Nintendo Now: It's current state.

Lately, it seems all these industry “analysts” have been pounding us with their numbers. These numbers supposedly show the GameCube losing steam in 2003, and the X-box surpassing Nintendo. Some have even been ignorant enough to recommend that Nintendo drop out of the hardware business. Now, throughout all the rumors and reports. One thing has been clear. I love Nintendo. I love the games they produce; they are without a doubt the most amazing pieces of software one can play. That’s not the fanboy-ism. That’s a fact.

I find myself, more than ever, not even caring what “place” Nintendo is in. As long as they keep making the games they make, I’ll be happy. Be they first, second or third. I simply don’t care. Sure, I admit, it would be a great thing to see Nintendo rise up and crush Sony, if only for that nostalgic feeling I’d get. Reminiscent of the SNES days, when Nintendo was on top. But in the big picture, it matters not.

As far as I am concerned there is more than enough room for 3 big players in this industry. Developers and publishers, unfortunately, don’t feel the same. They’d love it if one console would just disappear. And it seems, some of them are already betting on the GameCube to go the way of the Dreamcast. Sega pulled its sports lineup from the GCN and there is news that EA might do the same. Other developers are just as cautious, stating that only first party games are selling, and the rest of the GameCube’s library gets forgotten.

Now let me say this. To all the 3rd parties. Perhaps the problem is not that the GameCube isn’t established enough. No, I think the problem is that you treat us Nintendo fans wrong. You give us some rushed and un-polished port of an old PS2 game, and expect us to jump all over it? The fact is, Nintendo fans aren’t as stupid as people want to believe. Picky, maybe, but not stupid.

I know more than anyone that 3rd parties can be the lifeblood of a console. And the Gamecube’s support in that aspect is light years ahead of what the N64 was. It could always be better though. And contrary to what most people will tell you, it’s not all up to Nintendo. Developers need to make the game they want to make; we don’t want or need scraps, or rushed ports.

Now there comes the question. Will Nintendo hold on? And can they regain the market they once had?

Nintendo has probably the most hardcore base of fans. Ask anyone with a real gaming sense and they will tell you, the GameCube is the real “hardcore gamers system” often overlooked by the casual and mainstream gamers. These are the same people who play Grand theft Auto games, and Dead or alive volleyball games. Titles like this absolutely reek of consumer appeal. And that’s fine. But the point is, it doesn’t make them better games, just better known. And that’s the sad part. Take Eternal Darkness for instance. This is one of the most amazing games to hit the market in a very long time. It’s got so much style and so much flair. So what’s the problem? Why didn’t it sell over a million units? For an un-established franchise it certainly sold decent. But I can’t help but be a bit disappointed. Amongst the gaming community, it’s praised as an absolute gem, a defining title. But out there in the real world, where the casual gamer lurks, it’s invisible. That’s a very sad fact.

Fairly recently, amongst all the rumors. Nintendo defiantly squashed all rumors that they would be leaving the hardware business. They announced that a Successor to the GameCube would indeed be launched sometime in the future. Much to the relief of fans around the world. They way I see it is like this. As long as Nintendo can turn a profit by selling consoles. They’ll always be here.

In closing. I’ll say this.

Forget about how many units are sold. I’ll play my GCN because of the games. As long as Nintendo and other companies keep making them, I will buy them. And I won’t give a fuck what place they are in. Dead last? Fucking great! So long as I have Zelda. I think that is the mentality that we must all adopt. Forget about these “analysts” and their reports. They can shove ‘em. Yes, this is an industry, and like any other industry, it’s competitive and everyone wants a big piece of the cake. But forget about it. Play the games you love on the console you love. Drop the fanboy shit and just enjoy games for what they are.

I’m a Nintendo fan all the way through. It’s in my blood. I’m not a fanboy, but I know where I stand, and I know why. To me, when Nintendo dies. Gaming dies. And it simply won’t happen. Because I’ll always be here, playing the games I love.

Written By Dan Chubaty