Nintendo Needs to Learn: People Want Thematically Complex Games

Let's face facts, Nintendo either doesn't care about appealing to a core audience, or has forgotten how. It sucks to say it, but it's true. The last few years at E3 should be evidence enough (saying nothing of Nintendo's releases over that time frame).

Remember when Miyamoto came on stage, barely keeping a lid on his naked delight at the prospect of waggling his way through music from the Legend of Zelda? Wii Music was a waste, and I'm hard pressed to think that anyone at Nintendo was half as excited as Miyamoto when it really came down to it.

I'm not sure who that was aimed at, but it certainly wasn't aimed at anyone watching a live feed of E3 in the middle of day (or night) whom didn't have some kind of financial interest in videogames.

Then, there was the whole balance board thing. Best not to relive that. The internet has done it on a nearly hourly basis leading up to any E3 (yes, Reggie admitted this year that his body was still ready).

Now, there's the Wii U's launch lineup.

A lot of Nintendo's fans are anticipating some of those games, and rightfully so. Nintendo has an undeniable knack for making family-friendly, pick-up and play games with more charm than a gameshow host. Those kinds of games have been their bread and butter for a number of years. They're easy to learn, they're fun, and there's nothing wrong with enjoying them. Wii U's launch looks to be spearheaded by those games.

But what disappointed so many people is what Nintendo doesn't seem to understand - Wii U's slated launch lacks new games that offer something more than "charming" and "family friendly".

Reggie, you know a year-old port of Arkham City doesn't cut it. You're much smarter than that. I shouldn't have to tell you that people aren't going to be excited about the same game they played a year ago, even if you slap a new subtitle on it.

What's even worse is it looks like Arkham City has the Wii U repeating the Wii's sins - we've left the era of tacked on motion controls, and stepped into the era of tacked on touch controls.

The truth of it is, you guys at Nintendo don't seem to understand, or are unwilling to admit to yourselves that people want to play games that are thematically complex - games that are, ultimately, aimed at adults.

That doesn't necessarily mean they want to play games full of gore, nudity, and the word "fuck". They just want to play something that has a bit of nuance to it. Something with intrigue, danger, or mystery about it.

At this year's E3 thematically complex games are what got the audience excited.

At this year's E3 thematically complex games are what got the audience excited. Someone at Nintendo had to have noticed the reaction to Watch Dogs. Someone had to have seen the reception to The Last of Us, and Halo 4. Audiences get excited about games that are more complex than getting someone from point A to point B with the barest of motivations. They want wit, they want character development, they want to experience a story that challenges them to think about something. People want to feel hate for the antagonist, and empathy for the protagonist. They want to feel excited by large set pieces, and challenged by new modes of gameplay.

As of late, you guys at Nintendo haven't delivered that very often.

Until Nintendo delivers on that kind of game, the Wii U is doomed to repeat what the Wii has done. Undoubtedly, some of you are saying to yourselves that the Wii sold wonderfully, so why is that a bad thing? The market is saturated. The kind of turn-it-on-once-a-month player will not drive Wii U sales, because touch screens are everywhere. People already know what they're capable of. This isn't even the first console from Nintendo that uses a touch screen. When someone thinks of a touch screen, their imagination doesn't race the way it did when they thought of motion controls in 2005. There's no novelty in a touch screen.

Be honest with yourselves, Nintendo, you know most people bought a Wii because of the novelty of playing videogames with motion controls. Well, that novelty left touch screens sometime around the iPhone launch in 2007, so don't bank on that financial windfall with the Wii U.

The fact is, the Wii U will live and die on its software, just like any other console. Nintendo isn't untouchable anymore. You, as a company, have to listen to what people are saying. If the reaction to Nintendo's E3 presentation has said anything, it's that people want thematically complex games.