Reggie: Nintendo not interested in 'the garage developer,' still likes indies (just don't mention the garage)

@PR0F3TA

It's odd that they're mad at losing money and market share to another company?

@PR0F3TA

This is what Nintendo does. Rides the success of one or two products for as long as possible, then a couple years past that, then they wonder why everyone isn't rushing out to snatch up that product. Nintendo is an innovator....about once every 6-7 years.

@Spartan117458

"Nintendo is an innovator....about once every 6-7 years."

That's more than we can say about a lot of other companies.

@PR0F3TA

the irony in all this??? ALL the major publisher and companies right now WERE garage developers, even miyamoto was a garage developer, don´t tell me that they can´t get quality on a game that could be full price, that was done millions of times in the good old year and it´s being done right now. minecraft is the best example, so yeah right, this sounds more like they don´t want to face the fact that those "small" games are many times better than a full retail title.

@Spartan117458

I think innovation is a word that's thrown around too often.

True Nintendo innovations:

1. With the Famicom: the 3rd party developer model that Atari could have embraced, but didn't, to their chagrin.

2. The Game Boy

3. The DS, maybe sorta. It has a touchscreen. Not a huge leap, but we'll throw it in here just for sharts & gaggles.

4. The Wii

5. Virtual Boy (a failure, yes, but very innovative)

@Spartan117458
Disagreed. Nintendo is an innovator all the time. You just don't realize it.

After a few years of doing the same thing everybody else was, they created Donkey Kong which was the first platform game and the first multi-screen arcade game (like multiple games in one). They emphasized a Gunpei Yokoi philosophy of using inexpensive and established older tech for new products. The Famicom/NES used the old 6502 to do just that. Portable games existed but were crap, they used watched technology to make game&watch and created the dpad in the process. The dpad sucks on most non-nintendo controllers because it's patented by nintendo! After video games were labeled a fad and the industry crashed, they introduced the NES with it's hidden cartridge slot and VCR/cable box appearance to get back into the living room. They created their main competitor (Sony) during the SNES era, the Playstation was originally a joint project and an inexpensive (but powerful) sound chip created by them is used in the SNES. They made analog control the standard for 3D games and introduced force-feedback to consoles with the rumble pack. They emphasized local multiplayer by including four controller ports. For years they said to stop focusing on movies and instead focus on games, something it took several years for people to finally get. They created the best portable console because it had amazing battery life and was affordable.. it killed off all competitors. They popularized touch screen gaming and mini games with DS. They made motion control and casual gaming successful. Now they are probably are going to be the one to popularize 3d since you don't need glasses.

6-7 years my arse. That's just a short list. Other important things, they also created a third party licensing program which has become standard. Yeah the original version was limited and kinda evil but it wasn't a bad thing. Many competitors such as Atari, NEC, and Sega have all died off and become irrelevant yet Nintendo is still there and now doing better than Sony and MS. Just sayin

@OverMuch The Famicom controller, The N64 controller, the Wii Balance Board, the GBA / GCN Link Cable, Sattelaview, Pokemon Mobile System (Pokemon Crystal), Famicom Disk System (recordable game disks), Super Game Boy ...

@PR0F3TA

But they're not. Wii and DS sales have not noticeably been effected by those services, and Nintendo is right to fear oversaturation, as are the competitors

@Hunter141072 Yes they were, just read the Ask Iwata for the Game & Watch series. That was hardcore 'garage' development.

@mguniverse
and there are more examples:

molyneux- a guy who created financial software.

sierra online- founded by a couple at their kitchen

activision- founded by 3 ex atari workers and a bag of peanuts

team 17- used to sell PD software

reflections- two guys programming at their houses

DMA now rockstar- the first game menace was programmed in the bedroom of dave jones.

I think we NEED more garage programmers, maybe returning to the good old times, all those companies were founded by garage programmers, but now they want to hide in the " corporate shield" maybe because they don´t want to give the power that they got, after being garage programmers.......

@TraceurRyuk Part III
Why exactly was this downvoted?
I wholeheartedly agree

@TraceurRyuk Part III - I agree in part, but a lot of games (and I mean a /lot/ of games) are overpriced.

Most games nowadays are not worth $60 (some handheld games aren't worth their $40 threshold). Some are, but it's few and far between. The "bargain bin" price of $20-40 is actually perfect for a lot of crap, especially if it's the same thing, rehashed with a new coat of paint and one new feature that could otherwise be DLC/title update (Madden).

Angry Birds is worth $5, max; possibly the most underpriced mobile phone game out there (right next to Infinity Blade, which could have went for $10-15, considering it's brethren, Shadow Complex, released for $15 and was effing fantastic).

Madden/Call of Duty/Halo are probably worth $40, $50 tops. Considering the money they rake in on sales, Activision made back the development cost on Black Ops in hours upon release. Madden's roster updates/new features could easily be the aforementioned DLC or title updates for pennies on the dollar. Want the Madden '11 update? Give us $20 and it's yours, rather than spending $60 and clogging up retail shelves with new copies on release day and bargain bins a week later, sitting there for months, even years, before being "DEVO'd" by a clerk.

App stores left and right have shown quality games can be made and sold for fairly cheap. However, the "console experience" is where a lot of gamers - like myself - feel their money can go towards a HELL of a better game.

Besides: Controller > Touch Screen. Any day.

For the last decade or more, in order to even get a $10k Wii dev kit you have to have a 100 person office in an industrial zoned area, among a few other requirements.

They're also quite keen on putting more restrictions on developers and publishers once they've got you by the balls (read: you've already invested in the platform), particularly with anything relating to online, gore, or personal identity.

Why people keep buying Nintendo and expecting third-party support is beyond me.

@CaptainProtonX
He said "Garage", Not "garbage". :p

@CaptainProtonX
So wait, after like 2 or 3 different versions of Cave Story which is so garage that it was free on a half dozen platforms and made by a single developer in his spare time while working a saleryman job. Let's keep in mind this guy had like a handful of offers to port Cave Story to pay platforms before, just how much money did Nintendo drop on this one single "Garage developer" to convince him to work with them?

@Purduecoz
"Haven't turned on my Wii in years. "

Try buying games for it.

@TraceurRyuk Part III
"Try buying games for it"

You mean, try and find more than a handful of releases a year that are actually worth playing? Good luck!

@Rikerbot You must havevreally small hands if you can find enough games on the wii to fill them.

@Purduecoz

"So called "Garage developers" are some of the best developers I know with some of the greatest ideas,"

LOL stop lying you don't know any developers

@Co Right.. it would be pretty farfetched to think I might work in the IT industry for a software development company!

@slickie
I think they might have been made in the toilet. I'm making one right now...

@Bluebrake
I think a lot of that is up to the retailers.

@Bluebrake

Ya, I don't quite get why Mario 64 DS, Mario Kart DS, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum, New Super Mario Bros, Nintendogs, and Animal Crossing are all still $30-35. I mean really, just let the prices drop already. Surely enough people aren't still buying them to warrant a full price, right?

@KaBob799

Nintendo actually prevents retailers from price-dropping, or at least such that retailers could, if *they* were willing to take a loss on it

Nintendo doesn't discount games, they just discontinue them...

@Punkrawk Bbob

You're wrong, which is why they are still at those prices.

@verymetal

And that seems to have worked out great for them. Unfortunately, not all of us are completely happy with where we've been "led" by them.

@baby sea tuna

agreed. The Wii was a hardcore let down in my book. For a system with such a huge install base and a 4+ year lifespan, having like 3-5 "must own" games is kinda bad. Especially given that those "must owns" are just Wii versions of existing franchises (Mario Kart and Smash Bros). With Zelda: Twilight Princess out the gates so much deeper than it's predecessors, and arguably more adult then Wind Waker... And (even if it sucked) Red Steel's overall audience it was aiming for, was kinda excited for this gen for the big N. Sadly, the Wii is kinda a snoozer. Sure, lots of casual pick up and play titles that are fun for an evening w/friends. Nothing that I'm gonna remember next generation though like I remember like WCW vs nWo, Starfox 64, GoldenEye, BlastCorps, Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Zelda: OoT, or Smash Bros.

I realize some of those games are franchises, but their N64 iterations either started the franchise or very clearly created a distinct mark on the series. The Wii failed to deliver that I think.

The console war for this generation is already over. Nintendo is the leader with more systems sold. The 3ds will be even more popular than the Wii.
Like it or not, Nintendo is here to stay, and as history repeats itself, others will copy what they are doing.

@BananaBoat

There is a difference between being garage and being indie. You can create your own business and get incorporated and as such are considered a company, even if working alone. Garage devs don't take those extra steps.

I think Reggie is trying to stress they don't want to work with anyone not willing to take it seriously enough to define themselves as a business. Kind of like even though you can rock at a job and clearly be able to handle it, without a degree to show you're investing in yourself towards such a path you probably won't get the job. This is just N's test to make sure you're dedicated and this isn't just a weekend fling.

@HaVoK308 Apple has been trying to get into gaming for a LONG time. This time, the snuck in without anyone suspecting.

@Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell
Well, J#5, the good news for you is that Rovio did, indeed, announce a 3DS version of Angry Birds is in the works.

@Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell

Sony already is embracing the 'app store' state of mind with their cheap 'minis' titles. I think with the release of NGP, we are going to see that market grow tenfold for them.

@Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell

I was in the same boat as you man. Traded in my DSi towards the 3DS but wasn't really won over by the launch offerings. I ended up preordering Pilotwings because it seemed like a good mellow experience, as well as a good tech demo. Apparently I was right because all their display units at retailers are loaded with a Pilotwings demo.

The eShop for the 3DS won't launch until May, so you have a month or two until that option is there.

Head down to your local best buy, they should have a unit set up. Try out Pilotwings and see if you like it. I don't regret my decision (it was admittedly kind of peaceful and fun at the same time). Just really wish they had launched Starfox64, Zelda:OoT, or a sequel to New Super Mario Bros.

@BPMOmega

Schweeeeet! Angry Birds 3D is a day 1 for sure.

@Punkrawk

My best buy & Gamestop have yet to receive their 3DS demo units. The cool thing for me is I won that DSi 2 weeks ago out of the stacker arcade machine. My kids have ds lites so we don't have to trade them in now.

@oxyrt

Yes that's true Sony has embraced that model to an extent with minis. I just hope minis and psn games are a big part of their ngp strategy. I love me some intense console type games but I also want something to play on the crapper at work ;)

@MisterSmith

This proves that Reggie might not be entirely aware of what he's talking about.

2D Boy also counts