180°

Nintendo Fans Are Growing Up – But Nintendo Isn't, and It Could Cost Them

Vice:
Tabata's statement sounds an awful lot like Nintendo cutting off its nose to spite its face. They published a game aimed directly at an audience the company isn't the master of anymore, while simultaneously alienating Chibi-Robo's original and older fans. And as Nintendo moves into 2016, with the launch of its new smartphone titles, and probably a new home-and-handheld hybrid console in the form of the NX, it needs to realise the contemporary needs of younger fans. If it doesn't, it risks losing them further, no matter how many cute games with Mario dressed up as a cat it lines up. Sometimes, pandering to a market backfires.

Hoffmann3008d ago

"Nintendo Fans Are Growing Up"

They have this problem since the eighties though. And thats one of the reasons why less and less people like and buy Nintendo consoles and games.

OtakuDJK1NG-Rory3008d ago

actually less people are buying hardware not software.
The same amount is buying software.

It just the hardware numbers isn't high enough for it to be more. Especially when Mario Kart 8 is the best-selling exclusive this generation with the highest attachment rate.

ABizzel13007d ago

Software sales and hardware sales have dropped every generation excluding the Wii thanks to it's casual success.

It's good for Nintendo that they're games are selling, but being a Nintendo only console is the reason the hardware sales have been abysmal the last few generations excluding Wii.

Nintendo has to address all the issues they have, and all the areas they're 1 - 3 generations behind in, and then they can turn things around. Unfortunately for them, I'd say they only have 2 more generations top to do it, before they become a handheld only company.

Which honestly might be better for them so they can focus their entire first party efforts on a single platform, their handhelds are significantly better sellers than their consoles, and common mobile technology has already surpassed their current console in "graphics processing power" and RAM, so the tech is there as well. Not to mention their mobile market has felt the burn of smartphones and tablets, and that's an area they need to focus on finding a solution to the most.

Concertoine3007d ago

@Otaku

To an extent you are right since software attach ratio is on the rise on Nintendo platforms, but the numbers are still on decline. MK8 could surpass Double Dash which is currently the worst selling console title, but Smash 4 on Wii U, SM3DW and pretty much every other exclusive is looking to become their series low points.

Software sales are on the rise universally since we are coming out of a global recession and consoles launched much cheaper this time around.

miyamoto3007d ago (Edited 3007d ago )

LOL!

Did these dudes read my comment two days ago?

http://n4g.com/news/1856661...

"Nintendo is so traditional and conservative it does not want to grow, move forward or change.

They stick to what works and earn them money: games for little kids and teenagers. No matter what shape or form their hardware them kiddie games are still there as the common denominator.

This is why nintendo is caught up the the same ole cycle of hit and miss, win and lose.
They wait for the next generation of kiddie gamers to come and they have a hit console. but after 4 to 5 years these kids grow and move to more mature games and leaves Nintendo out in the cold and have to wait for another 4 to 5 years for the next batch kids.

They don't want to offer other products. It's like McDonald's service the same burger and fries and pop combo year in year out without introducing McChicken or McCoffee.

It's like the Beatles and Bee Gees singing the same ole pop songs and not reinventing themselves into something new and the music industry would have not evolved.

I have nothing against kiddie games because there is great demand for them but why won't they make a AAA Metroid or Zelda for their aging fans and keep both kids and adult gamers loyal to their platforms?

They cannot play it safe for so long.
They have to diversify.

I also noticed that the Japanese gaming community are also traditional and conservatories in their tastes: gamers and developers alike."

BullyMangler3007d ago (Edited 3007d ago )

khh . and that is why Nintendo wiiU has Donkey Kong Tropical freeze, a game that entered gamespots most challenging games ever created in the history of gaming list . .

then Bayonetta 2 . .

and nothing on any sony system or microsoft, is more gory more bloody than Madworld for the kiddy wii . .

If you stop being ignorant, and do some research, you will discover that Nintendo has had the most mature and challenging games ever created . and the list goes on . .

truth hurts you fanboys, huh

GordonKnight3007d ago

Nintendo is like the craft beer of video games. They operate on their own schedule. Aslo they aren't concerned about mainstream trends, unless the market makes them. They know that Nintendo is not for everyone and because of that there is never enough stock produced, special edition consoles, games, & amiibos. Then their products are sold be scalpers at a higher rate. Just like craft beer annual release special beers. Cigar city Hunahpu Imperial stout

pcz3007d ago

i want a new eternal darkness game.. or at least a hd remake of the original.

why are nintendo throwing this great ip in the dirt?

if anyone is interested they can check out a remix i recently made for the music in that game

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

:)

3008d ago Replies(1)
pompombrum3008d ago

To be honest though, there is absolutely nothing wrong with their games, I bought a Wii U as a gaming alternative that offers me something a little bit different and I haven't been disappointed. Their games have a certain imaginative charm that you just can't get anywhere else.

The problem lays in their image. Just walking into a GAME shop in the UK and the Nintendo section looks like something out of a toy store. When my mum saw my Wii U she asked me what it was and when I told her she looked at my funny and I quote "Aren't you a little old for that?"

3008d ago
ABizzel13007d ago

Their software isn't the problem IMO either. They make quality games although they could also focus a bit more on quantity as well considering they have a stable of franchises that they just won't revisit regardless of how many people ask for those games.

The problem is Nintendo's once dominance as a mainstay gaming console, is now looked at an an alternative gaming console just like you said.

And that wouldn't be a problem if it was the only other alternative available, which isn't the case.

Mobile is dominating the child demographic

PlayStation is dominating the console demographic, with Xbox doing well and surpassing Nintendo this generation.

PC gaming touches all aspects of gaming.

Nintendo consoles are currently a niche buy, just to play Nintendo 1st party games, and that's why hardware is suffering.

Stealth20k3007d ago (Edited 3007d ago )

Nintendo sells more software every year than either Sony or Microsoft. So exactly what is so niche about Nintendo? They are number 1 in everything but game consoles. Not a bad position to be in

ABizzel13007d ago (Edited 3007d ago )

With less than a year on the market than Nintendo PS4 is already over 200m software units sold and closing in on the 3DS even with it's +54m install base and it's 5 years on the market. Meanwhile, XBO is over 100m software units if VGChartz is to be believed, and considering practically every single month NPD consistently has PS4 topping software sales there's little reason not to believe this, on top of the fact that PS4 games generally outsell their XBO counterparts 2:1 globally and in some cases 3/4/5 : 1 globally.

Meanwhile Wii U has +70m sold (directly from Nintendo themselves) even with an full year on the market before PS4 and XBO....

The only time Nintendo sold more software than MS and Sony this gen when in 2013, when the PS4 and XBO launch with only 2 months of software sales on the market.

What's niche about Nintendo is the fact that their home console has been on the market for over 3 years and 1 year before the PS4 and XBO and is already being outsold by both of those consoles, and has not once sold more than 4m units globally in a single year. On top of that while their handheld division is doing well, it's also at an all-time low for Nintendo, and both devices are seeing the worst software sales in Nintendo history (again all this information is courtesy of Nintendo).

That's what's niche about Nintendo, and instead of fluffing and debate to provide some ray of light, you should be offering insight on what they need to do to improve their hardware sales, overall software sales, and get out of this downwards spiral they're in.

Stealth20k3007d ago (Edited 3007d ago )

Again, how much of that is attributed to Sony? Not much.

As a studio, Nintendo sells more software than Microsoft and Sony every single year. They are the number 1 publisher globally every year.

Last year, Sony was the only one who sold more hardware than Nintendo globally.

(You are getting so many downvotes because you are making stuff up)

Nintendo is not niche by any stretch.

Sony might outsell PS2, Vita bombed harder than Wii U.

X1 stopped outpacing 360.

The market is down, yet you act like only Nintendo is suffering.

Read the article, it is about Nintendo's software image, not about hardware sales, you are bringing it there because as a troll, that is all you can do.

ABizzel13007d ago

No I'm getting down votes, because you / troll accounts / other Nintendo fans (which is proven but the fact that every legitimate comment has several disagress) / and adolescent n4g kids can't take criticism of a piece of plastic that plays your favorite games. Nor do I care about anyone disagreeing with me, which also shows a childish mentality.

And I don't have to make anything up when every bit of information is reported directly from Nintendo on their company page.

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/...

It's nice being number 1 publisher, but for the 3rd time that also reflects why their hardware is continuously struggling, because the majority of you only buy Nintendo games and 3rd party developers don't bother. And while it's nice to have that title, it means absolutely nothing if as a console manufacturer your hardware isn't selling equivalently.

Good for you from combining 3DS and Wii U sales, they need it. The Wii U has clearly struggled all generation, and the 3DS has dropped below the XBO finally as well, even though they launched new 3DS hardware at the beginning of 2015.

http://www.gamnesia.com/new...

The 3DS was actually up last year +40% over it's 2014 sales, thanks to the launch of the new 3DS, but sales dropped so hard over the last part of the year that that 40% lead ended up being a -20% loss by year's end. On top of that the not a single piece of Nintendo software was in the top 10 NPD for the biggest month of the year for hardware and software sales.

https://zhugeex.com/2016/01...

So Sony and MS are gladly collecting that 20% console manufacturer fee on every single top 10 game sold, and if you break it down by individual platform sales then Splatoon makes it into the top 10 with Uncharted TNDC and Halo 5 right behind it with all 3 companies collecting 50% of the $60 revenue sale at retail and potentially 30% 3rd party and 70% exclusive of the sale digitally (of which MS and Sony had been very vocal about games breaking digital records).

Vita flopping has nothing to do with the Wii U flopping and being on track to be the worst selling core console of all time "NICHE". The 3DS is selling well and I wouldn't call it niche, but collective with the Wii U and they are the worst selling hardware Nintendo has ever had.

No XBO is still ahead of 360, although I don't expect it to have the same continuous growth as 360.

The market is down, because it's transitioning from the last-gen console dying out to the current-gen, and because last-gen all 3 console did very good except the Wii which broke records, whereas this gen the PS4 is doing extremely well, the XBO is doing good, and the Wii U has flopped, and the Vita flopped, and the 3DS is just now passing 1/3 of it's predecessors sales 5 years into it's lifecycle.

All you did was run and spin, from the real problem. Nintendo's console isn't selling and mobile is hurting their handheld division, this has been the worst generation ever for Nintendo and no amount of spinning can fix that, and it doesn't help having people like you trying to put a band-aid on a patient that needs open heart surgery. You keep bringing up exclusive software a single component of a multilayered business, and if they had better hardware sales and 3rd party support they would be in a much better position, and not their worst ever.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3007d ago
skydragoonityx3008d ago

It could cost them? Its already costing them

Maybay3008d ago

Nintendo's about games that focus on the gamer's experience level, rather than the maturity of obscenely graphic gaming content. Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze may look aesthetically cartoony, though its difficulty invokes itself into a mature scenario because of its skill-based platforming (Wonderful 101 also's stigmatized in this way).

The NX will hopefully remedy Nintendo from their current state of mind.

Show all comments (56)
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?"

purple10112d 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 ☝️

Zeref12d 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.

DarXyde12d 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.

PhillyDonJawn12d ago (Edited 12d 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.

Einhander197212d 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.

MrBaskerville12d 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.

shinoff218311d 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.

Profchaos11d 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 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref12d 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.

MrNinosan12d ago

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

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

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

Einhander197212d 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.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

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

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref12d 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.

DarXyde12d 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.

Einhander197212d 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.

Einhander197212d 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.

BehindTheRows12d ago (Edited 12d 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.

Zeref12d ago (Edited 12d 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.

Chevalier12d 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.

Tacoboto12d 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.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto11d 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 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d 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?

crazyCoconuts12d 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.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d 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.

crazyCoconuts11d 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

FinalFantasyFanatic11d 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."

XiNatsuDragnel19d ago

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

banger8818d 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.

Jingsing18d ago

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

PRIMORDUS17d 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.

mastershredder17d 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.

shinoff218317d 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.