I get that but it doesn't have to be that way. Two sources of income is better than just one. You don't put all your eggs into one basket if you don't have to. And is the whole Hybrid thing just a suped up Wii U. If People don't get it or like it like so many claim...then why would they want this?
It's not a Wii U because (a) it's actually portable and (b) the hook isn't to be playing with two screens. The hook is having a huge library that you can play on the go or at home.
My main issue is that the tech isn't there and if it was it would be kinda expensive. We are talking about something that has to have HD screens, high tech, stream to a TV (or have ports), all the other high tech stuff people will want as I doubt a fully portable Wii U is good enough...that is is expensive and that alone will give people the go ahead to not buy it...and it will flop or force Nintendo to drop the price, losing them even more money...and now they dont have the handheld fall back.
Well, if the tech isn't there, you're right. Then they couldn't do it. But Nintendo isn't going for the latest and greatest tech, which is exactly why the hybrid is a good idea.
The handheld power is approaching their console, and the diminishing returns are there. Maybe when it's being used as a handheld, it uses less power and doesn't output to HD screens? And then when used as a bridge to the TV, it can be plugged in for more power and then outputs HD and fancy effects, like improving your computer?
I don't know the costs, but it's worth looking into.
The Hybrid Idea is a contradiction from what people say they want.
This is never a good argument. "People" want different things.
They want power, 3rd parties, cheapish, and new IPS.....does this hybrid give them that? It's the least dumb of the normal answers but I do wonder if those calling for it truly thought it out.
The hybrid would be undoubtedly be cheaper than buying both a 3DS and a Wii U for all your Nintendo needs. Part of the strategy would be about consolidating the Nintendo Handheld install base with the Nintendo Console install base.
Such a consolidated audience could indeed be more attractive to third parties. Because while they're abandoning ship on the console side, they still support 3DS to a degree. Suddenly Monster Hunter 4 becomes a game you can play on the go or at home, and it can be sold to both the Console and Handheld fans because they both bought the same device.
As for new IPs, I absolutely think the hybrid helps this cause. It's one of their biggest advantages. Look at how they rushed out NSMB2 and NSMBU back to back. Look at how development effort is made porting games like Donkey Kong Country Returns. Think about how "one per platform" franchises have to be made twice to accommodate two platforms.
Now, imagine if the NSMB team only had to make one NSMB game. Imagine if the Mario Kart team only had to make one entry as the defining Kart game. Instead of rushing to alternate between console/handheld/console/handheld, these developers could take a break on the franchises.
These devs could then be making new stuff. They could be in the search for the Next Big Thing, instead of constantly reviving the Last Big Thing. The only way we got a Last of Us was when Naughty Dog was able to take a break from Uncharted. And now Sony has two big franchises instead of one.
This would also lessen franchise fatigue, and it'd be better for the games because the reinvigorated developers would be able to come up with some fresh ideas rather than half-assing some new "innovation" like coins in NSMB2.
The Handheld fallback plan is what has saved Nintendo countless times...I just don't think forcing everything into one is smart because they lose that option. Their handhelds will be fine...never DS levels again barring a Tablet (lol) or something but they will do fine as long as they know to release at a great price with some software of note (They need to launch with Pokemon....). They can fix the console space too, or at least become profitable in that field again and thus have two sources of income that brings in money.
i just haven't heard a compelling argument for the hybrid
The hybrid doesn't get rid of the handheld. It is the handheld. It just also outputs to the TV. And it has twice the library.
If anything, the hybrid is an understanding of the threat of smartphones. It fortifies all of Nintendo's resources (including VC which I haven't mentioned) with a single strong ecosystem.
Nintendo has droughts (bad ones) on both their console and handheld side. Those hurt hardware sales and software sales. A consolidation of resources works to end those droughts.
Nintendo has some of the best developers in the world. All of them could be developing for the same platform. That's such an enticing proposition, it could not only attract Nintendo Handheld fans and Nintendo Console fans, but it might also attract fence-sitters for both.
