Can Nintendo Benefit From More "Age-Neutral" Games?

[SunEyes27]

Hi, everyone!

(I'm new to the forums and will get a spiffy avatar icon soon, don't worry)

I would like to discuss something which I've wanted to talk about on my YT channel for quite some time but haven't gotten a chance to.

Before I ask this question, I'd like to preface this post by saying I am NOT a Ninten-doomed person or someone who unrealistically expects a corporation to cater only to me. I also reject the notion that Nintendo only makes games for children. And I LOVE Mario, Kirby, DK, and Yoshi games like anyone else.

However, it has come to my attention that, with the exception of some surprise "2nd-party" exclusives (Bayonetta, Devil's Third), Nintendo's internal development teams could have at least a few titles that were more "age-neutral".

What I mean by that term is, games with characters that are not cartoony or silly-looking but also not too violent or difficult so children can enjoy them as well. Examples of Nintendo franchises I consider "age-neutral": F-Zero, Metroid, Mach Rider (would love to see this series rebooted), Eternal Darkness, Excite series, Endless Ocean, Fire Emblem, Wave Race, Xenoblade series, Sin & Punishment, and even Star Fox and Zelda (to an extent).

Now, as I'm writing this, I do realize Nintendo has relaunched a few of these titles, and that's great. But I still feel that, especially on Wii U, Nintendo could put a little more focus on these kind of games to attract some of the more mature demographics in gaming.

Remember, folks, the average gamer is in their 30s, so I don't think it's such a radical idea to try to appeal to some of these folks too. And yes, I know Star Fox and Zelda are coming. I'm not complaining, I'm pumped! Just a question for the community:

Would you like to see more "age-neutral" titles from Nintendo to round out the more family-oriented fare? Or would you be happy with reboots and new ips, regardless of their visual style?

 

[Warbird]

Well, I can't say it hasn't been attempted. There was one (maybe 2?) Call of duty game on the Wii U, and it bombed. Mature games don't exactly make it on a casual Nintendo console. However, Splatoons tries to do what you're talking about. While it's basically a paintball game, it's still a shooter with competitive online play, and I believe it will be very successful to many demographics on the Wii U.

 

[SunEyes27]

Thanks for the reply, Warbird1500!

While it's generally true that third-party games in general do rather poorly on Nintendo hardware, especially mature-rated ones, I meant more internal Nintendo games.

While Splatoon does indeed look very competitive and fun, it still has a very child-friendly vibe. I guess my question would be, is there a place for a game with a Metroid-style atmosphere on the Wii U? Would Nintendo consider it a waste of time to make it? I wouldn't.

 

[18]

Welcome

They would benefit, but I think they're already doing so well with their family-friendly titles that they aren't too fussed. After all, older Nintendo fans do enjoy stuff life Mario even though detractors say they're childish (which is a poor excuse ). And well, Zelda, they makes lots of those, and Zelda is one of the most age-neutral series of games I've ever played.

I'd be happy with either, be it family-focused or age-neutral, as long as it's enjoyable. Although your point on age-neutral games boosting the Wii U's popularity is spot-on.

 

[NintendoCosmos]

I find it weird that most M Rated games are on the xbox, while most of the xbox sales are preteen kids, who play M rated games. While old Gamers like me who have been gaming since the 1980's still play Nintendo. But we get the short end of the stick when it comes to great games. Also I don't understand why EA,Capcom,Ubisift etc, is making all these great games only for the PS4 & Xbox One, when it's mostly kids that use the system. While older gamers like myself play Nintendo. I still have my old NES hooked up.. I take it that 3rrd party publishers are brain washed by these fanboys, stating that The Wii U is for kids, when the kids actually play xbox or playstation consoles. Also Nintendo has great games on the Wii U that are NOT cartoony. like AC3,AC4,Mass Effect 3, Watch Dogs, Splinter Cell, Bayanetta 1 & 2, DEUS EX: Human Rev. Director's Cut, Dark Siders 2, Zombi U, Resident Evil: Revelations, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.. It's that these kids don't know anything about gaming. I keep asking kids when will you learn that better graphics do NOT make better games? You can have a game with the best graphics in the world that runs on 1080P/i and the game can be worst then E.T. for the Atari 2600. And games that don't have good graphics, end up being more fun & addictive to play, Look at Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for the Wii U. The graphics are older. But the game is fun, Plus there is always people online. So many people that it's hard to find a room to go in. Since the rooms are always getting filled up. Plus the online gaming is free. Kids think that you get better online play if you pay for xbox live, etc. But you don't. Xbox live is brain washing these new gamers, telling them that online is better if you pay.. I've written many letters to Ubisoft,Rock Star, EA & Capcom, that there are more older gamers who play the Wii U. And we demand more games. They need to to make more games for the Nintendo consoles. They have no idea how much money that they are losing.. And they can get more profit for making games for all 3 gaming consoles.. I own two Nintendo Wii U's. One is the basic 8GB the other is the delux 32GB. And the games are great!!! Right now I'm play Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Metroid Prime Trilogy that I've downloaded from the Nintendo eShop. I'm not a fanboy. I play other consoles & I also do PC gaming. But I only have enough room in my house for Nintendo games and consoles. And I have tons of them. What I don't get is why Nintendo gets dumped on, while Xbox consoles lack in hardware or software? People go and buy a brand new xbox one, and a new $60.00 game. they bring it home just to find that the new xbox one eats their brand new game. So what they do is get another console from microsoft thinking that the console that they bought was just a minor flaw. But when the new console comes in the mail. It does the same thing. There is no point for these 3rd party publishers to make games for a console that won't play them. And I never had 1 single problem with my Wii U, Wii, Gamecube, N64, SNES & NES. My NES is 30 years old and it still works. even my 1989 Original Game Boy still works. And the new cutting edge PS4/Xbox one doesn't? There is something very wrong here.. The Wii U has great downloadable content from games, to media, to apps. And it's very underrated. ubisoft mad a bad move by not making more Assassin's Creed games for the Wii U. Also Capcom made a bad move for NOT releasing Resident Evil Revelations 2 on the Wii U. These companies will be losing millions of dollars.. the CEO's are blind. They need to open their eyes and wake up.