nincompoop
Banned
If there was a way to control those games effectively on the iphone then the demand for them would be a lot higher and so the publishers would charge more money for them.
If there was a way to control those games effectively on the iphone then the demand for them would be a lot higher and so the publishers would charge more money for them.
This would be very smart.They need to get as many quality games on the eshop, including all past and future retail games. They should be working to get Wii's entire VC catalog on there as well. Put every game possible. Nintendo DS games.
Market it as the ultimate portable gaming device, being able to play an enormous library of high quality games off of SDs. Make the eshop intuitive and addicting. Have the equivalent of Steam sales.
That's very true. If we could be more certain that most/all of Nintendo's games had assured, timely US releases, then it wouldn't be as big an issue.
Sadly, NoA doesn't have a very good track record in that regard. Hopefully they can turn that around.
Though that wouldn't help third party releases much. There are many niche games that have little to zero chance of coming over to the US, and it would be nice if we at least had the option to import and play without having to invest in another system.
Shining Force controls great for me. Considering the controls of GTA3 on PS2 weren't even that great, it also controls fairly well.
Your point is that there is less demand for these games due to the control scheme. My point is that there is zero demand for these ROM dumps for $5-8 on 3DS.
I have yet to download a single title onto mine because I have already bought these games before and $5 for the same Super Mario Bros that came with my NES for free back in the 80's seems steep to me. But $1 for Shining Force which is one of the Genesis' top classics on the device I always have in my pocket is a no brainer.
Maybe I'm spoiled by the pricing in the iOS App Store. I probably am. But so are millions of others. Nintendo has to adjust to the market. They have failed to do so.
Feel free to keep charging $40 on games that you spent a ton of time developing. I've got a pocket full of those games: OOT, SMB:3DS, Kid Icarus, Starfox, SSFIV, and Ridge Racer. But charging me 1/8 of that price I paid for a current gen game for a ROM dump of an 80's game? That's highway robbery.
The market has changed for reselling old titles. Services like Steam and GOG are offering older games on PC for a low cost. Companies are porting old classics to iOS and Android for a low cost. Nintendo is still pretending they're going to be able to repackage their old games over and over and keep charging a higher cost and in this new market, that just won't work.
Think the upcoming retail releases on eShop might help in this case?
It's a step in the right direction, though it all depends on what will be made available. I'm personally a fan of physical media but if Nintendo is more open to giving their customers more choices, then I'm hoping it will lead to more variety in their offerings.
And if they use the service to release games that they otherwise wouldn't of released in-store, then at least the US consumers have a chance to experience the content.
The fact that there are fully translated games like Another Code R, Last Window, Day of Disaster, etc. that haven't been brought to America is pretty ridiculous IMO. If they make titles like those available through the eShop, then I think players will see that NoA is striving to be more accessible with their releases. But they have a lot to prove in that regard.
Looking at the overseas market, the software lineup is becoming rich as we introduced on Nintendo Direct in Europe. New titles will be announced at E3 furthermore. As I mentioned in the Corporate Management Policy Briefing in January
You will strongly feel the changes in the thoughts of third-party software developers, overseas developers in particular, for the better.
Basically, NOA needs new management. Relative to NCL, it just feels like they don't care at all about anything except short term profits. I know that profit is the end goal of any company, but NOA almost makes stinginess an art form.
I'm waiting for the inevitable redesign, and I'd imagine a lot of others are too. They've put themselves in a position where, even if they don't plan on redesigning the system, they'll be forced to because it's so expected it will generate a lot of sales from people like me.
I'm waiting for the inevitable redesign, and I'd imagine a lot of others are too. They've put themselves in a position where, even if they don't plan on redesigning the system, they'll be forced to because it's so expected it will generate a lot of sales from people like me.
NOA is mostly concerned with evergreens. Pretty much all the display of dislike for NOA stem for titles like: Xenoblade, Fatal Frame, Disaster Day of Crisis, Zangeki no Reginliev, Fire Emblem: Heros of Light and Shadow etc.
What all of these have in common is no long term sales potential. They will sell to a small audience at launch maybe rack up 100K if they're really lucky and that'll be that. To be concerned with short-term profit would be to dump everything they could as fast as they can unconcerned if they strangle a few titles which is the complete opposite of how NOA operates.
Realistically, NOA's release schedule of Japanese games has little to do with anything because none of that was going to sell in the first place. What would help though is if B-tier titles like the above were made in the West for Western audiences. They have done a small amount of this with Monster Games and the Excite franchise but they need a little more than that.
I don't think the evergreen only philosophy is healthy in the long term. Even if none of these games aren't going to be hugely successful and really push systems (and they obviously aren't), getting them out there is a show of care and dedication to the platform and its health. I think the cumulative effect of plugging the holes in the schedule and satisfying vocal minority hardcore gamers would be very good for the health of the platform.NOA is mostly concerned with evergreens. Pretty much all the display of dislike for NOA stem for titles like: Xenoblade, Fatal Frame, Disaster Day of Crisis, Zangeki no Reginliev, Fire Emblem: Heros of Light and Shadow etc.
What all of these have in common is no long term sales potential. They will sell to a small audience at launch maybe rack up 100K if they're really lucky and that'll be that. To be concerned with short-term profit would be to dump everything they could as fast as they can unconcerned if they strangle a few titles which is the complete opposite of how NOA operates.
Realistically, NOA's release schedule of Japanese games has little to do with anything because none of that was going to sell in the first place. What would help though is if B-tier titles like the above were made in the West for Western audiences. They have done a small amount of this with Monster Games and the Excite franchise but they need a little more than that.
Yep.All I meant was that they are extremely risk averse, and that's not a good strategy when you're a 1st party platform manufacturer. What you describe sounds pretty stingy to me.
All I meant was that they are extremely risk averse, and that's not a good strategy when you're a 1st party platform manufacturer. What you describe sounds pretty stingy to me.
I imagine stuff like the Mii games and Brain Training would have been mandated by NCL.Stingy is true and from a business sense it's not a problem. They aren't actually that risk adverse though, they don't want to bother with low yield "core" games but they've taken huge risks with the Mii franchise, Brain Training and Layton it's just we don't think of them as risks because retrospectively they were hugely profitable.
1) Release almost the entire DS and GBA library on eShop and do more with the eShop. Nintendo should take a page out of Sony's book with this and Valve's as well. Run special promotions/sales where the games are bundled (i.e. buy Super Mario Bros. 1 - 3 & the GB Super Mario Land for $5, etc.).
Maybe Nintendo could approach Rovio and say "make Angry Birds Mario."
I have a few ideas that are very similar to other suggestions:
1) Release almost the entire DS and GBA library on eShop and do more with the eShop. Nintendo should take a page out of Sony's book with this and Valve's as well. Run special promotions/sales where the games are bundled (i.e. buy Super Mario Bros. 1 - 3 & the GB Super Mario Land for $5, etc.).
2) Discontinue the DS and DSi and eliminate/reduce the number of DS titles at retail. People aren't buying the 3DS because apparently they think the 3DS carts will work with the DS. This is after more than a year from the 3DS' release. I've spoken to many retail store people who have all said the same thing -- other than the more hardcore gamers, not many people are even aware that Nintendo's DS and 3DS are two separate things. I don't know if that's the fault of Nintendo's marketing per se or something else.
3) Don't worry about attracting the 'casual market' by reinventing the wheel. Sure, having games like Brain Age 3D would be great and would get that audience. I would say most of the people that bought DS'es in droves are now playing games on their iPhones for a much cheaper price. Maybe Nintendo could approach Rovio and say "make Angry Birds Mario." Or even approach some of the more successful iOS developers/publishers and say, "Here's some money, make something that you couldn't make on the iPhone."
NoA actions also seems to undermine NCL's statements regarding attracting and maintain core gamers as well. The focus on evergreen titles and ones that sell big with casual gamers actually isn't going to help when it comes to the Wii U. It's as if NCL knows full well they can't lean on those they brought in with the Wii and DS. Sure some will stay but not all of them. So you have to give attention to those considered core gamers.
Which makes me think that the releases of Xenoblade, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower if true are because they were mandated by NCL. I don't believe at all that NoA wanted to, was willing, or even capable (this is the one that really worries me) of releasing these titles. Which is why Xseed and GameStop are in the picture.
It's possible, but it will be hard:
Hardware revision I don't expect this until next year since Nintendo is still taking a loss on the existing 3DS but a 3DS Lite or 3DS Pro with a better redesign incorporating the circle pad pro built in along with either a better screen and battery life would do extremely well.
Steady stream of titles NCL is smashing the ball out of the park in Japan because there's games coming out just about every week for the system that appeals to them, whether it be Hatsune Miku, the ninja boob fanservice game, Harvest Moon, etc. they've been able to get the important franchises like Mario Kart, Super Mario and Monster Hunter to sell the system but supplement that with a steady stream of secondary titles. We don't see that in the west. Following up on that..
Do whatever it takes to get third parties making gamesA handheld version of Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed and other titles in that vein may do well if tailored to do the handheld nature instead of being just watered down ports of console games like the PSP did. It's a shame that handhelds aren't taken as seriously in the west but if you don't change it now it'll just get harder.
Embrace the digital space Treat the eShop better. It took a while to get and they have been making improvements since then but they cannot let up. Get more demos of games on there. Advertise third party games. Do weekly specials on games. Put more stuff on the Virtual Console. It boggles my mind that Nintendo has the largest, most lucrative titles in gaming history at their disposal and they don't take advantage of it. I understand they want to space some titles out to let them reach better sales but the Wii got extremely barren halfway through its life and there are still key titles missing.
Make Nintendo network an experience This gen it was understandable missing the online boat but they cannot afford to drop the ball again. XBL and PSN have been getting better each year, offering more and more things like service and media apps, better quality, more functionality, etc. Nintendo accounts need to happen. If I buy Super Mario Bros on the Virtual Console on the Wii, there is absolutely no excuse to not allow me to download it to my 3DS or vice versa. Offer online chatting and parties. Achievements or trophies are almost a necessity but I think Nintendo could take them to the next level if they really tried.
Kill the DS This one is risky but it worked in Japan. Clearance out all the DS Lite/DSi/DSi XL's out there and stop stuffing the channel with them. The 3DS needs to be the only option out there. As 3DS software increases take all but the most lucrative DS titles off of shelves. The fact that Pokemon Black and White 2 is coming out on the DS is a mistake. Yeah, it can be played on the 3DS and more people have an instance of the DS, but how many sales would really be lost if it was 3DS only? I think any revenue lost here in sales of the software would be easily made up for with the sale of a 3DS system and you can definitely count on them getting more 3DS software in the future.
All in all, not any one of those particular things is going to be enough to turn them around but a combination of them will see elevated interest and sales for the 3DS in the west. At least, that's my take.
Although I agree that the prices of Virtual Shop content could use a lower adjustment I don't think pricematching the iOS App Store is a good idea for the long term. This trains consumer that games are worth less than they are. You think Sega thinks Shining Force is only worth .99 cents? I doubt it but that's the type of market the iOS App Store is, a race to the bottom. Looking at a game like Super Mario Bros since you mentioned it, is 5 dollars on the eShop. As of right now that game has almost 17,000 ratings, which Nintendo only allows you to do once you clock in an hour of game time. Shining Force isn't in the same league of Mario so let's take Sonic for example. The original Sonic game on Genesis goes for 2.99 on the App Store, which really isn't that far off in terms of pricing. That game has only 2232 ratings. This is not an accurate measurement by all means but I do think it helps to give us a general idea of the different markets here.
I think that's just the minimum amount they want to charge for NES games. There is variable pricing on Game Boy titles so far.
Stingy is true and from a business sense it's not a problem. They aren't actually that risk adverse though, they don't want to bother with low yield "core" games but they've taken huge risks with the Mii franchise, Brain Training and Layton it's just we don't think of them as risks because retrospectively they were hugely profitable.
Thread title is irritating, why would they expect 3x Japanese sales when this wasnt the even the case with the DS or other Nintendo handhelds.
All Iwata is implying is that there are still more ways to improve the 3DS performance in western markets, where the Japanese market already embraced the system.
It is possible cutting too low ends up being self destructive, but even if they won't budge from $5 on their biggest titles (and they're likely the ones that DESERVE those price points the most) they could at least start charging 2-4 for the many lower tier, crappier NES games.But don't you think minimum $5 on NES is too high in an environment where I can get the combination of Shining Force Genesis, Bards Tale PS2, Bard's tale 1&2 PC, and GTA3 for $5 total?
We are not talking about what price you think is fair. We are talking about what price makes the ESHOP competitive with the iOS App store. Like it or not, they are in direct competition with each other to showcase why their device warrants a purchase. And keep in mind, this is also a competition to showcase why you need 3DS in your pocket next to that phone you are forced to carry.
This has always been somewhat frustrating for me. Before iOS/Android most of them would be completely dismissive of handhelds, but now that THOSE are relevant they're eagerly jumping on! Maybe it'd help if hardware equivalent to the 3DS or Vita somehow managed to come out years earlier, though it may be more the distribution model and costs to publish that made iOS so much more appealing to them.2. Western developers continue to develop games with western markets in mind.
So it shouldn't be hard to figure why they aren't jumping on the 3DS bandwagon, and instead choose to develop for IOS, Android, and other online marketplaces.
Maybe Nintendo could approach Rovio and say "make Angry Birds Mario." Or even approach some of the more successful iOS developers/publishers and say, "Here's some money, make something that you couldn't make on the iPhone."
Well, releasing more games in the west might help.
If there was a way to control those games effectively on the iphone then the demand for them would be a lot higher and so the publishers would charge more money for them.
NOA is mostly concerned with evergreens.
NoA actions also seems to undermine NCL's statements regarding attracting and maintain core gamers as well.
Yep. We shouldn't have to second guess whether a great looking Nintendo published 3DS import is coming over or not.
Hopefully with full games on DD this is about to change.