Topic: NIntendo wants your thoughts!!!

[BlackNMild2k1]

This is your chance to be heard, and possibly taken serious.  One of The NOA members on the Nintendo.com forums
is asking for input on how to improve on on everything GC and GB from games to image.

So now is the time to speak up!

Nintendo.com Forum

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Time to express your opinion on The Big N. Let us know what you think we can do to improve our products, services and image. I won't be responding to every thought or opinion, but I will read them all, as will others.

If there are any really good ideas, I'll pass them along as my own. Woah! Eval Pickle moment...scratch that.

Some bulletpoints to get your brainstorming juices going:

What features do you wish the Nintendo GameCube had, but doesn't.

What do you think are the best improvements in the GCN over the N64.

What do our competitor's systems do, that the GCN should do?

What genres of games should we focus on?

Connectivity: Proven fun that should continue vs. gimmick that didn't work.

Think of the above stuff, but with Game Boy in mind.

If you think Nintendo has a kiddie image, why?

What kind of image do you think we should strive for? How do we get there?

The warranty on our hardware is four-times longer than our competitors. Do you care? Does service have anything to do with purchasing decisions?

What do we need to quit doing? What do we do that makes you go "Oh...man...not again!"

What do we need to do more of? What do we do that makes you go "Oh, yeah! WOOT! Nintendo rocks!"

P.S. topic is about 2 weeks old but it is still open and he is supposedly still checking it.

[Ian Sane]

Oh man.  This is too intimidating.  I have to somehow cram everything I've ever written in this forum into one post for the Nintendo forums.  

Too bad you didn't discover this earlier.  I'll probably write something up tonight after work but I doubt after two weeks anything is going to be listened to.  The tread starter even has a "thanks guys" message.  In other words "I don't need anymore info."

"Connectivity: Proven fun that should continue vs. gimmick that didn't work."

Oh man they're SO asking for it.

Edit: I've checked some of the responses and they tend to fall into two categories.  First you have the longer posts that go into detail on what needs to be improved.  The second are one second fanboy responses to the tune of "everything is great the way it is!"  It's going to be hard to sort this data.

[Bill Aurion]

I feel like posting, "Leave everything the same" JUST to piss all you weiners off...

[Ian Sane]

You know now that I've read over a few pages of the thread it might not even be necessary for me to post anything.  Virtually everything I would have mentioned has been mentioned, often several times.

I particularly like these quotes from the admin's "thank you" post.

"To the rare request for turn-based games, to the overwhelming 'we want online gaming' opinions, this thread has re-inforced what we've been hearing for quite awhile."

It's nice to see the requests for online support have been "overwhelming".  Profitable or not Nintendo fans want the option.  Though realistically NOA doesn't get to make the call on this.  They can forward their research to NCL but if the guys in Japan decide that "online gaming is evil and stupid" then it's not going to happen.

"While people can debate whether or not we have an image problem, I can tell you that image is one thing we're going to be working on. A lot. We've got some killer products, but for some folks we've lost the 'cool.' We'll get it back. Or, at least the non-dorky 2004 version of 'cool.'"

This is nice to read.  Unlike the online thing, NOA actually has control over Nintendo's image in North America without having to butt heads with NCL.  I'm very glad that they're working on improving their image because that's the biggest hurdle the Gamecube has had to face.  Although it's stupid, image means everything these days and I think that with the exact same game library the Cube would have been a much bigger success if it had a better image going in.

[joeamis]

just make a GOD HAM RPG!
stop making so many sequels!
stop with the snes ports on gba!
go online (your games would work so well for it)!
utilize the hardware for the amazing graphics it's capable of!
make games that deal with serious storylines
instead of cr@p like Wario wants all the treasure for himself
(which took about the creativity of an 8 year old)!

well theres my beef, it's whats for dinner.

[mouse_clicker]

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It's nice to see the requests for online support have been "overwhelming". Profitable or not Nintendo fans want the option.

You mean internet geek message board rat hardcore Nintendo fans want the option- there's a HUGE difference between us and them Ian. Don't be pretentious and assume OUR opinion (which is divided even among us) applies to everyone, because it doesn't.

Otherwise I think it's great that NOA is at least asking for suggestions- it means they're being open minded, which is never a bad thing. Now I want ALL of you who have complaints about Nintendo to post there. In my opinion, if you don't, you shouldn't be allowed to complain anymore since you passed up your opportunity to tell Nintendo themselves how you feel. Post your thoughts anyway, Ian, to reinforce what's already been said- obviously things that are being said more often are getting more notice.

In general, though, it's a shame most of the complaints and suggestions people have are completely unfeasible and incredibly selfish. :\
 

[Ian Sane]

"it's a shame most of the complaints and suggestions people have are completely unfeasible and incredibly selfish."

No kidding.  There's been some "I want more BLOOD in Nintendo games" requests and even suggestions to go back to cartridges!  Plus some guys have talked about third party games as if Nintendo makes every game on the system.  Though I assume these sorts of "uninformed" responses are common with any sort of attempt to get feedback.  I imagine Nintendo is smart enough to disregard the opinions of people who clearly have NO CLUE what they're talking about.  "I WUNT KNOW MOOR POKENOM!!11"  Yeah I'm sure Nintendo's going to do that.

One thing I think Nintendo should try is holding focus groups specifically with people that don't own any Nintendo systems and own a PS2 or Xbox instead.  If you're posting on Nintendo's web site odds are you're going to keep buying Nintendo consoles anyway.  The complaints from non-owners might be useful particularly if they used to own a Nintendo console and switched.

[vudu]

oh god, here we go again...

EDIT:  directed towards mouse_clicker and his unrelenting views towards online gaming.

[joeamis]

I took Ian's comment as referring to the quote from the Nintendo representative,
not to us here at PGC.

I for one cannot understand how people are so against any type of online gaming
from Nintendo.  It's another option for more modes of play, much like having a time
trial mode in a racing game so people can compete for the fastest times, or having
bots in a first person shooter title for more enemies and allies at play.  If you don't
like online gameplay you don't have to play it.  That's it.  Some people are dying at
the chance to have online enabled nintendo games, why ruin it for them because
you don't want it?  just don't use it.  I say this because I really want online nintendo
games, it would be alot more fun racing 16 people in F-Zero GX than racing 30 AI
drones, or playing animal crossing with other people living in your town, etc etc.
Not everyone is blessed with friends in the same town who play videogames, so
this is there only chance to have multiplayer goodness more than once or twice a
year.

[Bill Aurion]

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Originally posted by: kingvudu
oh god, here we go again...

EDIT:  directed towards mouse_clicker and his unrelenting views towards online gaming.

Might as well add me to that...I'm just as hostile towards online gaming as he is...

[BlackNMild2k1]

I agree with joeamis
If you don't want to use it then you don't have to but why deny the rest of the option?
It s just like cruise control on a car, all modern cars have but you don't have to use it.  Once in a while the opportunity may come up when it comes in handy and it would suck for the option to not already be there.

It s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.  

[vudu]

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Might as well add me to that...I'm just as hostile towards online gaming as he is...

i didn't say i was pro-online gaming.  i'm just sick of hearing the same arguments over and over again.  and i'm tired of bloodworth having to lock threads because they become one big online gaming flame war.

[joeamis]

what do you guys have against online gaming?  Everytime I've played an online
game I've had alot more fun than playing alone, except for NFSUG because it's
rampant with cheaters.  Online gaming isn't going to cause single player games
from stop being made.  What online games have you guys played, and why did you
not enjoy them?  The thing is that right now there are a number of online
games out there that are just not made right, but there are even more online
games out there that are done right and so much more fun being so.

It just boggles my mind how people would rather play against bad AI, or
even share a 5x5 inch square on a tv instead of a full screen game against
32 other people.  They say it's too impersonal... but it's not.  you've got a
keyboard you can still talk, and soon voice chat will be enabled in every online
game... so how is that too impersonal?  For it to be personal do you need an
animatronic person next to you so you can pinch him in the belly when you win a race?
no offense but I just can't understand your hostility to onlining...
(if you don't want it, you don't have to use it)

[PaLaDiN]

I don't hate online gaming, but I'm not stupid enough to want Nintendo to waste their time trying to bring it to consoles.

Let it stay on the PC, it's the only place it doesn't suck.

[Ian Sane]

My attitude for online gaming is this: can you name one person that would NOT buy a console because it had online support?  Would anyone say "Oh man the N5 has online support.  F*ck this thing!"?  Realistically no one is going to turned off by the addition of an optional feature so it seems so bizarre to not just not like it but to be blatantly anti-online as if adding such a feature would ruin Nintendo consoles or something.  Odds are MC and Bill are going to buy the N5 anyway with or without online support.

[Bill Aurion]

"I don't hate online gaming, but I'm not stupid enough to want Nintendo to waste their time trying to bring it to consoles."

Paladin pretty much summarized my feelings...It's really not worth the effort to bring online gaming to a relative few...I say continue enabling LAN in multiplayer games and let fans like Warp Pipe do the work to bring them online...

"Odds are MC and Bill are going to buy the N5 anyway with or without online support."

Well, duh...

[Mario]

Ah crap. I hope Nintendo listens to nobody. Nintendo must stay "kiddy".

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What do we need to do more of? What do we do that makes you go "Oh, yeah! WOOT! Nintendo rocks!"

Good games from Nintendo please. GCN needs more.

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What genres of games should we focus on?

Genre doesn't matter so much, the games just have to be BETTER damn it.

[Bill Aurion]

Sorry, but beating perfection is pretty damn hard...

[Mario]

Nintendo's GameCube efforts have been far from perfect (omg feel da buuuuuurn ).

[Bill Aurion]

Fanboys don't feel a thing...  Nintendo is like morphine...

[joeamis]

I wouldn't say:
"To the rare request for turn-based games, to the overwhelming 'we want online gaming' opinions, this thread has re-inforced what we've been hearing for quite awhile."
- is a relative few.

Adding online would be worth it just for the third party support...
as many publishers have forgone releasing GC versions of their
games just because GC doesn't support online.

[Bill Aurion]

I wouldn't say:
"To the rare request for turn-based games, to the overwhelming 'we want online gaming' opinions, this thread has re-inforced what we've been hearing for quite awhile."
- is a relative few.

Someone is forgetting that this is a thread on an online forum...

[WesDawg]

GameCube does support online. 3rd Party Publishers aren't rushing to support it on the Cube because #1.) It has a smaller userbase than the PS2 so sales will be smaller, especailly considering the "younger" demographic #2.) They know that Nintendo won't foot the bill to create and advertise the online parts for 'em. Its not a mystery. It just pisses us off. Anyways, I don't and can't afford broadband right now, so I'm not to excited about online gaming. I think if I did have it that I'd get addicted and have to force myself to quit playing. Either that, or I'd get my tail kicked the first time I tried by some 13 year who plays for 5 hours a day and then would never turn it on again.

I think Nintendo would be a bit foolish not to build a network adaptor into their next console. I'm hoping they put built in Wireless/rechargable controllers too though. Then we could live the dream of having 16 player SSBM competing on one system with one screen simultaneously. That and I think Nintendo needs to put out some jawdropping screenshots with hype words like, MOST and BEST and POWERFUL for their next system. That seems to be what sells stuff nowadays. Actually, I'd settle for a steady stream of great games. One a month for the first 12 months of the system would be really nice.

I never knew my GC warranty was four times longer than a PS2's. I never needed it either. Weird.

[Kyosho]

well IGN posted a little editorial on their views on what would be cool if Nintendo had online gaming, and I thought it was a good read.  Imagine Fzero with a ton of ppl, or SSMB tourney with webpage stats and such.  You can't deny a lot of Nintendo games have the potential to be fun multi online.  Bill and possibly MC seem to be one of the few needles in a haystack that don't really have many complaints against Nintendo.

[joeamis]

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Originally posted by: Bill
I wouldn't say:
"To the rare request for turn-based games, to the overwhelming 'we want online gaming' opinions, this thread has re-inforced what we've been hearing for quite awhile."
- is a relative few.

Someone is forgetting that this is a thread on an online forum...

It was a Nintendo representative, asking a sample of the population of Nintendo
gamers (sure they me be people using computers, but the sample is indicative of
the larger population, with a small -not large- degree of error)
Also he says this has reinforced what we've been hearing for quite awhile (which
indicates that it hasn't just been from comments found online)

As you read game mags and visit various videogame sites, you continuously see
letters from gamers and comments from editors addressing the fact that people
want Nintendo online, that Nintendo should embrace online, and quite close to nothing
for the opposite.

Wesdawg I don't see that Nintendo supports online, just including a modem/broadband
adapter isn't supporting online to me, and it is why numerous publishers won't
release games that they had planned to for the GC just because of that single fact.