Nintendo's vision of the future doesn't just involve having Revolution systems in the living rooms of tens of millions of homes around the world; it's about having every member of that household playing and having fun with the system. The fact is, no matter how cute the newest Nintendogs are, how easy it is to play tennis and Wario Ware, or how cheap the classic downloads are, some people still won't try out videogames. Why? Because of the notion that videogames, no matter how simple, intuitive, and fun some may be, are complicated. There irony here is that person might march away from television, sit down at the computer, and play Minesweeper Flags, or any number of online Flash games.
Fly the Copter game is addictive.
What if you could play these super simplistic flash games on the Revolution... for free? Could this be Nintendo's last puzzle piece? It may not seem like a big deal, but go ahead and play Fly the Copter. Play with a friend and try to beat his or her score. Done? How much time did you just spend with this two-color game just by tapping a mouse button?
The truth is that these games can easily be the gateway drug of the games industry. The problem is that there is no direct link from these games to the ones that we shell out hundreds of dollars to play. Millions of people, usually those who don't fit the gamer demographic, seek out and play these ultra-simplistic games every day. If Nintendo ran out and proclaimed, "People of the world! On Revolution, you can play dozens of mini Flash-like games for free, right out of the box, with a controller that bests a keyboard and mouse!" I bet you interest in this system, even outside of videogame discussion forums, would skyrocket.
Simple games that use require the player to do simple tasks, such as catching a paper ball and tossing it into a garbage pail, demonstrate how effective and adaptable the Revolution truly is, and help to familiarize people with the actions and movements that are used in larger, more complex games. The world "free" is attractive to parents, as they won't want to spend fortunes on videogames to keep their children entertained. Free content means that there will be new games to play between birthdays and Christmas.
Many older gamers have fond memories of playing Super Mario and Sonic with their parents, but that just doesn't happen as often because of the complexity of today's games. A parent who has never before played games (or hasn't played in a really long time) might play a tennis game with his or her child if gameplay is described as, "It's like that paper tossing game, only instead of throwing paper, you hit the ball toward me!" Suddenly, a Mario Tennis fan is born out of someone who otherwise would have dismissed the game as being "too complicated".
These Flash games rarely implement multiplayer because they often require use of a mouse, and most computers only have one mouse for input. This restriction is no longer an issue with the Revolution, which supports at least four controllers. Adding multiplayer is usually as simple as splitting the screen and running the exact same formula in each screen. Now it's possible for families to play dozens of games together when the "primary" gamer isn't playing the newest Mario or Sonic game, or for a group of friends to play together... online.
Problem-solving games like Crimson Room appeal more to the hardcore crowd.
Of course, there are more complex Flash games out there that could find a niche with Revolution gamers. Toshimitsu Takagi's point-and-click escape series, for example, requires a lot of problem solving and unconventional thinking.
Where else can Nintendo get small, fun games that people could play free of charge? Back in 1994, Nintendo helped a small computer simulation company open a school dedicated to video game programming. Later, this two-year course evolved into full-fledged four-year degree program based in Nintendo of America's hometown of Redmond, Washington. Now this school of 700-plus students offers several degree programs all centred on computer engineering, animation, and videogames. They are, of course, the DigiPen Institute of Technology.
Orblitz is a fast-paced puzzle game created by a team of DigiPen juniors.
Many of the games developed by the students at DigiPen are available as free downloads on the school's website. Wouldn't it be great if they were tweaked to use the Revolution controller and then free to play through the console? Many of the people who create these games will become the future of the industry we love so much. With diverse content, from puzzle games to platformers and shooters, in both 2D and 3D, there is truly something for everyone.
What about free content for those who have already paid? Surely nobody would complain if Nintendo rewarded gamers with free content after having purchased a game through the pay-per-game service. In recent history, Nintendo has only offered new content for established games twice: e-Card levels in Super Mario Advance 4 and a GBA expansion pak for Band Bros. in Japan.
Chargin' Chucks and veggies in SMB3?!
Of course, the e-Reader was a failure, and Band Bros. has yet to be announced outside of Japan, but the idea of providing new content for old games is an exciting one. Nintendo, and any other publishers adding content to the download service, could easily create new levels every now and then, and offer them to the gamers in order to drive these retro sales. Since there is no packaging to worry about, the cost to gamers could be as low as free. Imagine starting Super Mario Bros., beating it, and then starting world 9-1?
The death knell of Nintendo's online service?
Microsoft recently criticized Nintendo's (largely unknown) online service for being a simple subset of their Xbox Live Arcade. "... we're doing Street Fighter, we've announced our partnership with Konami, Atari, and Midway – more titles are coming from Midway. So, we're going to be doing a lot in the retro space, console and coin-op. But that's just one part of the Arcade strategy.
"Arcade is really about small downloadable games of all types. Look at Geometry Wars; it's our Halo. That's not a 10-year-old retro title that you're running on some sort of emulator. That's a new title that was designed specifically for Xbox 360. We have titles coming from new, independent developers that are coming up with new play concepts and innovative things for the next generation of consoles. When I look at Nintendo Revolution's retro story, with all due respect to Nintendo, I think it's a small subset of the opportunity here."
The problem with Xbox is that the system isn't geared toward a broad demographic. Geometry Wars and Street Fighter may be exciting, and may prove successful on the platform, but nobody is going to buy the system specifically for these games, whereas one of the main draws to the Revolution is its download service. Those who want great gaming without big-ticket prices will look to Nintendo. Offering a variety of non-retro games, free of charge, would seal the deal for many people out there trying to decide which system to buy. With enough diversity, everyone in the house could find something they enjoy. Before you know it, daughters are showing their fathers how to find the alternate flag in Super Mario Bros. world 10-2, grandfathers are schooling their grandsons in Fly the Copter, and mothers are sneaking in a quick game of Orblitz before the teens get home in the wee hours of the morning. The Nintendo Revolution can truly be the Family Computer that Nintendo envisioned twenty years ago.
