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NX launching in March to make sure there are games to go along with it

Every generation, Satoru Iwata tells investors, gamers, and retailers that they will avoid major software droughts because these can kill a platform’s momentum after launch. Satoru Iwata never learns from anything. He always says he has learned from past mistakes, but his actions never show it. Instead, every single generation, all we get from him is a whole bunch of “Please understand” and “I apologize for the inconvenience”.

Here’s some examples.

Iwata says Wii will avoid major droughts that plagued GameCube. (March 2007)


“When we launched GameCube, the initial sales were good, and all the hardware we manufactured at that time were sold through. However, after this period, we could not provide the market with strong software titles in a timely fashion. As a result we could not leverage the initial launch time momentum, and sales of GameCube slowed down. To avoid repeating this with Wii, we have been intensifying the software development, both internally at Nintendo and at developers outside the company, in order to prepare aggressive software lineup for Wii at and after the launch.” says Iwata. He then says, ”We believe it is important to provide the market with strong software without a long interval in order to keep the launch time momentum."

Source: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/libr...0607qa/02.html

Iwata promises that 3DS will avoid major droughts that plagued Wii and DS.

“It’s important that you be able to supply software with no pause,” said Iwata. “With the DS and Wii, following the titles that were released at launch, the momentum dropped when there was a gap in software releases. We’re making plans so that this type of thing won’t happen.”

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2011/01/10/iwat...ware-with-3ds/

Iwata promises that Wii U will avoid major droughts that plagued 3DS and Wii.

“As we learned a bitter lesson with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS, we are trying to take every possible measure so that the Wii U will have a successful launch.”
“The company was unable to launch much-anticipated first-party titles for the Wii nor for the Nintendo 3DS in a timely fashion in the first half of the term. In the game platform business, creating momentum is very important, but the momentum was once lost, and it has had a large negative effect on our sales and profits.”

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com...on-iwata-vows/

Iwata apologizes for Wii U drought in January and February.


“I apologize to those supporting Wii U about the lack of titles in January and February.”

NX launching in March to make sure there are games to go along with it

When asked why Nintendo wasn’t launching the NX in time for this year’s big holiday season, Kimishima explained that Nintendo wanted to make sure there were games to go along with the NX.

Source: http://kotaku.com/nintendo-new-nx-console-will-be-out-march-2017-1773312629

Wow. This needs to be stickied to every NX thread.
 

papo

Member
I still feel they are making the wrong decisions.

If the system in coming in 2017 then they should show it or tease it at E3 even if they do a direct afterwards. I don;t get the whole Zelda only E3. I mean the game could be awesome, could be a better reveal than TP etc, but if the game is an NX launch game they should showcase that in some way shape or form. They should stick to showing that version of the game and just let the WiiU be a thing of the past.

It sounds similar to the whole Star Fox, Project Giant Robo event they did just to show that the WiiU pad could still be relevant and the game *might be good, but they needed to test it out.
 
Every generation, Satoru Iwata tells investors, gamers, and retailers that they will avoid major software droughts because these can kill a platform’s momentum after launch. Satoru Iwata never learns from anything. He always says he has learned from past mistakes, but his actions never show it. Instead, every single generation, all we get from him is a whole bunch of “Please understand” and “I apologize for the inconvenience”.

Here’s some examples.

Iwata says Wii will avoid major droughts that plagued GameCube. (March 2007)


“When we launched GameCube, the initial sales were good, and all the hardware we manufactured at that time were sold through. However, after this period, we could not provide the market with strong software titles in a timely fashion. As a result we could not leverage the initial launch time momentum, and sales of GameCube slowed down. To avoid repeating this with Wii, we have been intensifying the software development, both internally at Nintendo and at developers outside the company, in order to prepare aggressive software lineup for Wii at and after the launch.” says Iwata. He then says, ”We believe it is important to provide the market with strong software without a long interval in order to keep the launch time momentum."

Source: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/libr...0607qa/02.html

Iwata promises that 3DS will avoid major droughts that plagued Wii and DS.

“It’s important that you be able to supply software with no pause,” said Iwata. “With the DS and Wii, following the titles that were released at launch, the momentum dropped when there was a gap in software releases. We’re making plans so that this type of thing won’t happen.”

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2011/01/10/iwat...ware-with-3ds/

Iwata promises that Wii U will avoid major droughts that plagued 3DS and Wii.

“As we learned a bitter lesson with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS, we are trying to take every possible measure so that the Wii U will have a successful launch.”
“The company was unable to launch much-anticipated first-party titles for the Wii nor for the Nintendo 3DS in a timely fashion in the first half of the term. In the game platform business, creating momentum is very important, but the momentum was once lost, and it has had a large negative effect on our sales and profits.”

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com...on-iwata-vows/

Iwata apologizes for Wii U drought in January and February.


“I apologize to those supporting Wii U about the lack of titles in January and February.”

NX launching in March to make sure there are games to go along with it

When asked why Nintendo wasn’t launching the NX in time for this year’s big holiday season, Kimishima explained that Nintendo wanted to make sure there were games to go along with the NX.

Source: http://kotaku.com/nintendo-new-nx-console-will-be-out-march-2017-1773312629

I don't know what's more funny about this post the fact that he found so many references saying there same thing about holding back for launch or the fact that he is going off on Iwata not changing even though Iwata has been dead for almost year.
 

carlo6529

Member
I for one am shocked that the company whose last two big platforms struggled out the gate because the software lineup wasn't where it needed to be would choose to delay their next platform until it has a better lineup.

The Wii far from struggled out of the gate. It was sold out for a long time...
 

KingJ2002

Member
I still don't see how 4 months will make a large difference.


What it will do however, is miss holiday sales.

Third party ports and quality assurance for first and second party titles.

They will miss out on the holiday season but they could possibly take advantage of the aftermath.

...

not launching during the holidays also means there's a good chance 2017 Sports Ports (madden, nba 2k16, etc.) aren't very likely at launch.
 
So, is Nintendo making this on purpose to bother the fans.... And yes in 3 months a game can be ready.
Sorry that's not the point I was trying to make. We're 7 months removed from the holiday season and a little under a year removed from the hypothetical NX launch, how do you assess the readiness of your launch software this far out yet are able to nail it down to a roughly a 3 month period? What 3rd party games would be viable for launch in March that wouldn't have been done and released on other systems by the fall?

Typically you set a launch window and pull resources to finish one or two games on time, especially when you're this far away from launch. Games ready for March would techically still fall within an acceptable hardware launch window for a holiday console, that wouldn't be a valid business reason to me to miss the most lucrative retail period of the year, especially for Nintendo.

The more likely scenario is Nintendo has run into some kind of hardware issue with NX development and can't guarantee that it will be resolved in time for the holidays. Rather than piss off retail partners by promising them hardware they won't have to sell they schedule for March instead, if they still miss that date it's no harm no foul since that's a slow period of the year for retail sales anyway, no self space would have been wasted.
 

Mory Dunz

Member
Third party ports and quality assurance for first and second party titles.

They will miss out on the holiday season but they could possibly take advantage of the aftermath.

...

not launching during the holidays also means there's a good chance 2017 Sports Ports (madden, nba 2k16, etc.) aren't very likely.

If these exist....then taking the 4 months to get them would be kind of cancelled out by getting them months late.
 
When you look the wider picture it was probably the smarter move. Avoid the death launch wii u had. The only issue is Nintendo has to face some short term disappointment by its fan.
 
Missing the holiday season is really going to hurt unless they somehow catch that lightning in a bottle again. It's good that they want to make sure the games are there, but I have to ask:

What were their studios doing the last 2 years?
 

Red Devil

Member
No, I don't buy this. If it was just about the games, they could have still reveal NX at E3. And show trailers of the games. If Zelda Wii U is playable, Zelda NX could have been too. Nope, this is just a lame excuse that doesn't explain the whole fuck-up.

Whether you buy the reasoning or not it's what'll happen anyway.

Zelda alone isn't enough to launch the NX. For all the plaudits each game receives it isn't a Mario, GTA or even FIFA (sales-wise).

Like everybody, I haven't a clue what Nintendo has up its sleeves but it better me a lot more than Link riding around a pretty meadow on horseback.

Then again Zelda might not be a launch title for it.
 

SuperSah

Banned
Every generation, Satoru Iwata tells investors, gamers, and retailers that they will avoid major software droughts because these can kill a platform’s momentum after launch. Satoru Iwata never learns from anything. He always says he has learned from past mistakes, but his actions never show it. Instead, every single generation, all we get from him is a whole bunch of “Please understand” and “I apologize for the inconvenience”.

Here’s some examples.

Iwata says Wii will avoid major droughts that plagued GameCube. (March 2007)


“When we launched GameCube, the initial sales were good, and all the hardware we manufactured at that time were sold through. However, after this period, we could not provide the market with strong software titles in a timely fashion. As a result we could not leverage the initial launch time momentum, and sales of GameCube slowed down. To avoid repeating this with Wii, we have been intensifying the software development, both internally at Nintendo and at developers outside the company, in order to prepare aggressive software lineup for Wii at and after the launch.” says Iwata. He then says, ”We believe it is important to provide the market with strong software without a long interval in order to keep the launch time momentum."

Source: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/libr...0607qa/02.html

Iwata promises that 3DS will avoid major droughts that plagued Wii and DS.

“It’s important that you be able to supply software with no pause,” said Iwata. “With the DS and Wii, following the titles that were released at launch, the momentum dropped when there was a gap in software releases. We’re making plans so that this type of thing won’t happen.”

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2011/01/10/iwat...ware-with-3ds/

Iwata promises that Wii U will avoid major droughts that plagued 3DS and Wii.

“As we learned a bitter lesson with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS, we are trying to take every possible measure so that the Wii U will have a successful launch.”
“The company was unable to launch much-anticipated first-party titles for the Wii nor for the Nintendo 3DS in a timely fashion in the first half of the term. In the game platform business, creating momentum is very important, but the momentum was once lost, and it has had a large negative effect on our sales and profits.”

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com...on-iwata-vows/

Iwata apologizes for Wii U drought in January and February.


“I apologize to those supporting Wii U about the lack of titles in January and February.”

NX launching in March to make sure there are games to go along with it

When asked why Nintendo wasn’t launching the NX in time for this year’s big holiday season, Kimishima explained that Nintendo wanted to make sure there were games to go along with the NX.

Source: http://kotaku.com/nintendo-new-nx-console-will-be-out-march-2017-1773312629

History will repeat itself.
 

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
Wat? The 64 launched with like, three to five games or something stupid tiny like that?

Nintendo's best launch was Wii because of Wii Sports. That's never coming back again. lol

They say this every time.

It launched in the US with two games.

It's possible Nintendo will burst out of the gate with remasters and a couple token third party games. But afterwards will be interesting.
 
It's the same story with Nintendo, generation after generation.

1. The current console gets starved of games for a year, or even two.
2. We imagine all the games that will launch with the new system.
3. New system launches with 2 games.
4. New system has droughts.
5. Nintendo says they underestimated software development time and promises to address the issue going forward.
 
The Wii far from struggled out of the gate. It was sold out for a long time...

He is refering to the WiiU and 3DS.

^ Correct.

Software wise

Wii had no software problems at launch. A list of first-party games plus samples of third-party offerings (i.e. not an exhaustive list):

(Nintendo-published games in italics)

November 2006
Wii Sports
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Excite Truck

Call of Duty 3
Madden 07
Need for Speed: Carbon
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Trauma Center: Second Opinion

December 2006
Wii Play
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Pokemon Battle Revolution

Elebits
Far Cry Vengeance

February 2007
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn
Cooking Mama: Cook Off
Sonic and the Secret Rings
SSX Blur

March 2007
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
TMNT
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI
Medal of Honor: Vanguard

April 2007
Super Paper Mario
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree

Prince of Persia: Rival Swords
One Piece: Unlimited Adventure

May 2007
Mario Strikers Charged
Mario Party 8

Bomberman Land
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition

June 2007
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility

July 2007
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors

August 2007
Endless Ocean
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Madden 08
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08

September 2007
Samurai Warriors: Katana
DDR Hottest Party
FIFA Soccer 08

October 2007
Battalion Wars 2
MLB Power Pros
NBA Live 08
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
Namco Museum Remix
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

November 2007
Super Mario Galaxy
Link's Crossbow Training
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Geometry Wars: Galaxies
Medal of Honor: Heroes II
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Need for Speed: ProStreet
Soulcalibur Legends
Trauma Center: New Blood

December 2007
Wii Fit
No More Heroes
 

Triton55

Member
It's the same story with Nintendo, generation after generation.

1. The current console gets starved of games for a year, or even two.
2. We imagine all the games that will launch with the new system.
3. New system launches with 2 games.
4. New system has droughts.
5. Nintendo says they underestimated software development time and promises to address the issue going forward.

Yeah, but this time they're taking tangible action to address it. They consolidated their console/handheld streams and are holding back the system until games come out. Before, they basically just said "We really get it this time!" Hopefully these steps address the underlying problem.
 
The way I see it is this:

Four months (assuming a launch in November) of additional development time isn't that long a time, certainly not long enough to make the difference from "anemic launch lineup" to "one of the greatest of all time". We'll get slightly more polished games, maybe a couple of additional ports. And yes, the lineup difference DOES have to be "one of the greatest of all time" if they intend to justify completely missing a holiday season and launching new hardware in March (a random month with nothing before or after).

Nintendo at this point are placing a bet that the amount of people who would buy an NX day one with presumably a good launch lineup would be greater in number than the amount of consumers who buy an NX with the "holiday bump" in sales. I honestly don't think the former outweigh the latter.

And, at the end of the day, the fact of the matter is that Nintendo wouldn't choose a March launch if they could help it. Obviously they'd choose the holidays if everything was hunky dory. The fact that they're launching in such a bizarre time of year tells us there's some serious trouble with the way the launch software is coming together.
 
Rather than stumble out of the gate trying to sell us on NX, they need to take their time and get everything right behind-the-scenes before they can go full steam ahead.

Everyone else seems to have lost their damn minds because the status quo is being upset. "But E3 is the show of shows, they gotta be there and they gotta hit hard!" or "how else will get mainstream coverage?"

Social media exists. NX was trending this morning on Facebook and Twitter, and all of the gaming/tech media were on it. That trickles down to the mainstream real easy. That's why Nintendo Direct works.

They don't give a damn about E3 anymore, and neither do some big third-party publishers. They want their own space to broadcast their own message. Besides, E3's a farce now more than ever with the "who won E3" tripe.

NX will arrive on Nintendo's terms, and for once, Nintendo is thinking like they should be.
 

Vena

Member
And, at the end of the day, the fact of the matter is that Nintendo wouldn't choose a March launch if they could help it. Obviously they'd choose the holidays if everything was hunky dory. The fact that they're launching in such a bizarre time of year tells us there's some serious trouble with the way the launch software is coming together.

Hardware is a suspect (we had rumors of staggered launch, so this leads credence to the idea that they weren't producing enough or expecting enough production for a worldwide holiday launch).

They may also have delayed to have a maintained release schedule rather than force an early launch, have a good launch window, and then run out of games. Four to five months isn't a lot for near finished to finished projects, but it does let them move release schedule in general back a bit and allow for more software to make it out on time later.

Also we had heard rumblings of troubled porting of SMM and Splatoon, so that may well have also contributed as those are marquee titles they want to have ready at launch, immediately.

This seems more like circumstances of multiple angles led to the delay, not just new software for launch.
 
Hardware is a suspect (we had rumors of staggered launch, so this leads credence to the idea that they weren't producing enough or expecting enough production for a worldwide holiday launch).

They may also have delayed to have a maintained release schedule rather than force an early launch, have a good launch window, and then run out of games. Four to five months isn't a lot for near finished to finished projects, but it does let them move release schedule in general back a bit and allow for more software to make it out on time later.

Also we had heard rumblings of troubled porting of SMM and Splatoon, so that may well have also contributed as those are marquee titles they want to have ready at launch, immediately.

This seems more like circumstances of multiple angles led to the delay, not just new software for launch.

I mean, I'm taking the quote from the OP at face value. They said the delay was to make sure the games were there, which doesn't make sense to me.

I think if there had been hardware issues to work out (shortages/design/etc.), they would've mentioned that as well, but right now all they're talking about is software.

EDIT: Regarding the release schedule point, Nintendo's droughts tend to last for many, many months. Far more than just 4 months. If they're doing this to compress the time it takes from them to go from launch window games to "wave 2" games, delaying the launch by only 4 months is nowhere near enough.
 
For the people on the third party games bandwagon for Nintendo systems: March launch probably means a bunch of Q4 2016 ports, which people have played already, so only going to appeal to the Nintendo-only crowd - well, the minuscule number that's willing to buy non Nintendo titles.
 

Xion_Stellar

People should stop referencing data that makes me feel uncomfortable because games get ported to platforms I don't like
I will believe it when I see it because we all know how the Wii U and 3DS launch window went down and everyone should brace themselves for 2016 game ports to fill the catalogue.
 
I think its smart that they do delay it to have more games ready.
Now Nintendo just have to keep that promise.
I do really hope the NX is a power house, PS4k or better and it has Zelda as launch title.

I will pick it up on launch if so.
 

woopWOOP

Member
I believe it.

Ofcourse I still wonder that, if the system launches with 3 to 5 games, if they can still keep on releasing titles after without huge periods of nothing... again.

Maybe they're trying to get a decent install base going from day 1 so that it actually attracts a few 3rd-party developers.
 

Portugeezer

Member
THIS time it'll be different

THIS time there won't be droughts

seriously guys

you gotta believe me

Whilst I agree with your sentiments, to me the unprecedented March launch gives some slightly more validity to his statement. He is also not Iwata.

However, there will still be droughts, unless they have good third party support, which I don't believe they will and I don't believe they would sell that well on NX. Not because Nintendo fans wouldn't buy them, but most people would buy them on other consoles which would shrink the NX market for third party games. Again, I just don't think NX will be a priority for third parties (however I am assuming NX will just be a normal console...)

I believe it.

Ofcourse I still wonder that, if the system launches with 3 to 5 games, if they can still keep on releasing titles after without huge periods of nothing... again.

Maybe they're trying to get a decent install base going from day 1 so that it actually attracts a few 3rd-party developers.

Nintendo will make DLC for existing games to fill in gaps.
 

Vena

Member
I mean, I'm taking the quote from the OP at face value. They said the delay was to make sure the games were there, which doesn't make sense to me.

I think if there had been hardware issues to work out (shortages/design/etc.), they would've mentioned that as well, but right now all they're talking about is software.

I wouldn't read the canned PR response and look at what has been circulating in the rumor mill from more attuned sources. Zhuge reported on the potential staggered launch, multiple sources talked about trouble with the ports, and, in general, Kimishima's canned PR actually doesn't specify launch. He could very well be talking about the entire launch year and getting everything squared away, and this agrees with the rumors from Emily. The WiiU launched with a bunch of games and ports, but it then had nothing substantial for months. I think this is what they want to avoid.

The hardware side of thing, I'd say, are not something you'd hear about just yet since that may well fall into uncertainties if the hardware is indeed on 14nm. And they may not want to give that away either.
 

Menitta

Member
We'll get a new 3D Mario by the end of 2017 or early 2018. 2007 had Galaxy and 2013 had 3D World.

Honestly, I want Sunshine 2 instead of Galaxy 3.
 
Nintendo really needs 3rd party support to fill gaps in their first party releases. Based on them missing the holiday, it is safe to assume the likes of COD and FIFA, aren't guaranteed to come to NX.
 

AzaK

Member
Despite all that restructuring, sounds like Nintendo's pipeline is just as drought prone as ever.

Supporting their next box after looking at the WiiU's fate feels like a poor use of my cash.

I am liking Nintendo's honesty.

Admitting WiiU Zelda needed more work, admitting that the NX will release 3 months later than the busiest shopping period of the year as there will be not enough games.

March is a good time. In time for Easter, out when most people have recovered from Christmas, out so when the school holidays come a few months later there is still a good demand for it.


Nintendo I hope you show us the NX soon, and some games you have in development, get us excited

This reads like there won't be a lot of support from third party games and they need at least one first party game per month to drive sales during its first year.

I mean, just i magine If Wii U would had launched with Mario Kart, Splatoon, Mario Maker, or Smash Bros. That would have made a difference.

Don't believe the 'no games' excuse. There's no way they'd miss holiday unless there was some major problem that wasn't just games. The longer they wait the more people buy another console, apart from Nintendo faithful of course and we know how few of those there are.


With the Wii U all but dead?

Very little.
We said that when saying it was a definite 2016 release.
 

Mik317

Member
The way I see it is this:

Four months (assuming a launch in November) of additional development time isn't that long a time, certainly not long enough to make the difference from "anemic launch lineup" to "one of the greatest of all time". We'll get slightly more polished games, maybe a couple of additional ports. And yes, the lineup difference DOES have to be "one of the greatest of all time" if they intend to justify completely missing a holiday season and launching new hardware in March (a random month with nothing before or after).

Nintendo at this point are placing a bet that the amount of people who would buy an NX day one with presumably a good launch lineup would be greater in number than the amount of consumers who buy an NX with the "holiday bump" in sales. I honestly don't think the former outweigh the latter.

And, at the end of the day, the fact of the matter is that Nintendo wouldn't choose a March launch if they could help it. Obviously they'd choose the holidays if everything was hunky dory. The fact that they're launching in such a bizarre time of year tells us there's some serious trouble with the way the launch software is coming together.
Its like Melee. It wasn't ready for GC launch but was ready a few months later. So 4 months can in fact make a lot of difference in that regard.
 

Malakai

Member
Nintendo has been making videogame consoles for over 30 years, yet it always seems to take them by surprise when they release a new console. Mind-boggling.

Game design, software and electrical engineering aren't trivial matters. Also, logistics on the scale of millions with several different vendors isn't a walk in the park either.
 

Red Devil

Member
We'll get a new 3D Mario by the end of 2017 or early 2018. 2007 had Galaxy and 2013 had 3D World.

Honestly, I want Sunshine 2 instead of Galaxy 3.

If Super Mario Maker doesn't make its way to NX on the first year, we might get a 2D Mario first.

Nintendo really needs 3rd party support to fill gaps in their first party releases. Based on them missing the holiday, it is safe to assume the likes of COD and FIFA, aren't guaranteed to come to NX.

That could be another issue, perhaps the third parties didn't have enough time for them to come this year in addition to Nintendo's studios(or that they would come later), so they're moving the date ahead so at least they'll get the '18 editions.
 
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