Most gamers got their start in a shiny, colorful world created by Nintendo. Whether they were riding on horseback through verdant fields of Hyrule or blasting through the unstable alien planet of Zebes, Nintendo had the attention of kids, teens, and adults alike.
Nintendo possessed the unique ability to provide new players with an introductory course in video games while simultaneously challenging core fans with depth and excitement. But the 80s and 90s are gone, and Nintendo has lost its stranglehold on the video game market. Ever since Sony unleashed the behemoth PlayStation and Microsoft elbowed its way into the market with the Xbox, Nintendo has found itself in a multi-front war of attrition. Personally, I used to love Nintendo. I liked that the company differentiated itself by encouraging creativity and innovation in a world that's obsessed with efficiency and formulas. However, Nintendo has recently deviated from that standard of excellence. Instead of creativity, they produce tepid re-imaginings of games that were successful years (or decades) in the past. Development of revolutionary innovations has given way to investment in gimmicks that add nothing to the video game experience. Nintendo has been squeezed by tradition on one side and progress on the other, leaving the company without an identity. They are not beyond help, but some choices have left fans scratching their heads. Here is a list of boneheaded decisions by the Big N, and why it's difficult for fans to pledge their undying loyalty as they once did.