Are the masses overrated?

[Rem]

If you have the misfortune of hearing the babbling PR speak from console makers, it's inexorably you will hear about bringing games to the masses. The question I'm posing to you tnl folk is this, do the masses matter at all to us the hardcore? This is certainly been Nintendo trip recently, and boy have their fans ever latched onto it. You constantly hear from people who's family/girl friend/ none gamer friends really loved "simplistic game X." And champion it as a bastion of innovation because people who don't give a shit about games find it amusing. But why should they care if grandma likes games? If my grandmother loves brain age it wont make me like it any more.
You could argue that gaming trends depend on what the mainstream buy, and you would be right. But the effect on more serious gamers is minimal I believe. Since time has shown just about any genre gets support, were still getting hor/vert shooters and 2-d fighter trickles years after these genres died. So do hardcore put too much stock in the mainstream, any thoughts?

[YellerDog]

$$$

[gamevet]

I wouldn't put much stock in mainstream gamers. My co-worker bought a PS2 last year and I'd bet that his selection of titles has dropped off the radar, within that time.

[Andy]

Are the masses overrated?

I just took a shit in my pants.

[Joust Williams]

They only matter to Nintendouches. There are no fun games to play, so they play "NPD Funhouse"

[Nash]

It all depends on how things are catered to the masses. I think the way the PSone did it was good because it brought casual gamers and "enthusiasts" together. However, the Wii is creating a division amongst gamers right now by alienating "traditional" gamers with its more simplistic approach.

I think things are fine the way they are right now, with the PS3 and 360 still catering to the "hardcore" and the Wii providing an alternative. A balance is always good. However, given the Wii's popularity, if things like the Wii become the future of gaming, I might just have to find another hobby.

[bVork]

I agree that this is a complete non-issue. There will always be games for hardcore gamers, as long as there are hardcore gamers out there. If there is money to be made, somebody will do it.

[Yoshi]

It's absolutely not a non-issue. Hardware sales drive software development, so the masses of asses cause completely ridiculous decisions like Dragon Quest IX being on the DS.

The fact that the Wii is selling inexplicably well will cost us some great games this generation. Some games that would have been amazing on PS3 or 360 will be moved to Wii, given stupid controls, and ruined. Look at something like Manhunt 2. It wouldn't have been a AAA title anyway, but the fact that the Wii is selling so well, and the PS2 still hasn't been surpassed as the most popular platform, doomed it to being released on six year-old technology and a fucking portable.

Let's make one thing clear. Nintendo being in the hardware business is a huge negative for the industry. They should be a third party, making games for companies who don't have to make a profit on the hardware to stay afloat. Nintendo's two (tops) good games a year don't justify better developers putting their games on consoles with big green buttons or nunchuks.

However, as long as Johny Trailerpark is buying the cheapest system for his knuckle-dragging spawn, Nintendo will have a market that continues to be a detriment to us. And we are all that should matter to us.

[Rem]

The fact that the Wii is selling inexplicably well will cost us some great games this generation. Some games that would have been amazing on PS3 or 360 will be moved to Wii, given stupid controls, and ruined.

See this is what I'm worried about. It already happened with nights, and even if you could give a shit about nights, it could happen to a franchise you actually like. But I'm not sure nights or manhunt had so much to do with the masses as devs wanting to dump games they know are shit, or simply couldn't compete on the 360 or ps3 on something where they might make a buck.

[Changeling]

It's absolutely not a non-issue. Hardware sales drive software development, so the masses of asses cause completely ridiculous decisions like Dragon Quest IX being on the DS.

The fact that the Wii is selling inexplicably well will cost us some great games this generation. Some games that would have been amazing on PS3 or 360 will be moved to Wii, given stupid controls, and ruined. Look at something like Manhunt 2. It wouldn't have been a AAA title anyway, but the fact that the Wii is selling so well, and the PS2 still hasn't been surpassed as the most popular platform, doomed it to being released on six year-old technology and a fucking portable.

Let's make one thing clear. Nintendo being in the hardware business is a huge negative for the industry. They should be a third party, making games for companies who don't have to make a profit on the hardware to stay afloat. Nintendo's two (tops) good games a year don't justify better developers putting their games on consoles with big green buttons or nunchuks.

However, as long as Johny Trailerpark is buying the cheapest system for his knuckle-dragging spawn, Nintendo will have a market that continues to be a detriment to us. And we are all that should matter to us.

So why did you buy a Wii then? I'm not being an ass, either. Probably the same reasons I did. Metroid, Mario and VC stuff, and I feel dumb for it. My love for Paper Mario started off strong but towards the end, I struggled to get through it. I hate to say it, but Metroid will probably be more of the same with fucked controls and Mario Galaxy will surely disappoint.

I figure that I'll sell my Wii after Metroid comes out and only buy Nintendo portables from now on.