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[Ushojax]

There will always be a market for quality Nintendo software, the problem with Wii U and 3DS is that they launched at high prices and relied on hardware gimmicks rather than actual software to drive sales. By the time Nintendo managed to release AAA games the Wii U was dead after they diverted all resources to rescuing the 3DS.

Nintendo has had almost all it's internal teams working on NX for the last 2 years, they have unified their platforms, there can't be any more excuses for software droughts. If NX launches with Zelda, at an affordable price and offers regular first party software of "Nintendo-like" quality, it will succeed. If it launches for $350 with Zelda and then nothing for a year, it's going to fail. They basically strangled Wii U and 3DS to death so that NX could live, it needs to pay off.

 

[nelsonroyale]

The idea of playing a zelda game that looks like THAT on a hand held? Very excited.

 

[Theanine3D]

The writer of this article is spot on.

Honestly how many of you who clamor for third party support would ACTUALLY buy third party games for Nintendo consoles? Those few of you who will are unfortunately not enough to provide satisfying sales numbers to AAA developers in the West. Nintendo could have the most powerful machine ever, with every GTA and Ass Creed, yet most people would still just continue to buy third party games on their Sony or MS box, or their PC. People are entrenched in their ecosystems, or more importantly, their friends are, and people want to be able to play with their friends.

Nintendo usually takes good advantage of whatever hardware they have to work with. Most of their games on Wii U looked great, despite the heavy aliasing. I've no doubt their games will look fantastic on NX. And if they are really consolidating their handheld and console libraries, then their #1 problem (droughts) may potentially be finally gone, after several consecutive generations of claiming they wouldn't let droughts happen again. This time there's an actual chance they'll pull it off.

 

[cordy]

Yep. Honestly if Nintendo did the same as Sony and Microsoft I would have no real need to get their console. Branching out their own way keeps them in the discussion.

 

[Anth0ny]

Your point is well made, but at the end of the day, players who want those kinds of games won't buy Nintendo systems for them because they'll also want all the other sorts of shooting/sports games that they can only get through PS/X (and PC). Given that, there's little incentive for third parties to make ports of these for Nintendo...unless Nintendo can demonstrate having that kind of audience for their systems, which they haven't been able to do for many years (if ever). So it's a catch-22 and a cyclical problem.

they did it with N64

then COMPLETELY gave it up with Gamecube and Xbox/PS2 picked that audience up. now we're here.

N64 was way ahead of its time. they were targeting western third parties when square and capcom were the huge gets for sony over on playstation. Now? funny how roles are reversed.

obviously they won't see success overnight if they suddenly start trying to target the GTA audience in 2017, but you have to start somewhere! maybe by next next gen it will pay off. at the very least, if nintendo put out some first party sports and shooter titles, they'd add some variety to their software output, and that can't hurt.

Yep. Honestly if Nintendo did the same as Sony and Microsoft I would have no real need to get their console. Branching out their own way keeps them in the discussion.

wii u did exactly that. different from the competition...

and they weren't really kept in any "discussions"

because people forgot they existed

because all they did was release first party games and no one really cared about their "different" concept

 

[The Boat]

I don't know if this will succeed or not, but personally, I don't need or want another me too console. I'm glad that at least one company tries new things with hardware instead of doing the same thing over and over again.

Commercially wise, I also doubt making another PS4/X1/PC would be a good idea.

 

[shark sandwich]

I still don't know how successful a video game console that doesn't have the most popular video games in the world on it can be.

Look at GTA V. It's number 2 on the NPD charts in June.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST 3 YEARS SINCE IT CAME OUT

And it's a game that Nintendo will never have on its machines as long as it continues to be "different"

Wii had several first party games that sold in the tens of millions. It made an unbelievably huge amount of money and sold insane amounts of software without being able to handle 360/PS3 multiplats.

You do have a point that it's a large chunk of the market for Nintendo to ignore. But how much could they reasonably expect to take? How many people are saying "I wish I had yet another system that can play Call of Duty!" Anybody who cares about the big third party franchises already owns a PC, X1, and/or PS4. And their friends do too. Why would they buy those games on NX?

 

[maxcriden]

they did it with N64

then COMPLETELY gave it up with Gamecube and Xbox/PS2 picked that audience up. now we're here.

N64 was way ahead of its time. they were targeting western third parties when square and capcom were the huge gets for sony over on playstation. Now? funny how roles are reversed.

obviously they won't see success overnight if they suddenly start trying to target the GTA audience in 2017, but you have to start somewhere! maybe by next next gen it will pay off. at the very least, if nintendo put out some first party sports and shooter titles, they'd add some variety to their software output, and that can't hurt.

What kind of N64 games are you thinking of here? Some of the big N64 games coming to mind for me, from third parties, are too tame/no longer the same kind of best-selling third party game now. Thinking of stuff like Star Wars.

 

[XenodudeX]

Honestly this thing..whatever the it's suppose be, is going to be a flop regardless.

 

[March of the Crabs]

Honestly this thing..whatever the it's suppose be, is going to be a flop regardless.

That's some prime analysis! You clearly know about business, the concept of consumer demand and the gaming industry as a whole!

 

[Gator86]

I think you're forgetting The NES and Gameboy and DS. I do believe they have a talent for creating big hits.

I mean, yeah, I tend to forget handhelds when explicitly discussing consoles. And your first example has literally no predecessor. I'm not even sure what you're saying here. No one said Nintendo couldn't make hits. I specifically mentioned the Wii was an absolute juggernaut.

 

[Novel Mike]

I didn't want to make a topic for this since its just guesswork and wasn't sure this fits directly with the Eurogamer article but on the subject of the NX being different..

For the next parts I'm assuming a few things that are suggested or rumored about the NX such as...

- It play mobile games
- It is both a console and handheld system
- It will be able to play games in near PS4/XB1 quality
- Dragon Quest 11 is coming to the system

So whats been bothering me about this system is that if it is both a console and portable how does this system play PS4/XB1 graphics on the go without being a massive large hulking device (which generally Nintendo is not a fan of for portable systems)? Second how could they make what appears to be two systems in one but also not make it super expensive?

I think most of us have been assuming its a Wii U Game pad like device with a docking station to play the same games on the TV but what if its not that at all what if it is literally a portable system and a console in one.
I think the thing is that the portable and console versions play different games or at least... different styles and graphics. What If the portable version plays the mobile games, 3DS hardware style games, and what not while the console version plays PS4/Xb1 style games. What I'm suggesting is that the hardware is limited for the portable device (in order to make it cost effect and portable) and they work largely as two different machines that can join together and share a library and likely other features.

Think about how Dragon Quest 11 was presented to us. There was the PS4 version in full 3D and modern graphics and then there was the 3DS version which was the same game just with downscaled graphics and more of a 2D art style. What if the NX version of this is both games in one with cross saving between them. So when you are at home you play the PS4 like version but when you are on the go you can take the portable with you and then you are playing the 3DS version but still the same game and same save file.

Third parties could be interested in this as well if the portable system is using near the same hardware as the 3DS they could easily make ports for it. Nintendo likely wouldn't tell third parties that they have to make versions that work on both they could develop games for either the portable or the console version or do something like DQ11 and do both. Hell they could develop a 3DS like version for it and when you play on the TV it just gets blown up to the big screen like the Super Game Boy or the GBA adapter for the GC. They could also love the idea that the portable system could maybe tap into an app market like a smart phone can, bridging the gap between mobile, portable, and console.


TLDR: What if the portable part of the system has much lower quality hardware in it (compared to what the 'docking station' would use) just to play portable style games and mobile games while the actual console part is much closer to a PS4/XB1 and some games can work on either or, or both such as Dragon Quest 11 which was originally said to be coming to the system.

I'm making a lot of assumptions here most are likely wrong but IDK maybe I've got something, what do you think?

 

[megabytecr]

I am eager to see what NX is. As a Nintendo fan having both systems under one with the software output increasing is great enough for me. My playing time now is almost non existent, I have a PS4, Wii U, so the only system I might try to get is the NX, those other 2 will last me a lot. I still have a lot to play on the Wii U, but I need to focus on quick play games or games not too long.

Hope it goes well for Nintendo. There are clues that there is some kind of surprise or way for them to catch interest, i am looking forward to that.

 

[The Omega Man]

The stakes are high, good luck Nintendo, I hope whatever plan you have works for you.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

It won't have ps4/xbox1 graphics on the go.

When docked to the tv having a power supply and maybe active cooling will allow to overclock and get up to 1080p and probably close to Xbox 1 level, but probably not PS4.

In portable mode games will be down scaled to save battery life, heat etc. The screen will probably be 540p like the vita.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

Oh well I can always be reminiscing with the NES & SNES mini

Good luck to them with it but a cheap handheld/console hybrid isn't for me.

 

[axisofweevils]

Yep, it makes a ton of sense to me. Some of the specifics i'm a little iffy on but Nintendo has always prioritised their Handhelds somewhat over their consoles. This is the logical next step.

 

[Kai Dracon]

I've said it before but I remain convinced Nintendo doesn't see themselves as being part of the market that dedicated game consoles have been aimed at since 2005. They stopped competing in a hardware war because their competitors priced themselves out of Nintendo's comfort zone, with 400-600 dollar consoles. Nintendo appears to believe their greatest strength is creating 150-250 low cost game devices for a mass market that is wholly inclusive of families and children.

The Wii was insanely successful not just because of the now-cliche "Wii Bowling Grandmother" audience but because it was a low cost device with content proven to appeal to the family. It was also before the smartphone era and the iPad era when upscale families began throwing tablets at their children to shut them up by downloading free (and "free") apps to poke at for hours on end.

From Nintendo's perspective I wouldn't be surprised if they see the 60 million 3DS units sold as good news rather than the terrible failure fan analysts insist it is by comparing it to the legitimate phenomenon of the DS. That's 60 million customers in a market that supposedly wants only, exclusively, iOS and Android smartphones. While they are acknowledging the realities of the market with smartphone software, I would guess the NX is their sincere attempt to maintain a particular niche for themselves.

To me this is actually a kind of big moment. Traditional game consoles are merging slowly with the PC platform (at least for Microsoft). The rest of the world seems to have settled into light app usage on their phones. Full PC gaming is doing well, but seems to be staying within its current garden and not peeking over the wall at the neighbors. So we get to see what Nintendo reveals about the state of the ecosystem with their next attempt; if there is space for what they see as traditional video games. (Traditional here, in part, being a fusion of software and hardware designed around promoting a particular flavor of experience.)

 

[marcbret87]

GameCube era don't have that much multiplat, FF is exclusive, DQ is exclusive.
Now everything third party want to be on as many platform as possible, if they make a good enough hardware, thrid party will not ignore it.
Who say don't have a chance? The biggest problem is they are 3 years late.

The market is already pretty crowded with PS4 dominating and One a solid second. Now we have two hardware revisions coming. I really don't think Nintendo can keep up with Sony/MS on this road. Hence, they cannot offer power, because Scorpio/Neo would blow it out of the water (without counting the PC of course), and PS4/One are now selling for less than 300 dollars or euros, they cannot be the budget option either. I really don't think there is space for a 3rd option, so they are going their own way, which is fair enough.

 

[mitchlol]

Good on Nintendo for trying, a gold star to them. They made good choices with the Wii and it payed big time. As expected the audience was fickle and didn't have the staying power to keep buying games or even later Nintendo consoles. Now Nintendo burned many gamers with the Wii and Wii U, so much so that those people moved onto PS4/Xbone and the fickle casual market are content with their ipad/iphones.

So where does that leave Nintendo?

They can try to aggressively go after the casual/family market again like the Wii and hope they can bring them back and keep them for longer.

Or

They can come back to the gamers who have moved onto PS4/Xbone with their mario hat in hand and beg for another chance.

As much as the NES/SNES struck audience don't like to admit it, Nintendos legacy only goes so far. Gamers are getting older, for a lot of the people getting ready to buy a console with their own money for the first time. They are probably looking fondly back on their Playstation 2 not their Nintendo Gamecube <_<

tldr; The die hard Nintendo fans will support Nintendo hardware but they are only around 10 million strong. The casuals might come back for another turn on the merry go round but will probably just choose apples next offering instead.

Nintendooom

 

[Anth0ny]

Wii had several first party games that sold in the tens of millions. It made an unbelievably huge amount of money and sold insane amounts of software without being able to handle 360/PS3 multiplats.

You do have a point that it's a large chunk of the market for Nintendo to ignore. But how much could they reasonably expect to take? How many people are saying "I wish I had yet another system that can play Call of Duty!" Anybody who cares about the big third party franchises already owns a PC, X1, and/or PS4. And their friends do too. Why would they buy those games on NX?

Wii was a phenomenon that will likely be never replicated again in a world of mobile gaming. those first party games only sold like they did because the concept and wii sports drove 100 million consoles into homes, so the Wii ____ and Mario titles sold a fuckton as a result.

just look at how their successors performed on the Wii U. the new Wii ____ titles for Wii U could be classified as bombs. was it the strength of those games, or the novelty of motion controls that sold all of those Wii consoles?

As for the second part of your post, think of it like this. Going into this gen, I would have said "Why would anyone buy a PS4? Everyone already owns a 360 to play those games, and their friends do too."

The point is, if Nintendo comes out and reveals something that is more impressive and attractive than what Microsoft and Sony are offering, and they market it property, the people will come. Sony stole Xbox's lunch, even though Xbox had such a huge presence in North America last gen. Who's to say Nintendo can't do the same thing? They just need to want it. They just need to try. They've never tried. Sony tried with the PS4 and they were rewarded.

What kind of N64 games are you thinking of here? Some of the big N64 games coming to mind for me, from third parties, are too tame/no longer the same kind of best-selling third party game now. Thinking of stuff like Star Wars.

Goldeneye and Perfect Dark made N64 the console for shooter fans. Goldeneye was the third best selling N64 game as a result and is remembered as one of the most groundbreaking and influential games of all time. Most, if not all of the big western third parties supported the N64 as a result. Including Rockstar Games!

As a result, sales of the N64 in North America were MASSIVE compared to other regions. In fact, at the end of 2000, N64 had sold about 20 million consoles in NA, while the PS1 had sold about 30 million. That battle was a lot closer than people realize in NA.

Then Gamecube came out and they did absolutely NOTHING to retain that audience. The audience went to Xbox for Halo, and PS2 for GTA3 instead of that fucking purple fisher price kiddy bullshit.

 

[maxcriden]

Goldeneye and Perfect Dark made N64 the console for shooter fans. Goldeneye was the third best selling N64 game as a result and is remembered as one of the most groundbreaking and influential games of all time. Most, if not all of the big western third parties supported the N64 as a result. Including Rockstar Games!

As a result, sales of the N64 in North America were MASSIVE compared to other regions. In fact, at the end of 2000, N64 had sold about 20 million consoles in NA, while the PS1 had sold about 30 million. That battle was a lot closer than people realize in NA.

Then Gamecube came out and they did absolutely NOTHING to retain that audience. The audience went to Xbox for Halo, and PS2 for GTA3 instead of that fucking purple fisher price kiddy bullshit.

Oh, right. Yeah. I didn't think of those at all. Nintendo certainly had an opening in the current PS/X gamer audience at that time. But with XB coming into play then and Nintendo's GCN decisions (questionable in some ways, as you noted), I think the market changed and now we have the situation I described a few posts back. I think Nintendo's wisest way at this time of getting any part of that audience back is to make their own Perfect Dark and Goldeneye type games, lure some gamers in that way, have a dedicated line of that sort of game. Then perhaps third parties would consider coming back.

(I don't think Bayonetta is the way to do that, BTW. I suspect a game like that holds very minimal appeal in the West.)

 

[Insane Metal]

Yeah, it's different... and that's why I'll skip yet another Nintendo console.

 

[DESTROYA]

I'd like if NX was a controller shell (containing an OS/all the circuitry) that used your smartphone as the display. Then the dock can upscale it to the TV.

That would literally be impossible since most phones don't have a hdmi in port only out and not sure there would be any other viable way to do that.

Yes to iterate what others have said there was no way they could compete with MS and SONY at this point since they have already taken up most of the market so what other choice did they have?
Improve on what they do best now and hope the HH market still is not dried up, I'm looking forward to what they bring to the table but not sure if they needed the detachable controllers.

I've been thinking something different, what if the NX has sort of a laptop form factor with a clam shell design the bottom part you would be able to attach to controllers easily while also having some sort of active cooling and still be realatively thin.Think sort of like a netbook, or detachable 2-1.
Most mock ups I've seen I can't get over how awkward it will look to hold while playing games with the controllers on the side.
Just my take.

 

[Father_Brain]

Yes, completely squandering N64's success in the Western shooter/core/etc. market is one of the stupidest decisions Nintendo has ever made.

But that was a decade and a half ago. Today, the competition there is just far too entrenched and the costs of competing in that market are far too high, particularly given that Nintendo would be effectively starting from scratch.

 

[Anth0ny]

Oh, right. Yeah. I didn't think of those at all. Nintendo certainly had an opening in the current PS/X gamer audience at that time. But with XB coming into play then and Nintendo's GCN decisions (questionable in some ways, as you noted), I think the market changed and now we have the situation I described a few posts back. I think Nintendo's wisest way at this time of getting any part of that audience back is to make their own Perfect Dark and Goldeneye type games, lure some gamers in that way, have a dedicated line of that sort of game. Then perhaps third parties would consider coming back.

(I don't think Bayonetta is the way to do that, BTW. I suspect a game like that holds very minimal appeal in the West.)

That's what I'm saying too. And I'm kinda hoping (with this new hybrid thing they've got going, which would allow them to crank out more first party games, faster) they don't just make a Mario Kart for NX, then get right to work on the Mario Kart sequel for NX. Let that team make something different. Maybe a more realistic driving game? Obviously that's not going to sound very appealing to the Nintendo fan demographic here on GAF, but there's a huge audience out there for realistic driving games with sick fucking cars

Spoiler

bro

. And they have the opportunity to get in on that.

I expect new IPs from Nintendo with NX. New genres. New art styles. Try some shit. Take some risks. At least TRY to recapture some of that western market that you have completely lost to Sony and MS. Do they really want kids "growing out" of their consoles? Because it's a harsh reality they face when they don't have sports games and stuff like COD or GTA on their hardware.

 

[takriel]

If Nintendo indeed manages to push out games more frequently, more steadily, without droughts in-between big releases, they don't really need 3rd party support. Their games have brand recognition, so if they release frequently they should be alright.

Imagine a new 3D Mario game every 2-3 years, a new console Zelda game every 3 years etc. Shit would be magical.

 

[Affeinvasion]

The idea that Nintendo couldn't compete with Sony or Microsoft is ludicrous. They've just convinced themselves that they aren't competing. In reality Nintendo is competing with everything. Sony, Microsoft, Netflix, the cinema, books. They aren't just looking for sales, they're looking for engagement. The more things your device can do and play, the better. Both Microsoft and Sony understand this. Using your console as your Blu Ray player makes you more likely to remember you've got the thing in between the next madden and call of duty release. If that's what the NX is doing, it will have a fighting chance. If it just plays games and is different and weird, it's gonna be virtual boy 2.0.

 

[Seik]

wii u did exactly that. different from the competition...

and they weren't really kept in any "discussions"

because people forgot they existed

because all they did was release first party games and no one really cared about their "different" concept

Well, TBH (And I love the Wii U) it's not that different, so I disagree with your point here.

The Wii U in a nutshell pretty much is a console very slightly more powerful than an Xbox 360 with a tablet controller that gives the opportunity to the players to play off-TV.

That's it, nothing different. If you play with a Classic Controller, you have a Gamecube 2.

Yeah, we had some games exploiting the Gamepad decently, like Nintendoland and Star Fox...but a very very big, major part of the games didn't give a fuck about the gamepad and just offered off-TV play. AND THAT IS if you're in the same room or else your game will lag.

If the NX really is what is being said this week, it actually offers something way more innovative than what the Wii U is and all we know is the form factor (Handheld with home console capacities hookable to a TV.). We don't even know how it'll play and to me it's already more innovative than what the Wii U offers. At least you can play EVERYWHERE and when you're at home you can play on a TV, classic-style, sounds good in my book.

 

[Anth0ny]

Well, TBH (And I love the Wii U) it's not that different, so I disagree with your point here.

The Wii U in a nutshell pretty much is a console very slightly more powerful than an Xbox 360 with a tablet controller that gives the opportunity to the players to play off-TV.

That's it, nothing different. If you play with a Classic Controller, you have a Gamecube 2.

Yeah, we had some games exploiting the Gamepad decently, like Nintendoland and Star Fox...but a very very big, major part of the games didn't give a fuck about the gamepad and just offered off-TV play. AND THAT IS if you're in the same room or else your game will lag.

If the NX really is what is being said this week, it actually offers something way more innovative than what the Wii U is and all know is the form factor (Handheld with home console capacities hookable to a TV.). We don't even know how it'll play and to me it's already more innovative than what the Wii U offers.

man... so many people on GAF were saying the same exact shit when Wii U was first shown. "Different is good! It would be so boring if they just copied Sony and Microsoft! This controller looks so great!"

In hindsight we say "actually it wasn't that different..." now that it's a huge fucking failure, of course

From what we know about NX... it's actually really not that different or innovative at all. It's a standard successor to the 3DS, decent jump forward in power, that also connects to your TV. The input is nothing special, certainly not compared to Wii or Wii U, or even what DS offered compared to GBA.

I fully expect this thing, when docked and hooked up to your TV, to support the classic controller as well. Voila, "Gamecube 3"!

 

[Mistouze]

Looking forward a Nintendo that gives all its output to a single console. Shit is going to be wild. Like Sega's output on Genesis wild.

 

[Enduin]

Nintendo's best option to stay in the hardware business in my mind is to become that And/Other system. Being a handheld hybrid does help with this I think as people generally don't view handhelds as direct competition with consoles, but a lot has to go right from marketing to design to software in order to really be successful. Otherwise you'll just have a Wii U on your hands again where half measures, poor marketing and a weak lineup sunk the system to obscurity.

Most people will choose between a PS4/XBO/PC, especially the former two. Nintendo dropped the ball big time in last 15+ years with online gaming and catering to the hardcore crowd. It's a herculean task get on Sony and MSs level and entice people over at this point, with no guarantee of success. But at a low enough price point with a unique enough draw and library Nintendo could be the other system everyone owns.

It won't be about getting consumers to choose between the NX and a PS4/XBO/PC but about getting them to buy it in addition to those systems, as a supplemental system that compliments them or offers up something the others do not. The most difficult thing that marketing has to overcome is getting consumers to not view it as a direct competitor for time or money but make it its own thing worth owning as well as other systems.

It cannot just be a Nintendo machine either, though having all studios working solely on a single platform is great and should help tremendously with preventing droughts, but they need to get 3rd parties to contribute as well and consistently. They won't get many big ports, at least of major AAA games, but they need to make the platform attractive for developers to try new things and games unique to the NX to further entice consumers. They need to continue to get unique A-AA games like Bravely Default, Monster Hunter, DQ, SMT, Bayonetta, etc. etc. and a lot more like them. They may not be AAA, big budget games but they're solid performers and unique experiences you generally can't find elsewhere.

Courting more of the premium games found on mobile and smaller indie games on PC will be important as well, not sure about the freemium games though they could possibly make that work too with a decent online infrastruture. In any event they need a really popular Gunman Clive type situation again to show other developers that small, just a couple buck, games can preform really well on their platform and just as important as sales garner some of that social media attention too. Another Pokemon Go type situation would be great, but I don't know how well something like that would do in persuading smaller indie devs that their small IP could also do well. It's hard to equate one of the worlds biggest IPs doing successful with your small little indie game.

 

[Falchion]

It's certainly an opportunity for something really cool that could resonate with gamers, it just depends on how it all shakes out.

 

[Seik]

man... so many people on GAF were saying the same exact shit when Wii U was first shown. "Different is good! It would be so boring if they just copied Sony and Microsoft! This controller looks so great!"

In hindsight we say "actually it wasn't that different..." now that it's a huge fucking failure, of course

From what we know about NX... it's actually really not that different or innovative at all. It's a standard successor to the 3DS, decent jump forward in power, that also connects to your TV. The input is nothing special, certainly not compared to Wii or Wii U, or even what DS offered compared to GBA.

I fully expect this thing, when docked and hooked up to your TV, to support the classic controller as well. Voila, "Gamecube 3"!

Well, I was actually glad the Wii U was going to be a Gamecube 2 because I was tired of having to play everything via a Wiimote, though this decision didn't lead Nintendo to success, unfortunately. And they tried having third parties on board and all they got mostly were half assed ports like the batman games and many other examples not worth mentioning.

What's hyping me about the NX is that I'll be able to play something far superior to their previous home console (so way more than a decent jump from the 3DS), on the go, everywhere like the bus or when I'll be on travel. When I'll have a TV near, I'll enjoy the same library on the big screen. That is a big selling point to me. The first party library is gonna be quite big as well as now they can concentrate on a single hardware, which is big for me as well since I enjoy 3rd parties on PS4.

 

[Sadist]

If different means games like Ace Attorney, Lady Layton, Bravely Default, Shin Megami Tensei and what not filling out the library, then different is better.

 

[AfroDust]

They need to differentiate themselves from the competition, yes, but also actually offer an attractive product; being different is not enough

Exactly.

 

[Affeinvasion]

Looking forward a Nintendo that gives all its output to a single console. Shit is going to be wild. Like Sega's output on Genesis wild.

I like Nintendo's console games a lot but have not been super impressed by their handheld output or free to start games. My fear is that after the wii u ports run out we will never see a Nintendo game with the scope of super Mario Galaxy ever again because those kinds of experiences aren't well suited to handheld play. My biggest fear is that different in the hardware side also means different on the software side.

 

[xviper]

well i guess i may cancel the idea of buying NX for Zelda:BotW

it's like they never learned from the Wii U, just make a normal and powerful console, Nintendo, like the Gamecube

i hope the difference between Wii U and NX version of Zelda: BotW is like the one between GC and Wii version of Twilight princess, so i can never even think about buying NX

 

[RobotVM]

Here is the things the NX needs to be successful in my eyes:

- Network account with games tied to it (MyNintendo)
- Party Chat
- No software droughts
- More power than a Wii U
- Cloud Save data
- 4K streaming apps (Netflix, Hulu, ect.)
- Some third party support (COD, FIFA, Madden)
- Low Price (199.99-250.00)
- No waggle or other gimmick controller. (Standard controller scheme)

Looking at Nvidia's Shield TV it has 4K stream already so I can see the NX having it. Again the X1 chip set has more power than a Wii U so that should be good or they can use a X2 and have even more power. MyNintendo is yet to be seen if it will be the account system we use to tie our games too. Since they seem to be unifying their hand-held and console games we should not see the droughts any more. Third parties seem bullish on it. Ubisoft and 2K have said they like what they see. Cloud Saves again is a big question at this point, as well as Party Chat. Overall it seems that Nintendo may have a recipe for success with this system.

 

[Neoleo2143]

I like Nintendo's console games a lot but have not been super impressed by their handheld output or free to start games. My fear is that after the wii u ports run out we will never see a Nintendo game with the scope of super Mario Galaxy ever again because those kinds of experiences aren't well suited to handheld play. My biggest fear is that different in the hardware side also means different on the software side.

Thing is, as the 3DS has showed us, the pick up and play model of games has mostly been swallowed by smartphone apps, as such the experience of games on the 3DS in general are girthier and edging closer to console games anyway. I expect the opposite trend you fear.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

I still don't know how successful a video game console that doesn't have the most popular video games in the world on it can be.

Look at GTA V. It's number 2 on the NPD charts in June.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST 3 YEARS SINCE IT CAME OUT

And it's a game that Nintendo will never have on its machines as long as it continues to be "different".

Releasing a new console that doesn't have GTA, or FIFA, or COD, or any of the other massively popular games... in 2017, I don't know how much you can expect out of a machine like that when it comes to sales.

As long as Nintendo puts out a first party box, I think they will be "doomed" to come in third place every gen to Playstation and Xbox.

But maybe they don't care. Maybe selling 30 million units each gen is fine with them, and they're just going to make their dough out of the hardest of hardcore, and maybe some new kids who haven't caught onto COD and GTA yet.

I just think it's such a defeatist attitude. Nintendo should want it all. And they don't. They're content with being "different", and just letting this giant piece of the pie go to Microsoft and Sony.

What reason would people have to buy those games on Nintendo's system?
Even if Nintendo had the 3rd party support and online functionality on par with the competition people would stick to the system where they already have everything in place and where their friends already are anyway. Hell s system on par would not guarantee them the 3rd party support anyway. They could go for that and still fail to no benefit to anyone. At least with the current approach you can have the usual stuff on other systems and Nintendo providing their games on their system without hindrance.

You talk about this like you're supporting a sports team. I don't care about any of this "attitude" talk, it does nothing for me in terms of actual games. At least with the way they've been doing it I know what I'm getting into every time. Nintendo being niche status is fine as long as they can continue to exist in the same form and not have to compromise.

 

[AfroDust]

Am I the only one reading this more as an article ripping on Nintendo as an incompetent, inferior, or incapable company?

Nope. I'm right there with you. The more I hear the about this thing, the more awful it sounds. I don't think the industry even really needs Nintendo anymore.

 

[jroc74]

I don't know if this will succeed or not, but personally, I don't need or want another me too console. I'm glad that at least one company tries new things with hardware instead of doing the same thing over and over again.

Commercially wise, I also doubt making another PS4/X1/PC would be a good idea.

I see this from time to time...me too console, one company tries new things...others do the same thing over n over.

I think Sony and Microsoft has done their fair share of different things to get a lil credit.

And... If it ain't broke. They must be doing something right. Even last gen all 3 console are so close in sales that doing me too can work too.

 

[Sadist]

I like Nintendo's console games a lot but have not been super impressed by their handheld output or free to start games. My fear is that after the wii u ports run out we will never see a Nintendo game with the scope of super Mario Galaxy ever again because those kinds of experiences aren't well suited to handheld play. My biggest fear is that different in the hardware side also means different on the software side.

If you look at Nintendo's 3DS output for the past five years you'll see the trend of Nintendo handheld games actually growing in scope. Sure, they can be enjoyed on handhelds for short bursts of play, but at the same time deliver a game which would be fun to play on the big screen.

Obvious examples are Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, Luigi's Mansion 2... or even better yet, Nintendo ported some consoles games over like the N64 Zelda's, Star Fox 64 and even Xenoblade Chronicles.

 

[MisterR]

The NX isn't the console that I'd personally like from Nintendo, but it's probably their best chance to be successful. Making a console that tries to complete with PS4 and Xbone would end up a disaster. They can't compete on the third party front. They can't compete if they put out a $350 console. Then need to be different and cheap, that's their best shot for sure. This needs to be in that $200 impulse buy range.

 

[Griss]

As always, I totally agree with Eurogamer.

When it became obvious that the Wii U was a total bust (which was launch day in Ireland, but February / March after launch for the global perspective) I remember arguing that Nintendo's options long-term would be to

a) Go mobile, handheld and 3rd party on home consoles
b) Go mobile and handheld only, forget home consoles
c) Go mobile and hybrid (handheld + console)

I remember the scorn that people had - Nintendo would never go mobile! Nintendo are NOT making a hybrid! (In the interests of fairness - I always agreed with that second one.) My argument was simply that Nintendo needs to go where their audience is. It is and was that simple. The only question now is whether we consider their strategy to be b) or c).

All I'm saying is that this has been a long time coming, imo. If you truly believed we were getting a PS4 level home console then I feel bad for you, because that's a fair thing to want but it can never be. I too would love to see what a Zelda or Metroid game would look like on that, but I don't believe they'd see any success with it.

Anyway, the new 'Nintendo will NEVER!' is going 3rd party on consoles. Shall we set a countdown clock? Take bets? I place the over/under at about 4.5 years.

 

[marcbret87]

well i guess i may cancel the idea of buying NX for Zelda:BotW

it's like they never learned from the Wii U, just make a normal and powerful console, Nintendo, like the Gamecube

i hope the difference between Wii U and NX version of Zelda: BotW is like the one between GC and Wii version of Twilight princess, so i can never even think about buying NX

Yeah sure, because that worked out so well. People sometimes don't realise that what they want is not necessarily what the major public might buy.

 

[21XX]

they did it with N64


wii u did exactly that. different from the competition...

and they weren't really kept in any "discussions"

because people forgot they existed

because all they did was release first party games and no one really cared about their "different" concept

Because the Wii U wasn't different. It was a tablet. People had been seeing that type of device for years before the Wii U was launched so the interest and buzz was minimal. A huge misstep.

I'm not saying that the hybrid idea will set the world on fire, but at least it's genuinely a different concept than the competitors and something that hasn't really been done in the video game realm before.

 

[marcbret87]

Nope. I'm right there with you. The more I hear the about this thing, the more awful it sounds. I don't think the industry even really needs Nintendo anymore.

"Need" is perhaps too strong a statement. The industry will survive even if they go bust, but as long as they can keep making great games I'll want them to do well,

 

[jroc74]

Yeah sure, because that worked out so well. People sometimes don't realise that what they want is not necessarily what the major public might buy.

I think what gets lost in these types of discussions too is we might have to just give credit to the competition.

With no PS out there the GC might have been better received. Then again Sega might still be in the console business if there was never a PS. And probably would be selling like PS has all these years.

Alot of hindsight I know...lol.