Grand Theft Kart
April 30, 2008This week saw the release of a huge game, one that fans have been hungrily anticipating for years. One that’s the first current-generation entry in a revered, long-running series.
I’m talking, of course, about Mario Kart Wii.
Clearly, the focus of the gaming world is on Grand Theft Auto IV right now, and with good cause. Unlike Nintendo, which is content to sequels that stick closely to the formula developed by their previous releases, Rockstar has a track record of innovating with each entry in its flagship series. I say this not as a fan or detractor of either series, but simply as a statement of fact – The Mario Kart series makes tiny steps forward with each release, while the Grand Theft Auto games have featured major overhauls with every entry since Grand Theft Auto 3. The reviews thus far concur.
Despite generally positive reviews, the reaction to Mario Kart Wii seems much more muted than one would expect from the launch of a major Nintendo title. Launching two days before the biggest game of the year probably explains a lot of that. Perhaps launching so soon after the much-lauded Super Smash Bros. Brawl hurt it as well. After all, the Wii does have a lower attach rate than the Xbox 360 (although it’s attach rate is about equal to or greater than the PS3’s).
Whatever the reasoning for launching so near GTAIV, it begs the question: what was Nintendo thinking? Are they so confident in their brand that even the mighty GTA franchise doesn’t scare them. Did they expect gamers to choose Mario Kart over GTA? Buy both? Midway toyed with the idea of releasing BlackSite: Area 51 on the same day as Halo 3, then backed off that idea. Could it be that Nintendo was simply expecting the devoted Mario Kart fans to pick it up regardless of what else was happening in the industry?
My guess is the final option, which is in and of itself troubling. If they are content to simply preach to the choir on franchises like Mario Kart, it adds weight to the argument that Nintendo is pursing the casual audience at the expense of the core gamer. But perhaps they’re right to do so. While it’s not a hard statistic by any means, Amazon’s best-sellers list shows Wii Fit outselling both Mario Kart and Grand Theft Auto IV.
“If they are content to simply preach to the choir on franchises like Mario Kart, it adds weight to the argument that Nintendo is pursing the casual audience at the expense of the core gamer.”
I keep hearing this, but people seem to forget…the “core gamer” abandoned Nintendo throughout the PS1/PS2 days. They hate Nintendo, and we heard about it – CONSTANTLY – when these “core” gamers consistently called their games kiddy and childish and unsophisticated.
You can’t possibly blame Nintendo for moving on from them and ‘preaching to the choir’ with their core franchises while finding a new audience. “Core” gamers are just upset that they can’t stroke their own egos by writing Nintendo off anymore is all there is too it.