Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
I Have Faith In Nintendo
I have faith in Nintendo. I always have, and I always will. Contrary to popular opinion, there will always be room for Nintendo. In my eyes, Nintendo adds balance to the video game industry that is desperately needed. In an industry full of sequels and safe bets, the big N has never shied away from marching to the beat of their own drum. While Sony is pumping out PS6s, You can bet your bottom dollar Nintendo will still be innovating(successfully or not is up to debate), and this is why I love them. From analogs to motion controls they have lead the way, and have been directly influencing the industry for decades.
My hope is the Wii U is going through a 3DS type phase, where people still aren't sure about the system, but as soon as games start coming out the console will catch fire. And why shouldn't it? Anyone who has played Mario Kart 8 will tell you that the Wii U is capable of some extremely pretty games. Don't let the haters fool you, the system is definitely next gen. The tablet controller has the ability to offer unique gaming experiences. It took some time to get used to , but I have grown to love it. Its comfortable to hold, and the games that actually utilize it are extremely fun to play. Pikmin 3 is a prime example of a game that full uses the tablet controller. The game is easy and the control scheme just makes sense. Its these types of gaming experiences that other developers need to take note of. Nintendo's pedigree when it comes to making games is second to none. And for those games that don't need the tablet controller, the Wii U's pro controller is a great alternative for cross platform titles. And the Wii U itself, although weaker in terms of raw power compared to the competition, is still able to make beautiful games. I dare anyone to play Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze and tell me that game isn't awesome to look at. Let's not forget the Xbox 360 was well under powered compared to the PlayStation 3, and was still able to compete. Specs aren't everything.
Look at the handheld market, the 3DS has destroyed Sony's Vita in sales and it was able to do that because of software. With the right mix of software(first and third party), I feel Nintendo can turn things around and be competitive with the PS4 and Xbox One. Neither Sony or Microsoft's new system are sporting anything AMAZING as far as software. Both systems have seen a drastic decrease in sales since launch,and just like Nintendo are waiting for E3 to get consumers excited again. This is the big N's chance to shine and showcase what their underdog system can do. I've lost all faith in third party developers on Wii U for this year,but I'm hoping that after this year third parties will stop this trend of ignoring Nintendo's console.
They want the Wii U to sell more before investing in it, but the main reason the console is not selling is because of their refusal to develop games. Nintendo is for the most part doing what they need to do, but they can only make so many games a year. I have faith that when the Wii U's heavy hitters get released (Mario Kart 8 is already selling extremely well) and consoles start moving, they have no choice but to start taking the time to make games for the system. Its time for the other developers to nut up or shut up. Less time on twitter tweeting crap and retracting it later, and more developing unique and memorable gaming experiences.
With a strong line up coming throughout the rest of 2014, and a focus on the virtual consoles, this is the perfect time to strike.This E3 Nintendo's objective needs to be to sell themselves not only to the consumer, but to the industry as well. Build it and they will come. The games are coming, now its time for the sales to follow.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
E3 Expectations! Let's Get Ready!!!
We're only weeks away from E3 and I couldn't be more excited for this years expo. With so much on the line for all three companies this year, its hard to imagine anything but their best when the presentations start. The next generation of systems are already out, so I'm expecting nothing less than a full on barrage of new game announcements from the big three.Nintendo cant afford to not impress, especially with the way the Wii U is selling in North America. Hopefully, starting with the release of Mario Kart 8 the Wii U will see a significant boost in the amount of consoles being moved. Lets not kid ourselves though, Mario Kart is going to sell crap loads, but they cant rest on the success of that. MK should give Nintendo the momentum needed to head into E3 strong, but in order to keep that going they have to announce( and release) some good heavy hitting titles. We all know Bayonetta 2 is on its way, same with Hyrule Warriors, Watch Dogs, and Super Smash Bros Wii U. After that though, what else is there? I highly doubt Zelda is dropping this year or even early next year(though I do believe they will announce one), and what about a new Metroid? Its been awfully quiet in regards to a new Metroid game Prime or otherwise, and even if there was one in development it wouldn't be out this year. So here's hoping that we get some release info and announcements from not only Nintendo but from 3rd parties as well. We all know Nintendo is going to make great games, buts its about time the 3rd parties put their money where their mouth is and start making some games for the Wii U.
Lets not forget about the always reliable 3DS. One thing the big N always does well is the handheld, and the 3DS is still selling great, destroying all competition. I'm sure we will see some great games announced for the system this year, but one game I'm praying will be announced is Symphony of The Night 2. I know that leaked E3 list was probably just a troll( which is why its isn't mentioned above), but come on? Wouldn't you just explode if this game was announced?
Now on to Sony and Microsoft. Both of their next gen consoles had strong release dates, although they have both slowed to a crawl. Microsoft suffered from bad press and a steep price tag, while both consoles are now suffering from what I call Wii U syndrome, or more specifically no games. Besides Titanfall and Infamous there aren't many reasons to invest in these new systems, not yet anyway. This is what needs to change after E3 this year, and why I feel all three companies need to focus mainly on announcing software.
We have the hardware, we know what it can do, now wow us with games. If this was a battle of exclusives, Nintendo has them both beat by miles. I'm hoping to see some blockbuster exclusives announced by both Microsoft and Sony in the coming weeks. I've yet to purchase either system, because there aren't any games that appeal to me that I cant get on PS3 or 360. They have already announced the new Halo Guardians, and it seems likely that we get some info on the new Gears of War game, but these are both Xbox One exclusives. There are plenty of PS4 games coming out, don't get me wrong, I'm just not sure on what exclusives they'll announce. We have all heard the rumors of a PS4 The Last of Us, but no matter how excellent that game was its still a year old. Uncharted 4 an d God of War 4 seem likely, but where on earth is The Last Gaurdian?
As for everyone else? You already know the 3rd party developers are going to be bringing their A games, considering titles like Final Fantasy 15, Kingdoms Hearts 3, Metal Gear Solid 5, Mass Effect(4?), and Dragon Age Inquisition(just to name a few) are going to be showcased at the event. With so much on the line this years E3 is poised to be one of the best we've had in some time. As long as the focus of the event stays on games. E3 2014 will be held June 10-12, with live streaming for the event on most video game media outlets.
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