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At the recent Game Developer Conference Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime told Gamasutra that the gaming behemoth was simply not interested in working with independent developers.
“We are not looking to do business today with the garage developer...In our view, that’s not a business we want to pursue"
“There are certainly highly talented people who work other jobs and have a passion to be in the music industry,” he said. “I love it when there’s a game that’s found that captures people’s imagination, just like that … singer toiling in a factory” he said, conjuring images of a an American Idol contestant who works in a bakery by day but tries to sing at night.
Now we all understand that both DSiWare and WiiWare have a certain lack of quality overall, but I think it would be in bad judgement for Nintendo to dismiss the lone coder working on an idea completely. Imagine, if you will, if Minecraft was released for the Nintendo Wii instead of online. A breakout hit like that would have certainly moved a lot of Wii units, either out of the store or off the shelf where they have been collecting dust.
Nintendo, however, is also not in a position where they necessarily need the next Minecraft right now. And as a company who has always held their franchises very close, I can't see them be so willing to offer the next hit to someone on the outside. Nintendo was never about the independent gaming community, they are about big names and big franchises, and it's worked for them this long.
[Source: Wired]
Comments
13 years, 1 month ago
the gaming giant is closed minded x_x
13 years, 1 month ago
You'd have to take it on my word, but I came up with something close to The Sims in the late 90s. After seeing Harvest Moon in a Nintendo Power I saw something close to Sims game play as a way to improve the game. I thought, "Man I should call Nintendo." When I did send them a email, probably the first email I sent as I was very young, I received my first caned email.
Most have heard about The Sims. It's a mega money maker for EA. Developers are not short on ideas, just money to fund them. Which idea is worth the money to make? That's the question/gamble.
As far as the Nintendo stance on independent developers, I don't know. More games is better though.
13 years, 1 month ago
Although they are losing out on a potentially large market, they've been hugely successful doing what they've been doing for the longest time. Nintendo is like a household name now, bringing in outside development could potentially jeopardize that name for them. They definitely are a cautious bunch, I'll give them that, but that's natural considering how large they've become. Who knows? As the market shifts toward digital downloads, maybe we'll see a shift in development style at Nintendo, too.
13 years, 1 month ago
Nintendo still likes to pretend their beyond the reach of anyone in the business. Arrogence has gotten them in trouble before, back when they treated 3rd parties badly during the nes/snes days that would end up haunting them later when they started sliding down the console rankings. Because of their ego we may not see a 3d super meatboy /I wanna Be the Guy. So if 3rd parties are strangleholded like this at Nintendo then they have to put all their money on the same old characters time and time again. Instead of seeing Minecraft on Wii2 (if there is a Wii2) we will have Super Mario 64 all over again.
13 years, 1 month ago
Goddamnit it, everything Nintendo has done recent;y makes me hate them more and more.
13 years, 1 month ago
yet team meat is going to be devoloping for the 3DS
13 years, 1 month ago
QUESTION: If they do not want to work with indie people why are games like Bit Trip and Cave Story on WiiWare? Publishing those games on your console's virtual marketplace is if I recall correctly. WORKING WITH THEM.
13 years, 1 month ago
While I understand the point, I really doubt Minecraft would have worked out the way it has for platforms any other than PC. It's popularity is largely based on word of mouth and the fact that it's highly available as a browser game. It's easy to play a game that's one click away. Don't know why anyone would want to buy it, though.
Also, I really love how appropriate the word "outbrake" is in this context.
13 years, 1 month ago
Hmmm I dunno about that Reggie.
13 years, 1 month ago
Seems like a lost opportunity.
If Nintendo's the standard, they're probably getting the most requests. They're skipping over a lot of talent just so they can shit out another Mario Insertnounhere.
Then again, it's their style. Spyro and Crash and the others are all dead, but Nintendo kept their mascots alive and well.
13 years, 1 month ago
[...] is walking back earlier statements it made last week saying they had no interest inworking with “garage developers.” A [...]