Warlock
08-17-2002, 12:09 AM
Just thought you guys would like to read this.. I'm pretty sure it's insider locked:
http://cube.ign.com/articles/368/368064p1.html
-------------------------------------------
Nintendo Fanboy: Volume 1
The Nintendo editors ask the question, is the Big 'N' crazy?
August 16, 2002 - Welcome to Nintendo Fanboy, a column in which all of IGN's Nintendo-loving editors, Matt Casamassina, Fran Mirabella, Craig Harris, Peer Schneider and Cory Lewis dish out their opinions on the hottest topics related to the company. From GameCube software on the way to Nintendo's strategic game plan, you can rest assured that at one point or another we'll cover it -- and we'll do so from a Nintendo fan's perspective.
Nintendo Fanboy is designed to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what the editors really think of the software and moves Nintendo is making, and in a very laid back way. So grab a seat, kick up your feet and read on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's topic, The Obvious First Question: Is Nintendo Crazy?
Matt responds: I think so, yes.
Cory responds: Crazy with the cheese wiz.
Fran responds: Way to kick things off Matt. Our readers love those detailed, backed opinions of yours.
To answer this question, we have to consider what portion of Nintendo we're talking about. Is NCL crazy? Is NOA insane? Or is it the two together that have just the right chemistry to be classified as nuts. Personally, and in the most serious way, I don't think Nintendo is crazy. It does crazy things, but the company manages to do quite well when it comes to business.
I think as fans of the company -- people who have been bred on its software -- it's hard not to accuse them of being downright maniacal when they do the things they do. Right now, my biggest example of this is what Nintendo has done with marketing the GameCube and its software.
Okay, so it kicked things off pretty decently. The lineup was strong, even if it was missing a really strong and wide-reaching title like Mario. The "cool" commercials were clearly aimed at an edgier audience. This was nice to see, as these are the people spending the money.
At the time, I was only semi-concerned with the choice to even recognize the purple lunch-box design. I reasoned that, just as with the N64, the games will sell the console. That's largely true, but Nintendo forgets that the general consumer audience has changed drastically. Indeed, I think it was crazy to even release the purple GameCube for launch. The image of the console has been produced by its wake.
I walk into a local retail store and see people ogling over the Xbox and PS2, regardless of the games. They're just looking at the box, and then I'll hear them say something like, "What games are good for these."
This in particular is really frustrating to see. I think Nintendo was crazy and downright arrogant to think it could straddle the fence between purple and black. It's a metaphor for the company's thought process.
It just isn't sane. Games like GTA, Halo, and Medal of Honor sell through the roof for a reason. Only now is Nintendo just beginning to pick up the pace with a good selection ranging from Mature to Everyone, but the image of GCN has certainly been sullied by this fit of insanity.
Matt responds: Now, now, Franny. You bought yourself a Purple GameCube, and a black one, so the strategy seems to have worked a little. More importantly, though, why did I feel it necessary to capitalize the world Purple (there, I've done it again!) and not black? Moving on...
In all seriousness, I think Nintendo is only partially insane. It's like one chunk of the company's collective brain has been injected with insanity juice. The other parts seem to function normally on an individual level, but when a task requires multiple portions of the brain to perform then things start to go a little haywire. Before you know it Nintendo has fallen to the ground and is seizuring uncontrollably.
I mean, "clean is better than dirty"? Don't make me sing it or I will. Who could possibly argue that Nintendo of America was not totally and completely, mouth-frothingly out of its head when it greenlighted that campaign? I can picture some vegetable-ized executive smiling with both thumbs up: "Yep. That's what we wanted to convey. That's our best commercial yet. No gamer will be able to resist."
I'm not saying, by the way and matter of fact, that Super Mario Sunshine won't be a big seller. Quite the opposite. But its sales will have little to do with the presentation of that commercial.
It's a weird, multiple personality-type brain disorder though. One second NOA is debuting the now-infamous Sunshine commercial and the next NCL is releasing a super-slicked spot that features first video of Final Fantasy for the console. You might then think that it's NOA that's gone bonkers and not the Japanese head. But I don't think so. Think back to the release of GameCube in Japan, for instance. No promotion whatsoever. No major launch game. It's as if NCL forgot its console was shipping. That is a definite sign of company insanity.
It's a widespread problem for sure, but I think it can be treated with the proper medicine.
Craig responds: Guys, they were nuts way before the GameCube. Sheesh, Virtual Boy was a doomed product from the start...the company's completely disavowed any knowledge that the system ever existed.
But, hmm...what specifically are they insane about this time? That stupid ad for Super Mario Sunshine? As bad as it was, it made you remember the product. Car commercials smear together because they all have the same image...but then, *WHAM* you've got a fruity Mario jingle. It's different. And memorable.
Crazy? Nah... At least on the GBA side of things, they're doing good stuff...reducing the cost of games for developers, giving gamers a large choice of system colors (although Japan still has the lead here). The only thing that they really need to do is get a dang light on the screen, and there'd be nothing to complain about.
Most of the insanity comes from the console side. The retarded online plan (or lack thereof) immediately comes to mind.
Eh, I don't think it's time for the corporate-sized strait-jackets quite yet.
Cory responds: Oh contraire, Mr. Crankosaurus. I say that it's way too late for corporate-sized straitjackets. Here's the problem, fellas:
Nintendo is beyond crazy -- it's straight up delusional.
Nintendo is living in a fantasy world, where making any kind of a profit equates to dominating the videogame industry. It's so happy with its quarterly earnings reports that it feels comfortable with half-assed marketing campaigns and its minimalist software approach. It feels no pressure from the building steam of the Xbox and continued supremacy of the PS2. Why? Because it continues to make a profit.
Here's the bottom line: as long as the company continues to keep its head above the water, it's going to continue running things as if it has nothing to worry about. Yes, this equates to more lame, 15-second Mario commercials that don't attempt to trumpet the glorious return of Mario so much as simply implant a catchy jingle in your head. To me, this kind of delusional thinking translates to straight arrogance and unwarranted pride. "Everyone knows and loves Mario -- there's no need to waste money promoting him." Bah. The '80s are over, Nintendo. Here in the real world, Sony and Microsoft are doing everything they can to steal your crown while you let Mario drown in his own puddle of water.
I hate to say this, but I want Nintendo to suffer. I want it to feel the financial sting of a placing third in the online race. I want it to cry out from the corner after getting sucker punched in the gut by sloppy third-party support. I want Nintendo to get slapped in the face with lackluster Mario sales. Dammit, I want my old Nintendo back, and the only way I see it happening anytime soon is to toss a cold bucket of water on its face.
(sorry for the double post, there is a character limit :()
http://cube.ign.com/articles/368/368064p1.html
-------------------------------------------
Nintendo Fanboy: Volume 1
The Nintendo editors ask the question, is the Big 'N' crazy?
August 16, 2002 - Welcome to Nintendo Fanboy, a column in which all of IGN's Nintendo-loving editors, Matt Casamassina, Fran Mirabella, Craig Harris, Peer Schneider and Cory Lewis dish out their opinions on the hottest topics related to the company. From GameCube software on the way to Nintendo's strategic game plan, you can rest assured that at one point or another we'll cover it -- and we'll do so from a Nintendo fan's perspective.
Nintendo Fanboy is designed to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what the editors really think of the software and moves Nintendo is making, and in a very laid back way. So grab a seat, kick up your feet and read on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This week's topic, The Obvious First Question: Is Nintendo Crazy?
Matt responds: I think so, yes.
Cory responds: Crazy with the cheese wiz.
Fran responds: Way to kick things off Matt. Our readers love those detailed, backed opinions of yours.
To answer this question, we have to consider what portion of Nintendo we're talking about. Is NCL crazy? Is NOA insane? Or is it the two together that have just the right chemistry to be classified as nuts. Personally, and in the most serious way, I don't think Nintendo is crazy. It does crazy things, but the company manages to do quite well when it comes to business.
I think as fans of the company -- people who have been bred on its software -- it's hard not to accuse them of being downright maniacal when they do the things they do. Right now, my biggest example of this is what Nintendo has done with marketing the GameCube and its software.
Okay, so it kicked things off pretty decently. The lineup was strong, even if it was missing a really strong and wide-reaching title like Mario. The "cool" commercials were clearly aimed at an edgier audience. This was nice to see, as these are the people spending the money.
At the time, I was only semi-concerned with the choice to even recognize the purple lunch-box design. I reasoned that, just as with the N64, the games will sell the console. That's largely true, but Nintendo forgets that the general consumer audience has changed drastically. Indeed, I think it was crazy to even release the purple GameCube for launch. The image of the console has been produced by its wake.
I walk into a local retail store and see people ogling over the Xbox and PS2, regardless of the games. They're just looking at the box, and then I'll hear them say something like, "What games are good for these."
This in particular is really frustrating to see. I think Nintendo was crazy and downright arrogant to think it could straddle the fence between purple and black. It's a metaphor for the company's thought process.
It just isn't sane. Games like GTA, Halo, and Medal of Honor sell through the roof for a reason. Only now is Nintendo just beginning to pick up the pace with a good selection ranging from Mature to Everyone, but the image of GCN has certainly been sullied by this fit of insanity.
Matt responds: Now, now, Franny. You bought yourself a Purple GameCube, and a black one, so the strategy seems to have worked a little. More importantly, though, why did I feel it necessary to capitalize the world Purple (there, I've done it again!) and not black? Moving on...
In all seriousness, I think Nintendo is only partially insane. It's like one chunk of the company's collective brain has been injected with insanity juice. The other parts seem to function normally on an individual level, but when a task requires multiple portions of the brain to perform then things start to go a little haywire. Before you know it Nintendo has fallen to the ground and is seizuring uncontrollably.
I mean, "clean is better than dirty"? Don't make me sing it or I will. Who could possibly argue that Nintendo of America was not totally and completely, mouth-frothingly out of its head when it greenlighted that campaign? I can picture some vegetable-ized executive smiling with both thumbs up: "Yep. That's what we wanted to convey. That's our best commercial yet. No gamer will be able to resist."
I'm not saying, by the way and matter of fact, that Super Mario Sunshine won't be a big seller. Quite the opposite. But its sales will have little to do with the presentation of that commercial.
It's a weird, multiple personality-type brain disorder though. One second NOA is debuting the now-infamous Sunshine commercial and the next NCL is releasing a super-slicked spot that features first video of Final Fantasy for the console. You might then think that it's NOA that's gone bonkers and not the Japanese head. But I don't think so. Think back to the release of GameCube in Japan, for instance. No promotion whatsoever. No major launch game. It's as if NCL forgot its console was shipping. That is a definite sign of company insanity.
It's a widespread problem for sure, but I think it can be treated with the proper medicine.
Craig responds: Guys, they were nuts way before the GameCube. Sheesh, Virtual Boy was a doomed product from the start...the company's completely disavowed any knowledge that the system ever existed.
But, hmm...what specifically are they insane about this time? That stupid ad for Super Mario Sunshine? As bad as it was, it made you remember the product. Car commercials smear together because they all have the same image...but then, *WHAM* you've got a fruity Mario jingle. It's different. And memorable.
Crazy? Nah... At least on the GBA side of things, they're doing good stuff...reducing the cost of games for developers, giving gamers a large choice of system colors (although Japan still has the lead here). The only thing that they really need to do is get a dang light on the screen, and there'd be nothing to complain about.
Most of the insanity comes from the console side. The retarded online plan (or lack thereof) immediately comes to mind.
Eh, I don't think it's time for the corporate-sized strait-jackets quite yet.
Cory responds: Oh contraire, Mr. Crankosaurus. I say that it's way too late for corporate-sized straitjackets. Here's the problem, fellas:
Nintendo is beyond crazy -- it's straight up delusional.
Nintendo is living in a fantasy world, where making any kind of a profit equates to dominating the videogame industry. It's so happy with its quarterly earnings reports that it feels comfortable with half-assed marketing campaigns and its minimalist software approach. It feels no pressure from the building steam of the Xbox and continued supremacy of the PS2. Why? Because it continues to make a profit.
Here's the bottom line: as long as the company continues to keep its head above the water, it's going to continue running things as if it has nothing to worry about. Yes, this equates to more lame, 15-second Mario commercials that don't attempt to trumpet the glorious return of Mario so much as simply implant a catchy jingle in your head. To me, this kind of delusional thinking translates to straight arrogance and unwarranted pride. "Everyone knows and loves Mario -- there's no need to waste money promoting him." Bah. The '80s are over, Nintendo. Here in the real world, Sony and Microsoft are doing everything they can to steal your crown while you let Mario drown in his own puddle of water.
I hate to say this, but I want Nintendo to suffer. I want it to feel the financial sting of a placing third in the online race. I want it to cry out from the corner after getting sucker punched in the gut by sloppy third-party support. I want Nintendo to get slapped in the face with lackluster Mario sales. Dammit, I want my old Nintendo back, and the only way I see it happening anytime soon is to toss a cold bucket of water on its face.
(sorry for the double post, there is a character limit :()