I hate the term "hardcore gamer", and that the problem with Nintendo at the moment is their overly-strong focus on non-games and mini-games. I ABSOLUTELY don't mind that there are a lot of these kinds of games on the Wii: what I do mind is that it's Nintendo who's using their resources to create them, because it's awaste of a world class developer.
I buy Nintendo products to play Nintendo games. Third parties (yes even Konami and Capcom) CANNOT touch Nintendo when they are at their best. This is because the developer excels in design, a factor overlooked by so many self-proclaimed hardcore gamers. For me, a TRUE "hardcore" gamer isn't someone who plays Gears of War, or pays $600 for one console, it's someone who DOESN'T do things like rip on Nintendo for being kiddie, which is one of the biggest clichés in gaming, and who appreciates the actual structural DESIGN of a good game, as well as intuitive controls etc. The fact that the Wii doesn't have great graphics all the time is COMPLETELY irrelevant, and anyone who has played a good Wii game and assessed what it is they enjoy about it will know that. It also helps if they're a TRUE "hardcore" gamer, because then they'll have standards which extend beyond visuals and the fact that there are GUNS in the game. If Wii games don't get any better looking than MP3 or SMG, then I would be TOTALLY fine with that if good game design and DEPTH become more common in the system's games.
I fully supported Nintendo, even in the Gamecube days because I still remain convinced that if certain Nintendo games appeaered on other systems, it would be an entirely different story.
For me, a crucial difference between "Killer apps" like SMG for Wii and MGS4 for PS3 is that Twilight Princess is already available, and people have moved on, realistically accepting that there's more to the console than the game they just played (although better Wii games are still on the horizon). But just look at the amount of Sony support which bases its entire foundation on this one game that they haven't played. If MGS4 was already available, then the same thing would happen: people would stop using it as a reason to buy the system, because it's one $60 game. They would look to the horizon exactly like Wii owners are doing and see NO MORE than a few games worth getting excited bout, EXACTLY like what Wii owners are doing.
Finally, anyone who thinks a game like Mario Kart or Super Mario Galaxy is not a hardcore game compared to Gears of War or GTA IV really needs to look at how they evaluate games because they seem to be equating depth and maturity with guns, and in many cases big boobs and swear words, which is too disturbing to think about.
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