90°

Why Nintendo Needs to Continue Doing Its Own Thing

SuperPhillip Central writes, "There seems to be a narrative among gamers and the industry regarding the Wii U. It is much more exciting-- and delivers more hits-- to have negative news about the console rather than positive news. This is just an unfortunate part of the industry we live in. However, some have gone so far as to say that Nintendo should have made their console much more powerful to perhaps rival that of Sony's next console and Microsoft's next Xbox, or to somehow conform more to industry standards. I disagree with these assumptions, and here's why."

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MsmackyM4157d ago

The article was pretty much on point. I also think Nintendo serves the industry better being an innovator instead of just trying to produce the most powerful console.

rainslacker4157d ago

There really is no point for them to try and go head to head against their competitors. Nintendo is a strong brand that can stand on it's own, just like all the others.

The only thing that I don't agree with in this article is that they shouldn't really worry about 3rd party support. I know Nintendo makes some great games, but for the average consumer that isn't really enough. Looking at the Wii, the lack of third party support made the system something that many people would pick up and hardly ever play. I believe a console itself should deliver value and entertainment across the board, and neglecting a huge part of the market is counter-productive to a healthy industry, even if the other console makers are willing to pick it up. Luckily it seems at least Nintendo is trying to get back more 3rd party support this gen, and for the most part it seems to be working with EA and Ubisoft. Others will and are following.

Thatguy-3104157d ago

Nintendo is a strong company but look what happen to it the last two gens. It easily got demolish by sony so all 3 companies have to be in their A game because anyone can easily lose a fight. The thing that saved Nintendo this gen was catering to the casual market but the wii u doesnt have the same appeal and wont win over the casuals since the ios and android platforms are easily taking care of it.

rainslacker4157d ago

Based on your reply I'm going to assume you mean their N64 and Gamecube.

The N64 tried to go head to head against the PS1. It failed miserably in getting 3rd party support, although it did have a few big names. Sony just offered a more attractive deal to developers. At that time Nintendo was not an easy company to work with, but because of their market share most companies had little choice. Sony pulled that rug out from under them. Not only with using cheaper optical media (during a time when memory prices were extremely high), but with a powerful system that was easy to develop for.

They had a similar experience with the GameCube. By then Sony was very strong in the market, and their 3rd party support was some of the best ever seen, leading to PS2's dominance of the marketplace. The GC was good for it's time, but was still limited with a small optical media storage unit. On top of that they had to compete against MS as well, which was bringing new things to the table(or at least expanding on what the Dreamcast offered).

The point is that Nintendo consoles tend to sell because of their first party, but to deny that they don't suffer if they don't have 3rd party support would be ignoring a huge variable in the market. On a hardware side they did Dominate this gen with the Wii, but from a software side it was far from dominate to many of us on here.

They shouldn't ignore the casual market, and while it's not as huge of a factor with their current strategy, it's still something that they should support for long term success. Same goes for the other 2.

The thing is, there doesn't have to be a winner or loser in this "fight". They can all co-exist happily and they can all achieve success on their own merits. For Nintendo and the consumers sake I hope they achieve getting back strong 3rd party support. It will only make things better for us and the industry as a whole.

Thatguy-3104157d ago

Totally agree with everything you said. To me nobody really lost this gen what so ever. Yea this person sold more than that person but if you compare it to past gens no one really got demolished since all three manufacturers passed the 70 million mark and are still selling.

Phil324157d ago

I wasn't really trying to say that Nintendo shouldn't worry about third-party support. I was saying that building a console around Nintendo's own games would hurt third-party support a bit but wouldn't totally ruin them.

I am sorry for the confusion. I should have written it better, and I apologize for that.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4157d ago
Thatguy-3104157d ago

Last gen they got save and made a huge risk by catering to the casuals. Heck it was Nintendo that form that demo graphic and made it mainstream. That being said, that demographic has easily been taken away by ios and android devices hence the lack of wii consoles being sold now. Cant really judge the future of wiiu but I'm positive that it will have more of an uphill battle than the wii.

MasterCratosKong664157d ago

I don't know about that. I definitely would say that the mobile devices are trimming market share, but it isn't so cut and dry. Almost half of the households (in America at least) have game consoles in their house, and out of those the average has two consoles and also has mobile devices with games too. Now the better those mobile games get, the more concern will be had, but for now at least they are more adding to what we already have than taking away from it.

zebramocha4157d ago (Edited 4157d ago )

@msmacky How is that? They didn't have a game that used motion in an non obvious way on top of that ,the wii didn't worked as most people thought.

MsmackyM4157d ago

Nintendo introduced the directional pad, and rumble pack, as well as popularized analog control with Mario 64. Nintendo greatest strength in my opinion is developing new ways to play games. With each new console release for Nintendo the controller, is part of the main attraction.

Pillsbury14157d ago

It's always done its own thing, competitors imitate.

daclynk4157d ago

The article was pretty much i wanter hear.I dont care what anyone say.As i multiply console owner nintendo will be my first choice when it come exclusive games and this is coming from someone who has been gaming nintendo vs atari days.just watch for your viewing pleasure. http://www.youtube.com/watc...

ShaunCameron4153d ago

Because this is where real innovation comes from. You cannot buy innovation. It has to be in you.

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?"

purple1012d 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 ☝️

Zeref2d 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.

DarXyde2d 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.

PhillyDonJawn2d ago (Edited 2d 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.

Einhander19722d 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.

MrBaskerville2d 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.

shinoff21831d 20h 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.

Profchaos1d 19h 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 1d 19h ago
isarai2d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref2d 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.

MrNinosan2d ago

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

mkis0071d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

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

Einhander19722d 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.

2d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19722d ago

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

2d ago
2d ago
Zeref2d 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.

DarXyde2d 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.

Einhander19722d 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.

Einhander19722d 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.

BehindTheRows2d ago (Edited 2d 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.

Zeref2d ago (Edited 2d 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.

Chevalier2d 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.

Tacoboto2d 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.

shinoff21831d 19h ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto1d 17h 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 1d 17h ago
Hofstaderman2d 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?

crazyCoconuts2d 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.

Xeofate2d ago (Edited 2d 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.

crazyCoconuts1d 5h 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

FinalFantasyFanatic1d 13h 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."

XiNatsuDragnel9d ago

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

banger888d 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.

Jingsing8d ago

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

PRIMORDUS7d 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.

mastershredder7d 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.

shinoff21837d 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.

80°

The Nintendo Partner Spotlight Sale Is The Perfect Excuse To Get These 6 Gems

Huzaifa from eXputer: "The Nintendo Partner Spotlight sale event has discounted a number of worthy titles on the Switch. Here are 6 of them you should check out."