Support NeoGAF

[GeekyDad]

I believe they're marketing to their right audience, but they need to grease the wheels a little more. Ease up on restrictions, such as region locking and the types of content that is funded for localization, and tighten up on quality assurance -- live up to that Nintendo seal.

To me, they invest too heavy into marketing and have become complacent with the actual products they present to customers. Their online infrastructure? That shit needs no discussion. We're all well versed on how behind the times they are. The melody they're playing is in tune, but the fidelity is muddy.

 

[ozfunghi]

Can we have a hypothetical investigation of the question without acting like this is only the domain of console warriors?

I bought a Wii U at launch. Stand down.

Stand down? lol

So, why do you ignore the actual point of the post? Whether you like Wii U or not, why the hell should they consider going 3rd party when they actually have a reason to be in the hardware business and when their previous console sold truckloads? Because now they're struggling? But they've struggled before, and came back bigger than ever (Wii, DS). So why would they even consider it?

 

[Screamapillar]

They should start discontinuing the Wii U from now on, release the software they currently have in development and then move on.

Zelda should be a launch title for thier next console, with this console being completely different from the Wii. I don't think they should try and copy what MS and Sony do, and they should continue to innovate in the console space. The Wii U is proof no one cares when Nintendo focus on cutting edge graphics.

The Wii U did not focus on cutting edge graphics. It's horsepower is a generation behind the two new Xbox and PS consoles. The Wii U's "innovation" was the GamePad. The problem is, it's not appealing to people. No one cares about it. Nintendo has to re-evaluate their mission with the Wii U and start focusing on pure software, and do some adjusting to the Wii U SKU, possibly redesigning the GamePad to be smaller, and putting much less emphasis on it with their software and promotion.

 

[theclosetfan]

I think the best course of action right now is to redesign the Wii U. They can't abandon the console outright--they just got the hang of HD development and there is obviously much in the pipeline for it. The OS and lineup is all coming together. It's a good system with a lot of potential.

Change the console design. Just make it look different than the original Wii.

Shrink the Gamepad so it's closer in size to a Vita or 2DS. This might change the perception that it's a tablet and make people realize it's a game controller with a small screen.

Rebrand as "Nintendo U". Add in a big "compatible with all Wii and Wii U games!" sticker on the box. Launch alongside Smash Bros. next Fall.

If they can get this done and sell it for $250 or less, I think they can ride out this generation and make back their money.

 

[Asd202]

They need a new IP aimed at the western market.

 

[LilWayneSuckz]

Drop price of Wii U to $199, include a Wii Remote Plus, a Wii U Gamepad, and a Regular controller

Include Wii U Sports Club and have a massive ad campaign reintroducing it. At E3 (have a press conference) and announce a new IP by Retro that is in the same vein of Gears of War, Uncharted, etc.

 

[Various Artists]

I think I mentioned this before in a different thread about the Wii U failure but Ill do it again.

Get the price down to $199 by dropping the Wii Tablet.
Include a regular controller.
Sell Tablet with NintendoLand and Pikmin for $100
Include 3d Mario and in the $199 package.
Relaunch when Mario Kart comes out as something like Wii-volved. "The NEW Nintendo Console. Half the Price of the competition, more killer apps out now, and even more this year" (run a quick montage of X, Smash, Bayonetta etc.) Include copious amounts of eye busting visuals and dubstep music (Well maybe not that last part.)

A great marketing scheme and distancing themselves from this horribleness is the only way to hopefully start doing better.

Instead though they will probably maintain course since they "dont consider MS and Sony as competitors". And then they will announce that you can control Epona without Link as their major announcement at E3.

 

[Shiggy]

I think they should do what they did with 3DS. Burn through some cash by slashing the price to make it more appealing to people who see little value in Wii U. At the same time that's happening, churn out big games every 2-3 months. DCK in February, Kart in April, something big over the summer, then Smash and Bayonetta over the holidays. While they're at it, make a SKU as someone else mentioned, with a smaller, cheaper GamePad (FOR KIDS!) that allows them to not take a bath on console sales. They're already selling Wii U at a loss, so I don't think we're getting another 33% cut on Wii U MSRP anytime soon.

Games, games, games, but damn they need to do something drastic to make their console more appealing. Wii U is doing worse than GameCube.

Issue 1: They'd need a drastic price cut to €150 or €99 to get a decent effect.
Issue 2: They can't get more games anytime soon. It doesn't look as if they ramped up production and third party games won't run on Wii U.

 

[RamsesA]

Just a hypothetical

 

[thecouncil]

I don't recall who on here said it a few weeks ago, but "no more home consoles from Nintendo, no more handhelds from Sony" is starting to sound correct. That said, they've got more than enough money to take another swing at things in a few years and treat the Wii U as an expensive learning experience.

Why champion less options as a gamer? I'll never understand this.

 

[MrPressStart]

They need games...
The new Zelda, Mario Kart, Metroid, and maybe something different... Just keep the games rolling and it will eventually justify buying or having the console.

 

[Fourth Storm]

I go back and forth, but maybe dropping the Gamepad is what the doctor ordered. Nintendo's major titles don't seem to use the Gamepad for much of anything besides off-tv play. That's totally optional. How many games really require it at this point? Those that do, like Zombi U, could have a sticker on their shrink wrap saying the Pad is required.

Redesign the pad and sell it as an accessory.

Drop the price to $199 as soon as possible.

Launch a "3rd pillar" in 2015. A smallish tablet. This will contain a low power version of Nintendo's next home console, which will play the same games (but with greater fidelity graphics). Maybe have this work as a Gamepad as well for Wii U to ease the pain for owners. The third pillar will of course be a ruse, however, as it will basically be a 3DS successor. Follow with home console in 2016.

 

[Shiggy]

I go back and forth, but maybe dropping the Gamepad is what the doctor ordered. Nintendo's major titles don't seem to use the Gamepad for much of anything besides off-tv play. That's totally optional. How many games really require it at this point? Those that do, like Zombi U, could have a sticker on their shrink wrap saying the Pad is required.

Redesign the pad and sell it as an accessory.

Drop the price to $199 as soon as possible.

Launch a "3rd pillar" in 2015. A smallish tablet. This will contain a low power version of Nintendo's next home console, which will play the same games (but with greater fidelity graphics). Maybe have this work as a Gamepad as well for Wii U to ease the pain for owners. The third pillar will of course be a ruse, however, as it will basically be a 3DS successor. Follow with home console in 2016.

We had the 199 price point in Europe - it doesn't make the console any more attractive - especially when there's no Gamepad anymore all of a sudden.

 

[RobFox64tm]

Serious question here: would Nintendo be able to continue it's portable hardware business, while becoming a SECOND party to Sony or Microsoft for their console titles? This way, they'd still have that revenue stream, and maybe avoid the licensing fees at the same time. Seems like that would be a smart way to go. I couldn't imagine either company turning down the opportunity, given the notoriety of Nintendo's franchises.

 

[thecouncil]

I have some good ideas. If Nintendo would do these, they'd find themselves on top:

• Get rid of the tablet controller. I've asked about 10 people and only 1 person admitted to liking it. They looked sad when they said it though.
  
• Make the system $100. Bundle it with a 3DS for $125. $126 and you're dead meat.
  
• Get Mario Kart and Smash out by March.
  
• Tell 'From Software' to stop what they're doing and make a new Zelda by Christmas.
  
• Create at least 10 new IPs for this year. Nobody will complain about more though.
  
• "Money hat" third party exclusives like Halo 5 and GTA 6. Release them tomorrow.

 

[Calamari41]

Serious question here: would Nintendo be able to continue it's portable hardware business, while becoming a SECOND party to Sony or Microsoft for their console titles? This way, they'd still have that revenue stream, and maybe avoid the licensing fees at the same time. Seems like that would be a smart way to go. I couldn't imagine either company turning down the opportunity, given the notoriety of Nintendo's franchises.

In all honesty I think it would be smarter to try for a partnership with someone like Valve before going second party with Sony or Microsoft. Think about it: with a Sony/MS second party situation, they would be giving up all console revenue, all third party royalties, and they would also have to actively pay Sony/MS a royalty on their own games. In a partnership situation, they would be able to come to some kind of agreement on a third party royalty split with Valve, maybe a tiny royalty to them on first party games as an incentive for the deal, and some kind of hardware revenue split as well. They may need to go second party for another manufacturer at some point, but they would be wise to exhaust all other options first, including the one I just outlined (which would allow them to keep their handheld business separate).

A well-done Nintendo Steambox, where Valve handles the West and Nintendo handles the East, would potentially knock one of the other two console makers out of the market.

 

[theclosetfan]

Just a hypothetical

It's rough, but this is the way to go.

 

[rjinaz]

I have some good ideas. If Nintendo would do these, they'd find themselves on top:

• Get rid of the tablet controller. I've asked about 10 people and only 1 person admitted to liking it. They looked sad when they said it though.
  
• Make the system $100. Bundle it with a 3DS for $125. $126 and you're dead meat.
  
• Get Mario Kart and Smash out by March.
  
• Tell 'From Software' to stop what they're doing and make a new Zelda by Christmas.
  
• Create at least 10 new IPs for this year. Nobody will complain about more though.
  
• "Money hat" third party exclusives like Halo 5 and GTA 6. Release them tomorrow.

Ok you had me going until the last one.

 

[Instro]

Serious question here: would Nintendo be able to continue it's portable hardware business, while becoming a SECOND party to Sony or Microsoft for their console titles? This way, they'd still have that revenue stream, and maybe avoid the licensing fees at the same time. Seems like that would be a smart way to go. I couldn't imagine either company turning down the opportunity, given the notoriety of Nintendo's franchises.

I think if they were to go that route, 3rd party for consoles would be more viable.

 

[Nibel]

Drop the price of the Wii U as much as possible and ride it out

 

[RobFox64tm]

In all honesty I think it would be smarter to try for a partnership with someone like Valve before going second party with Sony or Microsoft. Think about it: with a Sony/MS second party situation, they would be giving up all console revenue, all third party royalties, and they would also have to actively pay Sony/MS a royalty on their own games. In a partnership situation, they would be able to come to some kind of agreement on a third party royalty split with Valve, maybe a tiny royalty to them on first party games as an incentive for the deal, and some kind of hardware revenue split as well. They may need to go second party for another manufacturer at some point, but they would be wise to exhaust all other options first, including the one I just outlined (which would allow them to keep their handheld business separate).

Do you mean for a Steambox situation, or as a middle man for third party software on consoles? I'm not sure Nintendo would be down for an environment where the hardware varies as much as that of PC gaming.

 

[Mothman91]

$200 and I'll buy one.

 

[sörine]

Serious question here: would Nintendo be able to continue it's portable hardware business, while becoming a SECOND party to Sony or Microsoft for their console titles? This way, they'd still have that revenue stream, and maybe avoid the licensing fees at the same time. Seems like that would be a smart way to go. I couldn't imagine either company turning down the opportunity, given the notoriety of Nintendo's franchises.

The revenue stream would be better than just being a standard 3rd party but still far worse than having their own platform since they'd lose out of 3rd party royalties and would need to adapt their R&D to someone else's development evironment. It also doesn't solve the issue of split development focus which is becoming a much bigger issue as technology progresses. Plus it may drive competition with their own handheld if Nintendo games are available on PlayStation, Xbox or Steam Machine consoles, I feel 3DS offering similar enough experiences is really holding Wii U adoption back as it is.

What makes more sense is for Nintendo to maintain focus on games for their own platform(s). If they no longer have a console, they shouldn't make console games either. Just throw everything into their handheld/hybrid.

 

[Calamari41]

Do you mean for a Steambox situation, or as a middle man for third party software on consoles? I'm not sure Nintendo would be down for an environment where the hardware varies as much as that of PC gaming.

I'm thinking a collaborative Steambox situation. If the right deal presented itself, it could really end up being the only "official" Steambox out there. Give Valve a stake in the console and I could see it going places. Of course there are a million variables that would have to be decided on, but I like the general idea.

For example, nobody in Japan will ever buy a Steambox when it comes down to it. But a Nintendo branded Steambox? You'd have to think that idea would be very interesting to Gaben. And yes, I realize that this will never happen. I just think it should be looked into.

 

[Fourth Storm]

We had the 199 price point in Europe - it doesn't make the console any more attractive - especially when there's no Gamepad anymore all of a sudden.

Well, along with a rebranding/redesign of the console and Kart/Smash next year they might be able to extend the lifespan of this thing. They have to do something. They are not fighting to turn it around anymore. They are fighting for survival and to position themselves for their next console. As it is, 2014 is going to be a very rough year for the little console.

 

[kinggroin]

What do you guys think of an inexpensive 6.5" tablet that comes bundled with a controller shell as their next pillar? HDMI wireless output capability.

Focused more on eshop digital stuff and competing on prices. The plus being its the platform that has Mario Kart (tilt to steer as an option), Zelda (trace control) and Mario (auto run mode like Rayman Jungle Run).

$199

Yay or Nay



Edit: This kind of sounds like what the gamepad/console should have been, heh.

 

[Bel_Air_Jeff]

nintendo has so much money, it's ridiculous. one failed console isn't going to do anything it the long run. they stick it out for a 3 or 4 more years. then the release the next console and learn from their mistakes.

boom.

/end

 

[RobFox64tm]

I'm thinking a collaborative Steambox situation. If the right deal presented itself, it could really end up being the only "official" Steambox out there. Give Valve a stake in the console and I could see it going places. Of course there are a million variables that would have to be decided on, but I like the general idea.

For example, nobody in Japan will ever buy a Steambox when it comes down to it. But a Nintendo branded Steambox? You'd have to think that idea would be very interesting to Gaben. And yes, I realize that this will never happen. I just think it should be looked into.

That actually sounds pretty amazing.

 

[Deactivision]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already, but does anyone know roughly what kind of install base Nintendo needs to remain profitable with their software business? A million sales by Nintendo obviously brings in more revenue than a million sales by most other publishers (no royalty fees, more stable retail price, etc). At the same time they also have hardware R&D costs to account for that other companies don't.

I'm curious whether a base of 10 or 20 million Wii U owners is a sustainable situation for them, assuming people are buying their software at a reasonable rate.

 

[sörine]

Just a hypothetical

This is the right direction but the screen needs to be at least 3 inches. Any smaller and I think functionality/compatibility will start to suffer.

 

[thefro]

I'm thinking a collaborative Steambox situation. If the right deal presented itself, it could really end up being the only "official" Steambox out there. Give Valve a stake in the console and I could see it going places. Of course there are a million variables that would have to be decided on, but I like the general idea.

For example, nobody in Japan will ever buy a Steambox when it comes down to it. But a Nintendo branded Steambox? You'd have to think that idea would be very interesting to Gaben. And yes, I realize that this will never happen. I just think it should be looked into.

Right, the big key is making a deal on how you split up the licensing revenue and making Nintendo confident enough in the scheme that they're not afraid of Valve pulling a Sony and taking nearly all the revenue in the future. Some sort of JV company would probably be the best way of doing it.

As far as Nintendo's titles go, there's no reason why their games couldn't only run on the Steambox they release.

 

[kinggroin]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already, but does anyone know roughly what kind of install base Nintendo needs to remain profitable with their software business? A million sales by Nintendo obviously brings in more revenue than a million sales by most other publishers (no royalty fees, more stable retail price, etc). At the same time they also have hardware R&D costs to account for that other companies don't.

I'm curious whether a base of 10 or 20 million Wii U owners is a sustainable situation for them, assuming people are buying their software at a reasonable rate.

With what royalties to collect? They still need third party support to offset the console manufacturing and cost.

 

[JDPoZ]

Overall the solution is not clear and is probably more complex, but the short of it is this:

Nintendo needs to adopt a western style of software development... but retain it's Japanese style of game design (If they lose their style of game design, then all the wonderful strange and silly concepts would die - no western-style design-by-committee teams would have ever given the greenlight to crazy ideas like mushrooms making you grow or coins being inside blocks made of bricks, and that would be a shame).

If they don't start having in features that are standard in the west that even Sony has managed to do right this time, they are setting themselves up to be a handheld-only company.

Examples:
Why can't I do simple things like gift a game on the 3DS shop to a friend?
Why can't I see friends' wishlists?
Why aren't purchases, accounts, etc. easily transferable (and in some cases transferable at all) to other devices?
Why doesn't Nintendo sell old titles on other device platforms such as Android and iOS? It's not like my ability to purchase Super Mario Brothers on other devices makes the 3DS a less attractive platform.
Why still stick to the abhorrent friend code system?
Why still hardly any network infrastructure for online multiplayer gaming?
Why aren't you trying to improve 3rd party relationships more?
Why aren't you pushing your hardware anywhere near a place that even begins to compete with your 2 rivals?

However, all is definitely not lost. Streetpass stuff is flat out amazing. It's what "social gaming" should aspire to be. Frankly I'm surprised Apple hasn't integrated more of these sorts of features into their iOS Game Center. Also, as long as they can keep designing at least 2 or 3 really fantastic games for a system, people will buy them. We may not see Wii levels of sales again for a long time, but Nintendo can hang in there. The question is will they learn from their mistakes, or will they continue to ignore them and keep on doing what they've always done?

 

[thecouncil]

It's rough, but this is the way to go.

Why? What does it solve?

 

[BPoole]

Stick with hardware for handhelds but go third party for consoles

 

[Van Owen]

It's clear that Iwata isn't the ruthless CEO Nintendo needs to get back in the game.

A likeable guy, but he's in over his head.

 

[castlemadeofsand]

games. games. and more games. pump out as many awesome games as possible. i already bought a wii u this holiday because it had more games than the competition and through next year. make more. more. more. have to compensate for lack of third party. do that and gamers will buy.

abandoning the system before mid-late 2016 would be a massive mistake, it'd disenfranchise all the people who decided to support the wii u and nintendo and cast doubt for any future console that might end up the same way. they have to support it

 

[BGBW]

Stick with hardware for handhelds but go third party for consoles

Why do you think they'd go third party for home consoles? They just shift all there focus to handheld consoles if they scrapped making home console hardware.

 

[Calamari41]

Right, the big key is making a deal on how you split up the licensing revenue and making Nintendo confident enough in the scheme that they're not afraid of Valve pulling a Sony and taking nearly all the revenue in the future. Some sort of JV company would probably be the best way of doing it.

As far as Nintendo's titles go, there's no reason why their games couldn't only run on the Steambox they release.

Yeah that's exactly it. Start with this: Nintendo keeps all royalties on games they publish, Valve keeps all royalties on games they publish, and they split third party royalties 50/50. Figure it out from there.

The deal I go for if I'm installed as NCL CEO? Buy Valve like Disney bought Pixar, making Gaben a large shareholder in Nintendo and making Valve essentially NoA. Microsoft would exit the console industry the next day.

 

[Mii]

1) Silently plan to abandon the Wii U, only release whatever is within 12 months completion.

2) Ride out the 3DS for another year or two, full support.

3) Figure out HD development in the meantime.

4) release hybrid home/portable that is primarily a portable but comes with gadget that allows easy streaming to TV, specs close to Wii U, maybe slightly weaker, launch with whatever was still in pipeline of Wii U 12+ months out, rerelease Wii U games for it at launch too, cross develop between consoles, doing basic ports to Wii U.

OR: See which of Sony or Microsoft throw more money hats for exclusive home console development. Still release portables.

 

[RamsesA]

Yeah that's exactly it. Start with this: Nintendo keeps all royalties on games they publish, Valve keeps all royalties on games they publish, and they split third party royalties 50/50. Figure it out from there.

The deal I go for if I'm installed as NCL CEO? Buy Valve like Disney bought Pixar, making Gaben a large shareholder in Nintendo and making Valve essentially NoA. Microsoft would exit the console industry the next day.

I'm not sure how the two corporate cultures would mix. If I understand correctly, NCL has reduced NoA's autonomy over the years, not increased it. I don't see Valve accepting a buyout unless they maintained total autonomy.

 

[Walter Matthau]

They need to just stay the course and continue to release great games at the quickest rate they possibly can. As the Wii U becomes cheaper to make, they can continue to reduce the price. People will buy it as a secondary system for first party games.

Launching a year early was an advantage for the Wii U because Nintendo can launch a new system significantly more powerful than the PS4 in winter 2016/spring 2017 and they wont be criticized too harshly for it. Perhaps by then, VR will be much further along. Hopefully they are smart enough to drop Wii from the name next time around.

The 3DS is doing fine and many first party games have sold over a million copies. It's going to be huge money maker for them over the next 2 to 3 years.

People who think Nintendo should go third party are very shortsighted. There is some small momentum growing and next year the Wii U will have Donkey Kong, Bayonetta 2, Mario Kart 8, Smash 4, X, and I'm sure other unannounced (Animal Crossing?) or little shown titles (Yarn Yoshi / SMT x FE?) released. Things should improve a bit.

I would suggest to Nintendo that there a few small things to help sales to their current audience. They need to seriously beef up the Virtual Console. We want N64, GBA, and Gamecube games at a minimum. I understand they don't want to release every great game in one shot, but I doubt games like Baseball and Urban Champion are selling huge numbers. Second, release sequels to games we haven't seen in a while. We want new F-Zero, new Wave Race, new Star Fox, new Earthbound, new StarTropics, new Advance Wars, new Pilotwings. The casual audience who bought Sports, Fit, and Party are gone so stop focusing on them. Third, why not put a legitimate Pokemon on consoles, even if just a remake? We know it's not going to put up portable numbers, but it will sell systems and the gamepad would work perfectly for it. How about helping Level 5 port the Layton games and Ni No Kuni? Last, they should publish as many exclusives as they can stateside. Puyo Puyo Tetris, Taiko Drum Master, Dragon Quest X, etc. The games themselves may not make a profit for Nintendo, but they'll sell some systems and those buyers will buy other Nintendo games.

 

[dcx4610]

2 choices. Go high end or consolidate their console and handheld business.

One major way Nintendo could turn heads is to put out a console a year or two from now that is on the x86 architecture (critical now that Sony and Microsoft are using it) and is more powerful than the PS4 and XBO. If they could then sell it for $375-399, they would definitely grab some attention.

Having an x86 architecture means 3rd party devs making games on the PS4 and XBO will have to devote very little resources to porting over their games and the Nintendo version on paper would be the best version from a technical standpoint. They would have to really focus on making a core system and winning back devs but it's an option.

The 2nd would be to make a hybrid handheld/console that is mobile processor powered and can be sold for $199-299 max. It would be roughly the size of the 3DS XL and would come with a dock with HDMI and Bluetooth for viewing on your TV and playing with external controllers.

Go hardcore or stay niche and just a machine that plays 1st Nintendo games, that is the decision.

 

[Calamari41]

I'm not sure how the two corporate cultures would mix. If I understand correctly, NCL has reduced NoA's autonomy over the years, not increased it. I don't see Valve accepting a buyout unless they maintained total autonomy.

I'm totally with you on that, it would take a new board at Nintendo and in my mind the only way Nintendo themselves should even want this is if Valve maintained (almost) total autonomy. That would be the whole point, and is why Gaben having a large stake in Nintendo would be the only way it would work. These are the reasons it will never happen, because I have a feeling that Iwata and the current board will be in place for years to come. The time to do something like this was 2009/2010, anyway.

 

[ThunderingTortoise]

Continue building the ESSENTIAL Nintendo first party games library and begin to get those third parties on board...not sure how they will get third party games seeing how producing for the wii u is kind of risky at the moment. SO while it is essential to keep making those marios and zeldas, they need other games to draw people in. I guess having more games like Wonderful 101 would help a lot? Then again they could be screwed regardless...such a bad choice of hardware (in my opinion).

 

[Neff]

Rename it the NINTENDO U, or just 'U'.

The U suffix on games stays relevant, consistent and punchy. Adds a nice counterpoint and differentiation between Wii (as in 'we' & 'you' which is the original reason for the name anyway).

Hit with a major rebranding campaign and under no circumstances ever say it's the new name for Wii U. Don't even use the name Wii. People hear Wii and think things.

The poor attach rates seems to show a vast majority of owners who have simply lost interest in, sold or forgotten their machine. This problem can be, and is being, fixed with good games. More are on the way.

Give NoA its balls back. The games industry is continuing to become predominantly Western-centric and a flexible Western arm with the power to forge alliances and make things happen is essential for the company.

I don't think Nintendo realises just how much damage to hardware sales and the userbase that the ridiculously ambiguous name and an 8 month drought respectively has done. It's good hardware with amazing games, and it can be salvaged. But Nintendo needs to be very careful and very smart with how it goes about achieving this.

 

[Fox Mulder]

This the worst thing they could do.

This has been said countless times, and people keep bringing it up. All it would do is get rid of trust in Nintendo for abandoning a system so soon. They’re pretty much forced to keep the system going for a couple of years, like they did with the GameCube.

sticking with a product that won't sell and nobody wants will hurt them badly, at least the gamecube was comperable to the Xbox in power and got third party support.

They abandoned the Wii and the wiiu is doing awful. Wonder what 5 years of irrelevance in the console business does for the brand.

 

[moltonasty]

For the near future:
-advertise the shit out of the Wii U using their cash reserves plus 3ds profits,
-drop the price down to $250 or ideally $199
-keep the gamepad, as it is really the only unique thing about the console
-take some chances with new innovative ideas, rather than the same ol, same ol.
-in addition to the new shit, bring back some neglected franchises, and really make em "next gen" (f-zero, starfox, wave race- all of these should have potential)
-bring back the nintendo sports series. remember nba courtside? ken griffey jr slugfest? wtf happened to games like that?

For the future future
-total restructuring in how they do business with 3rd parties
-make the next console more or equally powerful as ps4
-continue to be different in their own way. no point in trying to duplicate the other consoles in anything besides power.

I have some good ideas. If Nintendo would do these, they'd find themselves on top:

• Get rid of the tablet controller. I've asked about 10 people and only 1 person admitted to liking it. They looked sad when they said it though.
  
• Make the system $100. Bundle it with a 3DS for $125. $126 and you're dead meat.
  
• Get Mario Kart and Smash out by March.
  
• Tell 'From Software' to stop what they're doing and make a new Zelda by Christmas.
  
• Create at least 10 new IPs for this year. Nobody will complain about more though.
  
• "Money hat" third party exclusives like Halo 5 and GTA 6. Release them tomorrow.

good show ol chap

 

[HolyBaikal]

You know, I really do like the idea of a Nintendo Steambox. Even though it is very, very unlikely to happen.

Nintendo and Valve would be very mutually beneficial for each other, right now.

 

[Barry Burton]

sticking with a product that won't sell and nobody wants will hurt them badly, at least the gamecube was comperable to the Xbox in power and got third party support.

They abandoned the Wii and the wiiu is doing awful. Wonder what 5 years of irrelevance in the console business does for the brand.

Obviously, I think when people are saying they should "stick with it" (at least, when I do), it implies that Nintendo would be willing to take a substantial loss to get this thing's fortunes turned around. The onus is on Nintendo to make the Wii U a product that people want, and to accomplish that at this point is going to require them to take a pretty big hit financially.

If they are just going to keep things "business as usual" with Wii U, then I agree, they should pull the plug sooner than later.