http://kotaku.com/5569301/
Kotaku does a great job of discussing what Nintendo has done at this year's E3 that makes up for what most serious gamers would call a pretty lackluster attempt on Nintendo's part in keeping its core fanbase happy. Read it if you so desire. But what I want to talk about is the effect of Nintendo's strategy, and how in the end, everyone wins because of it. You win, I win, and Nintendo wins.
Back five years ago Nintendo had announced the Wii, known as the 'Revolution' at the time, during its reappearance at the Tokyo Game Show. The console was built to be able to use a unique control system to make it easier and more intuitive for new or rusty game players to jump right in to playing games. Nintendo invested the vast majority of their resources into making games that supported their new mantra of easy access, simple to use software from that point, and practically released a handful of the games from the series it is traditionally known for.
Ultimately, those people who were die-hard fans wanted more. Nintendo seemed to be ignoring them, making games at its own pace and making the Wii look like a GameCube with waggle (a term gamers use to describe the new Wii Remote control functionality). Third party support was much better than it was with its predecessor, but the Wii was still a fairly dusty system in 2008 and 2009, aside from a few blockbusters like Smash Bros Brawl and Super Mario Galaxy from Nintendo and a boatload of 'shovelware' games from third parties.
But was Nintendo really ditching its faithfuls in exchange for a new family appeal? I didn't care. I'm here in Bothell for a reason, and its to be able to work for them, and I had no idea what was to become of them until last week, when E3 happened.
Nintendo unveiled to us so many titles that we longed for, all on either the Wii or on their super-hot, new handheld system, the Nintendo 3DS. And boom, just like Kotaku said, in one hour the poor little booths held by Sony and Microsoft, vying to show off their answers to Nintendo's motion control success, were emptied as Nintendo set off a call heard around the world: they were back in business to steal the hearts of their faithful followers once again. Kid Icarus, Zelda, Kirby, and even the support of over 20 world-renowned developers.
I feel a bit sorry for Sony, having been destroyed by Nintendo in the handheld market with the announcement of the 3DS, while the PSPgo eats dust and falters as a platform. And Sony's approach to 3D on their PS3 is a joke.
I feel a bit sorry for Microsoft, because they as a company have no reason to exist anymore aside from their computer programming and video game development sectors. It's the Xbox brand I am most excited about, because they will be the only true way for future indie developers to get their hands in console game design. And the new Kinect looks cool!
But Nintendo has, moreso than anyone, struck the jackpot with this announcement at E3. They truly are leaders in innovation. Others follow them, and it's hilarious to watch.
Lucky as I am, I was in college and abroad in Asia while Nintendo was experimenting with their Blue Ocean strategy (collecting as many new followers as they could), so I didn't have time to play games anyway. And during my senior year, Sony gave me enough reason to buy their George Foreman-esque PS3 for its awesome Blu-Ray player, ability to give me access to Japanese content, and handful of great games that I had time to play.
Making sure not to miss out on Microsoft's game library, it's as simple as getting a new Mac Mini, installing the Windows 7 software that my school gave me, and downloading my favorite games from Steam. Most of the games I want to play on the 360 are or will soon be playable on PC, such as Mass Effect and Fable 3.
Getting ready for Nintendo's triumphant return to the hardcore market, I already have a Japanese Wii with the absolutely amazing Wiiの間, a free television broadcast and movie rental service for Japanese Wii owners. When the games actually come out within the next year or so, I'll be back in Japan buying them up in May or June, translating their manuals in my free time.
You'll notice that I'm in a good position right now. Banking on this company as a major success was the greatest thing I could have ever done, and the timing was just right. All I need to do is work there to help them usher in a new fanbase, and in turn, another thirty years of uninhibited success.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
My Thoughts on Game Stories
Released back in 2004, Collateral was one of the first movies to make me feel that caring for characters in films actually enhances my movie-watching experience. It's a little odd to admit, but a person like myself, so used to the simplicity and shallow nature of video game stories, takes a bit longer to really appreciate the power and value of a good story.
I feel moved to say that it's still a bit silly to compare game stories with those in movies and books. And I hate to admit this, but when it comes to games, narrative tends to always play second fiddle to gameplay - and one has to wonder if it really has to be that way.
Miyamoto will tell you that yes, gameplay is ultimately more important; it's just the story's job to give reason to the various gameplay elements. The puzzles, the weapons, the various dungeon themes - these are all elements that need a reason to exist in a Zelda game. So Aonuma and the band work on a story at about the same time they work on the game's music (probably the latter half), and end up nixing only a few of the gameplay elements to make it all come together.
With games, and only with games, the developer has to manage how much of his own story he can tell while still allowing the player to have a unique game experience. It's got to be interactive. But a movie watcher gives up her agency and submits it to the director of a movie. The job of telling a cohesive story is far easier for a movie director because he doesn't have to worry about his audience screwing up the experience he was trying to convey.
Game developers focus on gameplay because they are constantly thinking of ways to wow the player, and giving them incentive to proceed, over and over again. Whether that be by rewarding them with points, a heart piece, access to a locked room, a weapon upgrade, new character outfits, or an advanced difficulty mode, developers have more immediate problems to solve when pushing to engage the player. This is why I believe story ultimately takes the backseat when it comes to video games.
But does it have to? Do you have an example of a game whose creator has masterfully integrated a narrative with unique gameplay elements? Tell me what you think!
I feel moved to say that it's still a bit silly to compare game stories with those in movies and books. And I hate to admit this, but when it comes to games, narrative tends to always play second fiddle to gameplay - and one has to wonder if it really has to be that way.
Miyamoto will tell you that yes, gameplay is ultimately more important; it's just the story's job to give reason to the various gameplay elements. The puzzles, the weapons, the various dungeon themes - these are all elements that need a reason to exist in a Zelda game. So Aonuma and the band work on a story at about the same time they work on the game's music (probably the latter half), and end up nixing only a few of the gameplay elements to make it all come together.
With games, and only with games, the developer has to manage how much of his own story he can tell while still allowing the player to have a unique game experience. It's got to be interactive. But a movie watcher gives up her agency and submits it to the director of a movie. The job of telling a cohesive story is far easier for a movie director because he doesn't have to worry about his audience screwing up the experience he was trying to convey.
Game developers focus on gameplay because they are constantly thinking of ways to wow the player, and giving them incentive to proceed, over and over again. Whether that be by rewarding them with points, a heart piece, access to a locked room, a weapon upgrade, new character outfits, or an advanced difficulty mode, developers have more immediate problems to solve when pushing to engage the player. This is why I believe story ultimately takes the backseat when it comes to video games.
But does it have to? Do you have an example of a game whose creator has masterfully integrated a narrative with unique gameplay elements? Tell me what you think!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Amazon Vs. Apple Be Damned: Publishers Pine For A Universal E-Book Format - Wired.com
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/05/universal-e-books-format/all/1
I understand to some extent why e-books are gaining more and more attention as the months go by, but come on – what's better than actually having a book?
A physical book or magazine actually gets the attention of your guests as they take a seat on your couch. People learn more about you just by looking at the covers of the periodicals and novels on your ottoman, in your shelves, and on the coffee table where they might set down their hot drink.
"You read Wired magazine? Hey, you must've read that new article about Zuckerburg and Gates..." and boom! A conversation starter, and some great coffee to top it off. But you can't do that with a Kindle!
No one in the world would be daring enough to turn on someone's e-reader and go through their collection of books. Doing this would be equivalent to searching someone's Web-browsing history – it's invasive, and our morals would stop us from doing it.
But a magazine (depending on what you're willing to put out in public) is a beautiful piece of work; it's beautiful. I love flipping through the pages of a new issue each month to see what the editors and writers have come up with.
Knowing what your friends are into leads to great ideas. If you find out they're into movies, find out which ones; traveling magazines? Ask them where they've been. Subscribers to photography magazines? Ask to see some of their shots.
Whether they're into cooking, interior design, gardening, fine wines, pet grooming, sports, video games, or fashion, you've learned something about the person next to you, holding the other mug, without even saying a word to them. Without that magazine laying there to broadcast their interests, you'd still be sitting there, sipping that latte, probably concerned about other trifles, like how your hair looks.
Books are just as powerful as icebreakers, and for goodness' sake, why do we need another device if all we're going to do is read on it?
The only excuses I have considered are that devices such as the iPad, Kindle, and Nook are lightweight and portable, which is less true of books. Well I have a solution: stick with one book at a time. Spending $350-$550 for minimal reading convenience doesn't sound like the best use of your money, unless you plan to use an iPad for much more than just reading.
The other reason I consider an advantage of e-readers over books is that you don't have to flip the pages when you're laying down; holding it above your face while in a bed has to be an easier task because of the one-page style.
Okay, and it saves paper... and the iPad is back-lit for night-time reading.
But...
With a book, you own the property, not just the rights to read it.
With a book, you can hand over that story you've been raving about for someone else to read.
With a book, you can have some security – I'm willing to bet that getting your Dan Brown stolen while you take a respite in the boy's room at Caribou Coffee will be less painful than, say, if your new expensive electronic device were snatched. Sophisticated people read, don't you know that?
So I'm still into books. They've been around for some 2000 years, and you guys are going around trying to change it? Let me know your thoughts!
I understand to some extent why e-books are gaining more and more attention as the months go by, but come on – what's better than actually having a book?
A physical book or magazine actually gets the attention of your guests as they take a seat on your couch. People learn more about you just by looking at the covers of the periodicals and novels on your ottoman, in your shelves, and on the coffee table where they might set down their hot drink.
"You read Wired magazine? Hey, you must've read that new article about Zuckerburg and Gates..." and boom! A conversation starter, and some great coffee to top it off. But you can't do that with a Kindle!
No one in the world would be daring enough to turn on someone's e-reader and go through their collection of books. Doing this would be equivalent to searching someone's Web-browsing history – it's invasive, and our morals would stop us from doing it.
But a magazine (depending on what you're willing to put out in public) is a beautiful piece of work; it's beautiful. I love flipping through the pages of a new issue each month to see what the editors and writers have come up with.
Knowing what your friends are into leads to great ideas. If you find out they're into movies, find out which ones; traveling magazines? Ask them where they've been. Subscribers to photography magazines? Ask to see some of their shots.
Whether they're into cooking, interior design, gardening, fine wines, pet grooming, sports, video games, or fashion, you've learned something about the person next to you, holding the other mug, without even saying a word to them. Without that magazine laying there to broadcast their interests, you'd still be sitting there, sipping that latte, probably concerned about other trifles, like how your hair looks.
Books are just as powerful as icebreakers, and for goodness' sake, why do we need another device if all we're going to do is read on it?
The only excuses I have considered are that devices such as the iPad, Kindle, and Nook are lightweight and portable, which is less true of books. Well I have a solution: stick with one book at a time. Spending $350-$550 for minimal reading convenience doesn't sound like the best use of your money, unless you plan to use an iPad for much more than just reading.
The other reason I consider an advantage of e-readers over books is that you don't have to flip the pages when you're laying down; holding it above your face while in a bed has to be an easier task because of the one-page style.
Okay, and it saves paper... and the iPad is back-lit for night-time reading.
But...
With a book, you own the property, not just the rights to read it.
With a book, you can hand over that story you've been raving about for someone else to read.
With a book, you can have some security – I'm willing to bet that getting your Dan Brown stolen while you take a respite in the boy's room at Caribou Coffee will be less painful than, say, if your new expensive electronic device were snatched. Sophisticated people read, don't you know that?
So I'm still into books. They've been around for some 2000 years, and you guys are going around trying to change it? Let me know your thoughts!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Nintendo Investigating Factory Suicides - Kotaku
Alright, before I start, I should begin by explaining what I'll be doing mostly from now on using this blog. If I'm willing to comment on sites, I'm just going to do it here, because people are pretty much more likely to respect what I have to say on my own blog.
Read the linked article if you like, then give me some insight as to how you feel about the situation. I'm tired of not knowing who is commenting when I read the responses from websites like Kotaku and Gizmodo – those guys/girls are starting to piss me off. So here goes (this one's juicy too):
Nintendo Investigating Factory Suicides - Kotaku
China's going to eventually be the strongest economic force in the world – this is obvious. And as long as they can improve their HR, I'm fine with it.
I've been there, and to me it's not too bad as far as the cities and stores go. But the conditions of those poor people... their dead, un-amputated limbs, their workers' compensation packages... China's got some obligation to its people, and should make working conditions and rational treatment one of its number one priorities for its workforce.
I'm perfectly willing to see a $60-$100 increase in the price of my $1000 device to see that money go directly into the hands of these workers. They work their butts off like this one girl I met in Beijing, ironically named "Dream", who sells ties in a marketplace. I asked her how often she worked, and she told me that she did so everyday, all day, except for holidays. I then proceeded to ask why, and she responded by saying she had to support her grandmother, and the best way to do so is to keep the family stable financially.
She says she has always dreamed of going to America, where she feels the government supports its workers more effectively than the Chinese government.
I pray for you, Dream, and hope that your financial struggles will have ended by now (I met her in 2007, before the Beijing Olympics). I wore that tie you sold me during my last day of classes at Miami University, and received the Senior Service Leadership Award that day from our president. I am glad to have met you, and still think of your struggle to this day. It makes me a more humble individual, and keeps me going when I think I've got it hard over here in the States.
Anyway, that was really personal. Enjoy the article and let me know your thoughts here!
Read the linked article if you like, then give me some insight as to how you feel about the situation. I'm tired of not knowing who is commenting when I read the responses from websites like Kotaku and Gizmodo – those guys/girls are starting to piss me off. So here goes (this one's juicy too):
Nintendo Investigating Factory Suicides - Kotaku
China's going to eventually be the strongest economic force in the world – this is obvious. And as long as they can improve their HR, I'm fine with it.
I've been there, and to me it's not too bad as far as the cities and stores go. But the conditions of those poor people... their dead, un-amputated limbs, their workers' compensation packages... China's got some obligation to its people, and should make working conditions and rational treatment one of its number one priorities for its workforce.
I'm perfectly willing to see a $60-$100 increase in the price of my $1000 device to see that money go directly into the hands of these workers. They work their butts off like this one girl I met in Beijing, ironically named "Dream", who sells ties in a marketplace. I asked her how often she worked, and she told me that she did so everyday, all day, except for holidays. I then proceeded to ask why, and she responded by saying she had to support her grandmother, and the best way to do so is to keep the family stable financially.
She says she has always dreamed of going to America, where she feels the government supports its workers more effectively than the Chinese government.
I pray for you, Dream, and hope that your financial struggles will have ended by now (I met her in 2007, before the Beijing Olympics). I wore that tie you sold me during my last day of classes at Miami University, and received the Senior Service Leadership Award that day from our president. I am glad to have met you, and still think of your struggle to this day. It makes me a more humble individual, and keeps me going when I think I've got it hard over here in the States.
Anyway, that was really personal. Enjoy the article and let me know your thoughts here!
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