Everyone will be watching Nintendo's Revolution unveiling very closely I think. That's going to be the measure of what Nintendo has become. We have to remember, that after Gamecube and GBA were finalised, the system of management at the company has changed, their practices have changed. They are a company in transition.
So I have this feeling that if Revolution is something of genius, that will display a change for the better. If it's something wacky, like we all know it could be -- I think Nintendo will still succeed enough to keep doing it, but they'll be looked on differently than Sony and Microsoft. I think that could be their plan too - to build an offshoot - their own market.
Either way: Nintendo can become cool again. Most people don't give a shit who makes the box that they play games on. They go where the hype hits off hardest. PS2 had it with PlayStation momentum and umpteen exclusive games including Tekken, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo, Grand Theft Auto etc. Xbox had it because they were the daring new-comer, with the most powerful machine to boot... Nintendo?
They made a lot of right moves, but not enough. In terms of raw hardware power and in some kind of metaphorical sense -- they were somewhat in the middle. Between a rock and a hard place, with a little purple console that didn't have as many functions as the others nor deliver enough in time. Making matters worse, Nintendo Europe has been completely impotent in responding to the great deals Microsoft and Sony have put in place. I wouldn't be surprised if the same was true of NOA. When they have responded, it's always been far too late.
But thinking hypothetically for a moment: if Nintendo sharpen their relations with western developers and become more efficient out here, they can only improve. They have made leaps and strides with the likes of SEGA, Namco, Capcom, etc. All three were non-existant or irrelevant on Nintendo 64. So they need to replicate that over here. As for this EA dropping them next generation... yeah right. Have Nintendo and EA ever been this close before ever? The whole dynamic changes with every cycle -- we can't rule out that they'll have a very powerful machine ready. This is also the first time any company has indicated they intend to make their hardware more enjoyable for gamers in ways other than upping raw horse power. If the idea they are talking about is compelling enough, that could change a lot too.
I think people look at Gamecube's hardware sales, compare them with N64's and see the business as a failure. But I think the console is both a victim of circumstance (namely Microsoft's entry) and Nintendo's remaining business failings from the Yamauchi era. With the new management of recent years in place, and Nintendo's more outgoing nature, I personally think they're really about to turn a corner. I think people forget how shit the N64 and the sporadic releases from the "Dream Team" actually was.
This under-dog status could serve them well. They could come out of left field and surprise a shit load of people. If the hardware is a good idea, attractive to developers and consumers, and they expand the amount of great games on their machines -- all they have to do then, is put out the hype.
