Nowadays, with Nintendo targeting a casual audience and making mind-blowingly disproportional amounts of cash, do you think that any of the classic franchises should be laid to rest?

I don't mean for the benefit of the casual gamer, but to reclaim the hardcore crowd. Some of their franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Metroid, etc. have been getting stale, being decades old. The same ideas have been milked over and over again, and there doesn't seem to be a reason to keep buying them anymore. Not that I don't love them, but their time has come. Maybe Nintendo should quietly pull the plug instead of having them die a horrible, drawn out death at the hands of mediocrity and consumer boredom.

The thing that made nintendo so great back in the day was the creativity. They created iconic characters, classic gaming mechanics, and original settings. I believe that they can pull together and create a new set of unique characters and gameplay if they tried hard enough, but should they? Should they really let their loyal mascots die? Or will this cause Nintendo's second coming and freshen up the game industry?

I really want another Zelda. TP was the first I played and it quickly bacame one of my favourite game.

Do they have to? yes. Will they? Probably not. Their Iconic characters will be forced to sacrifice any remaining dignity they had before nintendo drops them.

Long story short, yes, they should drop them. As much as I would like to see a new (good) zelda, I know its going to come with another gimmick that will only hurt the series. They need to try something new.

They'll probably start making more and more casual games using their mascots. Like Mario and Sonic Olympics, that sorta stuff. Even SSB, though not completely casual, is far from a "hardcore game."

AuntyEthel:
They'll probably start making more and more casual games using their mascots.

In other words, destroying their respect within the hardcore crowd, making their death quicker when the fickle casual crowd abandons
Nintendo

Optimus Prime:
I really want another Zelda. TP was the first I played and it quickly bacame one of my favourite game.

Same here, TP was sublime

It seems from casual observation that even the ''hardcore' Nintendo franchises are going to pot. Granted its not necessarily exciting to do the same thing over and over.

In fairness, this hasn't particularly stopped the Zelda Series with their 'Learn you are the one true hero, get uber weapon, beat a wizard' formula, but seriously now - Mario in the olympics? Yes, our portly plumber was always varied, but really. Olympics? Legend of Zelda with Link's Crossbow training? Metroid going pinball?

With the changes come change in opinion. I havent bought a Mario Game since Mario Kart on the DS. I sure as hell don't plan to have him race a blue hedgehog blur any time soon. We can't exactly say 'stick to you what you're good at' because the games format will eventually get boring, but Nintendo are going too far in the other direction trying to keep their Mascots afloat with 'new and innovative' ideas.

Twilight Princess is what is needed. Mario at the Beijing olympics? No Thanks.

All of their classic series' should be put to rest, and bashed and smashed until they are irrecoverable. Let some new, fresh, and potentially good, ideas have a chance.

Twilight Princess is what is needed.

Twilight Princess is NOT what we needed. Just when gamers think this more "mature" title is a good thing for Nintendo, it's helping stagnating the series; it's nothing more than fanwank for people who won't shut up about the "messiah" that is Ocarina of Time, won't let go of their dumb childhood memories, and will stubbornly be repelled at anything that makes the next Zelda even remotely fresh.

Xiado:

Optimus Prime:
I really want another Zelda. TP was the first I played and it quickly bacame one of my favourite game.

Same here, TP was sublime

Agreed, as was the Metroid Prime series, the only time I didn't hear fanboys screaming bloody murder over a huge shift in a favored series.

I think there's been enough Mario Spin Off stuff like Mario Golf, Mario Tennis, Mario Surfing, Mario Ping-Pong, etc...

orannis62:

Xiado:

Optimus Prime:
I really want another Zelda. TP was the first I played and it quickly bacame one of my favourite game.

Same here, TP was sublime

Agreed, as was the Metroid Prime series, the only time I didn't hear fanboys screaming bloody murder over a huge shift in a favored series.

The recent "Big Three" Nintendo's next gen conversions were all good (TP, Met. Prime, and Galaxy) but they've hit a wall. The road's ended, and I shed a tear for them, but they really need to die.

Metroid is not getting stale. That series still has a lot of potential, and I would love to see another Metroid game (either 2D platformer or 3D adventure).

From a marketing standpoint, Nintendo can't destroy Mario or Link because those are symbols of the company. Get rid of them, and Nintendo basically dies. I do agree that Nintendo needs to stop retreading the same old ground and give us a brand new IP already. The next Wii_____ will not rekindle the spirits of Nintendo's once loyal customers, and neither will copy/pasting Gamecube titles and selling them as new games (I'm looking at you, Animal Crossing: City Folk).

Create a new franchise already. Or better yet, buy back Rare and stick them in a time machine set to thirteen years ago. That ought to help.

Xiado:

The recent "Big Three" Nintendo's next gen conversions were all good (TP, Met. Prime, and Galaxy) but they've hit a wall. The road's ended, and I shed a tear for them, but they really need to die.

I can see where you're coming from. Your probably right.

Hardcore crowd? Seriously? Are those so-called "hardcore" gamers still of the silly belief they control the industry, or that the industry should cater to them and just pump out a bunch of FPS games? That they are somehow "too grown up" for Nintendo's IPs just because they finally got their first facial hair?

I think Eisenhower put it best when he said "Their number is negligible and they are stupid." Of course, he was talking about people who wanted to destroy Social Security, but I think it applies here.

Nintendo will not have to do any such thing. I think they're doing just fine with the way they've been using their franchises thus far, and I think they'll continue to do so

now if they'd just fix what's left of the Starfox series...

glowstick:
Twilight Princess is NOT what we needed. Just when gamers think this more "mature" title is a good thing for Nintendo, it's helping stagnating the series; it's nothing more than fanwank for people who won't shut up about the "messiah" that is Ocarina of Time, won't let go of their dumb childhood memories, and will stubbornly be repelled at anything that makes the next Zelda even remotely fresh.

Firstly, I'm not even going to touch upon Nintendo's Maturity tag (or seeming lack of), I haven't ingested nearly enough caffeine for me to survive. Secondly, Nintendo's franchises are already stagnating. TP isn't necessarily 'fanwank' as you so eloquently put it - it's a great game generally. It re-affirms the fans that Zelda, and whilst not necessarily fresh, is still enjoyable. For the same outcome, it is great for people to new to the franchise, like Optimus.

I'm not saying we need games like Twilight Princess because people don't want to lose their precious memories of the series, I'm saying we need games like it because there's so much rubbish coming out that, despite it being first party and older than half it's audience, it is a good game.

AceDiamond:
Hardcore crowd? Seriously? Are those so-called "hardcore" gamers still of the silly belief they control the industry, or that the industry should cater to them and just pump out a bunch of FPS games? That they are somehow "too grown up" for Nintendo's IPs just because they finally got their first facial hair?

Yes they do think this. And sadly, Nintendo is the only one of the "big three" who doesn't seem to agree with them.

they wont end any of those franchises they will just make more and more until there so hated that it would be illegal to speak of them

AceDiamond:
Hardcore crowd? Seriously? Are those so-called "hardcore" gamers still of the silly belief they control the industry, or that the industry should cater to them and just pump out a bunch of FPS games? That they are somehow "too grown up" for Nintendo's IPs just because they finally got their first facial hair?

I think Eisenhower put it best when he said "Their number is negligible and they are stupid." Of course, he was talking about people who wanted to destroy Social Security, but I think it applies here.

You anger me sir! By hardcore I mean those who take gaming seriously, not the mainstream man who plays only FPS's and such. The point of my thread is that Nintendo should create new franchises that appeal to anyone, hardcore or casual. We don't believe we control the industry, and we don't want to. We just would like to see a little creativity in our games. Personally I'm fine with Nintendo pandering to the casual gamer but I just want to see the franchises done justice. What makes you so ready to rant about this?

Is it just me or have gamers all turned cynical? It's like they want everything to burn to the ground for no apparent reason. I see no reason why there shouldn't be another Zelda pumped out.

AceDiamond:

now if they'd just fix what's left of the Starfox series...

there's something left? I they obliterated it when that f*cking animal planet "adventure" was shitting out of their pants

ElArabDeMagnifico:
Is it just me or have gamers all turned cynical? It's like they want everything to burn to the ground for no apparent reason. I see no reason why there shouldn't be another Zelda pumped out.

"Some men just want to watch the world burn".

Also they donīt like anything older than themselves.

Nintendo has always been a giant Rube Goldberg device that if you put in spare parts at one end, it will constantly spew out Mario, Zelda, Metroid and Pokemon titles from the other.

The only thing different is that now there's a seperate machine that spews out brain training games, weight loss programs and face-streching exercises.

ElArabDeMagnifico:
Is it just me or have gamers all turned cynical? It's like they want everything to burn to the ground for no apparent reason. I see no reason why there shouldn't be another Zelda pumped out.

i agree. it's all good fun to talk about the demise of nintendo, but try to imagine your future without mario. mario will, and always should be, around. zelda may end, metroid may end, but tell me you can picture not having mario. telling your grandchildren "well back in my day" and having a tear in your eye. this is turning into a bit of a laugh but seriously, the fact that their main characters are still around isn't the problem. the problem is, their big three are all nintendo has. now that they're out of the current generation, they have nothing. I think nintendo has realized this, another zelda and mario is on the way. if you think about it, in the past what did you do with nintendo besides play their mascot titles? i know im going to get responses of I PLAYED ___ AWESOME SERIES but most of why a lot of people bought a nintendo was for mario, metroid, zelda, smash bros, mario kart, donkey kong, and basically all trademarks of the nintendo company.

this is becoming drawn out, but basically what im saying is that nintendo is serving the same purpose it always has, but in today's more modern market games have become much more than they used to be. people want more games faster and full of originality. my suggestion: wii as a second console. when there's a good game, it's good. but for a more serious or 'hardcore' gaming experience a pc, playstation, or xbox would be a better primary console

It's not like Nintendo has a lot of franchises, Mario, Metroid, and Zelda hardly constitute a majority of their releases in any given period. All are mascot franchises that few companies have been capable of replicating (and no other console manufacturer, Sack-boy and Master Chief don't hold up against Mario and Samus)

All have significant fan bases that demand further installments and are guaranteed to respond to such installments. And, Ben Croshaw's ravings aside, the Zelda / Mario / Metroid titles aren't nearly as mindlessly repetitive and milked as they are made out to be.

Ultimately, at this point, Nintendo retiring Mario would be the equivalent to McDonald retiring Ronald, and retiring Samus or Link would result in a loss of more Nintendo gamers than revisiting these staples that a number of fans associate with the brand.