Okay, so the GameCube isn't selling as well as it should. So analysts, the mainstream media, and the general public all have forgotten about Nintendo. But all is not lost.
Do not fear, Nintendo fans, for there is hope yet!Before the launch of the GameCube, Nintendo said that they had designed the console to be as developer-friendly as possible. They have remained the only console manufacturer to stay focused on making games. And what has it gotten them? A labeling of "kiddy," a loss of sports games, a tarnishing of stellar sales. But it has gotten one thing more.
Game developers are falling in love with Nintendo and their GameCube. The game developers, the people who really matter, are becoming converts of Nintendo.
Examples? Gladly:
Sega. As Nintendo's former rival, they have become one of its greatest supporters. Sonic, their beloved mascot, is Nintendo exclusive. As I believe Sega's strategy was to let each development studio focus on one console in order to maintain their single console roots, this explains why each console gets different games and few ports. Sonic Team, AM2, Overworks, and others all appear loyal to the GameCube. While some teams choose to focus on other consoles, it can be argued that their most important ones focus on the GameCube. I believe that the GameCube is getting the best of their support, and the other teams can only join Nintendo as Sega games continue to sell best on Nintendo's console.
Capcom. This one hardly needs explanation. Shinji Mikami, one of the most important people at Capcom, has fallen head-over-heels for Nintendo. Aside from working on Zelda games, he is supervising five games, all of high quality, that are likely to be GameCube only. Let's count off their franchises: Resident Evil: GameCube exclusive. Megaman: only console getting a new one is the GameCube (I believe). Devil May Cry: I may not be correct on this, but I believe I remember hearing the designer saying that now they would make it for the GameCube, if they could. Dinosaur Crisis: Xbox, but at the same time, who cares? Street Fighter: all consoles, currently. Did I miss anything? Capcom may be giving sequels to other consoles, but their new franchises are for GameCube, the franchises that will be popular two years from now.
Namco. Once an outspoken Nintendo-hater, they have become one of their greatest allies. As one of the three components of the Triforce, they are quite close to Nintendo, and are already pushing quite a few games towards the GameCube. And let's not forget about Soul Caliber II, which premiered for the GameCube at Spaceworld 2000.
Squaresoft. Again, they were publicly feuding with Nintendo for years, but are now reforming ties. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, while arguably a spinoff, shows more innovation than the past three numbered Final Fantasies combined. Seikien Densetsu is being revived for the GameBoy Advance, and Square is likely to port their Super NES RPG's to the system as well, after their sales on the Wonderswan. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, as I hear it, is quite good as well. I've even heard rumors of Final Fantasy XII being available for the GameCube.
Enix. While they should be classified along with Square now, I'll refer to them seperately, for the purposes of this discussion/rant/educated and informative editorial. While nothing significant appears to be coming from them in the near future, they also have nothing against Nintendo, as they have repeatedly stated that they would make games for the highest-selling console.
Konami. Ah yes, Konami. Just weeks ago I was furious at their lack of support for the GameCube. And now, a Metal Gear for the GameCube, with more significant games shown at E3? What happened? Intelligence. Just over a year ago, I remember Hideo Kojima, creator of Metal Gear, saying he would never put a game like Metal Gear Solid on the GameCube because of its audience (although he did say he was interested in making games for it). And now we finally get their most lucrative franchise! Has Kojima become tied to Nintendo? Perhaps he has. And let's not forget their great GameBoy Advance love, with 6 Castlevania titles a year.
A last company to remember would be the unnamed companies, those yet to come into their own. These are companies like Game Freak, Silicon Knights, Retro Studios, and Rare, all of which are nurtured by Nintendo into great developers and then let free. I remember reading, quite recently, that it is not Nintendo's policy to buy developers, but instead to foster talent among new studios by funding them and setting them in the right direction. After they can stand, they are let free, and their loyalty to Nintendo (as well as their now-great games), is insured. With the exception of Microsoft and Rare, this is an excellent strategy. Of course, if Microsoft buys every studio once they are let loose, then we may have a problem. But that is another topic for another day.
The people who shape the industry, the game developers, are slowly but surely turning to Nintendo. With a focus on games and developer friendliness, Nintendo is winning back the important Japanese support that can truly turn the tides of this war. While some may wish that Nintendo would outright buy developers to win their support, they present a great console and true attitude, and win over developers without spending a cent (or yen, as it may be).
As of now, most third-party support is tied up in the massive userbase of the PlayStation 2. After all, 50 million users are hard to ignore. Therefore, it is understandable that we see most games go by the wayside of the GameCube. Third parties can hardly ignore the loss of sales they would see by putting games only for the GameCube. But a quiet revolution is occuring. The developers who have been in this industry the longest, the true masters, are turning to Nintendo and becoming allies. An unhappy artist is a poor artist, and third parties are letting important titles go to the GameCube.
As they say, a new system means a clean slate. If Nintendo can truly launch competitively, I believe we will see the third parties flock to Nintendo, the one company that cares about games. We could be witnessing the downfall of the old system, and, to paraphrase a writer, the Return of the King.
Glorious times are upon us. As we recieve new, interesting titles from the third parties, we must keep in mind that it is only the beginning, that these game designers are forming the roots of a new loyalty to Nintendo. The next generation wars will see the old against the new, the greats of Konami, Capcom, Squaresoft-Enix, Namco, Sega, and Nintendo against the careless commercialism of Sony and Microsoft. Keep faith, for it is truly a good time to be a Nintendo gamer.
One last thing: Thanks for the great editorial, Rick, which inspired this. Although I do my fair share of speculating, I have to concur on many of your points.
Edit: Whoah. I just spent a good twenty minutes thinking I'd have to redo this-I got an error message when I clicked "Post," then went back and it was all....deleted.
Thank goodness it actually posted!
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