Don't forget the economy also collapsed and people aren't spending as much. And the fact that gaming in general is conditioned to dirt cheap pricing now.
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Nintendo FY14 Q1: 0.82M 3DS, 0.51M Wii U, MK8 2.82M shipped, 10 billion yen loss
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Don't forget the economy also collapsed and people aren't spending as much. And the fact that gaming in general is conditioned to dirt cheap pricing now.
Probably a lame comparison, but I imagine Amiibo's success can be estimated by looking at how fast the Nintendo toys sell out whenever they're available at McDonald's, Burger King, etc.
It also depends on availability. Hopefully they get smart and get the figurines in every store they can. One or two chains ain't gonna cut it.
It also depends on availability. Hopefully they get smart and get the figurines in every store they can. One or two chains ain't gonna cut it.
I thought it was confirmed that Mario Maker's levels can be shared online.
shinra-bansho
Member
The Wii U is a failure in marketing, most assuredly. But not the deeply flawed understanding of what "marketing" encompasses, that seems to be limited to "advertising" that's oft perpetuated on here.
What do you mean? That non cross-gen games could not be successes on PS4 and Xbox One?
LegendofLex
Member
Wii had the best ever month for any console in November 2009. I don't think the economy is the real issue - it's the misguided approach to selling in this economy that's at issue.
Freeman
Banned
Why would a 3DS successor do any better? That is what I like to know. The touch and motion control "gimmicks" aren't something you come up with at will. Nintendo core issues are not something they'll fix easily. The market is completely different now fro portables for Nintendo to come up with something that would have a similar effect.
Consoles are less affected by smartphones because their games have a production value that isn't anywhere else, the same doesn't apply to portables, where they are pretty much direct competition.
Nintendo is terrible at learning from their mistakes or successes. They didn't build over the Wii motion control, they didn't try to fix what kept third-partys away and for as weak as the WiiU is it isn't even cheap. Their beat on Dual screen was completely off, I don't know where they got that from(maybe the DS?)and why it couldn't be done using their portable device. There is also 3D, never bet on 3D.
thisisvlad
Member
I do see two major advantages over the competition:
- Nintendo's IPs are well-known and respected and can therefore create a single sustainable line of products. Aka they won't need to fall into the Skylanders trap of reinventing itself every year (Swap-Force, Trap-Team, Giants, etc...) Honestly Skylanders isn't exactly creating single memorable characters, instead opting for the shotgun approach. Something that Nintendo can use to their advantage.
- Nintendo has a multitude of franchises and can leverage these to create a holistic Amiibo platform (instead of being tied down to a single game.) This is where Disney, with their well known and respected franchises, will falter, because they will only be able to give you one experience at a time. They've tried to incorporate every experience into one package (hence the title Infinity) but unfortunately consumer attention is much more fleeting. So they'll opt to continue to push relevant franchises into Infinity to keep the momentum moving forward (such as the latest Marvel Infinity line.)
Either way, you need to create a dedicated baseline by showcasing a single compelling experience. Maybe they'll have it, because surely their product innovation folks will identify the need for it on Day 1. I guess you can call me cautiously optimistic.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
It kind of is. You are selling fast food with a cheap toy and in the other a way more expensive toy.
metalslimer
Member
How successful do you want here? Also the fact that most of the bigger games that have released are cross platform makes commenting on the situation useless.
Ninja Scooter
Member
I think the mistake people make is putting the Wii u on equal footing to the ps4 and Xbone. Those systems are selling to completely different markets that Nintendo had zero resonance with at this point. Nobody is dropping call of duty or assassins creed to play Mario kart or splatoon. It's not an either or conflict with these types of consumers. Those systems sold because, despite popular belief on GAF, they DID have stuff that people wanted to play. Sony and to a lesser extent Microsoft did a good job of playing to their audiences. These audiences actually were intersted in games like Call of duty and AssCreed in hi-res, or the game streaming stuff, the downloadable titles, they marketed their products well to what is still a very viable market. Nintendo also does a good job of playing to their audience, the problem is their audience isn't viable anymore. You can't support a successful console on the backs of people that love Mario and Zelda anymore.
It was a $250 console where the competition was $300 and $600. That got the ball rolling, Wii Sports snowballed it out of control.
I'm curious if there's an actual current gen only title that's been a fair success on either XBone or PS4. It seems like despite amazing hardware sales, software's been kinda blah unless its cross gen titles.
The increase in hardware sales does not really show that new people are running to buy the system because of MK8. In fact, based on the sales of launch games, more people bought the Wii U to play NSMBU than MK8 at this point.
Amazon.com does not sell the Wii U from what I can see, but you are right about Walmart and Gamestop. This pretty much shows that retailers in the US underestimated demand for the bundle based on their previous experience with the Wii U hardware.
Comments by Tezuka indicated that no online sharing was coming, I thought. Last i heard he was giving some rather stupid excuses for why they cannot do it ("only the most popular levels would be played").
Some Ferrari enthusiasts may be worried that Ferrari might change to the point that they are no longer making Ferraris anymore, but something that is Ferrari in name only, in order to continue to exist.
I mean I'm not saying the alternative is better, but I find that's a reasonable concern. If the company is going to change to put out product you don't want, there's no real incentive to rally and push for the change.
True, brand recognition is a factor too, I suppose.
KillerMan91
Member
If I remember right 2009 is still the peak year of deticated gaming market. I really don't think economy has that much to do with spending on entertainment. If anything people want to escape reality during bad times.
metalslimer
Member
Come back when there is actually a large selection of non cross gen games to play on the systems. Assassin's Creed Unity will be a big example of whether or not software only on PS4/Bone can do very well. If you are asking whether or not there has been a big breakout
He said that about ranking and that it's to be a challenge to get it so levels get seen, not that it wasn't coming with that as an excuse.
Vampirolol
Member
This. I am a hardcore fan but I don't kow why should I buy more than one Amiibo.
LegendofLex
Member
Wii had stopped selling out in 2009, but started selling out again in 2009 with the release of NSMBWii. The industry as a whole was also way stronger in 2006-2009 than it ever was before, which couldn't have had anything to do with competition since cannibalizing your competitors' sales can't account for that kind of growth. It wasn't about price wars - it was about Nintendo making the kinds of games that people actually found compelling.
geordiemp
Member
What is QOL - I know what the abbreviation means, but is it just vapour ware to keep shareholders off their back, or is it an actual piece of hardware or software code.
I am being serious.
TheBaronOfNA
Banned
Eh, I have news for you: Even the most memorable characters need to have a new take at time at time. Toys cycles are also pretty different.
Freeman
Banned
No one knows.
Onion_Relish
Member
Splatoon is going to be a failure with or without marketing. I think the idea is universally praised, but it is not going to get any traction regardless. The best it can hope to do is become Okami and not sell horribly and gain a cult following. Don't mean to be so forward on the subject, but this game will get no traction in the current gaming landscape.
For now, it seems to be an attempt to combine gaming with health and fitness ambitions. How exactly they plan to do that is still a complete mystery.
i don't think it's absurd to get out of the console business, but the argument isn't that nintendo leaves the console business, rather that they stay in the console business and make games for other people. i've almost never seen people recommend sony get out of the handheld business to support nintendo's handheld line, other than trying to prove a point of how that's similarly absurd.
You admit that consumer attention is fleeting but then criticize Skylanders and Infinity for acknowledging that attention span and taking advantage of it. You assume that Nintendo is somehow immune to the ADD nature of consumers. Nintendo will fail with amiibo if they do not follow the model established by Skylanders and Infinity. Consumers want new lines of toys coming out, they want to see toys for new and relevant franchises. I find fault with just about everything you wrote up there, if Nintendo follows your advice amiibo will crash and burn.
Oh I see, they simply haven't made a definite commitment to online sharing yet. Hopefully that's not a sign that it's not coming.
Amiibo is a smart gamble by Nintendo and the next big indicator we will have to see whether or not Nintendo is making the right decisions going forward. But i think Amiibo will have some serious challenges as well. One being that in order to use them, you have to own either a Wii U or 3ds. Unless I'm mistaken, Skylanders and the Disney thing are still doing well on the original Wii and are available on other consoles. Reggie has touted the percentage of figurine marketshare Nintendo has, but that number isn't exclusive to the Wii U.
metalslimer
Member
I would hope even Nintendo is not dumb enough to release a level creator in the year 2015 without online sharing. If so, I would lose all faith. It's bad enough the lack of graphic options and physics they are giving.
Freeman
Banned
Amiibos won't solve anything long term, at best if will take Nintendo's attention away from fixing the real problems.
Unlikely that they would support the 3DS because it isn't the dominant platform, Sony pretty much like any other company already has a mobile strategy.
Unlikely that they would support the 3DS because it isn't the dominant platform, Sony pretty much like any other company already has a mobile strategy.
Arc Christelle
Member
I can agree with the necessity of third parties, but I think the idea of that the hardware is underpowered is kinda questionable. While not as powerful as the other two consoles, it's a perfectly capable console that a can produce some wonders that also includes visually. But that's not why I question the argument of being underpowered. What drives me to questioning it is asking, "How much power is necessary?" and "How will that power be focused?" along with things like Steam and Personal Computers growing more relevant in that space not to mention dev costs and time, and so many companies shutting down unexpectedly I wouldn't exactly bet the farm on hardware power. What would be more beneficial direction for both the industry and Nintendo ya know? Something I do feel is sincerely lacking however is their online gaming ecosystem. They should aim to bring both audiences together both through local and online.
I've been thinking about what I might want to see them do in the future, and I've kinda been thinking of a scenario where the output is focused to bring people together socially through gaming. The original title of Project Cafe, still rings through my mind. Imagining various players with Gamepads and other Wii accessories in an area connecting to a more powerful Wii U as a hub and being able to play together yet separately is something I've had in mind for a while.
But besides that little fantasy, Nintendo's in a state of catching up. While they embrace towards online gaming was no where near as strong as the other two companies, they are currently in a situation where they may feel that it is necessary to crate their own ecosystem. Especially if you consider the fact that Sony and Microsoft has already done so. Not for a "me too" factor, but for the sake of bringing people together in order to attract new audiences with their services. This can be seen with their unique outreach towards players through Miiverse, Streams (Direct/Treehouse) and various other things. While still in a rough spot the Wii U is holding up surprisingly well considered that Nintendo is damn near the only one supporting it. From an isolated standpoint anyway.
I'd guess majority of losses may be from having to establish themselves and move that money around for outside interests.
veritassin
Banned
No one knows and that's what's so funny about people continually bringing it up.
shinra-bansho
Member
I imagine this is due to Sony being a conglomerate, while Nintendo are at present still essentially solely a video game company (although I'm aware that they still make those cards). Similarly, I don't expect Microsoft would remain a video game publisher without a video game platform.
If Nintendo had other lines of business, then you'd probably see more suggestion of them exiting entirely. If being a handheld only company was viable, and/or the handheld market wasn't in systemic decline, you'd probably see more suggestion of that as well. The latter is possible but would probably require a massive reduction in their costs.
rokkerkory
Member
I don't think they would talk about that in a financial report lol
Hope he is feeling better though
These numbers are just terrible btw. Ugh.
C.Olimar788
Member
So things are better, but still not really good. About as expected, I suppose. I sincerely hope the Wii U picks up considerably over the next year or so - goodness knows Nintendo's putting more effort into making good games for it than any other company in the business.
It's a sad day indeed when making great games isn't enough to sell your console. At least the gamers still get games, I guess.
It's a sad day indeed when making great games isn't enough to sell your console. At least the gamers still get games, I guess.
Wii U selling 318% better than last year or nearly double any other non holiday month, following MK8's release, of which most of its influence sits in the month of June, shows no signs of a system seller? Looks like a slow burner uptick rather than a titan "fall", Smash honestly has as much a potential to be a system seller as Mario Kart, because Mario Kart benefits from a casual market that has left Wii U. This is why melee out sold double dash on the gamecube.
Father_Brain
Banned
If Nintendo thinks that Amiibo is more than a way of squeezing more cash out of their existing fanbase, they're in for a very rude awakening.
They haven't clearly set out what their sales expectations are AFAIK, so to be fair, it's possible that that's not the case.
They haven't clearly set out what their sales expectations are AFAIK, so to be fair, it's possible that that's not the case.
Again:
This is all well and good for Nintendo first party pipeline, but it does zero to attract 3rd parties with hardware pushing software. Nintendo's shared architecture is pretty much guaranteed to be weird, non-standard, and low spec'd. For a company to make a big console title for this type of Nintendo platform would require massive effort in comparison to porting it between PC/X1/PS4.
Not including 3rd parties in their hardware designs is slow-motion suicide. As is not confronting the death of the non-Japanese gaming handheld market, btw.
Aquamarine
Member
Amazing numbers. They're practically break-even while supporting a console that has done very poorly. A 100million yen net loss = $1million USD loss.
I don't actually understand how they can be doing this well while the Wii U is tanking. If this was a more diverse company like Microsoft I'd assume they were engaging in accounting shenanigans and shoveling the losses to different divisions.
I don't actually understand how they can be doing this well while the Wii U is tanking. If this was a more diverse company like Microsoft I'd assume they were engaging in accounting shenanigans and shoveling the losses to different divisions.
Edit: Misread the topic. My mistake!
perfectchaos007
Member
I thought it was 10 billion yen which equals 100 million USD
NamikazeBurst
Member
It is 10 billion yen loss which is roughly $100 million loss.
test_account
XP-39C²
Very good to hear that it seems hes doing ok.