Opinion: Why So Much Mass Media Hysteria Over 3DS Vision Warnings?

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Chris Morris

[In this opinion piece, Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris looks at the reports about the ‘dangers’ of the Nintendo 3DS for the young that surfaced over the holidays, and why lack of context and media sensationalism is rife in reporting this particular story.]

I’ve been a member of the so-called mass media for over 20 years. I logged over nine of those with CNN; have worked for Forbes; and spent more than half a dozen years in Atlanta radio, reporting on subjects including the 1996 Olympics and the ramifications of disastrous plane crashes.

I am, in short, a proud member of the Fourth Estate. But sometimes, the idiocy and sensationalism of certain members of my chosen profession drives me up a wall.

Analysis: The State Of The Nation At Nintendo

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Chris Morris

[Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris examines the surge in Nintendo’s U.S. sales around Black Friday, and asks whether this holiday season turnaround is enough to influence the company’s slowing growth curve.]

Over the course of the past year, gamers and the gaming press have written Nintendo off as a company in steep decline; hailed it as the savior of the handheld industry; written it off again (a couple of times, in fact); and called it greedy.

With Tuesday’s release of the 2010 Black Friday sales figures, the winds have shifted once again and Nintendo is now being called a powerhouse. The latest moniker is, of course, a temporary one – but it begs the question: exactly what is going on with Nintendo these days?

Video Game Sales Surge: Is the Turnaround Here?

Posted on November 30, 2010 by Chris Morris

After a year of disappointing sales figures and investor malaise, the video game industry is feeling some seasonal cheer.

The kick off to the holidays has been a boom time for game makers this year – with stellar sales for both hardware and software.

The question for investors, though, is whether this seasonal bump is the start of a turnaround for gaming companies – or just a short-term surge that will fade away by the end of December.

Nintendo returns to CES

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Chris Morris

It’s been 16 years since Nintendo showed up at CES – but with competition growing and a revolutionary product launch looming, Mario and Co. are packing their bags and heading to Vegas this January.

The company will be one of the flagship exhibitors in the 2011 CES Gaming Showcase when the consumer electronics tradeshow returns to Las Vegas Jan 6-9. All totaled, more than 35 video game companies will be part of that display.

Nintendo’s weirdest trademark

Posted on November 10, 2010 by Chris Morris

It’s common for companies to trademark their characters, games and hardware – but cultural sayings revolving around them? That’s a new one.

Nintendo has filed a request with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark the phrase “It’s on like Donkey Kong”. I’ll pause a minute to let that sink in.

Microsoft’s ‘Kinect’ Bet Looks to Be Paying Off

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Chris Morris

Microsoft rolled the dice when it decided to get into the video game motion control market. Nintendo, with the Wii, had certainly proven that there was an audience interested in a more intuitive controller, but with over 71 million of the consoles sold worldwide, the potential for market saturation was strong.

As the company rolls out Kinect on Thursday, early signs are showing that the gamble was a wise one.

Going through the motions: Kinect vs. Move vs Wii

Posted on November 3, 2010 by Chris Morris

Nintendo pioneered the motion gaming movement with the Wii. In September, Sony tried to better the experience with Move. And on Nov. 4, Microsoft will begin selling Kinect, which does away with controllers altogether. That’s when the battle will really kick into overdrive.

As holiday shoppers prepare their lists this year, they’ll be subjected to marketing blitzes and in-store kiosks for all three technologies, each hoping to separate people from their money. It’s the new front line for gaming companies and no one wants to be left behind.

Trying to decide which, if any, of these motion gaming experiences is right for you? We’ve broken down the pros and cons of each to make it easier.

Analysis: Consoles And Kids – The Generation Gap

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Chris Morris

[In this analysis, Gamasutra editor-at-large Chris Morris discusses the potential resurgence of ‘edutainment’ games, talking to Southpeak and examining Warner Bros’ moves into the relatively neglected category.]

There is, I will admit up front, absolutely nothing sexy about edutainment titles. Hell, even the name is dull – and sounds like it belongs in a boardroom, alongside words like ”synergy” and “paradigm”.

Core gamers won’t look at ‘em. Kids like ‘em fine until someone spills the beans about them being educational. And, since so many are targeted at toddlers and young kids (a very niche audience), they’re not exactly barnburners when it comes to a publisher’s bottom line.

How Critical Is This Holiday for Nintendo?

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Chris Morris

Two years ago, Nintendo could do no wrong. The Wii was at the height of its retail domination and competitors were scrambling for second place.

Today it’s a much different story and the looming holiday season could be a crucial one that determines the strength – and perhaps the future – of the company’s core console business.

The great video game sales mystery

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Chris Morris

If you want to know how much money your favorite movie earned at the box office, it’s pretty easy to find out — just look at USA Today or head online. Curious about how well a music CD sold? Billboard or Nielsen’s SoundScan service will let you know.

If you want to know how your favorite video game has sold, though, you’re essentially out of luck.

Chris Morris: Journalist

Tag Archives: nintendo