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These columns (as well as the 'releases') come from weekly content that we write for the Edmond Sun, out of Edmond, OK (though we live in Chicago). This page contains the archives for said column, many of which are in their pre-published, unedited state. Some titles and editing by Brendan Sinclair.

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Nintendo needs to quit the monkey business
Friday, August 27, 2004

So I finally managed to get my hands on the much-anticipated Donky Konga a couple of days ago, Nintendo's upcoming bongo drum-controlled rhythm game. Following the colorful on-screen icons and funky jungle beats as best I could, my hands bounced giddily over the included drum peripheral, which has the tactile response of a rubber frisbee resting on a milk crate (not exactly African warthog hide, but quality construction nonetheless). Unfortunately, as much fun as I had banging away like a crazed ape infected with dance fever for a couple of minutes, I realized that it's not where Nintendo should be focusing their talents and resources right now.

First let me say that Nintendo certainly deserves all of the accolades that they are bound to receive for bringing this much-beloved, somewhat niche Japanese title to our shores. In an industry thought by critics to be starving for innovation and creativity, they are a company that has often stepped up in the past to further the artform while they entertained, while their competitors often focused on cookie-cutter sequels and hot licenses. However, with the majority of game development shifting to the Western world, they need to step it up a couple of notches, in more ways than one. Any other time of the year, I would welcome a simple-yet-innovative release such as Donky Konga with open arms, but with ridiculously tough competition this fall (Halo 2, Gran Turismo 4, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3, for starters), how many people are really going to be willing to risk their money on an unproven franchise, devoid of online play or cutting-edge graphics no less? I wish it weren't the case, but it's a reality: without a big name, a huge marketing push or a killer look, few games will survive the upcoming holiday season.

Ubisoft learned this the hard way last year, releasing their two biggest titles, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Beyond Good & Evil not only in the midst of many much larger game releases, but in the same week. Even though both titles were critically acclaimed (I can vouch for them as well), they went unnoticed for a number of months and ultimately didn't earn their keep. What makes Nintendo think that they can get away with releasing an obscure drum game and a couple of staid sequels for the season? With another year until the next Zelda game, and no new traditional Mario title in sight, it would seem that the venerable company is bringing a drum to a proverbial gunfight. I'm sure that Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Pikmin 2, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, Mario Party 6 and Mario Tennis will all be wonderful, enthralling games and drip with the usual Nintendo quality, but outside of those and a few third-party multiplatform titles, that's more or less all that they've got through the end of the year. Couple that with their staunch, asinine opposition to bringing any of their games online, and you realize just how antiquated they look in the eyes of a hip young gaming market.

Compounding this nasty situation is the fact that most American publishers have unofficially chosen the fall/winter season to release the vast majority of their games, especially the good ones. It's definitely understandable with the gift-giving holidays and all, but gamers buy games year-round, and they spread the word on games like Donky Konga, not the marketing. The word could still be spread during the winter, but who's around to listen when everyone's huddled around their toasty-warm copy of Fable? And when a mother asks the clerk at Best Buy what to buy her son, do you really think they will try and sell her on the "hot new simian-based drumming game all the kids are talking about"? No, he'll hand her a copy of Killzone and she'll be on her way. And no matter who is buying them, many, many games will fall by the wayside. It happens enough in the historically slow Spring season, so I hate to think what will go unnoticed this Christmas.

It wouldn't be half as bad if the poor game that started this all wasn't one of Nintendo's marquee titles, but it is. Sony and Microsoft are both chomping at the bit to open their respective floodgates, and while the higher-profile games released by either might not be pioneering new ideas left and right, they all have proven formulas and will surely be successful in the marketplace. Halo 2 will certainly be spending more time in my X-Box than I spend in front of the fire this winter, and I think that most gamers, casual or hardcore, would say the same. It's no big secret as to the ingradients that make it a recipe for success, so why can't Nintendo take a hint? If they're not going to rely on their proven franchises yearly anymore, or add drastic new features to the ones that they do release, how do they expect to keep up this generation, never mind compete in the next?

I'm all for innovation, but it needs to be smartly incorporated into your business plan, and Nintendo doesn't really seem to have one at the moment. I remember when Mario 64 was on the top of the charts for months on end, so you can obviously innovate while your game sells like hotcakes. Perhaps their new handheld, the DS, will do just that, but they shouldn't have to rely on it to maintain a place in the console market. Be as creative as you want, especially year-round, but make sure that you have a new Mario title in every GameCube in the country while you're doing so. In a holiday season where killing aliens and hookers is all the rage, a musically-inclined monkey just isn't going to cut it. Get with the times, Nintendo, or get out of the console business.

- Nick


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