Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks To Appeal To A Wider Age Group

[lost]

Zelda better get ready to put on her karting shoes and grab her brain training gear.

Buried in the midst of Nintendo's 2009 fiscal year results is a small note about the upcoming Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. It's interesting to see how the game's described to investors, rather than fans.

While the game is mentioned only in passing, the report hints at the game's direction, saying that "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks...will appeal to a wider age group of people, and will launch in the later half of the year".

From Kotaku. (http://kotaku.com/5243634/zelda-spirit-tracks-is-for-a-wider-age-group-of-people)

[Metal Jesus]

Wider age group?! My mom in her late 50's loves Zelda...as does my niece and nephew where are in Junior high.

[sparx394]

Wider age group?! My mom in her late 50's loves Zelda...as does my niece and nephew where are in Junior high.

Yes but you're overlooking the incredibly viable market of fetuses and those in their late 90's who hate all technology beyond the phonograph. THOSE are the demographics Nintendo is trying to reach with the new Zelda.

[Zurik]

So is Nintendo done with making games for anyone besides the family friendly group? I sold my Wii about six months ago and still haven't seen a reason to get another one.

[breeze]

while I also find this news to be a little sad to hear...I still hold out hope that they don't make it too idiot-proof

[blackzc]

Yes but you're overlooking the incredibly viable market of fetuses and those in their late 90's who hate all technology beyond the phonograph. THOSE are the demographics Nintendo is trying to reach with the new Zelda.

Heh, hahahahah!

[DarkDaY]

My worst fears seem to be coming true. God I hope its not what I think. Fuck you Wii and your money....

[Primus]

I have not been in Nintendo's demographic for quite some time.

[Sydric]

I'm sure that the wording about appealing to a larger demographic is just purely information for investors. Zelda has always, and shall continue I would be willing to bet, appealed to just about everyone that cared to spend 10 minutes with it.

@PostedOval - if you Adore your C64, make sure you check out our computer museum website (below)

[Rommel]

At what point do the Nintendo fanboys start to see that they are getting spit on regularly?

[deathfan]

Oh don't worry... I feel spat on every day.

I'm still playing Ocarina and pretending like it's 10 years ago just to ward off the depression.

[TeeCakes]

Quote in the OP really speaks for itself. Hardcore gamers that only own a Wii are delusional if they hold on hope to someday be satisfied with the library. You can't even count on Nintendo's first party titles anymore!

[JazGalaxy]

So is Nintendo done with making games for anyone besides the family friendly group? I sold my Wii about six months ago and still haven't seen a reason to get another one.

Comments like this are baffling to me.

I mean... you DO realize that Zelda has NEVER been anything BUT family friendly right?

I mean, seriously, what do you think Zelda IS?

the only "hardcore" zelda game is, what, Zelda 2? And people hate that game?.

So called "hardcore" gamers need to get over themselves

[see colon]

There is no context for the "wider age group" statement. Were they refering to other Wii titles, other Zelda titles, or perhaps even a very specific game. Any Zelda title would appeal to a wider age group than, say, Madworld or House of the Dead.

As for docket #420187 (ĦÅřĐʕʘΓΞ ϭдϻΣЃȥ vs. Nintendo Wii)... I'm sure that this forum's members couldn't come to a concensus on the definition of a "hardcore game". If I starded a thread right now asking the question, the first page would have a quarter of the responses asking for boundries on the definition, to the point where I'd be defining it for others. If I starded a thread that asked "Is this a hardcore gamer" and profiled myself, I'd bet a 50/50 split for yes and no.

[blackzc]

Oh don't worry... I feel spat on every day.

I'm still playing Ocarina and pretending like it's 10 years ago just to ward off the depression.


^ This..........................

[TeeCakes]

There's a reason why these threads concerning the Wii's software shortcomings so often invoke the 'hardcore gamer' label. Apparently, not everyone is satisfied with the steps Nintendo has taken to woo the casual nation.

I'd like to put forth a motion to define 'hardcore' right now-- these are gamers too intelligent to accept the BS shovelware bursting from the seams of the Wii library.

They'd rather have games that put quality first, not ones that maximize profits for developers (which appears to be the direction this Zelda title is swinging towards).

[TeeCakes]

There's a reason why these threads concerning the Wii's software shortcomings so often invoke the 'hardcore gamer' label. Apparently, not everyone is satisfied with the steps Nintendo has taken to woo the casual nation.

I'd like to put forth a motion to define 'hardcore' right now-- these are gamers too intelligent to accept the BS shovelware bursting from the seams of the Wii library.

They'd rather have games that put quality first, not ones that maximize profits for developers (which appears to be the direction this Zelda title is swinging towards).

"developers *and publishers", since the publishers are probably the ones making these anti-hardcore decisions.

[see colon]

There's a reason why these threads concerning the Wii's software shortcomings so often invoke the 'hardcore gamer' label. Apparently, not everyone is satisfied with the steps Nintendo has taken to woo the casual nation.

I'd like to put forth a motion to define 'hardcore' right now-- these are gamers too intelligent to accept the BS shovelware bursting from the seams of the Wii library.

They'd rather have games that put quality first, not ones that maximize profits for developers (which appears to be the direction this Zelda title is swinging towards).
So would a "hardcore gamer" own a Wii at all, because its library is shovelware ridden? Or would a hardcore gamer own a Wii but only a few "hardcore" titles.

I consider myself a hardcore gamer, because playing games is my main hobby. I play mostly PC games, but I also enjoy console titles that offer a different experience to what I can get on the PC. One such experience is lightgun games. What I love about the Wii is the lightgun games. To my knowlage there is only 1 lightgun game on either the PS3 (Time Crisis 4) or XBox 360 (none). Sure, may of those lightgun games are shovelware (I'm looking at you, House of the Dead 2&3), but that doesn't mean they aren't the experience I'm looking for. I'm a hardcore lightgun game fan.

[TeeCakes]

So would a "hardcore gamer" own a Wii at all, because its library is shovelware ridden? Or would a hardcore gamer own a Wii but only a few "hardcore" titles.

I consider myself a hardcore gamer, because playing games is my main hobby...Sure, may of those lightgun games are shovelware (I'm looking at you, House of the Dead 2&3), but that doesn't mean they aren't the experience I'm looking for. I'm a hardcore lightgun game fan.

1st paragraph - I expect a lot of hardcore gamers to have bought a Wii if they were ever going to buy one by now. But I don't expect them to have played any good games lately, which seems to be the majority of people I know that own Wiis, and the people posting in this thread and others that are disappointed in the library.

2nd paragraph - The red text isn't what I would define as a 'hardcore gamer'-- more of a 'frequent gamer' than anything. But the part that's bolded where you recognize and acknowledge the shitty titles on the Wii (instead of accepting and buying these titles obliviously) fits exactly with my proffered definition, IMO.

Hardcore Gamers - these are gamers too intelligent to accept the BS shovelware bursting from the seams of the Wii library.

[see colon]

It isn't like the PS3 and 360 have nothing but AAA titles in their library, though. I definatly own a few turds for the 360, and my library there is pretty small because the library has plenty of overlap with the PC.

Your definition of a hardcore gamer is completly subjective to your tastes in gaming, and that was the point of my earlier statement about loving lightgun games. Some of them are shovelware like House of the Dead 2&3, where you get a port of an Xbox title (HotD3 for xbox included HotD2) with less detail and some pretty bad slowdown in some areas. Other games are shovelware and total crap, like Target: Terror. But because I love the genre I'll own that someday, too. Would owning that game make me less hardcore? I own Starsky and Hutch for the PS2 because it has lightgun support. Does that make me less hardcore, too? What if the reason I have Starsky and Hutch is because I am so hardcore that I needed to own every domesticaly released Guncon game for PS2, and by extension would need to purchase shovelware like Target: Terror because I also need every lightgun style shooter for Wii?

Plus, sales figures would imply that most Wii owners are hardcore by your definition, given Nintendo's reputation for being able to produce quality titles and Nintendo's platforms reputation of only selling Nintendo's games and not those made by 3rd parties.

[TeeCakes]

It isn't like the PS3 and 360 have nothing but AAA titles in their library, though. I definatly own a few turds for the 360, and my library there is pretty small because the library has plenty of overlap with the PC.

Your definition of a hardcore gamer is completly subjective to your tastes in gaming, and that was the point of my earlier statement about loving lightgun games. Some of them are shovelware like House of the Dead 2&3, where you get a port of an Xbox title (HotD3 for xbox included HotD2) with less detail and some pretty bad slowdown in some areas. Other games are shovelware and total crap, like Target: Terror. But because I love the genre I'll own that someday, too. Would owning that game make me less hardcore? I own Starsky and Hutch for the PS2 because it has lightgun support. Does that make me less hardcore, too? What if the reason I have Starsky and Hutch is because I am so hardcore that I needed to own every domesticaly released Guncon game for PS2, and by extension would need to purchase shovelware like Target: Terror because I also need every lightgun style shooter for Wii?

You have a valid point with the flaws of the 360 library, I'll just say that I'm glad you said it and not me (for once). But nobody can delude themselves into thinking that the Wii's library can compare in terms of quality software to either the 360 or PS3 at this point.

I don't think you're giving my definition of hardcore enough credit. People who can tell the difference between shovelware and "good" (yes, that's very subjective but put that aside for now) are hardcore gamers for that exact ability.

Regardless of whether you hated BioShock or not, the majority of intelligent gamers will recognize its meritoriousness. Even people that hate FPS's with a passion can agree that this is a "good" game. Now, when a gamer has a strong desire to constantly play these "good" games, be they niche titles or generic, that makes them 'hardcore' in my definition. Versus someone who doesn't really know what they're buying, that will (for example) buy a Miley Cyrus game just because they're a fan of the actress/singer regardless of how vomit-inducing the game mechanics are. That is NOT a 'hardcore' gamer.

So in your case, buying even the crappier light-gun games just because they're there doesn't qualify you as 'hardcore'. I'd argue that you're part of the problem if you support these crappy shovelware titles that litter the Wii, simply because you have enough disposable income to encourage these lazy publishers to continue cutting corners and selling half-of-a-game.

BUT-- your ability to be able to tell yourself "This game will probably suck," or after playing, to say "This game sucked!" makes you 'hardcore' and not part of the casual gaming sheeple.

I hope that clears things up... I'm sure it merely confused the issue more, though :p

Plus, sales figures would imply that most Wii owners are hardcore by your definition, given Nintendo's reputation for being able to produce quality titles and Nintendo's platforms reputation of only selling Nintendo's games and not those made by 3rd parties.

All the more reason why this Zelda 'announcement' threatens to scare away the few hardcore gamers left that have stood by the Wii's reign thus far. And let's face it-- having Wii Play and Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Top 10 NPD for years isn't fooling anybody-- what have they released lately that can compete with the dozens of 'quality' titles the 360/PS3 have been pumping out?

[see colon]

You have a valid point with the flaws of the 360 library, I'll just say that I'm glad you said it and not me (for once). But nobody can delude themselves into thinking that the Wii's library can compare in terms of quality software to either the 360 or PS3 at this point.
I could just as easily picked apart the PS3's library, or the PCs.

I don't think you're giving my definition of hardcore enough credit. People who can tell the difference between shovelware and "good" (yes, that's very subjective but put that aside for now) are hardcore gamers for that exact ability.

Regardless of whether you hated BioShock or not, the majority of intelligent gamers will recognize its meritoriousness. Even people that hate FPS's with a passion can agree that this is a "good" game. Now, when a gamer has a strong desire to constantly play these "good" games, be they niche titles or generic, that makes them 'hardcore' in my definition. Versus someone who doesn't really know what they're buying, that will (for example) buy a Miley Cyrus game just because they're a fan of the actress/singer regardless of how vomit-inducing the game mechanics are. That is NOT a 'hardcore' gamer.

So in your case, buying even the crappier light-gun games just because they're there doesn't qualify you as 'hardcore'. I'd argue that you're part of the problem if you support these crappy shovelware titles that litter the Wii, simply because you have enough disposable income to encourage these lazy publishers to continue cutting corners and selling half-of-a-game.

BUT-- your ability to be able to tell yourself "This game will probably suck," or after playing, to say "This game sucked!" makes you 'hardcore' and not part of the casual gaming sheeple.

I hope that clears things up... I'm sure it merely confused the issue more, though :p
Except your options aren't mutually exclusive. By your definition my mother in law is a hardcore PC gamer, because she loves playing Solitaire on the computer. She thinks the Solitaire that comes with windows sucks, because of the lack of options and customization. So she purchased the best Solitaire game available*.

*her words, according to reviews that I take her word on.



All the more reason why this Zelda 'announcement' threatens to scare away the few hardcore gamers left that have stood by the Wii's reign thus far. And let's face it-- having Wii Play and Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Top 10 NPD for years isn't fooling anybody-- what have they released lately that can compete with the dozens of 'quality' titles the 360/PS3 have been pumping out?
I read the article linked to in the news article, and I have yet to find a quote or transcript of the call to put that quote in context. What are they comparing it to? Recent Zelda titles? Recent Nintendo releases? Recent Wii releases? Recent releases by any publisher on any system? It makes a huge difference. ExciteBots isn't exactly a game that will appeal to a wide age group, in my opinion.

[JazGalaxy]

There's a reason why these threads concerning the Wii's software shortcomings so often invoke the 'hardcore gamer' label. Apparently, not everyone is satisfied with the steps Nintendo has taken to woo the casual nation.

I'd like to put forth a motion to define 'hardcore' right now-- these are gamers too intelligent to accept the BS shovelware bursting from the seams of the Wii library.

They'd rather have games that put quality first, not ones that maximize profits for developers (which appears to be the direction this Zelda title is swinging towards).

The failure of your definition comes into play when I, who I guess would be a "hardcore gamer" finds the majority of "AAA" titles to be mind numbingly poor. many games have extreme content like blood and breasts, but involve nothing more to the gameplay than rapidly pressing the same button over and over again. and then, I suppose, occasionally pressing the right button during a quick-time event.

This is not the gameplay of the "intelligent" crowd, it's the gameplay of people who have somehow bought into the idea that games that contain bold colors are "juvinile" and nihilistic gore fests are "mature".