Apple Eyeing Nintendo?

MacRumors · 04:59 PM

Chris Stevens from CNet.co.uk revives a long-standing rumor that Apple may be eyeing a merger with Nintendo.

Quote:

A city analyst told Crave that agressive takeovers of Japanese companies can be difficult and expensive. Japanese companies use the keiretsu system of interlocking holdings and partnerships, which makes conventional takeovers exceptionally hard.

If Apple was to acquire Nintendo, a friendly takeover or merger would be more likely. In the merger scenario, Apple might have a chat with Nintendo and convince them to agree to form a new company. Still, the viability of a merger is low. Now may be a bad time to adopt Nintendo -- Apple would do better to wait a year or two to see how the Wii does.

Stevens goes on to speculate that a Mac Mini that could play Nintendo's Wii games could prove to be a formidible match to Sony's Playstation 3 and Microsoft's XBox 360, since the Mini can also play high-definition video, edit music and photographs, surf the web, word process, and edit video.

Nintendo and Apple merger rumors surface from time to time, due mainly to the fact that the companies have very similar philosophies in their respective industries (ease of use, industrial design, boldness in the face of defeat, etc). Despite the similarities, such a merger or aquisition is regarded as highly unlikely, although recent rumors that Apple is recruiting game developers may lend a slight bit of credence to the rumor.

Zzero0 · Jun 9, 2006, 12:36 PM

I thought they were buying Disney

princealfie · Jun 9, 2006, 12:36 PM

Good job... both companies are alike in my opinion!

shadowmoses · Jun 9, 2006, 12:38 PM

Check out this link....Simularities between apple and Nintendo designs....

Any how I think this would be a great idea for Apple.....How cool would it be to see a Nano intergrated into a DS lite???

SHadoW

aftk2 · Jun 9, 2006, 12:42 PM

Heh, this is such a ridiculous idea, I don't even know where to start. Sometimes I wonder if analysts just pick two "hot" companies and toss them together.

What's next?

Apple...and Toyota! iYaris!

Yeesh.

7on · Jun 9, 2006, 12:44 PM

ummm, no. I'd rather NOT see a merger between the two. Other than Iwata using a Powerbook, I don't think Nintendo would be keen on it either. It'd be hard to manage a partnership where both companies (Apple and Nintendo) are very controlative of their licenses. If anything happens, I could see Nintendo or Apple thinking "We can do better ourselves" and then pulling out of the partnership with either Nintendo releasing a computer or Apple releasing a game device.

If a partnership happens more than likely it'll be something simple like getting the Nintendo USB WiFi thing to work on Macs or some future Wii/DS + Mac connectivity. No joined products.

bwintx · Jun 9, 2006, 12:45 PM

Incredibly unlikely. Check the Slashdot thread regarding this.

Sun Baked · Jun 9, 2006, 12:45 PM

Games on the iPods do not equal Apple becoming a game company.

Plus the game developers would have an edge in making creative use of 3d to make the iPod interface fun and interactive -- a little more out there, but not as much as a merger.

KEL9000 · Jun 9, 2006, 12:55 PM

although there is no basis for any of this it kinda makes sense. I would love to have a mini that could play HD and console games.

dashiel · Jun 9, 2006, 01:01 PM

there may have been some credence to the rumor before the intel switch, but now? how in the hell would apple justify going back to PPC so soon after dumping it?

eva01 · Jun 9, 2006, 01:02 PM

Once again i go back to a very old japanese company that would not have a merger of any kind with an american company. Not at least in my books

7on · Jun 9, 2006, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eva01

Once again i go back to a very old japanese company that would not have a merger of any kind with an american company. Not at least in my books

yeah, the japanese have this crazy thing called pride. shrug.

MrFrankly · Jun 9, 2006, 01:09 PM

It's just a distraction from the fact the Apple will buy Adobe.

jholzner · Jun 9, 2006, 01:25 PM

This is a long standing rumor? I've never heard it before. I don't really care either way. I suppose if Apple buys them they have a good reason. Most of their aquisitions have been very successful with the exception of Powershool...which they have now sold.

DavidLeblond · Jun 9, 2006, 01:28 PM

Next up: Apple to buy Starbucks? iCoffee? Ooo how about Apple buying the Gap to get into clothing!

I can write articles speculating about those too.

iGav · Jun 9, 2006, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowmoses

Check out this link....Simularities between apple and Nintendo designs....

You mean Nintendo's ability to rip off.

chairguru22 · Jun 9, 2006, 02:18 PM

the day this happens, pigs fly and the earth will implode

SiliconAddict · Jun 9, 2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

In the merger scenario, Apple might have a chat with Nintendo

That would have to be one HECK of a chat.

SiliconAddict · Jun 9, 2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chairguru22

the day this happens, pigs fly and the earth will implode

Hmmm how many people said the same thing about Intel on the Mac? Windows running on a Mac at full speed? 100$ iPods?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrFrankly

It's just a distraction from the fact the Apple will buy Adobe.

See that would make more sense. Apple owning Photoshop would send shockwaves through the PC world. Apple owning Nintendo? Meh...unlike Sony and MS they don't seem to be interested in being anything other then a game console. What does this attribute acomplish for Apple? Not a whole heck of a lot IMHO.

Websnapx2 · Jun 9, 2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eva01

Once again i go back to a very old japanese company that would not have a merger of any kind with an american company. Not at least in my books

Yeah, because Sony merging/purchasing with Columbia/CBS years back is nothing like this. I mean one was a successful... no, wait... but the other, but the other one was a... no, wait, it's the same!

ulyssespdx · Jun 9, 2006, 02:40 PM

it's a wild rumor, folks, started on some message board that the guy in the UK read and ran with. it ain't happening. this was speculated on about two years ago, too.

and Sony buying Apple. and Apple buying a stake in Kia too (seriously.) and so on. yawn.

ps: this article would have more credence if you spelled "credence" correctly.

Websnapx2 · Jun 9, 2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulyssespdx

ps: this article would have more credence if you spelled "credence" correctly.

lol, very nice indeed.

Mentioning the Sony/Columbia situation isn't meant to support the Apple/Nintendo claim, but rather point out that while it won't happen, the fact that one company is American and the other is Japanese, is not the reason.

combatcolin · Jun 9, 2006, 02:54 PM

Makes me feel old to see this one pop up again.

JacKal · Jun 9, 2006, 03:10 PM

I like Apple. I like Nintendo. They won’t merge, I’m sorry… that’s just not gonna happen. Maybe it might be nice if they partnered up for a few interesting projects, but no… no takeover. No merger. The reason they are in the positions that they are is because they are self-reliant, innovative, and incredibly staunch in the fact that they refuse to die even when everyone else says that they should. Yes they share the same philosophies, but that only re-enforces that they won’t merge.

barcodebawtv · Jun 9, 2006, 03:20 PM

It might not be likely, but I think it'd be awesome if it happened. The wii is the first system since N64 that I've actually anxiously anticipated. Like Apple, they do seem to have a similar philosophy of buisness

Jun 9, 2006, 12:36 PM	#2
Zzero0 macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2003	Disney? I thought they were buying Disney

Jun 9, 2006, 12:36 PM	#3
princealfie macrumors 68020 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Salt Lake City UT	Good job... both companies are alike in my opinion! __________________ www.qipeng.net http://www.artcat.com/event/view/6/9559

Jun 9, 2006, 12:38 PM	#4
shadowmoses macrumors 68000 Join Date: Mar 2005	Check out this link....Simularities between apple and Nintendo designs.... Any how I think this would be a great idea for Apple.....How cool would it be to see a Nano intergrated into a DS lite??? SHadoW __________________ UniBody MacBook Pro iPhone 3G Zen to Fitness

Jun 9, 2006, 12:42 PM	#5
aftk2 macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pacific NW	Heh, this is such a ridiculous idea, I don't even know where to start. Sometimes I wonder if analysts just pick two "hot" companies and toss them together. What's next? Apple...and Toyota! iYaris! Yeesh. __________________ electric state: Mac & Web Bloggery.

Jun 9, 2006, 12:44 PM	#6
7on macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Thriller Bark	ummm, no. I'd rather NOT see a merger between the two. Other than Iwata using a Powerbook, I don't think Nintendo would be keen on it either. It'd be hard to manage a partnership where both companies (Apple and Nintendo) are very controlative of their licenses. If anything happens, I could see Nintendo or Apple thinking "We can do better ourselves" and then pulling out of the partnership with either Nintendo releasing a computer or Apple releasing a game device. If a partnership happens more than likely it'll be something simple like getting the Nintendo USB WiFi thing to work on Macs or some future Wii/DS + Mac connectivity. No joined products. __________________ 任天堂 Leave luck to heaven MRoogle

Jun 9, 2006, 12:45 PM	#7
bwintx macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002	Incredibly unlikely. Check the Slashdot thread regarding this. __________________ Proud to be a Mac "fanboy" since long before the PeeCee crowd invented that term.

Jun 9, 2006, 12:45 PM	#8
Sun Baked macrumors 603 Join Date: May 2002	Games on the iPods do not equal Apple becoming a game company. Plus the game developers would have an edge in making creative use of 3d to make the iPod interface fun and interactive -- a little more out there, but not as much as a merger. __________________ May you be plagued by images of Richard Simmons flouncing through you brain, and squat thrusting his way though all waking thoughts.

Jun 9, 2006, 12:55 PM	#9
KEL9000 macrumors member Join Date: May 2003	although there is no basis for any of this it kinda makes sense. I would love to have a mini that could play HD and console games.

Jun 9, 2006, 01:01 PM	#10
dashiel macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	there may have been some credence to the rumor before the intel switch, but now? how in the hell would apple justify going back to PPC so soon after dumping it?

Jun 9, 2006, 01:02 PM	#11
eva01 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gah! Plymouth	Once again i go back to a very old japanese company that would not have a merger of any kind with an american company. Not at least in my books __________________ If I go on a crazy non-sensical rant, it's the painkillers talking. If however I make perfect sense I take full credit.

Jun 9, 2006, 01:09 PM	#13
MrFrankly macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2006	It's just a distraction from the fact the Apple will buy Adobe.

Jun 9, 2006, 01:25 PM	#14
jholzner macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Champaign, IL	This is a long standing rumor? I've never heard it before. I don't really care either way. I suppose if Apple buys them they have a good reason. Most of their aquisitions have been very successful with the exception of Powershool...which they have now sold. __________________ "Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." -Terry Pratchett. http://homepage.mac.com/jholzner

Jun 9, 2006, 01:28 PM	#15
DavidLeblond macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC	Next up: Apple to buy Starbucks? iCoffee? Ooo how about Apple buying the Gap to get into clothing! I can write articles speculating about those too. __________________ www.davidleblond.com Try my new iPhone game, Claustrophobia!

Jun 9, 2006, 02:18 PM	#17
chairguru22 macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2006 Location: PA	the day this happens, pigs fly and the earth will implode __________________ 24" iMac 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo 2GB 500GB 8800GS OSX 10.5.6 Boot Camp XP MacBook 2.0GHz Core Duo 2GB 60GB OSX 10.5.6 iPod Nano 4G 8GB iPod 5G 30GB

Jun 9, 2006, 02:40 PM	#21
ulyssespdx macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2006	not a good rumor it's a wild rumor, folks, started on some message board that the guy in the UK read and ran with. it ain't happening. this was speculated on about two years ago, too. and Sony buying Apple. and Apple buying a stake in Kia too (seriously.) and so on. yawn. ps: this article would have more credence if you spelled "credence" correctly.

Jun 9, 2006, 02:54 PM	#23
combatcolin macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Northants, UK	Makes me feel old to see this one pop up again. __________________ PC 24" Dell WS Monitor 500GB Lacie Triple 40 GB iPod, 1st gen iMac Bought sister a 1.25Ghz eMac Wide Aspect F810 Camera 1GB XD Card

Jun 9, 2006, 03:10 PM	#24
JacKal macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2006	I like Apple. I like Nintendo. They won’t merge, I’m sorry… that’s just not gonna happen. Maybe it might be nice if they partnered up for a few interesting projects, but no… no takeover. No merger. The reason they are in the positions that they are is because they are self-reliant, innovative, and incredibly staunch in the fact that they refuse to die even when everyone else says that they should. Yes they share the same philosophies, but that only re-enforces that they won’t merge.

Jun 9, 2006, 03:20 PM	#25
barcodebawtv macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2006	Sweet It might not be likely, but I think it'd be awesome if it happened. The wii is the first system since N64 that I've actually anxiously anticipated. Like Apple, they do seem to have a similar philosophy of buisness

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