So when you say, "Inventing new user interfaces" you mean third party peripherals that would allow you to play Nintendo games on iOS via a controller of some sort? If you are, that won't work either. No one would buy it.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Nintendo Unveils New Web-Based Service for Smartphones
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
So when you say, "Inventing new user interfaces" you mean third party peripherals that would allow you to play Nintendo games on iOS via a controller of some sort? If you are, that won't work either. No one would buy it.
Touché, you raise some good points. Perhaps I did overstate it a little, by no means are Nintendo failing. But I do think that their long term future looks uncertain.
Their home consoles aren't in the same league as Microsoft and Sony, and the latest has received a poor reception. Their handheld products are clearly performing better as you pointed out, but I still think games are moving in a different direction. The next several years should be interesting.
How do you know that? You have absolutely no idea what kind of solution and customer proposition would be offered.
Yes, it could be a Nintendo branded controller. The package it would come in (bundled with a game or game subscription), pricing, quality and marketing (combined with Apple or not) would determine it's success. Not your limited view of what history has shown us.
It could also be a new to Nintendo controller scheme, that is more native to touch screens such as Mario Kart with tilting.
The point I'm trying to make is that you think you know all the variables and can estimate the success based on what you have seen in history. If that would be the only way to work, then we wouldn't have had the iPhone, iPad or any other disruptive product.
Milking a franchise to death absolutely diminishes the value. I agree with much of this paragraph until you say, "the biggest and most consistent sellers are the mindless..."
This just isn't true. Check out the best selling games last year. In order it goes: GTA5, CoD:Ghosts, FIFA 2014, Pokemon XY, AC4, Last of Us, Animal Crossing, Tomb Raider, Monster Hunter, Bioshock.
These aren't apps or mindless mini games. They'll full fledge, big budget, titles.
This isn't a bad point, but it's hasn't really been fully thought out. Yes, margins of consoles are pretty much nonexistent. I'd like to say two things about this:
1. This is because consumers have become conditioned to accept current pricing. This may be impossible to break and it's the exact point I am making that once Nintendo diminishes the value of its franchises to $1.99 it is going to be very hard to convince consumers to get a gameboy and pay $40 for a similar game.
2. Nintendo, however, unlike Sony and MS has a robust library of first party titles that they could recoup their hardware losses. Like I said in my first post they could look to monetize in other ways by charging for the online platform, DLC, and extension of the games to other platforms. Point is that Nintendo is uniquely capable in the business model your questioning.
Last edited:
Because add-ons (especially for a device that it wasn't originally intended for) have notoriously low purchase rates. Nintendo could absolutely make something that would work, but it wouldn't be worth their time. Look at previous miserable attempts at peripherals, even ones made by the console/device creator.
Sega: Sega CD, Sega 32X.
Sony: PlayStation 2 network adapter, PlayStation Move
Nintendo: Nintendo 64DD (Japan only due to poor sales)
The peripherals need to be packaged with the device itself to have any hope at gaining traction. The Nintendo Wiimote wouldn't have been as successful if wasn't included from the beginning.
There are exceptions, such as the N64 rumble pack, and the PS1 Dual Shock controller.
Admittedly, both were packaged in with their respective consoles later, but they did become a big hit beforehand.
I agree with this sentiment for the most part. Peripherals rarely work if they aren't packaged with the console. Kinect is a notable exception though.
Fair enough, but it wasn't a necessary add-on. The games could still be played with or without it.
----------
Well, is Kinect that big a success? Most of the game reviews I've seen have been lack-luster. Now it's packaged directly with the Xbox One which will help because everyone will have it.
I think a lot of you people ringing the the funeral bells for Nintendo think the company is dying simply because you're older now and have lost interest in owning handheld consoles. Y'all don't realize the 3DS actually sells like hotcakes, and their games fly off the shelves.
Plus, Nintendo had the brilliant idea of selling hardware they actually earn a profit on, unlike their competition.
They ain't going anywhere soon.
Plus, Nintendo had the brilliant idea of selling hardware they actually earn a profit on, unlike their competition.
They ain't going anywhere soon.
The Wii looked interesting and apparently was very successful but to this day I can't understand what the Wii U is about.. I assume it still has motion control even though its controller is a huge unwieldy dinnertray-looking thing? Also maybe it's a language-barrier thing with Japan but whenever I see "Wii U" I think Wii University and it just baffles me even more.
I'm an enormous Zelda fan but I won't buy a console for just one game. Just keep hoping they license those games out to the XBox, which IS a console that's worth the money.
I'm an enormous Zelda fan but I won't buy a console for just one game. Just keep hoping they license those games out to the XBox, which IS a console that's worth the money.
Yeah, I mean the games for it are pretty awful. The hardware unit itself sold very well out of the gate though. I'm unsure how it held up over time and obviously its packaged in now.
http://www.techhive.com/article/221738/kinect_breaks_guinness_record_sells_10_millions_systems.html
That being said I think most would agree that the tech has yet to live up to the hype and that much of the success was due to Microsofts marketing budget.
Regardless, I basically agree with you that unless bundled in, it's tough for a peripheral to matter. I remember back in the day someone released a pretty awesome device that allowed for 8 ports on the PS1. Nobody bought it because I think the only game to use it was Twisted Metal.
I think Nintendo will soon make the ultimate hand held device and ditch consoles. The device can be connected to a receiver (like Air Play) which will allow you to game on the TV. This would eliminate the separation between handheld games and console games allowing us to get more exclusives to a single platform. Imagine bringing the Nintendo handheld developers and console developers together. If they're not gonna get any Third party support, then this would be the best option. You'll never have to wait forever for that next Zelda or Metroid game. They won't settle with iPhone games unless that fails. They are a very traditional Japanese company. The iPhone thing is just a thing like the Xbox Smartglass.
Dangit!
All this whole talk about Nintendo got me researching this virtual console thing, and I have run across the Zelda: Link Between Worlds title. Read reviews and every review says it is the best one since Link to the Past, my favourite title of all time...and now I want to play it! Even though nothing on iOS comes close, no way a man in his mid-thirties is going to go out and buy a 2DS or 3DS just for that one game.
Maybe I could give it to my kids after I am done with it...
This sort of thing really challenges my belief that gaming only devices days are numbered...
Darn you, Nintendo!!!
All this whole talk about Nintendo got me researching this virtual console thing, and I have run across the Zelda: Link Between Worlds title. Read reviews and every review says it is the best one since Link to the Past, my favourite title of all time...and now I want to play it! Even though nothing on iOS comes close, no way a man in his mid-thirties is going to go out and buy a 2DS or 3DS just for that one game.
Maybe I could give it to my kids after I am done with it...
This sort of thing really challenges my belief that gaming only devices days are numbered...
Darn you, Nintendo!!!
What I really want is for Nintendo to unify their handhelds and consoles. No more separate handheld and console games, accounts, etc. Make a device that can be taken on the road and be easily hooked up to a TV.
It's indeed a great game and, IMO, ranks right up there with Link to the Past. There's nothing wrong with a man in his mid-thirties owning a 3DS. I get more use out of my 3DS (and DS before that) than I do my other consoles and PC. Being able to close it and put it to sleep, in the middle of a game, is great for an adult with a family.
Dedicated gaming devices aren't going anywhere. The last thing I want to do is play Mario or Zelda on a touchscreen.
All this negative talk about Nintendo must mainly be coming from people who haven't played their games lately. I still think they make the best games.
Dangit!
All this whole talk about Nintendo got me researching this virtual console thing, and I have run across the Zelda: Link Between Worlds title. Read reviews and every review says it is the best one since Link to the Past, my favourite title of all time...and now I want to play it! Even though nothing on iOS comes close, no way a man in his mid-thirties is going to go out and buy a 2DS or 3DS just for that one game.
Maybe I could give it to my kids after I am done with it...
This sort of thing really challenges my belief that gaming only devices days are numbered...
Darn you, Nintendo!!!
It's indeed a great game and, IMO, ranks right up there with Link to the Past. There's nothing wrong with a man in his mid-thirties owning a 3DS. I get more use out of my 3DS (and DS before that) than I do my other consoles and PC. Being able to close it and put it to sleep, in the middle of a game, is great for an adult with a family.
Dedicated gaming devices aren't going anywhere. The last thing I want to do is play Mario or Zelda on a touchscreen.
All this negative talk about Nintendo must mainly be coming from people who haven't played their games lately. I still think they make the best games.
Last edited:
Did you avoid the Zelda games they made for the original DS then?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gnZGtb8c7c
I do own them but the only reason is because I got them really cheap, used. There's no way I'd pay full price for those. The touchscreen controls ruin the games just like the Wii motion controls ruin a lot of games (like the Zelda ones). Nintendo knows this and appears to have backed off on the touchscreen/motion controls for their games unless they are really meant for it. They know that people want to play Zelda with physical buttons.
Last edited:
Yeah, they really need official apps for this sort of stuff.
----------
I would "up vote" this a thousand times if possible.
Hey! You leave the Dreamcast alone!
It may have sold poorly and not been overly supported, but the machine itself was an amazing piece of kit ahead of its time. It was also extremely easy to program for. Sega had such a bad rep by the time the Dreamcast rolled out that it was already over for them.
But carry on with your Sega CD, 32X and Saturn bad mouthing!
As for Nintendo... The Nintendo boom has finished here in Japan. 8 years ago, everybody wanted a nintendo DS - adults and kids. Now it's purely for elementary school kids.
Ironically enough Nintendo is more similar to Apple than any game console maker out there. Heck, really any company. We're talking about a company that went from the lowest sales of game consoles to out beating their competitors and completely changing everything.
The only issue is that Nintendo survives on "one-trick ponies" or just a particular name (Wii in this case) and when that brand crashes, their goes their revenue (they make tons of money on the 3DS, but still).
That's why I really hope the iWatch and iTV become massive money makers because we will see a point when iPhone sales decline overall (hopefully not for many many years to come). Over hall of Apple's income comes from the iPhone.
But I believe in Nintendo and Apple. They always doing something...jawesome.
----------
Damn, I mean look what happens when you base your business off another business solely. And look at Detroit.
The only issue is that Nintendo survives on "one-trick ponies" or just a particular name (Wii in this case) and when that brand crashes, their goes their revenue (they make tons of money on the 3DS, but still).
That's why I really hope the iWatch and iTV become massive money makers because we will see a point when iPhone sales decline overall (hopefully not for many many years to come). Over hall of Apple's income comes from the iPhone.
But I believe in Nintendo and Apple. They always doing something...jawesome.
----------
Yeah, and people don't realize when Apple goes down Nintendo goes down.
Damn, I mean look what happens when you base your business off another business solely. And look at Detroit.
I think many CEOs nowadays want to be Steve Jobs and often learn his "stubborn" side, but actually Steve was not always stubborn - e.g. he was against the App Store and allowed it anyway.
----------
Well that's a game called Paper Mario. You should check that out
