Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gaikai will introduce your mom to hardcore gaming through Facebook]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/gaikai-will-introduce-your-mom-to-hardcore-gaming-through-facebo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/gaikai-will-introduce-your-mom-to-hardcore-gaming-through-facebo/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/gaikai-will-introduce-your-mom-to-hardcore-gaming-through-facebo/#comments Streaming service Gaikai has finalized a deal to bring hardcore PC game demos to Facebook, following previous deals made with YouTube, Wal Mart and others. Gaikai said it has been working with Facebook for some time, and it sees this as a golden opportunity for both parties.

"Facebook already owns the category of casual gaming; we're going to help them own core games," founder David Perry said at Cloud Gaming Europe, GamesIndustry reports. "A click and boom, you're playing World of Warcraft."

Perry demoed World of Warcraft on Facebook, but later clarified to GameSpot that Gaikai "is NOT bringing WoW to Facebook (at least not in the foreseeable future)." Gaikai's approach to streaming games sees it in more of a marketing role than a game-provider, but introducing the Facebook audience to more hardcore opportunities shouldn't be a bad thing. Unless your mom starts sending you invites to join her guild page, "Massive Mamacitas."

JoystiqGaikai will introduce your mom to hardcore gaming through Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudfacebookgaikaihardcoremacpcstreamingWed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We want to play Peter Molydeux's 'CasCore' prototype]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/we-want-to-play-peter-molydeuxs-cascore-prototype/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/we-want-to-play-peter-molydeuxs-cascore-prototype/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/we-want-to-play-peter-molydeuxs-cascore-prototype/#comments
One of our favorite Twitter accounts, @petermolydeux, is a constant source of entertainment, but now he's taken it to the next level. Rather than leave it up to us to imagine his insane gaming ideas, he's gone ahead and created a video proposal for CasCore, a game that marries the casual gameplay of Wii Sports' bowling with the hardcore survival-horror genre.

Give your imagination a break already and check out the prototype video above. How else will you see a child's dreams crammed into a bowling ball?

JoystiqWe want to play Peter Molydeux's 'CasCore' prototype originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bowlingcascorecasualcasual-hardcorehardcorepeter-molydeuxsurvival-horrorwii-sportsMon, 14 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hitman: Absolution has hardcore mode for masochists]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/hitman-absolution-has-hardcore-mode-for-masochists/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/hitman-absolution-has-hardcore-mode-for-masochists/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/hitman-absolution-has-hardcore-mode-for-masochists/#comments Well, okay, you don't technically need to be a masochist, but a hardcore mode in Hitman Absolution, included specifically for veterans of the series, just may be a real blood-boiler. Producer Hakan Abrak told Eurogamer that the difficulty setting rewards methodical stealth play with Achievements and/or Trophies.

"We will get into more details at a later point, but obviously it's linked to the playing style," he said. "It's more pacify your enemies, be undetected, maybe solve the challenges in a smarter way. That will probably give you a stealth assassin achievement." It might also give you an ulcer, depending on how many times you're forced to restart each mission.

Abrak also hopes to silence critics who say Absolution ditches its stealth roots for the more action-packed gameplay we saw in the gameplay demo -- don't expect that, Abrak says. "Rest assured, the hardcore fans that like to have replayablity value in the game or want to have this stealth assassin -- you know, I'm the ultimate stealth assassin -- that playing style, those achievements, are very much in the game."

For more info on Hitman Absolution, be sure to check out our preview from back in June.

JoystiqHitman: Absolution has hardcore mode for masochists originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eidoshardcorehitman-5hitman-absolutionio-interactivemicrosoftpcplaystationps3square-enixxboxFri, 07 Oct 2011 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation Move strategy to focus on 'more core titles,' says Sony's Koller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/playstation-move-strategy-to-focus-on-more-core-titles-says-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/playstation-move-strategy-to-focus-on-more-core-titles-says-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/playstation-move-strategy-to-focus-on-more-core-titles-says-s/#comments

John Koller, director of hardware marketing for PlayStation, acknowledged to the Wall Street Journal that Microsoft's 8 million shipped Kinect units amount to a "very impressive" figure, though he assured that his company is still "happy where we are in the market" with Move. As of the end of November, Sony had shipped 4.1 million units of its motion controller and believes it has an edge over Microsoft in the race to earn the hard-won affections of the "hardcore" consumer. That's you, right?

"The limitations are such that you can't create all the games you want to do," Koller suggested of Kinect, implying that Microsoft's controller-less technoloy lacks the precision control necessary to support so-called "core" titles -- just what Sony has in mind for Move in the coming months.

The apparent strategy involves "layering on more and more core titles," Koller explained, and there are at least two Sony titles around the corner that fit the bill.

While Move was intended to launch with core support in SOCOM 4, that game's delay to April, coupled with Killzone 3 in late February, means that Sony will have two of its core franchises equipped with Move support in the market within a few months. Microsoft and Kinect? Still zero.

In a recent preview of Killzone 3's Move controls, our own Rany Nelson concluded, "I am now committed to using the Move for my first full playthrough of the game. Not only does its integration seem justified to me, but I'm sold on its improved accuracy and greater sense of immersion over the DualShock controller." Koller and Sony sure hope a lot more of us core-types will be sold, too.

[Thanks, Devin]

JoystiqPlayStation Move strategy to focus on 'more core titles,' says Sony's Koller originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-strategycorehardcorejohn-kollerkinectplaystationplaystation-moveps3socom-4Fri, 14 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hardcore mode coming to Minecraft, the world ends when you die]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/hardcore-mode-coming-to-minecraft-the-world-ends-when-you-die/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/hardcore-mode-coming-to-minecraft-the-world-ends-when-you-die/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/23/hardcore-mode-coming-to-minecraft-the-world-ends-when-you-die/#comments Some madman over at PC Gamer has been trying out something called the "Minecraft Experiment," in which player death results in the immediate deletion of the world he or she has been working so hard to spruce up. The game's creator, Markus Persson recently posted on his blog that the feature series has inspired him to include a similar "Hardcore" mode in the game, where the world will be destroyed and reset every time the player gets killed by a Creeper, skeleton, gravity or any of the other deadly forces present in the game.

Look, we have a hard enough time rationalizing the remarkable amounts of time we put into this game already. To play a mode where, with one missed jump, entire weeks of our lives are erased, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-style? That's straight-up masochism, dudes.

JoystiqHardcore mode coming to Minecraft, the world ends when you die originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deathhardcoreMarkus-PerssonMinecraftpcTue, 23 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega says statements about abandoning Wii core were 'erroneous']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/sega-says-statements-about-abanoning-wii-core-were-erroneous/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/sega-says-statements-about-abanoning-wii-core-were-erroneous/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/21/sega-says-statements-about-abanoning-wii-core-were-erroneous/#comments
 Sega and hardcore Wii games have been the will-they-won't-they couple in the games industry lately -- our Ross and Rachel, if you will. First, Sega said it would be arrogant to give up on the hardcore. Then, the company basically did just that. Now, Sega West President Mike Hayes has corrected that last position, just a bit, with IndustryGamers.

Calling previous quotes "erroneous," Hayes said that less demand for matured-themed titles on the Wii doesn't necessarily mean his company isn't going to meet the demand that is out there. "Is it going to be as big as the Teen or Mature market that exists on the Xbox 360 or PS3 platforms? Certainly not," West conceded. "Is it viable, because the cost of development on the Wii is significantly less than those other platforms? Then, potentially the answer is yes."

We just want to make two key points: 1) Hayes' statement is promising news for those of us who had our fingers crossed for another House of the Dead: Overkill (read: all thinking people); and 2) We're really sorry about the dated Friends reference, we don't watch a lot of TV. Honestly, you should probably just be happy we didn't go David and Maddie on you.

JoystiqSega says statements about abandoning Wii core were 'erroneous' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardcoremike-hayesNintendosegaWiiWed, 21 Apr 2010 14:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Peter Dille: Move will attract hardcore gamers with precision]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/peter-dille-move-will-attract-hardcore-gamers-with-precision/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/peter-dille-move-will-attract-hardcore-gamers-with-precision/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/peter-dille-move-will-attract-hardcore-gamers-with-precision/#comments SCEA's head of marketing, Peter Dille, spoke with Fortune earlier this week, and he says that rather than catching up to Nintendo's Wii with the PlayStation Move, Sony is actually blazing new ground. He says that Sony's "White Room campaign wasn't very inclusive," and so it is changing up the game towards including as many people as possible. But unlike Nintendo, says Dille, it is aiming to both pull in a casual audience and keep the hardcore gamers interested. "Hard-core gamers have looked down their nose at motion gaming," says Dille, adding that Sony will "be able to do hard-core gamer games via a motion device that has never been done before."

Dille also says that Sony's product will be different because, while Nintendo has a controller and Microsoft has a camera, Sony's system has both a controller and a camera, and thus will be more precise and responsive than its competitors' offerings. Man, he sounds like a marketing guy, only a little less entertaining. Where's Kevin Butler when you need him?

[via VG247]

JoystiqPeter Dille: Move will attract hardcore gamers with precision originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fortunehardcoremicrosoftnintendopeter-dilleplaystation-movesceaSony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaFri, 02 Apr 2010 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[See DICE's unfinshed Genesis shooter, 'Hardcore']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/see-dices-unfinshed-genesis-shooter-hardcore/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/see-dices-unfinshed-genesis-shooter-hardcore/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/see-dices-unfinshed-genesis-shooter-hardcore/#comments In 1994, before being canceled at the very last minute by publisher Psygnosis (the ailing Sony Liverpool, these days), DICE Studios was one bug squash away from completing sidescrolling shooter "Hardcore" for the Sega Mega Drive (Genesis). When Psygnosis realized that the Mega Drive wouldn't be around for much longer, it canceled "13 games in an afternoon meeting," including Hardcore.

As explained by DICE co-founders Andreas Axelsson and Olof Gustafsson in the YouTube video found after the break (filmed at the DATASTORM 2010 party in early February), Hardcore is currently owned by Sony and Psygnosis, and as such, DICE has been unable to release the game into the public domain (though Axelsson claims to be "working on that"). The game is said to have originally been developed with the Amiga in mind, then brought over to the Mega Drive. Axelsson and Gustafsson reveal that it was "99 percent finished" before being canceled.

Given our love for sidescrolling shooters, we're hoping that Axelsson's intention to release the game publicly eventually pans out. Whaddya say, Sony/Psygnosis? How about you folks get together and work out all this legal mumbo jumbo. For us.

[Via GameSetWatch]

Continue reading See DICE's unfinshed Genesis shooter, 'Hardcore'

JoystiqSee DICE's unfinshed Genesis shooter, 'Hardcore' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andreas-axelssondatastorm-2010dicedigital-illusionsea-dicehardcoremegadriveolof-gustafssonpsygnosissonyyoutubeMon, 29 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Pitchford attributes Borderlands success to targeting the 'current gamer']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/pitchford-attributes-borderlands-success-to-targeting-the-curre/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/pitchford-attributes-borderlands-success-to-targeting-the-curre/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/21/pitchford-attributes-borderlands-success-to-targeting-the-curre/#comments If you haven't been paying attention to the end-of-year NPD reports, it may surprise you to learn that Gearbox's multiplayer shooter slash RPG, Borderlands, performed quite well in the gruesome 2009 gaming sales arena. How did it manage this feat? Well, we'd attribute it to the game's massive stockpile of collectible weaponry, which we found to be black tar heroin-esque in its addictiveness. However, Gearbox president Randy Pitchford chalks it up to choosing hardcore gamers as the title's target audience.

"Perhaps Borderlands can be a lesson for all of us -- that when making a videogame, we should not be afraid to identify gamers as the audience," Pitchford said in a recent interview with IGN. "I wonder if too frequently publishers and developers are so caught up with going after new, untapped audiences that they can forget to care for the largest, most loyal and reliable audience there is -- the current gamer," he added. Well, there go our hopes for a Facebook-based Borderlands gem-swapping casual puzzler.

JoystiqPitchford attributes Borderlands success to targeting the 'current gamer' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2k-gamesborderlandsfpshardcoreMicrosoftRandy-Pitchfordsalestake-twoXbox-360Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega 'probably not' making more hardcore Wii games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/sega-probably-not-making-more-hardcore-wii-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/sega-probably-not-making-more-hardcore-wii-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/04/sega-probably-not-making-more-hardcore-wii-games/#comments Sega gave it the old college try in 2009, reaching out to "mature" gamers with the likes of MadWorld, The Conduit and House of the Dead: Overkill. But after none of those made much of an NPDent, it would seem the publisher may be abandoning the practice. While speaking on the performance of those games during the 4 Guys 1UP podcast, Sega of America studio director Constantine Hantzopoulos said, "That begets the question, you know, are we gonna do more mature titles for the Wii and it's like ... probably not."

Hantzopoulos then pointed to the poor performance of Dead Space: Extraction on the Wii, saying he had been using it as a litmus test for the potential of mature titles on the platform. In other news, Sega has apparently decided on "be a little more arrogant" as its New Year's resolution.

JoystiqSega 'probably not' making more hardcore Wii games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardcorehouse-of-the-dead-overkillmadworldmatureNintendosalessegathe-conduitWiiMon, 04 Jan 2010 09:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Parents don't read Joystiq]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/parents-dont-read-joystiq/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/parents-dont-read-joystiq/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/parents-dont-read-joystiq/#comments
Or, you know, any other review outlet for that matter. That's a criminally oversimplified version of the point that John Davison is making over at What They Play today. Davison says that, by-and-large, review sites aren't giving a fair shake to kids' games. Which is just as well, because parents aren't really reading them, relying instead on consumer reviews like those found at Amazon.com.

We at Joystiq would be tempted to laugh it off, but, as we learned in Back to the Future: Part 2, by 2013, every game played with the hands will be considered a "baby game," which is going to make reaching parents desperately important to us.

JoystiqParents don't read Joystiq originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby-gamescasualhardcoremetacriticWed, 08 Jul 2009 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Is Sega right?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/wii-warm-up-is-sega-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/wii-warm-up-is-sega-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/20/wii-warm-up-is-sega-right/#commentsFiled under:


Sega recently made some opinionated claims toward the Wii and the future to the tune of "it's all about the hardcore" and "casual games are dumb." We're paraphrasing a bit, but you get the idea. When stacked side-by-side, the amount of core titles to casual titles isn't very comparable. But does the Wii need more core games in 2009? Is that the best approach for a third party on the Wii? What do you all think?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Is Sega right? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009casualcorehardcoresegaTue, 20 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[High Voltage talks hardcore gaming on the Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/high-voltage-talks-hardcore-gaming-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/high-voltage-talks-hardcore-gaming-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/08/high-voltage-talks-hardcore-gaming-on-the-wii/#commentsFiled under:


Click for more screens

If you've been following the Wii scene for any length of time, then you know there's a perception that the console has little to offer the hardcore gamer. High Voltage is looking to change that with their upcoming FPS, The Conduit. High Voltage's CEO, Kerry Ganofsky, and The Conduit's lead designer, Rob Nicholls recently spoke with MTV Multiplayer about the game and their goals for it when it releases this year.

Aside from explaining why The Conduit is a "gamer's game," the duo also talk on the game's appeal to the casual crowd, as well as the titles they drew inspiration from. It's an interesting read, so check out the interview right here.


JoystiqHigh Voltage talks hardcore gaming on the Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualfpshardcorehigh-voltagesegathe-conuitThu, 08 Jan 2009 14:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Miyamoto assures the core Nintendo is working on games for them]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/miyamoto-assures-the-core-nintendo-is-working-on-games-for-them/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/miyamoto-assures-the-core-nintendo-is-working-on-games-for-them/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/28/miyamoto-assures-the-core-nintendo-is-working-on-games-for-them/#commentsFiled under:

It's something Nintendo's been criticized of for awhile now, especially since E3: not caring about the core, and chasing down those almighty casual dollars. Well, during an interview with GameDaily, Miyamoto said a lot of the same stuff he's been saying ever since Wii Music has been completed (Nintendo hasn't forgotten about you, there's a lot of games in development, and so on and so forth).

Miyamoto commented that 30 years he's been "making games" and for the majority of that time, these have been games "that the loyal Nintendo fans enjoy." He went on to say that those games are "the types of games that my career is based on and we're going to continue to make those types of games. In fact, we have many of those types of games in development right now." Sounds like a plan to us, Shiggy, but it doesn't make the waiting any less painful!

JoystiqMiyamoto assures the core Nintendo is working on games for them originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corehardcoremiyamotoshigeru-miyamotoshiggyTue, 28 Oct 2008 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Sin & Punishment 2 coming to Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/sin-and-punishment-2-coming-to-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/sin-and-punishment-2-coming-to-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/02/sin-and-punishment-2-coming-to-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

Although its only release in America came as a Virtual Console title on the Wii, Sin & Punishment (N64 version pictured above) has a pretty hardcore following here in the States. Nintendo has announced a follow-up to the Treasure-developed rail shooter. No details are available yet, but those who have played the original Tsumi to Batsu will know that the game is a perfect fit for Nintendo's current home console. Check out videos right here.

[Update: Added screenshot of the new game.]

JoystiqSin & Punishment 2 coming to Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewshardcorenintendosin-and-punishmentsin-and-punishment-2wiiThu, 02 Oct 2008 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Turncoat! Warren Spector developing for casual audience]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/turncoat-warren-spector-developing-for-casual-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/turncoat-warren-spector-developing-for-casual-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/turncoat-warren-spector-developing-for-casual-audience/#commentsFiled under: ,


"How dare he abandon us?" you may scream into your monitor (and later into your favorite pillow). Warren Spector, developer of core gamer classics such as Thief and Deus Ex, is working for the mainstream audience. In a Forbes article about casual gaming's increasing influence, Spector said, "I don't believe I'm compromising on my gameplay ideals at all. [But] any artist who doesn't want his or her work in front of the largest audience possible is nuts."

Spector's "shift" shouldn't come as a surprise. For starters, we know his company, the Disney-owned Junction Point Studios, is currently working on a Pixar collaboration. He also intimated his desire for more mainstream development at the Games Education Summit in June.

"I'm sure a lot of the hardcore folks are going to be up in arms and I'm really looking forward to getting into that discussion with them," he said, later adding that he feels the hardcore genre is "completely safe" but "less relevant to major publishers" -- Cliff Bleszinki can breathe a sigh of relief. What we're wondering, now more than ever, is what's going on with the untitled fantasy project we haven't heard about since June 2007.

[Via MCV]

JoystiqTurncoat! Warren Spector developing for casual audience originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcoredisneyhardcorejunction-pointmainstreamwarren-spectorWed, 01 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo pleads patience for 'core' games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/nintendo-pleads-patience-for-core-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/nintendo-pleads-patience-for-core-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/nintendo-pleads-patience-for-core-games/#commentsFiled under:


By now, we're all familiar with the chain of events that unfolded after E3. Nintendo showed off a bunch of games in its E3 2008 press conference that apparently didn't meet the expectations of the "hardcore" set. Said group immediately accused Nintendo of abandoning them. Nintendo stepped in to say that, no, titles for more serious gamers were currently being made, so keep your hair on.

Now, Nintendo has felt compelled to say it again, and warn us that we will have to wait for our treats. "We have developers working on popular core gaming franchises but we need longer to complete [them], approximately two to three years," the company stated in the latest issue of Edge, before adding that none will be ready to launch in early 2009.

So it's going to be at least late next year before we see any new Zelda, Mario, and presumably Pikmin also. Express your rage in the comments field below.

JoystiqNintendo pleads patience for 'core' games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcoreedgehardcoremariopikminzeldaTue, 26 Aug 2008 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Pachter: Nintendo has not abandoned the core audience]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/pachter-nintendo-has-not-abandoned-the-core-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/pachter-nintendo-has-not-abandoned-the-core-audience/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/pachter-nintendo-has-not-abandoned-the-core-audience/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Not everyone stumbled away from Nintendo's E3 presser feeling lightheaded and sick to their stomach. Some, like Wedbush Morgan soothsayer Michael Pachter, felt that the presentation was on point, offering an "even more positive view" of the company, while adding belief that Nintendo has not yet turned its back on the 'critically important' hardcore crowd.

"We think that Nintendo focused upon building upon its formidable lead with the mass market," notes Pachter, "and do not consider the lack of major hard core game announcements to be an abandonment of its core." Granted, this is a man who has the ear of investors and not necessarily gamers, and given that the analyst anticipates Nintendo to report revenue of more than $3.9 billion for 2009's fiscal first quarter, with an estimated $17.7 billion expected for the year, try to at least look surprised when his world views don't align perfectly with your own.

JoystiqPachter: Nintendo has not abandoned the core audience originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcoreDSE3e32008hardcoremass-marketnintendopachterWiiTue, 29 Jul 2008 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Do you feel abandoned?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/wii-warm-up-do-you-feel-abandoned/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/wii-warm-up-do-you-feel-abandoned/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/29/wii-warm-up-do-you-feel-abandoned/#commentsFiled under:


Despite what Michael Pachter said yesterday, many actually do feel that Nintendo has forgotten their core gamers and are instead shifting the company's focus to more casual titles. But, the question is are you one of these doubters? Do you think that Nintendo doesn't care about making new Zelda and Mario games for you anymore, or are they simply too impressed with how wonderful stuff like Wii Fit does in sales? Do you think that they'll put out other installments in the franchises that we all know and love, but the games will be reworked so as to be unrecognizable when compared to previous iterations? Do you think this is all a big fuss over nothing?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Do you feel abandoned? originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcoregaerhardcoremichael-pachterpachterTue, 29 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pachter: Nintendo hasn't abandoned core gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/pachter-nintendo-hasnt-abandoned-core-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/pachter-nintendo-hasnt-abandoned-core-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/28/pachter-nintendo-hasnt-abandoned-core-gamers/#commentsFiled under:

If you were disappointed with Nintendo's E3 showing, then odds are you have a lot of like-minded folks to agree with you. A majority of the industry feels that Nintendo's showing at E3 wasn't really, uh ... good. If you're not looking for real games, then you were probably happy with Wii Music.

Pachter thinks that Nintendo hasn't abandoned the core gamers. He went on to say that "some hardcore gamers were critical of Nintendo's failure to announce new Mario and Zelda games at the show... we think that Nintendo focused upon building upon its formidable lead with the mass market, and do not consider the lack of major hard core game announcements to be an abandonment of its core." Interesting, but what do you all think? Did Nintendo abandon the core gamer or is the hope for a new Zelda and Mario game sometime in the future proof that they haven't forgotten about those core folk?

JoystiqPachter: Nintendo hasn't abandoned core gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscasualcorecore-gamere3hardcoremass-marketmichael-pachterpachterMon, 28 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq interview: Nintendo spins 'core' gamer appeal, more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/joystiq-interview-nintendo-spins-core-gamer-appeal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/joystiq-interview-nintendo-spins-core-gamer-appeal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/joystiq-interview-nintendo-spins-core-gamer-appeal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


E3's oddly intoxicating cocktail of libation and lack of sleep can often give those in attendance a unique perspective on the industry. However, as we wandered into Nintendo's coolly lit corner of the LA convention center, we were quickly reminded that this is an outfit with a perspective all of its own.

If the company's ambivalence during its own pre-E3 presser wasn't enough to convince us of Nintendo's indifference toward core gamers, our sit down during the show with Nintendo spokesman Charlie Scibetta proved that while the organization may preach that "hardcore" gamers play a critical role in Nintendo's strategy, its actions paint a different picture altogether.

Continue reading Joystiq interview: Nintendo spins 'core' gamer appeal, more

JoystiqJoystiq interview: Nintendo spins 'core' gamer appeal, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcoreDSE3e32008expandedhardcorejoystiqfeaturesnintendoWiiWed, 23 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Oh no he didn't: Microsoft man dubs Wii a novelty]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/oh-no-he-didnt-microsoft-man-dubs-wii-a-novelty/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/oh-no-he-didnt-microsoft-man-dubs-wii-a-novelty/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/07/oh-no-he-didnt-microsoft-man-dubs-wii-a-novelty/#commentsFiled under:

Pretty this won't be. In an interview with Gamasutra, Microsoft big cheese Aaron Greenberg ended up discussing the rivalry between the Xbox 360 and Wii, and in the process loftily dismissed Nintendo's console as a "novelty."

Greenberg compared Wii buyers to "the same people that buy a karaoke machine," and suggested that the console was simply "something [to] break out when people come over, and it's maybe a fun thing [...] They're not really buying it for games, they're just buying it as a novelty." From there, he adopts a more conciliatory tone, stating that Microsoft "[doesn't] really see the Wii as a direct competitor, we actually very much complement the Wii experience." Greenberg believes that Wii owners will eventually "graduate" to the Xbox 360.

While we can't ignore the 360's higher software tie-in ratio, Greenberg and his fellow naysayers seem to forget that the Wii hardware alone turns a profit for Nintendo, that it continues to thrash the pants off everything else out there, and that demand still outstrips supply in some parts of the world, despite the thing launching more than 18 months ago. The tiresome excuse of Wii being a "novelty" is beginning to wear horribly thin.

JoystiqOh no he didn't: Microsoft man dubs Wii a novelty originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaron-greenbergbusinesscasualhardcorenoveltyoh-no-you-didntxbox-360Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo says core gamers will get new titles at E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/nintendo-says-core-gamers-will-get-new-titles-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/nintendo-says-core-gamers-will-get-new-titles-at-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/nintendo-says-core-gamers-will-get-new-titles-at-e3/#commentsFiled under:



According to an article over at Gamepro, core gamers shouldn't fret going into E3 this year. Even though Nintendo just unleashed Wii Fit on us, the focus for their newest console isn't going to be entirely casual. "We recently announced the upcoming release of Mario Super Sluggers," said Marc Franklin, director of public relations at Nintendo, to Gamepro. "Additionally, we will be announcing several new titles that core gamers will be interested in around the time of E3."

This is likely to be music to the ears of fanboys who've wondered where stellar-looking titles such as Disaster: Day of Crisis have been for their beloved console. But, this goes against what Reggie said, in a good way. Where the resident ass-kicker, name-taker said we should expect one big title from Nintendo at E3, we're liking the idea of "several new titles" that Franklin said. Let's hope we get a bunch of new games next month when the show goes down!

[Thanks, Sonic_13!]

JoystiqNintendo says core gamers will get new titles at E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballcasualdisasterdisaster-day-of-crisise3e3-2008e308e32008hardcoremario-super-sluggersreggiereggie-fils-aimeTue, 17 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo promises 'core' gamers will be happy with E3 showing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/nintendo-promises-core-gamers-will-be-happy-with-e3-showing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/nintendo-promises-core-gamers-will-be-happy-with-e3-showing/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/nintendo-promises-core-gamers-will-be-happy-with-e3-showing/#commentsFiled under: ,


Marc Franklin, director of public relations at Nintendo, tells GamePro that "core gamers" will be interested in what the company has in store for E3. Although Franklin mentions Mario Super Sluggers (we can sense Europe going into fever pitch!), he gives very little detail on what else the company has planned.

There's been plenty of speculation about what Nintendo may reveal, but Franklin's comments come as Nintendo's more casual oriented Wii Fit storms the sales charts and a certain executive takes a jab at the Nintendo faithful. Franklin concludes that third-party publishers are rolling out more titles as they realize the "Wii is the current platform of choice in this generation." True, but these rollouts don't always equal payoffs. We're looking at you, Boom Blox.

JoystiqNintendo promises 'core' gamers will be happy with E3 showing originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coree3e3-2008franklinhardcorenintendoWiiTue, 17 Jun 2008 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft forum moderator explains forthcoming shovelware]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/ubisoft-forum-moderator-explains-forthcoming-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/ubisoft-forum-moderator-explains-forthcoming-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/ubisoft-forum-moderator-explains-forthcoming-shovelware/#commentsFiled under:



It was only a few months ago that Ubisoft's Yves Guillemot was promising us all "Nintendo-like quality" games. Since then, the company has announced Raving Rabbids TV Party, Babies Party, Shaun White Snowboarding, and much, much less. It's a line-up that has generated only ripples of laughter on the internetz, rather than tremors of fear in Kyoto.

The snickering is not limited to NeoGAF. Ubisoft's own forums have come under attack from those who are disillusioned by the company's planned Wii output, so much so that UK Forum Manager "Raide" recently had to ride to Ubi's defense. The gist of his argument seems to be: because the best-selling games on the Wii aren't necessarily the best games, it's actually okay for Ubisoft to release stuff that, well, doesn't have "Nintendo-like quality."

"If you look at the most successful Wii games, they are not amazing new AAA games, they are predominantly family-orientated games/alternative games," explained Raide, adding that Ubisoft is pursuing the casual dollar because "parents who are buying a console for their children do not really care about Prince of Persia, Rainbow Six or Far Cry on the box."

On one level, Raide's logic is fairly sound; after all, games targeted at the casual sector do sell well (particularly in the UK and Europe), and it's understandable that Ubisoft has shareholders to keep happy. But promising higher quality Wii games and singularly failing to deliver on that pledge? That's just weak. Hit the "Source" link below for Raide's full defense.



[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqUbisoft forum moderator explains forthcoming shovelware originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiencebabiesbabies-partycasualhardcoremehwarerabbidsraving-rabbidsshaun-whiteshaun-white-snowboar...shovelwaresnowboardingsportsubisoftMon, 02 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Feeling the burn edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/wrup-feeling-the-burn-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/wrup-feeling-the-burn-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/wrup-feeling-the-burn-edition/#commentsFiled under:


This week's big release is none other than Wii Fit. It's not only something many of you diehard Wii fans have been looking forward to, but also the mainstream public. Mothers and kids, grandparents and siblings, people from all walks of life have raised an eyebrow and perked their ears up after hearing about it. People are down with the fitness bundle.

Are you? Did you get your copy of Wii Fit yet? Are you planning on getting in some quality workout time this weekend? Are you playing something else? What are you playing?

Gallery: Unwrapping Wii Fit

The box arrives!Batteries

JoystiqWRUP: Feeling the burn edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 May 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualexerciseexergamingfitnesshardcoremainstreamwii-fitFri, 23 May 2008 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[EA Sports: Hardcore sports fans shouldn't fear]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/ea-sports-hardcore-sports-fan-shouldnt-fear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/ea-sports-hardcore-sports-fan-shouldnt-fear/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/ea-sports-hardcore-sports-fan-shouldnt-fear/#commentsFiled under:


With all the talk about the EA Sports division creating more accessible sports titles for Wii gamers, many of the fans who've enjoyed the respective sports franchise's innovations over the years might have gotten a tad bit scared. With all this focus on catering to the needs of the Wii's casual crowd, which is where the money is, would the more hardcore sports nuts be left in the dust? The senior director of brand marketing at EA Sports, Reg Hamlett, says the company hasn't forgotten about those folks.

"Hardcore fans are our base and our biggest fans," commented Hamlett. "Their opinions and seal of approval are of extreme importance to us. That said, the All-Play brand is aimed at those consumers who seek to leverage the unique attributes of the Wii and play a sports game that utilizes these unique features." So, it would seem, those of you looking forward to the option of playing with more casual controls, yet immersed in the same tried-and-true form of the respective sport, can rest assured. Apparently, EA Sports won't be dumbing down any of its big sports titles. But, with the introduction of Facebreaker, the opportunity for EA Sports to develop spin-off titles in that tone might be one too great for the company to ignore.

JoystiqEA Sports: Hardcore sports fans shouldn't fear originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 May 2008 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualeaea-sportselectronic-artshardcoresportsFri, 23 May 2008 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[NoE: 'There is no casual gaming']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/noe-there-is-no-casual-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/noe-there-is-no-casual-gaming/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/15/noe-there-is-no-casual-gaming/#commentsFiled under:

Over in Europe, the senior marketing director, Laurent Fischer, says that the casual gamer is none other than a myth? Really, Laurent? For him, apparently, it's all black and white, with a very clear distinction between gamer and non-gamer and no gray area between.

"For me, you are a gamer or non-gamer," he says. "I think most of you know that you can spend ten or twenty hours on an internet flash game and have not realised. The guy who plays these games regularly - he's a core gamer." Laurent went on further to explain his point, stating "I don't like this word casual so much. Because people consider that casual needs to be something easy. If you're good at any game you can play at a high difficulty level. Take Tetris. There is incredible gameplay, it's very simple, very easy to understand, but it's also very different. I think a game can be a light enough to enjoy and for all gamers to become a core gamer on it."

When looking over his comments, it's kind of an "in the eye of the beholder" thing. For us, yes, we think there is casual gaming and it's fairly defined what is and isn't a casual title. He doesn't agree with us, though, because, to him, there "is no casual gaming. There is just a different way to play."

JoystiqNoE: 'There is no casual gaming' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 May 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualcasual-gamereuropehardcorehardcore-gamerlaurent-fischermarketingnintendo-europeThu, 15 May 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Bridging the gap]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/wii-warm-up-bridging-the-gap/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/wii-warm-up-bridging-the-gap/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/wii-warm-up-bridging-the-gap/#commentsFiled under:

One of our readers sent in this interesting article about the rise of Rock Band parties, and in his e-mail, Dan said that he felt Nintendo was on the right track with their games-for-everyone strategy. While he and his friends -- the force behind the parties mentioned in the article -- were playing Rock Band on other systems, obviously, he felt that one game was similar to many of Nintendo's current offerings. That is, it's a game that brings everyone together, whether they're into those "vidya games" or not.

He mentioned that he spends time playing WarioWare: Smooth Moves and Super Mario Galaxy with some of the new gamers in his life, gamers who were picking up the Wii, and that experience is enriching his gaming life as a whole. He can have it all -- time with more "hardcore" games, and time with his friends, just having a good time, and Nintendo is making that easier and more welcoming.

We wanted to pass along his story not only because, hey, we agree with him when he says Rock Band for the Wii is a sadly lesser entity, but also because we have to agree. Holing up for hours to get through one tough stage in the hardest of hardcore games is fun, but it's also fun to host a drunken tennis tournament or pass a few hours with a group of friends and WarioWare: Smooth Moves. But there's a trade-off: some of the traditional games are getting a little easier and a little more casual-friendly. For some of us, that's not a problem ... while others see it as a possible death knell for the hardcore niche title, and that's what we want to discuss this morning. Is the trade-off worth it? Can the hard modes in casual-friendly games keep things interesting for the rest of us?

[Thanks, Dan!]

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Bridging the gap originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualhardcoreMon, 21 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega: Hardcore gamers shouldn't be 'excommunicated' from Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-hardcore-gamers-shouldnt-be-excommunicated-from-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-hardcore-gamers-shouldnt-be-excommunicated-from-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-hardcore-gamers-shouldnt-be-excommunicated-from-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

After lauding its casual market domination with Mario & Sonic at the Olympics, Sega of America President Simon Jeffrey decided to switch gears, discussing with GameDaily the merits of hardcore gaming on the Wii. In short, Jeffrey feels that Western publishers are making a mistake by ignoring the hardcore gamers who own a Wii.

Unfortunately, other than providing a tantalizing and hypothetical (i.e. not happening) assertion that Condemned would have been great to play with the Wii remote, Jeffrey made no clear commitments to release titles appealing to the hardcore crowd, instead saying, "There's no reason why [hardcore gamers] should be excluded or excommunicated from the Nintendo world," Jeffrey said. Our only hope is that "hardcore" to Sega doesn't mean "let's make a darker Sonic and give him a gun."

JoystiqSega: Hardcore gamers shouldn't be 'excommunicated' from Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualhardcoresegasimon-jeffreyThu, 06 Mar 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega: Don't forget about the hardcore gamers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-dont-forget-about-the-hardcore-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-dont-forget-about-the-hardcore-gamers/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/sega-dont-forget-about-the-hardcore-gamers/#commentsFiled under:

Thank you.

Look, we here at Wii Fanboy love the Wii and often criticize it because, frankly, we expect nothing but the best. If nobody will step up and address certain concerns, then we will. It's our duty to present you with the news, but it's also our duty to be honest and objective with what we see. Considering that, we're not too happy with the amount of "hardcore" games available on Nintendo's latest console.

They've never been one to present oodles and oodles of more serious titles on their consoles, compared to their competition, but with recent games that have changed our life like No More Heroes and Zack & Wiki, we crave more long-lasting games that we can sit down with for more than a half-hour and enjoy. It's just how we feel.

And it would appear Sega of America president Simon Jeffery feels the same way. He thinks it's a mistake for western developers to ignore the hardcore gamers on the Wii, instead flooding the market with tons of casual titles that appeal to a wider demographic. "There's no reason why [hardcore gamers] should be excluded or excommunicated from the Nintendo world," he commented. We agree.

We're excited for Wii Fit and we're happy the console is getting the third-party support it deserves, but we want more. Maybe we're just too selfish?

JoystiqSega: Don't forget about the hardcore gamers originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualhardcoresegasega-of-americasimon-jeffreyThu, 06 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Suda 51 clarifies Wii remarks on third-party sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/suda-51-clarifies-wii-remarks-on-third-party-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/suda-51-clarifies-wii-remarks-on-third-party-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/22/suda-51-clarifies-wii-remarks-on-third-party-sales/#commentsFiled under: , ,


No More Heroes creator Suda 51 wants to clarify a few comments. In a post on Grasshopper Manufacturer's website (click on "What's New"), the developer points out what he considers is a "misquote" in an interview with CVG. In response to a question concerning the sales of No More Heroes in Japan, Suda 51 said, "Whilst the sales weren't as high as I hoped, other titles for Wii aren't selling so well either. Only Nintendo titles are doing well," adding that this is the case outside of Japan, too.

The clarification posted asserts that "unlike a lot of Nintendo Wii titles currently available, [NMH] is the kind of product which will attract a different kind of consumer to the hardware, i.e. gamers who are looking for a different genre to the products which have been successful on this platform thus far." That "different kind of consumer" we're guessing is a more hardcore gamer, given comments earlier in the CVG interview where he said, "I wasn't expecting that Wii would be a console targeted only at non-gamers. I expected more games for hardcore gamers." Obviously, he doesn't want to comment on the sales of other third-party titles, but do you think he might have a point?

For those looking for a reportedly more hardcore Wii experience, No More Heroes comes out today in North America.

JoystiqSuda 51 clarifies Wii remarks on third-party sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualgrasshopperhardcoreno-more-heroesnomoreheroessuda-51suda51WiiTue, 22 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata on growing the market]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/iwata-on-growing-the-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/iwata-on-growing-the-market/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/iwata-on-growing-the-market/#commentsFiled under:

The so-called "hardcore gamer" contingent may see any move away from better graphics and story as something of a betrayal, but in a recent interview, Nintendo's Satoru Iwata makes an interesting -- and obvious -- point. "Targeting highly detailed graphics and epic stories are options, and in that situation, the gamer population doesn't increase," Iwata said, according to Asahi.com, and there's a lot of truth to those words. There are many ways to approach video games, and the epic story/epic visuals is one way. It's been the most common path to improvement in the gaming industry over the past few years -- and it wasn't really growing the market. So Nintendo, in an effort to bring in all new gamers, tried out some different options, and thus, we have Wii Sports (and more).

Iwata also says that many people shy away from gaming (or did) because so many games are a huge timesink, and here we agree. Listen, we play games like there's no tomorrow and even we think there's just not enough hours in the day for everything. Sometimes you want to plop down for five minutes and take a breather, and there are a lot of great options for that on the Wii and the DS. Apparently, people who weren't gamers felt a similar need for mental breaks, and that contributed to the rousing success of Nintendo's latest projects.

Does this mean that Nintendo will abandon the older core audience? As we've said before, no, we don't think so. Just as with the strong visual approach, the pick-up-and-play mentality is only another option. Unfortunately, it's one that makes for a lot of cheap games for developers, but we've seen enough goodness on the Wii that we're confident there will be much, much more.

[Via Develop and Kotaku]

JoystiqIwata on growing the market originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>casualexpansionhardcoremarketsatoru-iwataMon, 07 Jan 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gifts for us (or people like us)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/gifts-for-us-or-people-like-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/gifts-for-us-or-people-like-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/06/gifts-for-us-or-people-like-us/#commentsFiled under:



Gaming sites are inundated with holiday gift guides at the end of the year, listing the best and most popular games that everyone pretty much already has (or knows about). Well, we're not going in for that this year. Our gift guide will help you find the best gifts in categories the other sites won't cover -- because we just made them up.

Of course we recommend buying DS games and accessories for everyone on your shopping list -- whether they want them or not. But, ironically, the hardest people to give the gift of DS are the people who love the DS the most -- people who live the DS. In a word, us. Game bloggers. Well, not us specifically, but people like us who are far too enthusiastic about the Nintendo DS.

We're so nuts about the DS that we devote most of our lives to talking about it. We know pretty much everything out there, and we spend entirely too much time building our collections. We're emblematic of exactly the kind of brutally insane people for whom it's nearly impossible to shop. That's why we've put together this handy guide to the kind of stuff we would love, but wouldn't necessarily think to buy ourselves. Not because we want you to buy gifts for us, although we certainly won't stop you if you think we deserve a little token of appreciation.

See what we did there? We've given you the gift of an obvious opening through which to insult us! 'Tis the season!

Continue reading Gifts for us (or people like us)

JoystiqGifts for us (or people like us) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Actionanti-guideContraContra-4contra4dokidokimajoshinpangame-center-cxhardcoreholidashjoystiqfeaturesKonamiRun-and-GunshockspyroWayForward-TechnologieszeldaThu, 06 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Do complex games face an uncertain future on the Wii?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/do-complex-games-face-an-uncertain-future-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/do-complex-games-face-an-uncertain-future-on-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/15/do-complex-games-face-an-uncertain-future-on-the-wii/#commentsFiled under:

During its first four days on sale in the US, Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure sold approximately 30,000 copies. A week later, it had added 15,000 to that total. Hardly breathtaking figures in a nation with over 3.7 million Wiis in its bedrooms and living rooms, and the game also struggled to leave a mark in its homeland, where it is known as Takarajima Z: Barbaros no Hihou. There's no doubt about it: Capcom's splendid piratey adventure has, as much as it saddens us, flopped.

On the face of it, the game's commercial failure might seem odd. After all, Zack & Wiki earned eye-catching scores from a number of reviewers, while IGN's Matt Casamassina loved it so much, he frothed and raved about it non-stop for four months, before slapping a 90% on it come review time. Its bright, attractive visuals, cute character design, and puzzley action were seemingly the perfect ingredients for massmarket appeal. Ultimately however, it sank faster than a holed galleon.

Continue reading Do complex games face an uncertain future on the Wii?

JoystiqDo complex games face an uncertain future on the Wii? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Capcomhardcorehironobu-takeshitajoystiqfeaturesmario-party-8Salessuper-mario-galaxysupermariogalaxyZack-and-WikiZack-and-Wiki-Quest-for-Barbaros-TreasureThu, 15 Nov 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Iwata promises Nintendo will continue to print money]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/iwata-promises-nintendo-will-continue-to-print-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/iwata-promises-nintendo-will-continue-to-print-money/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/06/iwata-promises-nintendo-will-continue-to-print-money/#commentsFiled under:

Nintendo may be top dog, but if Satoru Iwata has anything to say about it, no one in the company will be wasting time basking in the glow of success. With all their recent success, he told Newsweek's N'Gai Croal way back at E3, the company's biggest challenge right now is pretty basic: don't let it get to them. "I believe my most important role right now is to prevent Nintendo from being in a company where people say, 'Oh, Nintendo is arrogant,' 'Nintendo has let its guard down,' or 'Nintendo has lost its challenging spirit.' We want to avoid all of the pitfalls that can come from losing one's momentum." It's a very sensible goal, and we've seen this sort of determination from Iwata before.

Though most of the article is about the new kid on the block, Iwata makes a lot of comparisons to the cycle of the DS, particularly in regard to the increase of third party titles relative to Nintendo's own games. And hey, if you have to follow anyone, the DS has certainly set up an excellent model!

One of the more interesting parts of the interview reveals some of the motivation behind a strategy many "hardcore" gamers are decrying: Nintendo's focus on "games for everyone." Iwata believes that part of the reason the recent Zelda title, Twilight Princess, didn't do as well in Japan as he'd hoped was due to a perception that the game was too difficult for many gamers. But Twilight Princess continues to sell there well after release, so obviously the PR machine's more recent focus has helped to change the game's reputation. Iwata also pressed the point about market expansion both here, as it relates to the Wii, gamers of all types, and the untapped hordes waiting to become gamers, but also in light of the DS and Nintendo's success there in bringing gaming to the masses. We can't wait to get our hands on Phantom Hourglass to see all of this put to the test ... and perhaps we'll convince some non-gaming friends to give it a try as well.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqIwata promises Nintendo will continue to print money originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hardcorephantomhourglassSatoruIwatathirpartyzeldaThu, 06 Sep 2007 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Alpha moms not sympathetic to hardcore gamers' plight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/alpha-moms-not-sympathetic-to-hardcore-gamers-plight/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/alpha-moms-not-sympathetic-to-hardcore-gamers-plight/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/04/alpha-moms-not-sympathetic-to-hardcore-gamers-plight/#commentsJenny Lauck and Stefania Pomponi Butler, both of them "Alpha Moms (influential matriarchs)" and Wii Ambassadors, sat down with Electronic Gaming Monthly's podcast crew to chat about Nintendo's efforts to attract mothers to its consoles. Though they didn't take to the Nintendo DS, both women were eager to talk about how much they enjoyed titles like Cooking Mama, Wii Play, and, yes, Boogie.

When asked about the often touted complaint that casual releases like Wii Fit and Wii Sports are pulling resources and funding away from games meant for the hardcore audience, Ms. Lauck reasoned, "I don't think developers are going to start ignoring them. I think there's definite room ... for both markets."

She continued the argument on her blog with an analogy that puts these irrational fears into perspective: "I think studios should stop making lame sitcoms and focus solely on new episodes of Lost, for example. But you know what? There's a market for sitcoms, and even though I'm a hard-core supporter of Lost, there are other genres out there that other people watch."

Read - She Just Wouldn't Shut Up
Read - EGM LIVE 09/03/2007 Podcast

JoystiqAlpha moms not sympathetic to hardcore gamers' plight originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambassadorcasualegmhardcoremomwiifitTue, 04 Sep 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Unexpected hardcore gamer in the family]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/unexpected-hardcore-gamer-in-the-family/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/unexpected-hardcore-gamer-in-the-family/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/01/unexpected-hardcore-gamer-in-the-family/#commentsFiled under:


It's a long weekend in the States, it's time to take it down a notch. Earlier this week we got an email from reader Herlich Aguiluz, who told us the story of how his wife woke him up Wednesday morning concerned that their seven-year-old son was awake while "it was still dark." When Aguiluz spoke to his son in the morning it turned out the kid woke up at 1AM and was playing Metroid Prime 3: Corruption all night until his mother came down to fix breakfast. Aguiluz says, "I realized that while my wife was mad at what happened, I was proud and envious at the same time. Proud because I see my gamer-self in him, and envious because it used to be me who stayed up for a new game."

This blogger can remember waking up more than one time at 3AM as a kid to find his mother playing Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV) in the living room -- later on the same thing happened with Final Fantasy III. It's very strange to wake up to the sound of Final Fantasy battle music, walk into the living room and be asked, "What are you doing up?" When that question was obviously a two-way street.

So, let's open it up. Anybody else have those unexpected gamer moments with a family member?

JoystiqUnexpected hardcore gamer in the family originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturefamilygamershardcoreunexpectedSat, 01 Sep 2007 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[IGN dislikes MySims, seems to have never played Animal Crossing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/12/ign-dislikes-mysims-seems-to-have-never-played-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/12/ign-dislikes-mysims-seems-to-have-never-played-animal-crossing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/12/ign-dislikes-mysims-seems-to-have-never-played-animal-crossing/#commentsFiled under:


Maybe it's us. Maybe we're the ones who just don't get it. But the last time we checked, lots of Nintendo fans enjoy cuteness (hi2u, Kirby!) and the look of Miis, and it doesn't mean we magically became casual gamers overnight. However, to hear IGN tell it, a fondness for anything cute obviously means it's family-friendly ... which these days, seems to be code for "non-hardcore." IGN confirms that theory when, at the bottom of their latest MySims preview -- which is as devoid of actual content as they claim the game to be -- they say, "This isn't likely to be a game that appeals to hardcore gamers, but families will probably enjoy some innocent fun in a creative environment that will provide some interesting challenges and problem solving."

Did we maybe miss a memo about how games can't be fun? Because we like to think of ourselves as pretty hardcore -- we like to sweat and toil and swear our way through hours and hours of gaming of all types -- but we also like to have fun. If MySims is fun, how is it somehow only okay for families and not "real" gamers? The preview doesn't deny the fun factor. And there's no age limit on being a hardcore gamer. So what gives?

We can only guess that the folks at IGN have never heard of a little game called Animal Crossing ... or maybe they just assume that only children want to beat up Tom Nook when he starts asking for his mortgage payments. After all, seems that MySims is pretty much Animal Crossing that trades the animals in for more building elements, and nothing in their preview contradicts that image ... except their idea that "hardcore gamers" won't like it. Personally, we're looking forward to giving it a try. The building elements of The Sims were always fun, and perhaps this new spin will make the actual gameplay more engaging.

JoystiqIGN dislikes MySims, seems to have never played Animal Crossing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal crossingAnimalCrossingcasualeaelecronic artsElecronicArtshardcoreignmysimspreviewsimulationThu, 12 Jul 2007 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Classifying gamers' responses to the hypothetical 'Wii bubble']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/classifying-gamers-responses-to-the-hypothetical-wii-bubble/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/classifying-gamers-responses-to-the-hypothetical-wii-bubble/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/11/classifying-gamers-responses-to-the-hypothetical-wii-bubble/#commentsFiled under:

In response to remarks from Steven Kent to USA Today predicting an upcoming Wii bubble burst-- an end to its massive popularity, brought on by a high price relative to its power, Game|Life's Chris Kohler wrote a brilliant editorial looking at what he sees as the four different kinds of gamers (in terms of casual-to-hardcore) and how such a bubble burst would affect them.

Most interestingly, Kohler defines the "casual gamer" not as we do now (non-gamers who enjoy some Bejeweled) but as the majority of the gaming public who buys systems following price drops and owns two or three games. The grandmas and such fit into the "expanded audience." The other two categories, "hardcore gamer" and "kid" are much easier to define.

In Kohler's view, the only audience whose interest in the Wii would be affected by a "bubble burst" would be the casual gamers, who may be more willing to respond to an Xbox 360 price drop than an underpowered Wii. Unless, of course, the Wii gets a bunch of mass-market games.

JoystiqClassifying gamers' responses to the hypothetical 'Wii bubble' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bubblebusinesscasualeditorialhardcorenintendonintendo wiiNintendoWiiopinionsaleswiiMon, 11 Jun 2007 14:25:00 EST