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[Cheerilee]

Since it's worth mentioning...

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=699964

Satoru Iwata - Partly responsible for the GameCube, partly responsible for the DS, partly responsible for the Wii, responsible for the 3DS, responsible for the Wii U.

Genyo Takeda - Apparently responsible for all of Nintendo's hardware.
Shigeru Miyamoto - Apparently responsible for all of Nintendo's software.

Tatsumi Kimishima - The secret power behind Nintendo of America since Minoru Arakawa retired (not Reggie, he's just a face). Supposedly works very well with Iwata. Was responsible for NOA becoming the hollow shell that it is today. Tagged out with Iwata so Iwata could... I dunno... and received a promotion for the great job his did in bending NOA to Iwata's will.

5-10 - New guys promoted by Iwata. They run payroll and manufacturing, and do other boring jobs.

 

[God Dayumm]

I've seen the Miyamoto blaming on this forum before. He has a lot of influence on the company and his recommendations may not always make business sense. But at the end of the day, there is only one person who is in charge of the big decisions.

Also, if he only wants to do Mario games forever, let him. That's why they should also invest in other studios that provide a variety of games. Hideo Kojima is stuck making Metal Gears forever and ever and that doesn't seem to affect Konami, let alone Sony or Microsoft. So why can't Miyamoto do as likes as well while other studios work on different games to create a healthy Nintendo ecosystem?

 

[bequietdrive]

So instead of Nintendo buying other studios and enticing other developers to work with them, its Miyamoto's fault for not making every genre of game under the sun? Riiight.

 

[Griss]

Ok, maybe. That doesn't explain why Nintendo fans didn't buy:

Wii

• Zack & Wiki (innovative, and cute aesthetic that gives Nintendo's a run for its money)
• Klonoa (should be right up the alley of every NSMB fan, yet failed)
• Little King's Story (a great alternative given no new Pikmin from the creator of Harvest Moon)
• Sin & Punishment 2 (no Starfox on Wii, this was the perfect alternative yet ended up in the bargain bin)
• Dewy's Adventure (very pretty, and actually used the gyro in the controller as its main feature)

Gamecube

• PN03, Killer 7 (Nintendo fans complain that they don't get enough mature games, then when they do, nobody buys them)
• Viewtiful Joe (critically acclaimed but sold like crap)
• Billy Hatcher (new IP from Sonic's creator)

There are many other examples too, the point is these seem like they should have sold well to Nintendo's customer base. For whatever reason, they tanked. Nintendo's customers either don't buy enough games or simply aren't willing to take any chances on new IPs, which makes it risky for Nintendo to branch out from its established mascots, and makes it difficult for 3rd parties to succeed on Nintendo hardware.

That list breaks my heart, it really does. Viewtiful Joe, Zack and Wiki, and most of all Little King's Story are all such incredible games, and simply no one gave a fuck. At least I did my part with those. Never liked Killer 7, and the rest I didn't touch. But it's depressing as fuck that such good games that should cater to Nintendo fans perfectly are capable of bombing.

If Little King's Story had been called 'Pikmin King's Story' and the first cutscene was a Pikmin dreaming he became a human king (as bizarre and lame as that is) it would have sold three times as much purely on brand recognition alone, and Pikmin fans would have loved that gameplay. Loved it.

 

[God Dayumm]

So instead of Nintendo buying other studios and enticing other developers to work with them, its Miyamoto's fault for not making every genre of game under the sun? Riiight.

^ Exactly my point in more concise words.

 

[rallaren]

Also, if he only wants to do Mario games forever, let him.

He's not doing it for consoles.

 

[Chinner]

What was Eurogamer's GOTY again?

Anyway, I hope we'll se Miyamoto's new game soon, maybe he'll prove Eurogamer wrong.

mario games are no onger relevant to anyone but a niche market. only a subset of 30 years old play it. kids are playing newer franchises on ipads and on other consoles, such as knack.

 

[Griss]

You can't say that when they received a good amount of profit from their Wii hardware.

But whoever is to blame for their software lineup can follow Iwata off the cliff.



You think a game specifically made to appeal to Nintendo fans released on a system that, again, is designed to appeal to Nintendo fans would be more successful on a system with a similar sized install base that isn't?

People really like to overvalue the Mario brand.

Knack outsold Mario 3D World. If you think Mario doesn't outsell Knack on the PS4 when they are aimed at precisely the same audience, then you and I simply see the industry and market through an entirely different lens.

 

[Uncle Rupee]

That list breaks my heart, it really does. Viewtiful Joe, Zack and Wiki, and most of all Little King's Story are all such incredible games, and simply no one gave a fuck. At least I did my part with those. Never liked Killer 7, and the rest I didn't touch. But it's depressing as fuck that such good games that should cater to Nintendo fans perfectly are capable of bombing.

It really shows how the majority of the Wii's 100M owners weren't really interested in games beyond Wii Sports and Wii Fit. It's pathetic. I mean, some of the Gamecube games tanking I can sort of understand given the smaller install base. But with 100M Wiis out in the wild, I'm appalled at some of the sales figures.

If Little King's Story had been called 'Pikmin King's Story' and the first cutscene was a Pikmin dreaming he became a human king (as bizarre and lame as that is) it would have sold three times as much purely on brand recognition alone, and Pikmin fans would have loved that gameplay. Loved it.

I'm not so sure. Pikmin isn't exactly one of Nintendo's power brands. But you'd think the Pikmin fans who bought a Wii expecting a Pikmin 3 would have jumped at Little King's Story. I've also thought for years that Nintendo could be doing a lot more to help market these sorts of 3rd party efforts, especially through avenues like the Wii's Nintendo Channel. Yet, ultimately, they did very little to showcase the uniqueness of these games. Sure, some licensees would feel left out (like the publishers of shovelware) -- I say fuck 'em -- and do your damnedest to promote the quality 3rd party games to your audience. Particularly when your console is rapidly losing momentum anyway!

 

[ILoveBish]

mario games are no onger relevant to anyone but a niche market. only a subset of 30 years old play it. kids are playing newer franchises on ipads and on other consoles, such as knack.

Knack outselling Mario 3D World in the UK non-stop has been proof of this. The people have spoken.

 

[Freeman]

Blaming Miyamoto seems unfair.

Personally, I just have no interest in Mario games anymore and many others Nintendo IP as well even if they are good, I played enough of them already and they are rarely better than the originals or their earlier iterations.

WiiU hardware and tablet have no appeal to me as well, I think if you are a hardware company you must be competitive with what else is on the market. If the WiiU was really cheap (150$ or less) maybe I could justify it, but not for its current price.

Game pricing is also an issue for me since their games probably cost considerable less to make and there is no alternative to get games like PSN+ or more aggressive sales.

 

[Magicpaint]

Knack outsold Mario 3D World. If you think Mario doesn't outsell Knack on the PS4 when they are aimed at precisely the same audience, then you and I simply see the industry and market through an entirely different lens.

It did? I mean I know it has become a meme now in the UK charts but I don't think this is representative of worldwide sales.

 

[Zok310]

Even if they are a developer/publisher at heart, at the end of the day it's their business management that is lacking.
When you start losing hundreds of millions of dollars, it's not because your software developers suck it because the high paid knuckle heads over at corporate have there heads up their asses.
Their developers have proven time and time again that they can still put out great 1st party games.
Iwata is the problem.

 

[jgmo870]

Knack outsold Mario 3D World. If you think Mario doesn't outsell Knack on the PS4 when they are aimed at precisely the same audience, then you and I simply see the industry and market through an entirely different lens.

I never said it wouldn't outsell Knack (and I don't think they're aimed at the same audience either) but this idea that Nintendo series would be juggernauts on non-Nintendo but more successful platforms is not something I'd ever agree with.

 

[NEO0MJ]

Ok, maybe. That doesn't explain why Nintendo fans didn't buy:

Gamecube

• PN03, Killer 7 (Nintendo fans complain that they don't get enough mature games, then when they do, nobody buys them)
• Viewtiful Joe (critically acclaimed but sold like crap)
• Billy Hatcher (new IP from Sonic's creator)
  

• 
  
  I thought Viewtiful Joe sold OK for its time? PN03 was supposedly a bad game and Killer 7 is a Suda game which meant it was destined to bomb from the start (plus, it was a really strange game, no modern Suda game compares). But Billy Hatcher bombing was pretty sad, but I was one of those that didn't buy it, though I bought a lot of 3rd party GC games.

 

[MisterHero]

What did Nintendo 3DS have to do with asymmetric gameplay? The screens are so close that they function as one. Not following you on this one at all.

You were suggesting that Nintendo was following thin logic by stating "GBA -> GC; Wii U". The connectivity experiment continued on DS long before Wii U and was successful.

Games that would use asymmetric gameplay can still be made on DS/3DS. There can be a public screen and player screen. Conversely, just because it can be done on Wii U doesn't mean every game has to use it that exact way. And yet every 3rd-party developer seems to think that a game isn't worth it if it can't be used that way.

Simple Off-TV play is fine too.

He needs to go back and do what he did in the 90s. It's obviously needed. Making new amazing adventure/platforming games like Zelda and Mario.

Don't forget Donkey Kong Country.

Remember it's Iwata's fault Nintendo has forsaken their western influences, including the devs of 3 Donkey Kong Country games [/intense sarcasm]

Ok, maybe. That doesn't explain why Nintendo fans didn't buy:

Wii
•Zack & Wiki (innovative, and cute aesthetic that gives Nintendo's a run for its money)
•Klonoa (should be right up the alley of every NSMB fan, yet failed)
•Little King's Story (a great alternative given no new Pikmin from the creator of Harvest Moon)
•Sin & Punishment 2 (no Starfox on Wii, this was the perfect alternative yet ended up in the bargain bin)
•Dewy's Adventure (very pretty, and actually used the gyro in the controller as its main feature)

Gamecube
•PN03, Killer 7 (Nintendo fans complain that they don't get enough mature games, then when they do, nobody buys them)
•Viewtiful Joe (critically acclaimed but sold like crap)
•Billy Hatcher (new IP from Sonic's creator)

There are many other examples too, the point is these seem like they should have sold well to Nintendo's customer base. For whatever reason, they tanked. Nintendo's customers either don't buy enough games or simply aren't willing to take any chances on new IPs, which makes it risky for Nintendo to branch out from its established mascots, and makes it difficult for 3rd parties to succeed on Nintendo hardware.

Who complains about Nintendo not getting mature games? I actually resent that most of the games Nintendo moneyhats are M-rated and/or probably Japan-exclusive (Yakuza, Fatal Frame, Killer 7, Dragon Quest X, etc.). They could be moneyhatting more mainstream titles accessible to more regions.

They got Resident Evil 0, REmake, and 4 and they did well (and no thanks to Capcom's pulling the trigger on the PS2 versions). They got a Metal Gear Solid but it faded into obscurity because Konami didn't back it up with MGS2, 3. None of that.

Games like No More Heroes and Madworld get made because their developers enjoy making them. They know that might not agree with a lot of gamers.

All the list proves is that the Nintendo fanbase isn't as stereotyped as you think it is.

Nintendo has a list of franchises that have historically had a niche appeal (maybe selling 1 or 2 million if lucky). Metroid is on that list. This isn't a failing or exclusive to them.

What pays for these projects even if they're successful? That's right; Mario. What pays for anything EAD makes? Mario.

 

[Sandfox]

mario games are no onger relevant to anyone but a niche market. only a subset of 30 years old play it. kids are playing newer franchises on ipads and on other consoles, such as knack.

Knack outselling Mario 3D World in the UK non-stop has been proof of this. The people have spoken.

Mario isn't going to sell well when nobody is interested in the Wii U and I don't know what kids are playing Knack.

 

[Duster]

I'm not sure what the writer of this article wants when it comes to "incubating" talent as it's not exactly something that happens overnight, the Mario series seems the best place for any new developer to learn their craft and has the added bonus of ensuring the franchise can remain healthy after Miyamoto retires.

It's not like everybody working there is instantly going to start creating game-changing new IPs full of ideas nobody has ever thought of before.

Oh and Little King's Story did sell well.
http://www.gengame.net/2013/05/anot...d-third-party-sales-actually-improved-on-wii/

 

[Heyt]

Miyamoto is/was great at making games. But he is terrible planning and managing people. The droughts Nintendo has had have been allways on his end.

It is time for him to go.

 

[Currygan]

mario games are no onger relevant to anyone but a niche market. only a subset of 30 years old play it. kids are playing newer franchises on ipads and on other consoles, such as knack.

that's utterly wrong. Give a 3DS with 3D Land to a child and watch him/her getting mesmerized in seconds. Franchise's still got it. The WiiU is the problem

 

[IvorB]

Miyamoto didn't design the WiiU or greenlight it design so...

 

[Shahed]

I wouldn't say it's primarily his fault. It's because of several different things leading to a combined almighty oversight.

What I would say is that it is a bit risky relying on one person to deliver hits for you. If that hit doesn't materialise then you're in big trouble

 

[Griss]

It did? I mean I know it has become a meme now in the UK charts but I don't think this is representative of worldwide sales.

Yeah, sorry, as I'm from that part of the world I tend to think about our market data first. You're right, I believe - Mario 3D World handily outsold Knack worldwide. Don't have the link to NPD threads or references handy, but I believe you're right. Wasn't trying to mislead.

 

[69wpm]

Knack outselling Mario 3D World in the UK non-stop has been proof of this. The people have spoken.

Mario outsold Knack worldwide. The world has spoken.

Stop trying to prove your point by focusing on one market just to be right.

Also: Knack was part of a bundle. Not quite fair to compare it with a standalone game. Otherwise we should start comparing it with NSMBU, which was also a launch title and got packed in later. But that would show how poorly Knack sold.

 

[LonelyGreyWolf]

GAFers never read the whole article, what's new?

Great article and this is what I've been saying for years now. Miyamoto is definitely a legend in this industry and I have huge respect for him, but he has become a big issue.

 

[Uncle Rupee]

Who complains about Nintendo not getting mature games? All the list proves is that the Nintendo fanbase isn't as stereotyped as you think it is.

Non-Nintendo fans tend to think of Nintendo's target audience (and therefore its game library) as being aimed at kids. I'm not saying that, what I'm saying is that regardless of the diversity of Nintendo's audience they don't stray much from Nintendo's established IPs, which is why it is risky for Nintendo to create games from scratch. Instead, they make a prototype and then decide which old established franchise fits it best, knowing that it will boost the game over the hurdles normally associated with introducing a new one.

They got Resident Evil 0, REmake, and 4 and they did well (and no thanks to Capcom's pulling the trigger on the PS2 versions). They got a Metal Gear Solid but it faded into obscurity because Konami didn't back it up with MGS2, 3. None of that.

They didn't do all that well, though. Remember the "Capcom Five"? Games which were meant to be exclusive to the Gamecube "for the health of the game industry"? Yeah, well only 4 games actually got released and 3 of those ended up on PS2. Why? Because they didn't sell enough on the Gamecube.

I actually resent that most of the games Nintendo moneyhats are M-rated and/or probably Japan-exclusive (Yakuza, Fatal Frame, Killer 7, Dragon Quest X, etc.). They could be moneyhatting more mainstream titles accessible to more regions.

That's kinda stupid to resent Nintendo seeking out M-rated or more mature titles. That is the best way to diversify their library, since Nintendo itself would never make a game like Yakuza, Fatal Frame, or other M-rated titles. And as far as Japan is concerned, a Dragon Quest or Monster Hunter are as mainstream as you can get. The main problem was that S-E decided DQX had to be an online game. If it wasn't online a localization would have been much more likely, and it would have been a great exclusive. As it is, it just doesn't make sense that they made it online for the Wii.

Nintendo has a list of franchises that have historically had a niche appeal (maybe selling 1 or 2 million if lucky). Metroid is on that list. This isn't a failing or exclusive to them.

What pays for these projects even if they're successful? That's right; Mario. What pays for anything EAD makes? Mario.

Unfortunately, 3rd parties don't have a game like Mario to fund the development of new IPs or even ports to Nintendo's consoles. Each and every game has to earn its own keep, and the lack of interest displayed by the average Nintendo consumer isn't helping. I'm not referring to the hardcore Nintendo fans like you, or me, or other people that post on gaming forums. I'm talking specifically about the average consumer.

 

[qizah]

It's not just one person or one issue. It's a number of people and a number of issues that has got Nintendo into the situation they're in.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Eurogamer... not even someone from japan. Id rather hear these kinds of things from ex employees or something how in the world could they possibly know this exact answer????

 

[RagnarokX]

If Miyamoto is to blame for something, it's that he didn't deliver any good ideas to justify the GamePad; by that I mean ideas that can be fundamental to an entire game, not just to a collection of mini games.

It's like he/they reversed the logic: instead of making hardware in service of their software, they made the hardware first and then tried to think about how to use it for gameplay.

I think what they failed to convey is that off-tv play is the idea they meant to justify the gamepad, and that is fundamentally at odds with specialized control methods. In interviews they made it clear that that was the main idea behind the concept of the gamepad, but a lot of focus was placed on unique control stuff like Zombie U at the press conferences.

I think after Wii and all of the complaining about "waggle" from core players Nintendo wanted to offer a more traditional controller with a little extra to better placate both audiences, but their message was confused.

That's not to say that the stuff Wii U games have offered hasn't been great, though. Persistent maps and menus on the touch screen are awesome; get rid of clutter and pause menus. I use my Wii U very often for the web browser to watch youtube and twitch and that would be much more trouble without the touchscreen.

 

[ElTorro]

I think what they failed to convey is that off-tv play is the idea they meant to justify the gamepad, and that is fundamentally at odds with specialized control methods. In interviews they made it clear that that was the main idea behind the concept of the gamepad, but a lot of focus was placed on unique control stuff like Zombie U.

Which makes it even more weird that they bundled the gamepad with every box. The only reason to do that is because you want to make its extended control scheme standard. Conversely, you don't need to bundle it if off-screen gaming is the main rational for its existence.

 

[Shiggy]

Eurogamer... not even someone from japan. Id rather hear these kinds of things from ex employees or something how in the world could they possibly know this exact answer????

I guess their very safe releases on 3DS and Wii U provide a good indication.

 

[The_Endgamer]

Nintendo should just fix the bloody problem. These analysis threads are getting annoying and I'm not hearing much on how they are going to fix the problem with answers that are tangible and can address issues. Simply saying that they are looking at restructuring is stupid if they don't say how and why.

Thread related, not sure Miyamoto has that much of a detrimental effect on the company but it couldn't be too positive if he's stuck trying to come up with gimmicks for their consoles and spread thin across so many projects. He should just head his own single team and let the rest have some autonomy. I won't be buying another Mario game for a good few years unless it's a direct sequel to 3D Land on 3DS, Nintendo's real problem is it won't stop wasting resources on the same type of product.

 

[Frodo]

Okay, I tried reading it with an open mind, but... this trend of trying to pinpoint the blame on one single person is ridiculous when we are talking about a company as big as Nintendo. Myiamoto hasn't been doing his job well lately? Maybe if you are looking exclusively at Sticker Star or haven't played Pikmin 3 or 3D World.

Also, Nintendo as a whole released a ton of amazing games throughout 2013 in between their Wii U and the 3DS. The company has lots of problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible, but quality of their output is not one of them. The fact that they are not pushing the hardware as much as expected might be, but I have a hard time believing that it has anything to do about the quality of the titles. Maybe people are tired of the same franchises as the author points out? But are we really sure that Myiamoto is the responsible to decide which games get or do not get developed for each platform? Maybe people want the games but don't want to buy the hardware (as seen on one of the Nintendo doom threads lately with the PS4 bundled with SM3DW mock-up)... I don't know. I just think that blaming Myiamoto for the failure of the Wii U or for Nintendo not reaching their goals is a little bit too far fetched and the author of the piece does little to provide evidences that support his argument.

 

[Dr. Buni]

Yeah. After what Miyamoto did to the last Paper Mario game, I started to question if he still is a good influence to Nintendo.

I don't think he is to blame for all of Nintendo's problem, though and neither is Iwata.

 

[gofreak]

It's one of the reasons I am not madly keen on the idea many seem to float, of putting legacy games out there on mobile/smart devices. Philosophically it's just another trade on their past, it would not be some longer term fix. They do really need a constantly fresh stable of hits if they want to drive their own hardware longer term.

 

[Subaru]

It's stupid to blame "Nintendo's fanbase" for games failures.

GC games doesn't count because the userbase was terrible.

But what about Okami and God Hand? What about Bayonetta? What about Rayman Legends?

There are many games that aren't successful in every platform, but when a game fails on a Nintendo platform is because "their fans". Bullshit.

 

[MisterHero]

They didn't do all that well, though. Remember the "Capcom Five"? Games which were meant to be exclusive to the Gamecube "for the health of the game industry"? Yeah, well only 4 games actually got released and 3 of those ended up on PS2. Why? Because they didn't sell enough on the Gamecube.

How would Capcom know? Pre-orders? Resident Evil 4 wasn't even released on GC when the PS2 version was announced. The GC version sold 2 million despite that debacle.

That's kinda stupid to resent Nintendo seeking out M-rated or more mature titles. That is the best way to diversify their library, since Nintendo itself would never make a game like Yakuza, Fatal Frame, or other M-rated titles.

They were likely to stay in Japan.
They serve a fraction of a small audience on a new console (Yakuza).
How far did you think they could go?

It would be great if they came here. It's great we're getting Bayonetta. However, there was never a realistic chance.

The Wii U pad would be a great tool for MMO-like games. Why not moneyhat Phantasy Star Online 2? Because it didn't take off like Monster Hunter?

Unfortunately, 3rd parties don't have a game like Mario to fund the development of new IPs or even ports to Nintendo's consoles. Each and every game has to earn its own keep, and the lack of interest displayed by the average Nintendo consumer isn't helping. I'm not referring to the hardcore Nintendo fans like you, or me, or other people that post on gaming forums. I'm talking specifically about the average consumer.

Capcom has Resident Evil/Street Fighter. EA has Madden/FIFA/etc. sports/Battlefield. Activision has Call of Duty. Ubisoft has Assassin's Creed. They have annualized sequels, something Nintendo isn't allowed to have, lest they be accused of being too conservative and safe.

No. I think Nintendo made some very fundamental mistakes, but at the same time contend they're being too harshly scrutinized.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

I guess their very safe releases on 3DS and Wii U provide a good indication.

Anything with Nintendo franchise in it is "safe"

 

[Ylyon]

what a dumb article.

 

[Shiggy]

Anything with Nintendo franchise in it is "safe"

The issue is that they have very little else. At least we got Steel Diver...

 

[Uncle Rupee]

Yeah. After what Miyamoto did to the last Paper Mario game, I started to question if he still is a good influence to Nintendo.

I don't think he is to blame for all of Nintendo's problem, though and neither is Iwata.

Nintendo has to differentiate Paper Mario now that they have the Mario & Luigi series, especially if they are both on the same system. Mario & Luigi is the true successor to the Mario RPG series (led by ex-Squaresoft employees), so Paper Mario is evolving into something else. I don't really see that as Miyamoto's fault, just good business sense. There's no use in having two Mario RPG style franchises, especially when the Paper Mario theme lends itself to doing stuff like Super Paper Mario's 2D-to-3D platforming mechanic.

It seems like a waste to use the paper folding idea on an RPG when there are more interesting game mechanics to be explored with it. Besides, I doubt Paper Mario would even exist at all if it wasn't for the popularity of Parappa the Rapper, which introduced the idea of 2D characters in a 3D world and was hugely popular in Japan.

 

[ZehDon]

Blaming Miyamoto for the failings of the Wii U is like blaming the conductor for a bad performance when the symphony in comprised of kazoos and spoons. Considering what the man has to work with, I don't think there is a single person either dead or alive who could do a better job.

The problem with the Wii U is that it cannot be a gamer's primary console if they wish to play any current non-Nintendo games. It's the death blow. It is simply too far behind in raw specs - it cannot handle even toned down ports of any new games from any of the worlds biggest and best developers and publishers. That's a problem that isn't going to disappear, regardless of how many braindead FPSs Miyamoto could make.

The Wii U is an afterthought of a console; gamers buy a PS4, or an Xbox One, and then maybe a Wii U when its cheap. If it were priced as an impulse purchase, they'd weather the storm. But its not. And it costs far too much to build considering its barely more powerful than an Xbox 360. The faster the Wii U dies, the faster Nintendo return to relevancy in the home console market.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

The issue is that they have very little else. At least we got Steel Diver...

Very little else of what?

 

[DerZuhälter]

Sony, MicroSoft or even Samsung & Apple proved several times now that you don't necessary need paradigm-shifting new ideas attached to new devices to sell them, even if it helps phenomenally.

Stop skimping on the marketing budget.

 

[Joni]

Gunpei Yokoi is their problem. He was the guy that understood both hardware and software. Miyamoto and Yamauchi/Iwata had to take a position none of them get. I don't think he would have released the Wii U, probably not even the 3DS.

 

[Uncle Rupee]

Gunpei Yokoi is their problem. He was the guy that understood both hardware and software. Miyamoto and Yamauchi/Iwata had to take a position none of them get. I don't think he would have released the Wii U, probably not even the 3DS.

Yokoi's "lateral thinking of withered technology" philosophy is at least partly to blame for the Wii U's underpowered hardware, though. Nintendo has gotten used to that way of thinking, and while it made sense to go that route with the Wii and the DS, they obviously failed to recognize how impatient/hungry people were for a next-gen boost.

 

[boyshine]

No, I think it's Iwata's.

I'm sure Miyamoto would have embraced something more innovative than the Gamepad, like VR (which seems like the natural progression after the Wii). Mario games didn't cause the failure of the Wii U, the lack of compelling hardware did.

How is VR (the most anti-social/anti-multiplayer video technology) the natural progression to the social gaming phenomenon that was Wii?

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Gunpei Yokoi is their problem. He was the guy that understood both hardware and software. Miyamoto and Yamauchi/Iwata had to take a position none of them get. I don't think he would have released the Wii U, probably not even the 3DS.

Didnt he release the virtual boy?

 

[Shiggy]

Very little else of what?

Of new game concepts from Nintendo. What are the new titles on 3DS? Steel Diver, right? Everything else is just another sequel.

 

[MacNille]

I blame both of them. They are starting to become a relic from another time, refusing to evolve.