http://cube.ign.com/articles/378/378289p1.html

Nintendo Difference: Volume 4
Samus Aran has a new mission: to save Nintendo's image.


Luigi came and disappointed. Mario arrived with a small bang and then disappeared off the charts without much talk and a noticeably subdued reception on the retail side. What the hell is a platform icon to do? Not stick around, that's for sure. Sales of Super Mario Sunshine in October weren't worth mentioning -- just two months after the game's US debut, at that. What happened to having legs? In fact, as Microsoft has trumpeted again and again in recent days, sales for the Xbox port of Hitman 2 outperformed every GameCube title during the month. So I'm wondering, if Nintendo's biggest platform icons have no staying power and apparently aren't selling any systems, either, could it be -- dare I write it and Nintendo read it -- time for a change? Could it be that the kids GameCube are so friendly to don't give a damn in return?

"Mark my words, Splinter Cell is going to outsell Metroid Prime," says a friend of mine who works at a big-name third-party publisher. Of course he's referring to Xbox's big holiday title, a third-person stealth game created by the technical magicians at Ubi Soft. I want to argue. I do. But I'm not so sure that he's wrong. I've called various retail outlets, gauged reader interest on IGN and on the boards, and everything I hear and read seems to indicate that Metroid Prime is the closest thing yet to the Second Coming, the Game of the Year, the Real Deal. Hype for it is strong, no doubt. But anticipation for the Resident Evil remake on GCN was big too, and that one failed to perform up to sales expectations. There seems to be this hardcore audience that realizes GameCube is a truly multi-faceted console -- that its software library, growing, has games for every age group, and these are the people buying the "M" rated titles like Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. But the mainstream audience hasn't a clue. And Nintendo either doesn't know how or isn't willing to change that perception, perhaps for fear of losing the younger demographic. It's a weird, intangible catch-22 of sorts: because mature rated titles don't sell better on GCN, third-parties are more reluctant to make them for the system, and because this type of software isn't available in abundance for the platform it's more easily shrugged off by the older demographic.

There isn't a single legitimate reason why Eternal Darkness and Resident Evil shouldn't have sold better on Nintendo's machine. I believe that were these titles made available exclusively on PlayStation 2 or Xbox, they'd likely have sold significantly more units. So what's the big difference? Perception. A truth that Nintendo claims to have realized, but hasn't aggressively acted on, is that a whopping percentage of gamers today in fact really, truly are 18 and older. And guess what? They buy their own games. So when they're presented with a slick black console that plays DVDs and Halo and matches the rest of their entertainment center or a bright purple one with Luigi and a vacuum cleaner, which one do you think they're going to choose? Really, Nintendo -- purple? I'm never going to understand that decision. You know what purple says to me? It says that Nintendo Japan, for all the great software and formidable talent it encapsulates, is completely and totally out of touch with the game-buying audience.

As a Nintendo fan, it's both remarkably odd and deeply frustrating to sit back and watch the company shoot itself in the foot over and over again. With its previous console, Nintendo 64, it turned its back on the more cost efficient CD format and went with cartridges, despite the fact that CDs provided five times the data storage capacity as the biggest cart. Long time followers will remember how painful that was.

The interesting bit is that hardcore Nintendo fans still bought into the system -- and snatched up the franchise titles, landing Mario and Zelda at the top of the charts again and again. But the N64 also laid the foundation for the perception that Nintendo didn't want to and couldn't compete with PlayStation. Now with GameCube, the firm seems to have figured out an appropriate game format, but it's also managed to back itself into that same old perception hole: the market has concluded GCN is strictly for kids. And this image seems to be hurting the next-generation platform's sales more than cartridges ever did N64.

So what's the answer? It's simple, as far as I'm concerned: Nintendo needs a makeover and it needs one quick. The answer, though, is the easy part. Execution is a lot more difficult. The good news is that the company has recently taken a hard look in the mirror and decided to make a few changes, and that accounts for something. We've already seen some of them. The Platinum colored GameCube, for instance -- a hipper, cooler looking piece of machine that gamers can set right next to their PS2 and Xbox without shame. Then there are the additional announcements with big supporter Capcom -- five major new, adult targeted and at least partially exclusive GCN products including Resident Evil 4. That's impressive.

There is Resident Evil 0 this holiday too, but easily Nintendo's biggest push to appeal to a new demographic comes by way of a single title and it stars Samus Aran. And if Metroid Prime can't sell GameCubes to new audiences, then there isn't a piece of software invented that would. Well, okay, an exclusive Grand Theft Auto update, but Sony's all over that. Anybody who's been to the movies or turned on the tube lately will probably have seen the fruits of Nintendo's labor -- a blitz of various 60, 30, and 15-second spots for Prime. Similarly retailers have taken upon themselves, with some minimal help from Nintendo, to eagerly promote the game to customers, and Nintendo's own PR efforts have gotten it noticed everywhere from in Entertainment Weekly to the Today Show, as fans held up signs promoting the title in the background window.
Which brings us back to the question: can Metroid Prime outsell Splinter Cell? The fact that I'm even pondering it is, truthfully, kind of depressing. I'm doubtful of whether or not one of Nintendo's biggest franchises reborn in 3D as one of the best games of all time will be able to compete on a retail level with an unknown series on a system from a company that has only been in the console business for one year. Think about that. It's a testament to just how royally Nintendo has backed itself into a corner with the older gamer. But I digress. Let's take a close look at Aran's latest adventure.

On the one hand, Prime really is "it." It's the big one. It's the absolute must have. It plays just like Metroid, except in 3D. It's beautiful. The art style on display is eye-popping, for sure. The game is long and challenging, too. It's one of those rare items that actually, somehow, manage to exceed expectations and hype. Often these types of games go through the roof. So there's that to think about. It's interesting to me that this game to top all games comes not in the end from Nintendo Japan, but rather from a US software house, Retro Studios. It seems to say something, but I'm not sure what. Perhaps that EAD isn't the only developer capable of making classics on GameCube, or maybe that because Nintendo itself was incapable or unwilling to do it, it took an American house to make a game that would sell the console to a western audience.

There's no doubt that Prime has what it takes. It's a Halo caliber game and look what the Bungie-developed first-person shooter did for Xbox. Whether or not it will get the attention it deserves, though, is the question. I happen to think that there is enough in place for an initial round of super solid sales. I've seen enough "I just bought a GameCube and Metroid Prime!" posts on the message boards to know that the title is sucking in newcomers, and that's certainly something of a relief. The fact that Metroid Prime has likewise convinced more than a few of my friends to pick up a GCN is encouraging as well. But when I walk into an Electronics Boutique, I still don't see any gamers crowded around the GameCube display; they're all checking out the latest on PS2 and Xbox. It's a bit confusing, really, so naturally I've turned to site editor Fran Mirabella for some answers.

"Short of inventing a time machine, Nintendo is going to have a very hard time catching back up in the US. Sales have proven that," says Fran. "I, too, am worried that software -- even something as stunning as Metroid Prime -- is not enough. I feel sick saying that, but it's true. Walk into any store, and you will not get the sensation that GameCube is as hip as PS2 and Xbox." Normally this is where I tell Fran to shut the hell up and do some work, but he's right. Even with Metroid Prime, admittedly one of the coolest games around, Nintendo is still struggling to be -- well, cool, and I think that's something that's perceived by the masses. You know, the guys who bought a PlayStation 2 to play Madden and have never heard of games like Star Fox Adventures or even Sly Cooper. Will they even notice Metroid Prime when they stop by EB to buy the guide for Vice City?

You know, in spite of all my complaints and skepticism, I'm actually more pleased with Nintendo and its moves than I have been in recent years. It's trying. Between its newly colored console and games like RE0, Eternal Darkness and Metroid Prime, I can't complain. GCN owners will even get an uncensored version of BMX XXX while PS2 owners won't, which goes to show you how Nintendo has truly loosened up its previously bone-crunching grip on game content. With games like Product Number 03 from Capcom on the horizon, not to mention Too Human and -- at last, Factor 5's next gem, I'm psyched. And what of this so-called "megaton" announcement? By the way -- our Japanese guy checked the magazines including Famitsu today and there was no mention of it, so chew on that. Who knows? Certainly there are strange and wonderful things brewing. I just hope gamers take notice.

As for Metroid Prime? All I can state is that if it doesn't move systems, there's something seriously wrong with the industry as it stands.

-- by Matt Casamassina

pokemon killed the video-game-star....

I sold my ps2 to get a gamecube and some truly awesome games, I don't regret it one bit, but I still want my ps2 back, that way I can have the best of both worlds.

This editorial is sort of a systems bashing if you ask me. Nintendo is doing good as it is. no need of saving.

I don't think it is bashing. The author is a long-time huge Nintendo supporter. So am I, and I don't find anything in the article I wouldn't agree with. Sad but true.

The funny part is that it's written by a Gamecube site editor. Hard to accuse him of being biased against Nintendo...

Matt has been writing several "hard lined" articles critizing Nintendo over the last year. He writes them because he likes Nintendo.

He wants them to do well, and writes these as a way to communicate with Nintendo (NOA more specifically) and to unify GC gamers. (When all your customers are saying/wanting the same thing, you tend to listen.)

Matt is concerned about Nintendo's image because, like many of us, he knows that Nintendo puts out so many games that competitors don't even touch in gameplay; but people pass up because of their own inability to see past a so called "kiddy image".

It's a letter of love, not hate.

This article is very true. I doubt Prime will sell that well. The mainstream gaming audience ignores the Cube no matter how amazing the games are. Its sad, but I guess Nintendo brought it on itself.

Prime is still game of the year though.

I personally know two people who bought a Cube just for Prime.

It's helping... and the new Zelda should help even more...

What Nintendo needs (in the lines of loosening up with BMX XXX) is a Grand Theft Mario game.

I think one of the problems is hypocrisy on Nintendo's part. When the GCN first came out they were criticizing Sony for rehashing old franchises and making money off of them, and for lack of innovation. Then they turn around and remake every old game under the sun, and some of them weren't as good as they used to be (anyone who says Mario Sunshine is more fun than Mario 64 is on crack)

Second, when Ninty does try to be "Mature" they go overboard. I mean what the heck was Conker's bad fur day? Nobody wants to play as a badmouthed squirrel! People want somewhat realistic and gritty, not a game with cartoon potty humor. And don't even get me started on BMX:XXX. What a joke of a marketing ploy. Only the lonely, loser, bachellor with subscriptions to Maxim, Stuff, Loaded, no doubt would ever consider a game with polygon ta-ta's

Metroid looks cool and is a step in the right direction, but I don't think it's a system seller unfortunately. What they need is MarioKart online and some more FPS games. Some innovative stuff, and some more mainstream stuff that appeals to the mass market. For as good as Pikmin was, nobody really wants to be seen playing it.

I played Conker and thought that game was very witty, original, and fun. And by the way, Rare made that game, not Nintendo.
Also there is no game I would EVER be ashamed to be seen playing. I don't care how kiddy, how gruesome, or how corny a game looks, if I like it, you will know about it.

I'm not really talking about you or me being embarassed about playing it. Anyone who is opinionated enough to post about videogames on these forums is fairly hardcore in my opinion.

I'm talking about Joe-gamer who has his buddies over to play or watch him play a game. Of course this is my opinion. I personally don't find poo-monsters witty. Nor would I like to play a game where the support characters are flowers (Pikmin) in front of my buddies.

I don't remember Nintendo criticizing Sony for rehashes, when was this? I remember Nintendo talking about inovation, which Nintendo does all the time. And yes Nintendo does produce sequels to games, not remakes. Why? Because gamers want them, that is why.

Conker was actually one of Rare's best games on the N64 IMO. (Next to Blast Corps) You are welcome to call it going overboard, but I think the reason for it's poor sales was the time it was released, not the game itself.

BMX-XXX is not a Nintendo title. Point moot.

Nintendo has released no numbers. But personally I think it is selling systems from talking around and looking at store shelves. Mario Kart Online is likely in the works. Not definitive, but that's the rumor.

I would say the GC has just about 90%+ of "main stream" titles that the other consoles do. I'm not sure if that's really a need that has to be addressed. I think proper marketing is the largest damage control at this point.

The article is sad but true.

Nintendo makes the best hardware and software IMO, but the mainstream ignores it because they can't get past the cutesy image (even to enjoy the system for games like Metroied, ED, RE etc.).

For me the one main reason I never bought a gamecube was because I really get into niche games. I know animal crossing helped out but I love playing games like frequency and rez and other not so well known games, the gamecube library is just not large enough or varied enough for me to do this. Right now I own an Xbox and PS2, the gamecube has some great games and I hope to have one eventually but as much as I love Nintendo I keep wishing they would just pull a Sega. (actually I wished nintendo would pull a sega and sega would have stayed in the console market but thats the fanboy in me coming out.)

Decent article, I hope nintendo reads things like this.

btw I loved Conker, I found it to be much deeper and much more witty than most people gave it credit for. I agree that nintendo needs to get more FPS and release a Mario Kart, because unfortunatly no matter how good metroid is it isn't much of a system seller to the casual fan.

You say you're not embarrassed by games, but you wouldn't show Pikmin to your friends? Aren't you contradicting yourself?

I didn't say the whole game was full of dry wit, but it actually did have some social commentary, lots of great satire, it also was full of little jokes that people who didn't pay attention would probably miss, but it was more filled with toilet humor than those other elements. Either way it was a fun game with good play mechanincs and interesting levels. You shouldn't discount a game simple because you are above being amused by its antics.

Enough of a rant about conker, lets get back on topic sorry for the vent.

I agree, it was a blast. One of the best games on the whole system.

I couldn't get into Conker. I got it for $9.99 at Wal-mart last spring, and it just seemed unispired to me. The gameplay didn't seem as tight as Banjo-Kazooie and the humor was just too juvenile for me. I've never been amused by the "it's so stupid it's funny" type of humor.

So everyone wants more mature games for Nintendo. So what game is everyone crying for? Mario Kart! Scratching my head...

I love any type of game if it is fun. And yes I'm dying for Mario Kart and would love to see it online. But I don't think this is the game that will help their image. I think that is why they held off on Mario Golf/Tennis. They were both scheduled for this Christmas. Too much kiddie overload. I think they are going the right route for Christmas.

Now, if only they hadn't turned Link into a kiddie himself. Talk about system seller. I KNOW I HAVE NOT PLAYED THE GAME AND YES I WILL BUY IT, but I do believe Nintendo shot themselves in the foot with this one.

Speaking of this, since this is the new look they are going with on Link, why is the old link of N64 the one used in SBM? I think they have two Zelda games in the works(I'm dreaming, I know).

Excellent. I could just see Mario with his hammer, and pulling up in his car beside the princess and well you know

Miyamoto acutally said that there will be another Mario and another Zelda (besided Celda) on the GC. No mention of what type of game it will be though, could be the realistic spaceworld demo, or just a cel-shaded sequel.

I hope it can, because if not, Nintendo may go the way of SEGA

Nintendo already said they were committed to the console industry and were already planning/working on the Gamecube's successor.

Unlike Sega, Nintendo's still profitable. Even the N64 made them tons of money.

They haven't put out crap systems like the 32x, Sega CD, and Saturn that killed consumer confidence. Well they did have the virtual boy, but that wasn't in their main hardware line, like sega's blunders were.