Nintendo may not be able to walk on water but they did resurrect gaming from the dead. Look, they aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination but without them we would probably witness another videogame crash.
WHY THE INDUSTRY NEEDS NINTENDO
Without Nintendo There Would Be No Great Innovation
When Atari killed the industry for us westerners it was Nintendo that brought gaming back from the dead. You wouldn’t be sitting there now enjoying your PS3′s and your Xbox’s and God help me if you actually enjoy gaming on the ipad but you owe that to Nintendo as well. The house that Mario built rekindled a flame for the love of gaming with it’s very first home console. The Nintendo Entertainment System or NES for short. I know what your thinking. Why dwell on the past? That was the Nintendo of old. Today they are a former shell of themselves. Well unfortunately for the Nintendo naysayers i can prove that to be false. Bare with me.
The Super NES is regarded by many as the greatest home console of all time. Why? Well Nintendo took the NES controller and turned it into what has become the standard by which all modern controllers are based off of. Just ask Sony. Nintendo gave us unbelievable software and a piece of hardware that was second to none. Sorry Genesis fans. By all accounts the Super NES was exactly what its named implied. A Super charged NES. Everything was bigger and better.
Nintendo doesn’t seem to feel the need to stick to the same formula for two long. After the success of the Super NES, Nintendo released the Nintendo 64. A console capable of 3d graphics that featured an awkward looking yet ingenious controller design. Full analog control via the analog stick which is still standard on controllers to this day. You like how your controller rumbles when you play games? Credit that to Nintendo as well for launching StarFox 64 with the “Rumble Pack”. Speaking of software. Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time set a new standard for platforming and adventure gameplay which is still unmatched to this day. 3D action games would be nothing without the road that Mario 64 paved for them. How about multiplayer? Nintendo was the first to allow gamer’s to plug in multiple controllers to a home console for local multiplayer. Of course there were always add-on’s that allowed it but with the N64 it was standard.
Now lets look at the curious case of the Gamecube. This is the first and only Nintendo home console that didn’t pack in any new innovations. It had a weird yet perfect controller built for games like Smash Bros but it lacked any real difference from its competitors. The Gamecube actually lacked features. No DVD playback and an inferior optical disc format that held less data than XBOX and Playstation’s DVD formats. The Gamecube while profitable, didn’t fair too well against SONY and Microsoft’s consoles. Something had to change
With the Wii, Nintendo went a completely different route. They turned their backs on cutting edge visuals in favor of a new way for gamer’s to interact with the gaming world. Enter motion controls. Say what you want about Motion gaming but for a short while it was fun. Nintendo set out to attract those who had never picked up a controller before and bring back into the fold those that lost interest in the hobby. They succeeded and the sales prove it. No one cared that the Wii was inferior in every way from a power standpoint compared to it’s competitors. In the first few years of the Wii’s lifespan Nintendo brought game after game and the console was a mega success. As soon as the games stopped coming, the console died. Which brings me to my last point.
Software sells hardware. Nintendo announced a successor to the Wii last November called the Wii U. Nintendo’s goal was to continue the Wii’s legacy of offering gamer’s a new way of interacting with their game. Tablets are mega popular these days and it doesn’t seem as if that trend will end anytime soon. Nintendo integrated their new home console with that very technology. They even went a step further and added a huge social media component to the Wii U’s infrastructure. So…why isn’t the Wii U selling. Simple. The games haven’t started rolling in yet. Do you think the original Wii would have been as successful as it was i the beginning if it didn’t have the software that it did? NO. It wouldn’t have. The proof is in the way that the sales quickly declined once new software stopped being introduced. With the Wii U things seem to be the opposite. There aren’t any really strong pieces of original software for the Wii U to keep people interested and that is all Nintendo’s fault. Good news, folks. The games are coming and once they do the system will begin to sell very well. Very well.
What is the moral of this story? The gaming media sucks and it spins stories to get hits. The Wii U is not “Dead in the water” and Nintendo is not doomed. The same exact things were said about the PS3 when it launched and all it took was a price cut (Ps3 was too damn expensive) and a steady stream of games. Let’s just wait and see what Nintendo does during this years E3. Lets just wait and see.
WHY THE INDUSTRY DOESN’T DESERVE THEM
Simple. Nintendo can’t seem to catch a break. They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If they do exactly as Sony and Microsoft then everyone thinks they are doomed. If they innovate then they are doomed. People are actually saying that Nintendo should and will become a 3rd party publisher only. Lets say Nintendo does actually stop making hardware. This is what will happen. Nintendo will be out for good. They are too stubborn to make their software for competing platforms. Like it or not, loosing Nintendo is bad for the industry. Very bad. If it happens it could be the beginning of the end. What? You think Sony is going to take over the mantle of innovation? Microsoft? Electronic Arts is more likely to win “The Best Company In America” award two years straight before that happens.
Ok, so the overall impression of the Wii U as of right now is that its failing. It would seem as if most media outlets have written Nintendo’s newest console off and give it very little chance to succeed against Sony and Microsoft’s newest console offerings. Lets not even get into Michael Pachter’s constant badgering of Nintendo concerning the Wii U’s dismal performance thus far. What i am going to talk about is what Nintendo will absolutely need to do at E3 to turn things around. Show the games. Release the games. Show us the future. Lets get started.
UPDATED 5/18/2013
Ok, so recently Nintendo announced that they will not be hosting their typical press conference at E3 2013 instead opting to focus on smaller and more focused events. Nintendo also recently announced that sometime within a few days before E3 they would host a Nintendo Direct that would show off some of the “Big Guns” like Mario and Zelda. Even with the new info on hand i still believe more than ever that what ever they announce during E3 or decide not to announce could spell disaster for the Wii U or be its saving grace. E3 is…Judgement day for the Wii U.
SHOW US WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PROMISED
Release date, please!
Nintendo held a Nintendo Direct video some time ago where they announced an amazing lineup of games that are set to release for the Wii U sometime this year. Games like Bayonetta 2, Winda Waker HD, Wonderful 101 and Pikmin 3 are just a handful of the titles that were showcased during the January Nintendo Direct. While not all of them may release in 2013 it would seem that a good majority of them might and Nintendo cant have it any other way. Its no secret that the Wii U needs games. Sure it had a pretty good lineup but most people had probably played those games already on another system. The Wii U needs exclusives and its time Nintendo started to roll them out. At E3 Nintendo needs show these games in playable form and give us an solid release.
Nintendo also dropped a few bombs on us by sharing that the newest 3d Mario title as well as Mario Kart would show up in playable form. Now that’s the kind of news that fans and media have been waiting to here. Hopefully the appearance of a huge 1st party Nintendo title like Mario can put to bed all of the nonsense being said about the Wii U not being a true next gen console in terms of visuals. We know that Nintendo has some of the most talented studios in the business employing some of the best art teams around. We can almost bet that they wont disappoint. Nintendo also mentioned the virtual console. We know that Nes, Super Nes and now Gameboy Advance games have been added to the VC roster but what about all of the other systems that we became accustomed to buying games for on the original Wii? Nintendo will have to roll out plenty of VC games and they need to be available the week of E3. Hey Nintendo, where are my Gamecube VC games? Announcing Gamecube games for the Wii U Virtual Console would bee a huge plus for those who own the console and have been wanting to go back and revisit some of their favorite games for that old purple box. Lets just keep our fingers crossed.
THE UNKNOWN
What in the world have these guys been up to?
What we know so fare about the Wii U should be enough to get gamer’s excited but its not enough. We need surprises and not the Wii Music kind. First, what has Retro Studio been working on all of these years? I know they made Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii but i doubt that game took their entire staff and all of their resources to make. So what are they doing? It was rumored that Retro may be working on a Star Fox game for Wii U. That would be absolutely amazing and i hope its true. Could their next game be a return to the Metroid franchise? We Know Nintendo is working on that as well. What ever the game ends up being Nintendo definitely has to reveal what Retro is working on because the secrecy isn’t helping matters.
What about some of Nintendo’s other big franchises. Recently Nintendo was granted a trademark extension for the Eternal Darkness franchise. Could this be Retro’s secret game? Its good to know that Nintendo still see’s the potential in this franchise. There has also been some F-Zero talk here and there due a mini game showing up in Nintendoland. It would be great to see that franchise make a return since the Gamecube version was awesome. E3 needs to mark the return of many Nintendo franchises. Wave Race, Punch-out, and how about a new Mario Paint just mix it up a bit and give us a real reason to use that nice gamepad as a drawing tablet.
MORE PARTNERSHIPS
Nintendo should buy PG!
Historically when Nintedo has partnered with another developer the results are usually pretty amazing. Nintendo x Silicon Knights gave us Eternal Darkness. Nintendo x Factor 5 gave us Rouge Squadron. Nintendo x Sega gave us F-Zero GX and AX and Nintendo x Capcom gave us the Oracle games from the Game Boy Zelda series. Nintendo has continued this effort on the Wii U and have partnered up with Platinum Games to bring gamers two exclusive titles for the Wii U. The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta two are both the result of Nintendo reaching out to developers to try and establish relationships that lead to unique content that can only be found on Nintendo’s platforms. You also have the Monolith studios which have already brought Wii fans the fantastic Xenoblade chronicles and it looks like that relationship is continuing onto the Wii U with another game in the Xeno series. Then there is Shin-Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem which should be very interesting. Nintendo needs to continue partnering with developers to bring new content to the Wii U. Even the small things like getting Nintendo themed costumes into Tekken makes owning the Wii U version feel like you’ve just purchased something special. We all know that 3rd party support for Nintendo platforms pretty much sucks ,so….
3RD PARTY SUPPORT
Uh…So what happened?
Speak of the Devil and he shall appear. Wait…i didn’t say anything about EA yet did i? Unfortunately for Nintendo there are games being announced by 3rd parties that still aren’t being considered for a Wii U release. Developers just seem to have any confidence in Nintendo’s system. Does Nintendo really need 3rd party support, though? I mean in the past they have done fine with using their own 1st party titles to push hardware. I think things may be a bit different this time. Nintendo wants to attract the hard core gamer’s from Sony and Microsoft and as good as Mario and Zelda are if those gamer’s wanted to play Nintendo games they would have already owned a Wii. Nintendo cannot continue to let 3rd party support slip away but must do everything in their power to convince developers that the Wii U is worth their time and effort.
A while back, Miyamoto stated that he had been personally visiting developers to try and get them on board with Wii U. That must be pretty awesome to have the legendary designer show up at your door to try and convince you to bring your games over to Nintendo’s new console. If this is true then their could be some awesome 3rd party exclusives just waiting for a time like E3 to be revealed. Nintendo’s North American President did state that there are other partnerships that they were not ready to reveal yet. Does this mean that Wii U is getting games like Battlefield 4? I wouldn’t count on it cause EA is the devil and they eat small children, what?! Where did that come from? Anyways i think it would be far more interesting if the Wii U got more exclusive titles as apposed to some bad ports of PS3/360 titles. Don’t get me wrong, Nintendo needs the Resident Evil’s and Skyrim’s of the industry but Nintendo does best when its content is unique and offers something that cant be found anywhere else.
SLOW…AS…HELL…OP…OR…A…TING…S…Y…STEM (Updated)
Go eat. Take a dump. Take a nap. Come back and it will still be loading.
Call me a liar if you want but i once waited over two hours for my Wii U to return to the main menu. It never happened so i just unplugged the damn thing. Usually my Wii U can take about 5 minutes to load the main screen and that’s usually after using the Hulu or Netflix apps. Regardless this is unacceptable. Nintendo has already mentioned that they have two major updates coming in the spring of 2013 which will deal with the slow os. Good, because as of right now things are pretty bad. Why did it take me 12 hours to download Tekken on the Wii U eShop and only 30 minutes to download install and boot up Assassins Creed on Steam? Hmmm. Come on Nintendo fix this!
UPDATED 5/8/2013
Ok, so Nintendo did a good job at fixing this one recently. The OS is slow as hell anymore thanks to the Spring update. There is still the summer update to look forward to and i wonder what changes to the Os that will bring.
Advertise!
Why don’t people know what the Wii U is? Nintendo doesn’t advertise that’s why! Sure the core gamers know what Wii U is but the audience that Nintendo is trying to get in touch with doesn’t. Now this could be because Nintendo realized that they don’t actually have an awesome game line up as of yet. Or it could be that they wanted us core users to get the console first and avoid shortages. Maybe the Wii U campaign will kick in to gear around the summer and winter seasons since most core users who were going to pick one up early has done so. What ever the case may be, Nintendo needs a great advertising campaign to sell the Wii U. Especially during the holiday season when Nintendo consoles tend to clean up.
JUDGEMENT DAY
Don’t kid yourself. If Nintendo doesn’t make corrections now and blow us all away at E3 then all that NintenDOOMED talk that you all hate so much may become a very real situation. Now i’m not saying that Nintendo as a company will be doomed but the Wii U will be severely hurt and may not recover. E3 is “Ride or Die” time for Nintendo and its new console. They can bring the heat or get left out in the cold by Sony and Microsoft. That’s it.
As always let me know your thoughts on the matter and don’t forget to let me know what makes
Sony is holding a press event later this afternoon where it is expected for them to announce the Playstation 4. Provided that actually does happen here are my 3 predictions regarding the announcement of Sony’s new hardware, What else could Sony talk about? Vita?
1. Playstation 4 will feature an all new PSN along with new features and services
New And Improved
I believe this will be one of the main focuses of the PS4. Sony recently bought Gaikai-a streaming service which would allow Sony to make their entire back catalog of games available for the PS4. This would be important for Sony to include in the PS4 since it would significantly add more value to the console as you would instantly have a plethora of games to choose from.
A more advanced PSN is probably a given. As good as the Playstation Network was, it was by no means perfect. Many gamers cried about the lack of cross game chat so it should be a sure thing that this feature would make it in to Sony’s new console. With Playstation Plus, Sony gave gamers plenty of value for 50 dollars a month and i would expect this to continue. Sony might even go as far as taking a few notes from Valves Steam network and allow developers to set their own prices and determine when their games would go on sale and for how long. An addition of this magnitude would give PSN a huge advantage over XBL and would undoubtedly attract more indie support which can only be a good thing for gamers.
Remember how many times you turned on your PS3 and found that their was a mandatory firmware update? No? Of course you don’t remember because there were way too many updates to even keep track of. Sony has no doubt remedied this with the PS4 and at the very least they would allow you to install these updates in the background and not have you sit there and stare at a progress bar for 15 minutes when all you want to do is play a game.
2. Cool Tech Demos But The PS4 Wont Blow You Away Like You Expect It To In Terms Of Visual Fidelity
Great But Where Is It?
Now this could be a bit of a stretch. I personally do not believe the PS4 or Xbox “720″ will be s significant leap ahead of the Wii U in terms of graphical power. Why? Cost. We are already hearing rumors that Sony will have multiple consoles with a 400 dollar and 500 dollar price tag attached to them. Who can afford that in this economy? With the way everyone is addicted social media interaction and streaming apps and such, it would seem as if functionality would take the front seat over pure graphical horse power this time around. If you watch the Game Trailers Show called the Bonus Round, they had recently been discussing all things Sony and speculating on what the PS4 might offer. One thing that was interesting to me was a comment from one of the guests by the name of Brian Crecente who works at Polygon. He Said that the company that will win the next gen wont do it with games but by what other things the console can do such as sharing videos with other users . I’m sorry but that sounds like a load of crap but its interesting to hear industry insiders discuss this view of what they believe the next gen will be. Will Sony focus more on functionality over flash? Maybe both. My money will be on a console with less of a focus on high end graphics. I could be wrong, though.
3. Vita integration: The Vita’s Last Stand
Could This Feature Be Better Suited For The PS4?
Sony tried integrating the PS3 and Vita in some interesting ways. Allowing you to buy a game on PS3 and Vita and share save data between the two titles and even cross platform play were very good ideas. Sony even claimed that the two could work together in ways that are better than what the Wii U could do with its Gamepad. Nice try Sony. One thing we could see happen is PS4 could be integrated with Vita from the go. Sony could push developers to add Vita functionality to every PS4 game making the experience much closer to that of Nintendo’s Wii U. What? Don’t act like Sony doesn’t copy Nintendo as often as they inhale air. Anyways, dare i say Sony could pack a Vita in with every PS4? Probably not but i think a massive Vita price drop could be in order to get more gamers to sign on to Sony’s handheld. If the PS4 and Vita can unite in ways Sony only dreamed with the PS3 it would add so much more value to the console and make spending 400-500 dollars that much more understandable although i don’t feel any game console is worth that much money. Just saying.
Honorable Mentions
If in fact the PS4 is a power house for visuals than i believe it will be expensive. Seeing as Sony will want to wow the media and gamers at this event and no doubt steal some of Nintendo’s already fading thunder, i doubt a price will be revealed. Imagine hearing about all of the cool features of the PS4 and then seeing some truly amazing visuals only to have the hype sucked right back out of you by a price tag that requires that you pay with your soul. Not cool.
A Holiday 2013 release would not be that surprising. In fact i don’t think Sony could wait another year to release the PS4. Nintendo will no doubt gain some steam going further into the year and by the holiday we will see the release of the Zelda HD remake. Sony can’t afford to let Nintedo go a full year untested. Especially allowing then to launch a huge title around the holidays without any competition. A holiday release for the PS4 would be good for Sony since it would fall under shopping season. Lets just hope the PS4 has some games when it arrives.
I expect quite a few testimonials from 3rd party developers and publishers. Unlike the support Nintendo had from 3rd parties, i don’t expect their support for Sony to magically fade away in a years time. I think some big guns could show up today. Square could finally do something worthwhile and show off Final Fantasy Versus 13 complete with a brand new title that doesn’t sound completely ridiculous. How about a special edition of GTA 5? I think every Sony fan would blow their lid if Naughty Dog shows up with a Uncharted 4 teaser. Sony has always had strong support from developers so i expect that to continue with the PS4.
Last but not least Sony will have to address the issue of backwards compatibility. If the rumors are true about Sony using new architecture for the PS4 then it would seem that it won’t be playing PS3 discs. What about all those PS3 games you own? This is a question Sony will have to answer.
So that’s it. My predictions for the PS4 during today’s Sony press conference provided Sony does announce a new console. What do you think? If you want to watch the press conference it starts at 6pm eastern. Gametrailers will have coverage starting at 2pm west coast time and i believe IGN will have coverage as well. Lets see how many of my predictions will come true or prove to be false. As always let me know what makes Wii U Mad? Until next time.
Sorry iv’e been away for a few weeks guys. I came down with the flu or something and ended up becoming pretty ill for some time. Yes, yes, i know you missed me. Wipe the tears away and cry no more for i have returned. Iv’e returned and I’m pissed. Why do people put other people down when they are only trying to do their best? It’s time to go on a rant! The victim? Marcus Beer.
The Annoying Gamer
Who the hell are you to judge, Marcus? You went off on a rant about how the Hip-Hop Gamer proclaims to be the “number one journalist” and how he is a plagiarist. Marcus Beer went on to say that Hip-Hop gamer represents everything that is wrong with gaming and that he’s a “bad joke”. This was all in response to the ECA ( Entertainment Consumers Association) naming Hip-Hop gamer as their brand ambassador. Marcus claims that as a result of this decision those who don’t approve of or understand gaming will now have a “field day”. At worst Marcus is behaving like a complete “dick” and at best a Hypocrite. Marcus spends his time raving and ranting using profanity at every turn but because he’s on a popular gaming site it’s ok. Right? Hell no! Hip-Hop gamer is by no means perfect but he’s got a heart and a passion for the gaming industry. Instead of Marcus bashing him, how about trying to help him. Reach out to him and see if you cant offer up some encouragement. We as people need to be lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down. I enjoy Marcus’s show on Game Trailers. He has been in the industry for quite some time and he seems to know what he is talking about for the most part. He’s good at what he does. I believe Marcus also has a passion for this industry witch maybe the reason why he attacked the Hip-Hop Gamer. Maybe he honestly feels that Hip-Hop Gamer doesn’t take gaming seriously enough. My problem is that had Marcus been paying attention to this guy he would have noticed a guy just trying to make it. A guy who just may not have the tools to get the job done the way it should be. Maybe the Hip-Hop Gamer lacks the proper training as a journalist witch is why instead of tearing him down he should have contacted him to offer up some friendly and professional advice. What really pissed me off is that Marcus Beer had the nerve to tell Hip-Hop Gamer that he would give him a few months to get his act together. Then what! What then, Marcus?! Who the hell are you? You attack a man’s character then tell him you will give him time to sort himself out as if you were humanities judge. Last time i checked the Annoyed Gamer show wasn’t hosted by Jesus Christ.
Skip to the last segment to hear his diss on the Hip-Hop Gamer
The ECA Is Just Trying To Do Something Positive For Someone Else
Gerard approached us wanting to know what he could do to help the cause. He’s in the process of turning his life around, becoming more professional and inspirational to his friends and followers. It’s exceedingly rare that we have individuals approach the organization laying it all out there, offering to do whatever they can, and asking for nothing in return. While we weren’t aware of any of his perceived transgressions online, we choose to embrace his support, his efforts and his selflessness. If we were all judged solely upon the negatives in our past we would all be damned. We would like to give him the opportunity to be a voice for gamers and a positive role model for gaming.
The man is clearly trying to change for the better. I will agree that his show may not be the most professional. Like i said earlier, maybe Hip-Hop Gamer doesn’t currently have the skill or know how to create a more professional show. Ive said it time and time again, he has the heart. Someone just may need to come along side him and give him a little help. He is clearly trying to make the best of what he has. The ECA obviously saw this and they seem to stand by their decision to name the Hip-Hop Gamer as their brand ambassador. Not everyone agrees with this decision. People are saying that he is a stereotypical black male and that maybe he’s too “ghetto”. You idiots clearly don’t comprehend what being “ghetto” really is and as far as him being the stereotypical black male then what does that make Geoff Keighly? The stereotypical white guy? Do you people not notice the words Hip and Hop in his name? He’s acting just as his the name Hip-Hop Gamer implies. The last thing i want to bring up is the Hip-Hop Gamer’s attempt to talk things out with Marcus Beer. He took to Twitter to try and get a one on one discussion with Marcus and he responded in absolute disrespect.
Really Marcus? He wouldn’t even give the man a chance. Hip-Hop Gamer has nothing to prove to Marcus Beer or anyone else. Period!
Room For Improvement
The Hip-Hop Gamer is not without his faults. Just like with you and i, there is always room for improvement. I’d love to see the Hip-Hop Gamer hook up with someone who’s got the right camera and editing equipment as well as someone with some indie producing experience. Also i know that since he is the Hip-Hop Gamer his speech and body language is a bit on the thug side but even 50 Cent tones it down when he is doing an interview. To be fair the last few interviews that iv’e seen the Hip-Hop Gamer conduct were pretty good. He is definitely improving. Lastly id love to see this guy get his own custom belt. Hip-Hop Gamer currently uses John Cena’s old WWE belt (replica) complete with custom spinner witch was meant to imitate a spinning rim of a car. He needs to have his own custom belt with the Hip-Hop Gamer logo on it. Marcus Beer didn’t seem to like the belt at all. I think its fun to watch the person that the Hip-Hop Gamer is interviewing wear the belt as they answer questions. It places an importance on the person being interviewed and is says something about the value that he places on each individual that he comes across. Its cool to watch. Improving one’s self takes time. It’s called growth and it doesn’t happen overnight. It especially doesn’t happen by someone else tearing you down for your mistakes. Make no mistake using the word faggot when referring to someone else is flat out wrong. Hip-Hop Gamer knows this. He apologized for it.
Straight from his mouth
Why Am I Such a Supporter?
I support the Hip-Hop Gamer because we all want to get somewhere in life. We all want to be better than we were last year. We all make mistakes and everyone needs and deserves forgiveness as long as they are truly sorry. Nothing can be worse than someone being held back for mistakes they made in the past. Your past mistakes may dictate were you are today but they damn sure don’t determine were you go in the future if you don’t let them. So when i see someone trying to stay positive and make positive changes in their life how can i do anything but lend support. Even if that support is just a few encouraging words. I have this to say to the Hip-Hop Gamer. Change is coming. It doesn’t happen overnight. We all go through seasons in our life that if we embrace and learn from them will make us stronger and hopefully better. If you are truly trying to make a positive change in your life then let no man stop you. Keep doing what you do. You end all of your videos and interviews with “God bless” so if you believe He blesses then believe that if you trust in Him He will lead you to were you need to be. To Marcus Beer i have this to say. Professionalism is more than being on a popular show. It also has alot to do with what comes out of your mouth. The constant swearing and put downs need to stop. Your talented and i agree with some of you views and i believe you can go far in life. Be positive towards others even if you don’t agree with them. Ill end with a rap video from the Hip-Hop Gamer. I think this sums up what he’s all about. Listen and enjoy.
As always let me know how you feel about the matter and tell me what makes Wii U Mad?
2013 could prove to be one of the best years in gaming thus far. With many new titles coming this year for current consoles as well as the expected announcements of both Sony and Microsoft’s next-gen machines, gaming’s best years could very well be just ahead of us.
Microsoft
Should XBL be free this time?
Ok. I’m not even going to touch on the often absurd rumored specs of Microsoft’s or Sony’s next-gen consoles. I’m going to take a look at the best case scenario from both a core gamer and casual consumer perspective which would result in affordable next-gen machines. Lets just say the next Xbox isn’t leaps ahead of the Wii U in terms of visual fidelity. So what? Look at the advantages developers will have just having a bit more ram and processing power. Take Halo 4 and Uncharted 3 for example. What could Naughty Dog and 343 have done with those games if they had a bit more to work with in terms of system performance. Imagine Halo 4 with increased resolution, better texture detail, and enhanced AI. When Uncharted 3 released it represented some of the best visuals this generation had ever seen and i believe that still holds true. What if that game ran in native 1080p at 60fps with a higher level of atnti-aliasing and shader support? Next-gen games may not make the same visual leap that the Xbox 360 did over the original Xbox but rest assured that next-gen titles will feature some truly breathtaking visuals.
People seem to be complaining about having to pay for a 6 year old XBL when Steam, Nintendo network, and PSN are all free. Those complaints are very valid. I would bet Microsoft is going to do one of two things with their new machine. First, make Xbox live free (though i’m doubtful) or keep charging and completely revolutionize the experience making 60 dollars a year seem like a steal for such a great service. If it weren’t for XBL we wouldn’t have the slightest idea in the first place as to how a real console online experience should operate. Microsoft set the bar and they could very well raise it again. What could they add? For starters, day one digital downloads for every retail game should be a given. How about a digital rental service for games? Cloud saving would most likely be a standard next-gen as well. I doubt Microsoft will go for a complete digital only service which would alienate many consumers who either have very slow internet connections or no internet at all but like it or not, digital is the future.
Lets talk Next-gen innovation. Does Microsoft go in the direction of creating a tablet controller and try to out do Nintendo? Or is their big innovation going to be an enhanced version of Kinect? How about the IllumiRoom? in case you are unfamiliar with the IllumiRoom it’s a new project being designed by one of Microsoft’s research teams to be used with Kinect and most likely the newest Xbox. IllumiRoom will take the image currently displayed on your tv screen and expand it across the entire area around your tv. The effect is similar to having your game projected onto your wall except in this case the active area is still your tv screen but the environment is displayed all around your living room. I’m curious as to what the final design will shape up to be and how it will be used to enhance your gaming experience.
As far as software goes, Microsoft doesn’t have a deep reserve of first party content. What Microsoft does well is ensure that games being released for their console receives exclusive content first. Take Call of Duty, GTA, and Skyrim as examples. These games released all of their expansions first on XBL making owning these titles on Microsoft’s console more rewarding. Microsoft will most likely continue this trend going forward. If you also take in account the fact that the Xbox has always been the easiest platform to develop for and you can see why developers tend to side with Microsoft as their lead platform. Expect this trend to also continue with the Next-Gen consoles as well unless Sony really does decide to abandon the Cell processor in favor of off the shelf parts.
Sony
Goodbye Cell processor!
Current rumors would have you believe that Sony is finally ready to abandon the Cell processor. This would be a good thing. While powerful, the Cell processor isn’t the easiest to develop for. Apparently Sony is going to go with off the shelf pc parts which would put it in line with the 360 in terms of ease of development. Can you imagine a Sony console that’s easy to develop for? The PS4 may end up being more of a beast than the PS3 was and we all know that games built from the ground up on the PS3 tend to look much better than anything on the 360. I don’t expect the PS4 to be a major enhancement over the PS3 though. Just a lot more capable. More ram, more processing power. Hopefully this translates into deeper immersion than ever before.
Sony has done a fantastic job with the Playstation Network and even the Playstation Plus service packs tons of value. I suspect that going forward that Sony would make PS Plus it’s premier service while still offering a free PSN for users. Although i feel that a completely free online service is the way to go, even Nintendo has hinted at a paid service in the future. With much talk about Sony purchasing Gaikai, Sony could unveil some sort of digital rental service similar to what OnLive was. Speculation has led many to believe that the Gaikai service would provide users a way to stream the entire PS2 and PS3 catalog freeing Sony from having to include the tech into their new console resulting in lower costs. It will be interesting to see what Sony does with Gaikai.
When it comes to innovation Sony is often accused of copying Nintendo but to be fair Sony will often take those innovations and improve on them. The Super Nes controller became the Dual shock, the Wiimote became the Move, and Smash Bros became Playstation All-Stars. Wait…What? Forget that last one. Actually forget the last two. The point is that Sony makes quality pieces of hardware. A current rumor also has Sony ditching the Dual Shock design entirely. What could be up their sleeve? Will they go with a tablet controller. It wouldn’t surprise me and if they did i can pretty much guarantee it will out-class Nintendo’s Game Pad in terms of specs. That’s what Sony is good at. I don’t view Sony as much of an innovator as they are a company that can take an idea and beef it up tremendously. I’m interested to see what they bring to the table next-gen.
While not as deep of a roster as Nintendo, Sony’s first party line up is with out a doubt full of heavy hitters. One thing i will give Sony is their ability to spot talented teams and have them produce new IP’s for them. Sony introduced several new franchises this generation and i believe they did a much better job at supporting their franchises on the PS3 then Nintendo did on the Wii. Seeing this trend continue would result in more new IP’s for the PS4 as well as continued support for their current ones. What new studio will Sony discover next? The next Naughty Dog perhaps? Sony has some of the most talented teams in the business so Playstation fans have plenty to look forward on the PS4.
Nintendo
Will we see this at E3?
The Wii U has been on the market for two months now and opinions range from the system doing quite well, to the system not doing well. I know one thing is for sure, people who own the console seem to be pretty happy with what they have seen and played so far. One question that is still up in the air is just what can the Wii U really do? When a game is produced from the ground up and fully optimized for the console what kind of gaming experience will come out of it? Can it be duplicated on the Xbox 360 or PS3? We know that the Wii U has much more ram than both of those systems combined. We know that the architecture is much different as well. The Wii U uses a GPPU and games most definitely need to be optimized to take advantage of this set up. So far we’ve seen good ports of games like COD and AC 3 and we’ve seen decent ports such as Batman and Ninja Gaiden. Trine 2 does look better on the Wii U then it does on the PS3 and 360 withe crisper textures and better lighting. What we all want to know is how much will Zelda blow us all away?
Everyone just assumed that Nintendo would botch the Wii U’s online. Lets be honest though, the original Wii’s online was all kinds of “trash” It was the kind of garbage that Oscar the Grouch would make his home in. Wii U is a much different story. Miiverse in itself is a much better social network than anything we have ever seen on a gaming console. This is a feature that is sure to be copied by Nintendo’s competitors. If you love Face Book and Twitter you will feel right at home with Miiverse. It was very smart for Nintendo to allow this service to interact directly with the game your playing as well. You always feel like your connected to people at every moment. The Nintendo E shop is a big step up from the original Wii as well. Overall Nintendo’s online experience is much more in line with what your used to on PS3 and 360. It’s by no means perfect though. The OS is friggin’ ridiculously slow. On average i wait five minutes to load up the Wii U plaza. It usually happens after iv’e watched Hulu or Netflix. Once it loaded so long that i turned on my pc to play Batman and after two friggin’ hours the damn thing was still loading. I ended up having to pull the plug. Needless to say Nintendo needs to improve the OS. Other improvements that would benefit Nintendo’s online is a more streamlined E Shop. Right now everything just seems to be thrown on one page with no real organization. Being able to see your friends list at any time as well as having a on screen notification when friends get online or send me messages would be nice. Hopefully some or all of this will be addressed by E3
Innovation is Nintendo’s specialty. You know this, Microsoft and Sony even know it. So we have been playing around with Nintendo’s new innovative Game Pad for two months now and it’s easy to see its potential. So what does Nintendo have in store for us? How will they surprise us in the future. I’m interested to see how the Metroid franchise uses the Game Pad. I think it could be a cool idea to have the game run in the 3rd person similar to Metroid Blast, and have a more Metroid Prime first person experience on the Game Pad. You could lift the controller to scan areas and switch visors as well as access maps and weapons. You know that sounds cool. Your probably trying to picture it in your head right now as you read this. How about the successor to Mario Galaxy? How will Nintendo use the Game Pad in a new and unique way for that franchise? Maybe the game switches completely to the controller when ever you enter a pipe much like the Gameboy Advance to Gamecube connectivity feature in Zelda Four Swords. One thing is for sure, Nintendo needs to really show developers that the Game pad can be used for more than just a map and inventory. I’m really excited to see what Gearbox has in store for the Wii U version of Aliens. If used correctly, the Wii U Game Pad can most definitely revolutionize the way we interact with games.
Speaking of games, Nintendo has by far one of the deepest roster of hit franchises. More so than probably any other developer. I believe those big name franchises were underused on the Wii. Wii U could change this. We know Pikmin 3 is coming. We haven’t seen that franchise since the Gamecube. What about other dormant franchises? We would all love to see Nintendo return to franchises like Starfox and Wave Race. Miyamoto has been talking a little bit about the F-Zero franchise and it was featured in Nintendoland so that’s always a good sign of things to come. While the tried and true franchises are always welcome i think what most people want is to see Nintendo try it’s hand at something new. It’s been a while since we’ve been treated to a brand new Nintendo IP. No. Wii Music does NOT count! There has been talk of Miyamoto working with smaller teams so that he can concentrate on new projects. I think this would be great for Nintendo. Something new and refreshing from the house that Mario built is just what Nintendo needs while maybe not at the expense of overlooking a fan favorite or two. Bring us Mario, but give us something new. Increased third party support should be just as high on Nintendo’s priority list. Third party support for their platforms hasn’t been strong since the days of the good ‘ol SNES so it’s crucial that Nintendo do something about that. Maybe they can take a page out of Sony’s book and start buying a few small development teams here and there. Maybe Nintendo could purchase Platinum games. That would be awesome! I look forward to E3 as i suspect Nintendo will have some huge news to drop in light of an imminent PS4 and 720 announcement.
PC
Bow down!
The PC. Are you a part of the “Master Race”? If you can afford it, you should be. PC gaming has a bright future. On one hand you have Valve announcing a PC built around Steam and dedicated to gaming. It has been dubbed the “Steam Box” . The “Steam Box” was meant to compete directly with the PS4 and 720 while offering PC quality gaming. Something that is truly beyond what the current consoles can achieve. For those who already game on PC you probably won’t see the need to purchase a “Steam Box”. I myself bought my PC for graphic design and video editing but the moment i witnessed what Batman Arkham City looked like running with all settings on max, i was sold. Damn right the PC is King! With the ability to constantly upgrade your PC you are always assured that you will have the latest and best when it comes to gaming hardware. You my friend are future proofed.
You have Nintendo Network which is off to an amazing start. You have PSN which is well established and gives you amazing value when you add in PS Plus. XBL at one point was the industry standard and still to this day delivers outstanding value. Then there is steam. Its free, and you can not and i repeat can NOT find an online service dedicated to gaming that offers a better value. Period. I said PERIOD, stop trying argue against me in your head! How much did you buy Arkham City for on your Xbox? I got the Game of the year edition on Steam for 7.49. Yep. Seven dollars and fourty-nine cents. Sales like that are common place on steam and with over 30 million users its hard to not see why Steam is the best service for online gaming provided you aren’t a die-hard first party Nintendo or Sony fan.
I don’t generally associate PC gaming with hardware innovations but the Oculus Rift could change all of that. What is the Oculus Rift? It’s the most advanced VR headset you have ever heard of. Or not heard of, doesn’t matter cause there is nothing else like it. Which ever direction you turn your head and look you will be immersed in the game. Hear someone creeping up behind you? Turn your body around to see who or what it is? Hear some birds chirping above? Look up to watch them soaring through the sky. Or how bout stepping out on a ledge of a steep cliff and looking down? Thanks to the headset incorporating stereoscopic 3d you will feel as if you were actually starring down a steep cliff. Be warned though, motion sickness may occur. It is uncertain how much the OCulus will cost or when it will even be consumer ready but one thing is for sure, the Oculus may revolutionize the way we are immersed in gaming more so than any console hardware has ever achieved.
When it comes to games, the PC in 2013 will enjoy many of the consoles best offerings all in glorious PC fashion. Higher resolution, crisper textures, higher frame rate and the list can often go on and on. There are also a ton of games that will never make it to consoles. MMO’s for the most part will stay exlusive to the PC. Have you checked out Age of Wushu? I don’t care for MMO’s but damn this game looks fun! The PC is the perfect choice for any gamer who just wants to play the definitive version of the latest multi platform games. Chances are you will even get them at a cheaper price on day one than you would purchasing the console version. Not to mention the various mods that can be done on PC and not on consoles. Have you seen the “Macho Man” Randy Savage dragon mod for Skyrim? Or how about the mod that gives your character and certain weapons a Legend of Zelda makeover? PC gaming can be the definitive place to play and i promise once you go PC, your PC for life. Maybe.
Closing
2013 is looking like it could shape up to be the beginning of an even bigger and brighter future for gaming than we could have imagined. With so many choices for gamer’s between Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony and PC/Valve i can’t see an instance were the gamer’s loose out. If everything goes right we could also bare witness to the greatest E3 showing in history with two, maybe three new consoles being announced (including Valves “Steam Box) and a plethora of software due to come out this year, 2013 may be one for the gaming history books. Stop with the fan-boyism and enjoy what each of these companies has worked so hard to bring to the industry. You owe it to them and to yourself to do so. As always, i want to know your thoughts on the matter as well as what makes Wii U Mad?
Yesterday in a post entitled Nintendoomed, i wrote about why Nintendo could be down for the count if they don’t change some things up. The industry is clearly changing and Nintendo seems to be moving at a much slower pace than its competitors. With not many third party games to look forward to in 2013 and not much news coming from Nintendo themselves it would seem as if the company may be unequipped to handle what Microsoft and Sony may have in store for them with their Next-Gen offerings but Nintendo has been here before. This dance isn’t new to Nintendo and here are some reasons as to why Nintendo moves at their own pace and can quite possibly come out on top this Next-Gen.
No one makes a controller like Nintendo
unparalleled Controll
Nintendo has been innovating new ways for gamer’s to interact with the gaming world since the early 80′s. The NES gave the D-pad and an A and B button. If it weren’t for this simple yet monumental little adjustment we would still be using the inferior joystick of the Atari console. The NES made platforming a dream to play.
The Super NES is arguably the greatest gaming console of all time and it gave us the template for what all modern day console controllers are based upon. Left and right shoulder buttons were added to the NES’s original design as well as two more face buttons bringing the total to four. Games like Street Fighter and Super Metroid couldn’t be played on a lesser controller. Remember trying to play SF2 on the Genesis? The SNES controller was such a great design that Sony borrowed and modified the design for its Playstation console a few years later.
The N64 controller was perhaps Nintendo’s most unique design ever. Setting aside the fact that it looked like an upside down pitchfork, the N64 controller brought us the analog stick. Never before seen in a home console, the analog stick is probably the most significant addition to the console controller ever. Think about it. Could you play any shooter without one. (Keyboard and Mouse not withstanding) The analog stick revolutionized how we move around in a 3d space giving you full control over your characters movement. Not to be outdone by the analog stick, rumble or otherwise known as force feedback was also introduced in the N64 era with a little game called Starfox 64. Could you imagine modern games today lacking rumble. Sony tried it with the first Ps3 controller. Remember. They said something about how rumble was so last gen and the 6-axis was the future. That changed rather quickly, huh?
The Game cube controller was just weird. I don’t think there was anything to significant about it. It’s just that having that one huge green “A” button kinda changed things a bit. Mashing on the large “A” button to attack felt good and the shape of the “X” and “Y” buttons, while awkward did give the controller a unique feel. One that you got so used to that it grew on you. No one knows this better than a Smash Bros. fan. Playing Smash on any other controller just isn’t the same.
Now we all know the innovation that the WII remote brought to the industry. Motion controlled sword combat and archery probably stand out the most. Swinging the Wiimote like a tennis racket felt natural and intuitive. Its a shame that third parties didn’t really take advantage of this gameplay innovation. Instead most of them used it as tacked on gimmick. Skyward Sword showed the true potential of what the WIimote could have meant for gaming had developers really put time and effort into it.
Now, everyone loves tablets. Why not fuse one with gaming controller? Nintendo did and the Wii U Gamepad was born. The jury is obviously still out on this one but at least we can say it’s off to an excellent start. Games like Zombie U and Nintendoland show off what’s possible with a little hard work and imagination. I cant wait to see what innovations Nintendo has up their sleeve for this device in the future.
Game Changer!
Unparalleled Gameplay
It’s well know that Nintendo develops ideas for gameplay well before they even know what game this particular idea will even turn out to become. Game play has always taken center stage when it comes to Nintendo often resulting in groundbreaking new ways to interact with the game world your in.
Take Mario 64 for instance. Never before had anyone played a game that gave you the freedom of full 360 degree movement. Mario 64 allowed you to run, jump and climb just about anywhere you desired and the level of pin point precision usually reserved for 2d platformers was no for the first time realized in 3d. Mario 64 is number one on several “Best of all time” lists and rightfully so.
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time. Arguably one of the greatest games ever created. In the past we played games in this genre without any sort of lock on targeting system. Zelda OOT changed all of that. Introducing a targeting system that allowed you to stay locked on an enemy while still being able to move and dodge was a thing of genius. Can you imagine modern games without this feature? Oh…wait. Some games still don’t use a lock on system. Anyways, Zelda OOT delivered an unparalleled landscape were if your eye could see it then you could travel there. Just about everything could be interacted with. It still astounds me that Nintendo was able to take every significant piece of gameplay from the original Zelda games and successfully transition it all into 3d gameplay. Nintendo has always been able to make games excel at what they were meant to. Fun. Regardless of the genre, regardless of the content, Nintendo focuses on gameplay first which in usually always results in pure gaming bliss, but hater’s still gonna hate.
Unparalleled franchises
The legend of Zelda. Donkey Kong Country. Starfox. Metroid. Kirby. Smash Bros. Super Mario. F-Zero. Pikmin. Punch Out. Wave Race. Mario Kart. Fire Emblem. Pokemon. I’m sure i am missing a franchise or two but i just named off fourteen “triple A” franchises that are big sellers for Nintendo. Franchise that have a proven and dedicated fan base. Microsoft can’t claim this and although Sony has some very well established first party franchises none of them are on the level of the ones i have just named. Anyone of these Nintendo titles would cause a stir if announced at any given time for the Wii U and anyone of these could be announce at any time. Very few developers can say they have franchises that can compete with the likes of what Nintendo have in-house. Capcom, Sega and maybe Namco can but neither of them have kept up the level of quality that Nintendo has since the early 80′s. Think about that. These 80′s franchises are still relevant today because of the quality of the product and the overwhelming dedication from fans.
It’s been said time and time again that Nintendo software sells Nintendo hardware. Think about it, though. It’s true. Is it a surprise? How many developers create games with the level of quality that Nintendo does especially in the gameplay department? If Nintendo is in trouble right now, and everyone seems to think they are, then it may be time for them to start pulling out some of these franchise. We know Zelda is coming. We know Metroid and Mario are coming. What about the franchises that have remained dormant for some time. We need to see Star Fox make a console return. F-Zero and Wave Race, too. The roster is too deep too ignore. Provided Nintendo has the teams available to handle these franchises, they could very well put themselves in a position to make the Wii U as attractive as the SNES was to gamers and developers alike. Only time will tell. Nintendo could always announce something in a new Nintendo direct video and E3 is not too far away. Lets not count Nintendo out yet.
The wild card. This is an instant win for Nintendo
The Game Master. Nuff said
Closing
The industry loves to doubt Nintendo. The industry usually ends up being wrong. Journalists seem to think they have Nintendo figured out. They are most always wrong. Just look up Michael Pachter’s predictions about the company. He has never been right. It’s true that Nintendo can be a frustrating company at times to stand behind. They seem to only give us what we want when they are ready to, and they release information at a snails pace. Its usually for the better though. Remember how every one wanted a realistic link but got the Wind Waker? It turned out to be one of the best Zelda titles ever and then when Nintendo did give us a more realistic Zelda, gamers broke out in tears. Literally. Nintendo has been in business for over 50 years and have been making consoles since the early 80′s. Although no company is perfect, when is the last time Nintendo as a company has made a stupid business decision? Lets not count the virtual boy. Even that was just an ambitious project that just didn’t pan out the way Nintendo wanted to. If your a Nintendo fan then keep supporting them in the meantime and lets see how 2013 shapes up for them. Sony and Microsoft may have more powerful consoles on the way but since when did power determine anything. Ps2 was the weakest of the three consoles in its generation but still dominated due to software. Lets just hope Nintendo is working on bringing some truly unique and great software to the Wii U from both first and third parties. As always let me know your thoughts on the matter and tell me…what makes Wii U MAD?
Maybe its me. Maybe it’s you, too. Iv’e been a gamer since the early 80′s and the more i grow with the industry the more i grow ashamed of it. I’m in my early 30′s and i’m still not quite comfortable with telling certain individuals that i play video games. It also has nothing to do with me being insecure. I’m a husband and a father and i take care of business. It’s the immaturity of the gaming industry that makes me feel this way. I’m slowly moving away from gaming. Slowly getting sick of the industry. My last article about Sandy Hook made me think a about something. Something that brought me to this conclusion. Screw the game industry!
Games ARE art, created by artists so they’re not my problem.
My problem is the friggin’ childish nature of the men in this industry. From the publisher and certain developers to the game journalist who are severely lacking common sense. How much time and money is being wasted on the garbage that gets created now days? What is the purpose of a video game anyway? I always thought of it as an outlet to explore distant lands that i obviously couldn’t visit in the real world. I remember the first time i got lost in the world of Metroid as a child and i wasn’t even the one playing. I was watching my older brother play through one of the latter parts of the game were he was just introduced to the life sucking Metroids and i remember looking away in fear and hoping he would make it out alive. Awesome! I remember playing Super Mario Bros. with my cousins and spending countless hours trying to reach world 8-4. As a child you already have quite the imagination as it is, now add on top of that a video game that even further pushes the limits of your imagination and you have got a powerful combination. Now that was the 80′s. With today’s advancements in computer technology these worlds we visit have become more lifelike than we could have ever imagined during the decade when we were playing Excite Bike and Tecmo Bowl. So why does it feel that these worlds are becoming less and less creative. Everything is going the way of “gritty” and “photo realistic”. Games that have kept in line with a more retro design (Mario Galaxy) are looked at as “kiddie” and not taken seriously. Why? I feel exploring the edges of Hyrule and speed running through the Mushroom Kingdom is far more fun than shooting hordes of Locusts.
Are these guys really the future of gaming?
Selfish Gamers
Yeah i called you selfish! So?!
When i wrote the article about gaming violence being linked to “real” violence i got a bit of criticism. Hell, anytime anyone mentions gaming and real world violence in the same sentence they get criticized but damn, how bout showing you have an open mind and are not just a blind video game “punk” fanboy. No one can ever question the industry right? If i had a week i could write down all the VALID reasons people have to link video game violence to “real” violence. Read this: http://wiiumadgamers.com/2012/12/22/should-video-games-be-on-the-hook-for-sandy-hook/
Instead of gamers taking a step back and looking at their beloved industry and at least giving the argument the time of day, what do they do? They cry about it. Oh woe is me and my precious video games! Right? Yeah that’s you.
Selfish Industry
You know what journalist and game publishers think about you? Not a damn good thing! For publishers you are a meal ticket. A dupe and a moron. Some gamers act like it too. For journalist your mindless sheep. Again, some gamers act like it. Journalist feel everything has to be grown up and adult. More bullets, more blood. There is definitely a bias against Nintendo and if you say you disagree then punch yourself in the face. A company like Nintendo that simply tries to bring some creativity and FUN to gaming gets slammed cause their games don’t show what is considered to be mature content. Wait… cursing, explosions, guns and digital titties make for mature content? People have the nerve to say that this is what grown men play. If you are over 25 and this is your idea of mature entertainment then please refrain from calling yourself an adult. Shave your pubic area and talk with a squeak in your voice cause it seems your mind has ceased from developing over the past decade or so. Publishers and certain developers would have you believe that the future of gaming includes you spending around $500 of your hard earned money on a new console because only a more powerful graphics card and such can produce “next gen” results. More Power! More Power! More Power! Buy! Buy! Buy! You have kids? No problem. Don’t feed them. you need the money to buy $80 dollar games this coming “next gen” anyways. Making minimum wage and just got married. Great! Skip out on your honey moon and save up for a Playstation 4. Am i being too extreme here? Just making the point that people don’t have the money to spend on gaming anymore. Especially when they offer little more than a way for you to just sit on your couch and twittle your thumbsticks. Ive said it before, buy a pc instead. Stop padding these guys wallets. Screw ‘em. They aren’t thinking about you.
Video Games just aren’t important
They are fun. Just not important. I play games to have fun. Fun with my kids. Fun with my wife. Fun on my own. Gaming isn’t a lifestyle for me and it shouldn’t be for anyone else. Guess there may be exceptions to that. When developers want to nickle and dime me for every piece of DLC on top of charging me $60 dollars for an 8 hour game then that’s when i start to get weary. The current gen consoles still have life in them regardless of the mindless dribble that comes out of Marcus Beer and Shane Satterfield’s mouth. You see how Kojima’s new Fox engine looks. That’s an engine! We don’t need new consoles. Nintendo needed to release the Wii U because they handled the Wii like a joke and developers had a good laugh at it. Now that the consoles are at parity lets leave it that way. If Sony and Microsoft can produce consoles that don’t exceed $300 than great. Just what would the advantage be over current gen consoles? For $300 dollars i doubt it would be graphics. Then why release one? Would they take a Nintendo approach and focus on gameplay innovation? They need to. I believe gamers have spent too much money investing in the current gen systems already just to turn around and have to do it again so soon. Yes i know this is the longest console generation we have ever had and i dont think it’s done. Or should it be. The truth is publishers want money. What better way to get it than to piggy back off new hardwdare. Never mind just coming up with new franchises and fresh ideas for existing ones. Never mind improving your game engines and maximizing what’s already on the market. Just convince everyone that they need “new” consoles. We need new consoles like an iPad owner needs a needs a new iPad.
I’m Done!
This may be my last console generation. I love Nintendo. I’m getting more and more attached to Steam. I’m just not sure if i want to continue supporting the current industry. I’m getting tired. It’s expensive, no longer innovative, and lacking real maturity. Most of you may not agree with me and that’s ok. Just have an open mind and think about what your spending your time and money on versus what your getting in return. Do we really need new consoles. Are $60 games worth it anymore. Think about it. As always let me know what you guys think and tell me?…What makes Wii U Mad?
we all know were this came from. Remember the 90′s? If you do then you understand that this rating was in response to the back lash by parents and congress over games like Night Trap and Mortal Kombat. It was designed as a way for parents to determine what would be the appropriate content for their children.
Now days the “M” rating seems to just be an excuse for developers to cram as much violence and profanity into their games as possible. More and more games are being created with one thing in mind. Killing. Forget about the good old days of the platformer and power ups lets just focus on head shots and loadouts. Since the beginning of this generation, shooters have dominated the market led by the one and only Call of Duty.
Rated “I” for Immature
Ever since the huge success of the Call of Duty brand it seems as if every developer who made a shooter tried to “one UP” Activision. Even those that didn’t make first person shooters started to. Even franchises that were once in the third person perspective in prior games have succumbed to the pressure of becoming the “next big thing”.
In the process of copying and pasting successful formulas of other franchises such as Gears of War, it would seem as if the point of gaming is getting lost. Fun and creativity are being over shadowed by an assembly line of carbon copy shooters.
If it doesn’t involve shooting, killing, sex or foul language then it is deemed to be “kiddie”. Some of the greatest games of all time featured bright and colorful worlds filled with “power ups” and warp pipes. Gaming, since it’s inception has always been a family affair and the content reflected this. Nintendo has pushed this more than any other company which is why they now are branded a “kiddie” console maker when all they are doing is creating content that speaks to wide margin of consumers. I once read an article about how it was time for Mario to “grow up”. What do you mean “grow up”? I’m sure you have all seen some of the fan art online depicting a realistic Mario Bros. and it all looks cool. You just can’t expect Nintendo to really take that route. Mario is a kid friendly, family oriented mascot for a major family oriented company. It would be like Disney making Mickey Mouse grow up to suit the needs of those who are now in their thirties and forties. Which brings me to my last point.
Rated “GAM” for i’m a “Grown-Ass Man”
Remember when the Gamecube was called a “kiddie” console cause it was purple and had a handle on the back? Never mind that it gave us some of the best games of all time like Zelda Wind Waker, Resident evil 4 and the Metroid Prime series. Remember how the Wii was supposed to be a console for kids and old folks? Never mind that it gave us Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 which are two of the best reviewed games of all time. Don’t get me started on the nonsense i hear about how “grown men” play COD and not Mario or Zelda. Since your such a “grown-ass man” how bout you do something with your time other than playing videogames? That’s what i thought.
Closing
Gaming was meant to be enjoyed by all and that’s the way we should treat it. It doesn’t matter if your single, married with kids, or a kid yourself, gaming was created for everyone to enjoy. When i hear adults talking about how their too grown to play certain games but they will play others it makes me question their maturity. Don’t be immature. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a hobby, just don’t act like it all has to be catered directly to you. Remember, you were a kid once and i’m sure you remember what it was like the first time you smiled when you held a controller. Everyone should be able to enjoy a moment like that.
In 2013 Microsoft and Sony will announce their “next-gen” consoles.This announcement alone will surely destroy Nintendo’s future plans for the Wii U. Sony and Microsoft’s consoles will simply be too far advanced in future technology for Nintendo’s “current-gen” console to compete. What!? Wait!…Get that nonsense the hell out of here! That garbage is what Sony, Microsoft, and several of the big gaming sites would have you believe. Don’t buy in to it. Why? Focusing solely on hardware specs today will disappoint you next-gen.
Power
“It’s hard to say right now. I do not think we’ll have a console with a lot better graphics than the PS3 currently offered. I believe the future will be to offer consumers better and more accessible experience .The aim will be to make more people enter the world of video games and try to design titles for women.”
That was a quote from James Armstrong who is the VP of SCEE. (CEO SCE Spain+Portugal) You can read the article that was translated and posted on Gaming Bolt.
I’ve touched on this before but who in their right mind can afford another 400$ to 500$ gaming console. You might as well spend that money on a PC at least you can use it for a million other task’s on top of having the definitive version of your favorite non first party title. Sony and Microsoft know’s this and as much as they won’t admit it they know Nintendo is on the right track by offering gameplay innovation (Their specialty) over supped up specs. Its just too expensive for the consumer. Of course Microsoft and Sony can and most likely will sell their new consoles at a loss but how much of that cost do you expect they’l absorb? Eventually some of that cost will pass to consumers. 80$ games, maybe? Look i’m not saying The “nest-gen” consoles won’t be more capable than the Wii U. It will be newer tech, of course they will. I just don’t feel they’ll be anymore capable than the Wii U is over the current PS3 and 360. Maybe a little more. Definitely the leap won’t be as significant as the jump from Ps2 to Ps3. Don’t believe me? How bout you take Crytek’s word for it. In an article from http://www.Gimmegimmegames.com, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli said that there wasn’t even a strong chance that the brand new PS4 and 720 would be on par with the current AVERAGE PC on the market today. He went on to say this…
“But PC has caught up. With current generation consoles and what’s on the horizon – new ones – due to the fact that the cost of CPU and memory are so much more expensive than they were in the past, it is simply impossible to have the same kind of impact on the console business; to be so far ahead of PC.”
Now you see why Microsoft has been pushing Kinect and Smart Glass. They see the huge potential in reaching out to the casual market. Microsoft saw the attention and most importantly, the revenue that the Wii brought in. They want that. So doe’s Sony. This is why they will focus on multimedia. Streaming services like Hulu and Netflix continue to surge and they due very well on consoles. Adding more of these types of services will bring in the casual base looking to do more than play videogames. Look at Nintendo’s approach with WiiUTvii. Like the idea or not this is the type of service the next-gen consoles will be focusing on. Finally i think we may be getting to a point were better graphics just isn’t enough. Developer’s are gonna have to start pushing gameplay innovation over polygons if they want to stay viable in the market.
Sorry Microsoft but “uncanny valley” is in another castle.
Gameplay
Polygons, textures, lighting, physics, particles, blah blah blah. What about gameplay? How about a new and interesting way to interact with the gaming world. Quit giving me the same controller we’ve been using since the SNES and then modified by the Playstation. Four face buttons’, two analog sticks and a bunch of shoulder buttons cant be the peak of the gaming controller. In fact it isn’t. The Wii U gamepad is proof of that. It offers a new way to interact with the game your playing and if developers really get a hold of that concept we could really be in for some of the best gaming experiences since the analog stick was added to home consoles in the 90′s. Just look at the use of the Wii U gamepad in Nintendoland or Zombie U. If you played those games with just a standard controller then they probably wouldn’t even deliver the same experience. So what are Sony and Microsoft going to do? Just give us better graphics? Then what? Kinect was a good start. It just didn’t work. If Microsoft can perfect the idea of Kinect and make it work seamlessly with their new console than the next Xbox could be a huge success with both casual consumers and the “core”. What will Sony do? I doubt it has anything to do with Move 2.0. What is going to convince the mass market to commit to buying a new console if all it does is beef up the visuals? Of course the “hard core” will buy in to them but the casual needs a hook to reel them in. One thing is for sure is that 2013 will be interesting for the gaming industry. Will new consoles with bigger and better specs alone drive the industry forward? Will Nintendo become irrelevant? I guess only time will tell. Until then folks, tune in next time and i want to know what makes Wii U Mad?
As most of you probably know already, G4tv will be re-branded in 2013 as an upscale men’s channel. Here’s why that’s a good thing.
When G4tv first launched, without a doubt it catered to the gaming crowd with shows like Arena, Cinematech, Portal, and Cheat among countless others. If you loved the gaming industry then G4tv had something for you. Remember Icon’s? Sometime in 2005 after a change in management, the network decided to adopt a more male-centered approach and ditch its gaming roots. The next thing we knew we were bombarded with re-runs of Cop’s, Star Trek, Worlds crappiest police chases and so on. Even shows like Attack of the Show seemed to loose the plot, focusing more on antics than gaming. G4tv became sort of what Spike tv is now. This may have brought in more ratings (read $) for the network but it was a disservice to the gaming audience that had helped make the network what it was. In my opinion the only bright spot in the network was Electric Playground and X-Play. Although i feel Morgan Webb was sort of a Nintendo hater. So why is the re-branding a good thing you ask?
Simple. We’re better off without G4tv. Many people outside of the gaming industry tend to look down on it and see it as childish and immature while many within the industry are trying to paint a picture of growth and maturity. Well it doesn’t help the cause when you have a network that is supposed to be dedicated to the industry portraying itself as network for prepubescent or even slightly post pubescent (if that’s even a proper term) man children. I mean they aired the porn convention just weeks after airing E3. Seriously. How could anyone watch the G4 network and take the industry seriously? They couldn’t. Even i stopped watching as i’m sure many of you did. The question to ask now is if there can ever be such a network that is solely dedicated to gaming while remaining fun and entertaining yet paying absolute respect to the industry and the people who drive it.
I believe that answer is a definite yes. The real question is will there be a network willing to take the risk in devoting time and money to developing such programming. Who would the most likely candidate be? How bout Sci-fi? Sorry. SyFy. Would programming dedicated to gaming fit in with shows like Face-Off and Monster man? Spike tv? Or how about a series of Hulu plus exclusive gaming shows? One thing is for sure, what ever network in the future decides to take on this endeavor should really reach out to the gaming community. How about getting some of the big sites like Gametrailers, IGN and Kotaku involved? How about some of the smaller guys who have dedicated gaming channels on social network sites such as Youtube. Those places are were the talent and passion for the industry is in my opinion. I think the gaming industry needs a strong and correct representation in the mainstream media. Lets just hope it wont be too long before someone dares to replicate and surpass the early success of Tech Tv and the G4 network.
As always i want to hear your thought’s on the subject and tell me…what makes WiiU Mad?
