Happenstance Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 @Daft's comment in another thread about Nintendo not really having left the 90s got me thinking about this. First of all this is merely a hypothetical thread so we dont need any arguments about the Wii U as its not a factor. I just want to know what people think would happen if Nintendo just said "fuck it" and decided to go back to 2D and launched a kind of SNES 2. Would there be a market for this kind of thing beyond Nintendo fans and others nostalgic for that age in gaming?
RedShell Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I'd buy it. Especially if it had Super Mario Kart 2. But a market beyond Nintendo fans?... Today? Hell no. It'd be catastrophic.
Agent Gibbs Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 they could release it as a sort of steam like platform/emulator on android and bundle a download code with a bluetooth SNES controller then boom nintendo would own the mobile gaming market too
Fused King Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 A SNES 2? Backed by NINTENDO and their new indie friends? HOLY FUCK!
Hero-of-Time Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 A purely 2D gaming machine, in HD and online? Yes please.
Ganepark32 Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I remember back before the Wii U was revealed and the rumour (admittedly baseless but interesting nonetheless) that Nintendo was going to reveal a console which would be more in line the SNES in terms of power, etc. I know we're not supposed to bring the Wii U into this discussion/thread, but I do think it would have been an interesting (and dare I say better) alternative. It'd certainly speak to the current crop of indie devs making games in that 16 bit style. And I actually think it would be an interesting turn for the industry to take right now as developers wouldn't be able to rely on all the cinematics/lengthy cutscenes being used (not that I'm totally against this at all, well with the exception of Kojima/MGS style cutscenes) meaning that games, and the quality of the gameplay, would have to speak for themselves. But obviously it creates the possible issue of developers being stuck in a loop and not being able to get more out of the console and push for bigger experiences perhaps. But then again, I still think things like Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, etc. still hold up extremely well against today's offerings so maybe that wouldn't be an issue. Perhaps scalable hardware, maybe in the vain of what Valve are doing with the Steambox, would be better than purely sticking to a 16 bit/32 bit/whatever console. But this then leads on to whether there could be a market place for such a device as it would split the consumer base if they went with different specced models. Although, again, by making it scalable/upgradable you could possibly get round that. And applying the same scalability to pricing on games could help take it to a wider audience. It's an interesting idea and would be a ballsy move given the constant push for more processing power but one I actually think it may be workable given the current economic climate. If anyone was to try it, it would likely be Nintendo but they'd need to pull their head out a bit first.
Rummy Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 It'd be a retro machine sure, and I don't know if I'd be tempted. Again, it all comes down to price. It'd had to be cheap really, given what it is, but that too means it wouldn't turn a lot of money, and that too means that it just wouldn't really happen. I definitely like the idea though. It just seems a bit too unrealistic to think of in an economic sense. What would you be willing to pay for something like this, or for its games?
Happenstance Posted October 8, 2013 Author Posted October 8, 2013 In this weird fictitious world we are creating I would kind of like this split to occur. PS4/Xbox One/PC still going for their market but then maybe Indie developers and other nostalgic devs starting to make games for the SNES 2 and Mega Drive 2 (or Mega Drive 4 I guess?).
Josh64 Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 Didn't SEGA release a Mega Drive with a bunch of built in games a few years ago? Or did I dream that?
Mandalore Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I wonder how cheaply they could make an HD 2D console.
Happenstance Posted October 8, 2013 Author Posted October 8, 2013 Didn't SEGA release a Mega Drive with a bunch of built in games a few years ago? Or did I dream that? That was an unofficial one I think, they did a handheld as well
RedShell Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I reckon Nintendo would have more chance making a new retro handheld. A modern version of the Game Boy could be pretty cool, especially if it had a E Ink/Kindle style screen that you could see perfectly while outside in bright sunlight. Would still be a risky move though, but not as much as a SNES 2. It'd just need a Pokémon game in order to survive.
flameboy Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I'd say this thing could have some potential as a small box/streaming box or whatever but then we would be reliant on Nintendo's online systems....I also not sure Nintendo are the best people to deal with this in many respects their later handling of Virtual Console on Wii and currently in the eshop on 3DS is pretty horrendous.
nekunando Posted October 8, 2013 Posted October 8, 2013 I'd love Nintendo to make some more games for the SNES and N64, without having to release a new console
Dcubed Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 Didn't they already release a SNES 2? Hell it's also available in portable form too
Hogge Posted October 9, 2013 Posted October 9, 2013 I'd say no. They should instead go back to the philosophies they had in game development back then and the N64 days. Meaning that 3D games should feature open worlds and that Nintendo do their outmost to have most genres covered on their consoles.
Grazza Posted October 10, 2013 Posted October 10, 2013 I wouldn't want SNES 2 as an actual console. I'd rather Nintendo got into the tablet market properly - 7", 1080p with a d-pad and 2 buttons. So it'd be more like a NES 2 in terms on controls, but the games would continue the SNES in spirit. I've said before that I'd like Nintendo to set up "Nintendo Sprite Division" to make exactly this type of game - hi-res 2D games with lots of layers and sprite-scaling. The problem to me is that they are making a lot of games in 2.5D, which (IMO) doesn't quite have the appeal of pure 2D or 3D. So if they set up SNES 2/Nintendo Sprite Division as some sort of service for a tablet or handheld, I'd be very much in favour of it.
Ronnie Posted October 19, 2013 Posted October 19, 2013 Why not just release SNES 2 games on Wii U and 3DS? Best of both worlds
Hogge Posted October 20, 2013 Posted October 20, 2013 Why not just release SNES 2 games on Wii U and 3DS? Best of both worlds Would be interresting if Nintendo sort of revamped the virtual console and offered developers to release new games for the VS. My team would love to make a game with N64-era graphics.
Happenstance Posted October 20, 2013 Author Posted October 20, 2013 My team would love to make a game with N64-era graphics. I'll never understand that. For me the N64 is one of the hardest consoles to go back to because of how ugly the graphics and textures were. There are obviously games like Zelda and Mario that managed to work past that but overall I cant stand the way everything looks.
Dcubed Posted October 20, 2013 Posted October 20, 2013 I'll never understand that. For me the N64 is one of the hardest consoles to go back to because of how ugly the graphics and textures were. There are obviously games like Zelda and Mario that managed to work past that but overall I cant stand the way everything looks. Look at Banjo Kazooie on N64 and then Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts... There's your answer (Be honest. You'd much rather see a new Banjo game done in the same style as the N64 games, low poly models and all, than with modern spangly graphics wouldn't you?)
Happenstance Posted October 20, 2013 Author Posted October 20, 2013 Look at Banjo Kazooie on N64 and then Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts... There's your answer (Be honest. You'd much rather see a new Banjo game done in the same style as the N64 games, low poly models and all, than with modern spangly graphics wouldn't you?) ......Nope
Sheikah Posted October 20, 2013 Posted October 20, 2013 (edited) Look at Banjo Kazooie on N64 and then Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts... There's your answer (Be honest. You'd much rather see a new Banjo game done in the same style as the N64 games, low poly models and all, than with modern spangly graphics wouldn't you?) That's not really a good comparison... they took a pretty controversial graphical style with Nuts and Bolts. If it was a comparison between BK and a BK game remade with the same graphical style but high res models and textures (not just what they did in the HD remake) then I'd take the modern version for sure. The only reason I might feel something for the old appearance would be purely down to nostalgia. 64 graphics were not good. They were like the teething years of 3D. One of the reasons why I think SNES looks great is because the 2D format is kinda timeless, and in many ways SNES was quite advanced in terms of 2D presentation (particularly with games like LTTP). For 3D though, it's one of those things where blocky characters and low frame rate didn't result in something flattering. Easier way to compare this - do people prefer the graphics of 3D DS games (e.g. Mario 64 and Final Fantasy III) or 3D 3DS games like Monster Hunter, Super Mario 3D Land, etc? The two are a bit like comparing 3D on the N64 with the GameCube. Edited October 20, 2013 by Sheikah
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