Over at Resumeplay.net, they’ve assembled a nice list of “Things Nintendo Should Do Soon But Won’t Because They Don’t Need To.”
And as a Wii owner and Nintendo fan (don’t get me wrong, I like the other guys, too), I do have to agree with some of the things on the list, particularly latter items such as allowing headsets instead of WiiSpeak, having a Friends List system closer to the other guys, and having something akin to Achievements.
But in a way, I can sort of see why Nintendo would be reluctant to follow the other guys’ leads. Simply put, Nintendo seems to prefer to lead, rather than follow. To a fault, some might say.
Consider this. When Microsoft introduced Avatars, what did people do? They immediately drew comparisons to Nintendo’s Miis.
When word of Microsoft and Sony working on some sort of motion-control solution first came up, what did people say? They said that those two were copying Nintendo, trying to capitalize on the popularity of the Wii.
So, what would likely happen if Nintendo relented and used headsets, implemented something like Gamertags, and gave us Achievements? You just know– and I mean you know that people, in the press as well, would start talking about how Nintendo is copying Microsoft of Sony or both, possibly talking about how Nintendo is losing its edge, and other click-inducing hyperbole.
I’m not saying that’s the reason, perhaps not even a reason that they aren’t giving us some of the things we want. But I imagine it doesn’t help matters much.
Of course, it’s all conjecture. One imagines some concessions will be made whenever Nintendo releases their next console. I imagine there will be more on-board memory, maybe an improved online feature that more closely resembles what either of the other two guys are putting on.
Perhaps it will even feature HD. Though really, I’m in no hurry; I was just out yesterday looking at HD TVs at Future Shop, and looking at those prices… well, SD is fine by me for now. We mistook the ones which approached “affordable” for computer monitors at first.
That said, there are still other ideas on that list that I wish Nintendo would concede to. Virtual Console on DS (or at least give us Game Boy and Game Boy Advance on the Wii) and bringing back some more of their other IP would be nice.
Why haven’t they yet? I guess perhaps it’s as the article says: because they don’t need to. Perhaps they’re holding those as aces up their sleeves for when the chips start to look down.
On the other hand? Punch-Out!! came out a few months ago, so who really knows?
