Nintendo's move 'away from the hardcore' cited in N-Revolution mag's closure
by Randy Nelson 
{ Dec 3rd 2008 at 4:30PM }
Imagine's managing director, Damian Butt, says that Nintendo's focus is shifting away from the magazine's readership, i.e. core gamers. "It has become increasingly obvious that Nintendo's strategy...has moved increasingly away from the hardcore gaming community that is our specialty," Butt explained.
Still, Butt says that Imagine – which also publishes gamesTM – will continue to work with Nintendo to "drive purchases of Nintendo software." We're sure it will be in an entirely objective, unbiased, above-the-board way ... of working with a company to positively influence software sales through editorial. What could be wrong with that? Oh.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
The Dark Wayne @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:34PM
inb4 "Butt" jokes
Jono Stars @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:37PM
what an unfortunate name
Haggard @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:44PM
I tried to make one when this was on 0 comments, but the 'stiq wouldn't let me :(
ryan @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:50PM
At least change it to "Buttons" or "Butler" or..."Butts"
"Can I speak to a Seymour, last name Butts?"
BananaBoat @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:05PM
I bet this guy was the "butt" of all the jokes in elementary school.
Ta dum Tsshhhhhhh
Osman @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:38PM
"what what, in the butt
i say what what, in the butt
you wanna do it in butt? in my butt?
what what, in the butt
oooohhhh yeaaaahhh"
i know that was very creepy to read, but i had to do it :P
Meta @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:38PM
http://www.instantrimshot.com/
joeybeast @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:39PM
I have a client named Buttrick.
I can only imagine what his childhood was like.
Rocketboy @ Dec 4th 2008 8:19AM
Better Butt than Richard Dickman.
(An actual name, and the one I read, he was actually Richard Dickman III)
colinbell @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:36PM
Ouch
Yuccadude @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:37PM
What an unfortunate last name. I'd like to think it's pronounced like "butte", but all I can think of is butt jokes.
Dirty @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:53PM
"Its pronounced doom-auss"
Roto13 @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:13PM
That last name is really common in my area, and it's definitely pronounced the way it's spelled.
I had a teacher named Mr. Butt, and I know a girl named Crystal Butt.
Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 3rd 2008 10:49PM
Crystal Butt
WAHAHAHWAHAHHWHHHAHAHHFKJHFJFHJHGJDGHFGHFGHGHHG *cough* *cough*
good times
ZapDash @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:37PM
Bat Nipple jokes were always better than Bat Butt jokes anyway.
ZapDash @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:46PM
This was obviously meant as a reply to The Dark Wayne.
The Dark Wayne @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:46PM
I will not forget this treachery
Strategy_Panda (the artist formally known as Titanium_Orchid) @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:38PM
It seems like a Nintendo centric magazine would be something that the unwashed casual masses would actually benefit from.
Butt
just....playwhutyalike @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:38PM
Well, his last name is Butt, and he used the word hardcore. Coincidence? I think not.
Mogster @ Dec 4th 2008 6:32AM
You good sir, are hilarious!
Josh @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:40PM
WTF at the last paragraph. Just gives me more of a reason to stick to blogs and the like.
Shagittarius @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:41PM
Imagine: Pulisherz
343 Guilty Fart @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:05PM
What's a pulisherz?
Shagittarius @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:14PM
It's a publisher without an editor.
Hyams @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:28PM
Shagittarius winz.
343 Guilty Fart @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:50PM
I concede to my opponent.
Mr Khan @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:54PM
Well it makes a bit of sense. Magazines on the whole are going down the tubes, N-Revolution was not known for its quality, it has to compete with ONM, this perhaps was just the straw that broke the camel's back
To cite it as the main factor is, of course, needlessly inflammatory, but a dip in focus for a crappy, 2nd-rate magazine's target market isn't without merit
Dirty @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:57PM
You forgot to say butt.
Mr Khan @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:01PM
oh, and Randy fails for citing that blatant example of yellow journalism (the link "focus is shifting away")
joystiq as a whole should forget it was ever written, it's a hard shot against your credibility, and a sad day in general
Noshino @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:11PM
Wait wait, first, that statement was true, and yes, it does show that they are shifting focus, if not, they would have put more resources into more "hardcore" games (old or new franchises) instead of putting most of it on casual games, Sony is doing it and so is Microsoft.
Second, why should we forget that was said? most people still don't let go Kutaragi's or Moore's stupid remarks, yet we should forget that one?
It doesn't hurt Joystiq's credibility, it should just be a lesson to Nintendo's PR department, unfortunately, none of them learn, and the 3 companies still making stupid comments.
Mr Khan @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:42PM
Because that's not what was said. the Nintendo guy said "core games take 2-3 years to make"
the joystiq article said "no core games for 2-3 years"
jswanson @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:57PM
I call bullocks on this one.
While Nintendo does focus on "casual" games, it's hard to say the GameCube was anymore "hardcore" than the Wii is. Same goes for N64.
Viridium @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:28PM
You call castrated bulls on this one? Bollocks to you!
BlaqueBeird @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:32PM
The N64 was definitely hardcore. Maybe not compared to now, but back then it definitely was. Although I'd argue that SNES is probably the best system ever, primarily because of all the sweet games.
What gamer in the world doesn't have a fond SNES or N64 memory?
jswanson @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:45PM
No, I remember back in the day they were predicting Nintendo's demise because the N64 wasn't as hardcore as PS. Most of the "mature" games, RPGs, shooters, etc etc were on PS and Nintendo survived off 1st party games...as they do now..SNES was the last console that "hardcore".
el serpiente @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:03PM
Genesis stomped SNES's tiny balls.
Biff_McFresh @ Dec 3rd 2008 4:59PM
Butt
offday @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:03PM
"It has become increasingly obvious that Nintendo's strategy...has moved increasingly away from the hardcore gaming community that is our specialty," Butt explained.
Yet, when a regular gamer says this the new nintendo fanboys are always right there to tell him how wrong and he stupid he is.
Grey Acumen @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:22PM
what are you talking about? he is wrong.
Whether nintendo is or isn't moving away from core games, that's not what's affecting the magazine's readership.
It's a little thing called the internet. It will always have the most up to date information, and core gamers are the ones most interested in getting the most up to date information. On top of that, while you generally have to pay for internet access, the information on games like this can almost always be accessed for free.
So compare:
Free + Updated on hourly basis + Search for what YOU want to know about vs. purchase or subscription + updated on monthly basis + read about whatever they choose to tell you.
offday @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:36PM
"Whether nintendo is or isn't moving away from core games, that's not what's affecting the magazine's readership."
All I'm saying is Nintendo is clearly targeting a different crowd than the one that made them who they are today. He's right about that. As far as the magazine goes, I don't give a crap.
The Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 3rd 2008 7:51PM
Is this a reaction to my reply to you the other day? (By the way, you may want to check my response, it clears things up a bit, and any insults I made towards you were either jocular or to place emphasis on the point I was trying to make)
It is clear that Nintendo is targeting a different audience than before, but there is something just as stupid as saying they aren't - acting as though that fact has had a negative effect on gaming over these last few years.
aggrazel @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:06PM
As I said in another post:
Yesterday I went to the doctor and while I was bored to death in an exam room I flipped through a parenting magazine (believe me, the only thing to do in that room other than make log cabins out of tongue depressers which I had already done) .. and in this magazine was an advertisement for the Wii.
Case. Closed.
Wii is a toy, not a serious game console.
Pathie @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:25PM
Because videogames are serious business.
Misfit Toy @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:38PM
Nintendo is legally a toy company, not a gaming company anyways. Or at least according to them that's how it is.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:43PM
Video games are toys.
Moptimus Slime @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:45PM
So, how do you feel about Microsoft advertising the amount of "family friendly" games they have and only marketing the bundle that comes with Lego Indy and Kung Fu Panda?
Case.Closed.
Every video game console is a toy, a definition of a toy is "an artifact designed to be played with". Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that describe a 360 or a PS3 or a DS or a PSP as well as a Wii?
Mr Khan @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:46PM
I really debated how to respond to this one, but the fact of the matter is that this whole drama was played out 20 years ago. Except back then the Xbox360 and PS3 were called IBM and Apple and people like you were calling the NES a toy
aggrazel @ Dec 3rd 2008 5:50PM
I don't think you understand.
This was -parenting- magazine. They are known for being hugely anti-videogame. Yet you can advertise a wii in it, because the wii is something else.
Listen, you fanboys don't have to defend your steed, it's ok, we'll let you read the big boy blogs and eat at the big boy table even if you're playing with toys. I'm just saying any serious gamers I know own either a 360 or a PS3. They may own a wii, but its a secondary item.
Moptimus Slime @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:04PM
No sir, YOU are the one who doesn't understand. A few things here I need you to clear up:
1. Name of said "parenting" magazine
2. Proof of them being "anti video game" and no, writing an article about violent games does NOT qualify. They must say that video games in general are ruining peoples lives, not just violent ones.
3. How a Wii showing up in said parenting magazine is different from Microsoft running an ad saying "we have X number of family friendly games" and only mentioning the bundle that comes with Lego Indy and Kung Fu Panda which, now I may be wrong here, aren't exactly "hardcore games".
4. How the definition of a toy (an object designed to be played with) doesnt fit every console/handheld ever made dating back to the Magnavox Odyssey
Mr Khan @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:09PM
And you don't seem to understand either. If you actually looked at Nintendo's strategy for the NES, you're going to see so many similarities it will make your head spin
established "serious gamers" had the same feelings towards the NES that established "serious gamers" had towards the Wii. It's a toy, it has less functionality than my computer. It's marketed towards families and little kids. Look at that dumb robot, those kiddie games, and that plastic gun. You look like such an idiot shooting that plastic gun at the screen
History is repeating itself, just in a slightly different way