By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Is 2017 Nintendo's Finest Hour?

Nintendo is doing very well this year. Is it their finest hour? Here are some other times to consider:

1987 - Nintendo revives console gaming from the dead in the US. This was actually an effort for the whole late 80's, but 1987 was when the NES really started to take off and the first time it was marketed nationwide and actually even sold nationwide.

1983 - The Famicom launches in Japan, creating their video game market. This might not seem like a big deal unless you realize that gaming is a much bigger part of Japanese culture than it is in the rest of the world. The Famicom is where this culture comes from.

1998 - Pokemon Red/Blue released worldwide. At this point Gameboy sales were extremely low, considering it was released 9 years earlier, but Pokemon revives the console's sales to high levels again until the GBA is released in 2001 and makes it by far the longest relevant console. (1989 to 2001) It basically had its own 12 year generation while most consoles go 4 - 7 years until the next one is released. Although this might just be Game Freak's finest hour instead of Nintendo's.

2007 - With the Wii selling out and the DS also going strong, Nintendo is crushing both home and handheld markets with the Wii being scalped on Ebay for significantly more than its sticker price.

Nintendo has had several moments where they seemed to come out of nowhere and surprise everyone with amazing success. The Switch is doing extremely well this year, but I think its best years are still in the future.



Around the Network

How low would ones standards have to be to consider this Nintendo's "Finest hour"?



2017 is more like a turning point than a finest hour. It will be remembered as the year when they switched thier hardware strategy form a home + handheld duo to an hybrid device.



Feelings are irrelevant when they fly in the face of fact. You only felt like you weren't Nintendo's target demographic because you bought into a myth perpetuated by people trying to attack Nintendo. The fact that you were still the target of their flagship games shows that you were actually a part of their target audience.

As for their finest hour. It's not 2017, but (so far) 2007.

2006 and 2007 saw far greater growth demand, and also saw Nintendo's market cap peak at an astounding 85 billion USD (https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/nintendo-market-value-tops-85-billion/). around the time they launched Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo had a meteoric rise in popularity:

1. April 2005 to March 2006: 21.5 Million
(8M GBA, 11.5M DS, 2M GC)

2. April 2006 to March 2007: 34.5 Million
(6M Wii, 0.5M GC, 4.5M GBA, 23.5M DS)

3. April 2007 to March 2008: 50.5 Million
(18.5M Wii, 30.5 Million DS, 1.5M GBA)

4. April 2008 to March 2009: 58 Million
(26M Wii, 31M DS, 1M GBA)


Nintendo's finest hour was a decade ago.
If they can top that, it's to be seen in the future. They haven't yet.

Last edited by Jumpin - on 17 November 2017

I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

I wouldn't say it's their finest hour... however they've released possibly their greatest game on their best hardwares this year during what feels like a video game renaissance i.e. new platformers and the evolution of and the creation of new IPs. Play with your friends at home or on the go with customizable setups... how does one resist?

PS: I'm waiting for their next console... but if I weren't a Wii U owner I most certainly would have a Switch by now (florescent yellow/green joycons please)



Feel free to check out my stream on twitch 

Around the Network

Light our darkest hour.

Wow, it actually turned out pretty well.

Last edited by caffeinade - on 17 November 2017

It's their best year for the past decade, though it is arguable for other years before that



NintenDomination [May 2015 - July 2017]
 

  - Official  VGChartz Tutorial Thread - 

NintenDomination [2015/05/19 - 2017/07/02]
 

          

 

 

Here lies the hidden threads. 

 | |

Nintendo Metascore | Official NintenDomination | VGC Tutorial Thread

| Best and Worst of Miiverse | Manga Discussion Thead |
[3DS] Winter Playtimes [Wii U]

Definitely was the Wii/DS era



I'm pretty sure 2008 was their biggest year sales wise, the DS and Wii were selling gangbusters.



In terms of software output, yes. But even with Mario and Zelda, I still believe the best is yet to come for Nintendo's 2018 and 2019. This Switch thing is about to get mad software from Nintendo's 1st party.