Nintendo Takes Aim at Apple as 'Enemy of the Future'

[ddrueckhammer]

OK, so since when has Nintendo won the battle against Sony? I have a PS3, and to me, I think it blows the Wii completely out of the water. No question about it. Graphics alone, PS3 is far better. I've used the Wii, and frankly, it's a bit boring after a while. The only game I really love on the Wii is Super Mario Brothers... which doesn't even utilize the whole concept of the Wii, being interactive with the joystick/controller.


Whatevs.

I have both a Wii and a PS3 and I play PS3 much more. The problem is, I play it mainly alone. The PS3 has a MUCH better online system, deeper games, and better graphics but my Family, Friends, and Girlfriend are not gamers. It is much easier to get them to play a game of Boom Blox or Wii Sports Resort than a Co-Op game of Uncharted 2. So in my mind, the Wii has it's place and so does the PS3. By the end of the generation, I can see Sony's console overtaking the Wii though.

Also, if I were Nintendo, I would be concerned that the expanded market won't buy their next generation console. They have alienated alot of gamers with their online policies, DRM policies, third-party policies, and lack of content in general so if the older gamers don't go out and buy the Wii 2 in droves like they did the Wii then they could be in for some hard times.

 

[notjustjay]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! are YOU kidding me? this is serious?! I laugh my ass off that apple is video game competitor. They never will outlast anything in the video game industry.
Focus on making the computers better and better gpus. A threat?! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha, too funny.

Well, the fact is that more people will carry an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, than a Nintendo gaming device. I think it's safe to say that's a given, unless Nintento comes up with something truly unique and worthy of carrying around.

My brother has a DS and loves it, but he doesn't carry it around everywhere. Me, I can't be bothered to buy a handheld device solely for the purpose of playing games (the last time I did that, I was 14, and it was the original, green-on-black Game Boy). However, I do play casual games like Bejeweled or Solitaire on a device like a Palm PDA or an iPhone or iPad.

 

[greenmeanie]

We live in a lazy world and being able to buy apps/games online helps apple.
Also a device that does more than just game comes in handy.

I am surprised apple seels as many of those crappy games as they do. Most of those can be downloaded for free on pc's.

 

[ellsworth]

"Satoru Iwata, the Nintendo president, is understood to have told his senior executives recently to regard the battle with Sony as a victory already won and to treat Apple, and its iPhone and iPad devices, as the "enemy of the future".


Sorry to point this out, but this quoted sounds like a TERRIBLE translation from Japanese to English. I'm sure someone took something that Mr. Satoru Iwata said as overkill. Typical.

 

[TRAG]

I don't think I agree with that. Go play some of the games I listed on DS and then go play them on iPhone. They are just as good or better at a fraction of the cost.

I barely play my DS since I have an iPhone. I've only purchased Zelda, Warioware, and Shin Megami Tensei on DS, but has purchased twice as many iPhone games. There are tons of good games on iPhone. If you need help finding some read reviews. IGN has a pretty good iPhone reviews section

The games they make for the iphone are extremely low budget compared to what they make for the DS and PSP. You cant compare them.

I agree with stainlessliquid. I love my iPhone and all. But it is mainly for APPS. I have yet to see many extremely compelling game to purchase that is on the Apps Store that I must have. The only game I have that is even near in quality as the DS that I have played are GTA: Chinatown Wars.

You can't really compare the iPods and iPhone's 'ability to play games' against a dedicated system. The Legend of Zelda's, Madden's, Pokémon, Super Mario's, Metroid's, and Final Fantasies just cannot be topped by apps of these games—not that there are apps for all of them—that are scaled down so much. PSP and DS are for games, iPhone and iPods games are for passing the time.

 

[jzuena]

http://themushroomkingdom.net/images/mailbag20031127_mario_phone2.jpg

If you look at the center of the phone, you can see it supports flash! nPhone FTW! And I don't want to hear about that being a flash redial button, this will be Nintendo's killer feature.

 

[ranReloaded]

Nintendo should just make some quality games for the iPhone.

Nintendo has NEVER made games for other platform. Every other game hardware maker does pretty much the same: they promote their platform. SEGA started making games from other platforms when they pulled from the hardware market after the DreamCast failure.

 

[T-Bone]

I don't know about anyone else in this thread, but I really enjoy the iPhone port of Street Fighter. I play it pretty regularly, and the last time I was playing it on the subway, even the kid sitting next to me got pretty psyched about it. The only thing it's missing is a full roster of characters, which could come with a future update.

I haven't owned a portable gaming system since the original Gameboy. I don't really want to carry around something like that, but I will always need my phone, so Apple wins.

I'm really hoping to see lots of ports of old Nintendo games (Castlevania? Bionic Commando?) for the iPhone if possible. An attached controller would be sick for playing at home too.

I have tried the NES emulator but it's a bit clumsy.

 

[thatisme]

The games they make for the iphone are extremely low budget compared to what they make for the DS and PSP.

actually, I find quite the opposite. Take the releases from major publishers, and they are better thought out and better presented than those offerings from Nintendo.... Keep in mind that Nintendo graphics are still crappy (256 color pixelated) compared to the Open GL (lite or whatever is in the iDevces).

The better comparison is between the PSP and iDevices. Graphics are on par, game play is different with the touch vs. controller input, but the major difference I see is the depth of the games.... PSP has longer games, more levels, etc.

But, since Sony's PSP is not seen as a worthy competitor to Nintendo now, you can disregard the PSP in this discussion.

Apple, IMO, will eat Nintendo's lunch in the mobile market for a couple of different reasons....

1. Style. Apple wins the design battle hands down

2. Quality. Apple wins this battle, using better materials and having a better feel

3. Performance. Apple wins this today. iDevices have more HP under the hood to run the cutting edge mobile graphics.

4. Music. As long as the iPod is the defacto standard in music players, there will be a much larger market penetration with the 14-18 year old crowd, boys and girls with the Apple products. For the older demographics, as long as the iPhone is a viable competitor in the Smartphone segment, they will win the 18-60 age group.

Now, if Nintendo wants to be serious about taking on Apple, they need to diversify their offering, and up their build quality dramatically. Keep the innovation coming. However, they will need to convince the end users that they NEED a stand-alone game machine to take with them that does everything BETTER than what they are already carrying.

Nintendo's true market, and where they will win day in and day out is in the 8-14 year old demographic. Most parents will not be willing to buy an iDevice for Junior, knowing that it will end up at the bottom of a toy box, but a DSi or whatever, sure.... toss it in a box with the toys... it can take a beating.

 

[Enuratique]

OK, so since when has Nintendo won the battle against Sony? I have a PS3, and to me, I think it blows the Wii completely out of the water. No question about it. Graphics alone, PS3 is far better. I've used the Wii, and frankly, it's a bit boring after a while. The only game I really love on the Wii is Super Mario Brothers... which doesn't even utilize the whole concept of the Wii, being interactive with the joystick/controller.


Whatevs.

I think that comment about Nintendo with respect to Sony is not with their consoles but their portable platform... I know only one person with a PSP - and he won that from McDonald's monopoly game promotion... I know several people with DS hardware...

 

[SamTheeGeek]

I myself was shocked when i got the iphone 3g s and saw the 3d gaming graphics , truly outstanding in the mobile world.

truly good job for apple .... keep it up

 

[mac*jedi*g]

Nintendo phone! Yeah that's what we want!

 

[ValSalva]

Apple is seemingly on everyone's minds and under everyone's skin. It's love or hate, there seems to be no middle ground. This must be the definition of disruptive technology.

 

[ddrueckhammer]

I agree with stainlessliquid. I love my iPhone and all. But it is mainly for APPS. I have yet to see many extremely compelling game to purchase that is on the Apps Store that I must have. The only game I have that is even near in quality as the DS that I have played are GTA: Chinatown Wars.

You can't really compare the iPods and iPhone's 'ability to play games' against a dedicated system. The Legend of Zelda's, Madden's, Pokémon, Super Mario's, Metroid's, and Final Fantasies just cannot be topped by apps of these games—not that there are apps for all of them—that are scaled down so much. PSP and DS are for games, iPhone and iPods games are for passing the time.

GTA is a good example. I also found Madden, Tiger, Street Fighter, Rock Band & NFS Shift to be pretty similar to their DS offerings. I haven't played it yet but I expect Chaos Rings to be a very high quality game. Zenonia is a high quality game. Wolfenstein & Doom 2 RPG are good quality games. Same for N.O.V.A. and CoD Nazi Zombies.

If you are comparing them to first-party Nintendo offerings then No, they aren't anywhere in the same realm but at >$10 many iPhone games compare nicely to DS games. Though you may have to read reviews to find them. Hopefully, that changes since Matt Casamassina joined Apple.

 

[ranReloaded]

I agree with stainlessliquid. I love my iPhone and all. But it is mainly for APPS. I have yet to see many extremely compelling game to purchase that is on the Apps Store that I must have. The only game I have that is even near in quality as the DS that I have played are GTA: Chinatown Wars.

You can't really compare the iPods and iPhone's 'ability to play games' against a dedicated system. The Legend of Zelda's, Madden's, Pokémon, Super Mario's, Metroid's, and Final Fantasies just cannot be topped by apps of these games—not that there are apps for all of them—that are scaled down so much. PSP and DS are for games, iPhone and iPods games are for passing the time.

My opinion is, after all the flood of fart apps, beer apps and even useful apps for $0.99 or $1.99, a quality game for $6 or 7$ kinda looks expensive on the iPhone. It's strange, because those same high budget titles cost much more on handheld consoles! I guess I'm not as a serious gamer, though...

 

[louis Fashion]

Nintendo 'Shtindo

I have a DS and I think it sucks. Some of the free games on iPod etc. are better than the more expensive games on the DS. I think Nintendo better watch out, AAPL will give them the old FLASH stab in the chest.

 

[TRAG]

OK, so since when has Nintendo won the battle against Sony? I have a PS3, and to me, I think it blows the Wii completely out of the water. No question about it. Graphics alone, PS3 is far better. I've used the Wii, and frankly, it's a bit boring after a while. The only game I really love on the Wii is Super Mario Brothers... which doesn't even utilize the whole concept of the Wii, being interactive with the joystick/controller.

I have both a PS3 and a Wii. PS3, hands down, blows Wii out of the water on all the points you said. But the Wii is great in it's own right. Super Mario and the Legend of Zelda are two of the greatest franchises ever. Nintendo will ride these games forever seems like.

 

[jimbobb24]

Sold my PSP

Never got used. Had some really cool games (Patapon my wife loved loved) but everyone is just using the iPhone and Touch. And clamoring for an iPad. No reason to have devices from two makers (and buy the game once and everyone can play it on the different devices). I had an iPod, a PSP, at one time a PDA with ePocrates. Now I have an iPhone. Its not as good an iPod as a pure iPod, its not as good a gaming machine as the PSP but close enough, and its way better than my old PDA. Oh, and it has a phone.

Finally, I bough a game, Space Miner, for $3. Its not the same quality as GoW on PSP, but its awesome and cost... me... $3. I can buy 13 games of similar quality for the price of one PSP game.

Lots of junk on the App Store, but enough awesome games to push my PSP away.

 

[TomaxXamot]

Nintendo has NEVER made games for other platform. Every other game hardware maker does pretty much the same: they promote their platform. SEGA started making games from other platforms when they pulled from the hardware market after the DreamCast failure.

Exactly. It the same reason why Apple should never license OSX to other hardware.

 

[ranReloaded]

In some sense I'm relieved(?)... When I read "Nintendo Takes Aim at...", the first thing that came to my mind was: "Flash"!

 

[Rogzilla]

Yes, sadly to tell you but Wii won "the war". Far more unit and fun. It doesn't matter if PS3 have better graphics and cpu. Don't get me wrong, PS3 is cool hardware!

Actually guys, I think they are refering to DS vs PSP, not Wii vs PS3. That's why they are turning towards Apple, they are looking at competition in "handhelds."

There really isn't a "war" between those two consoles anyway. It is the 360 vs PS3 (and from what I am seeing amongst my own friends, the PS3 is seeing sales that give credit to the awesome hardware). Most people I know who have one or both of those also have a Wii. Its really a different catagory.

 

[C64]

Unfortunately, the very people it claimed to have converted -- high-school girls and men aged between 30 and 40 -- reported that they would rather have an iPhone than a DS in their pockets or handbags.

respectively fail

 

[jimmyjoemccrow]

OK, so since when has Nintendo won the battle against Sony? I have a PS3, and to me, I think it blows the Wii completely out of the water. No question about it. Graphics alone, PS3 is far better. I've used the Wii, and frankly, it's a bit boring after a while. The only game I really love on the Wii is Super Mario Brothers... which doesn't even utilize the whole concept of the Wii, being interactive with the joystick/controller.


Whatevs.

The Wii is almost the same hardware as the Gamecube was yet it has sold more than XBox or PS3 based on casual gamers. btw you are missing out on the Zelda games, Mario Kart, Smash Bros. etc. I agree that a lot of Wii games are low quality but Nintendo's own IP are enough to keep my interest. Plus my mum loves Wii Sports.

It will kick Nintendo out of coast mode and have them develop something actually new and interesting. Unless they know something we don't (eg: future apple products) then it seems a bit silly for them to think that they're competing with Apple - Nintendo simply hasn't done anything serious in the adult market of late.

Seems to me they're facing a much more significant threat from Project Natal and Sony's equivalent. Without the Wii, there really isn't much interesting about Nintendo.

Coast Mode? When were they ever in coast mode? Practically all advances in controllers have come from Nintendo. They just about invented hand held games consoles with the Gameboy. The DS extended that further with 2 screens and the touch interface.

The Wii is an adult device. It's not a handheld but Nintendo do have experience in dealing with adult markets. The DS has brain training games and crosswords. The primary demographic for DSes might be younger folk but that is also true for iPod Touches.

 

[barkomatic]

Nintendo has NEVER made games for other platform. Every other game hardware maker does pretty much the same: they promote their platform. SEGA started making games from other platforms when they pulled from the hardware market after the DreamCast failure.

I think Nintendo is going to have change that stance if they want to continue to be successful in the portable market in the future. As smart phones become cheaper and more prevalent fewer will be willing to pay again for a dedicated portable gaming platform that plays *only* one vendors games. I think people would pay a premium for Nintendo games on the App store since they tend to be much better developed than most of the crap there now.

Of course, no one wants to be beholden to another company's hardware--and I understand that. However, most are going to playing on either Android or a variant of the iPhone OS soon.

 

[tk421]

Huh? EA is already developing iPhone versions of big games like GTA, Madden, Tiger, Need For Speed etc. Square just developed a iPhone/iPod exclusive RPG (Chaos Rings).

These are nothing like the quality of Nintendo games. I have yet to see an iPhone game anywhere close to the level of a quality Nintendo game. Which is not to say that iPhone games don't have a place. They do, and they will make a lot of money. But they are really different markets, if you ask me.

BE CAREFUL WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH NINTENDO, or YOU WILL HAVE A BAG OF HURT TO DEAL WITH.

Nintendo should be glad that their forced to innovate and become creative to stay relevant in there respective market.

I take it you aren't familiar with Nintendo, one of the most innovative and creative companies around.