7 Ways Rockstar And Nintendo Are Exactly The Same

By Bryan Langley / January 3, 2017

Rockstar and Nintendo seem, on the surface at least, to be totally opposite in terms of the games they produce.

On one hand you’ve got the finest 18+ rated games available: graphic and violent scenes, adult humour (with some of the best satire around) and a story-heavy experience that lets you really engage with the world. And on the other, Nintendo. Colourful, bright, less about narrative and violence and more about getting you to have a good time regardless of which franchise or famous character you’re playing as.

But look closer, and you’ll see startling similarities in what their business practices, fans and game development records are like. Whether it’s game delays and vociferous criticism from fans or creating some of the most critically acclaimed titles in the history of the games industry, Rockstar and Nintendo are heavy-hitters that know how to produce the best games.

Here’s my guide to just 7 Ways Rockstar And Nintendo Are Exactly The Same.

7. They Know How To Space Out Beloved Franchises

So this year saw the announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2 with a gorgeous trailer not unlike the first Grand Theft Auto IV trailer way back when. It is (finally) due for release in the latter months of 2017.

The first Red Dead Redemption saw release in 2010 and the previous game – Red Dead Revolver hit the market on PlayStation 2 way back in 2004. And yet in the previous console generation we saw no less than three main entry GTA titles on the PlayStation 2: Grand Theft Auto III (2001), GTA: Vice City (2002) and GTA: San Andreas (2004). This doesn’t even count the PSP games that made their way to PlayStation 2 as ports – Liberty and Vice City Stories in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Now if Mario is Nintendo’s GTA – frequent releases, spin-offs aplenty – then Metroid must be its Red Dead. As long-time Metroid fans will know, Super Metroid was 1994 and the next true sequel was Metroid Prime for GameCube in 2002!

All told, the release gaps when it comes to truly beloved titles are just as agonisingly large whether it’s Nintendo or Rockstar at the helm.