The media's crush on Nintendo

by Vladimir Cole { Jan 12th 2006 at 9:59AM }

Business Week asks a good question: "Jobs & Co. spark something bordering on a lovefest among the press. But as the good times roll, are reporters asking the hard questions?"

Read the article and replace every instance of the word "Apple" with the word "Nintendo" and it still rings true. Like Apple and Harley Davidson, Nintendo can literally bank on tremendous loyalty on the part of their irrationally partisan fanbase. This is a benefit that few product companies are lucky enough to enjoy. It has a lot to do with the fact that many of us were babysat by Nintendo during our formative years.

And yet, falling in love with a company is dangerous. By definition, falling in love with anything--or with anyone--results in a certain inability to perceive flaws, a certain suspension of critical thinking.

The parting shot in Arik Hesseldahl's piece is particularly spooky in how well it maps to our suggested rereading. We'll change one word, and quote it here: "As great a company as [Nintendo] is -- I'm often as guilty as anyone of falling for the hyperbole -- the pointed, skeptical, analytical, dispassionate, and yes, uncomfortable questions about this unusually influential outfit and its unique, legendary, brilliant, and complicated chief don't get asked often enough. And they should be, more often than they are now. Great companies deserve nothing less."

Got some good questions for Nintendo? Anyone?

[image credit: from "Nintendo et Apple un duo de choc"]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Olly @ Jan 12th 2006 10:14AM

Yes i have a question. As a company you seem to strive to include your most famous IP's (such as mario) into virtually every product that you produce. Do you not feel that you are contributing to the inevitable downfall of your own brand by flooding the market with these aging IP's, instead of forging ahead with new ideas?

Your company is renowned for it's innovation, but recent times have seen little innovation within your IP catalogue. Mickey Mouse, whilst iconic, is commonly seen as a stagnet character for Disney. Granted the games industry is still young, but do you not fear that the same will eventually happen with Mario?

Derbeste @ Jan 12th 2006 10:15AM

Yeah...

Will Revolution be playable at E3?

Olly @ Jan 12th 2006 10:17AM

(just for the record, I DO love nintendo. So to all you fanboys reading the above please go easy on me :p )

ben magaziner @ Jan 12th 2006 10:25AM

irrationally partisan? oh come off it, theres nothing irrational about supporting a company that has been involved in gaming far longer than these new jack multi national corporations, as well as a company that has taken a stand for what it actually believes in, efficient machines, avant garde gameplay,a focus on cost and quality. my ds went through the washing machine and it works fine. my xbox 360 gets breathed on wrong and it glitches and has a shit fit all over the place.

Daniel @ Jan 12th 2006 10:28AM

Yes, looking at the image associated with this article, would it be possible for nintendo and apple to come up with an agreement where the new redesign of the Nintendo DS can pbe I-tunes compatible?

I know the play yan is popluar in Japan and I am sure the US will see its version soon. With removable flash media, it would work extremely well. Plus that image would make a great redesign.

Microsft is definately being very supportive of nintendo. That cannot be said with sony who is out to devour and destrot all competition. Do you think that Microsoft will try to propose some kind of agreement of bond to where the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo revolution or future systems may work together?

Or will the try to make the XBOX LIVE community be mor eof a cousin/sister to the NINTENDO WI FI CONNECTION community?

GlitchCog @ Jan 12th 2006 10:34AM

Nintendo has such brand loyalty because of all those classic Nintendo games. My love for the Nintendo I remember is what keeps me from loving the current one since they always fuck with the classics before they re-release them and make me pay for them over and over again.

I still like them a lot. If the Revolution actually delivers permanent ownership of downloadable NES games for one or two dollars and doesn't fuck with the graphics, sound and gameplay like they seem to enjoy doing on the GBA releases, then I'll love them again. If they botch this, as I anticipate them doing, they'll loose me further.

Zsavior @ Jan 12th 2006 10:44AM

I really don't see the shock, it is a well made product that does what is says it is supposed to do. That is very rare these days, Apple makes the IPOD the Ipod can play music and videos, even shows now, that is what Jobs say it can do. Nintendo makes game systems, for all ages and enjoyment preferences. They don't make media centers or all in one entertainment devices. Basically Nintendo does what they say they are going to do and they do it with quality, this is how they keep loyalty. So really I don't see any question for me to ask other than When can in pick up my revolution?

Xavier @ Jan 12th 2006 10:45AM

Hi there :)

I was surprised to see this picture on your article :) Just FYI, this was our 2005 April Fool's joke. It was very successful, and still is :)

Just to show how Nintendo and Apple are actually similar companies, with loyal fans who'd like to see their prefered companies to work together.

Nintendo is not the only company inspired by Apple, many try to make devices looking like the popular iPod. Look at the white Revolution, don't we see it as "Apple-inspired"? Maybe Apple should patent the white color, after all!

Cheers,

Xavier.

Vagabond Artist @ Jan 12th 2006 10:55AM

My question is when are you going to give the director and design house that created LOZ:Minish Cap, an opportunity to create a new IP for you.

Also, I'd frankly like to see your American branch have a little more brass down below when it comes to releasing quirky titles, and exclusives for the american market.

Why did you advertise GameBoy Micro with the removable faceplate feature and now that I bought one I can't go to the store and get any cool faceplates like you promised. well I can get a camouflage one but I want one with mario on it or something like you showed at E3... I feel misled.

Nintendo is just as guilty of saturating the market with the same-old as sony and ms are. While I admire what they are trying to do with the revolution, they've managed to turn it around in gamer's minds that it's all sony and Ms fault...that Nintendo has been walking this higher road for awhile and they have a moral responsibility to save the games industry.

Maybe they do have a responsibility to save it, since they are the ones that set it on this road, but damn if that isn't pretentious.

oh yes, one more thing... in 2006, make new card games and bring them to America.

Nmaster @ Jan 12th 2006 11:22AM

Wait, WTF are you talking 'bout? The media hates Nintendo, they completely ignore them half the time. All of TV seems to be in Sony's pocket, and there's nothing at all in the mainstream media that can be considered biased FOR Nintendo.

Now as for rabid fans lurking around the net, yeah, Nintendo has the most. But to say the media is on Nintendo's side is downright retarted. In all reality, the media is Nintendo's biggest enemy...

Jay @ Jan 12th 2006 11:23AM

Theres such a strong link between Nintendo and Apple. Both are companies that pursue Software rather than Hardware (although those new MacBook Pros are SERIOUS machines, there is nothing in the PC world that can compare to them). Both push innovations and new thinkings the the competition usually copy next time round. Biggest example being Longhorn/Vista copying the pants off Tiger, even Windows fanboys speak of Microsofts shameless copying.

Nintendo has, in my opinion, got this loyalty because they don't discriminate. The PS and Xbox have lost their innocence. They've lost their loving feeling. They're not games machines or something you like to use, they're a cold empty shallow box you run simulators on, whilst your trying to justify spending �500 on a machine that still doesn't look realistic. It's just sad. in its own little way.

Anywho no questions here but some demands. Release faceplates in Europe or risk more imports. I know a ton of people who import because of this and I know Nintendo doesn't like it.

Princess Zelda @ Jan 12th 2006 11:23AM

I found the press gave Nintendo a real hard time over with the Gamecube, maybe right now they are feeling a bit guilty at trashing them and see the need of having Nintendo in the industry. With the DS Nintendo proved they still can make great games, and sell them to everyone. I recognized the press is giving Nintendo a little leeway with Revoluion and the new Controller but it might be because Nintendo proved themselves with the DS. Nintendo has earned some trust with the journalist that they understands what the industry needs to be revitalized. Maybe that's the Revolution, not the hardware or the new controller but bringing people back to gaming and captivating new gamers.

Angry @ Jan 12th 2006 11:23AM

If that thing were real i'd gladly give my money for 2 of them!

Alfred @ Jan 12th 2006 11:31AM

When will you open up the open source market for you systems?

Will Miyamato get a chance to make a game with just a crew and not have to worry about other jobs?

Will there be an Animal Crossing: Sin City?

What will happen to the DS when you decide to make a newer better more powerfull one?

Will the DS have the same playable back catalog so I can play some of the much older Game Boy games?

When will the next Super Mario Land come out?

What exactly is princess toadstool?

Are there other large creature like Bowser out there? Does he have siblings?

Will you allow the new Power Stone to be played on the Revelution?

What about old NEo Geo games?

What companies influence you?

Do you still own the love hotels?

What connections do you have to the lawless?

What laws have been made because of Nintendo?

Thats all I can think of right off the top of my head.

Brian @ Jan 12th 2006 11:32AM

Here are a few questions for Nintendo:

When is Luigi going to get the respect that he deserves? Mario is everywhere. Wario has had countless games. Luigi had a game where he sucked up ghosts. Will we ever see Luigi as the star of his own heroic adventures?

Also, when will we see another Donkey Kong Racing game? Diddy Kong Racing was really great, but we haven't seen a sequel. What gives?

When will we be seeing the next generation Game Boy? Obviously the DS is doing tremendously well, but what about the next iteration of the standard Game Boy line?

Embassy @ Jan 12th 2006 11:33AM

its almost disturbing to me how loyal nintendo fans are..i mean technically..every gamer was a nintendo fan at some point...but the people that stuck by nintendo till birth and are now 30 rockin a DS on the bus to work really disturb me for some reason..that is a very uncommon level of brand loyalty...and i agree with HD and Apple having the same type fanbase...i guess i wud consider myself an xbox junkie but i still recognioze MS as nothing more than the 3rd reich of the business world, that just so happened to make 2 pretty dam good consoles imo...but hey..more power to u nintendophiles...i'll just make sure i never start a gaming topic around u guys..cuz i dont have all day...

Blynkj @ Jan 12th 2006 11:36AM

You know you are guilty of brand fanboying if you have already declared a winner of the next gen console war. Doesn't it make you worried each time your favorite company releases something you have a predisposition to argue on its behalf. What if they start selling something that you don't like or even worse something that offends you or your beliefs. Why can't each product be judged based on its own merrits?

Kay @ Jan 12th 2006 11:46AM

"Theres such a strong link between Nintendo and Apple. Both are companies that pursue Software rather than Hardware (although those new MacBook Pros are SERIOUS machines, there is nothing in the PC world that can compare to them). Both push innovations and new thinkings the the competition usually copy next time round. Biggest example being Longhorn/Vista copying the pants off Tiger, even Windows fanboys speak of Microsofts shameless copying."

The only shameless copying I see is from Apple, actually. They blew smoke up Apple fanbois butts about the PPC being faster than Intel, but now they have switched to Intel and are claiming to be 3X-5X faster. Also, Tiger OS was nothing more than an updated Windows XP, same with OS X (OS XP, is more like it).

You call Apple software oriented, yet the major complaint about Apple is the lack of software. Furhtermore, don't credit the Macbook Pro with being the greatest computer ever because you do not have one, you seem idiotic making speculative claims like this. Especially since, the powerbook G4 was creditted as only a marginal laptop by major reviewers like PCWorld and CNET, therefore why should we believe that this computer they got right when they have yet to get one perfect.

Don't be a blind fanboy, the only similarity that Apple and Nintendo have is that they are considered the underdog. The major difference though is that nintendo wants to sell good products for decent prices while apple sells marginal products at inflated prices.

LaughingTarget @ Jan 12th 2006 11:58AM

Guilty as charged here. Fortunately, I'm not so irrational to go out and grab every Mario Party game that hits the shelves, though I did get suckered into Mario Baseball (because I like baseball). Still, if the content is quality, it hardly matters if it stars Mario or someone new. I'll probably, though slowly, lose my interest as a Nintendo fan when they stop delivering quality content. But, when games like Twilight Princess are on the horizon, I doubt that will be any time soon.

Artimus @ Jan 12th 2006 12:08PM

I'm with the people going 'WTF?' The media has no crush on Nintendo. Almost every single game outlet treats Nintendo like crap. All the TV shows worship Sony or MS, sites like IGN/GameSpot/Etc. bash Nintendo every chance they get on their non-Nintendo channels, etc. Nintendo has the hardest time of anyone because EVERYONE is critical of them. How many times a year do we read about Nintendo's huge mistakes? Nevermind they're not really huge, and not driven by greed like people say. Nintendo definitely has issues, no kidding, but the media has NO crush on them.

SetupWeasel @ Jan 12th 2006 12:15PM

As a member of this "irrationally partisan fanbase" let me interject some ration into the conversation.

First, Nintendo systems are better made than the competition. In fact, I cannot think of an electronics company that makes products so consistantly durable. Not only do they usually work perfectly out of the box, but they last even in the face of abuse. I, for one, wish Nintendo would make TVs and laptops. It would be wonderful to make every purchase with the same confidence as when I buy Nintendo hardware.

Second, if there is something wrong, their customer service is excellent. The rare defective system is quickly replaced. The rare software with bugs is quickly recalled. Everyone makes mistakes. The measure of the man (or in this case the company) is how they deal with those mistakes.

Third, their software is second to none. There are very few awful Nintendo games. Some might not be your cup of tea, but they are well made. Again, you can buy with confidence. You are not going to get a game riddled with bugs or unplayable. Not only that, but Nintendo makes some of the best games in the entire industry. If you want to talk about an "irrationally partisan fanbase," look at the throngs of gamers angry at the Wind Waker. People look for any reason to slam Nintendo. If I were to call the GTA series "boring" (which I do. Yes, I played 3 and VC.), I'm assulted from all sides about how I'm full of shit and how these games got great reviews. Yet, anyone can say the Wind Waker is "too kiddie" and get a chorus of approval from people who refuse to play it on those very grounds.

Nintendo is a company that treats their customers with the proper level of respect. This is no longer common. Not only are their products quality and their customer service humane, they don't sue their customers, break their systems, or grossly misrepresent their products.

I don't need Nintendo to beat all comers. I simply don't want a company that makes products I enjoy so much become marginalized out of existance by an opposing "irrationally partisan fanbase."

MosquitoControl @ Jan 12th 2006 12:15PM

I find Nintendo fans to be more approving of everything the company does but Sony fans to be more head-in-the-sand and obnoxious.

Someone above had a good point, though. Nintendo is mostly ignored by the media. Even when the GC was in full swing it wasn't mentioned in reviews of most games, and CC/BB flyers excluded them constantly.

Ender's Game @ Jan 12th 2006 12:25PM

People are critical of Nintendo because they love them so much. Nintendo has more to live up to than either MS or Sony. With the Revolution they have a chance at doing it, due to the 5 gen backwards compatibility, IMO.

Tucker @ Jan 12th 2006 12:25PM

Ben - last time I checked, Nintendo is a multi-national corporation.

Daniel @ Jan 12th 2006 12:27PM

i AGREE WITH aRTIMUS, the Media has NO POSITIVE COMMENTS on nintendo, EXCEPT FOR ONE - CHRIS MORRISS for Money.CNN.COM HE LOVES NINTENDO, VERYEONE ELSE BASHES THEM. Nintendo will stay on top because the fans, the people and gamers LOVE nintendo, and the mor ethey attack them, the more we see how much off @sshles the Media really are.

Wait until Nintendo STEALS THE SHOW AT E3 - YAH!!!!!

vc @ Jan 12th 2006 12:29PM

To a true fan, it only feels like everyone's bashing Nintendo. To more impartial observers, the company is afforded a ton of leeway.

mike @ Jan 12th 2006 12:34PM

wow.. what a shock.. these companies with top rate branding.. get loyal customers.. no shit.. what is your point...

for the record, the ignorant media thinks SONY is the one running the games biz.. but Nin is making more money

Larry Shin @ Jan 12th 2006 12:42PM

First off it is the media and a core of fans that love apple. The only people that love nintendo is its fans. Sony and Microsoft both have their own fans, and they are loved by the media., Are you retards that service monkeys? Why are rejects like you (IGN,Gamespot,Gamespy)the face of gaming media? The gaming media seems to be comprised of people who rode the short yellow bus.

Ryan @ Jan 12th 2006 12:49PM

I think that it's interesting that you use Nintendo in this article. You can easily replace Nintendo with Sony or Microsoft, both of which have crazed partisan worshippers as well.

ill trooper @ Jan 12th 2006 12:55PM

"The only shameless copying I see is from Apple, actually."

"Tiger OS was nothing more than an updated Windows XP"

I don't agree with with you Kay, and you have your 'facts' all mixed up. Do your research, then we can talk. Good to have people like you stuck on Windows.

What the 'software' comment is addressing is that by moving away from PPC chips the essence of Apple is now based on the operating system SOFTWARE, not 'how few software titles Macs have.'

"Now they switched to Intel" Yeah, guy, times change. Did you know we now have color on TV? PPC's weren't panning out for Apple - IBM went for a smart, lucrative move to focus on game systems.

You're mad because the new mac notebook is now faster?

You sound desperate. Stop hating. Don't be mad because a Mac can run OSX, Linux, and now, Windows if you want. The first laptops to ship using the new Intel dual-core Yonahs and you're mad cause it's not Dell.

Microsoft leads in ONE area only, and that is MARKETSHARE - That doesn't always translate into 'BEST,' only 'MOST.'

Vista is going to be a lackluster rip-off of OS X. Sure it will be big - everyone has a PC. But just note that Apple is on its 4th year with this sort of OS.

Mullinator @ Jan 12th 2006 1:10PM

Reporters aren't asking Nintendo the hard questions? Looks to me like they aren't asking Sony any hard questions either.

Sony tells people that the PS3 will be a supercomputer in the home and suddenly everyone becomes an arm chair expert in computer hardware and blindly agrees that it is perfectly true without ever asking any questions about it. That is to me is just moronic.

Martin @ Jan 12th 2006 1:15PM

Take your MS vs Apple shit somewhere else.

ben magaziner @ Jan 12th 2006 1:32PM

tucker- you're absoultely right, perhaps i should have described the others as gluttonous megaloconglomerates. :)

Tyler @ Jan 12th 2006 1:38PM

I would just like to add that as was mention in a previous post I feel most gaming sources such as IGN and 1UP tend to ignore Nintendo, leaving the console races up to Sony and Microsoft, and only bringing up its name to talk about how underpowered it's machines are. However I can see how many major news outlets, such as Newsweek, do provide a lot of love for Nintendo through their articles on the DS and the upcoming Revolution. However I would say that XBox and PSX get their share of the love too.

I am a fan of "the Big N" and I am as quick as anyone to stand up for a lot of the company's ideas, but would still like to see some things changed, or at least concerns addressed:

First, why doesn't NOA have more autonomy in development and promotion? I would like to see more American development from Nintendo, and well as more localized Japanese games, and originals IPs! Electroplakton and Braintraning are great first steps, but releasing more niche-market games in the US would separate you from your competition and give you an edge that they don't have.

Finally, why not be a little more public with your plans. I understand that you're "working the hype machine" and there are some trade secrets, but sometimes we go months and months without any news from the company. That can be a long dry spell, just remind us that you're still there and working for us gamers.

Mark @ Jan 12th 2006 2:46PM

Why is it irrational to be partisan toward a company that makes quality products that are a good value? Is it rational to be biased against a company because you think it makes you seem more "grown up."

Chris @ Jan 12th 2006 5:48PM

As usual anything relating to Nintendo receives 20+ comments. This is tribal warfare really.

Diego @ Jan 12th 2006 7:58PM

#16. "Why can't each product be judged based on its own merrits?"

-Blynkj

This is a question I would like to ask fans of all consoles. Everyone says "Nintendo is too kiddy", and "Sony/Microsoft is for growed-ups". Well, this is just fanboyism on the part of Sony and/or Microsoft. I admit that I enjoy Microsoft's few games greatly (especially the ones done by their own studios), but I will never say that Microsoft pwns. If every work were to be judged by their own merit and not by how they look ("too kiddie", ty SetupWeasle) or whatever external prejudices one holds whilst looking at them, one would see the actual good in the game, and not accept or deny it based on the system or the look or whatever. That is what people need to do,and that is what seperates regular (read: rational) people/gamers from radical (read: radical) fanboys.

There. I said it.

Fusion @ Jan 12th 2006 8:28PM

Iwata had a apple laptop at the TGS when they revealed

the rev controller just watch that video and you will

see it,anyway i think that Nintendo and Apple have

alot in common and might be working on something

together,i guess we have to wait and see what E3 will

bring.

Tymonator @ Jan 12th 2006 11:30PM

Nintendo,

You should sell a GBA Cart with a firmware update for the DS that would allow the DS to access NWC and allow people to pay for gameboy advance downloads to the Cart! Give us the GBA catalogue via download! That would be sweet!

Juan @ Jan 14th 2006 4:31PM

Nintendo is one of the best gaming companies out there. Sure, the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are supposed to be really great with graphics and stuff, but does their games get people of all ages to enjoy them? Anthor thing that "the Big N" get money back on thier consoles as where Sony & Microsoft were losing money (microsoft is losing cash right now on the 360) on the consoles they released. The media really doesn't show love to "the Big N" just because the games they release are "kiddie" type games. Being a 15 year old I love playing games like Mario, but I also enjoy playing games like Medal of Honor, Call of duty 2:Big Red 1. I also like games like GT anf NFS. So what if they waited to release cd format games until the Gamecube, if it they had not waited, you Sony loving fans would be playing the Nintendo Playstation right now. Sure the PS2 is good but take a good look at the past and you see that Sony got the idea from Sega and Nintendo.(espically after Nintendo pissed them off)

Will nintendo make the DS with a IPOD built in? Would be sweet, no need to buy after all.