My Christmas wish is for Nintendo to stop developing hardware

Editor's Note from Rob Savillo:
While I've grown just a little tired of Nintendo always reinventing the way we interface with video games with each new console (rather than working toward establishing a standard that could eventually divorce hardware and software), Nathaniel asks whether the savior of the industry should bow out of developing systems completely.

[DarkBlood]

no hardware no nintendo ip.

[chadboban]

Wow did I read that correctly when he said the Gamecube had underwhelming specs? It's pretty much common knowledge that the gamecube was more powerful than the PS2 that generation.

Anyhow, if Nintendo continues to make great games, chances are, they'll continue to be successful. Don't see why we should wish for companies to fail, although I don't see the writer wishing for Nintendo to fail, but is rather looking at the prospect of Nintendo being a software only developer.

[HammadTheBeast]

I agree. Gamecube games looked pretty impressive. PS2 had some amazing games though.

[chadboban]

I fricking loved my PS2. One of the best consoles ever!

[TheFirstClassic]

For some reason after the wii was deemed underpowered that accusation moved down to the gamecube as well, even though its not true at all.

[Trekster_Gamer]

The Wii has as much power as the ORIGINAL XBOX...

2006 Power same as 2001

Nintendo pigheaded!

[Jadedz]

Nintendo's the last of a dying breed (a business purely focused on gaming software and hardware), it would be a shame if they went the way of the dodo bird.

I guess Valve could fill the void (steam box), though it definitely won't feel the same (for me, anyway).

[Neonridr]

Nintendo isn't going anywhere. They rule the handheld market and their ips are the highest selling in history.

The Wii U will be fine and Nintendo will still be around.

[browngamer41]

I'm so sick of these articles..if Nintendo should stop making hardware then so should everybody else..gfy

[miyamoto]

If Nintendo really made billions on Wii and DSi why didn't they invest it to make a significantly more powerful 3DS or Wii U console saving them some slack from this kind of death wish articles in the process?

anyways, play nice kids

[ElectricKaibutsu]

You mean why didn't they make a powerful system and sell at a loss? I'm guessing because that never worked out for them. If they sold the Wii U at a loss and it failed, they'd be in trouble. Sony and Microsoft can fall back on their other products but Nintendo only has the Wii U and 3DS.

[kirbyu]

In other words, his Christmas wish is to give less children joy. There are more reasons than just the 1st party games to get a Nintendo console. Pretty soon I'm gonna make a list on TheTopTens.com giving the rest. Search for "Reasons Why Nintendo is Better Than Microsoft and Sony" in a week or so.

[Christopher]

My Christmas wish is for 'game journalists' to stop living in a world of extremes where when someone does something you don't like you expect them to just stop. Instead, how about they live in a world of support, where they share their opinion and openly while understanding that not everything is geared towards them and that instead of wishing them to stop or claiming 'doom!' that they can instead hope that the company in question learns from their opinions and those of other gamers to make a brighter future in the industry of video games for us all.

[chadboban]

Wow man, couldn't have said it better myself. The amount of bubbles you have is more than justified.

[Zodiac]

First world problems.

[millzy102]

why is it nintendo games are good enough to play but the hardwhere isn't surely if people liked ninty games they would buy ninty consoles, people who say nintendo should only make software dont deserve to play there games in the first place, i wouldn't say sony should only make software because playstation is shit, i like sony games so i buy paystation, i like nintendo game so i also buy nintendo, without hardware nintendo would loose its soul just look at sega and you know what i mean, why do people write such shit.

[wingman32x]

Not to mention Nintendo has clearly stated that its software will die with its hardware in that case. So people dreaming about Mario on Playstation and Xbox will very likely never get their wish. Nintendo is very adamant about that.

[FanMan]

People dream for that? News to me.

[wingman32x]

Yeah, there's a group of people who really, really want Nintendo to be a software only company for some reason. Very likely won't happen, though.

[ozstar]

The only company that consistently refuses to just put a PC build in a plastic box?

I tell you these Sony nostalics are going a little crazy as Sony faces some seriously tough decisions about the future of their business, but come on, Nintendo have outright refused almost all the worst decisions made in the mast 6 years.

[BitbyDeath]

Your comment is just as bad as the article, why are you so insecure about Sony?

[Fasttrack76]

My sega mega drive and road rash were the days

[wiiulee]

christmas is to have less clowns like you being employed to write nonsense and to give those jobs to actual editors, reporters and people that care about gaming...cause any clown that would want nintendo out of the hardware business without whom the game industry or innovation would be done and over with....is a pure hater and nongamer.....but wiiu will come out on top so losing your job should be your number 1 worry.

[V0LT]

My Christmas wish is for these stupid articles to stop appearing.

[WPX]

My christmas wish is that journalists like this stop spouting nonsense in their articles.
Edit: @ylwzx3
lol you beat me by two minutes

[kirbyu]

Can you think of a time Xbox of Sony put out a good 1st party game? BURN!!!!!

In fact, you can't make a good list of good third-party games for either one unless you're talking to someone who really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really
really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really
really likes First Person Shooters.

If Nintendo were to stop making consoles every single one of the products would have to absolutely not sell at all or God would have to come to Earth and add command them to stop making hardware.

[ElectricKaibutsu]

I have some problems with the choices Nintendo has made with their hardware. Locking an account to one console, region locking, and... well that's about it.

People who get after Nintendo and downplay their importance also seem to dislike the word "innovation" and tend to retaliate with "gimmick". I don't think they understand why people call Nintendo innovative or why it matters that they are. You can start with the NES controller. It seems obvious now that that was how a controller should be made. It has face buttons, a d-pad, and is strong enough to be thrown on the floor in anger. Before Nintendo showed everyone how to make a controller, controllers were filled with dials and switches and easily broken. Then they perfected the controller with the SNES; shoulder buttons and four face buttons placed in a triangular shape. This design has remained unchanged for over twenty years. I could also quickly rattle off the rumble pack, thumb sticks (necessary for 3D games), the standard of 4 people being able to play multiplayer on one console at one time, touch screen on a hand held, hand helds existing at all (thanks Game & Watch), etc. etc. I don't think some people realize that if Nintendo didn't do this, these innovations would never have happened. Some might have, but definitely not all of them. All these things seem so OBVIOUS now. Of course we need thumb sticks. Of course we need face buttons and shoulder buttons. But at the time they were crazy and new and no other company would have gone for it. We need Nintendo to keep doing these crazy things. Who else will?

[CouldHaveYelledUiiW]

*Sniff, Sniff*

*Sings*
GOD BLESS NINTENDOLAND, MY HOME SWEET HOME!!!

Bubble Up Vote "Well Said!"

*Sniff*

[PopRocks359]

My Christmas wish is for shitty articles like this to stop appearing.

[Gamer78]

The person who wrote this is a douche.

[shackdaddy]

What a douchey wish...

[BitbyDeath]

Story Quality = WTF?

Just cause Ninty doesn't cater to your taste is no reason to wish ill on them.

[ALLWRONG]

Since I'm an Atheist I'm just going to wish :) oh wait! I don't believe in wishes ether :( well I'm screwed.

Turns on Wii U... well maybe I'm not screwed after all :)

[Jagsrock]

bah humbug!

[RFornillos4]

well, i guess Santa will be missing 1 douche this year...

while it's true that the GameCube didn't sell well its generation, however it wasn't the least powerful the author claims it to be. in fact it was powerful console during its generation. and it having the worst sales of the 3, prompted Nintendo to re-think their strategy of going head-to-head in the graphical prowess of their next console. resulting to the less powerful, but innovative -- the Wii.

while the motion controls was gimmicky to a certain degree, when used properly (and not abused), it resulted to some of the best stellar gamers that surpassed even its HD counterparts. it also paved the way for casual gamers to the console market. making Wii the highest-selling console of its generation (not counting the DS -- heck even the 3DS outsold PS3's lifetime sales in Japan). and admittingly, if motion controls was not working, then why the heck would Sony scramble for their old EyeToy tech and come up with Move; and Microsoft's Kinect -- an enhanced EyeToy if you ask me.

yes, the Wii had lacklustre 3rd party support, Nintendo has certainly learned a valuable lesson there. and the initial 3rd party support for Wii U, while still not that plenty, gives Nintendo a chance to prove their detractors wrong. their current effort to improve eShop and the Nintendo Network, admittingly still needs work, but is proving to be on the right track. Miiverse is proving to be a success, and Nintendo TVii (coming out tomorrow -- US) also changes the way we look at the role of consoles.

finally, wishing for the demise of a company who has revived "console gaming", and introduced many innovations is just not right. if Nintendo stops making hardware, what do you think will happen to the console market? what will stop Sony and MS from making expensive console. you may say "Wii U is more expensive than even the PS3" -- while true, how much do you think the PS4 and XBox720 will cost? certainly more expensive than the Wii U. and if Nintendo bows out of the hardware market, how much do you think the PS5 or XBox1440 will cost? by then, how much would the games cost? oh yeah, Steam box is coming; Ouya is coming and Ouya will be cheap (reportedly @ $99) -- but they've yet to prove anything as they haven't come out yet. and if they do succeed, then that may mean the demise of Sony and MS too, if they continue to follow the trend of focusing on graphics power.

so the reality is, the existence of these companies, and the coming of two more may even be healthier, as it will encourage healthy competition, keeping the console market alive.