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Post by feilong80 on Jul 20, 2011 13:19:45 GMT -5
www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=163724"This lack of craftsmanship is really a reflection of Nintendo's point of view – they are completely obsessed with retail, and have been very successful in that. Ultimately for Mr Iwata to be able to sit there and say that we're losing craftsmanship, we're losing skills... at the same time that Minecraft comes out, sells millions and makes one man lots of money and creates a huge public buzz".... Minecraft is neat, but really, that is supposed to be the example of fine craftsmanship? Is it really better than Mario Galaxy or as good as any Resident Evil game? Or even the average Treasure shooter? Granted, I've enjoyed some iOS gaming (I'm getting kinda burned out on it though, for the time being, especially since I now own a 3DS and would rather play on that), but the very best iOS stuff is just not in the same league as a good DS title. But Iwata's fear is that you could get into a situation where people get used to paying .99-$3 for games, and it is a fear that I understand quite well.
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Post by kog3100edw on Jul 20, 2011 18:54:46 GMT -5
Developers (oh sorry, game ARTISTS) who think little iOS or indie and flash games are on par with a 'regular' title are fooling themselves. And probably trying to elevate their own work to overcome feelings of inferiority or whatever.
If I design the next Canabalt or Angry Birds, I've invented a clever time-waster. Just because someone spends 20 hours on some iphone game during a commute, doesn't mean it is as good a game as some new Resident Evil game that they spent 20 hours on at home. The two experiences are different. AND let's not pretend that when we do find a iOS game or a flash game that we like we don't REALLY think 'hey that's pretty good for an iphone/flash game'. NO ONE apart from 'artists' who've deluded themselves say 'this is a GREAT game even compared to all other shit that's out there'.
There's actually a similar debate in static arts. A movement to be realistic about how modern art (a few slashes of paint) compares to classic art (non-abstract). So I see this as sort of a parallel. I think there is NOTHING wrong with mobile games, flash games, indie games or any of that stuff. But equating something like Flow to the measure of a typical Mario or Sonic platformer even is totally retarded.
Also I'd like to break my foot off in the ass of everyone at Rovio for coming up with Angry Birds.
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Post by ECM on Jul 21, 2011 10:11:40 GMT -5
A few thoughts:
1. Here's another person misrepresenting what Iwata *actually* said (probably willfully--it's that or he's an idiot).
2. The iOS et al scene is not a good way to earn a living. Unless you hit the 'lottery' and everyone starts buying your game (due to a word of mouth tsunami), you're not going to make any money and, more than likely, you're going to lose money. There's just too many games competing for attention and it's way, way too easy to get lost in the shuffle.
3. Getting people conditioned (especially little kids, which is where the real damage will be done) to $5 games is a nightmare scenario for both gamers and developers, unless you only want to play MMOs and $5 iOS games going forward.
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Post by feilong80 on Jul 21, 2011 10:44:32 GMT -5
Hopeful answer from personal experience:
My kiddo has spent lots of time fooling around with Angry Birds, as you know. Heck, she has a angry birds doll and a freaking t-shirt even.
But, she still loves Mario to death, and now Kirby. And she definitely prefers to game on the TV, and even asks for that specifically sometimes.
Hopefully what iOS/Android has done has simply created a market for people who were never going to spend the minimum required amount for a decent traditional gaming setup. What does worry me though is the 3DS sales and how that might be a sign that iOS is actually stealing huge amounts of marketshare, but as we all know the sales are probably more a byproduct of lack of games at this point.
But yeah, that nightmare scenario you mention.............. it has me pissing my pants.
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Post by ECM on Jul 21, 2011 11:03:56 GMT -5
Right, but here's the problem: you are a 'core' gaming parent. The problem isn't w/ the weirdos like us (and we are *very* few, despite what core gamers like to think): the problem is w/ casual[footnote:1]I include the casual COD and Madden players in here as well, who are every bit as casual as people that only play WiiSports et al.[/footnote] players handing them off to their kids and not giving them *any* alternatives because the iOS stuff is so cheap. Once you get an entire generation used to that paradigm, it'll be the death-knell for 'real' games, and I think this is a very real concern that Iwata has tried to articulate over and over yet everyone wants to believe he's harshing on the good (haha!) iOS games.
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Post by feilong80 on Jul 21, 2011 11:25:52 GMT -5
The answer is for the console manufacturers to just keep getting their stuff into people's homes. That is where the Wii is completely underrated: it got a regular gaming console into vastly more homes than the "hardcore" systems. I think Wii U is trying for the same thing with the iPad like tablet.
The hope is, you get these systems in the home, and kids will eventually use them.
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Post by ECM on Jul 21, 2011 12:02:46 GMT -5
Right, but it's a titanically uphill battle:
1. EVERYONE, eventually, will have a smartphone of some type and access to iOS-style content/pricing--not everyone will eventually have a game console (in fact, even today, it's not even close). And this goes for kids, too: I've seen any number of 7-year-olds w/ cell phones--it's only going to get more ubiquitous as time marches on.
2. You've got the consoles all fostering their own marketplaces w/ games for....$10.[footnote:1]I think this is why Nintendo has been so very slow in really trying to push the adoption of this while everyone else goes all-guns-blazing...which, of course, has/will forced Nintendo's hand on 3DS and U, thus accelerating the march.[/footnote] Picture in five years when you can get every game day and date w/ retail *up against* the $10 content they also offer...who's going to win that fight, do you suppose?
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Post by feilong80 on Jul 21, 2011 12:50:26 GMT -5
Sigh. Depressing.
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Post by feilong80 on Jul 21, 2011 12:54:44 GMT -5
I just hope (for my livelihoods sake) that it will continue to be more or less like today, when both markets kind of exist along side each other. No matter how awesome phones and the like get, there are very obvious limits to what they can do, versus what a console hooked up to a nice TV can do. So, again, hoping, that as this future unfolds enough people will still desire the traditional game console experience.
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Post by feilong80 on Jul 21, 2011 18:54:10 GMT -5
Meanwhile, gamer parents must take action by letting their kids invite lots of friends over for EDF:IA parties and infecting them with the bug-blasting bug. The greatest idea EVER.
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Post by kog3100edw on Jul 21, 2011 23:27:01 GMT -5
My copy of EDF:IA Japanese version arrived today. So I can join the party now.
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Post by feilong80 on Jul 21, 2011 23:50:56 GMT -5
PS3? If so, my PSN name is feilong80. Add me!
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Post by ECM on Jul 22, 2011 0:06:38 GMT -5
No, he's on 360--the PS3 is 99% region-free.
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Post by kog3100edw on Jul 22, 2011 11:55:01 GMT -5
Wouldn't cross-platform networking be nice?
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Post by feilong80 on Jul 22, 2011 12:00:13 GMT -5
yeah it would, but when Microsoft can't even get Xbox Live to work across PC to Xbox, I doubt we'll ever see PS3/360/Wii U networking!
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