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[TheAmazingXemo]

Nintendo, doomed since 1889.

Seriously, Nintendo has the least to worry about. But I can see them moving on to something like home console/handheld console hybrid in the future (because the home console market as it currently is kinda fucked up for everyone). Think about Wii U but with a controller that actually works as portable console.

I agree with this statement. With so many games coming to 3DS, especially big franchises, and they can be shown in great detail on a portable device, I wouldn't really object to this. Next gen Nintendo = handheld w/ video out to TV, dubbed "Gameboy."

 

[Mael]

I don't know why people always say that Mario 3D is a system seller. It has always sold far far less than the NSMB series. And the Wii U started with one of those, which makes the Wii U situation seem really dire to me.

Let's not act like NSMB games are anything but a recent trend either.
2D Mario however always outsold 3D Mario, that's for sure though.

 

[Zarovitch]

I don't know why people always say that Mario 3D is a system seller. It has always sold far far less than the NSMB series. And the Wii U started with one of those, which makes the Wii U situation seem really dire to me.

I think there's people that prefer 3D Mario games, some people will buy the console for this game and Mario Kart.

 

[DaBuddaDa]

isn't this the same guy who said that the vita would crush the 3DS in one of those Bonus Rounds in GTTV??

If everyone's opinions were discarded because they got something wrong one time in their life, there would be no more opinions.

 

[thomasmahler]

Games sell hardware. Currently Nintendo has a huge problem with giving players enough value for the hardware they bought. At the same time, Nintendo is one of the best developers in the world and constantly makes some of the best games ever created - once they do that again for the WiiU / 3DS, they'll be just fine. Wait for Mario, Zelda, Smash Bros, Mario Kart, etc. to turn the ship around.

 

[deadlast]

No they won't. Considering they make a fucking profit off of it.

I thought they lost money on each console sold, but made the money back quickly on 2 -3 game sales.

 

[Orayn]

I don't know why people always say that Mario 3D is a system seller. It has always sold far far less than the NSMB series. And the Wii U started with one of those, which makes the Wii U situation seem really dire to me.

Is it that strange to think that 3D Mario might be better at grabbing peoples' attention, despite 2D Mario moving more units? I mean, best-selling games aren't always killer apps and vice versa.

 

[speedpop]

I don't know why people always say that Mario 3D is a system seller. It has always sold far far less than the NSMB series. And the Wii U started with one of those, which makes the Wii U situation seem really dire to me.

NSMB is the epitome of a console/handheld lifetime seller though. You can't judge nor predict what that game will do until the 3rd or 4th year.

 

[JoeM86]

And theres clearly not enough of a leap between X360 and WiiU to make the leap there.

We can all make sweeping statements about mass market not seeing the difference between PS3 Dragon's Dogma and PS4 DEEP DOWN, but I know plenty of "mass market" people that were wowed.



They were back in profit thanks to a one time only mark-down of some other lumps of cash. The next set of financials aint gonna be pretty, and possibly the end of Iwata. Also as of February NPD your "doing better than 360/PS3 launch" diatribe will come to a definitive end. Especially when it ignores the dire straits the WiiU is in Europe.

Yeah and the yen issues factored into a lot of their losses the previous year. It's all a part of a variety of factors.

We all know that the Q1 2013 financials will be a bit dire due to the Wii U games drought meaning there's a distinct lack of console purchases, but the 3DS will still keep them afloat.

I do agree about the February NPD changing things, however, but in the long run, it'll make no difference

 

[flyinpiranha]

No they won't. Considering they make a fucking profit off of it.

I thought they were losing on the Wii U until "X amount of software sold" with it?

EDIT:

"In addition to the yen's continuous appreciation, the Wii U hardware will have a negative impact on Nintendo's profits early after the launch because rather than determining a price based on its manufacturing cost, we selected one that consumers would consider to be reasonable. In this first half of the term before the launch of the Wii U, we were not able to make a profit on software for the system while we had to book a loss on the hardware, which is currently in production and will be sold below cost. Our loss has therefore widened during the second quarter in spite of bringing the Nintendo 3DS hardware back to profitability. Although we expect our financial performance to be revitalized, under these circumstances, unfortunately we cannot say that we will achieve "Nintendo-like" profits within this fiscal year."

Source

Whether that is still going today, I'm unsure.

 

[Kyoufu]

Wii U will need third party support if it's going to surpass Gamecube's LTD. I'm not hopping on the "doomed" wagon yet but the console's future doesn't look too bright if third party developers are creating PS4/Xbox titles and neglecting Wii U with downgraded ports, which seems likely to me.

Still, too early to tell right now. We'll know how the generation will look like after Christmas 2014.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Respectfully disagree with Adam

 

[SolidSnakex]

What surprises me about the Wii U is how completely unprepared Nintendo was for its release. The lack of hype leading up to its launch and the advertising have been discussed endlessly. But the games are even more surprising. Wii Fit U, Wonderful 101 and Pikmin 3 have all be pushed outside of the launch window. I'm really confused as to what the hell they're even doing right now.

 

[Goodlife]

The gamepad is a huge miscalculation on their part, nobody cares about it and it effects the price of the console immensely.

Oh come on.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I think a lot of people are seriously underestimating how brand confusion is playing a part too. So many people think Wii U isn't a new system, but a new controller for their Wii.

Anecdotally, a friend of my brother (in junior high) got Wii U games for Christmas, but does not own a Wii U (he owns a Wii). They ended up returning the games and spending the money on other things. His parents had thought Wii U was just an expansion.

They either need a re-branding or some sort of big ad campaign to make sure people know the Wii U is not just a new Wii controller.

 

[javac]

And theres clearly not enough of a leap between X360 and WiiU to make the leap there.

We can all make sweeping statements about mass market not seeing the difference between PS3 Dragon's Dogma and PS4 DEEP DOWN, but I know plenty of "mass market" people that were wowed.

There is a massive difference between being wowed and actually slapping £400+ cold hard earned cash down on the table for some extra graphical effects. Some will, but the point is it takes more then that alone. Everything goes hand in hand. Ask your mass market buddies if they are willing to pay 400+ for it, then get back to me. Who knows, maybe they will, I'm genuinely interested in this.

 

[Jarnet87]

Let's see what happens at the year mark. Plus people keep banking on the new Xbox and PS4 to kill it. I don't see it that way atm, since there is nothing in PS4's Arsenal that says killer App. Are people really going to rush out and buy a 400 or 500 dollar console with unappealing games when you can get a Wii U for $100 less and better games. Of course this relies on Nintendo getting their sh*t together and pumping out the quality titles slated for release.

 

[fvng]

Oh come on.

Oh right, it's taken the world by storm.

 

[Pie and Beans]

in the long run, it'll make no difference

You realise Pikmin 3 isn't going to move any units? Even the obviously coming Mario 3D and Mario Kart are only gonna get here Q3/Q4, and that sees the WiiU selling like it does currently for its entire first year on the market.

A year is kinda "long" to me, and quite hard to turn fortunes around after.

There is a massive difference between being wowed and actually slapping £400+ cold hard earned cash down on the table for some extra graphical effects. Some will, but the point is it takes more then that alone. Everything goes hand in hand. Ask your mass market buddies if they are willing to pay 400+ for it, then get back to me. Who knows, maybe they will, I'm genuinely interested in this.

I'll ask them when they announce the actual price Also when COD and AC and GTA, and Fifa, Madden, etc and all that break those cross-gen shackles and go next-gen only, people will move as they always have, with the console enjoying price drops as it goes and reaches more and more mass market. Thats the traditional market trajectory: the one Nintendo sacrificed for a short lived boom.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Is it that strange to think that 3D Mario might be better at grabbing peoples' attention, despite 2D Mario moving more units? I mean, best-selling games aren't always killer apps and vice versa.

Yeah, it's about impact.

People will see how crazy and flashy and inspired the gameplay of EAD Tokyo's game is(hopefully) and even if it doesn't sell a ton, it will open eyes as to what is possible on the system and why there will be games you "must" play on it.

You don't need big sales for big hype.

(Mario Kart covers the former)

 

[Nibel]

Wondering whose turn is next to declare Nintendo doomed

 

[Orayn]

NSMB is the epitome of a console/handheld lifetime seller though. You can't judge nor predict what that game will do until the 3rd or 4th year.

The NSMB series have all had very, very long (raccoon) tails. Didn't Nintendo's latest sales report show the original NSMB moving over a million units on the DS in 2012? Crazy stuff, considering how it's been out for so long and doing at least that well since it launched. Same goes for Mario Kart, actually.

 

[ElectricKaibutsu]

Wow. You underestimate the average consumer's ability to be graphically wow'ed. You don't need to be a connoisseur of video games to tell if there's been a graphical leap or not.

If this gen is decided based on graphically capability, this will be the first time.

If the PS4 does sell the most systems (which is my prediction) it will only be coincidence that it is also the most powerful system.

Edit:

Next gen Nintendo = handheld w/ video out to TV, dubbed "Gameboy."

That would blow my mind.

 

[GetemMa]

I thought they were losing on the Wii U until "X amount of software sold" with it?

I think they make a tiny profit after selling 1 first party game or 2 to 3 games sold from 3rd party publishers.

Reggie said they made a profit after selling 1 game, but then he had to amend that statement because I'm sure he was thinking of Nintendo's games.

Considering what people buy Nintendo consoles for, I don't think his assumption was all that far fetched.

 

[Tadale]

Nintendo will limp through this fine, I hope. But as a Nintendo fan, the situation is really irksome to me.

I really thought that after the 3DS launch, they learned their lesson about new hardware. These things are only going to sell at a premium price if there is software to play, and even the Wii launch was handled better in terms of new releases – we got Wario Ware that January, and Cooking Mama not too long after that. If I remember right, Super Paper Mario was in April.

In my estimation, there has not been a single noteworthy Wii U release since launch, and the only remotely interesting game on the horizon/with a release date is Monster Hunter, which is an HD updated version of a game many people have already played.

 

[speedpop]

Wondering whose turn is next to declare Nintendo doomed

Where were they when Yoshi's Island sold like shit?

 

[Goodlife]

Oh right, it's taken the world by storm.

So there's no middle ground between

"No one cares about it"
and
"taken the world by storm"

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Oh come on.

It's hilarious when people baselessly say this especially in the light of those that actually have the system citing the controller as the highlight of it.

Some even say it's the best controller they have ever used.

 

[JoeM86]

You realise Pikmin 3 isn't going to move any units? Even the obviously coming Mario 3D and Mario Kart are only gonna get here Q3/Q4, and that sees the WiiU selling like it does currently for its entire first year on the market.

A year is kinda "long" to me, and quite hard to turn fortunes around after.

That's the difference between a company and the general public & short term investors.

People like us only look at things how they are now and just assume that's how it will go. Companies look over the next 2 years, 5 years, 10 years. Also, don't forget that they have far more information regarding this from which they can determine a course of action.

I have no doubt that this situation shall be resolved.

 

[Delio]

Let's see what happens at the year mark. Plus people keep banking on the new Xbox and PS4 to kill it. I don't see it that way atm, since there is nothing in PS4's Arsenal that says killer App. Are people really going to rush out and buy a 400 or 500 dollar console with unappealing games when you can get a Wii U for $100 less and better games. Of course this relies on Nintendo getting their sh*t together and pumping out the quality titles slated for release.

Im assuming people are banking on Killzone and other unnamed things to be killer apps for the PS4. Atleast thats what i assume I would hope people arent just saying people will pick it up for nothing.

 

[DICKS AHOY]

Wondering whose turn is next to declare Nintendo doomed

Iwata in the next Nintendo Direct I guess.

Also I do agree Wii U has even worse brand-confusion than the 3DS (though my family thought the tablet was just a stand-alone thing like a regular android/iPad) and was released way too early going off the state of their game releases. They seriously seem to have repeated nearly every single major mistake they made with the 3DS so far, it's kind of mind-boggling.

 

[Captain Smoker]

Wondering whose turn is next to declare Nintendo doomed

 

[Ponn]

Some people seem to think that Wii U won't have any more game in the future.

They will have Nintendo games. The big question is if they will continue getting third party multiplatform support once the PS3/Xbox 360 well dries up.

 

[x-Lundz-x]

Some people seem to think that Wii U won't have any more game in the future.

Actually showing them, with release dates might be nice if they wish to improve things. The "Hey, you guys will get new Mario and Zelda EVENTUALLY" is not going to continue to work.

And the fact 3rd parties basically think the WiiU is a joke isn't helping things.

 

[JaseC]

I agree. Nintendo came out of the gate without any must have games and (I guess) expected people to buy their console on faith. In hindsight, not a great plan.

This sounds so familiar...

 

[Beer Monkey]

Microsoft just had an eight year cycle and forced Nintendo into a six year cycle where their sales had completely tanked by the end.

And their response was to release yet another system with prior gen horsepower.

Morons.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Oh come on.

The gamepad has zero traction. Nobody is talking or buzzing about it the way they were with the Wii motes, or hell, probably even the kinect. It's not blowing people away because it just looks like a cheaper version of the thing they've already been using for the past 2-3 years (android and iOS tablets!) and to make matters worse, Nintendo still hasn't showed that one "hook" game that shows everyone how and why the tablet can be a new gameplay experience. This was the biggest shocker for me. For better or worse, Nintendo's controllers have always been designed and geared around their biggest games. Mario 64 showed people why analog was important. Obviously Wii Sports for Wii. Even the Gamecube bean button layout was made with their own games in mind. But with Wii U they haven't grabbed anyone.

 

[DICKS AHOY]

Where were they when Yoshi's Island sold like shit?

Donkey Kong Country picked up the slack and their main rival at the time responded with the wet fart that was the 32X and KNUCKLES CHAOTIX.

 

[JoeM86]

Actually showing them, with release dates might be nice if they wish to improve things. The "Hey, you guys will get new Mario and Zelda EVENTUALLY" is not going to continue to work.

And the fact 3rd parties basically think the WiiU is a joke isn't helping things.

Yeah, Nintendo's recent policy of only showing games a few months before launch, and only dating them then, is both beneficial and a serious burden on them. It creates a huge burst of hype that the game can ride on when things are announced, but it leads people to assume there is nothing coming.

The Mario/Mario Kart/Zelda reveal in the Nintendo Direct in January is clearly a response for this

 

[ffdgh]

Hmm I think they'll turn this around eventually but I do hope they took notes this time since it seems like the 3ds launch didn't teach them much.....aside from having mario.

 

[Goodlife]

Nintendo still hasn't showed that one "hook" game that shows everyone how and why the tablet can be a new gameplay experience.

As soon as they showed off TV play lots of people were hooked.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

And the fact 3rd parties basically think the WiiU is a joke isn't helping things.

Where/when have any third parties said such a thing???

They might not make games for it but most praise the system.

 

[Tadale]

The Mario/Mario Kart/Zelda reveal in the Nintendo Direct in January is clearly a response for this

I wound't call what was said about any of those games a reveal.

 

[Pie and Beans]

As soon as they showed off TV play lots of people were hooked.

They suddenly knew an even more powerful and expensive Vita is what they'd always dreamed of.

 

[Goodlife]

The gamepad has zero traction. Nobody is talking or buzzing about it the way they were with the Wii motes, or hell, probably even the kinect. It's not blowing people away because it just looks like a cheaper version of the thing they've already been using for the past 2-3 years (android and iOS tablets!) and to make matters worse, Nintendo still hasn't showed that one "hook" game that shows everyone how and why the tablet can be a new gameplay experience. This was the biggest shocker for me. For better or worse, Nintendo's controllers have always been designed and geared around their biggest games. Mario 64 showed people why analog was important. Obviously Wii Sports for Wii. Even the Gamecube bean button layout was made with their own games in mind. But with Wii U they haven't grabbed anyone.

And what about Nintendo Land???????????

 

[Kyoufu]

Let's see what happens at the year mark. Plus people keep banking on the new Xbox and PS4 to kill it. I don't see it that way atm, since there is nothing in PS4's Arsenal that says killer App. Are people really going to rush out and buy a 400 or 500 dollar console with unappealing games when you can get a Wii U for $100 less and better games.

Why so quick to brand PS4/Xbox games coming this year as "unappealing" when you don't know the full release schedule?

 

[XenodudeX]

They might not make games for it but most praise the system.

In public maybe, but what about behind close doors?

Why so quick to brand PS4/Xbox games coming this year as "unappealing" when you don't know the full release schedule?

On the flip side, why do some people here think the mainstream is going to gobble up these 450-500 dollar systems with potentially 70 dollar games at launch. They can be wow'd by the pretty shiny graphics all they want, but when they see these prices and micro transaction bullshit some of these companies will be pulling, they could potentially think twice about buying. I think the PS3 and 720 will have at least a better launch than Wii U, but I don't think it's going to cut it.

 

[JoeM86]

I wound't call what was said about any of those games a reveal.

Valid point which furthers my point.

It's a shame that E3 is so far away. I just hope this month's Nintendo Direct solves some of these problems

 

[speedpop]

Donkey Kong Country picked up the slack and their main rival at the time responded with the wet fart that was the 32X and KNUCKLES CHAOTIX.

Don't forget the grey elephant in the room!

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Also this narrative people try to push that the whole industry is doomed because people don't want to buy Nintendo consoles is silly. MS just moved 250,000 units of 8 year old hardware in January. Sony another 200K.

And what about Nintendo Land???????????

Doesn't have any mainstream appeal. Nintendo needed something that the Wii Sports/Fit audience would take to again as "core" gamers aren't checking for mini-game collections. NintendoLand ain't it. They can't be one foot in the casual boat and one foot out again. It's not 2006 that won't work. If they don't get something that grabs that audience again immediately, they will move on to something else (and already have)