Hi there - June 18, 2000 -
Andrew Kaufmann
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of
the participants and the moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIA. There
is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. My wallet is falling apart. Don't say we didn't warn you.
A letter received today said that he had just realized that myself and Chris were different people.
After giving the matter some thought, I realized that it was not necessarily clear what our system
is, if you're new to the area. So here's the story.
My name is Andrew Kaufmann. I'm a founding member of the GIA, and I've been a staff member
on Square Net (UnOfficial Squaresoft Home Page), RPGamer, and have done freelance work for
PSX IGN and Official Dreamcast Magazine. I'm 21 years old, and I go to school at Southern
Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, studying English and Computer Science. I like games,
guitar, and gals. (That was alliteration!)
Among other duties on the GIA, I host this letters column on Saturday and Sunday. Game questions
are good, but not required.
On weekdays, the formidable Chris Jones hosts the column. He does 5 days, I do 2. Kind of an
unfair gig for him, eh?
| Don't worry Nintendo, you have defenders |
|
First off, I'd have to say that Paper Mario's story extends just
about all the way back to the original SMB. The problem with
Riesz's boyfriend's comments is that he completely confuses
story and gameplay, incorrectly comparing the fact that games
have "almost the exact same story" to the totally off idea that
fans "don't give a damn if the gameplay has rotted into tedium."
If you want a good example of what they were bitching about, how
about you take a look at Tomb Raider, Twisted Metal, Cool
Boarders, 3Xtreme, Jet Moto, Crash, Spyro, and so forth. Stale
gameplay isn't exactly a Nintendo problem, now is it? Nintendo
has long stood as the greatest game developer out there
expressly because their gameplay was so damned good and always
innovative. It sure as hell wasn't due to story originality.
The big-N is still alive because they make the best and most
charming games in the world, even on a truly mediocre piece of
hardware like the Nintendo 64. Aside from RPGs, where Square
clearly reigns, Nintendo is the company which pushes gameplay
forward in just about every genre, whether it is at NCL or
through second parties. If you loved Nintendo in the SNES days
and don't now, it is either because you really loved the 3rd
party games back then or because your tastes in gaming have
changed. Either is perfectly understandable, but they are both
lousy justifications for whining about Nintendo has somehow let
you down.
-Ed M.
|
Yes, the Playstation has more than its share of poor games. However,
it also has more games as a whole, so a bevvy of mediocre titles is
less noticable. I still contend that as a whole, the Playstation has
a much stronger collection of titles.
I also agree that Nintendo is a good game developer, even though their
Nintendo 64 games are weaker, in my opinion, than their SNES counterparts
(specifically, I prefer Super Mario World to Mario 64, I prefer Zelda: A
Link to the Past to Zelda: The Ocarina of Time).
Nintendo's games are often innovative, however. As much as I hate Pokemon,
they must be doing something right to have such a success in that title. That
having been said, I still say they have a tendency to milk a title for every
dollar that it is worth rather than innovating. I'm not saying that's all they
do; I'm just saying it's a tendency in certain series (Pokemon).
It has been said many times by many writers that Nintendo 64's undoing is insisting
to go cart rather than CD, and I'd agree with this. Nintendo doesn't have the third
party support that the Playstation does at this moment. Why? I'd be willing to say
it's because of the cart issue.
The Dolphin and the Playstation 2 both being DVD based will erase a major advantage
Sony has had during this round of system wars. It's very possible Nintendo will
reclaim the 3rd party support of its hayday. But for the moment, I've sold my
Nintendo 64 and am not missing it.
| My wallet feels your pain |
|
Since we're talking about Nintendo, I thought I might share some of my
experiences with them, painful as they may be to recall. But I love you all,
so I'll try. Back in the days of the NES and the Super NES, I loved Nintendo,
and with good reason. That was when their games weren't mostly crap, like at
present. Chrono Trigger, FFVI, and EarthBound were, as I figured it, "as good
as any system could get." I read my Nintendo Power faithfully and fully,
cover-to-cover, like any obsessed fan. And little by little, that stupid (as
I now understand) magazine fed things like "Sony sucks!" and "Playstation is
a bore!" into our heads. So me, being quite young at the time, believed
everything they said and despised Sony with a passion. Soon after, the N64
came out and the first generation of games were mediocre (as always, save
for a few). After two years of giving that "lovely" *cough cough* system my
support, I was STILL having crappy games shoved down my throat. So my dad got
me a Playstation for Christmas. Eye opener.
The first two RPGs I got were Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy
VII, and let me tell you, I was blown away. This was some good stuff. But
still, I continued to read my Nintendo Power and support the N64, hoping that
maybe the Big N was at that moment creating the mother of all video games. I
was wrong. The Game Boy has better games than the N64!!! Now I love the GB,
but excuse me, shouldn't they at least give their console a FEW good games?
And, oh my goodness... AN RPG?! Quest 64 was nice, but (okay, I'm lying, it
was pretty dumb) ONE RPG in the system's four years of life? They're
alienating a big chunk gamers and you know that the only reasons they still
survive are those "obsessed fans" (Sony help them) and all the people who buy
the Pokemon stuff (including me, so yeah, I'm a hypocrite).
In conclusion, let me say that Nintendo had better get their acts
together with the Dolphin. I'm thrilled they're rid of that blasted cart and
I hope they use the system's immense power to give us at least a few truly
great masterpieces, and hopefully some of those will be RPGs. And I hope
Square gives them some third party support. That would help a little... a
whole, freakin' lot... So, those are my thoughts and my previous experiences
with Nintendo. Oh, I forgot to add that Nintendo Power has changed over the
years and now it's garbage. EGM kicks butt. Have a nice day, everybody.
Nintendo is a dumb-dumb-poopy-head.
~ Stefanie
|
Wow, Stef, that's one of the more powerful closers to a letter I've seen. But yeah, I remember
the days when receiving my Nintendo Power was the highlight of my month. I have every issue
from the very first one, with Super Mario Brothers on the cover, to ones some 6 years later. Slowly
but surely, however, I realized that there was more to the gaming world than Nintendo. That, in fact,
other systems could have amazing games. It was amazing discovery that has cost me a lot of money.
Oh, well.
It is interesting that the Gameboy still has very good games being released for it. Technologically,
the system has been outdated almost since the day it was released, with both Sega and Turbo Graphix
having far superior handheld systems. Now, the Gameboy has such a huge market that developers would
be fools not to develop for it.
Nintendo has, I think, resigned itself to simply not being able to attact RPG developers to its system.
The cart limitation is one that no RPG developer seems to want to combat. The lure of unlimited space
on the Playstation and Dreamcast is too much to overcome. It's not that good RPGs can't be made on a
cart (my favorite RPGs are on the SNES), but developers don't seem to want to try. Quest 64 doesn't
count.
| Less bang for your buck |
|
AK:
I am one of those people who ends up buying one of every major (or not)
system on the market. Aside from the Pioneer Laseractive, I have one of
each system since the old "Pong" machines. Why? Because I have no life.
However, I think I'm going to break this trend with the Dolphin. After
the N64, there is no way in hell that I'm buying another Nintendo product.
That system was so poorly handled that my arse still hurts from getting
rammed by Nintendo in 1996 when I handed over the money for it.
Sure, there's been Goldenye, Zelda 64, and Perfect Dark, but there has
been even less good games on this system (and at a higher price) than the
old SMS or TG16. Even the 3DO had more good games than the N64. Nintendo
dosen't give a damn about what players want, they just want to milk their
franchises for what they're worth and turn a profit. Oh wait, that's what
Sony and Sega do to. BUT AT LEAST THEY'VE GOT SOME BLEEDING GAMES THAT I
CAN ACTUALLY ENJOY!!
-Muhammed Abdul
|
I bought a Nintendo 64 when Zelda 64 came out, thinking that surely some decent
RPGs and spectacular other games would come out for it eventually, even though
at that time there were no other games that appealed to me. Goldeneye and Perfect
Dark don't do it for me (not only do they not really entertain me, but I'm terrible
at them... the other night I was in a Goldeneye tournament, and repeatedly was given
the title "Where's the armor?")... so I was left with just Zelda 64, which I was
disappointed in. So, I sold the system, and as I said before, don't regret it.
| It is hard to move on |
|
AK,
I too was once a Nintendo fan. My very first RPG was the free Dragon
Warrior Nintendo Power gave away with subscriptions. When I finally got a
Super Nintendo years later games like Final Fantasy 3 and Chrono Trigger kept
me playing some long nights. Based on their previous track record I almost
immediately bought a Nintendo 64. At first I didn't regret it. I played
quality games like Mario 64 and Golden Eye. But then I started to get some
apprehensions. I heard rumors that Square was leaving Nintendo, terrible
rumors. Enix had already abondoned me years ago, not Square too!!!! But the
terrible rumors turned out to be true. I thought, "Wait, sure Playstation got
Final Fantasy VII first, but surely it will be released to Nintendo later." I
was so naive. Finally I had to move on and buy a Playstation. I didn't want
to, but I had to.
I think the shock hit Nintendo pretty hard too. They haven't managed to
produce a single RPG since then. They tried it with Quest, look what
happened. They had a sure thing with Earthbound, where the hell is it? Mario
RPG 2; finally, here comes a role playing game!!! Super Mario RPG was lots
of fun, I can't wait for the sequel. Oh wait, it's going to be geared towards
younger gamers. Oh, now it's going to be Paper Mario. I'd cry if I hadn't
seen it coming.
I bought a Game Boy Color in hopes of an RPG from Nintendo. Yes, I know
it won't be the same on a handheld system, but it's my only hope. When I
heard Dragon Warrior 1 and 2 were coming to gameboy, I did cry for joy. I
can't wait for that to come out, that's how pathetic I've become. I'm going
to get that game, sit down, and remember the glory days of Nintendo and RPG's
that will never come again.
P.S. I just figured out that AK and Chris are two seperate people. I just
found the GIA recently and assumed they were different names for the same
person. I'd feel stupid, but then again, I always knew how to run in Super
Mario Bros.
|
Ah... first RPG. Mine was also Dragon Warrior, but I got it the day it came out. It
was an exciting day, I remember. I was a Nintendo fan too. It was hard to move on. It
always is. Humans grow attached to things, it's the nature of the species. But, my friend,
you are able to realize the error of your ways, and that is the first step to recovery.
Be strong!
And don't feel dumb about not knowing Chris and I are different people. We get set in our
ways and don't always make it clear how our little system works. Your letter gave me a chance
to clarify things to the other people that may or may not have been confused.
| The world needs a few good publicists |
|
AK
What the hell happened to my letter?! When I sent it, it did have spaces in
it, right? Was it somehow my fault or was it a result of your hangov...er,
I mean, sleepiness that screwed it up?
I would like to know because I don't want to look like an idiot in the
future...
*whispering is heard in the background*
My publicist has just informed me that I always look like an idiot...
You're fired.
*voice of someone arguing*
I thought I told you to never mention double-O-nothing's name in my
presence! Get out! GET OUT!!!
*door slams and a car squeals away*
3...2...1...
*loud explosion*
Serves him right. Anyways...ah, forget it. I've already forgotten what I
was talking about. Later.
-Agent X "why did I even need a publicist?!"
|
Ooopsies. Sorry about that Agent X. Your letter was spaced just fine, I just biffed it up.
I'll have to take the bad on this one. My bad. To make it up to you, and since you seem to have
lost your publicist, I will be your publicist! For free! The first thing you need to do, though,
is go on tour. Do you sing? Dance? Juggle? Maybe you can be a one man boy band... the possibilities
are endless!
| More solid Nintendo defense |
|
Hey AK,
I know you'll probably get a lot of those "NiNtEnDoo ruLZ n u suk" letters
that we all so enjoy, but if I could toss in 2 cents...
Riesz's Boyfriend (RB :) seems to think that Nintendo's game-creating focus
has changed dramatically... But if that's true, then I've somehow missed
it. Sure, times have changed, become more 3D, and developing games takes
different strengths than it did in the past. But when it comes to
gameplay, Nintendo games still "feel" like Nintendo games, or at least they
do to me. Wave Race, Zelda 64, 1080 Snowboarding, Smash Bros (even though
a lot of it was handled by HAL ) etc etc...they all feature the play
mechanics and genuine fun that I've come to expect from the company.
It is true that the SNES had more diverse game genres. The thing to
remember, though, when you think of RPGs and the like, is that it wasn't
Nintendo that made those games. I don't think Nintendo has ever had a true
first-party RPG, save Earthbound, and Fire Emblem (which never made it to
the states -- am I forgetting any others?). And as for killer platformers,
I assume RB means the classic 2D sidescrollers like Yoshi's Island and
Super Mario World, as opposed to their 3D replacements, like Banjo-Kazooie
and Mario 64. I miss them too, but between the N64 being a 3D system and
gamers at large considering 2D to be "outdated", they didn't really stand
much of a chance. Look at Mischief Makers, an Enix/Treasure game that was
shamefully underrated.
I don't really expect to change anyone's mind here...I guess I just wanted
to say that I don't believe Nintendo games, in and of themselves, have
dropped in quality; and I don't consider myself to be "buying whatever crap
Nintendo dishes out" when I play one. I just think RB is confusing
Nintendo games and third-party games, and it's the third-party games that
he misses. That, of course, is a whole 'nother can of worms. :)
-Maru, a "rabid fan" who enjoys her PSX too
|
I'd agree that most of those games still "feel" Nintendo, but that just isn't
a selling point for me anymore... even though it used to be. I think I might
just be more fussy about what games I play... back in the day, I'd buy a Bugs Bunny
Sunsoft game and be entertained for weeks. Nintendo-developed games haven't entertained me
as much as they have in the past. Zelda 64 is generally considered to be a quality game,
but I was pretty bored by it, for whatever reason. Go figure.
| Agent X gets two letters printed in one column, congrats to him |
|
I've just seen the PS2 compared to Tickle-Me Elmo.
...
The world may end now.
|
I don't want to know how this comparison came about. It frightens me.
| The easiest question I've ever been asked, though many have asked it |
|
Is your name really Andy Kaufmann?
--Vladimir
|
My name is indeed Andrew Kaufmann. Most of my friends call me Andy. Crazy, eh?
Closing Comments:
The general tilt of the letters I received was that of frustration with Nintendo. I tried to post letters
that represented that shift. I hope I'm not misrepresenting the general thought of you guys out there.
Anyway, have a great week, and take care!
-Andrew Kaufmann |
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