Topic: Article on Cinescape.

[Grey Ninja]

I was browsing through Cinescape, looking for a preview of "The Last Samurai", which I have just heard the title of, and thought it sounded interesting.  I got sidetracked though when I noticed an article on Nintendo printed on the front page of Cinescape.

I sent them a rather angry response (included below).  What do you guys think?

Quote
Personally I think that your article is simply not focusing on what is important.

"but when you’re taking the best licenses, and only getting remakes for your console, something isn’t quite right."

The 3 franchises you mentioned, Resident Evil, Sonic, and Metal Gear Solid are interesting choices.  

The ENTIRE Resident Evil series is being brought to GameCube, and 2 ENTIRELY new games are also coming with them.  Resident Evil 0 and 4 never even crossed your mind when you wrote the article.  The other games were brought to GameCube so that Nintendo's fans could play the entire series on a Nintendo console.  It ensures that Resident Evil fans will own a GameCube.  Resident Evil 1 was remade as the graphics in the PSX version were too horrible to still be marketable on GameCube.  I don't see the problem with remaking one game, and giving us two entirely new ones.

As for Sonic, that's the same deal as Resident Evil.  If you are a Sonic fan, you are going to have to own a GameCube, as with the release of Sonic Adventure DX, almost every Sonic game ever made is going to be on GameCube.  That's a lot of games.  It puts Nintendo in a very good position when the ALL NEW Sonic Heroes comes out later on.

For Metal Gear Solid, PS2 and Xbox got MGS2, which most fans agree was simply horrible.  I assure you that I would never buy MGS2 if it came out on GameCube.  It's a crappy game, and it's been out for far too long.  However, most fans will agree that MGS was something special.  Nintendo is capitalizing on this by giving us a thorough remake of MGS, and since it's being developed by a Nintendo 1st party, there is no chance of it being ported to another system.  Metal Gear fans are going to go nuts over the game.

"But even to get some stuff from Namco and Sega the company had to hand the keys over to some of its best franchises – F-ZERO and STAR FOX."

In case you hadn't noticed, Namco, Sega, and Nintendo have been very close lately.  They developed the Triforce hardware together, and relations between the three have been very good.  F-Zero and Star Fox are being developed by Namco and Sega so that EAD doesn't have to make them.  Miyamoto has been saying for a long time that he is stuck with making sequels to so many of his popular franchises that he hasn't had time to make something completely new.  The solution was to give Metroid to Retro, Star Fox to Rare and Namco, and F-Zero to Sega.  As a result, he will have lots of entirely new stuff to show us at E3 this year.

"Square is back in the fold, but with FINAL FANTASY CHRONICLES, a game that could be great, or could be lame, and definitely isn’t the FINAL FANTASY XII that Nintendo fanboys hoped to see."

Kind of strong words considering that you have only seen one piece of concept art for Final Fantasy XII.  I don't see how you can just decide that it's going to rock, especially in light of Square's recent track record.

"That said, I still think there is more than enough reason to own a GameCube solely in the first-party lineup. Yet Nintendo is going to have to do more to attract gamers who aren’t exactly turned on by Mario, Link, Fox, Pikachu and co. if it’s going to be a challenger in the next console race."

That's what Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 4, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Metal Gear Solid, Too Human, Dead Phoenix, Killer7, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg, Phantasy Star Online Episode III, Rogue Squadron 3, etc. is for.

Look on Xbox.  Is it any better?  

On Xbox, you hear 3 names, and that's about it.  Halo 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Fable.

I just really wish that you would take the time to do some research before you start pumping out the old myths.

[Gamefreak]

I guess their article was sort of okay, and did make a very few points (I'm sick of sonic remakes too), but I thought your response was far better

[Darc Requiem]

I was quite impressed with your response Grey Ninja. The article made some points but failed to see the big picture on a lot of their qualms. As you said it frees up Nintendo to develop brand new hits to draw in a new generation of gamers. I'm still looking forward to the new 1st party games Nintendo plans to show off at E3 myself, wonder what genres they'll cover or if they will just be in all new genres. I know one thing, I would appreciate an official English version of Fire Emblem..but thats another topic all together. Hmm....it seems I'm only one without an avatar....I'm gonna have to change that.

Darc Requiem

[Berto2K]

I dream of writing response letters like that. But I never seem to have the information in the front of my mind. Very well argued points. Give you props.

[mouse_clicker]

Excellent letter- the only thing I would've done differently, besides not write it as good, would be to point out that Sonic, Resident Evil, and MGS are ALL 3rd party series, NOT first party series. It's not NINTENDO who's pumping out remakes, it's the 3rd parties. Nintendo's actually trying something new, as you pointed out. Overall excellent letter.

[PIAC]

well done, well done indeed Grey Ninja. hooray yet another doom and gloom article aimed at nintendo, wonder who paid them to write that :\

[Termin8Anakin]

Very well said, although one or two points needed to be corrected, as said above, but it was really good. No doubts. I wonder if you're going to get an equally intelligent reply form them, eh, Grey Ninja? Haha. Maybe not. If writing that was enough to get it published, then yeah, maybe not. Haha.

[rpglover]

i would say that grey ninja should get a good response
it was a very well written and intellegent response
i like how he doesnt just pull stuff out of his ass either- he backs up every thing with information

[snorgasmo]

i don't think that cinescape article justified an angry letter.. it simply pointed out the truth... and the truth is nintendo could work harder to secure third party games that AREN'T remakes.. you hafta admit it's kinda silly that we get two sonic ports before we get an original game in the form of billy hatcher.. it's also kind of silly that konami's first big game for the cube is a remake.. a remake of a brilliant game mind you, but still a remake...

i however agree that the RE remake was required to introduce the series to an entirely new userbase...

[Grey Ninja]

Thanks guys.  When I wrote it, I was actually a little worried that I had gone overboard with it.  I really found their article to be poorly written and based far too much on myth rather than fact.  I doubt that my reply will ever be read, or that I will ever get a reply, but I felt good doing it.  I guess that's what's important.