An Open Letter to Nintendo | Hey Poor Player

HPP: Nintendo, we’ve had our ups and downs, but I really want the best for the Switch. Let's learn from history, then, and make this cool new console a success.

[derkasan]

It'd be nice to see the Switch as a success.

[FallenAngel1984]

Knowing Nintendo the Switch will surprise and disappoint us in various ways

[NecoTehSergal]

I don't see it selling more than Wii U though. I can't see this being some 'Wii craze' - which is what they're only trying to go for, they're trying to mimic that success.

[Vegamyster]

They've already advertised the system better than they ever have for the Wii-U, i disagree that they're trying to mimic the Wii's success, they showed off Zelda, Skyrim and the Mario games in the trailer instead of another Wii sports type game. To me it just seems like a step into the direction of having just one platform that they can focus all their support on. Assuming it's priced smartly and starts off with good support i'd expect it to do better than the Wii-U, you have to remember there is still people that don't know the Wii-U is the successor to the Wii.

[Kabaneri]

Just from the hype and the fact that its not named Wii, it is guaranteed to be more successful than the WiiU. The handheld market has been partially consumed by mobile so I dont see it selling like the Wii either.

[NecoTehSergal]

@Vega - You act like they didn't advertise Zelda on the Wii with the Wii-mote.... you know, precisely what they did with Skyward Sword...... which was mandatory for you to use Motion controls.... they showcased that a lot - incase that somehow slipped your memory. Them showcasing ANOTHER ZELDA is not abnormal, nor is it new.

You implying they didn't try to show off Mario/Zelda on Wii and that it was 'mostly Wii sports type games' really shows ignorance and that most people like yourself forget what's happened 5-10 years ago in that timeframe, amazing how I can still remember these things. History repeats itself and people are none the wiser.

Furthermore.... you say there are people who don't know Wii U is a successor to the Wii? Why do you think they named it Wii U? They kept the 'WII' in it to try to attract Wii-consumers to know 'Its another Wii console!" .... It didn't work. That was a first time Nintendo ever lazily rehashed the same console name on another console generation and I'm glad it failed. As lazy as it was for them to make a 'Mario Galaxy 2' which at the time was unprecedented.

You claim that if priced smartly and with good support it'd do better than Wii U - but let Statistics melt in as you look at all the Nintendo Console sales from NES to Wii U - excluding the Wii, do you notice a trend? Look at the total sales of each and come back to me - Each Generation, Nintendo loses 10-20 Million units of customers. This is a trend, and if we made a graph? It'd show the Downhill slope that equates to Nintendos life in the console industry. It's a Trend that will continue unless a 'Wii Spark' happens again, which is why they HAVE to get another 'Wii surprise blockbuster'. Or else that DOWNWARD TREND will continue, of 80-60-40-20-10 average Million units sold from NES-SNES-N64-GAMECUBE-WII U.

[NecoTehSergal]

@Kab - How would it be related that it not being named Wii-something HARMS the sales in any way? H ow's that make sense? Explain rationally how it not being associated with Wii - somehow damages the sales. Explain also what Mobile market has ANYTHING to do with the Wii sales. lmao.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Really? I don't see it surpassing the wii but I definitely see it surpassing the Wii U simply because they're portable Market is their main Market and the 3DS moved 60 million units so I think that at least 50 to 40 million units is a respectable guess.

[Vegamyster]

NecoTehSergal

The first commercials for the Wii start off with show Wii Sports, the system was aimed at casuals first then Nintendo fans second. I didn't imply anything, it was clear who they were marketing for.

"Wii and that it was 'mostly Wii sports type games' really shows ignorance and that most people like yourself forget what's happened 5-10 years ago in that timeframe, amazing how I can still remember these things."

I forgot nothing, obviously it wasn't the only game that was on the system but it was single greatest reason is ended up selling as much as it did, it was new, unique and appealed to people who never played games in their lives including the elderly. Eventually all those people left the system to collect dust which is why support ended up being extremely limited despite the sales numbers.

"you say there are people who don't know Wii U is a successor to the Wii? Why do you think they named it Wii U? They kept the 'WII' in it to try to attract Wii-consumers to know 'Its another Wii console!" .... It didn't work."

I know, but it was primarily the marketing. The name made no sense, people thought the gamepad was a add on for the original Wii and it had hardly any commercials. Eveything about the way Nintendo handled the system was terrible.

"As lazy as it was for them to make a 'Mario Galaxy 2' which at the time was unprecedented."

What? It came out 3 years later and is generally considered better, both are two of the highest rated games ever.

I know the numbers and decline of system sales but I'm not talking about those, you said it "I don't see it selling more than Wii U though", i gave my reasons why i disagree.

Wii-U had poor marketing, lots of game delays, expensive, dated hardware, and even Nintendo admitted they underestimated the transfer to HD which is pretty bad given they had years to learn: http://www.forbes.com/forbe... http://www.forbes.com/sites... https://www.google.ca/&... https://www.google.ca/

The Switch on the other hand so far has had better marketing already and is a true hybrid system, there is zero confusion compared to the Wii-U. Obviously we don't know about the other factors like price and the launch line up which is why i said "assume".

[porkChop]

I think Nintendo's head is finally in the right place. So far everything about the Switch seems to be on point. The marketing, the look, the "hook", the games, etc. I really do believe that Nintendo has learned from their mistakes, and this is coming from a huge critic of Nintendo. Here's hoping they pull through with a great system.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Lol no.

I believe that this platform will do better then the Wii U simply because it is portable and it's going to capture lots of their portable Market but I definitely disagree in the regard that they've learned their lessons.

Until I hear more information about their online infrastructure is actually going to work I can't actually say they've learned anything substantial. Mind you, I like that they're going portable with their next device. It's ensuring that the majority of their effort is going to be put towards their largest market which is the handheld Market.

So we would have to wait and see but I can't necessarily say that they're not making lots of the same mistakes that they did in previous generations, granted they are doing much better but it's still very clear that they're a bit out of touch with their core base and how the systems online infrastructure works is going to be a huge sign of if they've learned anything.

[sk8ofmnd]

It would be nice for nintendo to go back to its roots. Long before the wii and wiiu was ever a figment of the new generation of nintendo fanboys that enjoy their gimmicks for the sake of being "different".

The gamecube was my last fav nintendo console and even it was a mere shadow of the 64 and snes before it. The sad truth is nintendo may never garner that magic they had when i was younger. One can only play the same 4 or 5 franchises so many times before getting stale. Where are the nintendo new 1st party exclusives? What did they do on the wii or wiiu that was truly amazing that would make an ps4 or xb1 fan go wow i got to have that? Splatoon? Bayonetta?? Spanning 10 years how many 1st parties were new ideas instead of the rehashed crap. Where is the variety the 64 and snes hell even the nes had? I know the nintendo fanboys will be busy giving me this long list of games THEY think are awesome...

Now theres rumblings of the ns getting ports of the wiiu... Yeah! Lets port the games from the least amazing nintendo platform so the people who missed out on these experiences can finally have a go at it??? Theres a reason why people skipped the wiiu and these games and we arent going to suddenly change our minds just because its got the word NEW in front of it or because its on a tablet with joy cons and a rehashed gimmick of... Wait for it... Plays a game on the tv... That will be what reels them in!

[Kabaneri]

If it gets some big 3rd party games like Dark Souls or Overwatch, then I'll buy it.

[sk8ofmnd]

Isnt there the problem that most of us have already bought and beaten these 3rd party games? Also the problem weighing even heavier on the 1st problem that nintendo fans dont support third party games nearly as much as 1st parties in comparison? Its like how well did tomb raider sell on ps4 a year later? (the defenitive edition) compared to the xb1? Peanuts...

[Kabaneri]

I know what you mean, but the appeal to me personally would be to be able to replay those games on a handheld.

[_-EDMIX-_]

I agree with you in the general sense but I believe his comment was made only personally on what he would want.