You are in charge of designing the NX and launching it

NX is our new console publishing branch.

We’re now publishing games on PS4 and Xbox One!

“There’s no play like making tons of money!"
 
I find it baffling that people are suggesting Nintendo release what is more or less a traditional console at $350+. What year is it? How could they possibly hope to compete with Sony and Microsoft on those terms? They would be completely and utterly doomed.
 
POWER/PRICE
- Power-wise, about PS4-level and with architecture that would make porting third party games as easy and cheap as possible.
- I'm not knowledgeable enough about how much parts cost to make a sensible estimate at the lowest possible price you could set the console at, but $250 would be ideal even if it meant taking a small loss. $300 if that's completely infeasible. Any more than that, and the console's in difficulty.
- No backwards compatibility, but region free.
- No Blu-Ray/DVD playing functionality unless it could be done at no extra cost. Waste of money for a dying market.

CONTROLLER
- Controller-wise, it would be a remote-style motion controller with additional buttons (replace the big 'A' button with a SNES style A/B/X/Y diamond for starters). However, for people who do not wish to use the pointer/IR, you would be able to use it in the same way as a standard wireless controller, without having to point or use a sensor bar.
- Compatible with Wii U gamepad and Pro Controller, though no game would require them and they would not be visible in advertising. They would strictly be a bonus for those who owned a Wii U, and the gamepad screen would not be used.

INTERFACE
- Every console function would be accessible from a menu similar to that of the Wii/U consoles, but Waru Waru Plaza would be expanded into a fully interactive Animal Crossing-esque Mii village where you have your own house, friends populate neighbouring houses, functions are accessible from shops and arcades. Downloading, registering and playing games would unlock prizes in your village (costumes, furniture, artwork, decorations) as would completing in-game achievements, and participating in mini-games and special events taking place in the village itself - there could be a timed mini-game at christmas only to unlock a pine tree or santa outfit, for instance, or an event could be timed to promote a new game release. Every few months (3/4 times a year) there'd be prizes for the most impressive village, with rewards being eshop vouchers, more special items, etc. However, all this would be entirely optional and if you just wanted to operate your console from the menu, or quick-start straight into a game upon activation, that'd be possible too.
- You would also be able to visit and customise your village from a smartphone app (where you could also unlock additional prizes) and every downloaded Nintendo smartphone game would be linked to your village in some way, making it the hub of your Nintendo world.
- Basic online functions (gaming, chat, browser, Miiverse) would be free, but a paid service would offer eshop discounts, free downloads of older games a la PS Plus, additional chances to win prizes for your village and beyond.

GAMES
- Launch with Zelda as the flagship first-party game, F-Zero NX as the big multiplayer game and graphical showcase, and the aforementioned village interface as Animal Crossing stand-in. Zelda bundle and F-Zero + additional controller bundle at launch.
- Make sure major third party titles are present at launch and beyond, even if it means moneyhatting the ports. In the latter case, work with third parties to ensure ports are optimised and include special features (maybe a Mario team in FIFA; Mario/Luigi hat or Princess dress for COD or GTA customisation; Link in Street Fighter) which would be unique to the NX versions. Offer bundles with third party games, feature them in advertising, have village events to promote big third party releases (play a parkour minigame to win an Assassin's Creed hood for your Mii!).
- Beyond launch: 3D Mario game for Christmas 2016. Mario Kart for Summer 2017. Smash for Christmas 2017. Spla2n and Metroid 2018. Pad out release schedule with low-to-mid budget revivals of neglected minor series like 1080 Snowboarding, Excitebike/truck, Waveracer, Mach Rider (as a higher budget release later in the console's life), etc. Enhanced ports for Xenoblade X, Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, a Bayonetta + Wonderful 101 Platinum Collection, Paper Mario TYD.
- Invest in important third party exclusives with Western focus: TimeSplitters would be a great one, as would (fingers crossed) BG&E2. Pay for these to ensure permanent exclusivity and to help build third party relationships.

MARKETING
- All video advertisements would show the console and controller, what the controller brings to a selected game, then show how playing games allows you to enhance your console's village. Games advertised in this way at launch would be Zelda, F-Zero and two or three third-party titles (COD, FIFA, exclusives) to show a wide variety of experiences. Keep message simple: this is the console, these are the games you can play, this is why you should play them on THIS console.
- Nintendo Direct within one month of launch to reveal lineup of games beyond launch.
 
I think people need to keep in mind that the console should be between at 4 and at most 8 times more powerful than the handheld. Over 8 times the gap is too great for asset and code base sharing.

Considering that handheld flops are probably maxed at around 300 gfops, the console flops should be 2.4 teraflops TOPs.
 
Basically a Playstation with Nintendo games.
Moneyhat some exclusives or at least marketing deals of western publishers and release some "mature" first party IPs alongside the usual Nintendo stuff.

As long as the console is not lacking in any regards (power, online etc.) compared to the competition and sells relatively well the third party will release multiplatform titles. Add the unique Nintendo franchises and we have a winner.

And no, the Gamecube did not do this as the discs were shitty.
 
Prepare a launch event for the console, and start rumors that the console is actually called Wii Two, and let media sites build around that for a few weeks. Launch event comes, and the console is shown off, and it is a nice slim box, with a modern controller. Put emphasis that it will play all your favorite games, and reveal a trailer that shows clips of Smash Bros Wii U, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Maker, and explain how they'll all be upgraded and playable on the system day one.

MiiVerse: "We had a good idea the first time around, but we needed to perfect it" and then show off the new MiiVerse which will allow you to post video game clips, screenshots, and sure creations over MiiVerse. MiiVerse's drawing post ability will have more colors, and a re-do/undo button. Users can choose to use their Mii as an avatar or a gamerpic. No post limit stuff, and will have a better report system in place.

Achievements: Achievements will come to the console, and they will be in the form of Stickers. You can collect and trade these stickers with other users, and showcase them on your gamer profile (think of Steam with showcasing items/badges). Stickers can be traded for Mii items, gamerpics, or profile backgrounds. We run a list of stickers for Mario Kart 8 and Smash.

Multiplayer/Social features: All games that have online multiplayer will feature in-game mic chat. Players will be able give other players "Thumbs up" for being a good sport, and a "thumbs down" if they're not. Thumbed up players will be added to a list that you can browse through at a later time and send them friend requests if you want to do that. Players can record their best game moments and display them on their player profiles, and can do so with screenshots and drawings as well.

The handheld: iOS and Android will connect to the new Nintendo Network app, and will link to all of the games that are coming to iOS/Android. Stickers will be supported on mobile games. You can send messages, and post on the Miiverse through this app, as well.

The rest: It's also a Bluray player!.. but none of that 4k stuff.

The name: We present you the new generation of Nintendo technology. We're focused on evolving our products, and becoming the number one place to play video games.. so with that said, we'd like to announce.. the Nintendo Evolution System.. Evolution or NES for short.
 
I might just go back to motion controls.

Technologically Nintendo does some impressive things. Touch screen, motion controls, glasses-free 3D, low latency multi-screen console gaming. I think the next step is VR but they don't have a foot in that race.

I'm seeing a Kobayashi Maru.
 
I honestly have no idea. Anything I could come up with would be totally skewed by the type of games that I want to see from them, but they've been incredibly successful making consoles and games that don't appeal to me in the least.
 
I will cancel the project and focus in be a 3rd party company.

That will generate tons of money with Mario selling like GTA.
 
dcx4610 said:
Basically a more powerful PS4 with a slightly more upgraded Pro Controller. A completely modern feeling OS with full multimedia function. $399.

You'd get the best of what the PS4 has to offer and 1st party Nintendo games. Hasn't that what we've always wanted after all? Why Nintendo can't understand that, I'll never know.
Click to expand...
Because that's boring. Nobody is going to buy a PS4 knock off that only has Nintendo games to stand out.

Anyway, OT

Platform Name: Freeform (though it may have to tweaked to avoid copyright with Disney)

Initial devices : Nintendo Home and Nintendo Go, with Nintendo Slate (Tablet) arriving later

Controller: An all screen, tactile controller that can be tailored to the specific software, rather than vice versa. Can be held in remote form for motion, and Gamepad form for traditional gaming

Target Audience: Families, people who like games, people who want a cheap media box

Launch titles:
*Zelda: BotW (Nintendo)
*Super Mario Free World (Nintendo)
*F-Zero FX (Nintendo)
*Freeform Jam [Pre-loaded](Nintendo)
*Dream Chaser (BANDAI NAMCO Video Games Inc.)
*Final Fantasy 15 Remix (Square Enix)
*Dead Heat Racers (BANDAI NAMCO Video Games Inc.)
*Overwatch GOTY edition (Activision Blizzard)
*Kingdom Hearts III (Square Enix)
*And More
 
The Nintendo Entertainment System

Its a platform not one system.

you have a high powered handheld with a 3G/4G connection (maybe offer free internet during primetime hours or something

A console of mid power (around PS4+, also offer free internet, )

,Market it as a system of global connectedness, revamp the OS completely with a new focus on social interactions like tournaments, things like that. Have ths os run on both console and handheld

make a commitment to the fans and gamers about having games truly for everyone. Show two really big core games other than Zelda. Like a shooter of some kind and a 3rd Person shooter too.

Have a unique AR/3D viewing device that can be used between both systems.

Speak on SCDs and announce some kind of partnership with Valve or Occulus with a HMD and SCD combo for the "elite" gamer.

show your commitment again by investnig in more studios for core games, maybe buying some ips from Sega or Capcom, or work with Ubisoft to show it by featuring say.. Ghost recon as a pack in game.

Sell it for 299 console, 149 handheld.
 
I will just logon to Newegg and order parts to build a $500-$600 Gaming PC. Assemble it, install a few AAA games on it and pitch it to my managers, saying that this is all we need, next we will negotiate with AMD, Samsung, etc. for some optimization, integration, and mass volume price reduction to bring the cost to a point that is traditionally considered as acceptable for consoles. That might require some time but for now, our software team should waste no time and start developing our next 3D Mario, next Zelda, Splatoon 2, MK 9, Smash 5 with this "Dev Kit" so that by the time we seal the deals with AMD and such these games are ready or close to launch.
 
call it the nintendo plus system five. then i'd advertise the hell out of the fact that it has nine gigabytes of ram, which is more than those other guys, resulting in the fastest games ever
 
The handheld wouldn't play console games. It would be a roughly Vita-level (and Vita-like), single-screen handheld with basic features (WiFi+local wireless, web browser, sleep mode) similar architecture to the console and support the same Virtual Console software. Launch price no more than $149 if at all possible.

NX Console:

- $349 US maximum.
- Approximately PS4 Neo specs, more likely a bit less.
- Wii U Pro-style controller with tweaked ergonomics and gyro motion sensing by default. NX retains compatibility w/Wii U Pro Controller and Wii Bluetooth accessories, and the USB GameCube adapter.
- Launches with a relatively full Virtual Console selection (~100 titles) with more audiovisual/controller options.
- 3 SS USB (3.0) ports. No half-power garbage.
- Since the handheld doesn't play the console games (instead pared-down close relatives with different levels, etc.) there is a disc drive on NX Console. However, there is a cartridge slot for allowing NX Handheld games to run on the NX Console.
- No backward compatibility with Wii U software (and in turn, the Wii U GamePad) due to change to x86 architecture. The Handheld NX can be used as a controller/second display, though, so that Wii U->NX ports like Splatoon: Ultimate and Super Mario 3D World+ can allow purists to revisit second-screen features.

That's all I got for now.
 
I've always thought the NX would turn out to be something like this:

my%20nx_zpsrxzhr1r2.jpg~original
 
If I were making it for me then it'd just be a Super Wii HD. IR/motion controls with identical Wiimotes for each hand: Analog stick, four face buttons in a cross layout, two shoulder buttons. More games like Wii Sports, Metroid Prime, and Skyward Sword.
 
AniHawk said:
call it the nintendo plus system five. then i'd advertise the hell out of the fact that it has nine gigabytes of ram, which is more than those other guys, resulting in the fastest games ever
Click to expand...

Until Scorpio comes out with 16 gbs lol
Have they announced those spec yet?
 
If I was in charge of Nintendo, I would make it a requirement to put blood and violence in every Nintendo game. Unfortunately, that is what is selling not a fat plumber jumping on turtles.
 
If I were in charge, I'd just say fuck it and make this

maxresdefault.jpg


Then collect my bonus and options and hightail it out of there...
 
Power slightly above PS4. 299$. Classic console with support for legacy hardware (and selling the gamepad for 99$) Launch with Zelda, Smash and Pikmin 4. Modernized online infrastructure.

Oh yeah and let it play all handheld games (with improved resolution so there is no aliasing etc.) from the handhelds. Along with unified APIs.
 
Zelda BotW bundled with the console, exclusive golden disc/cartridge and 8-bit Link amiibo not available any other way. Done.
 
For the home console I'd take the least expensive ARM SoC that'd be of equivalent power to the Wii U. The handheld would be a smaller version of it.
Both machines use the same cart slot and all games are unified and work with both at different quality settings.

No new gimmick, ship the home console with both a real controller and an enhanced wiimote, let the devs figure what they want from there.
The handheld would have the same traditional controls and a single screen, with touch enabled and a stylus too.
Basically, the games that use handheld touch would use the home wiimote to keep it 1:1 in functionality. Games that use no touch would be traditional controller games.

I'd port all the Wii U hits to take care of any early drought. Also a virtual console emulator that would output the GC and Wii games at full 1080p up-rezed.


IMO this is what would be a solid approach. Keep it cheap and no bullshit, make great games and keep it all compatible across both SKUs.
 
Fredrik said:
That's fantastic!
And what if the portable is the secondary computation device? A new more powerful portable makes the old stationary console more powerful too.
Click to expand...

Thanks. The portable part provides the CPU and some additional compute ability via the Mali GPU. The Dock does the optical disc and GPU duties along with IO duties.

This system (portable + dock) would be even more GPU heavy than XBO and PS4, but it's not as GPU heavy as Neo and Scorpio would be.
 
Shogmaster said:
I've always thought the NX would turn out to be something like this:

my%20nx_zpserxxpaso.jpg~original
Click to expand...

$450 for a single system? Also why does the dock have a Blu-ray drive. Surely no one is expecting a Nintendo system to play physical movies, so does that mean there's a split library where some games can only be played on the dock? Because that completely defeats the point of a hybrid in the first place. If you're only interested in the Disc games then this would be an incredibly raw deal. If things have already that far, why not just add a CPU and some more RAM to the dock and sell it as a stand alone system?
 
Don't know anything about specs so I won't mention them but:

Have a consistent release of games from launch to the end of the year. At least 1 game every two months with some big Nintendo staples sandwiched in between. During this period is constant marketing and constant Nintendo directs high lighting games coming out that year and games coming out the very next year.

3rd party exclusives out the ass. Go after games that Nintendo don't traditional do. Get a story and multiplayer based FPS, large scale open world game, Western and Japanese RPGs. Do more stuff like Hyrule Warriors and Pokken Tournament with 3rd parties using Nintendo IPs. Work with 3rd parties to get Wii classics like Red Steel and No More Heroes and bring them to a modern market.

Focus on what the console can do that Xbox One/PS4 can't in advertising. Media blowout September and then again in January.

Edit: Looking at some of these I'm not even entertaining the idea of a hybrid. There's no way to get a console game on the handheld without losing great chunks of quality, completely changing certain game aspects, keeping the console cool and efficient and keeping it at a reasonable price. Honestly Nintendo is just better off having the a separate handheld console and home console running on similar architecture and just have development teams swapping between developing games for Nintendo's handheld and console.
 
AmyS said:
Scalability via the SCDs would be of paramount importance in the design and messaging toward the hardcore gamer.

i.e.
Click to expand...

Scalable console. Interesting idea. Reminds me of that PS2+PS2=PS4 joke. I think this actually has potential.
 
release something roughly 2.75x the power of wii u, mobile chipset, 8GBs of ram (tegra?) (support for frostbyte,unreal 4, unity, mobile sdks) standard controller with gyro, drop optical drive for sd card games. put a 120GB ssd inside, allow for external drive via usb 3.0 (sell nintendo branded one separate up to 2TB, drop all backward compatability with accessories, controllers and games to separate itself from wii brand.

cost $275 april 21st launch in 3 colors matte black, clear green, clear red , release 15 third party games, zelda botw, smash 4 remaster, splatoon remaster steadily release games and remasters throughout the year + 3 more colored consoles by holiday. no drought.

bring back clear color variations of controllers and consoles n64 had.
 
Luigiv said:
$450 for a single system? Also why does the dock have a Blu-ray drive. Surely no one is expecting a Nintendo system to play physical movies, so does that mean there's a split library where some games can only be played on the dock? Because that completely defeats the point of a hybrid in the first place. If you're only interested in the Disc games then this would be an incredibly raw deal. If things have already that far, why not just add a CPU and some more RAM to the dock and sell it as a stand alone system?
Click to expand...

Let's be real. If you own a Nintendo system, chances are it's a portable first and console maybe. This just leverages that fact.
 
NX - slightly better than the PS4, sold at 299$.
Traditional controller, Wii controller compatibility, Wii U controller compatibility.
With the expectation of dropping to 249$ early on just in case. Free online, expanded infrastructure.
Wii/Wii U BC

Games (not all at launch)
-2D Mario
-3D Mario
-Super Mario RPG 2
-several major new IPs.
-Mario Kart
-Mario Maker Enhanced
-Super Smash Bros.
-Major Zelda game
-new Donkey Kong game
 
Apexhell said:
release something roughly 2.75x the power of wii u, mobile chipset, 8GBs of ram (tegra?) (support for frostbyte,unreal 4, unity, mobile sdks) standard controller with gyro, drop optical drive for sd card games. put a 120GB ssd inside, allow for external drive via usb 3.0 (sell nintendo branded one separate up to 2TB, drop all backward compatability with accessories, controllers and games to separate itself from wii brand.

cost $275 april 21st launch in 3 colors matte black, clear green, clear red , release 15 third party games, zelda botw, smash 4 remaster, splatoon remaster steadily release games and remasters throughout the year + 3 more colored consoles by holiday. no drought.

bring back clear color variations of controllers and consoles n64 had.
Click to expand...
With 275$ you could possibly build a system that is ~10-15 times better than a wii u.
 
Handheld:

- Aim for $200 or less
- Modern ARM CPU and Nvidia GPU that can get as close to the Wii U levels of performance at 720p
- Keep clamshell design, but lose the bottom screen to make the overall design thinner and the controls roomier with a true second analog disc.
- 5" capacitive touchscreen with 720p resolution. Make screen fold backwards like modern convertible laptops for touchscreen based games and media playback.
- Get the largest battery possible within cost contraints.

Home Console

- No more than $300
- Free Online Service
- Modern ARM architecture with Nvidia GPU with enough grunt for ports from PS4/XB1
- Use the Vulkan API and work hard to ensure that major engines are able to support the platform
- Match the PS4/XB1 with 8GB of RAM, more if feasible
- Have at least 250GB of storage onboard.

Both

- Unified account system
- Cross buy on all titles playable on both platforms
- Make porting to the handheld economically sensible - offer incentives to publishers to make games for both systems.
- Cross platform competitive multiplayer between handheld and console mandatory for games releasing on both systems - remain open to PSN, XBL, and PC cross play
- End Region Locking
- Ensure the first year of release has a new first party game every 6-8 weeks.

Games at Launch from Nintendo

Zelda BOTW
Super Smash for NX
New IP from Retro Studios
 
Sell the hardware at a loss at launch, for a change (make it powerful)

Intel cpu, AMD gfx. Can install windows 10 on external drive. I mean why not.

Coffinhal said:
Yes, like there is only one person that takes all these decisions without any advice or anything.
Click to expand...
Like they would ask a gaffer for advice. We're having fun, yo.
#suspensionofdisbelief
 
It would be a slightly smaller Xbox One S with same specs minus 4K vid out and a 320 GB hard disk for 250 USD.

The controller would be classic controller pro with the bottom ZL and ZR being GCN styled analog click triggers, and the top L and R being clickable wheels. Sticks would be clickable and there would be an octo-gate with a speaker, microphone, rumble, gyro, AND pointer so you could point to the screen if need be.

Every system would come with a sensor bar.

Pack in game would be a new Wario Ware that showcases all the features of the new controller.

Wii Remote and Nuchick would still be sold and compatible, but completely renamed, new packaging, and just Nitendo on it with no Wii Mention.

Also, full Wii, Wii U, and GCN BC. GCN BC would be done via a dongle you can buy to accept controllers and memory cards, and Wii U would require you just to sync a game pad should the game require it.
 
Make all Virtual Console games free for the first year, then a Netflix-like subscription for $5 month afterwards.
 
I conference call these guys

hqdefault.jpg


I say we're going multi platform but there'll be no timed exclusives/exclusive dlc etc and all games will have free cross platform multiplayer - NoXceptions


Or I''d just give NX a normal controller.
 
Shogmaster said:
Let's be real. If you own a Nintendo system, chances are it's a portable first and console maybe. This just leverages that fact.
Click to expand...

Sure that may be true for a lot of current Wii U owners, but you need to look beyond the current Wii U audience. This isn't a good deal for the handheld only demographic either and in the broader market beyond current 3DS and Wii U owners (which Nintendo should be aiming for), I question how much overlap there is between the handheld and console audience. Let's break it down.

Handheld only audience: $250 - Because clearly after the disastrous 3DS and Vita launches, 250 is the magic number.
Console only audience: $450 - Like I said before this is a raw deal for an inherently gimped system. a $300 standalone system would outperform it. I'll elaborate on this below.
Hybrid audience: $450 - Not a terrible deal, but I question the size of this audience.

So 2/3 cases it's a bad deal. So if you're happy with the NX being a niche system for a niche audience of Nintendo loyalists, then that's fine, I guess. But if you're chasing growth and growing the audience then this strikes me as a terrible strategy.

To elaborate on the gimped console part. There are 2 major performance issues that can arise from this setup. First, that CPU is going to be a huge bottleneck when docked. Only 4 cores and the tight thermal constraints of the mobile package (that will still exist when docked) will give it only a fraction of the CPU grunt of the other consoles (which are already CPU bottlenecked as it is).

Second the split RAM is problematic. 4GB of dedicated VRAM is fine but only 4GB of main memory is potentially a problem, considering it needs to be shared with the OS. If the OS is a lean 2GB (PS4 and Xbone both reserve 3GB for their OSes btw) then that only leaves only 2GB of main memory, which is way too lopsided. Also due to the physical distance between the CPU to the VRAM, communication between the two will be way too slow (latency wise) to act as an appropriate substitute.

In the end, what you're left with is a system that will probably struggle keep up with the Xbone S (let alone the PS4) and yet cost $150 more. Though sell. A $300 standalone system with an Octocore and and 8GB unified memory would perform much better.
 
250 moneys hardware.

A couple of exclusive at launch.

Absolutely target family audience.

Don't have software droughts longer than 4 months.
 
$250 mobile phone running modified Android that comes with Nintendo's exclusive eShop. Has a touchscreen but also button pad sliding out like PSPGO. This phone replaces 3DS and new Pokemon games are released on it.
 
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