Core does not mean ‘Hardcore’

IGN ran a story where it said that Nintendo will reveal core games at E3 and that most users waiting in Wii lines are core users. Let’s address the first part.

Core market means, in disruptive terms, the old market, the main pillar. Nintendo’s ‘core market’ includes Mario, Zelda, Smash Brothers, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, F-Zero, Metroid, and Kid Icarus. The Hardcore (God bless them!), who naturally think everything revolves around them, think that Nintendo means it will show all its games about THEM. They say, cautiously: “But it better be a new IP, Nintendo! I don’t want see another old Nintendo franchise. I prefer a dark, GRITTY, game. Boy, I am so sophisticated!” Hardcore will actually probably get their wish in ‘Disaster’ as that should be coming out. However, when Nintendo says ‘Core’ they are not saying ‘Hardcore’. Hardcore are, obviously, a part of the Core market, but the vast majority of Core gamers are not hardcore. Someone who owned a Gamecube last generation is considered a ‘Core’ gamer.

Now, for the second part. There is a hardcore assumption, discussed above, that whenever ‘core’ is mentioned, that it is all about hardcore. IGN apparently didn’t care or overlooked putting the quote in context.

Franklin alluded to the console’s fan base, telling GamePro that “The clear majority of people waiting in line outside retailers on Sunday mornings to buy their Wii consoles are core gamers.”

–IGN

Based on that quote alone, you would think, “Boy, all those people buying Wii systems are Core gamers!” IGN added the line that Franklin ‘alluded’ to the console’s fan base as if saying the fanbase for Wii are core gamers.

But go to Gamepro, and we read this:

“We recently announced the upcoming release of Mario Super Sluggers,” said Marc Franklin, director of public relations at Nintendo, when asked by GamePro on Friday which upcoming Wii titles core gamers should be excited for. “Additionally, we will be announcing several new titles that core gamers will be interested in around the time of E3.”

In January, Nintendo released its first-half game lineup for Wii, which included
heavy-hitters like Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Fit, in addition to numerous
unknown titles. Since then, the company has remained quiet on its second-half release list,
with exception to Mario Super Sluggers. Despite this, some have speculated that a new Zelda
game, a Kid Icarus revival, and/or an all-new Wii franchise will surface at E3.

Franklin’s remarks come amid growing concern by some gamers that Nintendo mostly focuses on
casual games at the expense of fewer traditional ones, something the company dismisses while
admitting greater accessibility in games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii.

“The clear majority of people waiting in line outside retailers on Sunday mornings to buy
their Wii consoles are core gamers,” maintains Franklin.

-Gamepro

Now we have some context of where the quote came from. Franklin said it in response to Gamepro worrying about the demise of Core games from Nintendo. So, naturally, Franklin says Core games will be presented at E3 (the traditional tradeshow) and saying that most people lining up to buy Wii systems are core gamers. Note that he included Mario Super Sluggers as a ‘Core’ game.

And to add even further context, remember Dunaway showing that most people buying the Wii are core gamers. However, the key thing is that both Franklin and Dunaway are saying that most PLAYERS are not core gamers, just those waiting in line. Miyamoto remarked that Wii Fit was bought mostly by young males who play games. Does this mean Wii Fit is a core game? No! The wives as well as girlfriends ordered their men to go get it for them.

Nintendo wants the Core to be as healthy as possible as they flesh out the expanded audience before The Dilemma hits. Unfortunately, hardcore journalists keep writing stories from their hardcore bubble and are, sloppily, even putting quotes in incorrect contexts. The problem is that it creates incorrect assumptions, angry gamers when what is revealed isn’t what they thought, and more work for myself as I not only have to explain Nintendo’s strategy but explain it while cleaning up the mess being made.