The Name of Nintendo: A Double-edged Sword

Nintendo has its name on and uses its name to market its devices all the time. Nintendo Entertainment System. Super Nintendo. Nintendo 64. Nintendo Gamecube. At least in North America, they really made it a point of sticking that "Nintendo" in front of Gamecube, because they knew that "Gamecube" was not a marketable name. Nintendo DS and 3DS were known more without "Nintendo," as well as the Wii and Wii U, but they have brought it back with Nintendo Switch. Just calling it the Switch would be very ambiguous.

Is it a good idea, though? As much as the word "Nintendo" garners respect and nostalgia, it garners shame and ridicule as well. Nintendo is known as the kiddy company, like Disney, or McDonald's. It is a double-edged sword, but sometimes the edge that faces them is more powerful, or cuts deeper.

If you try to sell a mature-rated game like Doom on Nintendo Switch, it is not going to sell as well because the console is not associated with such games. The masses love to compartmentalize, stereotype, and simplify everything. You even see it amongst Nintendo-fans. If you ask a random Nintendo-fan what his or her favorite games are on NS, they will list off Nintendo-games like Zelda and Mario, or Nintendo-like games that are family-friendly and colorful like Stardew Valley. Rarely do I ever see people list games like Fast RMX or Doom.

If you look at the competition, they don't stick their company's name on the beginning of their consoles. Xbox One is never called Microsoft Xbox One. PlayStation 4 is never called Sony PlayStation 4. The iPhone is not called the Apple iPhone. Nintendo missed a big opportunity to create a new IP that they could iterate on for decades to come without sticking their name in front of. The situation is salvageable, however. If they were smart, they will call their next system Nintendo Switch 2, or NS2 for short.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Retrotek SCART to Component Converter" Review (SCBV1P3)

Image
I do not like spreading negativity out there, but I needed to warn people about this device. I bought this for 80 dollars on ebay; I'm not gonna link from whom, because he or she does not deserve more sales of this awful device. When it works, it works, albeit with flaws. The image produced is sharp, as a component-video signal should be, and the colors are accurate, except that there is a green tint to the entire picture. I've read that one has to open these things up and adjust the 'pots' inside (an electrical term) with a screwdriver. I never really tried doing that or minded the green tint too much, because it's very subtle. What I did mind a lot, was the fact that sometimes, it won't work, and I'll only get audio. This is a big problem. I wouldn't mind the colors being a little off, or there being some 'noise' in the video-signal, but when the success-rate of the thing actually working is 50%, it's a deal-breaker. I paid 80 dolla...
Read more

White Japanese Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad (Controller) Review HSS-0137

Image
As a recently new Sega Saturn owner, I knew I had to get the Sega Saturn 3D Control Pad because it was the definitive controller for playing Nights Into Dreams. I decided to purchase the more aesthetically-pleasing Japanese version. Upon first inspection, it is noticeably big - bigger than it should be. Sega was probably going for form over function here, because the round shape does look like a mini-spaceship or UFO, which goes with their theme of space with the Saturn itself, but it is not the most ergonomically comfortable controller out there. For example, when playing six-button fighting-games, it is difficult to hold the controller in the left hand and 'piano' the buttons with the right. The d-pad is a little different from the American Model 1 and Japanese Model 2 controllers'. It feels a little stiffer. Of the three controllers I have tried, it has my least favorite d-pad. On the plus-side, however, it features the best start-button of the three. ...
Read more

Japanese Model 2 Sega Saturn Controller Review HSS-0101

Image
Recently, I bought a Model 2 American Sega Saturn, but it came with a Model 1 controller. It was pretty good, but I liked the look of the Model 2 Japanese controller, and the d-pad seemed more comfortable. After ordering one on ebay, and opening the package I later received, I was taken aback at how 'creamy' the controller looked. It didn't look like it had changed color, like old NESes, but it didn't look as white as I had imagined. Even the photo above looks whiter than it actually is. The d-pad is better than the Model 1's, but not by too much. The face-buttons feel the same, but the Start-button is a big improvement. The biggest improvement comes in the form of the shoulder-buttons. I don't think the actual internal switches have changed, but now you don't have to press the buttons on the rear of its plastic-shell to get them to actuate. In general, they feel and sound like mouse-buttons. You won't want to use them in action-games, but f...
Read more