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Nintendo Finally Considers Smartphone Move After Third Straight Annual Loss

CBlakeston said:
Does no one else here see the parallels with 'Apple should just make OSX for PC and licence it or they are doomed' style nay saying?
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Not really. Apple always made money selling computers. At the moment, they make tons of money selling computers (they are making more selling iPhones and iPads, but the last published estimate was that Apple takes 45% of all profits in the computer hardware market, and that was before Dell dropped and Acer started actually losing money). The console makers don't make money from consoles, but from games. Both iPhones and iPads massively outsell the console makers. The hardware is probably superior to any Nintendo handheld device. If it isn't, then next year's hardware will be. 70% of revenue is more than Nintendo will get from any game sold in a store.

All that Nintendo has to do is avoid trying to sell games at low prices.
 
G51989 said:
Difference, SEGA thrived on mediocre titles and marketing, they never made any good software or hardware.

Nintendo on the other hand, has a deep history of incredible Hardware and Software.
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Most companies would kill to make a game half as good as Shenmue.

As a whole, the Dreamcast was an incredible system.
 
Actually, Nintendo should eschew the hardware business altogether.
Then take all that money that was put into console R & D and use it to hire SOTA iOS devs to
make from-the-ground-up, optimized versions of their blockbuster IPs
like, for example, Mario, Zelda & Donkey Kong & Pokémon.

It's simply adapt to the current market or perish.
Does Nintendo still make "Game & Watch"es?
No, of course not.
So now the reality is the reigning platform is iDevices.
That's just how it is.

After all, will Nintendo release a increasingly better DS every year?
Nope.
But Apple will release a increasingly better iDevice every year.
Even the WiiU will be overrun within a year or two, so rapid are these increases in iDevice power.

Then use those self-same devs to make updated versions of those timelessly classic characters.
An updated, MP "Perfect Dark"?
The mind boggles ....

The only thing I don't like about my idea is all those engineers & stuff that will put out of jobs.
I wish there were a workaround for that.
 
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I think where Nintendo is going wrong is much more profound than just the platform.

The rest of the gaming industry has moved to beautiful realistic games with amazingly immersive stories. Think of the Last of Us, GTA V, Far Cry 3. They're like movies now, only way better.

Meanwhile Nintendo is stuck in their cutesy 80's Mario universe. This was fun when game consoles were limited and all gamers were kids. Gaming is much broader than that now, everyone I know in their 30's is gaming (well all the men are ;) ). Most of them have an Xbox or PS or PC but nobody has Nintendo.

I made the mistake of buying a Wii, tried all the launch games (rented them) but there were none I liked. That's the last Nintendo I'll ever buy. Unless they do something drastic. Perhaps in the upcoming VR revolution.
 
ipedro said:
Iwata's comments have been misrepresented and were totally blown out of proportion by the most of the mainstream media.

If you've been following his history regarding "smart devices", Iwata has in the past stated that Nintendo was looking into smartphones and tablets as an addition to their first party hardware experiences to entice new users to Nintendo consoles and handhelds.

What Iwata has suggested would be mini games made for touch devices using Nintendo characters but that major games would still be exclusive to Nintendo consoles. For example, we might see a Mario Angry Birds style game to introduce a new generation to Super Mario who would then feel compelled to buy a Nintendo console to play the main games. I believe he also made mention of a Zelda puzzle game and a Pokémon "pet" app.
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Finally. Someone understands what I have been reading for over a year. Nintendo will NEVER release their AAA titles for smartphones or tablets, it would obliterate the need for their hardware. Plus, if they went 3rd party, Mario would quickly turn into Sonic and the quality would turn into a turd.

If I was running Nintendo, knowing that I have over $10 billion in the bank. That's right, look it up. I would make a unified system, it would include a home and portable system all-in-one; which is in development with their recently merged portable and home divisions. Smartphone and tablet apps that would integrate into the ecosystem, it would include mini-games, or something similar to what MS and Sony are doing with their respective apps. When Apple jumps into producing TVs, get an exclusive deal to use the Music, Movies and TV Show content from iTunes to replace the Apple TV hockey puck. Dump Android. Allow for apps to be streamed to the home console unit for display on TVs.

Although, if the **** hit the fan, which it won't until 2075, I would go back to making cards and lock ALL of the games in the vault. Never to be played again since the experiences on OTHER hardware would no longer be acceptable. No more Mario, Pokémon, Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong, nothing.

Nintendo will do something cool again. They always come out on top when their backs are against the wall. So, I believe they will still have a place after the Steam machines murder the Xbox and Playstation in five years. As an Xbox fan, I'd hate to see it, but it's going to happen.

In short, don't hold your breath, Mario and company is NOT coming to non-Nintendo hardware.
 
crzdcolombian said:
google needs to buy Nintendo. Zelda on Andriod will make me switch unless they make games have crazy prices like the 17 dollar final fantasy 6 on my iPhone. It's 10 bucks on PS3 why is it more expensive for IOS. Also I can just just get a rom of those old nintendo games and play them.

It's a little too late. Microsoft has Nokia and Sony makes their own smart phones. Only other suitor would be Samsung

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Nintendo sucked since the Super Nintendo. Sega was way better.

32 bit generation. Can any one really say that the N64 was better than the playstation? You have Ocarina of time, Mario Parties, Golden Eye, WWF No Mercy(awesome game) and Mario 64. Not much to choose from. I don't even think the N64 was better than the Sega Saturn

128 bit gen. Seriously Gamecube was Mario Prime and that was it. Was kind of cool to play as Link in Soul Cailbur 2.

Last Generation....... All the Zeldas since Ocarina have sucked. Metroid other M was god awful. Can people continue to drop 200+ for a system to play Mario Party and Mario Kart? Only reason I bought a Wii was because it was so easy to hack and download games to. Even then only NBA jam and Mario Kart did I barely touch.

Current Gen..... Wii U still looks worse than PS3

Nintendo hasn't done what gamers wanted since N64. Better graphics, Better online play and 3rd party support. I usually buy every system but Wii U looks like a Sega 32x or Sega CD compared to the new systems
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N64 had Kirby and StarFox, in addition to those you listed. It also had Rayman 2, Banjo & Kazooie, Banjo Twoie, and Donkey Kong 64. Bomberman was also on it. Diddie Kong Racing. Zelda Majora's Mask (best Zelda game of the ones I've played so far, though I've heard I should try the new one for the 3DS.) The N64 had no shortage of amazing games.

The GameCube I won't argue over - it had Prime and Prime 2. Also Geist and F-Zero. Other than that, I can't recall any games that would really make me want to hook up the GameCube again (maybe Smash Bros.) OH! FREAKING PIKMIN + BATTALION WARS! Two awesome games the console had.

The Wii had Super Mario Galaxy + 2 and Zelda Skyward Sword. It also had Prime 3, which wasn't as good as the prior two in the series, but it was still a pretty good game (certainly better than Other M.) It also had Epic Yarn, which may not have been the best Kirby game, but it has the curious distinction as being one of the few games my fiancé will play with me. Also Batallion Wars 2 and Rayman Origins.

The Wii U, though? Rayman Legends and Pikmin 3. If the Wii U had launched 2 months ago and this was all it had, I'd say, okay, that's a fine start. It launched over a year ago - it's not okay that everytime I look for new Wii U games to get I return empty handed.
 
Future for Nintendo is not in hardware - and they're going to be rich

The future for Nintendo is to move on from hardware, and focus on software.

There is gold in their game back catalogues. iOS and Android versions of classic games, or games that sold well in years gone by would be instant cash cows ready to be milked. The profits should then be used to develop newer titles.

Sony and Microsoft produced consoles that were multi-use items. DVD / Blue-Ray players and games consoles. The HDMI slot therefore went to their console, and not Nintendo. They also had broader appeal, with games for the family and for adults. Their approach has helped them win the console war. If Nintendo want to stay in the console market, they need to follow this model.

However, this is not a market with much future. People now consume digital media through their smart TVs and TV boxes like Apple TV. These devices already have console capabilities. Once these are realised, consoles are over. If Call of Duty was available on Apple TV who would spend £3-400 on a console?

Once Apple TV has an App store gaming will change for ever.

Nintendo should embrace the future.
- stop spending millions on hardware development and production costs. It's a battle they've already lost.
- start converting high-selling games from its back catalogue to run on iOS (esp any future Apple TV app store)
- consider creating specialised controllers that work with iOS.


Electronic Arts should consider monetising it's back catalogue too.
- X-Wing for iOS? I'd buy that now.
 
gnasher729 said:
So when you go to a shop and buy a Nintendo game, the shop selling it does that for free? The shop employees are all volunteers working for free? The shopping mall lets the shop open there rent free, and pays for their electricity?
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I agree with you, but the revenue potential is very different. In the packaged goods space (and even current console app stores), the console game prices are still between $40-60.

Nintendo just making $10-20 (I doubt they could sell their games above that on Android or iOS) will hurt them harder than giving the 30% to Apple instead of 30-40% to big distributors and retailers in the real world.
 
GekkePrutser said:
I think where Nintendo is going wrong is much more profound than just the platform.

The rest of the gaming industry has moved to beautiful realistic games with amazingly immersive stories. Think of the Last of Us, GTA V, Far Cry 3. They're like movies now, only way better.

Meanwhile Nintendo is stuck in their cutesy 80's Mario universe. This was fun when game consoles were limited and all gamers were kids. Gaming is much broader than that now, everyone I know in their 30's is gaming (well all the men are ;) ). Most of them have an Xbox or PS or PC but nobody has Nintendo.

I made the mistake of buying a Wii, tried all the launch games (rented them) but there were none I liked. That's the last Nintendo I'll ever buy. Unless they do something drastic. Perhaps in the upcoming VR revolution.
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The fact that you didn't mention Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 negates the entirety of your opinion. Those two games were so good nothing on any other console can compare. There is a reason almost every reviewer gave Super Mario Galaxy a 100%. It is a freaking masterpiece.
 
Misleading and wrong title. Iwata never said they are considering to develop for smartphones. Actually, you write in the very first sentence "the company is now considering a "new business structure"". With that they probably mean that they're looking for ways to get smartphone users excited for their stuff, with apps and watnot.
 
Lennholm said:
The Wii U is not known to suck, most people who own it or have tried it speak positively about the experience. The 3DS was introduced when the smart phone boom had come into full force and it has held its ground far better than most people thought it would (just compare it to PS Vita).

Consoles do NOT sell because of performance, none of the current gen consoles are any more powerful than an average gaming PC. Consoles sell because of exclusive content and features, anyone who buys a console for performance is a fool.

Smart phones that have gaming as a secondary function, can only offer terrible touch screen controls and can't even be comfortably held in a way suitable for gaming is far from the ultimate gaming platform.
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Lets be honest here a gaming PC is something way too expensive and way too complicate for the average person. That's why consoles replaced PC gaming.

People buy consoles instead of just hooking their smartphones up to their TV's because they have better graphics. Than smartphones. If your iphone played battlefield 4 at the same settings a PS4 did with no difference in user experience, you'd just get a Bluetooth controller and an hdmi adapter and ditch the console.

I'm sure everyone thinks the Wii U is great though. That's why nobody is buying them.
 
GekkePrutser said:
I think where Nintendo is going wrong is much more profound than just the platform.

The rest of the gaming industry has moved to beautiful realistic games with amazingly immersive stories. Think of the Last of Us, GTA V, Far Cry 3. They're like movies now, only way better.

Meanwhile Nintendo is stuck in their cutesy 80's Mario universe. This was fun when game consoles were limited and all gamers were kids. Gaming is much broader than that now, everyone I know in their 30's is gaming (well all the men are ;) ). Most of them have an Xbox or PS or PC but nobody has Nintendo.

I made the mistake of buying a Wii, tried all the launch games (rented them) but there were none I liked. That's the last Nintendo I'll ever buy. Unless they do something drastic. Perhaps in the upcoming VR revolution.
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Truthfully, these "realistic" games are more hollow than the "old school" games. Stories are riddled with holes, over-dramatic (similar to a Japanese anime) and continually un-innovatived gameplay. I'm talking GTA, Halo, Call of Duty, Battlefield, Assassin's Creed and many others that involve killing and shooting. Plus, I didn't realize how popular Dragon's Lair, Myst and 7th Guest gameplay was. Look at these "non-playable" games: Uncharted, Last of Us, Heavy Rain and God of War (funny, all of these are Sony titles). Where "art" is more important than the playability of a game. Not innovative.

Plus, the 3DS has been the leader of the console race since August. The week before Christmas, it sold 1.07 million units globally. It hasn't left first place since the end of summer. Outselling all the competition, the PS4 was over 500,000 units behind it. It has remained extremely relevant in the eyes of portable games, who can't find deeper gameplay in other portable devices.

Nintendo is guilty of it as well, look at Wonderful 101 and Pikmin, plus other games from the New Super Mario Bros series that run together. Games like NES Remix, Super Mario 3D World, LEGO City Undercover, plus all the titles that have yet to be released, shows Nintendo is TRYING to do some different things to shake it up. EA and Activision, just slap a new coat of paint on many of their shooters.

I'm hoping they release the power of their back catalogue and make a single platform that can continually run Virtual Console games. The Wii U will be poised to make a comeback, but will it be a leader like the Wii, probably not. Eventually, Nintendo will encompass ALL experiences under one roof. They're in-between the blue and red ocean strategies, we haven't seen the "red ocean" console yet.
 
MacRumors said:
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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata stated in a press conference that the company is now considering a "new business structure" that involves smart devices, reports Bloomberg.
ImageWii U GamePad controller​
The news comes as Nintendo reported a third consecutive annual loss, slashing the global sales forecast for its flagship Wii U game console from 9 million units to 2.8 million consoles. The company also scaled back its expectations for its 3DS portable game console from 18 million units to 13.5 million, with Iwata also claiming that there are no short term plans to reshuffle management. Nintendo has faced fierce competition from mobile platforms in recent years, with App Annie recently finding that consumer spending on games for iOS and Android rose to 4x that of dedicated gaming handhelds. In 2010, Iwata reportedly told his senior executives to regard Apple and its devices as "the enemy of the future", and also stated to CVG last August that he would "never think about providing [Nintendo's] precious resources for other platforms at all."

Investors have also called for Nintendo to develop titles for iOS and other platforms in August 2011 after lower-than-expected demand for the 3DS. Alternatively, some also suggested that Nintendo should "buy its way into" the smartphone platforms by acquiring companies and technology or developing their own. Iwata's newest comments reveal that Nintendo is now seriously considering supporting smartphones in some manner.

Article Link: Nintendo Finally Considers Smartphone Move After Third Straight Annual Loss
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This article is wrong, there is no third straight annual loss.

They have even posting profits despite the wii u's apparent failure.

But it's not too bad for Nintendo, they're a more valuable company than Sony (not playstation division, Sony period) I mean they own a freaking major league baseball team!

DS is currently the beat selling handheld, Nintendo isn't hurting.


Did they make the best product for the 8th generation? NO! But they are and have made more money than anyone
 
Radiating said:
Lets be honest here a gaming PC is something way too expensive and way too complicate for the average person. That's why consoles replaced PC gaming.
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Consoles never replaced PC gaming. In fact, the One and PS4 just reinforced PC gaming for hardcore owners. Once the Steam Machines get traction, the Xbox and PS brands are doomed. The Wii U is fantastic, but it has NO killer, or must own, game yet. I think it's coming. It will sell over 50 million units in its lifetime.

People buy consoles instead of just hooking their smartphones up to their TV's because they have better graphics. Than smartphones. If your iphone played battlefield 4 at the same settings a PS4 did with no difference in user experience, you'd just get a Bluetooth controller and an hdmi adapter and ditch the console.
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Not true either. While the One and PS4 are selling fantastically, the video game industry has returned to it's PS2/Xbox/Gamecube days. Games start running into each other, people will begin to abandon platforms because of lack of captivating software. They're focusing on realism, which is going to wear off quickly, when facial expressions are more important than gameplay. That's why we watch movies.

I'm sure everyone thinks the Wii U is great though. That's why nobody is buying them.
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Currently, the Wii U is the leader, but the gap is quickly being closed by the PS4. So, 5.3 million owners globally can't be wrong. It's destined to be a second machine. The chaos of MS' internal problems will hurt the Xbox One.

Sony won with a fantastic marketing team. Who wouldn't want to feel glorified for playing games? "Greatness awaits" is a great slogan. Truthfully, the PS4 is junk and Xbox One is better, but any Apple fan knows the Mac Pro made those systems look VERY stone age ;)

The Wii U will have a boost once Mario Kart and Smash Bros are released. The unified Nintendo Network between the 3DS and Wii U will be a huge selling point, too, including Miiverse. It'll come down to experiences again and ways to play your games and experience them. Twitch will start to seem overburdening and invasive on the PS4, where Miiverse can operate with less and still do the same thing. I wouldn't be surprised if Twitch made a Wii U version in the future. That's where Nintendo and Microsoft can shine, if they push them, it's where Sony will face a bitter defeat since it's strictly a traditional game machine of yesteryear.
 
SAIRUS said:
Nintendo has billions in cash reserves. They can survive.
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1) Look up "Burn Rate"

2) Money in the bank does not make a company. Viable products that people buy and a subsequent profit is made from the sale makes a company.

3) Going forward, why hardware products does Nintendo have that people want that will grow the company? Sales of its next gen home console Wii U is going sideways at best, and the 2DS is not going to revive the company -- the days of $30 portable games are past and none of the major independent game studios even publish much more than token kiddie games for it -- the same ones that can be had for $.99 on the App Store.
 
thehustleman said:
This article is wrong, there is no third straight annual loss.

They have even posting profits despite the wii u's apparent failure.
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Spot on!

But it's not too bad for Nintendo, they're a more valuable company than Sony (not playstation division, Sony period) I mean they own a freaking major league baseball team!
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Over $5 billion in cash and $10 billion in bonds. Plus, investments IN MANY different companies. Hasn't laid off anyone at all, plus continues to change. Nintendo even owns their headquarters, Sony had to sell theirs to make ends meet. A recent survey said Nintendo stood a 22% chance of going out of business, while Sony sits at a 72% in two years.

DS is currently the best selling handheld, Nintendo isn't hurting.
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The 3DS currently is the BEST selling handheld and console. Almost a 50 million install base. The DS is the best selling of ALL-TIME, but it's fallen into the low thousands since last year.


Did they make the best product for the 8th generation? NO! But they are and have made more money than anyone
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Probably not. To quote the band Asia, only time will tell, if this was a terrible decision. It will make a comeback, but the PS4 has won this generation. Luckily, MS has had A LOT of internal problems, which will hurt the Xbox One unfortunately :(

Plus, they have more money available than all of Sony's divisions combined.
 
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