ;D.
> Tut-tut Mav.
Indeed. I shall know better next time, than to question er-no ;D.
Hmm... well, even if Nintendo didn't originally call Metroid a FPA, they didn't seem to do much to stop the spread of such a term... And they seem to have adopted it now anyway...
Tut-tut Mav.
:)
:)
Maverick42 wrote:
> er-no wrote:
> Its beautiful. A perfect cross genre.
>
> Have you played it yet? Or is this your er-no sense talking? :D
Erm.. go and find my topic 'Better than Secret of Mana'
> er-no wrote:
> Its beautiful. A perfect cross genre.
>
> Have you played it yet? Or is this your er-no sense talking? :D
Erm.. go and find my topic 'Better than Secret of Mana'
er-no wrote:
> Its beautiful. A perfect cross genre.
Have you played it yet? Or is this your er-no sense talking? :D
> Its beautiful. A perfect cross genre.
Have you played it yet? Or is this your er-no sense talking? :D
Nintendo didn't originally label the game a First Person Adventure.
It was actually companies like IGN and gamespot who called it this at the atmosphere created within the game coupled with the exploration factors took it away from the 'shooter genre'.
Its beautiful. A perfect cross genre.
It was actually companies like IGN and gamespot who called it this at the atmosphere created within the game coupled with the exploration factors took it away from the 'shooter genre'.
Its beautiful. A perfect cross genre.
Well written Sibs, and very true. I'm especially interested to see how Metroid Prime does end up selling in Japan. Hopefully, after this, the Japanese will be a little more open minded about First Person Shooters.
Now that the deceptively provocative title has drawn you in, I must tell you this post is not disputing how original Metroid Prime is or isn’t. It would be stupid for me to do so before playing the game. What I am going to try and do is establish why Nintendo were so hasty with the ‘First Person Adventure’ tag (as opposed to ‘First Person Shooter’) and then possibly why Metroid was brought to the third dimension in the way it was.
Well, first of all, why did Nintendo decide to label Metroid Prime a ‘First Person Adventure’ as soon as it was announce Prime would be played from a first person view? Many people *looks at strafex* assumed it would lose some of it’s puzzle solving, exploration and platforming sensibilities. Maybe it was tagged a FPA in an attempt to quell these fears. Another idea is that Nintendo simply wished to differentiate Metroid Prime from the thousand of other First Person Shooters out there.
But I believe none of these was the over riding factor. Nintendo naturally want to do well in their homeland. And First Person Shooters don’t tend to do too well in Japan. This is likely one of the reasons for Xbox not selling too well in Japan, with a FPS as it’s main ‘Killer App’. So rather than tell the world Metroid is going to be a FPS, Nintendo, using all their cunning, call it a ‘First Person Adventure’. Cunning eh?
Furthermore, was this fear of the Japanese responsible for some of the gameplay in Prime? I’d say it was probably a factor. I’m going by reviews here, but I know there is no circle strafing, something previously unthinkable in FPS. Maybe Japan was one of the reasons for this. Simplify the genre a little and people who previously disliked it may be more receptive. You also lock onto enemies. Another development which seems to be simplifying the genre.
But what about us in the West? Well, Nintendo hate us don’t they? Metroid was previously something Nintendo made that appealed to the West, with a dark, moody atmosphere, and a sci-fi style setting. Oh, and guns. But it also appealed to the Japanese, with the exploration element and puzzles. So have Nintendo upset the balance? I wouldn’t say so. The Japanese get a First Person game (Shooter or Adventure, I’m not going to argue) that they’re more likely to enjoy, and the West gets a First Person game with some much needed originality in it.
So, Metroid Prime. Original? Probably. But strange how even (probably) the most Western orientated genre around still looked to Japan for some more originality.
Well, first of all, why did Nintendo decide to label Metroid Prime a ‘First Person Adventure’ as soon as it was announce Prime would be played from a first person view? Many people *looks at strafex* assumed it would lose some of it’s puzzle solving, exploration and platforming sensibilities. Maybe it was tagged a FPA in an attempt to quell these fears. Another idea is that Nintendo simply wished to differentiate Metroid Prime from the thousand of other First Person Shooters out there.
But I believe none of these was the over riding factor. Nintendo naturally want to do well in their homeland. And First Person Shooters don’t tend to do too well in Japan. This is likely one of the reasons for Xbox not selling too well in Japan, with a FPS as it’s main ‘Killer App’. So rather than tell the world Metroid is going to be a FPS, Nintendo, using all their cunning, call it a ‘First Person Adventure’. Cunning eh?
Furthermore, was this fear of the Japanese responsible for some of the gameplay in Prime? I’d say it was probably a factor. I’m going by reviews here, but I know there is no circle strafing, something previously unthinkable in FPS. Maybe Japan was one of the reasons for this. Simplify the genre a little and people who previously disliked it may be more receptive. You also lock onto enemies. Another development which seems to be simplifying the genre.
But what about us in the West? Well, Nintendo hate us don’t they? Metroid was previously something Nintendo made that appealed to the West, with a dark, moody atmosphere, and a sci-fi style setting. Oh, and guns. But it also appealed to the Japanese, with the exploration element and puzzles. So have Nintendo upset the balance? I wouldn’t say so. The Japanese get a First Person game (Shooter or Adventure, I’m not going to argue) that they’re more likely to enjoy, and the West gets a First Person game with some much needed originality in it.
So, Metroid Prime. Original? Probably. But strange how even (probably) the most Western orientated genre around still looked to Japan for some more originality.