Land of the Rising Innovators
The Nintendo Dual Screen system. A portable, perhaps even wireless console featuring two 3-inch screens. The third of Nintendo’s consoles, destined to hit the market alongside the company’s highly popular Game Boy Advance system and successful Gamecube console.
The idea is somewhat radical. Although as of late Nintendo has prided itself upon the artistic pursuit in which it and its associates design their games with, such a struggle for originality is no longer limited to software. Indeed the Nintendo DS will be a one of a kind system and will perhaps decide the company’s future in the videogame industry.
However concern among the gaming public exists because of Nintendo’s public image. Some have taken the development of a new console as an admission to the Nintendo Gamcube’s failure (lack of Gamecube’s being manufactured testify to that, despite a 50% increase in sales) while others have already written off the DS as a novelty, typical of Nintendo skeptics, quick to prejudge what they haven’t even seen.
It’s a difficult argument to rebuke. The development of a new console requires a considerable amount of capital, which, according to some, could be better spent elsewhere, such as investing in Factor 5 as a second party developer or enlisting more third party supports or even marketing.
As I stated earlier, Nintendo is fast becoming the artist’s console. Unconventional games abound. Animal Crossing, a so-called “life-sim” is as plotless as a Doris Lessing novel, yet is as enjoyable as any other best selling game on the market. Viewtiful Joe is a stylish return to the scrolling beat ‘em formula, with a plethora of special effects and new twists on the genre. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a character driven psychological thriller spanning 2000 years of human history. Killer 7, a game being designed with the Gamecube especially in mind, employs a cell shaded, anime based art style and a bizarre plot involving contract killers and schizophrenia. Final Fantasy is a non-traditional RPG with real time combat and GBA connectivity. Unity is a mysterious psychedelic shooter and Resident Evil 4 beautifully breathes new life into the survival horror genre. The list goes on far beyond what I have mentioned, but these games are easy examples of Nintendo and company’s commitment to creating original and exciting gameplay experiences. In an age where risk taking is rare and hardware manufacturers are only about creating the most powerful system, competing consoles will be indistinguishable by power, and it will all come down to a software race - and only the innovators will stand out, the likely frontrunner being Nintendo. It would be easy to market the company for both kids and adults, beginners and veterans as it has done in the past, but it would be beneficial for the company to market itself as the artists console to reach a wider audience of serious gamers. Name a downside?
Japan has been in the video game market much longer than North Americans have. They didn't have the big crash like we did, because they know how to innovate and when to take risks. So is it a coincidence that a lot of the games named are all developed in the land of the rising sun? Japanese developers have staying power, because they are true innovators. Name 5 of your favorite developers, now how many of those are based in Japan? A lot of American developers (with a few fantastic exceptions) just try and do the same things over again, and companies fold up and die so quickly you never remember their names.
A Japanese developer to the core, Nintendo is no exception. But is Nintendo wasting its time with the DS when they could be marketing themselves as artists? It remains to be seen. The Nintendo DS (which is not yet officially named) could turn out to fill a previously non-existent niche in the video gaming market and afford Nintendo a greater variety of options, which they could then use to promote their current console or develop their inevitable follow up. Either way, we will see. We can only hope that Nintendo continues to be as successful as they have been in the past. Where would the video game world be without the ever-controversial Nintendo?
The idea is somewhat radical. Although as of late Nintendo has prided itself upon the artistic pursuit in which it and its associates design their games with, such a struggle for originality is no longer limited to software. Indeed the Nintendo DS will be a one of a kind system and will perhaps decide the company’s future in the videogame industry.
However concern among the gaming public exists because of Nintendo’s public image. Some have taken the development of a new console as an admission to the Nintendo Gamcube’s failure (lack of Gamecube’s being manufactured testify to that, despite a 50% increase in sales) while others have already written off the DS as a novelty, typical of Nintendo skeptics, quick to prejudge what they haven’t even seen.
It’s a difficult argument to rebuke. The development of a new console requires a considerable amount of capital, which, according to some, could be better spent elsewhere, such as investing in Factor 5 as a second party developer or enlisting more third party supports or even marketing.
As I stated earlier, Nintendo is fast becoming the artist’s console. Unconventional games abound. Animal Crossing, a so-called “life-sim” is as plotless as a Doris Lessing novel, yet is as enjoyable as any other best selling game on the market. Viewtiful Joe is a stylish return to the scrolling beat ‘em formula, with a plethora of special effects and new twists on the genre. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a character driven psychological thriller spanning 2000 years of human history. Killer 7, a game being designed with the Gamecube especially in mind, employs a cell shaded, anime based art style and a bizarre plot involving contract killers and schizophrenia. Final Fantasy is a non-traditional RPG with real time combat and GBA connectivity. Unity is a mysterious psychedelic shooter and Resident Evil 4 beautifully breathes new life into the survival horror genre. The list goes on far beyond what I have mentioned, but these games are easy examples of Nintendo and company’s commitment to creating original and exciting gameplay experiences. In an age where risk taking is rare and hardware manufacturers are only about creating the most powerful system, competing consoles will be indistinguishable by power, and it will all come down to a software race - and only the innovators will stand out, the likely frontrunner being Nintendo. It would be easy to market the company for both kids and adults, beginners and veterans as it has done in the past, but it would be beneficial for the company to market itself as the artists console to reach a wider audience of serious gamers. Name a downside?
Japan has been in the video game market much longer than North Americans have. They didn't have the big crash like we did, because they know how to innovate and when to take risks. So is it a coincidence that a lot of the games named are all developed in the land of the rising sun? Japanese developers have staying power, because they are true innovators. Name 5 of your favorite developers, now how many of those are based in Japan? A lot of American developers (with a few fantastic exceptions) just try and do the same things over again, and companies fold up and die so quickly you never remember their names.
A Japanese developer to the core, Nintendo is no exception. But is Nintendo wasting its time with the DS when they could be marketing themselves as artists? It remains to be seen. The Nintendo DS (which is not yet officially named) could turn out to fill a previously non-existent niche in the video gaming market and afford Nintendo a greater variety of options, which they could then use to promote their current console or develop their inevitable follow up. Either way, we will see. We can only hope that Nintendo continues to be as successful as they have been in the past. Where would the video game world be without the ever-controversial Nintendo?