People, I’m angry, and you should be too! Nintendo has done a great thing, introducing millions (no exaggeration) to video gaming,creating a bigger fan base of casual gamers! That’s fantastic, I mean the numbers are just staggering as to how many people play video games these days! Heck just a few minutes ago someone at my workplace was just asking me what’s good to pick up! So why am I angry, and why should you be? Because as a core gamer,we’re getting screwed!
This week alone there have been 2 pieces that interviewed Nintendo personnel, one at IGN and one at Gamedaily(interviewing the legend himself, Shigeru Miyamoto. If you don’t know who that is, you’re clearly not a core gamer). This IGN minute article makes a bold claim that they’re trying to collapse the border between casual and core gamer.
Absorb that for a minute will you?
Got it? This woman believes that there’s a way to really just tear that Berlin wall of gaming down. Now if we’re talking literal, I’d understand, but since we speak in metaphors and hyperbole,this is all pretty dumb. There will always be those different groups; it’s just how it is. The
core gamer is more or less these days the gamer that existed before the
Wii and someone who appreciates games more for their art, story lines,
and competitive nature (in the case of multiplayer games). Now does this mean we’re not willing as a people to play with a more “casual gamer”? No,
I don’t think any relatively socially adept person would just flat out
refuse to play with someone who plays casually, especially if they’re
friends outside of gaming. It was a great freak’n attempt to sound like you’re answering our questions as core gamers though.
Now why my skepticism? Why don’t I believe Mario’s creator himself when he discusses the core games are being made? Well let’s look at the Wii currently. If you’re a core gamer you know there are a total of 3 (Yes, only 3) games meant for the core gamer: Super Mario Galaxy,Zelda Twilight Princess, and Metroid Prime 3. Now I know I’m going to hear the complaints, “What about Smash Brawl! Or Mario Kart Wii!?” No, I’m sorry, they don’t count.
Why not? Easy, in their prior editions on Gamecube (melee and double dash, respectively), these games were incredibly competitive.These games got what I call the Brawl treatment now, since it came out first of the 2. They became easier to play,easier to compete in, lack a lot of the technical skill previously required, in Brawl’s case slowed down, and in Mario Karts case, highly dependent on random luck with items. Don’t misunderstand me,I know these games can be fun, especially with a group (I attest that I do enjoy Brawl), but if you look at it subjectively (Not taking a preference due to personal skill level), you can clearly see what I’m talking about here.
But the future, what does it have to hold? The only game that we know ofthat I remotely think may be a credit to the core is the “Punch Out” sequel due…TBD. I hold my breath on that,because thus far, most multiplayers have been nothing but a strong shortcoming to me. I loved Nintendo since my personal inception in 1985, and lord knows I’ll keep hoping and rooting fo rthem, but let’s face it, right now, Nintendo is just telling the core gamers when it comes to games, “I’m sorry but the princess is in another castle.”
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