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Nintendo Confirms No Games Coming to iOS, But Service App in the Works

E-Mail I sent to Nintendo back in 2004

Here is an email I sent to Nintendo back in 2004. Yes, I save stuff like this. I've ranted to many a company over the years and I keep them all. Well they are still around after 10 years.... but depending on how you look at it, barely.

Nintendo had a good run with hand-held units, but we know what's happening to those. And yeah, they had good luck with the Wii as a gimmick machine that "regular" people could get used to. Only problem, the gimmick dies. Motion is great, but I wouldn't give up my regular controller for anything.

----------------------------

To: Nintendo Of America
Subject: Sorry To Say, Nintendo Has Lost It!
Date: Saturday, February 07, 2004 6:19 PM

Nintendo used to be the standard-bearer for all gaming systems. Now, it’s too bad Nintendo was left behind.

You guys missed the boat in CD gaming, and you missed the boat in on-line play. The real downfall of Nintendo is its ego. You feel that if Nintendo isn’t doing it, it’s not right for gaming.

I guess it started way back, when you guys continued to use game cartridges when you could have easily switched to the CD format. And then when the Game Cube comes out, surprise, a new proprietary format disc. Who would have guessed?

When the hottest thing in the gaming world was on-line multiplayer, where was Nintendo? I guess Nintendo is happy at the end of the pack.

Nintendo won’t be around in ten years time, and that’s a shame since you had the world. You cater to little kids and forget about the people who made Nintendo what you are. Yeah, give us more fuzzy character games, and forget about the good stuff, because you are doomed to go the way of all the other great systems that lost their way.
 
You know what is funny with Nintendo? They've had modem capability in Japan on pretty much every system since the Famicom, yet they have never done anything serious with online multiplayer. They had the future in their hands with their deal with Sony for the Nintendo Playstation... then double dealt with Philiips, and ended up with NO CD system. We know how that turned out for Sony.

They have made some incredibly dumb mistakes over the years, partly because all the decisions were essentially made by one guy, right or wrong. For all their success, they could have had much more but made bad decisions.

Fastforward to 2014. We living in a mobile world. I for one only have enough room for one mobile device, my iPhone. It does everything. It plays my music, my games, my apps, my videos, takes pictures, etc. I use it to browse the web, buy stuff. Same with Android. Doesn't Nintendo know that most of us, here at least, are not running around with dedicated devices? The days of Nintendo selling 100m dedicated hand-held machines are gone. They have to realize those days are over.

Now there home console business is feeble at best. They DO NOT compete for the dollars of serious gamers, who coincidently, are the ones who buy a lot of games and always buy the latest, greatest systems.

Let's face it, they have lost the console war. They may come up with something great someday, but in the meantime, they will be losing money by the truckload.

Who has better game franchises stretching out over 30 years? Nobody! They have enough back content to release a game a week for years to come for older titles, and still release new games as well. We are talking about printing money.

That Japanese stubbornness is going to end up killing the company.

If I were them, I'd hire 100 top iOS developers and start in-house work on new titles and converting their vast library.
 
Nintendo should go back to their roots:

Prostitution.

(No joke - Nintendo is over a century old. Before video games, they ran "Love hotels" and issued collectable cards. Their first "video game" was a love testing machine - recall the cheesy doctor loves where two people hold onto poles and pay a quarter and it tells you if they love each other? Nintendo did that.)
 
How do you solve a problem like Wii U

I wish people would stop with all this doom and gloom for Nintendo. Ultimately they'll be fine. I for one can't stand to play anything beyond Angry Birds on my iPhone or iPad. Touch screen devices really aren't built for gaming and the available controller cases are laughable. The 3DS utterly dominates dedicated handheld gaming, and has had some really amazing games in the last year.

I know a lot of people want Nintendo games on their iPhones because of nostalgia, but does anyone who says that actually play on their phone for hours on end the way you would have on a GameBoy or 3DS? When Pokemon X&Y came out I spent days immersed in it and can't imagine doing that without a proper D-Pad and buttons.

Sure the Wii U is pretty much a flop, and that's down to a number of reasons. The name is horrendous, and a year after its release the only titles worth playing on it are remakes and a few good first party games. There's also an utter lack of care when it comes to peripherals. The system is backwards compatible but the Wii U Pro Controller doesn't work with Wii titles. It's a travesty.

I think releasing some service apps is a great step for Nintendo. While I'd never do any serious gaming on my iOS devices, I'd love a StreetPass app on my iPhone for when I don't want to carry my 3DS around. Service apps won't save the Wii U though. For that Nintendo needs to change the name, advertise that it's a new console and not a peripheral, fix the OS, give us real online multiplayer, and release some decent games. I'm looking forward to Super Smash Bros 4 and the new Zelda but those are over a year away. Honestly, the Wii U really just needs some games worth playing and it needs them now.
 
A Mii social app would be cool. It could let you track what's being done on the console (for parents) as well as compare games (social advertising - how many rupees have you collected in Zelda compared to your friends this week?) etc with friends. Would let kids mess about with their Mii character while they're supposed to be studying too.
 
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too bad, the only reason I stopped playing nintendo games is lack of convience.
 
A Real Nintendo Console & Games

I think it would be awesome if Nintendo cut out all the cutesy bull **** and built a real console focused on gaming, with a real control with actual buttons.

Gamecube was the beginning of the end for Nintendo in my opinion, and I've played and owned them all since NES.

Put together a solid console with solid hardware, a REGULAR controller, and some awesome first party titles and the gamers will flock back. Stop rehashing the same titles over and over and over again with more cartoony graphics. I love Mario and Zelda, but c'mon now!

And another issue is trying to convince the families and the casual gamer market that the Wii U is a worthy upgrade over the Wii is a tough sell. Think about this demographic for a minute. They bought the Wii for their kids or as their first modern gaming console (at the time back in 2006) most likely for the novelty factor of waving a remote around. Why invest in a Wii U if its "the same thing"?

I think Nintendo and their ad agency attempted to clear that misunderstanding up with these types of ads over the holiday season, but apparently it didn't really work too well :rolleyes:

http://youtu.be/QsbeQeiwW9o
 
Just another nail in the coffin..... Nintendo, you are well on your way to becoming the next Sega.
 
The Wii U 'flopped' for several reasons:

Poor advertising - the adverts would portray the Wii U doing the same thing as the Wii. Most people think it's the same console just upgraded. It's completely different.

Poor launch games - The Wii U launched with a very limited selection of games. There are only 3 atm which account for Nintendos biggest sellers which are Super Mario Bros U, Super Mario 3D World and Zelda. The games coming out in spring really should have come out in time for Christmas. That would have lifted the sales.

The final reason is due to their targeted audience - casual gamers do not feel the need to upgrade their hardware as often as hardcore gamers.
 
furi0usbee said:
Here is an email I sent to Nintendo back in 2004. Yes, I save stuff like this. I've ranted to many a company over the years and I keep them all. Well they are still around after 10 years.... but depending on how you look at it, barely.

Nintendo had a good run with hand-held units, but we know what's happening to those. And yeah, they had good luck with the Wii as a gimmick machine that "regular" people could get used to. Only problem, the gimmick dies. Motion is great, but I wouldn't give up my regular controller for anything.

----------------------------

To: Nintendo Of America
Subject: Sorry To Say, Nintendo Has Lost It!
Date: Saturday, February 07, 2004 6:19 PM

Nintendo used to be the standard-bearer for all gaming systems. Now, it’s too bad Nintendo was left behind.

You guys missed the boat in CD gaming, and you missed the boat in on-line play. The real downfall of Nintendo is its ego. You feel that if Nintendo isn’t doing it, it’s not right for gaming.

I guess it started way back, when you guys continued to use game cartridges when you could have easily switched to the CD format. And then when the Game Cube comes out, surprise, a new proprietary format disc. Who would have guessed?

When the hottest thing in the gaming world was on-line multiplayer, where was Nintendo? I guess Nintendo is happy at the end of the pack.

Nintendo won’t be around in ten years time, and that’s a shame since you had the world. You cater to little kids and forget about the people who made Nintendo what you are. Yeah, give us more fuzzy character games, and forget about the good stuff, because you are doomed to go the way of all the other great systems that lost their way.
Click to expand...

You mean you sent this email to Nintendo two years before they released the Wii. Presumably they were developing it at the time and that went on to become the highest selling last gen console with sales of over 100 million units, outselling both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.... You sent the email to THAT Nintendo. By the way, unless they go bust and close up shop within the next eight days, I guess you missed your ten year prediction as well. Very few companies hit the mark on ALL their products... even Apple, so you'll excuse me if I don't write them off just yet.
 
Cuban Missles said:
Sorry, but I really have to disagree. iOS has shown itself to be a quite sizable gaming platform. Just go look at the number of games available. So from that stand point it is a competitor. Also, from the mobile perspective, I would rather carry only a single device, not two. In other words the days of carrying a DS and a phone are numbered. most people will carry a phone and play their games there. Convergence to a single device is the direction we are all going.

I do see the console living on but as a niche. There will always be some serious graphics that won't work on an iPad, iPhone, ATV, but in the not too distant future it will not be for the masses.

The only alternative I see to this is what Xbox is trying to do by converging the living room electronics so that it is it is more than just a game console. I don't know if that approach will work long term, but I don't see Nintendo going in either way.
Click to expand...

So lets get this straight - the industry (in your country) is trending in a certain way. Gaming is becoming a race to the bottom to release $1 games, or IAP games. And because Nintendo wont get on that race, because they wont "accept the way it is" and play ball within the norms of the industry, they are doomed to fail. Hmm - a company standing up against the trends in an industry, partially ignoring what consumers are crying about wanting, and doing what they believe is right to deliver the best possible experience...

Where have I heard that before?

Is it only Apple who have the right to do that?

I have all respect for Nintendo for not giving in to pressure on this. Also, the pressure doesnt really exist in their home market - in Japan, parents buy their kids DS', not ipads.
 
Tal Ormanda said:
Don't worry, it will just take another 3 years of negative profits until they get the picture.
Click to expand...

I know right? When I first saw this I figured it would be like the xbox companion app but now it seems that it will do less. Why even bother? They could make a killing with Super Mario brothers on iOS.
 
SoAnyway said:
Just another nail in the coffin..... Nintendo, you are well on your way to becoming the next Sega.
Click to expand...

I know!! They are ignoring what we want because they are arrogant and believe they know whats best! They are doomed to go the way of Apple.

----------
DrManhattan said:
I hope they go bankrupt. Stupid business decisions.
Click to expand...

You dont need to hope bad things on people. If they make stupid business decisions, the free market will take care of that. If they dont go bankrupt, then clearly their business decisions werent as stupid as they appeared to you.

----------
Johnf1285 said:
I think it would be awesome if Nintendo cut out all the cutesy bull **** and built a real console focused on gaming, with a real control with actual buttons.

Gamecube was the beginning of the end for Nintendo in my opinion, and I've played and owned them all since NES.

Put together a solid console with solid hardware, a REGULAR controller, and some awesome first party titles and the gamers will flock back. Stop rehashing the same titles over and over and over again with more cartoony graphics. I love Mario and Zelda, but c'mon now!

And another issue is trying to convince the families and the casual gamer market that the Wii U is a worthy upgrade over the Wii is a tough sell. Think about this demographic for a minute. They bought the Wii for their kids or as their first modern gaming console (at the time back in 2006) most likely for the novelty factor of waving a remote around. Why invest in a Wii U if its "the same thing"?

I think Nintendo and their ad agency attempted to clear that misunderstanding up with these types of ads over the holiday season, but apparently it didn't really work too well :rolleyes:

http://youtu.be/QsbeQeiwW9o
Click to expand...

Instead, they should keep re-releasing Call of Duty games every year with slightly different bad guys.

I dont want Nintendo consoles to become another Playstation/Xbox.

Their style sets them apart.
 
That idea is going to put the company in bankruptcy. They are done with hardware and aren't even in the minor leagues these days.

They need to license their games just like Sega had to do. Put Zelda on iOS and watch the cash roll in.

----------

They will be around as a software company. That is if they can get rid of their ego before they go bankrupt can get bought out my Sony or Microsoft.


furi0usbee said:
Here is an email I sent to Nintendo back in 2004. Yes, I save stuff like this. I've ranted to many a company over the years and I keep them all. Well they are still around after 10 years.... but depending on how you look at it, barely.

Nintendo had a good run with hand-held units, but we know what's happening to those. And yeah, they had good luck with the Wii as a gimmick machine that "regular" people could get used to. Only problem, the gimmick dies. Motion is great, but I wouldn't give up my regular controller for anything.

----------------------------

To: Nintendo Of America
Subject: Sorry To Say, Nintendo Has Lost It!
Date: Saturday, February 07, 2004 6:19 PM

Nintendo used to be the standard-bearer for all gaming systems. Now, it’s too bad Nintendo was left behind.

You guys missed the boat in CD gaming, and you missed the boat in on-line play. The real downfall of Nintendo is its ego. You feel that if Nintendo isn’t doing it, it’s not right for gaming.

I guess it started way back, when you guys continued to use game cartridges when you could have easily switched to the CD format. And then when the Game Cube comes out, surprise, a new proprietary format disc. Who would have guessed?

When the hottest thing in the gaming world was on-line multiplayer, where was Nintendo? I guess Nintendo is happy at the end of the pack.

Nintendo won’t be around in ten years time, and that’s a shame since you had the world. You cater to little kids and forget about the people who made Nintendo what you are. Yeah, give us more fuzzy character games, and forget about the good stuff, because you are doomed to go the way of all the other great systems that lost their way.
Click to expand...
 
Cmdrx3 said:
You mean you sent this email to Nintendo two years before they released the Wii. Presumably they were developing it at the time and that went on to become the highest selling last gen console with sales of over 100 million units, outselling both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.... You sent the email to THAT Nintendo. By the way, unless they go bust and close up shop within the next eight days, I guess you missed your ten year prediction as well. Very few companies hit the mark on ALL their products... even Apple, so you'll excuse me if I don't write them off just yet.
Click to expand...

And then they put out the Wii U which has more to do with Gamecube than a console that really tapped into the mass market for incredible success. This is the equivalent of Apple slapping a hardware keyboard on the next iPhone and expecting everyone to jump on board.

The game industry lives on a 5+ year hardware cycle none of them can afford these kinds of blunders, next year's model that fixes all the problems doesn't really exist in this industry.
 
Jumping head first into mobile games would just cannibalize the 3ds, a console that's quite profitable at the moment and was in fact the top selling console of 2013. Nintendo has enough cash reserves to allow them to move more cautiously in responding to the Wii U's lackluster performance. Comparisons to RIM are dubious, as Nintendo is not a phone company.
 
It's a loss for us fans who want Nintendo games on iOS but not a loss for Nintendo. They don't need to port games to mobile to survive, they're doing well selling the DS and U consoles. If they port games to iOS & Android they will lose out on those Wii U and DS sales. It's a lose-lose for them.

Unless Nintendo goes bankrupt, we won't see a legit Super Mario app on iOS.
 
furi0usbee said:
You know what is funny with Nintendo? They've had modem capability in Japan on pretty much every system since the Famicom, yet they have never done anything serious with online multiplayer. They had the future in their hands with their deal with Sony for the Nintendo Playstation... then double dealt with Philiips, and ended up with NO CD system. We know how that turned out for Sony.

They have made some incredibly dumb mistakes over the years, partly because all the decisions were essentially made by one guy, right or wrong. For all their success, they could have had much more but made bad decisions.

Fastforward to 2014. We living in a mobile world. I for one only have enough room for one mobile device, my iPhone. It does everything. It plays my music, my games, my apps, my videos, takes pictures, etc. I use it to browse the web, buy stuff. Same with Android. Doesn't Nintendo know that most of us, here at least, are not running around with dedicated devices? The days of Nintendo selling 100m dedicated hand-held machines are gone. They have to realize those days are over.

Now there home console business is feeble at best. They DO NOT compete for the dollars of serious gamers, who coincidently, are the ones who buy a lot of games and always buy the latest, greatest systems.

Let's face it, they have lost the console war. They may come up with something great someday, but in the meantime, they will be losing money by the truckload.

Who has better game franchises stretching out over 30 years? Nobody! They have enough back content to release a game a week for years to come for older titles, and still release new games as well. We are talking about printing money.

That Japanese stubbornness is going to end up killing the company.

If I were them, I'd hire 100 top iOS developers and start in-house work on new titles and converting their vast library.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I'm thinking. Great post!

The two keywords are "Japanese stubbornness".
 
Nintendo is throwing away millions, perhaps billions, of dollars...I have no plans to ever spend money on Nintendo hardware/software ever again, but would buy-buy-buy if past and future software titles were offered up for IOS.
 
RotaryP7 said:
It's a loss for us fans who want Nintendo games on iOS but not a loss for Nintendo. They don't need to port games to mobile to survive, they're doing well selling the DS and U consoles. If they port games to iOS & Android they will lose out on those Wii U and DS sales. It's a lose-lose for them.

Unless Nintendo goes bankrupt, we won't see a legit Super Mario app on iOS.
Click to expand...

The OP says they lost $355 million in 2013, am I missing something about how well they're doing?
 
RotaryP7 said:
It's a loss for us fans who want Nintendo games on iOS but not a loss for Nintendo. They don't need to port games to mobile to survive, they're doing well selling the DS and U consoles. If they port games to iOS & Android they will lose out on those Wii U and DS sales. It's a lose-lose for them.

Unless Nintendo goes bankrupt, we won't see a legit Super Mario app on iOS.
Click to expand...

gatearray said:
The OP says they lost $355 million in 2013, am I missing something about how well they're doing?
Click to expand...
According to RotaryP7, Nintendo didn't lose that $355 million, it's you guys who want Nintendo to release games on smartphones who lost this $355 million :D
 
Good thing Nintendo don't listen to people in this forum, cause saying they are the next Sega and that selling their games on ios would solve their problems is the biggest pile of crap I heard.
 
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