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Has Nintendo given up on AAA gaming?

Dick Jones

Gold Member
This will continue as long as Nintendo get away with overpricing remastered ports. Can you blame them when they keep getting away with it? If you were Nintendo you'd do it too.

The Switch was obviously underpowered at launch compared to its competition while they were 4 years into their generation yet the console is selling crazy. Nintendo will never be cutting edge technically again as they don't need to be. They are making bank on both the weaker console and the remastered games.

Nintendo should just look back at their old catalogue in GC/Wii/Wii U and milk the shit out of it. They have good games and can get away with the "Nintendo Tax"... and do it again next gen.

The biggest fear for the Switch is the increase in streaming games on the go. If you can play cutting edge games on the go with no internet issues, then maybe Nintendo will need to think of a new gimmick. Currently they have everything sewn up.
 

BennyBlanco

aka IMurRIVAL69
If you want troy baker and laura bailey NPCs walking next to you and explaining how the world ended in your cinematic 3rd person action game with stealth elements nintendo isn’t the place for you

personally i like the lower budget stuff like bravely default 2 and the spit polished nintendo evergreens like mk8 / smash but i would never use nintendo consoles as my primary device
 

harmny

Banned
well seeing as how the Switch is basically equivalent to a PS3, they are now two gens behind.


I think this is the biggest problem they have. They just forgot to invest in their first party studios. They had no new acquisitions which is fine, but it feels like they haven't increased their team sizes to adapt to making AAA games even by the PS360 era standards. I remember ND used to be 75 people when they launched UDF, but then had to double the team to 150 people just to ship U2 with multiplayer. By the time TLOU2 came out they were over 200 people. Now they are around 500 people with a thousand more doing outsourced work. Same thing with GG and Santa Monica. Sony Bend is only 100 people and it took them 7 years to ship Days Gone. I feel like the zelda team is really that small.

Nintendo needs to take those billions they make in profit every year and invest into their own studios. Japanese studios dont even cost as much as LA studios like Infinity Ward, Crystal Dynamics, SSM, Insomniacs and ND. A few hundred million would buy them 500-1000 people for the entire gen.

Yes they are now two generations behind but they don't care. Nintendo can do whatever they want now that they aren't racing for the graphics crown
 
Outside of mainline Zelda, Mario, and Metroid games, I don't really see Nintendo dipping the ole toe back into the pool of AAA gaming too often. Like mentioned by others in this thread, it's a cost thing. Right now Nintendo's bread and butter is the AA category like Animal Crossing, Splatoon, Mario Kart, Luigi's Mansion, Fire Emblem and so on.
 

AMSCD

Member
The lack of AAA games is likely due to Covid-19. Many (possibly most) Japanese do not have home computers. My understanding is that working remotely with a VPN was, prior to COVID, a completely foreign concept to the Japanese. Nintendo was probably completely unprepared for software development outside of the company office. Covid likely set them way back.

Source: My Japanese girlfriend.
 
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Derktron

Banned
GIF by South Park
Basically
 

UltimaKilo

Gold Member
I’m just as frustrated as anyone, but the issue here is Nintendo’s lack of studios churning out quality content. They have maybe 10 AAA capable studios. A game takes years to develop. Over 6-7 years you’d be lucky to get one two titles from each studio. That’s less than 3 games a year, on average. That number should be more than doubled.

Why haven’t they used their cash to create and/or acquire new studios? It’s a short-sighted decision that could come back to haunt them in the long run and into their next console.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Nintendo does what Nintendo does!

You either get the appeal or you don't. Not a fan myself, but I can see the wisdom in marching to the beat of their own drum.
 

ItsTheNew

I believe any game made before 1997 is "essentially cave man art."
I'll be devil's advocate:
Could it be that there aren't too many programmers in Japan and their actual workforce is very small? On top of them not outsourcing the soul out of their games?
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
Were they ever AAA gaming? What I can say though is that Direct did not make me want to play my switch anytime soon
Gamecube and N64.

They had killer star wars games, Resident evil games, Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, Metroid Prime Series, Several AAA Zelda games, they even paid for an MGS remake.

Now they are content churning out B games from third parties and B games from their mascots. They cant even get a Bayonetta game out anymore.
 

UltimaKilo

Gold Member
This will continue as long as Nintendo get away with overpricing remastered ports. Can you blame them when they keep getting away with it? If you were Nintendo you'd do it too.

The Switch was obviously underpowered at launch compared to its competition while they were 4 years into their generation yet the console is selling crazy. Nintendo will never be cutting edge technically again as they don't need to be. They are making bank on both the weaker console and the remastered games.

Nintendo should just look back at their old catalogue in GC/Wii/Wii U and milk the shit out of it. They have good games and can get away with the "Nintendo Tax"... and do it again next gen.

The biggest fear for the Switch is the increase in streaming games on the go. If you can play cutting edge games on the go with no internet issues, then maybe Nintendo will need to think of a new gimmick. Currently they have everything sewn up.
Here I disagree. Charging $60, for Wii U games that hardly anyone has played, makes perfect sense. Especially considering how games are now well over $60.
 

93xfan

Banned
I have to say I’m pretty disappointed by latest direct.

If they had only at least given us a good collection of their past AAA games such as Metroid prime Trilogy or better Zelda games (Ocarina, Wind Waker, Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, etc)

we also could’ve used a new console for the online service. GBA or N64 would’ve been great.
 

Ozzie666

Member
Only so much you can do with the hardware that people might consider AAA. People's definitions differ, but there was a distinct lack of third party AAA releases there, it was all much lower tier. Doesn't mean it wasn't good, some of those Square remakes and tactics game, look great. But it's playing to a certain audience, low cost development, nostalgic. There is only so much you can do. But I would consider a lot of Nintendo's AAA titles much like Pixar tent pole movies.

Nintendo is playing to their strengths and is happy to work on their own hardware. Third parties are curtailing their games to the hard ware instead of doing extremely down porting. These are honestly the type of exclusives we need, different games, not more of what Sony and MS do.

This is the hand held, mobile strategy at work. Nintendo long ago realized they can make obscene amounts of money with lower development costs compared to their contemporaries.
 


1) I'm what feels like ancient gaf. I can't ever remember my first user name.

2) I pray for when y'all understand business. This shit is embarrassing.

3) Is CBoat still alive?
 

Astral Dog

Member
No, but its not their main market either, they don't need to spend millions on realistic graphics and cutscenes to make money.

Looking at Animal Crossing ,Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey/3D FURY, those are definetly 'AAA'/big games for Nintendo, as well as Luigis Mansion, Xenoblade Chronicles and Astral Chain. Bayonetta and Metroid would be too if they were to come out.

If you don't like that type of content on a portable system probably the Switch isn't for you.

And Monster Hunter RISE definetly isn't a spin off, come on dude 🤨
 
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e&e

Banned
AAA is mostly an indication of budget, and high tech graphics are a big part of that. Rise doesn't seem to fit that definition. World, yes, that'd probably fit an AAA game. Rise, nah.
You are wrong, what the fuck is this lol? Are you telling Capcom their 6th mainline game from an AAA franchise is not AAA? 😂
 

bitbydeath

Member
Nintendo seem to be at their laziest when they’re rolling in cash. During the Wii era I was always banging on about how they should buy some studios with all that dough they were making.

I don’t get it personally.
 

Sejan

Member
I’m far more concerned with quality over budget when it comes to gaming. I saw several games that should be of very high quality when they release. Nintendo showed plenty of games that will be of incredible quality when they are released. That Triangle strategy game just went straight to the top few of my hype list if it’s anywhere near as good as Octopath was. I have high hopes for them and they’ll likely do well with their somewhat lower budgets.
 

MagnesG

Banned
When was the last time I truly enjoyed non-Nintendo AAA games though. Maybe MGSV, the rest are kind eh AA Nintendo games being better.
 

Sejan

Member
"Project Triangle Strategy" isn't a Nintendo developed nor Nintendo published game. It's a Square Enix game. And just like Octopath Traveler, it'll eventually got ported to PC.
I’m aware. I’m just saying there was plenty of quality shown in the video.
 

MrMephistoX

Member
They gave up on it when they sold RARE to Microsoft and made the Wiimote a showcase instead of matching MS and Sony on graphics hardware. The GameCube was a massive bomb for them right after an already less successful N64 that was more powerful than PS2 and only slightly less powerful than Xbox. Rare could have easily filled the void with Perfect Dark and other titles taking up the slack with Nintendo polish.
 

MagnesG

Banned
"Project Triangle Strategy" isn't a Nintendo developed nor Nintendo published game. It's a Square Enix game. And just like Octopath Traveler, it'll eventually got ported to PC.
Get ported to pc after 2 demos, maybe launching 2 years after Switch release that means 2024. Also not buying it for $60, so 1-2 years more of waiting for sale.

Just play the demo today on Switch and give them feedbacks. That's a lot of waiting for PC lol.
 
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Their Games sell like hotcakes why do they need to make AAA when AA or even A games sell more than others AAA games wile costing them a fraction to make that why they have such a big margin of profit.
 

phant0m

Member
I don't care if they don't do the "AAA" productions/budgets, but I wish they'd make new games instead of porting the same shit over and over. I loved the new aesthetic of Link's Awakening remaster, why not make a brand new top-down Zelda game using that engine instead of porting Skyward Sword?

I'm stoked for Metroid Prime 4, but seems in dev hell and likely has high cost. Maybe a new 2D Metroid? Demand still there, games like Axiom Verge, Hollow Knight, etc have been a hit with critics and players.
 

SinDelta

Member
Monster Hunter Rise - Looks incredible.

Age of Calamity Expansion - If it does not have Purah and Robbie that would suck.

No More Heroes 3 - Need to play the first 2.

Bravely Default 2 - Neutral. It might be good, it might not.

Splatoon - I was actually very interested when the trailer looked like it was going to be a RPG spinoff. That would have been cool. Actually one of the most disappointing moments for me.

Smash Brothers - I need to continue with Xenoblade DE so I can start 2.

Skyward Sword HD - 20 dollars was generous. 60 is absurd.

I need to see more stuff ready for this year. Hell I would settle for a hype trailer for BotW 2. The utter lack of info on multiple megaton titles 4-5 years on now is very concerning.
 
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Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
AAA is mostly an indication of budget, and high tech graphics are a big part of that. Rise doesn't seem to fit that definition. World, yes, that'd probably fit an AAA game. Rise, nah.
But that budget is spend on what? Walking animation for that 10 seconds set piece?
Gamecube and N64.

They had killer star wars games, Resident evil games, Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, Metroid Prime Series, Several AAA Zelda games, they even paid for an MGS remake.

Now they are content churning out B games from third parties and B games from their mascots. They cant even get a Bayonetta game out anymore.
Both consoles you mentioned flopped. From that moment on we had Wii, WiiU ans Switch so they are at 2 out of 3.

Nintendo can’t compete taking Sony and Microsoft head on, they are too small.
 

Fbh

Member
Not sure why people bring up hardware. It might be limiting their ability to have top tier visuals but not making more abitous games with higher production values like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey.

Compare the production values of exclusives like Fire Emblem and Pokémon with something like DQ11 or Ni No Kuni or Lost Odyssey (not on Switch but made on weaker hardware)



Absurd overreaction.

The big boys usually take 4-5-6 years to be developed.

If you want the same stuff every year, go get Ubisoft`s "AAA".

I vastly prefer Nintendo games over anything Ubisoft.
But it seems weird to make fun of them releasing the same stuff when the biggest Nintendo announcements from this event were another Mario Golf and a $60 port of an 11 years old game?
 
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Enzo88

Member
Not sure why people bring up hardware. It might be limiting their ability to have top tier visuals but not making more abitous games with higher production values like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey.

Compare the production values of exclusives like Fire Emblem and Pokémon with something like DQ11 or Ni No Kuni or Lost Odyssey (not on Switch but made on weaker hardware)





I vastly prefer Nintendo games over anything Ubisoft.
But it seems weird to make fun of them releasing the same stuff when the biggest Nintendo announcements from this event were another Mario Golf and a $60 port of an 11 years old game?
This one direct defines what Nintendo's overall trajectory is?

Am i taking crazy pills here or am i surrounded by younger folks?

Mainline mario/zelda/metroid always took 4/5/6 or more years saved for rare exceptions, we are seeing the exact same thing now.

We got Luigi's mansion 3 and fire emblem in 2019, paper mario and ac in 2020. Again, not sure what are we talking about here, especially if botw2 comes out this year.
 
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