Honestly, I think this system is sort of OK. I was under the impression Nintendo took a cut of your profits from the monitization you got and they gave you some advertising revenue or something like that. Still not aware of how the system actually works.
That's exactly what they do, actually.
You have two options:
- Your Youtube channel can
only upload content from Nintendo games that they have approved. With this, they'll take less of your money
but you can only play games on that list (which isn't as great as it sounds).
- You can individually sign up videos and keep your channel the same. They take a larger cut for this but you'll still be able to upload non Nintendo related content.
The list of 'approved' games are obviously Nintendo games. The catch is that it isn't all Nintendo games.
Now when I say that, I mean this doesn't include Donkey Kong Country games, Pokemon games, Smash Bros games, certain Zelda titles like Minish Cap, certain Metroid games, Kirby games and a whole load of other games you would expect to be on here.
Essentially, if Nintendo weren't the only developer for a game, that game isn't included, so you can't register the entire channel. I'm unsure whether you're 'allowed' to use these games at all actually.
You also have to wait for videos to be 'approved' by Nintendo before you can upload them. This can take up to 6 weeks so I believe.
This is common with partners as they make sure you're uploading what you say you are and that your content is up to their standards. The difference is that with other partners there is a 'trial period' and after this, your videos are automatically approved. The 'Creator Program' doesn't do this, you'll always have to wait 6 weeks, which can be a problem for many, such as anybody that releases 'up-to-date' content like a product review where getting it up ASAP is important for views/relevance.
So, you can either:
- Have a channel that only uploads content from a small amount of 'approved' titles and have Nintendo take a smaller cut of your profits...Every 6 weeks.
- Have a channel where you do what you want, but Nintendo takes a larger cut from each video you register.
Here's the best part! Do you know what you get in return? Nothing.
You know all those other Youtube 'partners' that take a cut of your profits in return for helping your channel grow through advertisement etc.? This doesn't happen, you're just giving Nintendo money.
It's honestly an awful 'program' and nobody should sign up for it. I know quite a few 'bigger' youtube channels that are more 'Nintendo focused' have pretty much avoided Nintendo uploads since this scheme has been put in place such as DYKG and the Game Theorists (they haven't announced they're avoiding it, but they've had no Nintendo uploads since then). I'm pretty sure Peanut Butter Gamer hasn't uploaded anything Nintendo either, and he's almost entirely Nintendo.
I don't do any Youtube gaming stuff but the thought crossed mine and my friends mind when we heard about this. "Get paid by Nintendo to play Nintendo games? AWESOME!"
No...I read that 'contract' and it was a joke. We decided to do something else stupid with our time instead (we bought Ocarinas, because reasons)
~ Why is this a bad thing? ~
Many would argue that this is free advertisement for Nintendo. People will see a youtuber play a game or hear their thoughts on it and they'll go out to buy that game. You're paying Nintendo to advertise their games in this case. It might hurt your game if the game is bad, but Nintendo don't really have this problem.
The only time this is really debatable is with story driven games where people watch a 'lets play' instead of buying the game (I know it happens, I've done it myself). Nintendo games aren't really story focused though, like, at all. You don't exactly buy the new Mario game to see the fantastic new story. Games like Fire Emblem maybe but even then, you want the gameplay.
There's also the part where a lot of people don't watch youtubers for the games, they watch them for the person playing them. Whether or not JonTron or PBG play Nintendo games is irrelevant to me, I just enjoy those people specifically. They could literally play anything else and I would still watch them.
In this case why would you pay Nintendo to advertise their games when people are going to watch you anyway? Why give them money when you could play literally anything else instead? You wouldn't.
