Nintendo speculation - LET IT BEGIN

[Nando]

So will Nintendo make their own Smartphones/Tablets in the future?

http://www.siliconera.com/2013/02/04/nintendo-interested-in-creating-multiple-hardware-devices/


“What we are saying is that we would like to integrate software development methods, operating systems, and built-in software and software assets for each platform so that we can use them across different machines,” Iwata explained to Q&A attendees. “This means that if we manage to integrate our platforms successfully, we may in fact be able to make more platforms.”

 

He elaborated: “At the moment, we only have our current handheld devices and home consoles because if we tried to make more platforms, our development resources would be spread too thinly. The more we can share software across different platforms, the more development resources will be left for something else.”

[jeffhlewis]

Part of me still thinks that Nintendo will be getting out of the hardware business in the next 5-10 years. I just don't see them being competitive on that front with Sony/Microsoft long term.

Either that or they're just going to go all-mobile on cheap devices.

[KingDrool]

I don't know about Smartphones or Tablets. I mean, hell, who'd buy a Nintendo phone? (Other than me). But he does seem to be talking about going with the Apple model with iPhone/iPod/iPad. All of them have the same OS.

Nintendo president, Satoru Iwata, provided a few general specifics, including that future Nintendo hardware will share operating systems, built-in software and software development methods across multiple devices. This will make development easier and help avoid software shortages at launch.

It only makes sense. Frankly, I think it's fuggin' retarded that my WiiU doesn't communicate with my 3DS and that I can't play - at the very least - Virtual Console games from one system to the other. Hell, even Sony's got that going on.

[Arkhan]

Part of me still thinks that Nintendo will be getting out of the hardware business in the next 5-10 years. I just don't see them being competitive on that front with Sony/Microsoft long term.

Either that or they're just going to go all-mobile on cheap devices.

I doubt they'll bail on hardware.  Their hardware, while not "competitive" from a power standpoint, is more than competitive on a software/sales standpoint.


The Wii U isn't exactly a dud, and the DS has been kicking ass and taking names since the very first one came out. 

[_joshuaTurbo]

Part of me still thinks that Nintendo will be getting out of the hardware business in the next 5-10 years. I just don't see them being competitive on that front with Sony/Microsoft long term.

Either that or they're just going to go all-mobile on cheap devices.

I doubt they'll bail on hardware.  Their hardware, while not "competitive" from a power standpoint, is more than competitive on a software/sales standpoint.


The Wii U isn't exactly a dud, and the DS has been kicking ass and taking names since the very first one came out. 

Also, if you consider the 360/PS3/Wii a generation (even if hardwarewise there is no competition) Didn't The Big N have almost 50% of the market?  I'd say Nintendo and their console development are at the strongest since the SNES days.

[Nando]

Hardware keeps their IPs where they belong, inside the house creating value. One of the main reasons we haven't seen any official Nintendo games outside of their systems. Their franchises/name is what keeps them around. Hopefully their business models keeps them afloat.

[jeffhlewis]

Also, if you consider the 360/PS3/Wii a generation (even if hardwarewise there is no competition) Didn't The Big N have almost 50% of the market?  I'd say Nintendo and their console development are at the strongest since the SNES days.

I'm sure they sold more Wii's than Sony and MS sold their systems, due to capturing the casual market and the cheaper price point, but I have a hard time believing that the attach rate on the Wii is anywhere near what it was on the X360 or PS3. 90% of the people I know with a Wii own...

1.) Wii Sports
2.) Wii Fitness

...and most haven't turned the machine on in about 2 years.

[HercTNT]

Nintendo goes back to playing cards. Meteor strikes earth, all power is lost. Nintendo captures 100% of market

[SignOfZeta]

The Wii was sold at a profit from day one. The PS3 was sold at a huge loss and only recently became a zero loss/profit machine. MS is still trying to make back the money they lost from the original Xbox.

Nintendo has made more money from the last Pokemon game than Sony has made off the entire PS3. (This is an exaggeration, but the idea that Sony is somehow doing better than Nintendo in any tangible area is hilariously backwards.)

You can't look at everything from the perspective of hardcore OG gaming nerdism. What keeps a company in business is money, and Nintendo makes way way more money than the game divisions of MS and Sony. The idea that they are so poor and down in the dumps that they'd have to be Sega-ed out of hardware betrays total ignorance of WTF is going on with games.

Will Nintendo make "a phone"? Short answer, yes. The definition of "phone" is changing constantly with actual "phone conversations" not even being that common anymore compared to everything else we do on a phone. A more basic question would be, "Will Nintendo sell a mobile data enabled device that does a million things wirelessly, including possible voice communication?" And the answer is certainly "yes" because everyone is making those things or will be soon.

[jeffhlewis]

You can't look at everything from the perspective of hardcore OG gaming nerdism. What keeps a company in business is money, and Nintendo makes way way more money than the game divisions of MS and Sony. The idea that they are so poor and down in the dumps that they'd have to be Sega-ed out of hardware betrays total ignorance of WTF is going on with games.

I'm well aware that Nintendo owns the casual market, and that the casual market drives bucks, and that our segment of the market is a niche at best. That was kind of my whole point - that the Wii moved a shit ton of hardware, then proceeded to collect dust in most users' homes.

I certainly don't think Nintendo is going to "Sega" themselves to death - they aren't that dumb. But thinking long term past this next generation of consoles, it's hard to ignore headlines like this: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323701904578273120108154866.html

[_joshuaTurbo]

You can't look at everything from the perspective of hardcore OG gaming nerdism. What keeps a company in business is money, and Nintendo makes way way more money than the game divisions of MS and Sony. The idea that they are so poor and down in the dumps that they'd have to be Sega-ed out of hardware betrays total ignorance of WTF is going on with games.

I'm well aware that Nintendo owns the casual market, and that the casual market drives bucks, and that our segment of the market is a niche at best. That was kind of my whole point - that the Wii moved a shit ton of hardware, then proceeded to collect dust in most users' homes.

I certainly don't think Nintendo is going to "Sega" themselves to death - they aren't that dumb. But thinking long term past this next generation of consoles, it's hard to ignore headlines like this: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323701904578273120108154866.html

Well I've got a family home with kids and our Wii gets more playtime than the 360 does in our family room.  My 14 year old spends a good chunk of time playing his 360 up in his room sure, but our Wii gets plenty of playtime for sure.

[SignOfZeta]

I use my Wii a lot more than my PS3. Both are primarily for movies though.

[futureman2000]

I haven't read these Iwata quotes, but I had heard that they are unifying their console and handheld divisions. Whatever they have in the works, I would guess that it involves common software between the 3DS and WiiU, and no new hardware. I also heard a rumor that they will be releasing something that lets you use the 3DS on the WiiU, but that sounds a lot like the BS that they tried to pull on the gamecube (Crystal Chronicles- every player needed a gba).

[TheClash603]

Nintendo needs to unify their shops, that's all that has to happen.  It should be up to the publisher if they want to make eshop games cross-buy, such as the PS3/Vita.  The benefit is the chance people will buy a game that can be played on 2 systems for the sake of value, but the cost being a possible lack of duplicate sales.

The biggest cross-buy issue between the two systems is their unique capabilities.  Would a developer put any effort in 3D effects if the game is cross-buy?  Will developers use the dual screen capabilities of the Wii U, or just take the easy way out and have play on screen or tv modes?

[futureman2000]

They will probably put some DS games on the WiiU eshop, which could be cool.