Here at Geekscape, we’re all incredibly thrilled for the Nintendo Switch. Going into day seven of our series of wants for Nintendo’s next console, my colleagues have all touched on some excellent points. From the importance of innovation to the horrid purchase management of previous Nintendo consoles, all the way to the ever present third party issue that’s hung over the company for a few generations now, you can read these thoughts and more here!
But my wish for the Switch is a simple one! One that might seemingly fly in the face of conventional thinking while being completely obvious at the same time. That is that third party support shouldn’t be the goal! Rather, focus on your exclusive content.
Splatoon was a creative, new take on the arena shooter genre. But it still felt like the Wii U wasn’t necessary to play it.
Let’s think about the most successful periods that Nintendo has enjoyed in a post Playstation world. The GameCube sold far less than their previous efforts, but had plenty of memorable exclusives that keep the system in the conversation when it comes to its great library. For all of the Wii’s faults, it sold tens of millions of units simply because it was so different, rounded out with software that took full advantage of the system’s capabilities. Even with Nintendo’s untouchable portable empire standing tall today, the mainstream press completely slammed the DS as a flimsy gimmick… Until developers made the most out of its dual screen functionality to help make it the best selling handheld of all time! The 3DS would continue this trend with an expanded focus on communication thanks to its StreetPass functionality that you couldn’t get anywhere else!
ZombiU revolved around the Game Pad, while Tokyo Mirage Sessions helped you communicate with your party with text messages. Two of the rare games that felt special on the console.
For some reason, the Wii U didn’t follow suit. If the console faltered anywhere outside of its advertising, it was that so many of its games felt like something you could play on any other console. As Jonathan alluded to in his piece, games like Nintendoland and ZombiU excelled because the Game Pad and its features were so vital when it came to getting the most out of those games. As time went on, what made it unique became less and less important. Even great games like Xenoblade Chronicles X, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze and Super Smash Bros felt like any other game to an extent, ones that you wouldn’t need a Wii U to play if they weren’t made by Nintendo or its second parties directly.
Smash was a blast to play, but it hardly pushes innovation when it was literally bundled with a controller from over a decade prior.
So when it comes to the Switch, its biggest focus absolutely needs to be making its console the exclusive home for a large variety of content, even if they’re the only ones pushing that envelope. Because as a huge Nintendo fan, I’m being realistic when I say that porting games like Skyrim and Dark Souls to the Switch will make a negligible difference when the only people who will want those types of games likely already have a PS4 or Xbox One to play them on. Even though the Wii was Nintendo’s largest home console success, you STILL had many gamers balking at games like Madworld and Monster Hunter Tri because those games, “should have been on the PS3”. Regardless of its justified, Nintendo is a damaged brand, and it would take at least a decade of good faith for Nintendo to become the first choice again. You’ll build that good faith by being the only place to get the best games.
Don’t get me wrong though. Third parties still have a place in this scenario, but simply porting games like EA did with Mass Effect 3, then throwing their hands in the air and giving up because their poorly adapted game that was years old at full price didn’t set the world on fire won’t cut it. Instead of that short sighted shell of “support”, give us the old EA! Give us the one that made games that centered around the console’s features! Because while people won’t buy Madden on Switch just because, but they did on the Wii when you had a chance to chuck your controller through your TV. Or when you actually swung your golf club in a game of Tiger Woods. Hell, even when NBA Street Vol. 3 didn’t have online support on the GameCube, you better believe that was the one people bought if it meant they could play as Mario, Peach and Luigi when tearing up the court.
It’s not street ball until Princess Peach dunks on Carmelo Anthony.
At the end of the day, Nintendo’s focus should be on rebuilding to show gamers and the casual audience that the Switch is THE destination for gaming. If this is going to happen, it’s not enough to just be a fourth PC with a few exclusives. It needs to push the envelope at all angles in a way that makes it stand head and shoulders above the competition. If they need to do that by themselves, then so be it. Now would be the opportune time to do it too, since the other two consoles are still primarily remaster and port machines with their exclusive content barely trickling out. So you can keep your Overwatch and Call of Duty… Unless I can play as Samus storming the beaches of Normandie or Fox McCloud (not) escorting the Payload of course.
Thanks for reading our seventh day of Switchmas! Be sure to check back tomorrow for our next round of thoughts, and make sure to share your own Switchmas wishes in the comments as we approach the big Switch conference!