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[shinobi602]

Part of a much larger (and great) piece on how Nintendo needs to reinvent itself from CVG, you can read more here: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/446277/blog/nintendo-must-reinvent-itself/

Before anything, the most important decision it needs to make is decide who, exactly, should be its target audience. What the Wii U demonstrated so effectively was that trying to entice both core and casual gamer fails to work on either.

"Nintendo was dead to us very quickly," one EA source told me when asked about why the publisher fell out with Nintendo so soon after committing to the system.

"It became a kids IP platform and we don't really make games for kids. That was pretty true across the other labels too. Even the Mass Effect title on Wii U, which was a solid effort, could never do big business, and EA like Activision is only focused on games that can be big franchises".

Candid words but helpful feedback. If Nintendo wants to entice the core gamer, it must summon meaningful support from the third party publishers who earn their crust with berserk and shouty war games.

 

[nrvalleytime]

Strong words from EA. Considering how well they did in 2013, they should reconsider their approach to Nintendo - can only help their own image problem now.

 

[DJIzana]

Really?

That's funny... I said the EXACT same thing about EA after they released BF4.

 

[Mr Swine]

Yeah because they supported Wii U with their highest and best selling IPs!

 

[dampflokfreund]

uh, Nintendo games aren't kids IPs... they are masterpieces -_- But the main part of that message is right.

 

[cacildo]

Yeah, EA, that amazing company everybody loves

 

[SwiftDeath]

Yeah not suprising

 

[KingSnake]

To give example Mass Effect that while a good port they practically sabotage with the release of the trilogy is quite funny.

 

[blankempathy]

Are you telling me that a full priced mass effect 3 released months after it came out on other consoles meaning those versions were at least half the price didn't sell well on the wii u? Not to mention that gee, the trilogy package came out at around the same time as well for the ps3/xbox/pc. I can't imagine why mass effect sold poorly.

 

[antronoid]

Kids IP platform?

But... I'm an adult

 

[entremet]

Mass Effect 3 was a year old port available for much cheaper on current platforms.

 

[Riposte]

The source sounds a little suspicious, if only because of faulty reasoning. EA does in fact make kid games (e.g., popcap)

 

[7threst]

"Kids IP"? Really EA? Wow...

 

[Infinite_Daremo]

EA and everyone else. Can't really blame them.

 

[anexanhume]

Sony and Microsoft unwittingly colluded. They got near the same CPU and GPU capabilities and functions making cross porting easier than ever. It's an obvious cost cutting measure to focus on those two and ignore the Wii U. If you ignore it, others are likely to too since it won't have sales and it eventually drowns.

 

[braves01]

Yeah, that $60 mass effect port was a solid effort...

 

[Hero]

Not saying Nintendo doesn't have accountability for fostering third parties but how the hell can you expect Mass Effect 3 Special Edition on Wii U to do decent numbers when they announced a trilogy compilation on the platforms that already have an install base?

 

[Linkhero1]

Well, EA failed to put anything meaningful out for it aside NFS Most Wanted U. It's not like you were trying to begin with.

 

[Sean*O]

Ironic, since EA is, well, yeah.

 

[EhoaVash]

well.. he is telling the truth, just look at Nintendo's wii u release for 2013, kids game across the board :d but hey in 2014, they're gonna try to expand the audience with smash, bayonetta 2, x atleast

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

I like how Ubisoft talks about Nintendo much more than this and they have been harsh at times.

The tone reminds me why EA is always in the running for worst company in that March Sadness thing.

 

[Kyou]

unprecedented partnership

edit: the real story here is EA considers the 60 dollar ME3 port a solid effort

 

[Evolution_1ne]

Strong words from EA. Considering how well they did in 2013, they should reconsider their approach to Nintendo - can only help their own image problem now.

if BF4 runs like it does on next gen, could you image how it it run on wii u? Don't think supporting Nintendo would help them, in fact it might make things worse

 

[LukeTim]

Could the reason that it's considered a kid's IP Platform be that nobody announces/releases any adult IP for it?

It's your bloody fault that it is considered a kid's console, EA, because you don't announce any games so no one wants to buy it!

 

[blankempathy]

I like how Ubisoft talks about Nintendo much more than this and they have been harsh at times.

The tone reminds me why EA is always in the running for worst company in that March Sadness thing.

Ubisoft tends to mouth off. Theres a reason why some pc gamers hate them.

 

[EvilKatarn]

At least those kids' games are functional and don't shit their pants at launch.

 

[EmiPrime]

EA is surprised that only releasing the third game in an RPG trilogy where your save file carries over from game to game and a 5 month late port of a driving game results in crap sales?

 

[Gannd]

well.. he is telling the truth, just look at Nintendo's wii u release for 2013, kids game across the board :d but hey in 2014, they're gonna try to expand the audience with smash, bayonetta 2, x atleast

They always said that 2013 was about the family and 2014 was about the young male gamer.

 

[Somnid]

Wii U didn't start like and arguably still isn't a kids console (didn't we stop this shit in the GCN days?) and EA put no effort into Mass Effect.

 

[stilgar]

we don't make games for kids

OKAY

 

[NeoRausch]

unprecedented kick in the balls from behind

more like

 

[tbm24]

Could the reason that it's considered a kid's IP Platform be that nobody announces/releases any adult IP for it?

It's your bloody fault that it is considered a kid's console, EA, because you don't announce any games so no one wants to buy it!

Blame the Wii for that, not EA.

 

[jschreier]

If Nintendo wants to entice the core gamer, it must summon meaningful support from the third party publishers who earn their crust with berserk and shouty war games.

That sure is the most depressing thing I've read today.

 

[axisofweevils]

Shocking News.

Seriously, Mass Effect 3 was sent to die. The only way that game had any chance of selling well on Wii U was if the audience was completely oblivious.

 

[120v]

not a fan of EA and citing the ME3 port as "solid effort" is funny but lets be real they don't have any incentive to publish on it

 

[Anth0ny]

EA doesn't really make games for kids? Wat.

 

[SmokyDave]

Not just you, EA.

'Kids platform' is a little harsh though, I think Nintendo prefer the term 'non highly skilled users'.

 

[Daingurse]

EA should have released the ME trilogy on the WIi-U, that way when it bombed, at-least they could have said they tried. They didn't put forth their best effort with that port, but frankly, I don't think they would have been rewarded with sales even if they did. So honestly can't blame EA, lol.

 

[Linkhero1]

OKAY

You're missing BF4

Not just you, EA.

'Kids platform' is a little harsh though, I think Nintendo prefer the term 'non highly skilled users'.

lol

 

[PaulExcellent]

Because a port of Mass Effect 3 (not the collection that was out at the same time, mind you) should have sold significantly. Yeeeeeeeeeeahno.

 

[batbeg]

I love calling Mass Effect 3 a solid effort. Hahaha.

 

[NintendoGal]

The portion where it says Activision is only focused on big games is bullshit. If you only knew the amount of shovelware they've put out on Nintendo systems.

 

[TheAngryMonkey]

Some people seem to be offended by the idea of "Kids IP." It'd be better stated as kid friendly because a lot of the games Nintendo has put out are kid friendly. Not enough other publishers make games I'm interested in playing that I also let me kids play alone.

 

[Valkrai]

Shocking News.

Seriously, Mass Effect 3 was sent to die. The only way that game had any chance of selling well on Wii U was if the audience was completely oblivious.

Wasn't all of their titles on Wii U sent to die?

 

[Berg]

Come on Nintendo, make some quality sports titles!

 

[scitek]

If Nintendo wants to entice the core gamer, it must summon meaningful support from the third party publishers who earn their crust with berserk and shouty war games.

Yeah, if the Wii U had Battlefield 4, surely people would've picked that version up over all the other platforms.

 

[dampflokfreund]

That sure is the most depressing thing I've read today.

It is sad yes, but it's true. The massmarket gamer is all about blood and war.

 

[block tower]

damn what a statement.

Nintendo in the white, EA in the red lol.

 

[opticalmace]

http://www.covershut.com/covers/MySims-Sky-Heroes-Front-Cover-47681.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://www.coverdude.com/covers/monopoly-streets-depart-french-front-cover-58842.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://img.dooyoo.co.uk/GB_EN/orig/0/8/1/5/6/815629.jpg[IMG]

[IMG]http://images.getprice.com.au/products/Bimgelectronic-arts_littlest-pet-shoppc.jpg[IMG]

OKAY[/QUOTE]

To be totally fair, you missed a word in the quote. It should read "we don't [U]really[/U] make games for kids," which kind of implies kids games are the minority of what they produce (which AFAIK is true).

 

[wsippel]

It's funny that guy mentions Activision, considering they actually have a highly successful kid's IP. One that also happens to be very successful on Nintendo platforms and probably makes more money than most EA franchises.