Topic: Battlefield Could Have Been Exclusive to GameCube

[NWR_Neal]

Unfortunately, it never got past the first line because Nintendo had no online strategy.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/28480

Battlefield developer DICE pitched Battlefield as a GameCube exclusive to Nintendo, according to Penny Arcade's Jeff Kalles (and former Nintendo of America employee) on our 2nd Annual Live Podcast Telethon for Child's Play.

Apparently, despite Nintendo's love for the initial pitch, it never got past the gatekeepers because Nintendo had no online strategy in place.

It is worth noting that developers routinely pitch publishers all the time, and Nintendo was likely part of DICE's rounds when they were making Battlefield. Still, imagine if Nintendo had the force of Battlefield to build an online infrastructure around.

You'll be able to hear the whole segment, which featured Kalles, Site Founder Billy Berghammer, Totally Rad Show's Jeff Cannata, and former Planet GameCube staffer Rick Powers, in the next few days.

[the asylum]

Sad to say Nintendo's online stance isn't much better now either

It's also too bad that they're going to let unscruplous scum like EA run their usual shennanigans on the Wii U

Just do what HVS had to beg and plead with you to do, Nintendo

[Enner]

Thinking that Battlefield 1942 could have been a Nintendo exclusive is just plain weird.

[famicomplicated]

It makes you wonder how many other exclusives were lost due to Nintendo's online approach..


Hopefully this is all fixed with Wii U, the perfect time to show all they've learnt.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Considering the fact that Nintendo has online before there was internet, it's quite surprising that they are just now trying to get their online game up to par.

NES - Famicom Modem (1988)

If they had pursued the idea more aggressively.... they could be the online gaming leading of today and never have let MS set the standard for console gaming.


edit: Looks like NWR had an article on this for those that are interested
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/27666

[coffeewithgames]

It makes you wonder how many other exclusives were lost due to Nintendo's online approach..


Hopefully this is all fixed with Wii U, the perfect time to show all they've learnt.

Actually, the time to show that was with the 3DS, and I think that showed Nintendo learned basically NOTHING about online importance.
Still using the friend code system, even though it's much improved, it's still a number to be remembered and not a name.


No voice chat from day one, no way to really even communicate with friends once you add them to your list...


Until I see a SERIOUS effort from Nintendo with the online aspect, I have my doubts Wii U will get the support it needs for the LONG run.  Sony and Microsoft actively go after third party developers, and make adjustments where needed to try and work with them.  Nintendo, no, Nintendo makes third party developers remove content from their games that they deem "advertisements", instead of focusing on game-play aspects and improving their own services.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I think it is only a matter of time before Nintendo gets with the program fully with online, especially with the financial hit they have taken. That is usually how you wake a company up, so I hope it changes with Wii U

[NWR_insanolord]

The 3DS online system is a massive improvement from the Wii, and, more importantly, and unlike with the Wii, they designed it in a way that it isn't nearly impossible to improve it even further after launch.

[Chozo Ghost]

Considering the fact that Nintendo has online before there was internet,

Wasn't the internet invented in the 1960s by the U.S. military?

[TJ Spyke]

I think BNM is mixing up the Internet with the World Wide Web.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I think BNM is mixing up the Internet with the World Wide Web.

yes. well sort of.

I meant Nintendo was experimenting with something very similar to what we today consider the internet/world wide web, way back on the NES. Yet they never managed to mature their own idea into something usable all these years. They never managed to put together a competent online system even after seeing the very same idea spread across the entire world and even seeing competition embrace and set the standard for it in the console space.

Another missed opportunity by Nintendo to innovate.

[famicomplicated]

Like Insanolord said the 3DS has improved a lot since launch as they've obviously designed the system to be more easily upgraded (OS-wise). We can probably look forward to even more improvements too (this month for example)

If they do this for Wii U (and why wouldn't they?) it doesn't matter if ALL the features we want at launch aren't there, they can be added in later.
I'll remind everybody that the PS3 didn't have trophies, cross-game chat and many other features at launch. The 360 dashboard was also pretty bad at launch too..

Plus we don't have to pay to play games online (except Monster Hunter and soon DQX, in Japan) which I'm pretty sure will be the case for Wii U too.
Coupled with the fact we could have Steam and/or Origin available for downloading full games (theoretically) there is a lot to be hopeful and excited about Wii U online.


So that's why I said Wii U is the time to show what they've learnt.

[Chozo Ghost]

The problem with Nintendo and their innovations has always been that they wait until the technology comes down in price, or has already been mass adopted. That's why they didn't support HD when they launched the Wii in 2006 because at that time HD TVs were in their infancy and didn't have a very high adoption rate yet. The same goes with broadband internet access. I don't know how many homes had internet and especially broadband internet 10 years ago, but it was certainly much less than it is today. Now both HD and internet are ubiquitous in American homes so only now is Nintendo finally getting on board the bandwagon, even though their competitors did that 5+ years ago.

[famicomplicated]

Yeah, which means they won't fully support 3DTV's until the next generation, that is unless 3D fails completely.
I heard 3D will be possible on the Wii U though, but I doubt Nintendo will make any 3D games themselves.

[Chozo Ghost]

3D was actually possible on the Gamecube. It was just never used at all. 3D is probably possible on the Wii also, since the Wii is beefed up GC hardware, but here again the feature has never been used in any games.

[Ceric]

Without HDMI output a 3D TV would look at it funny and go "What you trying to do Bub?"
I will be very disappointed if 3D isn't supported by the Wii U.
After playing Wipeout HD I would dock a full point from an F-Zero game and a half point from Mario Kart without any regret if they didn't Support 3D. (A quarter point for the next 3D Mario game and Zelda.)

[TJ Spyke]

I seriously hope no reviewer ever follows your advice Ceric, in terms of taking away points for not having 3D. That is like these moronic "reviewers" who dock points from all Wii games for not being HD. First, the adoption rate for 3D TV's is so low that it's not really worth it for most publishers to even bother. Second, it doesn't really add to games. I am not saying they can't add 3D to games, just that it doesn't hurt the game if it doesn't have 3D; and that it should be considered a bonus feature at best. I would rather the developer spend that time making sure the game is bug free and working fine.

[Ceric]

...
Second, it doesn't really add to games.
...

I have to argue that point for this specific Genre.  Racing I really think is enhanced by 3D.  I think it is the genre that is most enhanced by 3D.  When done good not even well the sense of speed you get from having the 3D is really great.

[Chocobo_Rider]

Imagine if Battlefield was GameCube exclusive.
Imagine if the PlayStation was the N64.
Imagine if the 360 didn't RROD.
Imagine if the PS3 wasn't $600.
Imagine if the six-axis worked.
Imagine if PSN never got hacked.
Imagine if Kinect games incorporated the controller.

It's nice to learn new bits of history that we didn't before, but it's foolish how game culture obsesses over Nintendo's sins.  While having the presence of mind to regard other companies' mistakes as "oh please, move on already!"

Sh*t happens, enjoy games.

[BlackNMild2k1]

But RRoD still gets cried about to this day and PSN will not likely live down it's hacking till this generation is officially over and forgotten.
SixAxis is forgotten about but got it's fair share of criticism and everything else on your list was talked about for quite a while too.

This news just came up a few days ago, people want to talk about. This will and has gotten much much less exposure/conversation/outrage than everything else on your list.




edit: and as Insano has already pointed out, we've already moved on to Nintendo and their lack of competency in online even though they were once a pioneer in the area.

[NWR_insanolord]

Also, people will stop obsessing over Nintendo's mistakes in the online arena once they get it right, which, despite significant improvements, they haven't done yet.

[Ceric]

I'll bite.

Imagine if Battlefield was GameCube exclusive. (Hey, You got Your Dude-bro in my Mario.  You got Your Mario in My Dude-Bro.  Mario Bro.  The brothers are from anotha motha. *fist Bump*)
Imagine if the PlayStation was the N64. (Wait, it wasn't?)
Imagine if the 360 didn't RROD. (I probably would have heard about the 360 a lot less.)
Imagine if the PS3 wasn't $600. (I think this should really be "Imagine if the PS3 would have kept full BC." Though I would have saved a good chunk of change...)
Imagine if the six-axis worked.(Works much better then the Move.  Honestly it works well.)
Imagine if PSN never got hacked. (Wipeout HD NOOOOOO)
Imagine if Kinect games incorporated the controller. (lol, that be hilarious.  I need to grab this ball back here Noooo I need to hit a button... Wait I'm suppose to run in place while using the analog stick to control where I go... Pretend the controller is a pistol to use it???...  NOOO thats not my arm its a cord.)

[Enner]

Imagine if Kinect games incorporated the controller.

Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor will use Kinect in conjunction with the controller.
http://www.giantbomb.com/you-are-half-of-the-controller-in-steel-battalion-heavy-armor/17-5147/

You use the controller to move and shoot and the Kinect to manipulate the other vertical tank controls.

[Chocobo_Rider]

BNM - You're right, that is just what I said.  Many of those issues WERE talked about... then forgotten.

The problem is that people cling tightly to Nintendo's past faults and let it influence their current and future beliefs.  Thus, Nintendo is treated as if their platforms have no third party games and are incapable of online play.

Could you imagine if the majority of MS discussion was predicated on the fallacy that the box doesn't work? Or that you could no longer use PSN for fear of information leaks?

Case in point, our friend Insanolord believes Nintendo has not gotten online "right."  Meanwhile, I've played hundreds of hours of Brawl, Kart, Tri, Conduit, GoldenEye, Pokemon, Phantasy Star Zero, FFCC, etc etc....

And I did it FOR FREE and WITHOUT DLC!! ..... not "right" indeed.

Enner - I absolutely applaud any exceptions because I think Kinect+controller would be a truly special leap forward in gaming.  But until that becomes the rule? It's still wasted potential don't you agree?

[NWR_insanolord]

If you think Nintendo's online strategy as it stands right now doesn't need serious work you're delusional. Yes, there are good online games on Nintendo platforms, and they succeed despite the infrastructure, or lack thereof.