3DS sold more its first year than the DS did. Wii is an anomaly never before (or after) has a console been so successful right from the launch.
The Death Of Nintendo Has Been Greatly Under-Exaggerated
- Thread starter Tripon
- Start date
3DS sold more its first year than the DS did. Wii is an anomaly never before (or after) has a console been so successful right from the launch.
MrNyarlathotep
Banned
DS sold like utter crap and had a worse software drought than the Wiiu does for its first year.
Entryhazard
Banned
Actually Mario Kart Wii sold more than NSMBWii by something like 3M copies, IIRC
Relativ9
Member
While I agree Nintendo is in a really rough spot right now and that the WiiU is basically doomed, I don't think the company itself is. They can always develop another console and reenter the market in a more adventadious way. I also don't agree that they've made bad products lately. I just don't think they're the right products for me, and definitly the right products to market.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
New Super Mario Bros. was their biggest franchise last gen core-game wise; the Wii version sold more than Kart, Bros, and the Galaxy games combined. And NSMBWu hasn't had anywhere near that success.
Kart and Smash will sell some Wii U's but mostly to an existing base already, some who are waiting for exactly those games before buying a Wii U. They won't help Nintendo with the casual market
Not even close to being true.
Apophis2036
Banned
Thanks, I had no idea !.
So basically out of the last four Nintendo consoles that have launched, only Wii with it's crazy mass market appeal sold really well from the beginning ?, interesting...
No, not really.
Nobody is usually beating down the door and running down the streets to get home to GAF to be the first to post one of "techcrunch.com"'s latest and greatest
Azure Dream
Member
I think the idea is that the 3DS should be a 3DS for kids. There was never really a (widely-released) Game Boy "for kids" after the initial model. Nor Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance, or Nintendo DS. There were improved models (and one could almost say a GBA "for adults" with the Micro). So some may see the 3DS as a bad idea that it cut a chunk out of Nintendo's available market, enough so that they're releasing a separate, significantly altered product to try to regain it.
Personally, I liked the 3DS and what it accomplished, although I think it was a little underpowered for what Nintendo wanted to do with it, and the software support until Fall/Winter was really awful.
Death? No. Struggle Yes.
The Wii U is a great console. As has been discussed to exhaustion - they fucked up on messaging, marketing and by not having an amazing, new game in the beginning.
The 3DS is gaining traction. I think in this world as it is now saturated with smart phones its doing quite decently.
I have no idea how long they can continue to not have smash hits, like their last gen consoles, but I'd hardly use the term death or that it's imminent. They need to get their shit together to stay relevant though, no doubt.
That article is horseshit.
The Wii U is a great console. As has been discussed to exhaustion - they fucked up on messaging, marketing and by not having an amazing, new game in the beginning.
The 3DS is gaining traction. I think in this world as it is now saturated with smart phones its doing quite decently.
I have no idea how long they can continue to not have smash hits, like their last gen consoles, but I'd hardly use the term death or that it's imminent. They need to get their shit together to stay relevant though, no doubt.
That article is horseshit.
Lordwindowlicker
Member
You know as well as anyone that when you speak in such general terms, the implication is that you're talking about that thing as a whole. So, it would do you some good to narrow down your speech a bit.
That's the point you seem to have missed.
Fixed
WordAssassin
Member
Ah, yeah, that's kinda what I'm talking about. I guess really any console redesign fits the bill, it's just if they changed the name, which they technically did for the PSOne.
So if Nintendo redesigned the actual console and did a "soft relaunch" of it (or, a guns-blazing relaunch would probably better since it had a pretty fucking soft normal launch) and started selling it as the Nintendo U. Compatible with all Wii and Wii U games. People who already have a Wii U would understand that it's just a system redesign but the unknowing public would see it as an actual new console. Maybe on the bottom of the front or back of each of the new Nintendo U game boxes have a little banner that says "Compatible on all Nintendo U and Wii U game systems" to abolish any room for confusion.
I wonder if that would work?
AcademicSaucer
Member
The 3ds is just too good right now, i have a 3ds and an xbox 360, but my xbox is collecting dust because my 3ds is taking all my gaming time, specially the amazing rpgs that are on the platform .
Principate
Saint Titanfall
The 3DS has legitimate health warnings on it that stated should not be used by very young children due to possible health effects. The fact that you can switch the 3D off doesn't negate this as the damage had already been done. The 3DS could never be the 3DS for very young children due to this fact and it was a conscious decision Nintendo made. The Gameboys etc never had this issue
Nintendo is very far from going the way of the dinosaurs or Sega.
However, I can see Nintendo being very fickle with future home console releases. The Wii-U is equivalent to the dog days of N64 and Gamecube, expect much worse. During the N64 days Nintendo had the Gameboy and Gameboy color, and during the Gamecube era Nintendo had the Gameboy Advance and eventually the DS. And now the 3DS/2DS will be the new handhelds that keep making Nintendo steady money.
Its impossible to say what Nintendo will do and won't do in the future.
However, I can see Nintendo being very fickle with future home console releases. The Wii-U is equivalent to the dog days of N64 and Gamecube, expect much worse. During the N64 days Nintendo had the Gameboy and Gameboy color, and during the Gamecube era Nintendo had the Gameboy Advance and eventually the DS. And now the 3DS/2DS will be the new handhelds that keep making Nintendo steady money.
Its impossible to say what Nintendo will do and won't do in the future.
ah, the good old "I love XYZ but.." way, a childish lie to use as a mere justification to write the worst possible shit about a certain thing
having said that, the only one correct thing about that gigantic pile of arse disguised as "article" is that the WiiU is a commercial failure and will very hardly climb the ladder again. Big news here, guys
having said that, the only one correct thing about that gigantic pile of arse disguised as "article" is that the WiiU is a commercial failure and will very hardly climb the ladder again. Big news here, guys
Very true, but I doubt that Sony would want to further risk putting the PS brand under after they just got back on their feet with PS3.
They probably would've tried something different to not risk damaging the brand further. Besides, they don't need MS for competition when there's PC & mobile gaming, etc., not to mention that there's Nintendo & the fact that someone else can easily take Microsoft's spot.
Your avatar makes this.
Not me. I've not bought a Nintendo portable since the GBA.
Agent Matt
Member
I could not disagree more. Nintendo has a long history of pushing hardware innovation. While it may not always succeed, I give them huge credit for taking those risks. It would be tragic if they got out of the console market IMO.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
nintendo doomed
IrishNinja
Member
you could literally say this about any dev, and there's many people love on here that i'd not miss either, but it's still kind've a shitty thing to say. the industry needs more variety, not less.
not everyone here laments the loss of sega's hardware/AAA entries (for the most part) but the influence is still felt, i'd argue.
it very much is up to them, as their first party efforts constitute the lion's share of support (see: gamecube). if they would've abandoned that less successful (i'm hedging bets here) platform early on, i/others would've been less inclined to give them a shot here. this distinction is important.
how so?
Azure Dream
Member
Exactly, that's the point, the Game Boys didn't have this issue. We're talking about reasons why people may consider the 3DS a mistake, remember?
NinjamicWZ
Banned
I wonder if people will ever realize that things which aren't as profitable and world-dominating as Apple, Wal-Mart, oil etc can and do exist?
To Far Away Times
Member
This article totally had the outcome decided before they did any research.
Dr. Feel Good
Banned
The DS had an absolutely painful first 10 months. And I do think people tend to ignore and forget this. It would be right around now that the Wii U would have to start turning around to compare to the DS.
- DS was consistently outsold in the first 9-10 months by both the GBA and PSP (depending on area of the world... GBA died quick in Japan).
- DS software was Super Mario 64 DS (launch), Feel the Magic (launch), Yoshi Touch & Go (January), Wario Ware Touched (February), Meteos (June), Kirby Canvas Curse (June), and then August saw Nintendogs, Advance Wars, and Pac 'n Roll. That was literally everything worth playing (plus some random GBA up ports) during those first 10 months. But then it was an avalanche that never stopped with Castlevania, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, etc. during the 2005 holiday.
- By mid-summer in America PSP actually had more releases under its belt than the DS did despite launching almost five months earlier.
- There was confusion in stores as to how DS software was displayed. People often joked how DS games were mixed in with GBA software. People laughed at DS game cases having GBA cart holders, and how basically it couldn't differentiate itself from the Game Boy line.
- PSP had the first true hit (GTA Liberty City Stories) before DS did, and many people claimed it would kill off DS momentum.
- DS touch screen was called a massive gimmick. Only games that utilized it well were called tech demos (Yoshi Touch and Go). Kirby Canvas Curse was hailed as the only title to really benefit from the touch screen in that first year.
- GBA seeing releases like Pokemon Emerald, Final Fantasy, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, Banjo-Pilot, Sigma Star Saga, Gunstar Super Heroes, and even the Game Boy Micro made me people think it had a lot more life in it.
MrNyarlathotep
Banned
It's not just out of the last 4 consoles.
AFAIK its the only console ever to have had that sort of appeal and sales from day one. Even the mighty PS2 had a relatively slow start as compelling titles took a while to appear. Nobody discusses its killer launch app being Fantavision for example.
Some people will still claim that Nintendo artificially manufactured hardware shortages to do that however.
This part its just stupid, Nintendo 3DS managing has been near flawless once they lowered the price and released a good software lineup. Talking about 3DS somewhat tracking below DS is just nonsense, being so close is in fact reassuring Nintendo good management in a world where smartphones and tablets are the new portable kings.
And 2DS while its obviously horrible its a great move to cater with more strength in the market where Nintendo portables can still have a wealthy life and thats the child and teen one.
SporeCrawler
Member
DS sales were strong but PSP was stronger in NA at the beginning (DS launched earlier so the LTD sales never crossed).
DS really took off after DSlite and Nintendogs were launched.
SporeCrawler
Member
3DS software sales is worrying though. i guess it will improve a lot once pokemon, zelda and monster hunter 4 hit
Nintendo knew little software would be released for the Wii U in the first half of 2013 and so they held back on advertising. Also, they held back some software releases as they knew they would be released into a virtual wasteland. Their plan is to have a software and marketing blitz in the coming few months (this was said by Iwata himself several months back). Obviously Nintendo would still have been hoping sales would not fall off a cliff, but I'm sure it hasn't been a shock to them.
The PS1 was even slower in its first 12 months. It sold in 12 months what the Wii U has sold in 9 months. (U.S.)
The PS2 did have SSX at launch -- and I think that was well-received enough to count as a killer app. Completely new IP and extremely fun.
As far as I am aware the attach rate at the moment is about 4. Since it has not even been out for a year yet, I would say that's a pretty good attach rate. (Bearing in mind these people will be buying more software in the future as well - at this rate, after, say five years, earlier adopters would have bought 20 games.)
Agreed. I got a DS around launch and was so starved for content that my brother and I would play the metroid prime hunters demo a ton. Outside of a tent pole launch game (which Wii U didn't have), that first year is almost always rough.
Have no idea why people expect so much from new consoles from launch. Heck, I'm just now finishing Fire Emblem shadow dragon, a five year old remake of an even older game. I guess everyone else finished all the games from previous generations that they wanted to play.
They still haven't released 2 of their most successful franchises. Mario Kart and Smash Bros where Mario Kart is the best selling game of this past generation and Smash Bros which also sold over 10 million. QUOTE]
And don't forget the sequel to Wii Fit is out soon - according to Wikipedia that sold 22million on the Wii
In the U.S. the 9-month tie ratio (units of software per console) at retail is about 1 game lower than the Wii. If the tie ratio globally is close to 4, then that's either (a) a crapload of digital titles or (b) a high rate in some other region. It's not even close to 4 in the U.S.
Vintage_Creep
Banned
If they go all portable (which I highly doubt they will) it will be a portable console which can be played on the TV too.
But then people would think it is just a new Wii mini....
Starwolf_UK
Member
I've always found tie-ratios odd. I wonder how they play out in something like the Wii U where software variety and shipments are low. Plus, lacking the annualized sports franchises which must make a contribution.
This puts context to retail doing the same for 3DS (mixxed in with DS) and Wii U (maxed inwith Wii). At least the DS and GBA brands are slightly less confusing...
I have seen this figure of about 4 quoted in several places but one quick link I have just dug up is:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming...ewer-consoles-than-nintendo-expected-to-sell/
"Reports of dire monthly Wii U sales proved all too true. Nintendo only managed to sell 390,000 Wii Us over the first three months of 2013, bringing the worldwide total to 3.45 million. Persistent reports that the Wii Us attach rate the number of games sold to each console owner are terribly low were softened somewhat though, as Nintendo reported 13.4 million software sales worldwide, just fewer than four games per console sold."
Since they have hardly sold any Wii U 's since this report, the attach rate can't have decreased.
Yeah, it's definitely at 4.0 exactly. Here's my archive of Nintendo's data:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Xhc02VTSWzUlBIQU8tcERKemc/edit?usp=sharing
There is a footnote: this includes digital downloads. That could be counting VC, eShop indy, as well as full (retail) game downloads. That's comparing very different things than what the Wii sold, for example.
It's the "warchest" that allows them to innovate with ideas like touchscreen gaming and motion controls. I'm sure many people don't like those things, but it sure sold a lot of consoles.
Hybrid? I'm strongly leaning that way for Nintendo's future plans, myself. It makes sense on a few fronts. If nothing else, a way that they can have *one* workflow to produce games for *both* home and handheld will help them immensely.
NB: When I say Hybrid, I'm not *necessarily* talking about 'a single hardware unit that is a handheld that also plugs into your telly'; I'm talking about a single fixed development target for both environments. That could be a single unit, or it could be two (or even more!) separate products.
I think the burning question for me is at what stage they could get the Wii U's technology into a handheld system, 'cause I'm not convinced that's doable within a single generation.
I agree with this, 3rd parties always take a wait and see approach when it comes to Nintendo regardless what's under the hood.