To cute or not to cute, that is the question, if you'll forgive the blatant verb/adjective switching. Sony, creators of the world-dominating PlayStation, have been attempting to push the idea of 'mature' video gaming since the release of their killer console. Just look at the PSX's list of top games: Final Fantasy VII; Gran Turismo; Resident Evil; Metal Gear Solid; Tomb Raider; Grand Theft Auto. Notice a certain similarity between them? They all deal with fairly adult themes in gritty environments. Games like these have helped to establish the PlayStation's reputation as the 'grown-up's' machine. It's undeniably a cool piece of hardware, no matter what you think about it; hell, the Fonz would probably have owned one if they'd been around in the Fifties.
     But what about Nintendo? You're not going to get any argument from me that they make some of the finest games in the world, but aren't they a bit cute? The cartoon graphics may have cut it in the 16-bit world, but have they contributed to the N64's second-place position in the marketplace? Probably, is the best answer I can come up with. Imagine this: you're one of the faceless minions in the 18-30 age bracket that advertisers and marketing people love so much. you've got plenty of spending power and disposable income, and have many years left to develop brand loyalties. Off you trot down to your local Game, Electronics Boutique or whatever to buy one of those new-fangled console things. Three machines are on display: a PlayStation, an N64 and a Dreamcast. You ignore the Dreamcast despite its better graphics for three reasons: 1) it's too expensive; 2) the range of games is currently rather limited; and 3) it has a control pad that looks suspiciously like a breezeblock.
     This leaves two options: the PlayStation and the N64. Now, the PlayStation is running one of the Tomb Raider games, it doesn't matter which as they're all pretty much the same. What you see on screen is a huge-breasted, athletic woman running around a 3D labyrinthine level filled with wolves, guards and terrifying dinosaurs. Oh, yes, and guns. The N64, on the other hand, is running Super Mario 64. The graphics are good, but it's still a bit twee with a cute plumber jumping on walking mushrooms and rescuing baby penguins. A quick play would, of course, soon show that SM64 is by far the better game but, in terms of appearances, which one are you more likely to go for? Tomb Raider is very cool, very stylish and Indiana Jones-esque. Mario, meanwhile, looks like a cartoon.

Toad : how cool is he?

 
If you're 18 and you want to impress your friends, it's probably a safer bet to get a PlayStation. So, foolishly, you do. A few months later, though, you realise that you've made the wrong decision. Sure, there's a massive choice of games, but only about five of them are worth buying and there's precious little other than driving and fighting to choose from. But by then, of course, it's too late. You've made your choice.
     Nintendo's 'cute' policy has lost it a lot of sales. naturally there's always going to be a clique of hardcore gamers who can see through the cuteness to the true brilliance of titles like Mario and Zelda, but more and more people are demanding something a bit more mature. Like GoldenEye. Or Perfect Dark, or Turok, or Carmageddon. With games such as these, the Big N is trying to redress the balance. Unfortunately, it's probably too late for the N64. The former Project Reality will be remembered as the 'kiddies'' machine by PlayStation owners, or perhaps as the last bastion of traditional gaming by those who have played on one.
     If Nintendo's forthcoming new console (Project Dolphin, N2000, Barbara, whatever they decide to call it) is to succeed in this new gaming world, it's going to have to be a bit more grown-up. Yes, we all want to play Mario and Zelda, but let's have less emphasis on kiddie games like Yoshi's Story (Super Happy Tree indeed, tut). It may have been acceptable back in the 16-bit days, when graphics could not be realistic due to technical constraints, but in this era of Sony, Tomb Raider and Resident Evil, it just isn't cricket. Consoles aren't just for kids these days.