If You Were Nintendo

Be warned that if you aren't a creative person and don't like to partake in something totally imaginary and unproductive then this thread isn't going to tickle your fancy and you should probably consider pressing the back button.

I made this thread in light of the current downcycle in Nintendo's console business and what you'd do to turn their business around.

Hire companies, exclusive franchises from other companies, new franchises, whatever.

I thought it would make for an interesting thread. Maybe I didn't think hard enough.

I'd stop the connectivity bullshit, make more games along the lines of Metroid Prime and Animal Crossing, and hire a new marketing firm.

-Pokemon good. Pokemon-like connectivity is bad. I would never do that sort of gimmicky BS.

-3rd parties make great friends, I'd hit up the top 3rd parties and make exclusive deals. But that leads us to the next point..

-I would stop all remakes. Resident Evil...Metal Gear..Metroid. Just stop it. They're the reason why my Gamecube sits in my closet. Wind Waker was great, but it was just a new OoT. Resident Evil...I played that years ago. Metal Gear Solid remake? Theres this game called Snake Eater and its a hell of a lot more interesting then a remake of a PSOne game I already played 8263984723 times over. New franchies, exclusives of upcoming sequels of 3rd parties.

-Stop the whoring of the franchies. We get it, Zelda is good. Don't put him in other games unless its called Smash Brothers. I don't need a new Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Pokemon game every year.

-I'd fire everyone on the marketing team. GAMECUBE HAS OVER 100 GAMES! Good for you, Playstation has probably over 1000 at this point. Who cares. Go steal people who make the PS2 ads, those are funny and didn't get in your face like a stupid "Play it Loud" commercial did.

-RPG's. I hate them but they do good in Japan where they aparantly have nothing else better to do. I'd get a final fantasy...a REAL Final Fantasy.

-Have Nintendo start making games geared towards adults. No, not blood and gore and all that stuff. A good example of a mature game while not turning to blood and other trivial things is Splinter Cell. See also Perfect Dark, ICO, Oddworld.

Im really bitter that I own a Gamecube :p

I would probably explore new marketing options, first of all. I haven't even seen any Nintendo commercials or ads recently. But the ones I remember seeing of late didn't have any kick. The "cube" style ads were rather bland. Successful ads for video games present the game in its story form - MGS and Splinter Cell did a really good job of this, making them almost seem like movies. Nintendo ads were like, "Here are some screen shots from the game, don't they look nice? And here's a brief rundown of the story." Don't get me wrong - screenshots of the gameplay are good, but presenting them in story form is more likely to catch me.

The other big thing is 3rd party games. Granted, Nintendo's games are quality, but they tend to be less mature than 3rd party games. I would definitely do everything in my power to get ahold of companies like Rockstar.

A new design team would be good. Top-load designs are a nice idea, but tray load designs are better for people with limited space. Maybe produce versions of both?

But then, I'm no marketer/designer/P.R. guy, so who knows.

Penny Arcade said the most idiotic thing concerning connectivity. Gabe said that if your friends don't have a GBA, each, then you need new friends.

I guess I can tell most of my friends to fuck off right now. I think someone needs to tune Gabe in to reality.

I personally would ask Squaresoft for an exclusive line up of a certain series... like the Chrono Trigger franchise.

It's popular, but not a main series, yet. Work on that and people will love you for it. (Actually, aren't Chrono Break and something else in the works? I'd work on the ENTIRE franchise being exclusive) A great RPG series like Final Fantasy on Gamecube would draw, I think.

I would also do as they're doing now and schedule games that are done in a specific way so that there's something out every month.

Get some big-name 3rd party exclusive games that are not Resident Evil, and that are not watered-down, kiddie versions of big franchises (like FF Crystal Chronicles).

Give hardcore gamers some other games to choose from besides the usual Nintendo franchises.

Basically, do what Microsoft is doing (right) with the XBox.

Scrap the Gamecube and accelerate development on the new console... use a full DVD drive but make it backwards compatible with GameCube games.

Next make a real controller as to appease to the 3rd party developers more.

New hardware in hand, hit up big 3rd parties. Get some exclusives. Make good friends or pay large moneyhats or buy outright SquareEnix. Make a buttload of exclusive games people care about in at least one geographical region.

Lower licensing fees and encourage everyone and their mother to make games for the new machine... typically, who ever has the largest library gets the most support anyway in Japan.

Make more 'mature' games. More RPGs, more racers, more sports games, more fighters, more beat 'em ups. Stop making every game have Mario in it.

I think negitoro is right...it's basically too late for the GC. Its technology is no longer exciting, and at this rate it's not going to be able to overtake Sony or MS. Better scrap it and start over.

* Focus more on new, creative, original content and rely less heavily on the same old tired series.

* Diversify the console line-up by developing or encouraging a more well-rounded software portfolio. Many genres are under-represented on Gamecube, which serverly discourages single console owners from buying one.

* Bring more Japanese software to NA/Euro. Especially Fire Emblem, Magical Vacation, and Starfi. I know FE is supposedly finally en route, so that's good, but keep it up and bring out the other game as well.

* Stop focusing on the GCN/GBA connectivity angle. Maybe it has a few interesting/worthwhile uses, but it should not be the focus of the entire company and it should be looked at as no more than just a neat little bonus. That's it....... and while we are at it don't wase time with Cube games that require GBA's to be controllers. :rolleyes:

* Do whatever it takes to get more third party support. Not just the occasional heavy hitter game from the big companies, but also make a concerted effort to court many more niche games - the type of games that make PS2 a must have system.

* So many of Nintendo's controllers and GB incarnations have been plagued by discomfort issues so sack whoever is in charge of ergonomics.

* Don't be so damn cheap! Lose the shitty cardboard GBA boxes or at least include a plastic case for the cart itself. Stop recycling those goddamn plussy D-Pads. The SP is the first Nintendo system in forever not to be plagued by that damn finger nemesis (and it's replacement is only slightly better anyway)... so that's a start.

* Lower software prices (and/or licensing fees), especially for GBA titles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AFX

I'd stop the connectivity bullshit, make more games along the lines of Metroid Prime and Animal Crossing, and hire a new marketing firm.

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Exactly. This connectivity stuff isn't interesting in the slightest. How many of us sit around with 2 or 3 friends all connected to the 'cube with their GBAs? You released a fucking modem Nintendo. USE IT.