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[Geometric-Crusher]

Recently, a user asked me to do a review of the Switch 2. Well, I don't have a Switch 2 and many reviews have already been done by IGN, DF and some YouTubers, so I prefer to talk about something more interesting, the way Nintendo positions itself in the market, its philosophy. Have you thought about this?

No company executive will say 'Hey, this is how we do things here', so it's necessary to analyze the result of equation and not the calculation itself. I see they work with a systematic construction, which means that if one link in this construction is modified, the entire system changes along with it or becomes inoperative.

There are three pillars that together imprint a perception on the mind.

- The research and development of games following a cycle or formula.
- The presentation of these games to consumers as if they had a distinction or an exceptionality compared to other games
- Nintendo doesn't give any software (games) for free, nor does it lower the price of its games.

These three pillars aim to add value to games, for example, no one would pay $60 for a Switch 1 game without first being convinced by these pillars, it's simple: Nintendo instructs its developers to seek distinctions on its IPs (for example, offering the best cel shading on the market in a certain type of game).
Then the marketing department invests a lot of money to find and try to sell the exceptionality.
Thus we have a closed cycle with the consumer responding positively to the marketing.

This happens because there is a predisposition, the potential customer hears that a certain game is the best ever made in history ( there is no dispute) wants to play it, so they pay for it.With this knowledge in hand, it is important for anyone who intends to buy to ask themselves "Is this game really special? so demand proof."

That's my tip, because you know, for 10 games for $80, you can buy a 16'' RTX 4060 notebook, subscribe to Gamepass, and take advantage of Steam sales, It's up to Nintendo to be more consumer-friendly like it was in the past.

 

[Ailike]

ChatGPT, write me a Neogaf Nintendo post

 

[LavitzSlambert]

 

[HRK69]

"Have you thought about this?"

No.

But I do wonder why people think about this shit in their free time

 

[Paasei]

 

[Gonzito]

Nintendo is not in my thoughts papi

 

[Ribi]

Fanboys buy things they fanboy over because fanboys.

 

[semiconscious]

nintendo or nintendon't? that is the question...

 

[Danjin44]

intends to buy to ask themselves "Is this game really special? so demand proof."

For my taste it is it kinda whole reason why I buy Nintendo systems in the first place.....there others out there make games like Nintendo.

We live in age internet you have all information you need even without reviews.

 

[Plies]

Tl;Dr

Nintendo artificially inflates the value of their games?

Similar to diamond manufacturers who manipulate the market by withholding diamond supplies in order to keep prices high .

The solution:

Wait for Yuzu 2

 

[Sakura]

I don't understand your post OP.
Are you basically just salty about Nintendo's game prices?

 

[bender]

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

I too would be angry if I couldn't afford Nintendo games

 

[MrRibeye]

The research and development of games following a cycle or formula.
- The presentation of these games to consumers as if they had a distinction or an exceptionality compared to other games

I think what you're saying is that by making the same Smash Bros and Mario Kart over and over again, but slightly better each time, allows Nintendo to advertise these as "the best Mario Kart ever" and who doesn't want to try or buy the best of something

 

[FoxMcChief]

No. I only care how Nintendo continues to put out fucking hits.

 

[BlackTron]

I think what you're saying is that by making the same Smash Bros and Mario Kart over and over again, but slightly better each time, allows Nintendo to advertise these as "the best Mario Kart ever" and who doesn't want to try or buy the best of something

I'm pretty sure he meant in relation to other games not in relation to the last entry in the same IP. It's a long roundabout way to imply the N game would never be exceptional compared to anything lol.

This post is such a word salad from the very beginning I wonder if it was written under the influence of something, like what happened. Almost like a cope thread after substance abuse to deal with Nintendo's sales.

 

[Plies]

Recently, a user asked me to do a review of the Switch 2.

I'm still waiting on your 3D0 analysis.

 

[T-0800]

Recently, a user asked me to do a review of the Switch 2.

 

[Lethal01]

Nintendo makes more games that I like than other devs, so I buy more Nintendo games.
They are just bigger and better.
If other developers could compare maybe I would care about their prices.

 

[existensmaximum]

Yeah, lots of people have thought about this and it has been discussed before.

Whatever they're doing, it's working.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

I dont think they operate like this.

First of all, Switch has hit mainstream success. So, how to continue that. Also drip feeding content so audience stays engaged, that sort of stuff would be on their mind.

High prices for games comes from exclusivity. Investors would demand higher returns.

 

[DavidGzz]

I don't particularly think about it cause it doesn't interest me in the least. Last thing I bought from Nintendo is a 64 with Goldeneye. Their model seems to work, I am just not an interested party in what they offer anymore.

 

[L*][*N*K]

I asked ChatGPT to summerize the whole thing in 10 words for me, here it is if you don't want to bother reading that whole wall:

Nintendo sells perceived value through controlled design, marketing, and pricing.

 

[IAmRei]

i hope their plan is not like certain campus near my place, which they build their achievement with their students, and then when the time right, they started to rebuild the campus as modern as great as they could. then they started to not care about the graduates anymore, and the quality is drown below standard.

 

[Zathalus]

I buy Nintendo hardware to play Nintendo games. I play Nintendo games because I find them fun. It's not that deep bro.

 

[Chittagong]

Nintendo's tent pole games try to break new ground on gameplay innovation, not gimmicks like cell shading - graphics are much later in the process.

Nintendo is multiple times on record on how this works - they do hundreds of gameplay innovation tests with "no graphics" - see the pixel version of BotW mechanics for example. After they find a fun formula, they polish, test, balance, polish, test, balance - and then market the hell out of the innovation.

This is why the best Nintendo games become so fun, successful and polished. Some examples include the motion controls of Wii Sports, the paint mechanics of Splatoon, the open world "try anything" approach of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the transformation mechanics of Super Mario Wonder, the building mechanics of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the full destruction of Donkey Kong Bananza.

These innovations push the entire industry forward. While it's true that sometimes the innovation does not quite deliver on the intent and is thus "over marketed" - see the pointless open world of Mario Kart World - in most cases this innovation and polish are the gameplay magic why Nintendo can command premium prices and hold them for a long time. Nobody has still today bested Splatoon or BotW, in fact even the attempts have been laughable - so the only option you have is to pay full price.

Their marketing, from Nintendo Direct reveals to Ask the Developer interviews, is fully geared around marketing the gameplay innovations.

 

[Jacobson]

who asked you to review the Switch 2? and why??

 

[CuteFaceJay]

Normally when the liquidity cycle kicks in.

 

[Jacobson]

Tl;Dr

Nintendo artificially inflates the value of their games?

Similar to diamond manufacturers who manipulate the market by withholding diamond supplies in order to keep prices high .

The solution:

Wait for Yuzu 2

GAF is now straight up promoting piracy? lol

 

[BlackTron]

GAF is now straight up promoting piracy? lol

He is coming for your lunch

 

[Woopah]

Their business model is:

1. Use internal teams and external partners to make a variety of fun games that lots of people want to play (at full price).
2. Make these games exclusive to drive high hardware sales
3. Use the high userbase to attract third parties

It doesn't always quite work and there are more elements, but that's the core.

 

[Celine]

No company executive will say 'Hey, this is how we do things here'

Actually Nintendo explained its philosophy upon which is based its success a few years ago:

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2020/200916e.pdf

Even after the above explanation (dosuko/originality/uniqueness, hardware-software integration) there are deeper factors upon which is based Nintendo modus operandi:
1) Nintendo leverages the aspects "of-the-human" nature. Basics needs for entertainment/fun and how he eventually will bore out unless there are surprises, no matter how good your original "trick" was.
2) From the above follow that Nintendo has the ambition to seek out for timeless elements, that is aspects that won't change over time because tied to the core human nature.
Meanwhile most other publishers seek out to exploit the latest fashion in society.

What were the factors that made it possible for Nintendo to seize current dominant position, especially considering that all pure videgame companies with console business exited the market in the late '90s/early '00s after the coming of external big corporation?
1) Luck.
2) Being constantly in survival mode (fiscally conservative, videogame business chosen because "the least resistant path" when they were trying to branch out into the toy industry, self-sufficiency which lead to adoption a first-party driven strategy on-steroid).
3) Vision which was heightened by a constant stream of successes and failures and with the mindset that everything (success/failure) is temporary (unless the company die out) and could teach a good lesson for the future (so even a failure could be useful and a big success just something that might happen but not definitive).


Hiroshi Yamauchi was a lucky bastard, with a keen insight.
In fact Nintendo (even today Nintendo) il molded around him (his legacy).

 

[Plies]

GAF is now straight up promoting piracy? lol

Emulation is ok in my country if you own a legit copy, which I do.

Greetings from Kazakhstan.

 

[Jacobson]

Emulation is ok in my country if you own a legit copy, which I do.

Greetings from Kazakhstan.

so how is the solution is to wait for Yuzu when you're still paying for the high priced game

 

[Plies]

so how is the solution is to wait for Yuzu when you're still paying for the high priced game

Nice try, Nintendo Ninja!

 

[Rivdoric]

Brain-Crusher

 

[Geometric-Crusher]

I don't understand your post OP.
Are you basically just salty about Nintendo's game prices?

Their prices and their insistence on positioning their games as superior to others,
They can do this if they have the technology on board to do so.

 

[diffusionx]

Nintendo positions itself in the marketplace by promoting itself as a brand and a platform and the only place you can access their games. Which makes it incredibly valuable by itself. The equation of Switch 2 or PCfat nerd laptop doesn't work because it misses that point. This is why Nintendo does not port their games to PC, because it would destroy that equation. This is why Sony is so stupid for doing what they are doing.

 

[Topher]

I think Nintendo fans who think the games are fantastic just really like Nintendo games. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Nintendo positions itself in the marketplace by promoting itself as a brand and a platform and the only place you can access their games. Which makes it incredibly valuable by itself. The equation of Switch 2 or PCfat nerd laptop doesn't work because it misses that point. This is why Nintendo does not port their games to PC, because it would destroy that equation. This is why Sony is so stupid for doing what they are doing.

Basically this. Not rocket science.

If Sony had followed the positive trend of PS4, they could have handled the prices as Nintendo does for the PS6 gen. Instead, they went full retard and devaluated their product.

Quality + exclusivity = you own the price, not the consumer.

It's pretty simple.

 

[RoboFu]

As market leader .. yes its cool

 

[PlayStaytion]

Basically this. Not rocket science.

If Sony had followed the positive trend of PS4, they could have handled the prices as Nintendo does for the PS6 gen. Instead, they went full retard and devaluated their product.

Quality + exclusivity = you own the price, not the consumer.

It's pretty simple.

They are scared from Microsoft, they will stay stuck at their weakest point if their fear from MS won't disappear.

 

[Hyet]

That's my tip, because you know, for 10 games for $80, you can buy a 16'' RTX 4060 notebook, subscribe to Gamepass, and take advantage of Steam sales, It's up to Nintendo to be more consumer-friendly like it was in the past.

Absolutely right.

You could also invest them wisely and buy 11 games down the road.

 

[crackajack]

Their business model is:

1. Use internal teams and external partners to make a variety of fun games that lots of people want to play (at full price).
2. Make these games exclusive to drive high hardware sales
3. Use the high userbase to attract third parties

It doesn't always quite work and there are more elements, but that's the core.

3 does not really work great since SNES era. Even for third party exclusives. Also Nintendo's will to experiment with new games is limited, because they can't fail too much with anything otherwise they are cooked.

 

[Hudo]

The only Nintendo-related thing I have thought about recently was Donkey Kong Bananza.

 

[ReBurn]

Their business model is:

1. Use internal teams and external partners to make a variety of fun games that lots of people want to play (at full price).
2. Make these games exclusive to drive high hardware sales
3. Use the high userbase to attract third parties

It doesn't always quite work and there are more elements, but that's the core.

I was with you up to #3. #3 hasn't really been a thing for Nintendo in a long time. The real #3 seems to be 'make a lot of money off of first party games because tens of millions of copies sell at full price due to high hardware sales (Switch) or lose a lot of money because people don't buy your hardware and thus don't buy enough first party games (Wii U)'.

 

[BlackTron]

Their prices and their insistence on positioning their games as superior to others,
They can do this if they have the technology on board to do so.

Simple technology?

I don't think Nintendo "positions" their games as "superior", they're just in the business of making money for selling video games. So they make games and sell them for what they think people are willing to pay to play the game.

Basically the same model since the beginning of time but now we need mental gymnastics to find something wrong with it because they didn't crack under Netflix of gaming.

On the contrary. Sony and especially MS won't shut up acting as if they are the kings of gaming. Nintendo hardly does anything at all but launch and sell products. When big N was the underdog they didn't act batty and jab the competition. They ate shit and rolled their sleeves up.

 

[Geometric-Crusher]

Actually Nintendo explained its philosophy upon which is based its success a few years ago:

Even after the above explanation (dosuko/originality/uniqueness, hardware-software integration) there are deeper factors upon which is based Nintendo modus operandi:
1) Nintendo leverages the aspects "of-the-human" nature. Basics needs for entertainment/fun and how he eventually will bore out unless there are surprises, no matter how good your original "trick" was.
2) From the above follow that Nintendo has the ambition to seek out for timeless elements, that is aspects that won't change over time because tied to the core human nature.
Meanwhile most other publishers seek out to exploit the latest fashion in society.

What were the factors that made it possible for Nintendo to seize current dominant position, especially considering that all pure videgame companies with console business exited the market in the late '90s/early '00s after the coming of external big corporation?
1) Luck.
2) Being constantly in survival mode (fiscally conservative, videogame business chosen because "the least resistant path" when they were trying to branch out into the toy industry, self-sufficiency which lead to adoption a first-party driven strategy on-steroid).
3) Vision which was heightened by a constant stream of successes and failures and with the mindset that everything (success/failure) is temporary (unless the company die out) and could teach a good lesson for the future (so even a failure could be useful and a big success just something that might happen but not definitive).


Hiroshi Yamauchi was a lucky bastard, with a keen insight.
In fact Nintendo (even today Nintendo) il molded around him (his legacy).

Satoru Iwata left an implicit message when cutting the price of the 3DS that the message was negative for the consumers (consumer in this phrase is a euphemism for ''Nintendo'') saying that such an action broke a pillar, that is, that is, that just wait a while and the price will drop (in fact, if you don't buy the price will drop). When buying a game for $80, without complaining, some are even proud of such an act, it only instructs them to continue doing these practices.

 

[diffusionx]

I was with you up to #3. #3 hasn't really been a thing for Nintendo in a long time. The real #3 seems to be 'make a lot of money off of first party games because tens of millions of copies sell at full price due to high hardware sales (Switch) or lose a lot of money because people don't buy your hardware and thus don't buy enough first party games (Wii U)'.

No, there is a reason why every dev moved heaven and earth to port their games on the Switch even though it was incredibly weak and a difficult port. It's because third party games sell a lot on Switch.

I think Nintendo even said that they wanted to get the Switch 2 out in part so devs can keep porting their games to the platform.

 

[Sorcerer]

They simply understand their audience better than Sony does its audience, and definitely better than Microsoft understands theirs. Also, once you are hooked on a Nintendo franchise, you can be certain, that for the next part, you are probably going to have to pony up for the next console to get it. Your franchise is not guaranteed to have sequels on the same machine. No running to Steam either to avoid the console.
Nintendo stubbornness goes a long way. Just carve out their niche being a more unique (not powerful) console than Sony or Microsoft's. Nintendo is fine if you have their console just for first party and another console for other stuff which is probably the case most often.