If Nintendo sets up an online plan for its next generation home console, will it be too late?
First Viewpoint
Kenny Lee
Kenny Lee
Before I go off explaining any of my opinions regarding Nintendo's online plan, I would just like to define what I consider as "too late." When I say that it is too late, I don't mean it is impossible for Nintendo to set up a decent Internet-based medium of gameplay for its next generation console. It is however, unlikely that online gaming will ever be a big draw for Nintendo's so-called Revolution. Nintendo's stance on the Internet is a fair one, as we've seen Sony's and Microsoft's attempts at bringing online gaming to consoles with mixed results. At least a lot more mixed than ardent Internet fans have insisted. Yet with each passing day that argument loses a little steam, as more people join the online ranks of players who wish to compete with each other around the world.
I have no intention of explaining the glories of online gaming. Nor do I care (right now) about how much an online plan would have helped advertise the Nintendo GameCube. What I'm focusing on is the weakening yet persistent position that Nintendo is taking towards online gaming. I say this with particular focus on the recent release of Microsoft's Halo 2. Despite numerous reviews from critics claiming that the game fails to revolutionize the FPS genre, gamers are purchasing the title in droves, and there's no doubt in my mind that this is because of Halo's online capabilities. Of course I'm not so blind that I can't recognize a quality game when I see one, but with a single-player experience that most people feel is not up to par with Metroid Prime 2, Halo 2's biggest hand against Nintendo's FPS is the multiplayer feature. The team at Bungie did what we were hoping Nintendo would do, they polished the Internet experience to be as seamless as possible. No longer are there servers to search through, no longer do you worry about playing with gamers who suck. Everything is automated to give you best the online experience possible.
To me, I think this is a very significant blow to Nintendo, aside from the obvious consumer dollars that are going into Microsoft's pockets right now. While the company has been committed in its stance towards online gaming, it's fairly clear now that this is no longer the best course of action. The concept of playing online has an impact, it has a significant impact, and with the next set of consoles coming out in what, end of 2005 or early 2006, Nintendo will be more than too late to jump on that train if it waits for the Revolution.
It doesn't matter if Nintendo pulls out a fantastic plan for Internet play with its next console. The important thing is that Microsoft and Sony (namely Microsoft) already have their feet in the door. You could argue that so does Nintendo, with Phantasy Star Online Episodes I, II, and III available for the system. But that's not so much a foot in the door as it is a single toe. And you know what happened? That toe got stubbed, and now we're seeing nothing from the Big N. In the very least give us LAN play. Like how the word "Nintendo" used to be synonymous with "video games" the word "Xbox" is quickly becoming synonymous (if not already) with "online console gaming."
There's no stopping Nintendo from pulling out a killer online plan with the Revolution, the only question is will anybody care? That's the important thing. Nintendo has a penchant for offering too little too late. Its jump to disc-based media storage was far too slow, the push for third-parties was too late to stop the growing trend of leavers on the GameCube, and even Nintendo's meager attempts at catering to an older demographic have dissolved into thin air.
Look at it this way, what are the chances that, by the time the Nintendo Revolution is released into the market, consumers are going to be primed and ready for online gaming? It's a better bet that they'll either be a) Extremely eager to play games on the Internet or b) still not ready to play online games. Best case scenario is that b) comes into play. However, option a) is never going to happen, because those eager players are going to jump straight to the Xbox, just like they did with Halo 2. This stand-offish approach Nintendo has insisted on is doing nothing but alienating gamers, which may not seem so bad right now, but come the time Nintendo believes the masses are ready for this sort of thing, no longer will the company be part of that equation. It's not a consideration, because Nintendo did it's darndest to tell everyone that it wasn't one. I do not doubt for a second that by waiting for the Revolution, Nintendo is going to miss the bus headed for the Information Superhighway.
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Second Viewpoint
Jason Price
Jason Price
I'll concede the point that Microsoft and Sony have the advantage in the online market; that is sadly beyond dispute. However, it is far from being too late for Nintendo to decide to implement an online plan. There is only one thing that has made Sony and Microsoft's online plans successful, and the thing which has kept Nintendo afloat in this generation, which would make it a very viable option for the company to adopt an online friendly attitude even this late in the game. What is that one thing I hear you ask? CONTENT.
People aren't rushing out in droves to buy Halo 2 simply because it's online. If it was just being online that made a game successful then a lot of really crappy games would have rated a lot better than they did. What sells Halo 2 is the quality of the game. Its online capability is an added feature that, while greatly enhancing the game, isn't the sole factor that makes it a success. If you took away the polished graphics and gameplay, Halo 2 would just be another shooter that no one really cared about.
This is true for the success of all the major online titles: SOCOM, Splinter Cell, you name it. The content makes the game good (or at least decent) and the community that is brought to the game through online play is what pushes it to that next level of success. Take away that content and even being online can't save a game. Now, let's think back to the GameCube's life span. What has been the major hallmark of its games, particularly those from Nintendo itself? Ah, yes, an extremely high quality of content. Add to that already exceptional level of quality the community that can be created online and you have an unmistakable recipe for success.
Just think about it like this: Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikmin, Mario Kart: Double Dash. Three games that are, hands down, some of the best games to come out in this generation of consoles. Now add to these already spectacular games the potential for an online community and you have hits that would make all the hype over Halo 2 seem like child's play. Nintendo wouldn't even need to specifically create sequels for the creation of an online system, it could just re-release the games with online capability and they'd be hits. And these are just a few of the highly successful series' that Nintendo has under its belt.
Long story short, Nintendo is far from being too late to decide to implement an online plan. It's been its lack of a fully realized online system that has been holding the GameCube back thus far in this console generation, and taking Nintendo online is only going to break that restraint. As long as Nintendo continues with its reputation for high quality games and maintains its powerful presence in the console industry, it will continue to have the opportunity for successfully embracing online gaming.
Agree or disagree, it's up to you who you felt had a stronger case against the cause. Within the next day, we'll be posting a thread on our forums for you to argue your point. We'd love to hear your feedback on our rationale, and to hear your own opinions of the discussion.
