Attention turns to the Nintendo Direct format, Nintendo's sense of timing, and a popular subject: the desire for new and original Nintendo IP.
Continued from "Nostalgia and Launch Windows"
Jonathan Metts
I wasn't comparing Wave Race to Sonic Racing (the latter is clearly superior and meatier). Note that every N64 game I listed is first-party. I'm just saying that Nintendo has mostly fallen far short of the mark on their own Wii U releases so far. Even if you love every single one, there have been far fewer than in past generations. And it's pretty easy to argue that the quality and freshness have also been inferior. I'm focusing on first-party since that is why most people (us included) buy Nintendo systems. And purely on that front... Wii U is a disaster so far. Nintendo has to prove that it's turning around, and as soon as possible. Today's Direct was a chance to start doing that, and I think it was largely a whiff. The most promising announced games (Pikmin, Wonderful 101) are still at least two or three months away.
J.P. Corbran
Like I said, though, this wasn't the Nintendo Direct for that, and people shouldn't have expected it to be. If after the E3 one they do we still feel this way, then it's time to panic, but what happened today shouldn't change your thinking.
Jonathan Metts
If a Wii U-centric Nintendo Direct doesn't support a reversal of the platform's fortunes in the current toxic environment, it shouldn't happen at all. This comes across as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. If you have something in your pocket to save Wii U, I don't care about anything else until I see that.
Carmine Red
Expect to skip a lot of Nintendo Directs then. I think Nintendo is going to use them more often and for less important announcements, so when you have multiple in a year that's a lot of events that won't have what you're looking for.
Jonathan Metts
I shouldn't need to keep looking for this after E3. I'm not arguing against the ND format, just saying this one was poorly timed given the content and context.
Carmine Red
I'm not saying you're wrong Jonny, but are you saying that you'd prefer just say nothing about recent or soon releases unless they have that yearned for killer announcement?
Zach Miller
Christ, people, I come home from work and have to read all this?
I'm with Jonny in saying that if Nintendo doesn't have anything new to show off, don't have a Nintendo Direct. Thanks for reminding me that New Super Luigi U is a thing that exists. You told me that like two weeks ago. Oh, and Pikmin 3, it's still coming. It's a way's off, but it's still coming. Don't forget about it!
That's what the theme of this ND was: don't forget about the game we told you about last time.
Alexander Culafi
I think a press release would have been way smarter on their part.
The information here would make for a really fun PR to dig through, but a really awful ND for right before E3.
J.P. Corbran
I'm not suggesting that this will last. If the E3 Nintendo Direct doesn't bring significant announcements and make you feel better about the future of the system then I wholeheartedly support panicking, but expecting that kind of thing three weeks before E3 is ludicrous.
Jonathan Metts
I'm saying maybe Nintendo shouldn't wait for E3 to save their console if it could be done now or months ago.
J.P. Corbran
This may be one of Nintendo's trademark overcompensations, trying to address people's criticisms of last year's weak E3 showing.
Jonathan Metts
E3 is a mostly arbitrary line in the sand, even more so this year by their own actions. But let's say Nintendo has to wait on the biggest announcements until E3 for whatever reason (even though MS and Sony haven't). They still control when Direct happens, and today was not the best time to show off this caliber of short-term lineup.
Carmine Red
I can agree with that!
J.P. Corbran
As can I. I think Alex is right, this should have just been a press release. Nintendo may be going a bit overboard with these Nintendo Directs.
Jonathan Metts
Or just show this one a week after E3. Then the story is "Luigi DLC is coming next week, and we're still excited about the new Metroid!"
Jon Lindemann
Keep dreaming, Jonny. More like, "We're still excited about Mario, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Animal Crossing, and Zelda to the exclusion of all else forever and ever! New IP is for suckers!"
Carmine Red
They'd do more new IP if people paid more attention to DILLON! Be part of the solution, not the problem people!
Alexander Culafi
Sorry, Carmine. Honest mistake though.
I think what he means is good IPs.
Zack Kaplan
If you want a new good IP I suggest playing Steel Diver.
I legitimately like the game, and being the minority I promote it since it is a good new IP from Nintendo.
Jon Lindemann
Actually, good new IPs that aren't super-casual or super-obscurely Japanese.
Carmine Red
T-T
You guys are killing me!
Alexander Culafi
I jest Carmine, and your positive attitude is needed way more than we appreciate right now.
That said, you gotta understand that not all new IPs are created equal. Warioware, Pushmo, DRW, Mario vs. DK, Wii Something, and plenty more are newish IPs that have been created in the last decade or so. We all surely understand that. But what we all want is a new console major IP that's made super-internally for a core and mainstream audience equally with a new major character that can face those of Miyamoto himself (unless it IS a new Miyamoto character). When was the last time that happened? Pikmin? Luigis Mansion and Animal Crossing if we're not talking character?
We want Nintendo to redefine a genre again.
Carmine Red
Yes! I love what you just said Alex because I think there's a lot left unsaid when people talk about new IPs that muddies the discussion and prevents real critique of what might really be going on. People have been talking about new IPs for ages, and Nintendo's been giving them, but no one is actually digging into what we really mean when we say that, and why it is that Nintendo might not be providing that.
The internet just parrots "new ips and rehashes" and it's a giant echo chamber that refuses to look into the deeper underlying themes, reasons, and forces behind it. I want to ask questions like "Is there anyone who can provide a creative counterpoint to Miyamoto?" or "Is Nintendo severely understaffed?" or "Do we want new gameplay, or new window dressing, when we say 'New IP?'"
Continued in "The Anti-Metroid Camp Emerges, and a Song"