Arde: I agree, Nintendo spend big on getting things right thru R&D, market analysis and they then need to recoup this cost. However i feel that once this is achieved that they essentially sit back and watch the profits roll in rather than trying to put back into the system to keep it rolling long term. Not saying they don't support their own systems of course, compartively speaking i feel Sony and MS do a better job at it though and their driving force is because they are still striving for that profitability after having to recoup R&D, market analysis and console manufacturing losses which results in a better long term result.
I would love to see the Wii have a 6-7yr mainstream lifespan, but this will be dependant on the efforts Ninty put back into it in terms of keeping sales rolling forwards.
jstam: The DS was a risk. and it paid off, but effort went back into the original DS to now have the DS Lite. The makeover is one area Nintendo seem to have gotten right. GBA to GBA-SP. But beyond the makeover the DS still has a lot of untapped potential IMHO that could continue to drive sales well into the future. Sony hasn't been applauded by many for its blu-ray decision, it has recieved some praise on some fronts but not much. But Sony extends beyond the VG market and into movies and long term i feel that blu-ray in the PS3 will mean that sony won't see their new HD format go the way of Beta tapes, or minidisc, so the risk (i hope for Sony's sake) is a long term calculated corporate risk considering all aspects of the company.
So as no one is confused i am a Nintendo Fanboy. I own a Wii, 4 Wiimotes + chuks, 7 games, 2x DS Lites, 26 games and a bunch of other merchandise. That being said i'm not afraid to look at Nintendo with a critical eye, the same as i would look at Sony or MS.
