If you don’t like Nintendo you don’t like video games

A reader admits this week’s Swap OLED announcement was a mistake however criticises people who suppose Nintendo doesn’t know what it’s doing.

Nintendo made a mistake this week. After months of hype and hearsay the Swap Professional was revealed to be simply an ‘improve’ to the unique mannequin, that doesn’t change something of significance besides the display screen. That in itself just isn’t a mistake however the way in which they dealt with the announcement – out of the blue, only a few days after a Nintendo Direct – felt like a naughty child sneaking again into their home by way of the window, moderately than the preeminent console producer making a significant {hardware} announcement.

Little question they have been offended in any respect the rumours and knew the Swap OLED was solely a minor variation and didn’t need individuals complaining it wasn’t the Swap Professional, despite the fact that they clearly would – and did. But when they knew why not simply be sincere and say they have been solely making a minor improve? They kind of did this a couple of weeks in the past, however with the identical sort of obscure advertising and marketing language that they use earlier than each main announcement and/or after they’re attempting to fake they haven’t bought a reveal developing. So nobody paid them any consideration.

It’s the kind of pointless PR blunder (I wouldn’t name it a catastrophe precisely) that they all the time get themselves into and it instantly had everybody declaring that Nintendo is doomed, that they’re idiots that don’t know what they’re doing, and that the Swap OLED goes to be a significant flop. Clearly, none of these issues are true however the second one thing goes unsuitable with Nintendo the haters immediately come out of the woodwork.

They love when Nintendo makes a mistake however much more they hate after they’re profitable. When their video games assessment effectively or when their consoles promote effectively. They hate that as a result of it’s incontrovertible proof that Nintendo know what they’re doing and are effectively favored, after they really need the alternative to be true.

However why?

I feel for lots of people – and also you get this in every little thing, not simply video games – they’re simply not comfy with one thing being widespread that they don’t personally like. Of their eyes which means they’re ‘unsuitable’ and since that may’t be true they begin overcompensating, imagining bizarre conspiracies about paid-off journalists and sheeple followers who will purchase something (the place have been these followers in the course of the Wii U period?!).

With Nintendo although it’s worse, as a result of lots of people nonetheless really feel secretly embarrassed about enjoying video games. They fear that others suppose it’s just for youngsters, or it’s a waste of money and time, and they need to be off doing one thing extra grown-up as a substitute. To compensate they venerate video games which might be ‘mature’ by which they imply violent and morose. Name Of Obligation is okay, despite the fact that it’s as foolish and illogical as recreation of troopers within the playground, however something by Nintendo is frowned on as a result of it’s cartoonish and doesn’t take itself critically.

It’s peer stress a variety of the time, in addition to issues with shallowness, and simply usually wider society attempting to color some actions and pursuits as socially acceptable and others not. Issues have gotten significantly better in that regards for video games, over the past twenty years, however solely within the sense that individuals get to brag about profitable cash at being the most effective on the planet at Fortnite or how their tremendous critical recreation had a brilliant critical story (and boring gameplay).

Nintendo video games are the alternative to all that. They often have little or no story. They’re all concerning the gameplay. They’re concerning the pleasure of controlling a digital character, of motion, of exploration, of puzzle-solving, and of motion. So far as I’m involved if you happen to don’t like Nintendo you don’t like video video games. Probably not. You would possibly like interactive films or trolling individuals on-line or some procedural Ubisoft fashion recreation, that principally performs itself, and that’s tremendous however the actual essence of video video games isn’t about any of that stuff.

It’s about gameplay and having enjoyable. Not sitting watching some depressing drama play out on TV, fully out of your management. Or enjoying a battle royale simply so you possibly can upset different individuals after which flip to dishonest when it doesn’t work out for you. You don’t must suppose Nintendo is the most effective to take pleasure in what video video games are actually about, however if you happen to can’t no less than respect them you would possibly as effectively simply persist with non-interactive leisure.

By reader Dutton

The reader’s characteristic doesn’t mandatory characterize the views of GameCentral or Metro.