Author: Zachery Oliver
Zachery Oliver, MTS, is the lead writer for Theology Gaming, a blog focused on the integration of games and theological issues. He can be reached at viewtifulzfo at gmail dot com or on Theology Gaming’s Facebook Page.
What’s the problem with Nintendo? Sales went down the tubes. My earlier article proved a total nonstarter, of course. Obviously, neither I nor President Iwata understands the market his company once helped create. Nintendo faces a structural problem, but also a market based one, a terrible product, and bad self-promotion; a variety of factors led to this points, ones which go beyond the rose-colored lens of Nintendo nostalgia and into the cold, harsh, objective light of day.
The problem is not really a problem with Nintendo. It’s a problem with the audience and a problem with Nintendo’s messages to the consumer. Let’s dive deeper.
Since it seems the Christian game community suddenly finds itself on the idea of preconceived notions and judging things on face value, allow me to say a few words: Maybe we all judge the traditional video game on face value.
I can say, for a fact, that fighting games scare me with their dexterity, execution, mind games, and mental speed requirements. Even though I always was and remain a great fan of most two-dimensional fighters, I can’t say with any confidence that my modicum of skill could fit into any category other than “noob”.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
I believe, rather solidly and definitively, that video games only hold you by their aesthetics for only so long. I know plenty of games that strike you with their art styles, but immediately falter. I prefer that experience to something far worse when the game’s flaws become apparent to the player in the last vestiges of the developer’s intended pathway.
Since snow descended on my town, my weekend ended up a Fortune Street marathon of sorts (at least from my reckoning). Given that, I figured I could amend my previous review of the game while adding a few notes to the process.
1. Don’t Play This Like a Real Investment Portfolio
Fortune Street’s a video game. Thus, the rules that apply to real investment do not necessarily apply here. For example, Fortune Street makes it impossible to invest on margin; you may only use the assets you own. Assets can’t be given to you by other players; you must make a deal or create said assets yourself (or the AI will give them to you).
