Nintendo, The Next Sega

Wii lived a short life due to sales decrease and the 3DS isn't off to a good start. With the reveal of a new console Wii U the audience is skeptical on what to think of it. The PSV is releasing soon and at the same price as the 3DS who knows how long Nintendo is going to last as the leading hand-held gaming console.

[Shok]

"Wii lived a short life due to sales decrease"

The bigger problem was of course the hardware. The Wii simply wasn't future proof.

"and the 3DS isn't off to a good start."

A couple of things:

1) The launch was lack-luster because the launch GAMES we lack-luster. There is going to be so many awesome 3DS titles out by the end of the year, watch the sales sk-rocket due to OoT, Mario Kart, Mario 3DS, Kid Icarus, the Resident Evil games, Starfox, Metal Gear, etc.

2) Many people are waiting for the inevitable price drop and 3DS Lite/Slim. We all know it's coming.

3) Nintendo's games simply have more of a mass market appeal than Sony's, this is just a fact. I honestly don't see the $250 price point affecting the 3DS TOO much because when it comes down to it it's all about the games, and Nintendo has that appeal for the masses.

[Lyle91]

I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if the 3DS broke some records this holiday season.

[Nugan]

You're right that the Wii wasn't future proof, but that's because it was designed with a typical 5 or 6 year console cycle in mind.

Nintendo never intended the Wii to still be breaking sales record in 2011. That's why they had its successor ready to show at E3.

It seems like some individuals are desperate to spin Wii as a failure, even though it was the sales leader for four years, its lifetime sales are still well above its competitors, and, even at a reduced price and with limited software support, it continues to be profitable to Nintendo. (An argument that continues to be made about the PS2.)

As far as the 3DS and Wii U are concerned, it's way too early to know. If the Vita outsells the 3DS this Christmas (and it's certainly possible), then it will be time to brag. The same will be true if the Wii U is a sales failure (and I think that a lot of sites are exaggerating the chances of this). But right now it's all empty speculation.

[Lyle91]

Considering the amount of money Nintendo made off the Wii, I think they'll be around for some time to come.

[miyamoto]

Ninty must stay casual or be a casualty.

[manumit]

haha you should write for Adam Sandler films.

[PSjesus]

I luv Nintendo but i want SEGA back as consoles manufacture
And Nintendo as multiplat game developer.

[ozstar]

Sony was responsible for the death of Sega, way to blame the wrong company Playstation Jesus.

[longcat]

erm.. sega's long history of shit decisions led to loss of consumer confidence and loyalty. Very few were willing to forgive the saturn.

Sony was the final nail in the coffin

Its also worth noting that they were planning to exit the hardware game even before the dreamcast launch

[AWBrawler]

Wii wasn't short lived it got a whole year more than Gamecube and N64 did

[tweet75]

wait till the big name games start hitting the 3ds for the rest of this year. The system will no longer be a weak seller. Nintendo has to be sure the wiiu is priced reasonably to move units once it arrives.

[madjedi]

The problem is the ps3/360 will likely be $199 by the time the wii u, launches holiday 2012, and nintendo likes making a heafty profit off it's hardware.

Since the actual specs and price are still m.i.a, and all we "know" is as/or slightly more powerful than a ps3. Unless nintendo takes alot more of a profit cut, unlike the 3ds, nintendo might price it higher than multiplatform owners will be willing to except.

Unless the games are that stunning(to ps3/360 owners), hardcore gamers i think will not be spending $350-400 on a new console that is 50% more powerful than current consoles. Now i do not speak for everyone, but i would think a majority of gamers would agree with me, especially with everything else important about the console is unknown.

Problem with calling nintendo the next sega, nintendo is so far from declaring bankruptcy it's not funny.

It's reasonable to compare them to apple though, overcharging for their products, but both know how to convince people their products are worth their asking price.

[pcz]

sega were shit generation after generation, making hardware that just wasnt up to scratch.

32x = stupid

mega cd = shit

sega saturn = people by this point were beginning to lose faith, both devs and gamers

dreamcast = the sega name was in ruin, so it was inevitable it would fail. although it was a fantastic console!

now, lets compare this to nintendos recent history

n64 = pushing boundaries but behind the times with cartridges so too expensive and hurt its commercial performance.

gamecube = better than n64 from a commercial perspective, but by this point sony were so strong with their playstation brand, nintendo couldnt really compete.

gameboy colour/ advance = while nintendo were tagging behind in the console race, their handhelds were pissing on the competition, this is what kept them in the game.

wii= conquered the earth. made the competition look stupid after they got too comfortable and arrogant, thinking on brand name alone they could make sales (ie playstation.) nintendos return to the top.

ds = pissing on the competition year in year out.

3ds = slow start but impressive numbers. nintendos handhelds always win.

wiiu = ? releasing a clear 12 months (at least) before a competitor is even on the market so has a big advantage.

so, anybody saying nintendo are the next sega are just idiots.

[Mikeyy]

Yeah, but the controller for Wii U isnt being well recieved.. I mean look at it.. How do I play zelda with this book im holding? Im looking at a 5 inch screen on the controller when I own a 73" DLP...

And I thought the unvail of the PS3 Boomerang controller was the stupidest thing yet...

All Nintendo offers are gimmicks. I just wan't to get home from work, sink into the couch and game, not jump around like a jackass and fling my shield arounds. Im too fucking tired for that.

[D0ffy]

Funny cause I've heard a lot of praise how it is comfortable and light to hold. But of course I've heard the opposite, but many sites like IGN and Joystiq actually like it.

[ChickeyCantor]

"Yeah, but the controller for Wii U isnt being well recieved."

Source, or It never happened.

[DNAbro]

a lot of things from nintendo "weren't well recieved"

people said touch and motion controls were gimmicks but look how much money they made off of it.

It would take a lot more than one underselling (because obviously it will not fail, i don't think that is even possible at this point) console to knock nintendo out.

[Nugan]

It seems like there's a major gap in opinion between journalists for professional sites who were at E3 and tried the controllers for themselves, and amateur bloggers who are basing their opinions on press conference videos and speculation.

Those who have tried the controller have nothing but praise for it. Those who are basing their opinion on the press conference hold it in contempt.

I think this is evidence of a failure of communication on Nintendo's part, not a failure of design.

[lordciansworth]

"Wii lived a short life due to sales decrease"

The Wii, year on year, is still tracking ahead of the PS2 in sales, so this author is seriously misguided about what constitutes a short sales life.

"Nintendo will lose money on Wii U and 3DS"

Based on what? The 3DS is being sold at a decent profit and I have no doubt, as Nintendo has never sold a console at a loss, that the same will be the case for Wii U.

There are genuine concerns about the futures of the 3DS and the Wii U, but this article is, at times, so ill-informed it fails to properly analyse any of them.

[ZNOOTGAT]

World Wide Sales by Year up to 2010
http://www.vgchartz.com/hw_...

Just showing Wii sales decreasing as its competitors sales are increasing. I'm not comparing the amount they sold but simply the fact that the wii sales are decreasing.

PS3-
(2006)1.25m,(2007)7.70m,(2008 )9.92m,(2009)13.02,(2010)14.45, (YTD)4.4

Wii-
(2006)2.93,(2007)16.39,(2008) 24.36,(2009)21.44,(2010)18.07,( YTD)3.8

[eagle21]

Nintendo? The leader by country miles...lol. More like microsoft or dare i say...sony. Nintendo has more mass appeal in software than all of them.

[ZNOOTGAT]

I want to start by saying thank you to all who read my article and left feedback good or bad. Now, I want to remind everyone that this is just an opinion article based on how I interpret Nintendos latest moves. So, I apologies if i offended anyone.

[gumgum99]

wow, talking about grasping at straws. Gosh, just because the 3DS isn't setting things on fire (yet), and the Wii U seems weird, doesn't mean Nintendo is heading out. The reason Sega is where they are at, and Not Nintendo is due to losing a lot of money during that period, and not having anyway to keep going like Nintendo did with its GameBoy series. If Sega had something like that, they would be here right now as well, but they didn't so that's how they are what they are.

Some people need to really examine facts before spurring out nonsense sensational claims and possibilities. The idea shouldn't even come to mind as Nintendo has been quite profitable in recent years.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

LOL PS3 360 owners didn't see Wii as a threat, but they sure do with the Wii U.