What next for Nintendo?

Nintendo is currently in an unusual position. Despite the GameCube having become the platform of choice for many discerning gamers, it has lost out to Xbox in the fight for second place in the UK console market. On the other hand, however, the GameBoy Advance continues its unrivalled dominance of the handheld arena. (The SP, launched in the US only ten weeks ago, has already sold over a million).

So how will Nintendo fare from here on? The company has such a reputation it's unlikely the home hardware arm will go the way of Sega's. Its key strength is in branded software, with many games having a history that stretches back to the early 80s. This has been a double-edged sword, however. In the 90s, the quality control process – which resulted in a relatively small number of available titles – couldn't compete with the Sony policy of backing innumerable developers (and employing savvy marketing). Nintendo is tweaking its policy for this next generation gaming age but, importantly, isn't sacrificing the quality of its branded games (as proved by Metroid Prime and The Wind Waker).

Nintendo's upcoming releases certainly includes a fair number of familiar branded games – notably, racer Mario Kart: Double Dash, a slice of quintessential Nintendo (Wario World, the lost almost-N64 game Kirby Air Ride, Mario Golf Tour and Pikmin 2 are all also from the school of Miyamoto). But there's also a more diverse range of styles and genres.

This is demonstrated with F-Zero GX (another racer that continues a renowned franchise and, with its futuristic stylings and hectic pace, will have a different appeal to Double Dash); LucasArts Star Wars game Rebel Strike (yeah! Speederbikes!); classy multiplatform beat-em-up Soul Calibur II (my boy Kilik is in top form); Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (a return to Nintendo after the franchise's shift to Sony); the striking Viewtiful Joe (which is destined for cult status); Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (from the Sonic Team); and Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes, which, despite being simply a snazzification of the PS classic, is still a pleasant surprise.

As for GBA – well, that long-awaited Advance Wars sequel (called, ahem, Black Hole Rising) should be with us in October. The miniaturised strategy game is a darling of near-perfect game design, as compulsive as the original. Oh, and there's the little matter of Pokémon, too.

Surely that's something for everyone? And Nintendo allegedly also plans to launch its GC heir at the same time as the PS2 successor. Which would be a good move. Wouldn't it? Daniel Etherington 20 June 03

useful link: www.nintendo-europe.com