That doesn't work.This is why I think Nintendo's aim is not to be a great third party machine, but a Nintendo machine with just enough to keep people from abandoning it for another.
That doesn't work.This is why I think Nintendo's aim is not to be a great third party machine, but a Nintendo machine with just enough to keep people from abandoning it for another.
I disagree, because this could lead to the "let's buy whatever shitty effort third parties release on the console" mentality that do not necessarily translates to serious support.The Nintendo hardcore audience needs to be more supportive of buying third party games especially if that's the only console they own.
That doesn't work.
i thought iwata said he was going to make the 100B yen target next year, the article makes it seem like that target was this year?
Not that I disagree with your run down but one shouldn't forget the fruitful relationship with Next Level games and Monster Games.Very true. It's not a black-and-white situation, though. There was a perfect storm happening at Nintendo 10 years ago. Yamuchi was retiring. Iwata, at that point the global director of software planning, was a rising rock star hand picked to take over. Howard Lincoln and Minoru Arakawa, the dynamic duo with autonomy to run NoA, we're retiring. Reggie was a great marketer and an Internet sensation.
The studios you listed had developed software that did nothing to move the needle for GameCube, and in some cases, probably booked big losses for Nintendo. In Japan, Nintendo goes all-in on "Blue Ocean" expanded-audience software. So newly minted Iwata, and the rest of the NCL General Managers, pull the plug on "western" development and start the Wii phenomon.
It was a brilliant strategy at the time, so you can't really say it was a mistake. They made lots and lots of money. It's definitely hurt them right now.
Fun fact:The Wii wasn't a break even console, Iwata pushed it to earn $50-100 per-unit, and it's attach rate was terrible because of all the casuals bringing down the average, but still, it was a massive victory. Who cares if the casual gamer doesn't contribute to the attach rate if you pocketed an extra $100 when you sold them the system?
Fun fact:
The only Nintendo system that have a better software attach rate than Wii, is the GC.
Wii software sales were indeed good.
Yes Bloomberg needs a slap. Now I'm wondering if some of the people expecting Iwata's imminent resignation are making the same mistake?
Are you including software that included a controller ala Wii Play?
If he had any honor in him, he would resign instead of trying to hold on to every last drop of internet glory. He's letting the company we love sink to its darkest depths. Not even during the GC era when everyone was singing doom and gloom have they had it so bad.
And as bad as it was in those days....they weren't taking heavy loses!
This is what happens when you don't release any games!
GC was already fucked up by that point.The only thing I worry about is changing management in the first year of a new console. I remember that really fucking up GameCube when Iwata and the gang took over 7 or 8 months into GameCube's first year. He comes in 2002 and by the time 2004 came, it seemed like Nintendo gave up on Cube and was already talking Revolution.
To be fair those shouldn't be discounted at all. I heard someone say this in another thread, Wii Sports is a true system seller, in every sense of the word. People were buying Wii-U's for that game exclusively,people were effectively paying $250 to play Wii Sports. Wii Play had similar mainstream appeal, another killer app in terms of sales.
That's what the Wii-U needs if Nintendo want's any chance of making this thing more successful than the GameCube.
Wii Play had the appeal of a controller. Are people waiting on baited breath for Wii Play 2?
Wii Play had the appeal of a controller. Are people waiting on baited breath for Wii Play 2?
GC was already fucked up by that point.
I disagree, because this could lead to the "let's buy whatever shitty effort third parties release on the console" mentality that do not necessarily translates to serious support.
I'd fix that by saying that people should buy high quality third party games, but even that definitely does not guarantee anything in the medium-long term (see Resident Evil 4 on the Wii).
Generally speaking, I believe we're clearly talking about a vicious circle here: western third parties give weak or no support at all to Nintendo because they do not see it as a profitable market, people don't buy Nintendo platforms because they don't see the games they want (that are usually on MS/Sony platforms).
In an ideal situation a third party should try to exploit the Nintendo audience treating it as a "blue ocean", trying to produce your typical AAA, high budget (marketing-wise too), western-likeable game that has very high chance of pulling quite the numbers just by virtue of having no competing, similar products, at least on paper.
But than we have the horror stories of "mature" games that don't sell on Nintendo platforms and the like... so what can we realistically expect?
I think the one and only possible strategy to break this vicious circle is the one Iwata is pursuing: publishing, co-developing and/or funding exclusives. And, by the way, straight moneyhatting.
Should Nintendo succeed maybe, just maybe, third parties might start seeing a profitable audience again and give it better support.
I just remembered Iwata reads the internet. I wonder if he has this thread on bookmark.
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3605/iwata1.jpg
Speaking as an ex-Nintendo fanboy, the problem is any single blemish on a multi-console 3rd party game will have the Nintendo faithful ignoring it. If the Wii U doesn't get the best version of the game, Nintendo fans simply don't buy it because it isn't "good enough."
More revisionist history from Iwata's defenders.
The GC outsold the XBOX. It was 2nd not 3rd. The GC nose dived once Iwata took over. Look at all the moves Nintendo made early on with Capcom and Resident Evil. None of that was followed up on and the GC was allowed to just die early.
Well said.You're generalizing quite a bit, but I'll bite. People who own multiple systems will buy a game for the system on which it works best, or on which they can play with their friends online, or on which it adds to the gamer score they are so invested in. That is all. It's never the customer's responsibility to by a product, ever, in any industry.
You're generalizing quite a bit, but I'll bite. People who own multiple systems will buy a game for the system on which it works best, or on which they can play with their friends online, or on which it adds to the gamer score they are so invested in. That is all. It's never the customer's responsibility to by a product, ever, in any industry.
I think the one and only possible strategy to break this vicious circle is the one Iwata is pursuing: publishing, co-developing and/or funding exclusives. And, by the way, straight moneyhatting.
Should Nintendo succeed maybe, just maybe, third parties might start seeing a profitable audience again and give it better support.
It's funny you called me a revisionist :-D
GC was allowed to die because it wasn't selling good enough, simply as that (data on hand).
GC started at $199 in November 2001, went $149 the next May and then was cut to $99 in September 2003 after Nintendo had to stop production lines in January because it wasn't selling enough.
Nintendo didn't "have to" stop the production lines. Iwata chose to.GC started at $199 in November 2001, went $149 the next May and then was cut to $99 in September 2003 after Nintendo had to stop production lines in January because it wasn't selling enough.
IIRC, the sales requirements said that the contract or contracts (there were apparently several contracts, one time-sensitive and covering the RE series, and one each for the REmake and RE Zero) would break if either the REmake and RE Zero failed to sell 1 million units worldwide. That ended up closer than Nintendo and Capcom would have liked, but both games made it.The exclusivity deal signed between Nintendo and Capcom was put aside by Capcom when GC couldn't hit the minumum install base requirement so they ported the games to PS2.
How many "Nintendo Fanboys" are multiple console owners though? Back in 1997-98 and onwards, owning a PS(2)/Xbox while you also owned a N64/Gamecube was a mark of shame if you called yourself a Ninty fanboy. Look how far we've come lol.
Software wise I'd say yes. They did let it die.I agree with your argument in theory, but the Wii invalidates the argument.
Here was a console that was selling gangbusters, and Iwata still let it die a GameCube-like death.
Heck, I'd say the Wii's last years were even WORSE than the 'Cube's.
How many "Nintendo Fanboys" are multiple console owners though? Back in 1997-98 and onwards, owning a PS(2)/Xbox while you also owned a N64/Gamecube was a mark of shame if you called yourself a Ninty fanboy. Look how far we've come lol.
Most of them from my experience.
never heard this one before
Global President isn't even his final form.
Iwata implies he may resign over poor business performance
If he had any honor in him, he would resign instead of trying to hold on to every last drop of internet glory. He's letting the company we love sink to its darkest depths. Not even during the GC era when everyone was singing doom and gloom have they had it so bad.
And as bad as it was in those days....they weren't taking heavy loses!
This is what happens when you don't release any games!
If he had any honor in him, he would resign instead of trying to hold on to every last drop of internet glory. He's letting the company we love sink to its darkest depths. Not even during the GC era when everyone was singing doom and gloom have they had it so bad.
And as bad as it was in those days....they weren't taking heavy loses!
This is what happens when you don't release any games!
Funny to read this after todays Megaton!
All those that wanted Iwata out must be feeling confused as fuck right now. And probably angry.
I think I like this part the best:Funny to read this after todays Megaton!
Nintendo back in the black this year. Admittedly by the skin of their teeth, but it's certainly not "heavy losses".And as bad as it was in those days....they weren't taking heavy loses!
Iwata won´t resign and a lot of people will be pissed by Nintendo continuing being Nintendo.
Always funny to watch. ^^