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[Father_Brain]

f Nintendo were to go third party, we wouldn't see nearly as much game variety as we do now. All we'd see are Smash, Mario, Zelda, Metroid, & Splatoon. Pokémon would likely fall off the wayside or become something else entirely due to Game Freak's refusal to make a mainline Pokémon game for consoles & Sony's ill-fated attempts at making a handheld.

Which may or may not prove the case, but it has nothing to do with the argument that the market has changed so fundamentally in the past half-decade that there's simply no longer enough room for Nintendo in between the mobile and PS4/XB1 ends of the market. In which case, exiting the hardware business - while not easy, painless, or without its downsides - would be the lesser of two evils.

 

[Neoxon]

Exactly. Generational transitions will be as smooth as a 3DS to n3DS transition going forward.

FTFY, as the n3DS is actually a step up in power from the original.

 

[ArchedThunder]

FTFY, as the n3DS is actually a step up in power from the original.

3DS XL is a nicer comparison since the XL sold really well and pretty much replaced the original 3DS. While obviously the n3DS is a better comparison from a tech standpoint, the success of the XL replacing the basic 3DS is what they should shoot for.

No way Xbox one and PS4 last 5 years, 360 was like 7 years and PS3 was 6 years, I see these system going closer to 10 years

The specs that MS and Sony went with were clearly not meant to last for 10 years. The consoles will likely stay on the market for 10 years, but the PS5 and Xbox Two will probably launch around 2020, give or take a year.

 

[Calamari41]

FTFY, as the n3DS is actually a step up in power from the original.

I was going to use that example, and it is more apt power-wise, except I don't think there will be any "NX2 exclusive" games. I think that it will be more a case where NX3 games won't be able to be played on NX1 instead.

Pure speculation, of course.

 

[Gsnap]

If the NX project goes as planned, they can release new SKUs around that time that play the same games, if they want.

Reading between the lines of what Iwata was saying about the NX program, they're playing this one similar to Apple's policy towards upgrades, with regular incremental updates.

Which would be weird given how we're used to buying consoles, but if executed properly it might be the best solution they have.

People get new phones every couple of years, but new consoles generally take 5 or more because the changes between each gen are too big and the price is too high.

If they can keep the price low and make new, upgraded skus let's say every two years with all "older" games playable on all hardware more people will likely buy into the idea. That's a potentially huge install base that shouldn't be ignored. It's one of the few scenarios that could actually lead to better 3rd party support. And even if it doesn't, the game library from nintendo and Japanese 3rd parties alone would be huge.

 

[ArchedThunder]

I was going to use that example, and it is more apt power-wise, except I don't think there will be any "NX2 exclusive" games. I think that it will be more a case where NX3 games won't be able to be played on NX1 instead.

Pure speculation, of course.

Yeah, that's how I would think it would go, basically release a powered up revision every 2 years and they only start to phase out a device support wise when it's 6 years old, but even then a lot of the games would still be compatible.

 

[Josh5890]

Which would be weird given how we're used to buying consoles, but if executed properly it might be the best solution they have.

People get new phones every couple of years, but new consoles generally take 5 or more because the changes between each gen are too big and the price is too high.

If they can keep the price low and make new, upgraded skus let's say every two years with all "older" games playable on all hardware more people will likely buy into the idea. That's a potentially huge install base that shouldn't be ignored. It's one of the few scenarios that could actually lead to better 3rd party support. And even if it doesn't, the game library from nintendo and Japanese 3rd parties alone would be huge.

Gamestop could make a killing with trade in handhelds.

 

[Oregano]

Oh man, I'd absolutely love it if Nintendo started localizing Taiko games out of desperation. Total dream scenario.

Desperate Nintendo is best Nintendo.

Spoiler

Definitely not happening

 

[Kimawolf]

Gamestop could make a killing with trade in handhelds.

Yeah. Come trade in your NXP for 100.00 off the NXP2! Would be genius. I also predicted this would be the way they go a while back in another thread. The Apple way of offering new HW every two years while still maintaining the old HW. Oy allows them to not take HUGE jumps while still competing. Or hell even putting out "elite" speccecd systems since they will all play the same game.

So now diehard fan can spend 400.00 on elite system and casual fan, or Zelda fan can spend 200.00 or whatever.

 

[Kjellson]

I bet it's going to revealed the first thing in 2016.

I can just imagine standing with a glass of champagne, a bit drunk and randomly checking GAF and see the thread "Nintendo NX revealed!".

 

[Ryng_tolu]

Not sure how anyone can think the system isn't launching next year.

The Wii U lineup is dead.

Nintendo annunced a new game only 2 days ago...

 

[ArchedThunder]

I bet it's going to revealed the first thing in 2016.

I can just imagine standing with a glass of champagne, a bit drunk and randomly checking GAF and see the thread "Nintendo NX revealed!".

Man, the day that they finally announce NX will be kinda surreal. I can't wait to find out what the actual name is and how they denote the different devices.
"Name
Handheld" and
"Name
Console" would be really boring, but if they get to creative with the names they run the risk of confusing people again.

Nintendo annunced a new game only 2 days ago...

The Pokemon Company announced a console port of an arcade game made by Namco that has been in development for a good while.

 

[jeffers]

Man, the day that they finally announce NX will be kinda surreal. I can't wait to find out what the actual name is and how they denote the different devices.
"Name
Handheld" and
"Name
Console" would be really boring, but if they get to creative with the names they run the risk of confusing people again.



The Pokemon Company announced a console port of an arcade game made by Namco that has been in development for a good while.

the Nintendo Go and the Nintendo Power

 

[ArchedThunder]

the Nintendo Go and the Nintendo Power

Go and Power might work, but not if NX is just called "Nintendo", I think that would still be really confusing to people.

 

[jeffers]

Go and Power might work, but not if NX is just called "Nintendo", I think that would still be really confusing to people.

UHHHH.... Nintendo... Game and Go, Game and Power

but yeah, theres maybe an overarching name for the family (whats Apples? just apple gadgets?) then the devices themselves, then the OS. Guess you merge family/OS into an ecosystem name. Also hard to guess since itll have QoL stuff as well.

 

[StevieP]

Uh Id call the DS4 normal..

It's got a touch pad, motion sensing and a speaker. Kind of like the Wii u gamepad if you removed the screen and added an annoying light. The battery life is even the same!

These are the things that should be expected on modern controllers.

Which may or may not prove the case, but it has nothing to do with the argument that the market has changed so fundamentally in the past half-decade that there's simply no longer enough room for Nintendo in between the mobile and PS4/XB1 ends of the market. In which case, exiting the hardware business - while not easy, painless, or without its downsides - would be the lesser of two evils.

The traditional console market isn't exactly healthy. Your response implies that there's room for the Xbox one in this market, for example, when that console only has 1 real active worldwide market.

In Japan, the ps4 has a long ways to go before it becomes as relevant as the dead-as-door nails Wii u. And that sales spike, should it come eventually, is courtesy of the massive spend Supplied almost single handedly by square.

Continuing to look at the market years down the line: when do casuals start picking up the ps4 so it can even begin to approach the PS3 sales totals? People keep telling me that's what Morpheus is for, but that will jack the price of the console up by at least a couple hundred dollars. VR will likely remain a hobbyist tool until its pricing is friendlier. It's more likely the console gets saturated out quicker than previous generations because those casuals are playing game of war and angry candy crush pig farming witch saga and are likely to continue doing so.

What's my point? If you want to stay in the market you're entrenched in, you have to find your space. If you want to be truly successful in said market, you also have to find a way to get the attention of the mass market, not just the more hardcore players. It's on Nintendo to do so. Good ideas are still capable of selling.

 

[StevieP]

Dp sorry

 

[M1ch04c4n0]

Not sure how anyone can think the system isn't launching next year.

The Wii U lineup is dead.

Then, where are the leaks? The announcements? The power or specs rumors? If the system is launching next year, the games for it are half way production at LEAST.

 

[Calamari41]

Then, where are the leaks? The announcements? The power or specs rumors? If the system is launching next year, the games for it are half way production at LEAST.

Square straight up announced Dragon Quest XI for it, before they backpedaled.

 

[Exterminieren]

Nintendo annunced a new game only 2 days ago...

That game was announced over a year ago, and we first saw it nearly two years ago. It's hardly a sign of healthy, ongoing support.

Then, where are the leaks? The announcements? The power or specs rumors? If the system is launching next year, the games for it are half way production at LEAST.

We've had all of those.

We don't know much less about the NX than we knew about the PS4 in summer 2012, honestly.

 

[Majanew]

It's got a touch pad, motion sensing and a speaker. Kind of like the Wii u gamepad if you removed the screen and added an annoying light. The battery life is even the same!

Nothing like the Wii U pad because DS4 is close to the same design and size of DS3, while the Wii U pad is a giant rectangle trying to be a tablet. The pro controller for Wii U is a traditional controller.

 

[Schweinehund]

Direct early next year, playable at E3, release Nov 2016.

 

[sörine]

Then, where are the leaks? The announcements? The power or specs rumors? If the system is launching next year, the games for it are half way production at LEAST.

We had leaks coming out of E3 where Nintendo was evidently shopping it around to western devs. System performance is rumored to be stronger than Wii U but weaker than PS4. The handheld screen is probably 540p to 720p going by other rumors. And of course we had DQ-Gate where X and XI were announced and then unannounced for the system.

Nothing like the Wii U pad because DS4 is close to the same design and size of DS3, while the Wii U pad is a giant rectangle trying to be a tablet. The pro controller for Wii U is a traditional controller.

They could do more traditional controller shape with a smaller touchscreen and gyros. In fact that's exactly what I'm hoping for.

 

[Neoxon]

Direct early next year, playable at E3, release Nov 2016.

I'm not sure if they would blow their load that early in the year, more so when SMTxFE & Pokkén Tournament are still big Wii U titles on the way (more so the latter). This is under the assumption that Zelda U will be a cross-gen release.

We had leaks coming out of E3 where Nintendo was evidently shopping it around to western devs. System performance is rumored to be stronger than Wii U but weaker than PS4. The handheld screen is probably 540p to 720p going by other rumors. And of course we had DQ-Gate where X and XI were announced and then unannounced for the system.


They could do more traditional controller shape with a smaller touchscreen and gyros. In fact that's exactly what I'm hoping for.

The source in question never specified which version of the NX. And even then, he later went on to say that he had good news on the subject, though he has yet to elaborate on what the good news was specifically.

 

[ArchedThunder]

The source in question never specified which version of the NX. And even then, he later went on to say that he had good news on the subject, though he has yet to elaborate on what the good news was specifically.

I don't think that we can honestly expect the handheld to be between Wii U and PS4, it'll probably be right around 360/Wii U.

 

[Calamari41]

I don't think that we can honestly expect the handheld to be between Wii U and PS4, it'll probably be right around 360/Wii U.

I expect the handheld to be able to play the average Wii U game at whatever resolution the screen ends up being.

 

[Josh5890]

They could do more traditional controller shape with a smaller touchscreen and gyros. In fact that's exactly what I'm hoping for.

A smaller touch screen is almost a guarantee. If we are talking about a unified system then off-tv play will be unnecessary. A smaller screen for games like Splatoon with the map or another Mario Maker would be perfect.

 

[Josh5890]

I don't think that we can honestly expect the handheld to be between Wii U and PS4, it'll probably be right around 360/Wii U.

Well the 3DS can apparently handle Hyrule Warriors. I'm sure it will be dumbed down quite a bit but getting a handheld around the Wii-U level isn't hard apparently

 

[Father_Brain]

The traditional console market isn't exactly healthy. Your response implies that there's room for the Xbox one in this market, for example, when that console only has 1 real active worldwide market.

In Japan, the ps4 has a long ways to go before it becomes as relevant as the dead-as-door nails Wii u. And that sales spike, should it come eventually, is courtesy of the massive spend Supplied almost single handedly by square.

Continuing to look at the market years down the line: when do casuals start picking up the ps4 so it can even begin to approach the PS3 sales totals? People keep telling me that's what Morpheus is for, but that will jack the price of the console up by at least a couple hundred dollars. VR will likely remain a hobbyist tool until its pricing is friendlier. It's more likely the console gets saturated out quicker than previous generations because those casuals are playing game of war and angry candy crush pig farming witch saga and are likely to continue doing so.

What's my point? If you want to stay in the market you're entrenched in, you have to find your space. If you want to be truly successful in said market, you also have to find a way to get the attention of the mass market, not just the more hardcore players. It's on Nintendo to do so. Good ideas are still capable of selling.

It's not that I see the overall console market as healthy. It's that I see Nintendo as easily being in the worst position of the big three, outside the Japanese handheld market, which is not nearly large enough to justify the hardware business on its own.

"Get the attention of the mass market" effectively equates to "catch lightning in a bottle again," and that's not a strategy.

Feel free to disagree, but the primary conclusion I draw from Wii U's failure, and from 3DS' premature decline in the West, is not that Nintendo is suffering from mistakes specific to those platforms (though of course they are); it's that, increasingly, Nintendo software is no longer compelling enough to justify a hardware purchase on its own.

 

[Oregano]

Well the 3DS can apparently handle Hyrule Warriors. I'm sure it will be dumbed down quite a bit but getting a handheld around the Wii-U level isn't hard apparently

Koei Tecmo is the king of scalable engines. Attack on Titan and DQ Heroes both lead on PS4 with downports to Vita/PS3 and Hyrule Warriors on 3DS too.

 

[ArchedThunder]

Well the 3DS can apparently handle Hyrule Warriors. I'm sure it will be dumbed down quite a bit but getting a handheld around the Wii-U level isn't hard apparently

The graphics got a pretty major downgrade for the 3DS version.

 

[I Stalk Alone]

Nintendo have already repeatedly said NX is a "dedicated home console which offers a new concept"

can you source me that exact quote? it is a quote, correct?

 

[Neoxon]

Nintendo have already repeatedly said NX is a "dedicated home console which offers a new concept"

They never said "home console", they just said game platform or something along those lines. Plus, given the recent patent, all signs point to the NX being a platform with multiple systems (likely one home console, & one handheld) with the same architecture, same OS, most of the same games, & different power levels.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Depends when/if they announce a new CEO by then.

I still feel fucking sad about Iwata.

 

[sn00zer]

I was in the store looking to buy a 3DS and actually stopped to wait and see what the NX will be. Im hoping its a PS4/X1 console with a detachable or controlle that functions as a 3DS.

 

[Neoxon]

I was in the store looking to buy a 3DS and actually stopped to wait and see what the NX will be. Im hoping its a PS4/X1 console with a detachable or controlle that functions as a 3DS.

As we've been discussing & like the patent implies, the NX platform will likely be a platform with multiple form factors. Two of which will probably be a home console version & a handheld version. Could the two versions interface with one another, most likely, but we don't know at the moment.

 

[sn00zer]

As we've been discussing & like the patent implies, the NX platform will likely be a platform with multiple form factors. Two of which will probably be a home console version & a handheld version. Could the two versions interface with one another, most likely, but we don't know at the moment.

Hmmmmm well Im really looking forward to owning my first Nintendo console. Hoping either will have insane backwards compatibility.

 

[Neoxon]

Hmmmmm well Im really looking forward to owning my first Nintendo console. Hoping either will have insane backwards compatibility.

I wouldn't get your hopes up for the NX Console having backwards compatibility. The GameCube, Wii, & Wii U all used the PowerPC architecture. And not only is PowerPC on its way out, but it's also not handheld-friendly. Plus Nintendo's programmers (while talented) aren't on Microsoft's level to the point of being able to get the NX Console to emulate the Wii U.

 

[Nostremitus]

I wouldn't get your hopes up for the NX Console having backwards compatibility. The GameCube, Wii, & Wii U all used the PowerPC architecture. And not only is PowerPC on its way out, but it's also not handheld-friendly. Plus Nintendo's programmers (while talented) aren't on Microsoft's level to the point of being able to get the NX Console to emulate the Wii U.

My understanding was that Microsoft licensed that tech from an outside source. Nintendo could do the same.

That, and considering how well the single core version of that chip has been emulated, I have no doubt that Nintendo could do the same with the tricore considering that they'd be starting from a point in which they have all the documentation and have a say in the design of the CPU that would be doing the emulation.

 

[Maxrunner]

I wouldn't get your hopes up for the NX Console having backwards compatibility. The GameCube, Wii, & Wii U all used the PowerPC architecture. And not only is PowerPC on its way out, but it's also not handheld-friendly. Plus Nintendo's programmers (while talented) aren't on Microsoft's level to the point of being able to get the NX Console to emulate the Wii U.

What??

 

[Bookman]

Why cant they just use Dolphin-ish software? Make a consol that can emulate gamecube ----> Wii in 1080p and release som texture patches for the games that need em the Most and bam = it prints money

 

[Grampa Simpson]

Announce in March 2016 and confirmation if they're going handheld or console first, full blowout at e3, and release in November 2016. Other form factor in November 2017.

 

[Neoxon]

What??

Microsoft is literally on another level when it comes to their programmers. That's not to say that Nintendo's programmers aren't talented by any stretch of the imagination, it's just that Microsoft's are top-tier.

 

[Trogdor1123]

I think we will have to wait and see who the new CEO is, that person could change the entire direction the company is going and as a result the machine may be 100% different.

We will hear something next year though one way or another.

 

[Trogdor1123]

Microsoft is literally on another level when it comes to their programmers. That's not to say that Nintendo's programmers aren't talented by any stretch of the imagination, it's just that Microsoft's are top-tier.

And they should be, they have way more money and way more resources to draw on. I would be shocked if they were not better.

 

[Sadist]

I think we will have to wait and see who the new CEO is, that person could change the entire direction the company is going and as a result the machine may be 100% different.

We will hear something next year though one way or another.

You do realise that Nintendo internally went through several changes over the past few years? Whatever the NX is, a new CEO is going along with the platform.

Iwata didn't change much about the Gamecube when he became the CEO after Yamauchi stepped down.

 

[ArkhamFantasy]

I think we will have to wait and see who the new CEO is, that person could change the entire direction the company is going and as a result the machine may be 100% different.

We will hear something next year though one way or another.

I dont think thats likely, they will probably just keep doing the same plan that they had with Iwata.

As long as the new CEO actually cares about games then im happy, i dont care about his qualifications.

 

[Macka]

I think we will have to wait and see who the new CEO is, that person could change the entire direction the company is going and as a result the machine may be 100% different.

We will hear something next year though one way or another.

I highly doubt there would be any major changes made to the system at this point based on the whims of whoever takes the helm as CEO. It's too late.

 

[Neoxon]

I think we will have to wait and see who the new CEO is, that person could change the entire direction the company is going and as a result the machine may be 100% different.

We will hear something next year though one way or another.

I doubt the platform will be any different than how Iwata envisioned it as.

 

[GDGF]

I dont think thats likely, they will probably just keep doing the same plan that they had with Iwata.

As long as the new CEO actually cares about games then im happy, i dont care about his qualifications.

The board is going to choose the next CEO. They won't promote someone to that position that won't carry out Iwata's ideas.