The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
I know the whole 'Nintendo is for Kids' topic is fairly overworked, but most of the time it is done quickly and flippantly....
If you actually think about it, the GameCube isn't really for any specific age group. Nintendo's new strategy, gaming for everyone, seems to be quite a fitting epitome of its latest console... and while a couple of the currently announced games seem too mushy even for the kiddiest of kids, there is quite an eclectic range of titles for all ages.
Granted, squealing about Eternal Darkeness, Die Hard and Metroid over and over will only get you so far, but seeing as quite a few games are PS2 ports, and when compared to the PS2 game list there aren't half the kiddie titles on GameCube, it's perfectly clear that GameCube is viable for people of all tastes and ages.
It's an age old problem for Nintendo. They release a brightly coloured platformer full of fungi, females and fat fuuuu....fellows, and they can't shake it off over 10 years later! Sure they released more Mario titles, but amid the many 'Save The Princess' campaigns, there were more mature titles such as Metorid and even the gloomy dungeons of Zelda would merit as reason enough to say it was predominantly targetted at a slightly older audience!
But coming back to the future, things do seem to be picking up... ED, Metroid, Die Hard, Turok, PD2 and Soul Calibur 2 will all weigh heavy on peoples opinions of GameCube, and hopefully this weight will be something Nintendo can throw around to change peoples perspective on GameCube.
I think the main reason for the above-average percentage of kiddie games on Nintendo consoles is because of a break-down in communications. Shigeru Miyamoto announced Nintendos strategy for GameCube back in Spaceworld 2000, where he went on to say:
"Konnichiwa"...
But seriously...
He did mention that the GameCube would be a games only machine focusing on superb gameplay, and that it would be a console where graphics took second place. Period. He also mentioned that GameCube was special because of what is was trying to achieve...
When Nintendo contacts developers and asks them to create something for a Nintendo machine, they are of course referring to GameCubes exemplary strategy of 'great games where gameplay comes first'... but the kiddie image, once again, poisons the minds of developers, and they think that 'for Nintendo' means... 'Kiddified Enough To Make Even The Most Avid Teletubbie Fans Vomit!' It's true, just look at THQ, the gits... - X-Box gets New Legends, Playstation gets Red Faction and we get Scooby Flippin' Doo!
But still, we can't complain... the GameCube is a very attractive machine to developers, and amid the handful of ports and cheap cash-ins, there are many, many exclusive titles that will do Nintendo proud. The first party titles will always be good, and with companies like Rare, Retro and Silicon Knights joining the fray once again, the console wars are bound to get interesting... Plus, with GameCube already making it's mark by releasing games covering all its major franchises by the end of 2002, I think that 'kiddie image or no kiddie image', things are looking up for Nintendo!
Thanks..
Game
If you actually think about it, the GameCube isn't really for any specific age group. Nintendo's new strategy, gaming for everyone, seems to be quite a fitting epitome of its latest console... and while a couple of the currently announced games seem too mushy even for the kiddiest of kids, there is quite an eclectic range of titles for all ages.
Granted, squealing about Eternal Darkeness, Die Hard and Metroid over and over will only get you so far, but seeing as quite a few games are PS2 ports, and when compared to the PS2 game list there aren't half the kiddie titles on GameCube, it's perfectly clear that GameCube is viable for people of all tastes and ages.
It's an age old problem for Nintendo. They release a brightly coloured platformer full of fungi, females and fat fuuuu....fellows, and they can't shake it off over 10 years later! Sure they released more Mario titles, but amid the many 'Save The Princess' campaigns, there were more mature titles such as Metorid and even the gloomy dungeons of Zelda would merit as reason enough to say it was predominantly targetted at a slightly older audience!
But coming back to the future, things do seem to be picking up... ED, Metroid, Die Hard, Turok, PD2 and Soul Calibur 2 will all weigh heavy on peoples opinions of GameCube, and hopefully this weight will be something Nintendo can throw around to change peoples perspective on GameCube.
I think the main reason for the above-average percentage of kiddie games on Nintendo consoles is because of a break-down in communications. Shigeru Miyamoto announced Nintendos strategy for GameCube back in Spaceworld 2000, where he went on to say:
"Konnichiwa"...
But seriously...
He did mention that the GameCube would be a games only machine focusing on superb gameplay, and that it would be a console where graphics took second place. Period. He also mentioned that GameCube was special because of what is was trying to achieve...
When Nintendo contacts developers and asks them to create something for a Nintendo machine, they are of course referring to GameCubes exemplary strategy of 'great games where gameplay comes first'... but the kiddie image, once again, poisons the minds of developers, and they think that 'for Nintendo' means... 'Kiddified Enough To Make Even The Most Avid Teletubbie Fans Vomit!' It's true, just look at THQ, the gits... - X-Box gets New Legends, Playstation gets Red Faction and we get Scooby Flippin' Doo!
But still, we can't complain... the GameCube is a very attractive machine to developers, and amid the handful of ports and cheap cash-ins, there are many, many exclusive titles that will do Nintendo proud. The first party titles will always be good, and with companies like Rare, Retro and Silicon Knights joining the fray once again, the console wars are bound to get interesting... Plus, with GameCube already making it's mark by releasing games covering all its major franchises by the end of 2002, I think that 'kiddie image or no kiddie image', things are looking up for Nintendo!
Thanks..
Game
Page:
I wonder how many Mario games there'll be on the GameCube.... lots hopefully...
I'd like to see Super Mario World 128... if you know what I mean.
I think they should bring back some of the older characters, or make a Mario RPG... not one with a battle system, but one where you have to take things to people... move-selection fighting like in FF doesn't go with Mario... it's best to have real-time combat...
Game
I'd like to see Super Mario World 128... if you know what I mean.
I think they should bring back some of the older characters, or make a Mario RPG... not one with a battle system, but one where you have to take things to people... move-selection fighting like in FF doesn't go with Mario... it's best to have real-time combat...
Game
Meka Dragon wrote:
> The only problem with this game was the lack of rewards
> for getting all 120. Yes we saw Yoshi, but I wanted a special ending!
Screw the special ending. I wanted to ride on Yoshi just like I did in Super Mario World.
Perhaps that's another feature in Sunshine...
> The only problem with this game was the lack of rewards
> for getting all 120. Yes we saw Yoshi, but I wanted a special ending!
Screw the special ending. I wanted to ride on Yoshi just like I did in Super Mario World.
Perhaps that's another feature in Sunshine...
What's wrong with aiming games at a younger audience? Pre-teens are a huge target for computer games, and the fact that more under-13s have consoles or PCs nowadays supports this.
Any games aimed at 15s or 18s+ will completely alienate the younger age groups, and potentially a large portion of their profits.
Don't diss games because they're aimed at kids. They're often a lot more fun and a lot easier to get in to than more 'adult' games.
Any games aimed at 15s or 18s+ will completely alienate the younger age groups, and potentially a large portion of their profits.
Don't diss games because they're aimed at kids. They're often a lot more fun and a lot easier to get in to than more 'adult' games.
Was Shrek a movie only enjoyed by children?
Is it not still fun to play 'Operation'?
There's a difference between something being aimed at children, and something being suitable for children. A movie such as Shrek aims to entertain everyone. The look is pleasing to the eye of the child, and there's nothing offensive there, yet there are touches that appeal to adults, jokes that kids will miss, and stuff like that. At the end of the movie, everyone comes away happy. Nintendo games aren't much different to that, but with more emphasis on playing rather than watching.
I don't know many 3 year olds that would have been able to get all of the stars from tick-tock clock on Super Mario 64, but they didn't need to, they could climb the staircase with 70 stars and face Bowser. Those that wanted a greater challenge could seek all 120 stars, and they'd enjoy doing it. The only problem with this game was the lack of rewards for getting all 120. Yes we saw Yoshi, but I wanted a special ending!
Another question is why would developers want to alienate a generation of gamers anyway? Surely if a game appeals to more age-groups you have more potential sales? Obviously some games are going to be targetted only at older gamers, Eternal Darkness, or Resident Evil, for instance but they fit into a 'horror' genre that simply doesn't suit kids, but what about other games? Why not have an easy route, or 'easy' setting?
If anyone chooses to ignore Nintendo games because they believe them to be kids games then fine, I'm not the one missing out!
Is it not still fun to play 'Operation'?
There's a difference between something being aimed at children, and something being suitable for children. A movie such as Shrek aims to entertain everyone. The look is pleasing to the eye of the child, and there's nothing offensive there, yet there are touches that appeal to adults, jokes that kids will miss, and stuff like that. At the end of the movie, everyone comes away happy. Nintendo games aren't much different to that, but with more emphasis on playing rather than watching.
I don't know many 3 year olds that would have been able to get all of the stars from tick-tock clock on Super Mario 64, but they didn't need to, they could climb the staircase with 70 stars and face Bowser. Those that wanted a greater challenge could seek all 120 stars, and they'd enjoy doing it. The only problem with this game was the lack of rewards for getting all 120. Yes we saw Yoshi, but I wanted a special ending!
Another question is why would developers want to alienate a generation of gamers anyway? Surely if a game appeals to more age-groups you have more potential sales? Obviously some games are going to be targetted only at older gamers, Eternal Darkness, or Resident Evil, for instance but they fit into a 'horror' genre that simply doesn't suit kids, but what about other games? Why not have an easy route, or 'easy' setting?
If anyone chooses to ignore Nintendo games because they believe them to be kids games then fine, I'm not the one missing out!
And Nintendo have Super Monkey Ball, which will appeal to monkey lovers everywhere, they're sorted!
Seriously though, games like SMB are pretty addictive once you first get playing, but Nintendo has to get the players playing it's games on the Gamecube as a first and most important step on the way to getting more support.
Seriously though, games like SMB are pretty addictive once you first get playing, but Nintendo has to get the players playing it's games on the Gamecube as a first and most important step on the way to getting more support.
===SONICRAV---> wrote:
Shigsy wants to crack...the female gamer.
Heh...
Does that work?
Shigsy wants to crack...the female gamer.
Heh...
Does that work?
I think he has already done it, Mario is very popular with the female gamer, the only games character i hear girls mention is Mario. Zelda can be a female game but please get rid of the "Shall thou get the girl or will thou play like one" slogan.
Although Nintendo games are by no means "adult" games, they are certainly not childrens games. They are, as you point out, family orientated games that anyone, of any age, can play and love!
One big new market Shogsy wants to crack is the female gamer.
Sonic
One big new market Shogsy wants to crack is the female gamer.
Sonic
Mario Sunshine was originally Mario 64 2, when it comes out it would have spent 4 years in development.
Agreed...
And seeing as Miyamoto is adding some Super Mario World moves into the game, it should be a hit! So far i've seen flipping through mesh and yoshi... hopefully the game will be quite big, but unfortunatley he said it would be something people would play over and over again... :S!
Excuse for a small game maybe? I dunno...
Game
And seeing as Miyamoto is adding some Super Mario World moves into the game, it should be a hit! So far i've seen flipping through mesh and yoshi... hopefully the game will be quite big, but unfortunatley he said it would be something people would play over and over again... :S!
Excuse for a small game maybe? I dunno...
Game
Page: