(I know Ninty reps lurk here, so it's time to rant)
I see games like the Imagine games, the recent iCarly and various other shovelware (which seem to make up AT LEAST 80% of the DS library) as the reason the 3DS isn't doing so well. Many "true gamers" (that is, the hardcore/mainstream gamer and Ninty fans, not causal gamers) figure the 3DS library will just be full of 3D versions of the same shovelware games we've been getting on the DS/DSi. Sure, there will be SOME good games, but more and more people all the time are realizing the shovelware-to-decent-game ratio will still be outrageously sad on the 3DS. Sad enough to make people think twice before slapping down any cash on another Ninty shovelware-infested system anyway.
People can get all the casual/shovelware games they can stand for a buck on their cell phones now, they don't need to pay $20-$50 for it anymore. When you make a system that is ONLY for gaming, it has to have EPIC games on it, not $1 cell phone games for $20-$50. Anyone with half-a-brain isn't going to waste money like that.
I'm sure there are many people with the feeling, "I won't be fooled again" and the 3DS is suffering because of shovelware continuing to get released on a massive scale. Just because we Temper's know the difference between a DS, a DSi and 3DS doesn't mean everyone does. All most people see is shelves full of shovelware-after-kiddie-game-after-remake being made for Ninty systems and it's starting to bite Ninty in the ass, regardless of what Ninty system any particular game is on.
Now, I'm sure there are some 8-year-old kids who like games like iCarly, Imagine: Baby Diapers or some of the other shovelware tripe that constantly gets released, but the majority of gamers are NOT 8-year-old kids. Certainly, shovelware, remakes, casual games and RPG's can't carry a system alone, as Ninty HAS to be discovering. Just look at their recent sales figures. The smattering of other genres that get released that ARE good games are too far and few between. Ninty needs to even up those ratios if they hope to regain any brand loyalty because they are rapidly losing fans. Oh, the fans are still there, but they are waiting for some GOOD games to be released, not this shovelware tripe and endless remakes we keep seeing released.
Yes, I know Ninty themselves didn't make iCarly or Imagine: or most of the other shovelware games, but they ARE responsible for what gets approved for release on their systems. They need to rethink their approval methodology for games because it's starting to fail them and recent sales figures are reflecting that, not to mention emerging markets where shovelware/casual games are now $1 on a cell phone. Games like those on a pure gaming system for $20-$50 aren't helping their image, or their sales figures because "true gamers" aren't falling for it anymore.
Ninty did well to tap into the non-gamer market and make gamers out of people who previously balked at games, like Grandma and Grandpa. But previous non-gamer and casual gamers sucked in by their casual games eventually stop being non-gamers or casual gamers any longer and want more immersive games as their gamer mentality matures. Little kids grow up and start wanting more than shovelware and kiddie games. Nintendo has to grow with the new gamers they've created, not just keep trying to suck more in with the same games that are now just old-hat. After 7 years of collecting the non-gamers, the well has run dry. Time to get back to making REAL games now, mmkay? Casual games aren't really profitable anymore, the cell phone market has taken that over, and they're doing it cheaper too.
You can spout that "family friendly" mantra until you're blue in the face, but money talks and BS walks. Well Ninty, people are starting to call BS and are walking. Time to grow up and feed the ravenous crowd of new gamers you've created that are no longer non/casual/kiddie gamers, as well as your long-time fans who are starting to feel ignored.
What'cha gonna do Nintendo?
I see games like the Imagine games, the recent iCarly and various other shovelware (which seem to make up AT LEAST 80% of the DS library) as the reason the 3DS isn't doing so well. Many "true gamers" (that is, the hardcore/mainstream gamer and Ninty fans, not causal gamers) figure the 3DS library will just be full of 3D versions of the same shovelware games we've been getting on the DS/DSi. Sure, there will be SOME good games, but more and more people all the time are realizing the shovelware-to-decent-game ratio will still be outrageously sad on the 3DS. Sad enough to make people think twice before slapping down any cash on another Ninty shovelware-infested system anyway.
People can get all the casual/shovelware games they can stand for a buck on their cell phones now, they don't need to pay $20-$50 for it anymore. When you make a system that is ONLY for gaming, it has to have EPIC games on it, not $1 cell phone games for $20-$50. Anyone with half-a-brain isn't going to waste money like that.
I'm sure there are many people with the feeling, "I won't be fooled again" and the 3DS is suffering because of shovelware continuing to get released on a massive scale. Just because we Temper's know the difference between a DS, a DSi and 3DS doesn't mean everyone does. All most people see is shelves full of shovelware-after-kiddie-game-after-remake being made for Ninty systems and it's starting to bite Ninty in the ass, regardless of what Ninty system any particular game is on.
Now, I'm sure there are some 8-year-old kids who like games like iCarly, Imagine: Baby Diapers or some of the other shovelware tripe that constantly gets released, but the majority of gamers are NOT 8-year-old kids. Certainly, shovelware, remakes, casual games and RPG's can't carry a system alone, as Ninty HAS to be discovering. Just look at their recent sales figures. The smattering of other genres that get released that ARE good games are too far and few between. Ninty needs to even up those ratios if they hope to regain any brand loyalty because they are rapidly losing fans. Oh, the fans are still there, but they are waiting for some GOOD games to be released, not this shovelware tripe and endless remakes we keep seeing released.
Yes, I know Ninty themselves didn't make iCarly or Imagine: or most of the other shovelware games, but they ARE responsible for what gets approved for release on their systems. They need to rethink their approval methodology for games because it's starting to fail them and recent sales figures are reflecting that, not to mention emerging markets where shovelware/casual games are now $1 on a cell phone. Games like those on a pure gaming system for $20-$50 aren't helping their image, or their sales figures because "true gamers" aren't falling for it anymore.
Ninty did well to tap into the non-gamer market and make gamers out of people who previously balked at games, like Grandma and Grandpa. But previous non-gamer and casual gamers sucked in by their casual games eventually stop being non-gamers or casual gamers any longer and want more immersive games as their gamer mentality matures. Little kids grow up and start wanting more than shovelware and kiddie games. Nintendo has to grow with the new gamers they've created, not just keep trying to suck more in with the same games that are now just old-hat. After 7 years of collecting the non-gamers, the well has run dry. Time to get back to making REAL games now, mmkay? Casual games aren't really profitable anymore, the cell phone market has taken that over, and they're doing it cheaper too.
You can spout that "family friendly" mantra until you're blue in the face, but money talks and BS walks. Well Ninty, people are starting to call BS and are walking. Time to grow up and feed the ravenous crowd of new gamers you've created that are no longer non/casual/kiddie gamers, as well as your long-time fans who are starting to feel ignored.
What'cha gonna do Nintendo?