Thought I would pass this on:
http://spacepope4u.blogspot.com/2007/02 ... oblem.html
Discuss!
Nintendo & The Kiddie Problem
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D.D.D.
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I have no problem with anyone that claims Nintendo products to be "kiddy".
If they're too cool to play games that are colorful, light-hearted, quirky, and most importantly fun... It's their loss.
If it's a taste thing, well, to each their own~
It really doesn't matter though. Nintendo will keep doing things in a "kiddy" way because kids are one of the biggest buying groups out there, or rather their parents. You make something that appeals to kids, those kids won't shut up until they get it.
If they're too cool to play games that are colorful, light-hearted, quirky, and most importantly fun... It's their loss.
If it's a taste thing, well, to each their own~
It really doesn't matter though. Nintendo will keep doing things in a "kiddy" way because kids are one of the biggest buying groups out there, or rather their parents. You make something that appeals to kids, those kids won't shut up until they get it.
one of my favorite quotes comes from, ironically enough, yuji naka. "games are meant to make children happy." now granted, the article points out that sega took mr. naka's creation to a completely bizarre level of pseudo-"maturity," but i don't think that negates the value of the quote.
when i first started playing games, i was a kid. mario, sonic, adventure island, bonk, ristar, whatever... all for "kids" right? at least in the terms of their appearance. the games were still quality, the challenges were still great, and i don't think one bit of gameplay suffered on account of the appearance of the games.
i guess my issue with this article is just simply, so what? why do games need to "mature" or "grow up" just like we do? the mario franchise in particular has stuck with its formula and it has totally worked, mainly because they are still appealing to new generations of gamers. the sonic series is a great example of what happens when game companies try to take their once kid-friendly characters to a new level of "maturity" and insert "adult themes" like guns and swear words into games that were once accessible to everyone; parents, kids, adolescents, single adults, anyone.
i really, really don't want to see mario sneaking around and killing goombas with a plastic bag or a broken piece of glass just to try and get rid of this "kiddie problem" the article speaks of. personally, i don't think it's a problem at all. seems like it's been working just fine as a great business model for nintendo and i can't think of any truly "bad" mario games to come out in the last few years.
when i first started playing games, i was a kid. mario, sonic, adventure island, bonk, ristar, whatever... all for "kids" right? at least in the terms of their appearance. the games were still quality, the challenges were still great, and i don't think one bit of gameplay suffered on account of the appearance of the games.
i guess my issue with this article is just simply, so what? why do games need to "mature" or "grow up" just like we do? the mario franchise in particular has stuck with its formula and it has totally worked, mainly because they are still appealing to new generations of gamers. the sonic series is a great example of what happens when game companies try to take their once kid-friendly characters to a new level of "maturity" and insert "adult themes" like guns and swear words into games that were once accessible to everyone; parents, kids, adolescents, single adults, anyone.
i really, really don't want to see mario sneaking around and killing goombas with a plastic bag or a broken piece of glass just to try and get rid of this "kiddie problem" the article speaks of. personally, i don't think it's a problem at all. seems like it's been working just fine as a great business model for nintendo and i can't think of any truly "bad" mario games to come out in the last few years.
I think the article is lacking
Nintendo's problem (if there is still one) is not that Mario or other franchises are for kids (they are for everyone) - rather the problem is (or was, before the Wii with games like Manhunt 2 etc.) that there weren't many (or even any) good games that are NOT for kids.
The problem is at the very least partially resolved now, even if some teens may continue to hold the image that may have been true from N64 or Gamecube days that Nintendo systems only have games made to be played by kids (not only, but also). I think it is usually teens or young adults, and not actually more mature adults that have problems playing kid friendly games (as long as they are good games).
Adults do like to have access to some more mature games, however, so if a console doesn't have such titles, then there would be a problem.
Ivo.
The problem is at the very least partially resolved now, even if some teens may continue to hold the image that may have been true from N64 or Gamecube days that Nintendo systems only have games made to be played by kids (not only, but also). I think it is usually teens or young adults, and not actually more mature adults that have problems playing kid friendly games (as long as they are good games).
Adults do like to have access to some more mature games, however, so if a console doesn't have such titles, then there would be a problem.
Ivo.
Some of the guys at work are always slating games that have bright colourful graphics on the basis that they are for kids. They might well be, but for as long as a game is fun a shall enjoy playing it.
The selection of games out for the wii seems to be redressing this balance with games with adult content like Scarface and Manhunt 2, and there are a reasonable selection of hardcore gamer games too - although not enough in my opinion.
Its a weird problem as far as I can see, people I know arent interested in Nintendo because the image of the machine is not hard enough for them, yet you mention Mario Kart, New Mario Bros or Brawl and those same people burst into a fit of enthuisiasm. I think its just their perception of what Nintendo is about, rather than what Nintendo games are actually about.
My little girl had a GC recently and I got all excited about collecting a full set of the Resident Evil titles for it
The selection of games out for the wii seems to be redressing this balance with games with adult content like Scarface and Manhunt 2, and there are a reasonable selection of hardcore gamer games too - although not enough in my opinion.
Its a weird problem as far as I can see, people I know arent interested in Nintendo because the image of the machine is not hard enough for them, yet you mention Mario Kart, New Mario Bros or Brawl and those same people burst into a fit of enthuisiasm. I think its just their perception of what Nintendo is about, rather than what Nintendo games are actually about.
My little girl had a GC recently and I got all excited about collecting a full set of the Resident Evil titles for it
I dont really have a problem with it... but sometimes they take it a bit too far.
Like the kiddy stars in Super Mario Galaxy, having those "super cute" faces, and making those "super cute" noises. Makes you want to unleash some violence after all the super cuteness, right? ^-^
Like the kiddy stars in Super Mario Galaxy, having those "super cute" faces, and making those "super cute" noises. Makes you want to unleash some violence after all the super cuteness, right? ^-^
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Atari 2600, Atari Lynx, Neo Geo AES, GB, GBP, GBC, GBA, GBA SP, GBM, DS, NES, SNES, N64, GC, Wii, PSP, PS1, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Sega Master System, -Megadrive, -CD, -Saturn, -Dreamcast, -GameGear.
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Daniel Primed
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Man, I love those ultra cute things. They always make me smile. ^_^
I think that the Wii has shifted the image of the company, probably for the better. Although there are more G rated games on the Wii than the Gamecube (or less M rated games, I forget). Now everybody suddenly loves Nintendo. The world has become a strange place indeed.
I don't see Nintendo games as kiddy, they are just games that anyone can play. The only reason people continue this arguement is because of Mario and his overwhelming presence in the Nintendo space. I mean Metroid and Zelda are both more Teen-Adult games and furthermore games like 1080, PilotWings and ExciteBike are all very age neutrel. So it doesn't really work, Nintendo games are made for anyone that loves to play games, regardless of age.
I think that the Wii has shifted the image of the company, probably for the better. Although there are more G rated games on the Wii than the Gamecube (or less M rated games, I forget). Now everybody suddenly loves Nintendo. The world has become a strange place indeed.
I don't see Nintendo games as kiddy, they are just games that anyone can play. The only reason people continue this arguement is because of Mario and his overwhelming presence in the Nintendo space. I mean Metroid and Zelda are both more Teen-Adult games and furthermore games like 1080, PilotWings and ExciteBike are all very age neutrel. So it doesn't really work, Nintendo games are made for anyone that loves to play games, regardless of age.
