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[BahamutPT]

Nintendo has proven countless times that today's gimmicks quite often become tomorrow's standards.

The only real gimmick that seems to have endured is motion controls... So not much to go on there.
11 years later, dual screen play hasn't taken off. If you count the N64/Gamecube controllers, neither have those.

(I don't see anything else from Nintendo as real "gimmicks" aside from those things)

 

[dano1]

I wondered who stole my mirror

 

[JoeM86]

The only real gimmick that seems to have endured is motion controls... So not much to go on there.
11 years later, dual screen play hasn't taken off. If you count the N64/Gamecube controllers, neither have those.

(I don't see anything else from Nintendo as real "gimmicks" aside from those things)

The D-Pad was a gimmick at the time.
Rumble was a gimmick at the time.
Analogue sticks were a gimmick at the time.
Shoulder buttons were a gimmick at the time.
Dual screen play has been with Nintendo for decades. Just because others haven't done it doesn't mean it hasn't taken off, especially when over 200 million sold Nintendo devices in the last 12 years have dual screens.

I think people misuse the term gimmick to just be a feature they don't like, but don't realise that many standards in gaming today were labelled as gimmicks back in the day. The D-Pad especially. Gimmick has become a term that is used with disdain because it deviates from what people perceive as the norm. Without "gimmicks", gaming would stagnate.

 

[Graphics Horse]

I don't think there's any sales trend to indicate quite such a precipitous drop in 3DS sales in JP. This year Kirby and Pokémon, along with the new YW game, should help buoy the system. I do think it's conceivable that JP gets the HH this year and the West gets the console.

I explained later I meant ww 3DS sales, but I think I underestimated how well it's still selling in US, could ship more like 5 million next year rather than 4.

For Zelda I get what you're saying and wondered the same, but hopefully the system is riding on more than being able to play Zelda at 1080p. If they could only offer a handheld this year, but launches with a Zelda card that will also work as the hd game when you plug it into the console, some might be interested. And when you say some people would be happy to wait, well, they can wait and Nintendo won't mind if they end up buying it twice.


None of this really has to do with my point, which is basically just that we know fuck all!
But if all they have to bring out this year was a handheld, then I don't think it's worth delaying ZNX to next year, unless they keep its existence a secret

 

[Doc Holliday]

Touch screen gaming was a gimmick too. Now look at the size of the mobile gaming market that is completely touch based. People forget how ahead of it's time the DS was in terms of touch screen controls.

That said, I want nothing to do with this leaked photo. I'm hoping it's fake.

 

[Kurt]

The only real gimmick that seems to have endured is motion controls... So not much to go on there.
11 years later, dual screen play hasn't taken off. If you count the N64/Gamecube controllers, neither have those.

(I don't see anything else from Nintendo as real "gimmicks" aside from those things)

Again, it's always the way how the hardware is used.
For some games, motion controls are better if done well.

 

[Mr. MondayNight]

I agree. I don't expect Paper Mario or Zelda to make any real waves in JP (I think Zelda may sell pretty well vs. expectations in JP, but I don't think it'll be a massive system seller like Splatoon), so unless a significant wave of SW is coming I'd be wary to think how Nintendo would see any significant success from Wii U this holiday in JP.

They can't survive the holiday in Japan or America for that matter off of a sequel to an ill received Paper Mario game, and a Zelda title though high profile still won't be enough for the Wii U to tough it out, it would be suicide on their bottom line to allow the Wii U to stay through the holidays.

Again, it's always the way how the hardware is used.
For some games, motion controls are better if done well.

Call of Duty Wii(U) comes to mind I don't see myself playing CoD if Wiimote controls aren't implemented.

 

[GhostTrick]

The D-Pad was a gimmick at the time.
Rumble was a gimmick at the time.
Analogue sticks were a gimmick at the time.
Shoulder buttons were a gimmick at the time.
Dual screen play has been with Nintendo for decades. Just because others haven't done it doesn't mean it hasn't taken off, especially when over 200 million sold Nintendo devices in the last 12 years have dual screens.

I think people misuse the term gimmick to just be a feature they don't like, but don't realise that many standards in gaming today were labelled as gimmicks back in the day. The D-Pad especially. Gimmick has become a term that is used with disdain because it deviates from what people perceive as the norm. Without "gimmicks", gaming would stagnate.

I disagree with all of your list. Although, I agree about the word gimmick thrown around too easily. Althought to me, this controller really is a gimmick with that screen. It's sad because it seems to feature something really exciting going forward for gaming: Scrolling wheels as shoulder buttons.

These little two things right here are million times more exciting than haptic buttons.

 

[BahamutPT]

The D-Pad was a gimmick at the time.
Rumble was a gimmick at the time.
Analogue sticks were a gimmick at the time.
Shoulder buttons were a gimmick at the time.
Dual screen play has been with Nintendo for decades. Just because others haven't done it doesn't mean it hasn't taken off, especially when over 200 million sold Nintendo devices in the last 12 years have dual screens.

I think people misuse the term gimmick to just be a feature they don't like, but don't realise that many standards in gaming today were labelled as gimmicks back in the day. The D-Pad especially. Gimmick has become a term that is used with disdain because it deviates from what people perceive as the norm. Without "gimmicks", gaming would stagnate.

Most of those already existed in the gaming world, such as force feedback on arcades, analog sticks, directional pads. So they weren't really introduced by Nintendo as gimmicks. Someone had already done so before and people were already familiar.

Dual screens and motion controls were absolutely introduced to gaming by Nintendo.
And while they may have sold millions of dual screen devices, that does not make it a "standard" as you mentioned.

 

[Max_Po]

The D-Pad was a gimmick at the time.
Rumble was a gimmick at the time.
Analogue sticks were a gimmick at the time.
Shoulder buttons were a gimmick at the time.
Dual screen play has been with Nintendo for decades. Just because others haven't done it doesn't mean it hasn't taken off, especially when over 200 million sold Nintendo devices in the last 12 years have dual screens.

I think people misuse the term gimmick to just be a feature they don't like, but don't realise that many standards in gaming today were labelled as gimmicks back in the day. The D-Pad especially. Gimmick has become a term that is used with disdain because it deviates from what people perceive as the norm. Without "gimmicks", gaming would stagnate.

Dat hurtin buttock ... poor Nintendo fan boy here ....smh

 

[Bots are better than you]

Most of those already existed in the gaming world, such as force feedback on arcades, analog sticks, directional pads. So they weren't really introduced by Nintendo as gimmicks. Someone had already done so before and people were already familiar.

Dual screens and motion controls were absolutely introduced to gaming by Nintendo.
And while they may have sold millions of dual screen devices, that does not make it a "standard" as you mentioned.

Well, going with my memory, but Nintendo's first D-Pad was from 1982, before that only a few exots had something that could resemble a D-Pad.

Analog stick, wether you consider the joysticks from early consoles / PC gaming as an analog-stick, that thing has been done since the 80s, yes. Thumb-controlled analog stick though, has first showed up from an special controller from SEGA for the Mega Drive, and then vanished until 1996 / 1997 where Nintendo, Sega a little bit later and in 1997 Sony came out with theirs.

And motion controls have been available before Wii, although not as a standard control scheme.

It always depends on the definition of gimmick, if you consider gimmick as something that hasn't been done before, then Nintendo doesn't really have that many.
If you consider it a technology used as a norm for the first time / successfully, then Nintendo has quite a few gimmicks that got mass adaption.

Dat hurtin buttock ... poor Nintendo fan boy here ....smh

This "poor Nintendo fan boy" made a more constructive post in this thread than you.
Think about it.

 

[Max_Po]

Well, going with my memory, but Nintendo's first D-Pad was from 1982, before that only a few exots had something that could resemble a D-Pad.

Analog stick, wether you consider the joysticks from early consoles / PC gaming as an analog-stick, that thing has been done since the 80s, yes. Thumb-controlled analog stick though, has first showed up from an special controller from SEGA for the Mega Drive, and then vanished until 1996 / 1997 where Nintendo, Sega a little bit later and in 1997 Sony came out with theirs.

And motion controls have been available before Wii, although not as a standard control scheme.

It always depends on the definition of gimmick, if you consider gimmick as something that hasn't been done before, then Nintendo doesn't really have that many.
If you consider it a technology used as a norm for the first time / successfully, then Nintendo has quite a few gimmicks that got mass adaption.


This "poor Nintendo fan boy" made a more constructive post in this thread than you.
Think about it.

I am sorry I find all his points invalid. .as have others.

 

[10k]

Iwata name dropping this thing was the worst. Having fake leaks and leaks from your own employees who are frustrated by your own radio silence is your problem. If Nintendo didn't say shit about the NX until April of this year and then revealed it at this years E3 there wouldn't have been time for leaks and mockups and such.

 

[Kodaman]

I am sorry I find all his points invalid. .as have others.

Maybe you could make a little effort and try to explain why insted of the "lolool fanboy lolol"

 

[bomblord1]

The only real gimmick that seems to have endured is motion controls... So not much to go on there.
11 years later, dual screen play hasn't taken off. If you count the N64/Gamecube controllers, neither have those.

(I don't see anything else from Nintendo as real "gimmicks" aside from those things)

Dpad
Analog Stick
Touch Screen Gaming
Motion Controls
DVD Player integrated into the system
CD Player integrated into the system
CD format games
Digital Download games
Avatars
Online Gameplay

Were all console "gimmicks" before they were adopted as industry standards. Having existed in some form before hand does not exclude them from being gimmicks.

gim·mick
noun

a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.

 

[sinxtanx]

Iwata name dropping this thing was the worst. Having fake leaks and leaks from your own employees who are frustrated by your own radio silence is your problem. If Nintendo didn't say shit about the NX until April of this year and then revealed it at this years E3 there wouldn't have been time for leaks and mockups and such.

instead there would've been plenty of time for lots of people to convince themselves that Nintendo was going 100% mobile

damned if you do, doomed if you don't

 

[maxcriden]

They can't survive the holiday in Japan or America for that matter off of a sequel to an ill received Paper Mario game, and a Zelda title though high profile still won't be enough for the Wii U to tough it out, it would be suicide on their bottom line to allow the Wii U to stay through the holidays.

That's pretty much what I was trying to say. I was agreeing with you, sorry if I was unclear.

 

[BahamutPT]

Touch screen gaming was a gimmick too. Now look at the size of the mobile gaming market that is completely touch based.

The mobile gaming market was a natural evolution of the smartphone evolution and processing power behind it. You can't really believe it was some kind of influence by Nintendo DS...

Well, going with my memory, but Nintendo's first D-Pad was from 1982, before that only a few exots had something that could resemble a D-Pad.

Analog stick, wether you consider the joysticks from early consoles / PC gaming as an analog-stick, that thing has been done since the 80s, yes. Thumb-controlled analog stick though, has first showed up from an special controller from SEGA for the Mega Drive, and then vanished until 1996 / 1997 where Nintendo, Sega a little bit later and in 1997 Sony came out with theirs.

Yes, but what I mean is that if you actually played videogames at the time, you were already familiar with those inputs, even if in a slightly different configuration. Nintendo did refine and made most of them "mainstream" though, I don't dispute that at all. So I agree that they did innovate the medium with control schemes.
I just don't really agree with any definition of "gimmicks" for those things.

And motion controls have been available before Wii, although not as a standard control scheme.

I only really recall maybe EyeToy? Not sure if I'd put that under the typical notion of motion controls though. I see that as early AR.

This "poor Nintendo fan boy" made a more constructive post in this thread than you.
Think about it.

Yeah, that's why we can't have meaningful discussions.

Were all console "gimmicks" before they were adopted as industry standards. Having existed in some form before hand does not exclude them from being gimmicks.

If we're talking semantics, you may as well add the marketing definition from wikipedia:

In marketing terminology, the term gimmick refers to a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries.

I also didn't mean they were never gimmicks. I meant most were already past the gimmick phase when introduced by Nintendo.

 

[Anteo]

Gimmick doenst mean it has to be first, it just has to be innovative. Is something truly innovative when is mass adopted?

 

[Bots are better than you]

instead there would've been plenty of time for lots of people to convince themselves that Nintendo was going 100% mobile

damned if you do, doomed if you don't

Pretty much.

The only thing they could've done while the first name dropping of the thing, is to make some things more clear. Telling people they would talk about the new system starting fiscal year 2016, saying that they have been in talks with devs/pubs since {timeframe}.

 

[philion]

hasn't this thread gone on long enough?

 

[Interfectum]

Again, it's always the way how the hardware is used.
For some games, motion controls are better if done well.

I loved the motion controls in Scarface on Wii. Strangling people with the Wiimote controls was awesome.

 

[KingSnake]

instead there would've been plenty of time for lots of people to convince themselves that Nintendo was going 100% mobile

damned if you do, doomed if you don't

So what? Nintendoom exists since tens of years. The reveal of NX would have had even greater positive impact then.

 

[JoeM86]

I am sorry I find all his points invalid. .as have others.

Why? Because you were born after the time they became a standard?

Rumble is the most gimmick like thing. It added very little to gameplay, yet it went on to become a standard.

D-Pads were faced with scepticism when introduced to home console with the NES because they weren't joysticks. It was labelled a gimmick.

Just because you're used to it now doesn't mean many didn't consider it one in the time it was introduced.

Most of those already existed in the gaming world, such as force feedback on arcades, analog sticks, directional pads. So they weren't really introduced by Nintendo as gimmicks. Someone had already done so before and people were already familiar.

Dual screens and motion controls were absolutely introduced to gaming by Nintendo.
And while they may have sold millions of dual screen devices, that does not make it a "standard" as you mentioned.

Motion and touch gaming existed before DS and Wii, but they were still labelled gimmicks by people for Nintendo. Nintendo popularised it and made it a viable product.

So what? Nintendoom exists since tens of years. The reveal of NX would have had even greater positive impact then.

Na, it's more than just fanboys spelling doom. Them not reassuring they were working on hardware when they announced the mobile initiative would have caused horrific side effects with investors, business side of things and so forth. It could actually have destroyed their business.

 

[Specialmias]

So what? Nintendoom exists since tens of years. The reveal of NX would have had even greater positive impact then.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Nintendo alive because they're sitting on a massive pool of money? IE it would be really hard for them to just disappear into the nether?

 

[sinxtanx]

So what? Nintendoom exists since tens of years. The reveal of NX would have had even greater positive impact then.

shareholders

 

[Bots are better than you]

Yes, but what I mean is that if you actually played videogames at the time, you were already familiar with those inputs, even if in a slightly different configuration. Nintendo did refine and made most of them "mainstream" though, I don't dispute that at all. So I agree that they did innovate the medium with control schemes.

Well, i know this stuff because i made my homework and am interested in the "gaming" technology.
But 13 year old me certainly had never seen or even used an analog-stick pre-N64. Joysticks on the other hand, used that stuff since my first Atari console.

I only really recall maybe EyeToy? Not sure if I'd put that under the typical notion of motion controls though. I see that as early AR.

There was some weird fighting game on PS2, that had some strange motion controllers, quite a novelty back then, but i forgot the name, sorry.
And EyeToy sure is motion control, imo. Kinect is regarded as a motion control device, too, or am i wrong?

If we're talking semantics, you may as well add the marketing definition from wikipedia:

Well, this definition really does prove Joe's post.

 

[Deleted member 518153]

hasn't this thread gone on long enough?

GAF needs its daily Nintendo speculation fix. Otherwise there is no point in having Gaming Community here

 

[Mr. MondayNight]

That's pretty much what I was trying to say. I was agreeing with you, sorry if I was unclear.

Oh no I agree with you wholeheartedly, I was spelling it out for the people that keep saying that it's going to be the handheld releasing without thinking about the business side of things just personal preference, it makes no since when thinking about Japan or NA and that's there two biggest territories.

 

[KingSnake]

Na, it's more than just fanboys spelling doom. Them not reassuring they were working on hardware when they announced the mobile initiative would have caused horrific side effects with investors, business side of things and so forth. It could actually have destroyed their business.

shareholders

I would argue that it would have had no impact at all with the investors. The investors care much more about the mobile part than anything else. Actually the idea of Nintendo going full mobile would have probably shut the share price through the roof.

The business side of things is informed anyhow in business meetings.

I would say that outside some gamers discussion a non-announcement would have had 0 impact. I would rather thing that a possible negative image about NX because such premature announcement without any follow up might hurt the NX product more than no hardware announcement would have hurt Nintendo as a company.

 

[Javier]

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Nintendo alive because they're sitting on a massive pool of money? IE it would be really hard for them to just disappear into the nether?

Some people love to cry "Nintendoomed", but I firmly believe nobody on these boards right now will live long enough to see Nintendo go out of business. Even if the console/handheld video game market proves no longer profitable for them, they'll likely adapt to other things before they disappear.

 

[Bulbasaur]

Has Nintendo mentioned/debunked this yet?

 

[B4s5C]

Some people love to cry "Nintendoomed", but I firmly believe nobody on these boards right now will live long enough to see Nintendo go out of business. Even if the console/handheld video game market proves no longer profitable for them, they'll likely adapt to other things before they disappear.

Pachinko ;_;

 

[TunaLover]

Why? Because you were born after the time they became a standard?

Rumble is the most gimmick like thing. It added very little to gameplay, yet it went on to become a standard.

D-Pads were faced with scepticism when introduced to home console with the NES because they weren't joysticks. It was labelled a gimmick.

Just because you're used to it now doesn't mean many didn't consider it one in the time it was introduced.



Motion and touch gaming existed before DS and Wii, but they were still labelled gimmicks by people for Nintendo. Nintendo popularised it and made it a viable product.



Na, it's more than just fanboys spelling doom. Them not reassuring they were working on hardware when they announced the mobile initiative would have caused horrific side effects with investors, business side of things and so forth. It could actually have destroyed their business.

You're right, but still, thinking forward about this "prototype" controller I can see it resolve the problem with button layout for older consoles (VC) custom button placement would be nice, but introduce another problem, it will be almost impossible keep the thing clean, when your whole hand is resting over a screen

 

[10k]

instead there would've been plenty of time for lots of people to convince themselves that Nintendo was going 100% mobile

damned if you do, doomed if you don't

Which would have made an NX reveal out of nowhere in June of this year all the more appealing.

"You think we're going mobile? Boom! NX! Suck a dick".

 

[Bots are better than you]

Which would have made an NX reveal out of nowhere in June of this year all the more appealing.

"You think we're going mobile? Boom! NX! Suck a dick".

I'm not sure that this out of nowhere reveal would lead to a rise in shares ... because there's always a chance that the system fails to get positive reactions.

This uncertainty in addition to about 1 year of negative press about going full mobile, going third party (and thus losing a big part of the company) and negative impact to the stock would make the shareholders go angry mob on them, and i'm talking pitchforks-and-torches-angry-mob here.

High price for the overwhelming reaction of the gamers. I'd bet too high for a company.

 

[KingSnake]

Plus imagine the surprise of the Zelda NX version. Now everybody expects it.

I'm not sure that this out of nowhere reveal would lead to a rise in shares ... because there's always a chance that the system fails to get positive reactions.

This uncertainty in addition to about 1 year of negative press about going full mobile, going third party (and thus losing a big part of the company) and negative impact to the stock would make the shareholders go angry mob on them, and i'm talking pitchforks-and-torches-angry-mob here.

High price for the overwhelming reaction of the gamers. I'd bet too high for a company.

Nintendo shareholders react only to the mobile speculations.

If the NX fails it will be a bloodbath no matter when it was announced.

 

[JoeM86]

You're right, but still, thinking forward about this "prototype" controller I can see it resolve the problem with button layout for older consoles (VC) custom button placement would be nice, but introduce another problem, it will be almost impossible keep the thing clean, when your whole hand is resting over a screen

It needs buttons. If it lacks buttons, it's screwed. Many of Nintendo's games would just not work with touch interfaces, even if simulating buttons.

 

[georly]

Has Nintendo mentioned/debunked this yet?

No, and they never will. They "do not comment on rumors and speculation." Ever.

It needs buttons. If it lacks buttons, it's screwed. Many of Nintendo's games would just not work with touch interfaces, even if simulating buttons.

Yeah, I need to be able to hold B and press A to jump, something which I think would probably be difficult on a touch screen.

 

[DrWong]

Which would have made an NX reveal out of nowhere in June of this year all the more appealing.

"You think we're going mobile? Boom! NX! Suck a dick".

It's nice, fun and all as a scenario but only in fanfiction industry territory: "You thought the hero was dead, you thought the villains were the winners but... the champion will fight back and win the war and win the woman in distress! Next week in your theaters!"

 

[TunaLover]

It needs buttons. If it lacks buttons, it's screwed. Many of Nintendo's games would just not work with touch interfaces, even if simulating buttons.

With current technology that is, if they were to remove buttons for good I'd would think they developed a new technology around it.

 

[Eevee86]

Dat hurtin buttock ... poor Nintendo fan boy here ....smh

So very mature.

 

[BahamutPT]

Motion and touch gaming existed before DS and Wii, but they were still labelled gimmicks by people for Nintendo. Nintendo popularised it and made it a viable product.

I can't really recall any motion controller prior to the Wii (already mentioned how I think EyeToy doesn't really fit the notion). And if we actually go back, Nintendo still pioneered MC inputs with the Power Glove.

The touchscreen experience I actually had to "research" because I didn't know about of any real gaming applications. So I just learned about the Vectrex.

There was some weird fighting game on PS2, that had some strange motion controllers, quite a novelty back then, but i forgot the name, sorry.
And EyeToy sure is motion control, imo. Kinect is regarded as a motion control device, too, or am i wrong?

Not sure, I would put it maybe somewhere in between? I don't really recall controlling something with EyeToy as much as simply interacting. But I only used it for those EyeToy minigame collections so maybe there were better implementations elsewhere.

Well, this definition really does prove Joe's post.

Yes, that was my point. It's a better description of what he/she was going for

 

[Scrawnton]

Having had time to sit on it, I think I like the design of this if it's the handheld. Looks pretty slick to me.

 

[Graphics Horse]

It needs buttons. If it lacks buttons, it's screwed. Many of Nintendo's games would just not work with touch interfaces, even if simulating buttons.

It'll have buttons, question is how many? Most of their games aren't reliant on a lot of primary buttons.
I look forward to the glorious return of right stick based combat once you can twirl the camera around with a shoulder wheel

 

[Dictator93]

Nintendo has proven countless times that today's gimmicks quite often become tomorrow's standards. People dismissing it just because the Wii U's gimmick didn't catch on are irrational

I mean, I really do not see this at all for the prior history.

The places where it seems to apply: thumb joy stick, touch screen, casual games. All seem like implementations that are not too great (N64 controller), poorly utilised (touch screen as per wii U), or honestly, not what interests me at all as a gamer (the wii catalogue really does not interest me and the control scheme precision left much to be desired).

-Is the DS the standard input style for on the go gaming? (no that is smart phone single screens with finger touch input)
-Is the joy stick input as per the N64 or even the gamecube standard? No. Even the wii u pro controller did not ape those designs.


Where do you see this then? Are you seeing it in the games or something? Hardware-wise, I do not see it.

 

[Kurt]

I mean, I really do not see this at all for the prior history.

The places where it seems to apply: thumb joy stick, touch screen, casual games. All seem like implementations that are not too great (N64 controller), poorly utilised (touch screen as per wii U), or honestly, not what interests me at all as a gamer (the wii ....

It's ok to have an opinion.
But there is no deny that each hardware have their benefits for hardcore gamers.
Wow would be better playable with a wii u pad instead of using a normal controller.
Or what about mario maker? Rts games? ...

.... Yes i don't think someone denies that there is software that implements hardware in a gimmick way.
Yet that's the fault of the developer. Hardware evolution is needed.
You can play streetfighter with 2 buttons. But it's much better to play with 6 buttons.

 

[LSauchelli]

Dat hurtin buttock ... poor Nintendo fan boy here ....smh

Wow. Really? What exactly did he say that was "fanboyish"? And how exactly do you disagree with anything he said?

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Iwata name dropping this thing was the worst. Having fake leaks and leaks from your own employees who are frustrated by your own radio silence is your problem. If Nintendo didn't say shit about the NX until April of this year and then revealed it at this years E3 there wouldn't have been time for leaks and mockups and such.

None of this is going to hurt the final product if it's good and/or resonates with the consumer.

All that stuff about own employees being frustrated is unsubstantiated.

 

[Mr. MondayNight]

None of this is going to hurt the final product if it's good and/or resonates with the consumer.

All that stuff about own employees being frustrated is unsubstantiated.

For all we know they are excited about what they see and want to share tidbits idk really but from Trev's description at least from what I read it sounded more like excitement than frustration when describing how he got contacted by his source.