This is exactly what I'm afraid of in the worst case scenario. And 'C-tier' is being kind to that Warriors game. Garbage decision to whore the IP out like that.
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Nintendo wants to expand into health, learning, and other quality of life products
- Thread starter EmCeeGramr
- Start date
This is exactly what I'm afraid of in the worst case scenario. And 'C-tier' is being kind to that Warriors game. Garbage decision to whore the IP out like that.
Funny, since McDonalds actively changed there business-model to include McCafe, which turned out as a big a huge success. Who thought that people actually wanna stay in a fast-food restaurant to drink coffee and relax. Especially since fast-food-restaurant were for some time specific designed, so that costumers don't wanna stay there.
DrROBschiz
Member
They are barely competing in the space they have occupied for over 20 years. Not you expect them to perform in what is already a competitive space that is occupied by a wide variety of companies?
I guess its not like they haven't set a precedent with the Blue Ocean stuff. They doo have a lot of talent and experience with WiiFit stuff and it should find continued use for those investments
That said I feel like they aren't nimble and savvy enough to compete in this space either.... I dunno maybe they will surprise me...
I just dont care if this works or not honestly.
So you say that a healthy life style is keeping you from gaming?
That's the entire reason they're trying to leapfrog: they can't compete head-on with established products.
Exterminieren
Banned
Nintendo have found significant success from selling fitness software in the past. A specific platform for it is not, in theory, a terrible idea.
I was very curious why Nintendo didn't do this when the DS was booming. They could have had a whole line of software that could have captured that entire market and gotten people into the DS eco-system for life. They even did the grown-up version of Leapfrog software in Japan - English-Training, etc.
But as others noted, it's one thing to just crap out a "Mario Teaches Typing" game. It's another thing to do a "Brain Training," which is a diversion for adults, but at least based on some kind of research. It's a whole new world to deliver children education software that teachers, schools, parents, and psychologists agree is good for kids. I believe that American Pediatric Association (might be getting name wrong) still recommends kids be limited to 30-60 minutes of screen time a day.
Anyway, the DS was a low-cost piece of hardware that was extremely durable (at least the Phat was, in my experience). The 3DS is not that. I could see the 2DS being useful for kid/educational purposes, but I can't see Nintendo delivering the software. Which is too bad, because there's a lot of exciting stuff going on with software to help kids learn math, interactive history lessons would be totally sweet, an interactive virtual science lab would be amazing, etc. But I would guess Nintendo would put out a "Draw Inside the lines Mario Coloring Book!" and then wonder why people weren't buying it up.
Quick edit: One quick note on the licensing out characters to developers thing. I think Nintendo is over-estimating their brand appeal. Sure, developers would love to put out a Zelda or Mario game - but I would guess Nintendo won't just be giving out Mario and Link (Hyrule Warriors nonwithstanding). I don't think a lot of third party developers are going to say, "Well, we were going to develop a game for the huge PS4+XBone+PC marketplace, but you're saying we can develop a Captain Falcon game for the Wii U after paying extra licensing fees to Nintendo? Where do I sign up?!"
Shit, it definitely does for me. By the time I get home from work, change and set up my home workout area, and then work out for an hour, then change/shower and cook dinner, I barely have enough time to play games.
#firstworldproblems
DrROBschiz
Member
Lifestyle Products already has an industry though
At least here in the West it does on Smart devices and various other things
Heck they even had a hand in popularizing it with Wii and Wii fit.
I dunno I guess it could work out for them as a company... but for Gaming Nintendo fans... its looking like baby steps.
At least the acknowledge the issues with Unified accounts and Virtual Console
The Lifestyle Product industry right now is in it's infancy, comparable to the PalmOS/Windows Phone/Symbian OS era of "smart" phones. Basically it's waiting for it's Apple to come along and blow it up for the masses. The FitBit is the only decently popular brand that people may have heard of.
Will that be Nintendo? Doubtful, I don't think they have the smarts or the savvy to pull it off. Their name screams "kids games" to everyone, which is going to be hard for both moms and weightlifters to get behind.
jts
...hate me...
How many gym memberships your fast food company has sold so far?
Have any idea how many non-gaming QOL-related products Nintendo have sold in the last 5-10 years?
I think the key idea is the fitness/casual market is still huge but they might not want to shell out £200+ for a games system that might cater to their needs. Having a smaller dedicated platform for these people will allow Nintendo to capitalise on that market while continuing it's core game system. I also feel that may allow Nintendo not to jeopardies the main system like the Wii U by trying to cater to both audiences and instead make it a system fully aimed at the core.
pulga
Banned
Guys the only current gen hardware I own is a 3DS and WiiU. Stop acting like a deranged mob and please explain to me how peddling Vitality Sensors will get me quality 3rd and 1st party software into my starving machines.
You say Wii Fit was a success in the past? Great, fantastic for Nintendo's bottom line. Again, did I get a GTAV or Final Fantasy out of it? Nope
And how the bloody hell is a McCafe even comparable to my analogy? McDonalds and the coffee business are firmly entrenched in the food business, they successfully complimented each other.
You guys are more concerned with investor happiness than GAMER satisfaction.
You say Wii Fit was a success in the past? Great, fantastic for Nintendo's bottom line. Again, did I get a GTAV or Final Fantasy out of it? Nope
And how the bloody hell is a McCafe even comparable to my analogy? McDonalds and the coffee business are firmly entrenched in the food business, they successfully complimented each other.
You guys are more concerned with investor happiness than GAMER satisfaction.
So in essence, Nintendo will branch out towards:
- Digital content
- Educational software
- Character licensing
- Healthcare
The first 3 seem like reasonable, logical endeavours for a videogame company, but I fail to see what does healthcare has to do with videogames or how it could synergize with that area. Entertainement and pleasure are almost polar opposites from "health", Wiifit nonstanding.
It is also quite puzzling to hear about "non-wearables". Perhaps some kind of external health monitor? Also, did they mention anything about their console future? Will they get out of hardware?
I mean, they pretty much acknowdegled that portables are a dying breed...
- Digital content
- Educational software
- Character licensing
- Healthcare
The first 3 seem like reasonable, logical endeavours for a videogame company, but I fail to see what does healthcare has to do with videogames or how it could synergize with that area. Entertainement and pleasure are almost polar opposites from "health", Wiifit nonstanding.
It is also quite puzzling to hear about "non-wearables". Perhaps some kind of external health monitor? Also, did they mention anything about their console future? Will they get out of hardware?
I mean, they pretty much acknowdegled that portables are a dying breed...
This is a thread about Nintendo extending its business into QoL products.
Here are the slides from the Investors Meeting were you can read also what plans has Nintendo for Wii U on short term and for account system and software pricing on medium term.
In the end, this was a business focused conference, not an E3 and not even a Nintendo Direct.
Mario Textbooks incoming. Mario does Calculus, Mario does Physics. I can't wait.
Edit:
I wish they did do another Mario Teaches Typing, it was pretty fun. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Teaches_Typing#Mario_Teaches_Typing_games
Edit:
I wish they did do another Mario Teaches Typing, it was pretty fun. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Teaches_Typing#Mario_Teaches_Typing_games
biggersmaller
Banned
I'm shocked by the idiocy at Nintendo. Wii U is no longer Iwata's mistake to learn from, but is now proving to be the first mistake in a long line of failures to come. This is evidence of a complete lack of leadership or even rudimentary business understanding.
Nobody is asking for this confusing pile of excersise shit - hell, Apple can't even move the units in this sector required of Nintendo to save their sinking ship.
Nobody is asking for this confusing pile of excersise shit - hell, Apple can't even move the units in this sector required of Nintendo to save their sinking ship.
I understand your concern. As a fan of Nintendo's, who hopes they'll stay around, I hope they will find this additional source of revenue to prop up their business. But the investor's conference did very little for the Wii U in particular.
-DS games for Wii U
-more licenses given out to whoever
-higher focus on the gamepad
-quicker start-up.
That's all there was for Wii U.
I just hope that if Nintendo is healthier in general, it will have benefits for me as their consumer. Funding more exclusives, more willingness to create new IP, better use of their current franchises, etc.
Exterminieren
Banned
I'm more concerned about Nintendo proving themselves to be a sustainable business, which, by the evidence of the past few years, they haven't been.
I don't see this as a bigger betrayal of gamers than, say, Sony's life insurance branch. Diversity in business is good- one of Nintendo's biggest weaknesses lately has been its dependence on two products and two products alone. More products, (hopefully) more success, more Nintendo games.
Nintendo has been killing itself, and as nice as they would have been hardcore F-Zero or Star Fox instalments weren't going to be the things to fix that.
Also, SHOCK HORROR at an investor's conference looking to appeal to investors more than hardcore gamers.
jts
...hate me...
I understand that.
But being able to save its own bottom line will keep it in the gaming business.
You didn't get GTA V or Final Fantasy on the Wii, but you still got a loooot more healthy line up of gaming software on Wii than on the Wii U, and Wii Fit and other non-gaming products (even Wii Sports is a "QOL product" to some extend) that helped pushing Wii HW sales and Nintendo's financial health in general, have a lot of responsibility for it.
This is a very good thing, from a business perspective and gamer perspective.
From a business perspective it allows Nintendo to capitalise on some of their, and other peoples biggest successes from the past few years. Rock band, wii fit, brain age, art academy etc. More inclusive, widely appealing "software" (not games). I also feel that Nintendo stand no chance in the home console market, so this is a much smarter strategy for me
It also allows Nintendo to focus on the handheld amrket and (hopefully) capitalise on their decades of quality gaming with content that is available across a range of devices (a netflix like service available on smart tv's please?)
Sony and Microsoft both released less powerful PC's. Microsoft with a camera, sony with proposed streaming technology. something different is appreciated.
From a business perspective it allows Nintendo to capitalise on some of their, and other peoples biggest successes from the past few years. Rock band, wii fit, brain age, art academy etc. More inclusive, widely appealing "software" (not games). I also feel that Nintendo stand no chance in the home console market, so this is a much smarter strategy for me
It also allows Nintendo to focus on the handheld amrket and (hopefully) capitalise on their decades of quality gaming with content that is available across a range of devices (a netflix like service available on smart tv's please?)
Sony and Microsoft both released less powerful PC's. Microsoft with a camera, sony with proposed streaming technology. something different is appreciated.
Nostremitus
Member
Ok, I'll admit I haven't had time to go back and read this entire thread... but, non-wearables?
Like, gym equipment? health suppliments? What does that even mean?
Like, gym equipment? health suppliments? What does that even mean?
Exterminieren
Banned
Much of the success of this venture depends on what Iwata means by the non-wearable strategy.
The whole point of the leapfrog strategy is to provide something disruptive in the marketplace. If he's just trying to be clever and dress up a custom tablet or something as revolutionary in the marketplace, then this venture is doomed to failure. If, however, it's nothing we've seen before... well, I'm very sceptical, but that's what Iwata's promising, so we'll see.
The whole point of the leapfrog strategy is to provide something disruptive in the marketplace. If he's just trying to be clever and dress up a custom tablet or something as revolutionary in the marketplace, then this venture is doomed to failure. If, however, it's nothing we've seen before... well, I'm very sceptical, but that's what Iwata's promising, so we'll see.
McHuj
Member
The thing is Nintendo has no idea either. They looked at the upcoming trend of wearables and made a claim that they're looking beyond that. Great...
evilromero
Member
These could be the dark ages for Nintendo fans. We'll see. But the last year may serve as a prelude.
The Horror the horror
Banned
Why hasn't the board issued some sort of a gag order on Iwata?
He shouldn't even be allowed to speak on Nintendo's future direction beyond the Wii U and 3DS. In fact, he shouldn't be talking about anything but the two system and solutions to improve their sales.
He shouldn't even be allowed to speak on Nintendo's future direction beyond the Wii U and 3DS. In fact, he shouldn't be talking about anything but the two system and solutions to improve their sales.
pulga
Banned
So, them wasting resources on this lunacy doesn't warrant discussion on how it will affect their video game business? You know, the reason why they're relevant in the first place?
Nintendo is hardly strapped for cash.
and that's like saying a starving hobo is in better condition than a starving dog. One might be better off, but bottom line is they're both still starving. And from what I've gathered this is separate from the console business, so I don't see how it'll translate to more games.
Money hasn't been a concern for Nintendo these past few years though. We've all heard legends about their infamous war chest. What did we get? Hardly any worthwhile exclusives, couple of new eShop IPs, and Mario turning tricks more frequently than a RDL dame of the night.
I'm sure your stocks will be happy. Means fuck all to me if the QoL bullshit is generating millions upon millions while millions of other gamers like me will be holding our Wiimotes in one hand, dicks in the other. Maybe I can slap the Vitality Sensor on my johnson and feel some tingling sense of excitement over Nintendo again. Mmmm.
oh wait its nonwearables so I cant even do that
Exterminieren
Banned
This isn't a nebulous, pie-in-the-sky claim though. Iwata's issued a concrete timetable for getting it out next year. Whatever this is is deep in development, if not nearly finalised.
Well, there's no reason why caring for your health couldn't be also entertaining, though. That's why Nintendo sees potential in that particular field: Traditionally, a healthy lifestyle is more of a necessary evil to most people. It's not fun, but it needs to be done. Nintendo is searching for ways to improve people's health while also entertaining them.
I don't really believe that Nintendo will find success in that field. Actually, it feels to me like they are still hoping to attract that Wii Fit market from 5 years ago again, not realizing that the ship has sailed. But I don't think it's a completely implausible idea. It has potential. From what they said, though, it sounds random. But let's see what they've actually been working on...
evilromero
Member
We're not going to see the fruit of this for at least a year. It just seems to me like Iwata buying time.
pulga
Banned
I'd be all for this health business if it translated to more software. As proven by the Wii, appealing to the casuals and garnering a gajillion console sales does not equal more consistent quality software for gamers.
metalslimer
Member
Just look at what he said last night. All of this amazing things he is promising are launching in 2015 or later. If Nintendo had actually had a good year, would half this stuff even exist at all?
I really think Nintendo is not launching another regular console. Some kind of hyrbrid or different sets of hardware with the same internals. I can't even imagine the disaster of Nintendo trying to market and run this new stuff, a new more powerful console, and another handheld at the same time.
AcademicSaucer
Member
Nintendo needs this new business so they can have something to rely on when they exit the console market in a few years
Im sure he would rather keep it a secret but I guess the need to instill some confidence in investors considering how bad they are doing, outweighs the need to keep quiet. Beside they were so vague, its anyones guess what their actual plans are.
pulga
Banned
I can't wait to have Mario's smug mug shouting at me "RUN-A FASTER!" disapprovingly from the gym treadmill's LCD.
CoffeeJanitor
Member
This whole thing makes me sad. I really hope they keep this as just another source of revenue, but who knows depending on how well it does.
It also seems it could be Japan-focused again.
It also seems it could be Japan-focused again.
Treadmill, QOL and F-Zero's big comeback. There's certainly an idea here.
It also seems it could be Japan-focused again.
How did you figure that? See how well Touch Generations! and Wii series did in west.
Exterminieren
Banned
If Nintendo's business was going well, would they need to revolutionise their business?
The answer to that is a resounding "duh".
Nymphae
Banned
This is almost exactly my experience as well. I find I don't really mind as much as I thought I would when I was younger. The best stuff nowadays (to me anyway) tends to be found in shorter experiences anyway. I love shit like TLoU too, but it took me like a month to get through it. I've been playing Olli Olli every day since it came out, but haven't touched Assassins Creed 4 in over a month, because it's too big and too much of a slog, I don't feel like I accomplish much at all when I put like an hour into it.
metalslimer
Member
I'm not even talking about the QOL platform. I'm talking about the improvements that should have existed for at least 5 years. And if they really just realized that things were not going super well, it'll be a long time before we see much of anything. Iwata just stalled to 2015 so basically he got off for that incompetent projection.
Unless you expect this to make more money than Nintendo ever has from games then I really don't know why people are thinking this is Iwata's signal to get out of gaming.This whole thing makes me sad. I really hope they keep this as just another source of revenue, but who knows depending on how well it does.
It also seems it could be Japan-focused again.
Especially when he said the exact opposite of that.
It's really like you guys only read whatever you want regardless of reality.
He saying in the Q&A section that next console and handheld will be "at least" brothers strongly hints at the family of devices: all the same games, the same OS, same specific software features, same architecture, but different power (home device being much more powerful). It's quite probably the road they're taking. ...And you should be happy about that: much more titles, heavily reducing droughts of first party titles.
Buddha Beam
Banned
'eh... I think this is a misstep for them in a way. I don't think going after the QOL stuff is a bad idea, per se, as they've been somewhat active in that space for years and that's where technology is trending.
But at the same time, Nintendo isn't fundamentally a QOL company. They're an entertainment company. They should be getting into movies, TV, theme parks and toys. That's a more natural extension for them to branch out into and one where there isn't nearly as much (slated) competition over the next few years.
If Nintendo has shown an unwillingness to do anything, it's be actively competitive. I suspect they'll be crushed by more nimble, smaller startups that are able to blow up quickly (even if they too wind up crashing and burning just a few years later).
Fully leveraging their IPs and expanding into other media seems to me like the easy way to more money.
But at the same time, Nintendo isn't fundamentally a QOL company. They're an entertainment company. They should be getting into movies, TV, theme parks and toys. That's a more natural extension for them to branch out into and one where there isn't nearly as much (slated) competition over the next few years.
If Nintendo has shown an unwillingness to do anything, it's be actively competitive. I suspect they'll be crushed by more nimble, smaller startups that are able to blow up quickly (even if they too wind up crashing and burning just a few years later).
Fully leveraging their IPs and expanding into other media seems to me like the easy way to more money.