110°

What Nintendo Can Do to Win this Console Cycle

Oprainfall writes:

"This should have written after E3 2011, after the unveiling of the Wii U. Or after the lackluster E3 2012 conference. Or just before the system launched. But soon after the official unveiling of the PS4, this seems just as appropriate as ever. So, let’s dive into my ideas of how the Wii U can survive and possibly thrive this generation."

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Bumpmapping4062d ago

100$ price cut some new IP's and a miracle.

_QQ_4062d ago

Sony's stocks have recently been downgraded to "junk"status, if anyone needs a miracle it is Sony, they may even go bankrupt in 4-5 years.

BrianC62344062d ago

How exactly is $15.51 a share junk status? You don't know anything about the stock market, do you?

b-real4062d ago

@BrianC6234

These ratings have nothing to do the value of each share. Junk status refers to a firm that has to offer bonds with high return to make up for the fact that there is a high likelihood of defaults.

Steelmanner4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Although a price cut is unlikely at this point I would like to point out that the WiiU is at a price that is practical. I'm guessing you have a Playstation 3, becasue of your icon, and you have have gotten a deal if it were less than 350. Also, with stronger tech in the WiiU than the wii the price would have to be increased to pay for it, in addition the Tablet controller is a bit pricey, but that just Nintendo being Nintendo. They don't just give you a console and a controller they have always strived to have that big idea to set themselves apart. Also, with other next gen consoles on the horizon I wouldn't be surprised at all if both were at least 350 with the processing power, and other features, they claim they have.

However, I do slightly agree with the IP bit the games a at launch lacked in the US, but the games there were great. For example ZombiU is an amazeing game and if it weren't for those for the lack of online play and a few bad reviews it would have been a legitimate Title for Survival Horror. Also, Super Scribblenauts Ultimate is just a blast. I have loved every scribblenauts game so far and I have no reason to believe this one won't satisfy me. Unfortunetly, Nintendo held off on Titles like Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate in the U.S. also other titles were postponed for the WiiU because it takes a while to learn how to program for a new console.Luckily though the games are coming and they should be alot of fun when they get here.

Thatguy-3104062d ago

Zombie u isn't an amazing game. It's good at best. The last of us would teach it a thing a two once it releases.

WiiUsauce4062d ago

@dboyc310, ZombiU is a 3rd party game and it is good, not great. I own it, you've probably never played it.

Also don't compare a first party Sony title to a third party Nintendo game. Wait til something comparable comes out from Nintendo. Probably the next Retro Studios game (some Naughty Dogg devs are working at Retro Studios now). Then we'll talk.

Enemy4062d ago

Lmao @ Bumpmapping. Everyone will forget the Wii U even existed when the PS4 and next Xbox come out. If it ain't selling now, it ain't gonna sell later.

EliteGameKnight4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

"If it ain't selling now, it ain't gonna sell later"

The possibility of that is incredibly slim. For instance the PS3 and Xbox 360 had a rough selling period at the beginning. The PS3 was rather expensive and lacked games, similar to the Wii U, and the Xbox 360 suffered from the infamous Red Ring of Death which both cut sales and costed Microsoft a fortune in replacements.

Despite this both consoles became majorly popular and introduced many people to the world of gaming. I doubt that the Wii U will be forgotten, It may very well be less popular compared to the PS4 and Nextbox, but we just don't know yet.

If I could afford it, I would get all the consoles for the exclusives alone. After all, isn't that why we game? for the sheer entertainment of it. Let's not fill our subculture with rivalries and hatred when we're all here for the same purpose, to play!

WiiUsauce4062d ago

there were months when the PS2 was outselling the PS3. So by your logic, the PS3 should've been a failure. Have a seat.

AKR4061d ago

"If it ain't selling now, it ain't gonna sell later."

- Well by that logic, the XBOX 360, PS3 and 3DS should have all flopped eons ago. Once Microsoft got it's hardware errors resolved, and developers got good quality games releasing, the 360 took off.

- Once devs started getting good quality games releasing, and it got a price cut - the PS3 took off to. Same scenario with the 3DS.

All consoles launch on a rough road, so I don't know what foolishness you're talking about. The Wii U is already selling more than the PS3 and 360 in the same space of time (their beginning months.)

All the Wii U needs right now is a steady stream of quality games and it's good to go. A price cut, although nice, isn't possible - according to Nintendo, who's already selling the system at a LOWER PRICE than it takes to MAKE it.

When quality software starts revving up, so will the system's sales. Same can be said for Vita, too. Even when the PS4 and XBOX 720 come along, that doesn't doom the U. Once again - if it's library is getting freshly updated with fun, quality titles - it's set. Not to mention it's lower price-tag, and complete backwards~compatibility will also be a plus point, when it's on the display shelf with it's competitors.

pain777pas4062d ago

Here is the thing Nintendo is in a very difficult position. Sony has the 1st party strength in reality IF your not in love with Mario and Zelda. We all are guilty of our Mario and Zelda nostalgia but in moving gaming forward with proven developers who constantly reinvent themselves, its Sony. Nintendo is holding on and they will never fail because of Mario and handhelds but they will not fair that well this gen no matter the price. Games are just going to be that good this gen in every way. This will be the PS2 era all over again. Not is sales but in the no loading times etc... Plus, the things like stopping and starting on the PS4 is such a big deal that... yeah. Price might not save them in the least because the PS3 and 360 can still compete with the Wii U and be a logical alternative honestly. Nintendo should have combined their home and portable offerings by releasing a portable tablet console running on gingerbread or something... A tethered tablet is just too restrictive in my opinion.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4061d ago
PopRocks3594062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

All they need to do to "win" is succeed in making a profit. Just like Microsoft succeeded in the previous two generations and just like how Sony succeeded for the previous three, even with the rocky start for the PS3.

LackTrue4K4062d ago

win what?? sales???
if anything Nintendo has won the young hearts of millions!!!
Sales thou.....they need AAA games.

Jobesy4062d ago

"won the young hearts of millions"

Not sure about that. I think more parents buy their kids Nintendo products because of reputation and nostalgia more than the kids are actually asking for them. Between my son, nephews, nieces, their friends, and my friends kids all of them would rather play on a PS3, 360 or even tablets before Nintendo products. I asked my 7th grader if people were taking about the Wiiu and the general consensus was it's "lame".

I really want Nintendo to do well, but why don't they expand their 1st party lineup with new ips. Keep Mario, Zelda, Metroid, but promote and nurture new Ips first and foremost.

Qrphe4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

I doubt Microsoft made a profit with the Xbox. It was out for 3-4 years before the 360 came out and it was expensive to make to begin with. Plus software sales weren't stellar.

C0MPUT3R4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Microsoft lost $5 Billion dollars on the original Xbox.
.
Then started out by losing $4 Billion dollars the first few years of the 360s life. (Selling at $150 loss & RROD).
.
Xbox 360 has been profitable for 5 years running since.
.
Onto the Wii U
.
I find it funny Nintendo fans keep saying. "Wait till 3D Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, Smash Brothers, etc. THEN IT WILL TURN AROUND.
.
The GAMECUBE had all of those.
.
How did it do? 22 Million. Yeah.
.
What is scarier is the fact the GC was at least on par with PS2 generationally. Now they are a gen behind with, an archaic Account system, Online, and OS feature set.
.
The system is going to get undercut the entire gen by the cheaper PS360. And smashed over the head by the more powerful PS4720.
.
And to top it all off the controller is going to keep the system unnecessarily more expensive.
.
I am not going to argue Nintendo is doomed that is stupid. BUT the Wii U is.

PopRocks3594062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

@C0MPUT3R

Generally speaking, gaming was less mainstream at the time. The PS2 sold a lot based on its software and word of mouth more so than anything else. Since the Wii's break into the casual audience, I think gaming has become a lot more mainstream than it used to be.

Sure, Mario and all of those games didn't make GCN sales skyrocket, but one price drop and two Mario games after launch the 3DS, especially now that a broader audience has been introduced to Nintendo franchises, not only picked back up but it also became a top seller.

Saying the Wii U is doomed, four months into its life when the Vita has been selling worse for the better portion of its time (yes, I'm aware it sold better during one week in the UK and another in Japan, but neither sold very well at the time) is ludicrous.

kamikazepikmin4062d ago

really? losing 4 billion dollars from the 360 is a success, and sony losing $6 billion on the ps3 is also a success. odd

delboy4062d ago

You right, the only winner this gen was Nintendo.
Same will happen next gen, Sony and Ms will be forced to sell their hardware with loss to compete with WiiU.
So don't be surprised if ps4 turns out to be the final nail for Sony.

OpenGL4062d ago

Microsoft lost more than $3,000,000,000 on the original Xbox and the 360 lost a few billion during its first couple years due to the high hardware costs and RROD issues.

A more apt comparison would be to the Gamecube, which made Nintendo hundreds of millions a year despite the platform only selling a little over 22 million units over a 5 year period.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4062d ago
arbitor3654062d ago

i think the ship has sailed on this one. most of the wii u's problems are in-built.

it simply wont be able to keep up with the increasing demands of developers for strong next gen tech. its hard to develop for to boot.

and it certainly wont be able to match the online features that the PS4 and surely the 720 are bringing to the table. not in the slightest.

this article showers us with nintendo first party titles, but that mentality is exactly what got nintendo into this dilemma. nintendo clearly does not take third party support (or online) seriously at all.

first party games did not save the N64 and they did not save the gamecube. the only reason the wii sold was because of casual support. and that market is long gone at this point.

so, in short, the wii u is doomed.

kirbyu4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Yeah, sure, if you care about meaningless details like that.

The Wii U will succed, because people are going to buy it.

People will buy it when SSB4 comes out, when 3D Mario comes out, when Zelda comes out, when anything else worth playing comes out.

PopRocks3594062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Ignore the original comment. If his ideology was based on facts, the 3DS and the PS3 would have tanked miserably. He also conveniently forgot to mention that despite low hardware sales, the N64 and the GCN were both profitable consoles in the long run and therefor were financially successful on Nintendo's part.

@disagrees

Tell me, what crystal ball does arbitor365 have that has you guys so convinced that what he's saying is written in stone?

Root4062d ago

" meaningless details like that. "

So the console not being able to keep up with third party support despite that being something Nintendo were hoping to improve on with this console unlike the Wii, is meaningless.

No...it's a problem because if most third party devs won't support it now how the hell are they going to keep up in the future.

It will end up like what the Wii was to the 360/PS3

kirbyu4062d ago

@Root
I was just joking with the first part. I was saying it's not something anyone thinks about when playing a game. They're important, but, imagine this: You're playing something on Wii U, is it's slow loading speed at all what you're thinking about?

kamikazepikmin4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

@arbitor. after reading that post, i think i contracted cancer.

RTheRebel4062d ago

Cant take you seriously after debating mld and losing to him lol

arbitor3654062d ago

when did I ever debate MLD? I posted a few comments on one of his videos over a year ago. and I think that is the extent of my interactions with him.

is that guy even still making videos? if so, that is kinda sad.

BitbyDeath4062d ago

I'd be more interested if they got rid of the tablet.

Donnieboi4062d ago (Edited 4062d ago )

Nintendo can definately have a chance at a win if they kick that bum Iwata to the curb. He's been keeping the hardcore fans and 3rd party devs at bay ever since he became prez during the Gamecube era.

Show all comments (49)
80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."

280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1015d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref4d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde4d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19724d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville4d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21834d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos4d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
isarai5d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref4d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan4d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0073d ago (Edited 3d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19725d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

5d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19725d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

5d ago
5d ago
Zeref4d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde4d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19724d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19724d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier4d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto4d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21834d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto4d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
Hofstaderman4d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts4d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts3d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic4d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
90°

Nintendo's War Against Player-Made Content Will Hurt The Company In The End

Danish from eXputer: "Nintendo has historically gone against player-made content and emulation of its games. This has done much to harm the company's image."

XiNatsuDragnel11d ago

I agree nintendo hire some these folks to help in your games it'll help imo.

banger8810d ago

They need to stop announcing these mods and fan remakes until they're finished. Finish it, upload it, and then if Nintendo dmca's it tough shit. Once it's online, people can share it around, even if the original download gets taken down.

Jingsing10d ago

True, but most modders need constant admiration during the process to motivate them.

PRIMORDUS10d ago

Yup, once it's a torrent nothing can be done Nintendo is helpless at that point. But it would be wise if they just had a site on the dark web, it's also easy to use with Tor and no one will bother you.

mastershredder10d ago

This is all coming from the mouth of short-sighted fandom and grifting madness.
No.... it wont. There is a clear defined reason why they don't. This is nothing new. Make your own shi7 from your own original ideas especially if you are trying to capitalize of it it. Duh.

Yeah, hire people that have zero respect or understanding for an established process. Wow. Yep. Totally makes sense.

shinoff218310d ago

Those guys that made that sonic game got a gig from sega or something along those lines and that game was dope as hell. One of the best sonics as of late.