Entry 1 "The Hardcore Crisis"

Before you say anything, I am aware of the line up for 2009 and I am aware of Pikmin 3, The Conduit, Madworld, Wii Motion +, and so forth. This article is merely for 2008 alone.

This year was a very dry year for Nintendo's Wii system. While the other systems had many good games released, Nintendo only had a select few (De Blob, Super Smash Brothers Brawl, World of Goo, the Strongbad series, et al.). The biggest complaint of this year was that Nintendo neglected to care about their hardcore fan base. Now instantly we are all reminded that Nintendo is a company that wants to make money, and although Wii Music is not the game for me, it is bringing in profit. What I am getting at is Animal Crossing: City Folk. First of all, this game was the big "WHAT IF THEY DID THIS" game. So many possibilities and yet none were executed. Supposedly Nintendo thinks that was our "hardcore" game that Nintendo delivered. It is evidence in the commercial Nintendo made for Animal Crossing: City Folk that the targeted audience was casuals. This would be all good and swell if this was not the "hardcore" game, or at least "hardcore" according to Nintendo, at Nintendo's E3 conference.

Next I will hit Wii Music right where it deserves it. Again, some people may enjoy this game, and it is just not my type of game. That is all good and fine until Nintendo shows this as their main attraction for E3. That is why I have a problem with it. If people want to blow $49.99 on a button mashing and waggle feast game with no real point or goal in mind, be my guest.

All I am saying is that Nintendo can appeal to casuals as much as they want to keep their wallet's heavy, just be sure you do not forget about the people who really like you and your creativity. After all, the hardcore Nintendo fan base is what used to ride the Nintendo train. After all, back in NES - Gamecube times, do you remember Nintendo releasing any games similar to Wii Fit, Wii Play, Wii Sports, Wii Music, Brain Age, and ect? It seems that Nintendo has lost the sense of gaming is a creative way to have fun, but rather is now in the mindset that gaming is a good way to make bank.