With the success of the Wii and more mainstream product, there's a growing backlash in the gaming community over so-called 'casual' consumers. Their chief concern is that the rampant success of products like Wii Fit and party game compilations will cause developers to shift their resources in that direction, reducing (or even eliminating) product for hardcore gamers. I'm here to urge you to relax, and cool off on the absurd paranoia. If anything, we owe the mainstream a great debt.
We hardcore gamers are a vocal minority, to be sure, but a minority none the less. Games can be somewhat successful at our hands, but they cannot become hits without crossing over into the mainstream. Did you really think that the millions of people who bought Halo or God of War were all die-hard gamers that just spent the last three hours fighting over a copy of Radiant Silvergun on E-Bay? Please. The majority of consumers for those games were regular dudes who think it's awesome to run guys over with a jeep, or have a few beers and laugh loudly as Kratos TOTALLY pulls that dude's arms off and wears them as a hat. They don't know who Smilebit is and they couldn't care less. They're CASUAL gamers who only buy action and sports games, and are no more or less offensive than the family buying We Ski. These people pump billions of dollars into the industry that keeps us occupied day after day.
Besides, it's not like we "hardcore" gamers have been holding up our end. Sure, you'll put on your hardcore hat when it's time to buy the latest super-budget AAA game with insane graphics that everyone else wants, but where were you when Treasure released another quirky gem that only their cult following supported? Where was your wallet when Viva Pinata or Beyond Good and Evil dropped? If all you buy are AAA games that aren't "kiddie" and look awesome, you're not hardcore anything, you're just a casual gamer without the social life or extra hobbies. Someone who is truly hardcore about this business supports software of any style or genre that is well-made, especially if it takes chances and explores new artistic territory. That label fits very few of the folks walking these halls, or at any other site.
The whole thing reminds me of my scenester days when I was in my early twenties. Our image was based around being hipper then everyone around us, knowing more about music and art and whatever else we could co-opt into our temple of arrogance. Anyone who dared enter our realm without our level of dedication was to be mocked as a poser, an outsider. Now the gaming world is doing the same thing, as lifestyle gamers shake their fists in rage as mere civilians dare to trod upon THEIR turf. You know what? Just let it go. Trust me, it's not worth it, and I speak from experience. Heck, at least indie scenester-dom gets you girls. What is your devotion to 'real' gaming going to get you? A thumbs-up from noobpwner763?Casual gamers are a GOOD thing. It's the reason our hobby is beginning to enjoy mainstream acceptance instead of taking place in ratty caves.
You play Metal Gear because it's totally fun. Joe Casual plays Wii Tennis because it's totally fun. Where's the crime here? The personal offense? From some of the dialogue on here, it's like Joe Casual has been pouring sugar in your gas tank. Our beloved games are going to be FINE. Metal Gear 4 sold millions of copies. Super Mario Galaxy has sold 8 million and counting; Halo 3 about the same. We're still a major part of this industry. We just need to give the casuals a corner to hang out in. Let's be civilized about it, okay?
Anyhow, stop throwing stones, since plenty of us live in casual glass houses. Have you ever bought a game you didn't think you'd like, but wanted to support it anyhow because you admired the craft behind it? Have you ever pirated software, taking money out of the hands of the hard-working developers that keep us entertained? Do you ever make a list of games you've never heardof that you seeat the store, so you can research them later and see if you've missed a gem? Do you know who developed the games you own? Does a game's appearance - family-friendly, perhaps, or chock full of carnage - make or break your buying decision? Think about these for a spell, because the next time you bash a casual gamer... it might turn out you're one of them.
Two epic franchises from my youth - Punch Out and Bionic Commando - have landed in 2009 with a brutal thud.
Punch-Out's opening week sales were around 150,000 units; not a total disaster or anything, but it couldn't even surpass Mario Kart Wii, which is over a year old. The sales have to be disappointing when you consider how fondly the series is remembered by any gamer who witnessed the NES era. The general decline of boxing's popularity is possibly an issue; it's interesting to note that a UFC game took the top spot during Punch Out's launch week, mirroring the rise of MMA at the expense of the sweet science. I also suspect many were turned off by what looks like a short game from the outside, featuring only 13 opponents. Consumers find it hard to measure quality, so they cling to quantity, which is much more reliable. There's a chance for Punch-Out to become one of those games that clings to the Top 20 via word of mouth, but it's a long shot.
Alas, there will be no silver lining for Bionic Commando, which more or less imploded on the runway. Selling a mere 27,000 copies across two platforms over the first week, the game is basically dead in the water. Final sales totals will no doubt be eclipsed by Rearmed, the ten-dollar remake of the original. It's a bit ironic, as Rearmed was intended to help promote the new Bionic Commando, and instead, it has replaced it. The new Commando wasn't particularly good, but the success of Rearmed suggests that it offered what long-time fans wanted anyhow: a 2-D game with an ideal price for a weekend of nostalgic fun. Nobody in particular seemed to want a 3-D Commando with a modern attitude.
What can we learn from these past few weeks?
Keep Your Brands Hot
One of the major problems for both these titles is the huge waiting period since their last new edition. Super Punch Out and Bionic Commando were from the SNES and NES respectively; we're talking eons in terms of the gaming world. A large number of modern gamers had never even heard of these franchises, except perhaps in passing. This will make them seem dated at best, or simply ignored at worst. Mario and Zelda have been around forever, too, but Nintendo has kept these series at the top of the industry with regular releases of AAA quality. And while nobody needs a new Punch Out game every year, having one per generation would do a lot to keep it on the radar screen.
The "Hey, I Remember That!" Factor Doesn't Sell Many Games
Punch Out provides a non-stop barrage of nostalgia. The original boxers, the training sequences with the goofy pink jumpsuit, Doc recommending the Nintendo Fun Club, and so on. Great stuff for old-timers like me, but it's not going to do much for a majority of the game's intended audience. Tying a game to the 80's makes for some funny commercials and some warm memories at the game shop register, but it will also make your work seem hokey and dated to players used to edgier product. Neither Punch Out or Bionic Commando are ideal for kids, either because of violence or challenge level. Skewing older would've been a better marketing and design strategy.
Price Adjustment
Paying full retail ($50-$60) is a much easier pill to swallow when you're getting a brand new game, as opposed to something resembling a remake of one you've already played. Obviously, the two games being discussed here are composed of mostly new material, by people working their tails off, and I mean no disrespect. But new engine or not, I'm still punching Von Kaiser, and I'm still a dude swinging on a bionicarm and popping off an overpowered pistol. If you guys get to save on design resources by digging up classic content, cut your fans a break on the price. The success of Rearmed shows that with a good price point, there's still plenty of interest in Bionic Commando.
History Lesson
Punch Out should've come packed with the first two games as bonus material, or given free download codes for them from the Wii Network. Ditto for Bionic Commando, which should've included the old NES version. This serves two purposes: one, it makes the game a more attractive purchase, by adding extra content that costs the developer next to nothing. Also, it letsnewer players explore the franchise as a whole, and creates more attachment to the brand. Heck, if you're going to put running jokes and old references into these games, at least give new players the resources to understand them.
I have no idea what the future holds for these two classic franchises, but I can say this: slapping a semi-familiar name on a new game isn't enough to guarantee success.
I'm surprisingly excited to have a new Punch Out game to look forward to. I played the first two to death back in the day, but had more or less forgotten about the series since. I got so hardcore into Super Punch Out that I mastered all the counterpunching strategies to get those super-fast knockouts, so I could show them off to my friends... who couldn't care less. Still, good times.
Nintendo never gets enough love for their sports games. While none of them are anything close to true sports simulation, they're almost always a blast to play. The original WaveRace is one of the most purely enjoyable racing games ever seen on a console. F-Zero has been up and down, but when it's on, it's a great ride. The original Mario Tennis dominated our multiplayer nights for weeks if not months, and Mario Kart... well, the brand speaks for itself. I even have huge soft spots for Mario Golf and Baseball.
I'd love to see an American football game starring the Mario crew. Even if it wouldn't sell 20 copies in Japan, I think it'd be a decent hit here in the states.
Anyhow, gotta hit the speed bag to get ready for the wily Soda Popinski.
