In video games when things look bleak it is up to the hero to turn things around. This is where Nintendo - the company that practically saved the video game industry back in 1985 when it introduced its Nintendo Entertainment System - now finds itself.
After scoring a major hit with its Nintendo Wii, which was released in 2006 and appealed mostly to casual gamers, kids and families, the company's subsequent Wii U has been more of a "Wii P.U." by most accounts. Instead of being the hotystem that everyone wanted, the Wii U has failed to excite prospective buyers.
At this week's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Nintendo is hoping to turn things around with help from beloved gaming characters Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong. It could be a bold move for the company to rely on these signature characters, who have been fighting the good fight for some 30-odd years. Nintendo thinks this could be just the right formula to score again.
The newly announced gaames include the upcoming Super Mario 3D World, which for the first time allows four players to take part in a Mario game (other than Mario Kart); Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which brings the infamous gorilla to the Wii U for the first time and in HD; The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, which has been enhanced with 1080p graphics; and Mario Kart 8, the latest entry in the popular racing franchise.
In fact, while Nintendo has previously not paid much attention to graphics or animation quality, these latest entries show that the company has apparently done their best to exploit the 1080p HD capabilities of the new console.
"Nearly every major piece of Nintendo IP will be represented on our platforms in 2013, with even more coming in 2014," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's president and Chief Operating Officer. "There's one fundamental truth in the video game industry: Software sells hardware. That was true with Wii and Nintendo DS, it's starting to happen with Nintendo 3DS and will be on display this summer and holiday season with Wii U. When gamers are making their purchasing decisions this year they're going to find that the games and experiences they want are either unique or entirely exclusive to a Nintendo platform."
In addition to unveiling these upcoming games at E3, Nintendo has partnered with big box retailer Best Buy, and will allow visitors to participating stores to get hands on time. From 4-8 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 12, and 1-5 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 15, gamers will get to play many of the upcoming games.
Perhaps these new games and Nintendo's new approach will allow the company to get back in the game.
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