Nintendo Speaks - Gamers Don't Listen
On many occasions Nintendo has spoken directly and clearly about it's new direction and strategy that has given them unprecedented success. They've clearly stated that Conferences like E3 are to showcase those new games that reach out to new audiences. They've clearly stated that they will no longer be revealing games years in advance. They've clearly stated that they are committed to making "core" games and that they are under development at this very moment. Yet in spite of these clear and unmistakable statements the gaming community - made up gamers and the gaming press - haven't been paying attention.
The gaming media is the worst offender, though, as they should clearly know better, yet they are the first ones to incite the misguided, or very guided fanboy, anger against Nintendo. People who have sat down with Nintendo and have heard these explanations first hand, are the worst offenders when it comes to ignoring the message.
After E3 was over gaming forums were on fire with Nintendo hatred and vitriol. "Nintendo doesn't care about us! We've been abandoned! There are no games this holiday!" Those were the ignorant, immature rantings that were, and are still, being spewed by many. Even hardcore Nintendo fansites and blogs are getting their shots in. The biggest complaint is that Nintendo has a weak holiday lineup, and while that may be true, everyone seems to have forgotten the "core" games they released at the beginning of the year - Smash Brothers & Mario Kart. In 2007 Nintendo released Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime two more major franchises, and I have to wonder how many games people expect Nintendo to release every year? Companies like Microsoft and Sony release one or two games a year at the most, but when it comes to Nintendo one or two games a year is enough to swear the company off forever. Absolutely ridiculous!
I don't remember things being as bad now as they were last year after E3. It's really bad. The worst part is that all of this incredible stupidity is taking place just before the Wii sees it's best 3rd party holiday since it launched with games like Samba de Amigo, Dead Rising, Harvest Moon and Tales of Symphonia. The gaming press, Nintendo fans and gamers in general really need to get their head out of their ass and learn how to listen, pay attention and put things in perspective. Gaming is never going to evolve or become mainstream with this type of rampant idiocy.
