This article originally ran under a different banner/website in July of 2018 and is now being here re-uploaded for purposes of convenience and consolidation. Please enjoy.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! I SEE THE CONFUSED LOOKS ON YOUR FACES!!! I HEAR THE WHISPERS!!! YOU THINK I HAVE OFFICIALLY GONE MAD!!! JUST MERE WEEKS AGO, I WAS PRAISING NINTENDO FOR BEING A WONDERFUL HOME FOR INDIE GAMES, AND NOW THAT NINTENDO WANTS TO RELEASE 20 OF THEM A WEEK, YOU DECLARE IT THE END OF THE SWITCH!!! Yes, my naïve followers. Just like you too, I initially thought Nintendo’s plan to release more indie games onto their platform was a bold and brilliant move. With more developers exclaiming they had more success on the Nintendo Switch than Steam, the thought of more developers being able to share in that success seemed like an obvious move. Then, I had an epiphany that took me on a train of thought to realize the true cynical reason behind Nintendo’s move to harbor more indies onto their platforms. Let me be the conductor and guide you along these dark train tracks to navigate you to Nintendo’s insidious plan.
It started when I asked myself how many GOOD indie titles are there? Hoping that Nintendo wasn’t aiming to become the next Steam, I tried to speculate how many solid indies titles were out there. Naturally, I couldn’t find an exact number for this, so I took the opposite approach. How many indie games would Nintendo need to release in a year to meet their quota? The answer is a staggering 1,040 games. While I admit there could be a surge in indie games to the Switch that would help the current library, I don’t believe this sustainable. Many indie games take multiple years to make, especially when they are usually made by smaller teams. So, with such an unsustainable policy why would Nintendo want to do this? I believe I have the answer to that as well. Much like Sony holding Fortnite hostage, Nintendo is looking to keep players chained to the Switch.
This move reminds me of a word that has been floating through the industry over the past couple of months: subscription. It appears the gaming industry has glanced over the shoulder of Netflix and decided they also wanted a piece of that pie. Both EA and Microsoft decided to dedicate a large portion of their presentations to pedaling their subscriptions. Microsoft boosted the Xbox Game Pass granted Xbox users access to over 100 Xbox One games including Xbox exclusives. While, the EA Access Pass gives users access to new EA titles early, instant access to EA games, and discounts on EA titles. Seems like everyone needs some sort of subscription model even when they don’t have much to offer; looking at you DC Universe and embarrassing DC Titan’s trailer. Much like the vast ocean known as the Steam library, Nintendo, Microsoft, and EA want a tidal wave of content to keep you mesmerized and glued to your controller. Similar to Netflix, these companies hope that with a vast library at your disposal, you will have no choice but to keep coming back for more.
Now some savvy listeners would point out that not every company is taking this approach. They would be pointing to companies like Activision and Ubisoft who have been slowly publishing fewer games over the years. I would combat that retort by saying these companies still want you to be returning to their games and spending money, they are just using a different method. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! May I present to you the Lives Services Model: a model that is based around the idea of getting players to return to their games and paying for new content. Both Ubisoft and Activision have crafted their downloadable content for Rainbow Six Siege and Call of Duty World War II around this model. A model that does work as Activision has boasted the 4 billion dollars they made on microtransactions alone in 2017. As a result, Ubisoft and Activision don’t want a tidal wave of games, but a tidal wave of season passes, downloadable content and microtransactions to keep you returning.
Both sides of the coin, want you to stay on their platform. Whether it is Nintendo hypnotizing you with the onslaught of indie darlings, or Ubisoft wanting you to login to Rainbow Six Siege day after day, these publishers want you to value their platform as much as you value your Netflix account. Realizing you can’t have subscriptions to everyone, they are banking on your invested loyalty to keep them afloat. They want to chain you to their platform, like being tied to a gold-encrusted anchor dragging you down to the bottom of the sea while your lungs fill with water. Do you know the difference between a man and a slave? A man chooses. A slave obeys. You think you have the choice on what you buy: indie games, console exclusives, downloadable content, and loot boxes. You have been bred to sleepwalk through life only indulging in content they choose. Does a man choose to buy the indie titles on the Switch or a slave? All these companies will be uttering the phrase would you kindly buy our content. Will you kindly buy our games? Would you kindly buy our downloadable content? WOULD YOU KINDLY BUY OUR LOOT BOXES? A MAN CHOOSES. A SLAVE OBEYS!!!!
Sorry… I don’t know what came over me. While I am more likely to accuse Activision and EA of malice, I don’t think Nintendo wanting more indie games is ill will. Historically, Nintendo has always gone overboard when they have found success: look to the Wii and Wii U as a prime example as Nintendo continued to double down on gimmicky motion controls. Keeping with their focus on fun, Nintendo has recognized there is a large number of enjoyable indie titles and most likely just wants to bring them to the Switch. I just hope Nintendo, sits down, takes a deep breath, looks at the mess known as Steam, and aims to bring quality indies not a quantity of them. In a time, where we are seeing less and less quality, we can’t afford to lose that Nintendo quality that they have built their name on. I have no doubt Nintendo will reconsider this policy. I am positive they will continue to foster indie games but need to focus on housing quality games. Now, if you excuse me, I have the uncanny desire to read Atlas Shrugged.