Nintendo launches Classic NES Games for GBA SP

[Bacon McShig]

Well, they could have left the Fami SP in Japan and not given us this. That's what MS and Sony do with pretty much all their LE consoles.

Whether you like the concept of this or not, it's great Nintendo is releasing this here. If you don't like it, don't buy it, but at least Nintendo is at least giving you that option, where others are just giving the US the cold shoulder on most LE consoles (MS's upcoming Halo bundle notwithstanding, though I can already say it would have done much better if released much earlier). I think it'll pay off, and I think it'll help towards US publishers at least giving a second thought to the release of LE consoles. Regardless of your thoughts on LEs, being able to go into a local store and buy something at regular price if you want it is a far better option than paying higher prices and shipping fees to import.

[burgundy]

While it might not be a "stupid business decision" (something I didn't say, btw), it's not a great sign of things to come.

It's definitely not stupid business, and actually I think it's brilliant. NES retro stuff is the in thing now, and Nintendo's finally cashing in somewhere other than Hot Topic.

I think you can point to much better examples of Nintendo's lack of creativity.

[bahn]

Well, although I know emulation is one alternative, next to getting the original NES back, I am happy that these are being reintroduced to the market in portable form. I got Super Mario Bros. deluxe, but I actually have wanted the true original for quite some time after picking up the GBA SP.

[haohmaru]

You're doing the same thing to me


If you did not mean anything other than what you purely stated, there was absolutely no reason for you to include this statement at all.

No, chief.

I said that Nintendo is going down the same road as Atari with rehashes and rereleases and faces a dearth of original material.

You said that it was moronic to assume that it was a "stupid business decision" and that the game sold 350,000 units in Japan - which had nothing to do with what I originally said.

I said that THAT (the Japanese sales figures) didn't mean all that much (and provided an example) and that besides that, I wasn't even talking about that to begin with.

You said, again, that it's fucking stupid to think that it won't sell well - which (AGAIN) I didn't say it would or wouldn't.


So, just so we're REALLY clear here:

Nintendo is rehashing ancient material for the Nth time and it's getting old, just like with Atari. They are revelling in the past and should move the hell on. They need to focus on new material and right the fucking ship before it sinks, even if this old bullshit sells a million copies, because in the end it won't matter all that much if they have nothing new to peddle.

We clear now?

[burgundy]

Also, you kids play nice.

Nintendo is rehashing ancient material for the Nth time and it's getting old, just like with Atari. They are revelling in the past and should move the hell on. They need to focus on new material and right the fucking ship before it sinks, even if this old bullshit sells a million copies, because in the end it won't matter all that much if they have nothing new to peddle.

I don't see how this decision is preventing Nintendo from focusing on new material. You can argue that they need to do more of it, but it's not like these GBA ports are a drain on the company.

Personally, I'm not gonna buy one of these games, but I do want that SP.

[haohmaru]

It's definitely not stupid business, and actually I think it's brilliant. NES retro stuff is the in thing now, and Nintendo's finally cashing in somewhere other than Hot Topic.

I think you can point to much better examples of Nintendo's lack of creativity.

Brilliant? We've been down this old tired road before, through Activision Classics, Atari's Greatest Hits, Midway's Greatest, Namco Musuems, Intellivision Lives, the 2600 Jr., the 7800 that played 2600 games, the release of every major Atari franchise on dozens of consoles over two dozen years, retro this and that, blah blah blah ad nauseum and you think that this, somehow, is "brilliant"? Sorry, it's been done literally dozens of times already. Hardly innovative.

What it really is:

It's a blatant attempt by Nintendo to cash in on its past because its future looks to be sucking hard. Survivalist, maybe. Brilliant? Nyet.

Also, you kids play nice.

I don't see how this decision is preventing Nintendo from focusing on new material. You can argue that they need to do more of it, but it's not like these GBA ports are a drain on the company.

Personally, I'm not gonna buy one of these games, but I do want that SP.

Innovative games by Nintendo for the Gamecube/GBA SP over the past few years that aren't sequels, remakes, or clones:

(please insert a list here)

[Mairu]

You said that it was moronic to assume that it was a "stupid business decision" and that the game sold 350,000 units in Japan - which had nothing to do with what I originally said.

I said that THAT (the Japanese sales figures) didn't mean all that much (and provided an example) and that besides that, I wasn't even talking about that to begin with.

You said, again, that it's fucking stupid to think that it won't sell well - which (AGAIN) I didn't say it would or wouldn't.

My first reply in this thread wasn't towards you specifically

I do believe the Japanese sales figures do mean something, because Nintendo's situation in Japan is similar to their situation in USA. Sales figures have been similar in both continents and their placement compared to Sony is also similar both here and there. Nintendo's GBA games sell well in JPN and they sell well in USA, and 'retro's' popularity seems to be similar in both countries.

It also proves that the NES/FAMI Rerelease is already a commercial success.

I don't think anyone's saying Nintendo's decisions here are innovative, because clearly they're not. It's an intelligent business decision.

And as far as comparing them to Atari, they haven't gone out of business and they are currently alive in more than just their name (See: Infogrames purchasing the Atari name).

There have been games released for both the GC and GBA SP that are not sequels and have not been released in this country before. As far as clones... that's debatable, because everything is a clone of something else.

[burgundy]

Brilliant? We've been down this old tired road before, through Activision Classics, Atari's Greatest Hits, Midway's Greatest, Namco Musuems, Intellivision Lives, the 2600 Jr., the 7800 that played 2600 games, the release of every major Atari franchise on dozens of consoles over two dozen years, retro this and that, blah blah blah ad nauseum and you think that this, somehow, is "brilliant"? Sorry, it's been done literally dozens of times already. Hardly innovative.

I never said it was innovative. Maybe "brilliant" implies ingenuity, in which case I retract it. But it's very smart and very sound. Retro is in and Nintendo is cashing in.

Innovative games by Nintendo for the Gamecube/GBA SP over the past few years that aren't sequels, remakes, or clones:

(please insert a list here)

Welcome to the rest of the industry. But that's not really the point. If Nintendo has a dearth of creativity, they have it whether or not they cash in with these NES ports.

I'm pretty sure no one here is racing out to pick up Xevious this June, so I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

[Damian79]

Calm down dude.

The Nintendo retro thing at the moment is really weird. I have seen quite a few people tracking down old nintendo games. Hell, I have seen couples that were looking for old NES games they played.

To be honest, I find it a little... creepy.

[NeoZeedeater]

Nintendo needs to release a compilation of their old arcade games on GC. The Donkey Kong and Punch Out! names should be big enough to sell it.

I'll let you guys get back to arguing.