Note: This is all speculation, it's pretty simple theory that has been hit on in several topics, so if it gets closed, feh, no big deal. I'm going to try and keep it short and sweet and not too well-written, because I'm kind of tired of being on the computer for the day.
I realized what the problem is with Nintendo and getting third party games on the system. It's Nintendo fault themselves, in terms of the games on their system. The problem is that Nitnendo released their own first and second party "must have" games at least one a month (at least), and quite frankly, the average gamer doesn't have enough money to pick all these games AND third party games. I dunno about anyone else, but I'm lucky to get one new game a month, if that. I mean, what was probably the last game a lot of GC owners got? Zelda. And before that? Metroid. And before that? Mario. Animal Crossing, Eternal Darkness, Pikmin....the list goes on and on. The point is that there's always a first or second party title worth owning at all times, including future games - MGS, F Zero, etc.
There's always some game worth owning from Nintendo. Of course there are people that won't buy Nintendo's games, but this seems like the minority of GC owners. Most people have a GC to get Nintendo's games, just as people own a PS2 to get GTA or an Xbox to get Halo. It's simple exclusitivity.
So when a generic gamer decides on what game to buy, they can either get an AAA title from Nintendo or a generic port from some other company. Zelda or Freekstyle? Give me a break.
So Nintendo can be assured that their games will almost always reach the million mark.
And therein lies the problem.
Third parties are whining that they can't sell their games on the Gamecube. ANd why is this? Because NIntendo beats them at their own game. Midway wants to make a crappy port of some stupid extreme bike sports game, and they wonder why they can't sell well? It's like choosing between McNuggets versus filet mignon steak. Water versus champagne. The only difference HERE, though, is that the McNuggets and the steak cost the same.
Honestly. If you're going to put yourself in direct competition with a thousand other developers, and you're only going to commit to your own proect 10%, and you expect it to SELL? Are you kidding me? You couldn't make a console specific game good, what makes you think you can code a port better?
I'm sick and tired of people using this argument against Nintendo. Miyamoto needs to have a press conference where he says, plainly, "It's not my fault that you suck." It also doesn't help that we get GOOD third party games also, with Capcom's five, Camelot, Treasure, etc. So there's another whole WORLD of developers you've got to beat. And the problem with this is that it takes a lot of polish and good gameplay to overcome such obstacles, and this is something the third parties don't want to do because it would cut into their profits. Killer 7, Viewtiful Joe? Versus..what, Backyard Soccer? If you don't see the logic here, then just give up.
Now I will agree that Nintendo isn't helping the situation. All the same companies that whine about sales on the Gamecube ARE competing in the same manner with the PS2 and Xbox. They still have to trump whatever first and second party games Sony and Microsoft will put out, as well as other third parties. So their facing the same competition minus Nintendo's games, which we've already established create a MASSIVE chasm that they seeminlgy can't overcome. But why would the games sell better on PS2 and Xbox? Well, PS2 has a huge userbase, and it's proven that people in ANY market will buy crap, no matter what. (This is, of course, how Microsoft stays in business, har har.) So third party games will just naturally sell better there. Xbox is harder to debate. Supposedly has a smaller userbase than the GC and "hardcore gamers." Yea, by that you mean PC gamers, the same people who can play Counter Strike all day and proclaim it the best game ever. So NATURALLY crummy third party games will sell better there too.
This really only leaves one more factor to discuss - advertising. I see Sony and Microsoft ads all the time on TV, magazines, the news, etc. Everywhere. And it's not just that, it's that they are advertising third party games also. We all know Nintendo has a massive advertising problem with their OWN software. But they pretty much refuse to advertise third party games, telling them that it's their OWN game, THEY do the advertising. (Additionally, this is how they expect online gaming to pan out.) That's Nintendo logic and understanding with advertising - you made the game, you advertise it.
So I have to at least acknowledge that the third parties have a significant and valid excuse here, and it's really apparent when Nintendo doesn't advertise games like Splinter Cell, which is supposed to be really good (I don't know, I haven't played it). Sony, of course, had a pretty massive blitz for it, relaunching the commercial and making it KNOWN that there were enhancements to the game. Nintendo, however, just stuck the GC logo at the end and nothing else. Not even a "also on Gamecube."
So it boils down to this: Third parties whine that they don't sell well, so they cut back on GC support. This is caused by a few factors: Nintendo's own stellar games, excellent third party games to contend with, making no effort to port well or even make a DECENT console-specific game, and the advertising problem.
In short what it amounts to is that Nintendo is always going to have less third party support because, well, they simply make games that drive away the competition. Nintendo is out for a profit, they want their games to sell. They don't want people to see some third party's game on tv and PAY for it, they'd rather blitz their own games and maximize their own income. That might be a hard pill to swallow, but it's pretty dead-on and true. I hate myself for saying it, but let's not sugarcoat the truth - Nintendo makes the biggest profits. They don't do it underhandedly, they do it with excellent games. But they will continually alienate third parties because of their own innate excellence.
Bottom line: Nintendo's games will always sell because they rock, and this will always put third parties in the shadow of their greatness. Since the gaming industry is SO competitive these days, this is going to cause disdain between the companies, and they will simply cut their losses and pull out support for Nintendo. Sad but true. Combined with Nintendo's refusal to advertise third parties and the fact that Sony and Microsoft can offer better incentives (due to the fact that they are not JUST video game companies), it's only going to continue. The only way Nintendo could combat this problem would be to A) make worse games, B) advertise third parties, C) be more competitive with Sony and Microsoft on the publishing/licensing level, and/or D) spend money to encourage more third parties to bring their games over.
But you know what? Screw them. I'd rather see Nintendo put their money towards second parties and expanding themselves. Out of the 11 games I own, 2 are third party. And that suits me just fine.
-Strell
Topic: I've figured out Nintendo'd 3rd Party Problem (Read 5476 times)
