The balance between expectation and reality is a pendulum that video game studios struggle to navigate. Trailers and reveal events increase anticipation; however, failure to deliver on assumed promises can lead to anger and resentment. For over two decades a single website has been a constant and trusted source for video game reviews: Metacritic. But recently, the industry has scrutinized
Read moreFew companies generate more excitement or rumors quite like Nintendo. As evidenced by the resounding success of Nintendo Direct presentations, fans are perpetually starving for updated information on upcoming projects. While each Nintendo franchise garners massive support, none are more beloved than the Mario series. Spanning a course of 35 years, the Mario series boasts 20 mainline titles and even
Read moreBut can it run Crysis? Fans of first-person shooters vividly recall the late 2000s benchmark of video game hardware. Crytek’s revolutionary series elevated the genre to new heights, but the demands on consoles and quality PCs was notorious. A decade later, the gaming community is still asking the same question; however, the target of concern is Nintendo’s hybrid console. Recently
Read moreFor decades, executives and critics have attempted to define “magic” of Nintendo. While critics mention the company’s fearless embrace of change, former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime cited the company’s cross-generational appeal. Although both arguments are valid, the true testament of brand identity is the ability to expand into different product lines. On Monday, Nintendo announced that a Super
Read moreRevenue from the video game industry continues to outpace the likes of movies, television, and music. While the collective success is impressive, many leaders are starting to wonder how the industry could improve. Perhaps the most divisive argument is the topic of console exclusive games. In a recent Xbox Live speech, Phil Spencer shared his candid thoughts on console exclusivity
Read morePerhaps no other video game company generates excitement quite like Nintendo. From routine Nintendo Direct presentations to the annual E3 celebrations, Nintendo fans are perpetually starving for game reveals and news. With no updates on future titles beyond the upcoming Paper Mario release, the Nintendo community began scouring the Internet for information. The fan base settled on an obscure Spanish
Read moreOver 300 days have passed since the last official Nintendo Direct presentation, and fans continue to grow restless. While Nintendo has provided sporadic trailers and updates on its official Twitter feed, the company has remained silent concerning the future of its quarterly news publication. In fact, president Furukawa recently stated that Nintendo might change its marketing approach as a result
Read moreAs the world continues to struggle from the pandemic, video game release schedules remains volatile. Notable 2020 delays include Cyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima, Final Fantasy VII Remake, The Last of Us 2, and others. In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, studios are hesitant to update the community on future video game titles. But on Monday, news leaked regarding
Read moreIt is not often that publicly traded companies admit mistakes or failures. It is even rarer for organizations to abandon a large market segment. But in a surprising twist of events, Nintendo recently admitted that its mobile games strategy has produced disappointing results. According to a Bloomberg report, the company is even considering abandoning the mobile industry altogether. In this
Read moreOver the past decade, the bar by which fans evaluate difficulty is tied directly to a singular franchise: Dark Souls. First released in 2011 by FromSoftware, Dark Souls is an action role-playing game that is as punishing as it is polarizing. As more players overcame the arduous kingdom of Lordran, the game spawned a fan base of “git-gud” gamers. Studios
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