'Mario Kart 8' fails to stem growing Nintendo losses

[Brapson]

Original Article: http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/30/5950887/nintendo-earnings-q1-2014

 

So unfortunately MK8 failed to improve the financial performance of Nintendo as a company, which is a shame but at the same time reasonable. I've had a limited time playing MK8 and from first impressions, it's an amazingly fun game but at the end of the day it's only a game. It's unreasonable to suggest that one game would turn around Nintendo's misfortune with the WiiU and at the same time it's not exactly the season for buying new consoles. Games make a platform and from what Nintendo showed at E3 there is a lot of new exciting content coming and as that happens we will gradually see WiiU ownership increase especially doing the holiday season, that will turn around Nintendo's financial performance.

 

I plan on purchasing my own WiiU very soon as out of the three main consoles it is the only one to spark my interest. It is a great console with some really amazing games it's just not been marketed well and Nintendo really screwed up with it's naming in my opinion.

 

Anyway, leave your thoughts and please don't start the console wars!

 

EDIT:

 

I forgot to mention that while MK8 didn't turn around Nintendo's financial performance in it's opening weekend WiiU sales went up 666% in the UK and overall sales of the console are much better than this time last year.

[xXxYOLOxSWAGxXx_420BlazeIt]

A 1000000th rendition of the same old games on hardware closed off from mainstream games isnt making money anymore? Who would have thought?

[Wiflare]

the new smash will earn them quite a bit more money.

[Brapson]

A 1000000th rendition of the same old games on hardware closed off from mainstream games isnt making money anymore? Who would have thought?

 

While I understand the view that Nintendo sticks to it's core franchises I don't agree that all of there games are repeats of the previous title. MK8 was a fresh take on the series and a lot of the stuff announced at Nintendo's E3 conference was fresh, including an entirely new franchise called 'Splatoon'. Nintendo even made fun of themselves during the conference by having someone say. "Oh great another Mario game."

 

the new smash will earn them quite a bit more money.

 

Yeah, thankfully that game lands during the Holiday season. I believe it was probably a reason the game was delayed, strategic marketing.

[ShadowCaptain]

A 1000000th rendition of the same old games on hardware closed off from mainstream games isnt making money anymore? Who would have thought?

 

100% agree

 

Nintendo should become a software dev, they could release their own peripherals if they want waggle motion like the wii, and release their games for 360 + ps4 and PC, they would make more money, they can keep their handhelds going too

[Notree]

 Pretty sure the wii is still outselling wiiU. $99 or $299. What do you think most parents will choose?. Only Nintendo fans are going to pay $299 wiiU. Anyone else buys PS4 or XBONE. They need to rethink what gamers want. Its definitely not a screen on your controller that's takes your eyes away from the game your trying to play imo or just move to games not consoles..

[Vacsol]

100% agree

 

Nintendo should become a software dev, they could release their own peripherals if they want waggle motion like the wii, and release their games for 360 + ps4 and PC, they would make more money, they can keep their handhelds going too

and what? stop selling the Wii-u and abandon all games for it, then spend a couple more years moving everything to x64 until they finally release a couple games?

 

do you realize how stupid that idea is?

 

see: Dreamcast

[ShadowCaptain]

and what? stop selling the Wii-u and abandon all games for it, then spend a couple more years moving everything to x64 until they finally release a couple games?

 

do you realize how stupid that idea is?

 

see: Dreamcast

 

Obviously dont just drop it right now ><

 

But they could slowly start to release their games to other platforms, I reckon they would sell like  hotcakes, people like mario and zelda etc but are not prepared to buy a whole console for it, 

 

The 3ds seems to do well but its inexpensive and portable which is a unique feature

 

Most kids want a 360/ps4 for Call Of Duty, Assasins Creed etc etc and their parents are not going to buy 10 consoles, plus the Xbox etc has such a strong brand name in the console market

[Brapson]

100% agree

 

Nintendo should become a software dev, they could release their own peripherals if they want waggle motion like the wii, and release their games for 360 + ps4 and PC, they would make more money, they can keep their handhelds going too

 

The Wii U isn't about 'waggle motion' as you put it, that would be the Wii though WiiMotes are still compatible with the WiiU. Also let's not forget that Sony and Microsoft both created their own motion controllers and Microsoft forced it on you this generation as well until recently. Nintendo becoming a purely software dev would be disastrous, I wouldn't buy Nintendo games on an Xbox One or PS4 because I don't want the other games, I have my PC for graphically powerful games. Nintendo provides a unique console gaming experience. I'd also like to point out that Nintendo is in a much better financial position than Sony, while the PS4 is doing really well and that's good because some people love that platform, it's not enough to hold up Sony's Entertainment Empire. As for the handhelds they couldn't keep them going if they became a purely software developer, it wouldn't make sense for them to release games on the PS4 but not on the PSVita because they have the 3DS, it creates a disjointed experience.

 

 Pretty sure the wii is still outselling wiiU. $99 or $299. What do you think most parents will choose?. Only Nintendo fans are going to pay $299 wiiU. Anyone else buys PS4 or XBONE. They need to rethink what gamers want. Its definitely not a screen on your controller that's takes your eyes away from the game your trying to play imo or just move to games not consoles..

 

Nintendo has dropped Wii support though, they don't make games for it anymore and eventually they're gonna stop selling it. Also as for the WiiU gamepad it's an interesting concept and being able to use it while others are using the TV is a great feature but they do have the Pro Controller which works with the vast majority of games. Personally I think that if WiiU sales don't pick up this holiday season they will release a WiiU without the gamepad allowing them to lower the cost of the console buy a large ammount, similar to what Microsoft did with the Kinect.

[ShadowCaptain]

The Wii U isn't about 'waggle motion' as you put it, that would be the Wii though WiiMotes are still compatible with the WiiU. Also let's not forget that Sony and Microsoft both created their own motion controllers and Microsoft forced it on you this generation as well until recently. Nintendo becoming a purely software dev would be disastrous, I wouldn't buy Nintendo games on an Xbox One or PS4 because I don't want the other games, I have my PC for graphically powerful games. Nintendo provides a unique console gaming experience. I'd also like to point out that Nintendo is in a much better financial position than Sony, while the PS4 is doing really well and that's good because some people love that platform, it's not enough to hold up Sony's Entertainment Empire. As for the handhelds they couldn't keep them going if they became a purely software developer, it wouldn't make sense for them to release games on the PS4 but not on the PSVita because they have the 3DS, it creates a disjointed experience.

 

I know its not, but I just meant if they want some awesome ways of controlling games they can release them as peripherals. How is their experience any different from another console? The Wii U is just a less powerful console, the games would look and work EXACTLY the same on a different console, it is only unique because you HAVE to have a Nintendo system to play them. While lots of people might have more than one console, I think most people choose one playform

 

Exclusives between Xbox and PS are bad enough without Nintendo being there too, IT would be sad yes but I think it makes sense for them

 

I still believe they would do well as a software dev, just leave their hardware completely, and focus on creating those amazing nintendo gaming experiances we all know and love. ALl that money they spend on console development could be put into making stellar games!

 

I wouldn't buy Nintendo games on an Xbox One or PS4 because I don't want the other games

 

 

What? You will buy a Nintendo for  ONLY Nintendo games but not a PS4 for ONLY Nintendo games, with the possibility of playing other exclusives? what is the difference? if the game and the experience is the same then it doenst matter what hardware it is played on, but More people would have access to Nintendo games

[Brapson]

I know its not, but I just meant if they want some awesome ways of controlling games they can release them as peripherals. How is their experience any different from another console? The Wii U is just a less powerful console, the games would look and work EXACTLY the same on a different console, it is only unique because you HAVE to have a Nintendo system to play them. While lots of people might have more than one console, I think most people choose one playform

 

Exclusives between Xbox and PS are bad enough without Nintendo being there too, IT would be sad yes but I think it makes sense for them

 

I still believe they would do well as a software dev, just leave their hardware completely, and focus on creating those amazing nintendo gaming experiances we all know and love. ALl that money they spend on console development could be put into making stellar games!

 

What makes Nintendo unique (and also sometimes hurts them) is that they don't follow the direction that other companies take, they choose a direction and other companies follow suit. For example motion controls and now the tablet controller like feature being able to use a PSVita with a PS4 and Microsoft's solution which I haven't heard about in a while I think it's called SmartScreen or something along those lines. Even though the console is less powerful that doesn't mean it's not an amazing console, games make a console and the WiiU has some amazingly great exclusives even Non-Nintendo games such as the Wonderful 101. To me and this doesn't mean you opinion is wrong, it's your opinion after all it wouldn't make sense for Nintendo to become a software developer.

 

 

I wouldn't buy Nintendo games on an Xbox One or PS4 because I don't want the other games

 

 

What? You will buy a Nintendo for  ONLY Nintendo games but not a PS4 for ONLY Nintendo games, with the possibility of playing other exclusives? what is the difference? if the game and the experience is the same then it doenst matter what hardware it is played on, but More people would have access to Nintendo games

 

I play non-nintendo games on Nintendo consoles and I play a lot of PC games too but Playstation and Xbox exclusives just don't interest me. Plus the game experience won't be the same it won't be on a controller designed by Nintendo, I won't have access to MiiVerse, I wont have the Nintendo ecosystem that I really like and enjoy, the ecosystem that a lot of other Nintendo fans enjoy too.

[Notree]

Nintendo has dropped Wii support though, they don't make games for it anymore and eventually they're gonna stop selling it. Also as for the WiiU gamepad it's an interesting concept and being able to use it while others are using the TV is a great feature but they do have the Pro Controller which works with the vast majority of games. Personally I think that if WiiU sales don't pick up this holiday season they will release a WiiU without the gamepad allowing them to lower the cost of the console buy a large ammount, similar to what Microsoft did with the Kinect.

Thats exactly what I was getting at. They need to drop the price by making the gamepad optional. It should have been optional from the start. $299 is just too much when they don't offer half the triple A titles the other consoles do. If there going to  rely on there exclusives to sell there console its just not enough.

[Hidden Orange]

What? You will buy a Nintendo for  ONLY Nintendo games but not a PS4 for ONLY Nintendo games, with the possibility of playing other exclusives? what is the difference? if the game and the experience is the same then it doenst matter what hardware it is played on, but More people would have access to Nintendo games

At this point, the PS4 and Xbox One are basically pseudo-PCs. They can act as media centers, internet browsers, gaming systems, etc. They're trying to do everything while the Wii U focuses on gaming with some media support. In fact, the Wii U like past Nintendo systems can't even play DVD, CD, Blu-Ray or any format without modding them. The "only" console out is the Wii U and it's competing against pseudo-PCs - the PS4 and Xbox One - and the PC. Of course it's going to lose. It's basically a 3 vs 1 and with how people want everything in one package and the industry seeing jack of all trades as better sellers than specialized products, they're not going to focus on Nintendo and call them dead and backwards.

 

Same with the 3DS which is gaming-only, can't connect with the Wii U or Wii, and has little media features. Contrast this with the PS Vita, Nvidia Shield, tablets, and phones that can game, stream, watch films, browse the internet, and make calls. Admittedly, the PS Vita isn't selling well and you can consider tablets and phones as another market, but the 3DS sells because it's different from the others and has a ton of games not available on the others.

 

If the Wii U wants to sell, then it needs more than just Mario and Zelda. Ironic since Nintendo has a ton of exclusives well-known to gamers today. People have been asking and hoping for a new Metroid, F-Zero, Star Fox, Earthbound/Mother, a console Pokémon series, and more. Well, there was that Star Fox Wii U tech demo, the weird Pokémon leak thing which might be fake, and Miyamoto even asked what people wanted and they said: "Metroid". On the other side, Kirby's been getting more games recently, but on the 3DS, and F-Zero's won't be coming out soon since Mario Kart 8 was recently released - it'd be stupid to compete with your own systems. Earthbound/Mother is a complete mystery even though Mother 3 was popular and gained popularity through a fan, other languages patch. New Kid Icarus games won't be coming out soon either since Mashiro Sakurai is basically Nintendo's Square Enix dev who focuses on extreme balancing, features, and making sure the games are the best they can be which means a hell of a long development time. He even moved the Super Smash Bros. for 3DS date so it could be polished even more and that happened already with Brawl. Atlus and Intelligent Systems are working on a Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem game which is sort of a console SMT and FE game, but it's still not their own individual SMT and FE games - speaking of which Persona 5 is going to be a console Persona game. Yoshi's Woolly World is a new venture from the Kirby's Epic Yarn devs so it's more Yoshi in a sea of Mario and Zelda games.

 

Other games Nintendo's making are still not "those games". For one, another Sin & Punishment would be welcomed.

[Brapson]

Thats exactly what I was getting at. They need to drop the price by making the gamepad optional. It should have been optional from the start. $299 is just too much when they don't offer half the triple A titles the other consoles do. If there going to  rely on there exclusives to sell there console its just not enough.

 

Ahhhh, I understand what your saying now. I think the gamepad should be dropped but only if WiiU sales don't pick up significantly because it is an interesting part of the console, it's also more integral than the Kinect is for the Xbox. I guess my viewpoint is a little different from yours because I don't game on the other two platforms but I do on PC, so I can justify the purchase of it at it's current price because it will be my only console, I can see that it would be less justifiable cost wise if it was somebodies secondary console.

[zsanfusa]

Its about time for Nintendo to admit defeat like a large number of innovators in fields (AOL, IBM, Tandy Computer was the largest seller of PCs in the '80s, and the list goes on and on)

[Brapson]

Its about time for Nintendo to admit defeat like a large number of innovators in fields (AOL, IBM, Tandy Computer was the largest seller of PCs in the '80s, and the list goes on and on)

 

I'm sorry but I don't agree with you here, the amount of cash Nintendo is sitting on right now would allow them to continue to make a loss way into the future before admitting defeat. Nintendo could sit this entire generation with a failing console and still have more than enough capital to make another, especially considering how short this generation will probably end up being.

 

 

At this point, the PS4 and Xbox One are basically pseudo-PCs. They can act as media centers, internet browsers, gaming systems, etc. They're trying to do everything while the Wii U focuses on gaming with some media support. In fact, the Wii U like past Nintendo systems can't even play DVD, CD, Blu-Ray or any format without modding them. The "only" console out is the Wii U and it's competing against pseudo-PCs - the PS4 and Xbox One - and the PC. Of course it's going to lose. It's basically a 3 vs 1 and with how people want everything in one package and the industry seeing jack of all trades as better sellers than specialized products, they're not going to focus on Nintendo and call them dead and backwards.

 

Same with the 3DS which is gaming-only, can't connect with the Wii U or Wii, and has little media features. Contrast this with the PS Vita, Nvidia Shield, tablets, and phones that can game, stream, watch films, browse the internet, and make calls. Admittedly, the PS Vita isn't selling well and you can consider tablets and phones as another market, but the 3DS sells because it's different from the others and has a ton of games not available on the others.

 

If the Wii U wants to sell, then it needs more than just Mario and Zelda. Ironic since Nintendo has a ton of exclusives well-known to gamers today. People have been asking and hoping for a new Metroid, F-Zero, Star Fox, Earthbound/Mother, a console Pokémon series, and more. Well, there was that Star Fox Wii U tech demo, the weird Pokémon leak thing which might be fake, and Miyamoto even asked what people wanted and they said: "Metroid". On the other side, Kirby's been getting more games recently, but on the 3DS, and F-Zero's won't be coming out soon since Mario Kart 8 was recently released - it'd be stupid to compete with your own systems. Earthbound/Mother is a complete mystery even though Mother 3 was popular and gained popularity through a fan, other languages patch. New Kid Icarus games won't be coming out soon either since Mashiro Sakurai is basically Nintendo's Square Enix dev who focuses on extreme balancing, features, and making sure the games are the best they can be which means a hell of a long development time. He even moved the Super Smash Bros. for 3DS date so it could be polished even more and that happened already with Brawl. Atlus and Intelligent Systems are working on a Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem game which is sort of a console SMT and FE game, but it's still not their own individual SMT and FE games - speaking of which Persona 5 is going to be a console Persona game. Yoshi's Woolly World is a new venture from the Kirby's Epic Yarn devs so it's more Yoshi in a sea of Mario and Zelda games.

 

Other games Nintendo's making are still not "those games". For one, another Sin & Punishment would be welcomed.

 

Technically Nintendo could create a way of connecting the WiiU and 3DS, I completely understand what your saying about an all in one solution (though think back to what XboxOne was trying to be, an entertainment package that focussed less on games, people didn't react well to that then again it was mainly always online and other stuff) Though a lot of people I know have stopped buying DVD's and Blurays and are focussing more on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, things like that. I agree that Nintendo does need to diversify it's content some more and bring back some of its franchises like Metroid and F-Zero, it can't rely on Mario and Zelda. Then again lets hope a new Starfox game is on the way and I have a feeling we will hear about the Pokemon WiiU game sometime next year. (On another note the WiiU gamepad would be perfect for a Pokemon Snap sequel) Plus new titles like Splatoon are coming out soon which I'm personally very excited for!

[ericlee30]

No one can honestly think that one game will help. Nintendo needs to come out with more and more games back to back with each other and have the consumer playback be the same as MK8, then they will earn that money .

[ShadowCaptain]

its too much effort to quote so I will just add a little of my thoughts here in the simplest way possible

 

What I was trying to get at is this

 

Nintendo = unique - focus on gaming, unique games, innovative control methods, focus on fun

 

PS4/XBON = popular - more powerful system/better graphics and capabilities, greater library of AAA and indie, more functionality

 

Systems do not sell systems, games do.....machines are not profitable, games are where companies make profits

 

Therefore, Nintendo can still focus on making compelling gaming experiences with fun innovative control methods without wasting millions on developing consoles that people only buy because they want to play Nintendo games

 

That is why I believe it makes sense for them just to make games, instead of only having an audience of Nintendo console purchasers, they would potentially have PC/Xbox/PS to release their software, potentially making them MORE money than keeping their games to their platform

 

- Making consoles is not cheap, if they do not sell well then you do not make a return

- if less people buy your console, there is a smaller audience to market your game to

- you make less money

 

However

 

If you release your game for other platforms

 

- less money spent in R&D , marketing and manufacturing of a console that less people want to buy

- bigger target audience to sell your money making gaming to

- more profit, since the game is the thing that makes companies money

- better games (arguable) more powerful platform means games can have better graphics/greater capabilities

 

 

IMO everybody wins

 

I think if did a survey on young teenagers and kids and said "Which console would you pick" less of them would pick a Wii-U, and while some adults are core Nintendo fans, they are more likely to game on the more mature Consoles or PC

 

I feel like Nintendo does not have that core audience to sell both games AND console too, that is a tough sell, not only do you have to be like "hey this new mario kart is awesome" you have to say "This new mario cart is awesome, don't forget to buy our underpowered less functional console to play it on"

[skywake]

It's worth pointing out that the poor numbers in this last quarter are more because of slowing 3DS sales than poor performance from the Wii U. The Wii U has been doing ok in the last few months and has performed better than they said it would. Also if you look at it from a "console wars" perspective it's actually beating the XBOne although I don't know how much of a good thing that really is given how badly the XBOne is travelling. It's no Wii, PS2 or PS4 but it's doing decently post-Kart. So the thread tone shouldn't be "Wii U is doomed, Mario Kart recovery failed" it should instead be "Wii U bump but now 3DS is flat, will Smash/Pokemans revive it?"

 

As for the "Nintendo has the same games hur dur" crowd. Well damn, what games have performed well for Nintendo? The Wonderful 101? Kid Icarus? Tomodachi Life? Pikmin? The truth is that every time the games that move Nintendo's system are the same. Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Mario, Pokemon, Zelda. Every time. When they do something different people don't buy it and the only exception over the last few generations has been Wii Sports/Fit. Want things to change? Start buying the stuff you claim to like on their systems and stop buying Mario games if you think they've become stale.

[Puddleuk]

There are more Assassins Creed games then there are console Zelda games.

 

There are 16 Zelda games made in the series 28 year history includes both Handhelds and consoles. There are 14 Call of Duty titles released in 11 years and then excludes the DS/PSP versions. There are also 12 Battlefield games released since 2003.

 

As for Mario he is the company mascot and his image sells game, therefore he is used in many game series and genres. If you group all mario games together you will see a lot, but there is new series in there that play out very differently.

 

2D Sidescroller series

• Super Mario Bros.
• Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
• Super Mario Bros. 2
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Super Mario Land
• Super Mario Land 2
• Super Mario World
• New Super Mario Bros (There was a 15 year gap, the GBA games were enhanced ports and not a completely new game)
• New Super Mario Bros Wii
• New Super Mario Bros 2
• New Super Mario Bros U

3D Platformer series

• Super Mario 64
• Super Mario Sunshine
• Super Mario Galaxy 
• Super Mario Galaxy 2

2D/3D Series

• Super Mario 3D Land
• Super Mario 3D World

Its also important to point out that each series only really gets 1-2 releases per console. There is a reason the games are well reviewed and keep a premium price its because they are still good games that innovate and improve upon their predecessors. Whenever I see someone say "Oh well the Zelda games all play the same" I find that incredibly hilarious because they couldn't be more wrong. Go from playing Oracrine > Wind Waker > Twilight Princess > Skyward Sword. The differences are HUGE. 

 

Every single game series will get repeated every generation (Across every platform) simply because new gamers are constantly being born, those gamers deserve the chance to play the series as it was intended to be played. Imagine a world where a child grew up without playing a Mario sidescroller, I would pity those children. I welcome more Zelda and Mario games. I enjoy them for being true to their roots.

 

If you have had enough of the games then simply don't play them, you shouldn't expect them to just stop making the games.

[sqwidee]

its too much effort to quote so I will just add a little of my thoughts here in the simplest way possible

 

What I was trying to get at is this

 

Nintendo = unique - focus on gaming, unique games, innovative control methods, focus on fun

 

PS4/XBON = popular - more powerful system/better graphics and capabilities, greater library of AAA and indie, more functionality

 

Systems do not sell systems, games do.....machines are not profitable, games are where companies make profits

 

Therefore, Nintendo can still focus on making compelling gaming experiences with fun innovative control methods without wasting millions on developing consoles that people only buy because they want to play Nintendo games

 

That is why I believe it makes sense for them just to make games, instead of only having an audience of Nintendo console purchasers, they would potentially have PC/Xbox/PS to release their software, potentially making them MORE money than keeping their games to their platform

 

- Making consoles is not cheap, if they do not sell well then you do not make a return

- if less people buy your console, there is a smaller audience to market your game to

- you make less money

 

However

 

If you release your game for other platforms

 

- less money spent in R&D , marketing and manufacturing of a console that less people want to buy

- bigger target audience to sell your money making gaming to

- more profit, since the game is the thing that makes companies money

- better games (arguable) more powerful platform means games can have better graphics/greater capabilities

 

 

IMO everybody wins

 

I think if did a survey on young teenagers and kids and said "Which console would you pick" less of them would pick a Wii-U, and while some adults are core Nintendo fans, they are more likely to game on the more mature Consoles or PC

 

I feel like Nintendo does not have that core audience to sell both games AND console too, that is a tough sell, not only do you have to be like "hey this new mario kart is awesome" you have to say "This new mario cart is awesome, don't forget to buy our underpowered less functional console to play it on"

 

I definitely agree about Nintendo being able to do well as a software dev. It has always bugged me that I needed to buy Nintendo's brick to play a Metroid or a Zelda or a Mario, cuz you overpay for the hardware. Would rather pick up a PS4 and have access to everything on it, plus a Nintendo library.

 

I still want Nintendo to survive because I genuinely love their games, but I can't stand the hardware they sell it on. It's not innovative anymore; it's archaic.

 

Put some Mario on PC or PS4 or SOMETHING that isn't a white brick with a magic wand. PLEASE.

[ShadowCaptain]

I definitely agree about Nintendo being able to do well as a software dev. It has always bugged me that I needed to buy Nintendo's brick to play a Metroid or a Zelda or a Mario, cuz you overpay for the hardware. Would rather pick up a PS4 and have access to everything on it, plus a Nintendo library.

 

I still want Nintendo to survive because I genuinely love their games, but I can't stand the hardware they sell it on. It's not innovative anymore; it's archaic.

 

Put some Mario on PC or PS4 or SOMETHING that isn't a white brick with a magic wand. PLEASE.

 

Exactly, I am glad somebody agreed, I thought maybe I was mental for thinking it!

 

But yeah Nintendo games = fantastic, Nintendo consoles = meh

 

Having another console (and I dont like consoles) around just to play Zelda and Mario is irritating especially with the limited multimedia features of the Wii/WiiU, arguably not even great as an HTPC

[sqwidee]

Exactly, I am glad somebody agreed, I thought maybe I was mental for thinking it!

 

But yeah Nintendo games = fantastic, Nintendo consoles = meh

 

Having another console (and I dont like consoles) around just to play Zelda and Mario is irritating especially with the limited multimedia features of the Wii/WiiU, arguably not even great as an HTPC

 

It's clear from Mario and Zelda games that Nintendo won't be killing their mascots (LIKE SEGA DID) if they go for software. Not so sure about Samus Aran, though. I think Retro Studios should put out another Prime and denounce Other M as non-canon, since Other-M implied that that Prime games never happened

 

I still like the 3DS, and I think that Nintendo would lose some creativity as a dev for mobile devices (oh how I hate gaming on phones).

 

But for consoles they should bury the WiiU and all their plans for future hardware. Immediately.

[Puddleuk]

Consoles are historically sold at a loss, Nintendo were the exception to this rule until recently with the Wii U and 3DS. What is profitable though is the sale of accessories, digital content, 1st party games and 3rd party games since they get a license fee.

 

Also its easy to account a loss to a single companies product but that is not how things work in big corporations, they do make acquisitions and do build new buildings, they don't just twiddle their thumbs and wait to make a profit, they take action NOW to ensure the companies future and yes sometimes they will make a loss. Think about it since 2012 they have spent $204 million on a new building and a further $150 million to buyout an unknown company in 2014. Those numbers can make a huge dent in any profits.

 

Guess what the main purpose of the new building is though?

To unify the console and handheld engineer departments.

 

So like it or not if you want to play 1st party Nintendo games then you have to buy the hardware now and in the future. Nothing is changing any time soon.

[Brapson]

I definitely agree about Nintendo being able to do well as a software dev. It has always bugged me that I needed to buy Nintendo's brick to play a Metroid or a Zelda or a Mario, cuz you overpay for the hardware. Would rather pick up a PS4 and have access to everything on it, plus a Nintendo library.

 

I still want Nintendo to survive because I genuinely love their games, but I can't stand the hardware they sell it on. It's not innovative anymore; it's archaic.

 

Put some Mario on PC or PS4 or SOMETHING that isn't a white brick with a magic wand. PLEASE.

 

The WiiU hardware isn't archaic its perfectly capable hardware for the style of games Nintendo creates, the style of exclusive WiiU software, and the style of most indie games on the WiiU. It is capable of pushing out 1080p graphics because of the graphical style of the games, when we look at the Xbox One and PS4 they are struggling to push out 1080p visuals because of the graphical style predominant on those consoles (particularly the Xbox One). This generation of consoles as a whole is underpowered as it's clear that as the Xbox One and PS4 are so similar to PC's (meaning there is less of a learning curve to utilize the consoles power) that the consoles are already maxed out, we aren't going to see the graphics improve like we did with original Xbox 360 games compared to GTA V on this generation, they're not going to last as long. As for the last part of your post, the more popular WiiU option is the black premium console and doesn't come with Wii Motion controllers, the games don't even tend to focus on the WiiMotes anymore. (Should point out that personally I hate the WiiMote's, worse controller Nintendo has ever made.)

 

Exactly, I am glad somebody agreed, I thought maybe I was mental for thinking it!

 

But yeah Nintendo games = fantastic, Nintendo consoles = meh

 

Having another console (and I dont like consoles) around just to play Zelda and Mario is irritating especially with the limited multimedia features of the Wii/WiiU, arguably not even great as an HTPC

 

I understand that from your point of view it seems like a win win situation for you to be able to play Nintendo games on the PS4 or PC but it doesn't benefit three groups of people. 1) People who only play Nintendo games (young families for example) who have to pay more for the PS4/Xbox One as the console is of higher price 2) People who have already bought a WiiU, if you have invested in a console you expect it to be supported for a reasonable length of time. If Nintendo drops the WiiU now and becomes a software developer, they have to stop the production of WiiU's and the creation of WiiU games. No one is going to make games for a console that is no longer manufactured (well maybe a few indies) What this creates is a lack of confidence in a company, a prime example of this is SEGA who kept changing the direction of their future by releasing new consoles here there and everywhere destroying consumer confidence. 3) Nintendo as the moment they become a software developer for other platforms they have to compete with other software developers now that might seem easy for a company such as Nintendo but let's think about the purchasing trends of people who buy consoles but aren't necessarily "gamers". The people who buy consoles only for shooters and for sports games. Nintendo doesn't appeal to the majority of that market and it's arguably the largest markets on the platforms. I'm not saying there aren't games on these platforms have a similar feel to Nintendo style games like Little Big Planet which does really well but I don't think that game would do as well if it wasn't a first party game because it wouldn't have the marketing potential. As for mobile games, they wouldn't just lose some creativity... They'd lose it all. Did you know an investor in Nintendo tried to persuade the board to make a mobile Mario game were the players pay to make Mario jump higher?

 

 

Consoles are historically sold at a loss, Nintendo were the exception to this rule until recently with the Wii U and 3DS. What is profitable though is the sale of accessories, digital content, 1st party games and 3rd party games since they get a license fee.

 

Also its easy to account a loss to a single companies product but that is not how things work in big corporations, they do make acquisitions and do build new buildings, they don't just twiddle their thumbs and wait to make a profit, they take action NOW to ensure the companies future and yes sometimes they will make a loss. Think about it since 2012 they have spent $204 million on a new building and a further $150 million to buyout an unknown company in 2014. Those numbers can make a huge dent in any profits.

 

Guess what the main purpose of the new building is though?

To unify the console and handheld engineer departments.

 

So like it or not if you want to play 1st party Nintendo games then you have to buy the hardware now and in the future. Nothing is changing any time soon.

 

 

Finally someone who gets what I'm saying. Interesting to point up that while Nintendo is acquiring buildings Sony is actually selling buildings, Nintendo is in a much better financial position than Sony is right now. The PS4 might be doing spectacularly well but it's not enough to hold Sony afloat. As for Microsoft, with the massive lay-offs there and the new CEO's change of vision and lack of interest in the Xbox division, I wouldn't be surprised if the brand was either sold off or shut down. Also as for the unification of console and handheld engineer departments I wonder if that has something to do with the speculated Project Fusion were the handheld and the Console communicate and stuff like that.