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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Furukawa: "Expanding the gaming population no longer fits the current situation"

Louie on 01 February 2019

What Furukawa means is that due to smartphones being everywhere, there is no need to expand the gaming population anymore - because most people these days are already gaming! That, of course, does not mean Nintendo will only target an older core demographic.

Quite the contrary: When two of your big current games are 2D Mario and a more casual version of Pokémon and your heaviest hitters for 2019 are Animal Crossing, Pokémon and a more affordable Switch Mini (+ Yoga Watch in Japan) you are clearly trying to expand your user base. But these casual gamers already are gamers these days, so there is no need to explain the concept of gaming. Instead, you can target your mass market software at a hot market instead of a cold one like they had to do with Wii / DS.



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HoloDust on 01 February 2019

Well, whatever they're doing, they better figure out how to get the kids back...while anecdotal, only exposure my younger son's friends have to Nintendo is when they come to our home and play Wii or WiiU together. Other than that, from what I've observed in their age group (10), it's all about Fortnite this and Fortnite that (it used to Minecraf this and Minecraft that) and Playstation.



outlawauron on 01 February 2019

 

TheMisterManGuy said: 
outlawauron said:

 

Where did you get this impression. Please cite sources.

If something under-performs badly, they just stop doing it. Like every other rational company in the world.

https://www.mcvuk.com/consoles/miyamoto-ponders-return-to-wii-music

https://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/02/iwata_wii_music_didnt_reach_potential-2/

"I think it sold lower than our expectations but on the other hand it was a really unique game." - Shigeru Miyamoto

They never said it was an outright failure, but this is a case where a big casual title fails to meet Nintendo's expectations with the company admitting as such. 

Besides, as a publicly traded entity, Nintendo is obligated to be honest about the commercial performance and sales expectations of big releases. They have to make it clear to investors what they expect from a title, and how well its met those expectations. 

There are plenty of flops that get glossed over and Iwata was specfically asked if Wii Music was a sucess or not. I wouldn't characterize answering an interview question as coming out and saying it. Especially when none of the other mistakes are outright mentioned (nor should they be). They focus on those parts of their business and they should.

RolStoppable said:

Furukawa knows what's up. Pages 9-17 in the following link outline Nintendo's direction going forward. Nothing new, really, but it's a good summary for those who've never paid attention before.

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2019/190201_2e.pdf

I was pretty surprised to see investors so upset with it. Switch is doing super well, and Nintendo doesn't feel the need to invest in mobile any more. 



"We'll toss the dice however they fall,
And snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
Then follow young Mat whenever he calls,
To dance with Jak o' the Shadows."

Check out MyAnimeList and my Game Collection. Owner of the 5 millionth post.

zorg1000 on 01 February 2019

 

HoloDust said:
Well, whatever they're doing, they better figure out how to get the kids back...while anecdotal, only exposure my younger son's friends have to Nintendo is when they come to our home and play Wii or WiiU together. Other than that, from what I've observed in their age group (10), it's all about Fortnite this and Fortnite that (it used to Minecraf this and Minecraft that) and Playstation.

Well it's a good thing that Switch has both Minecraft & Fortnite. Hopefully they get the next mega kids craze too.



When the herd loses its way, the shepard must kill the bull that leads them astray.

zorg1000 on 01 February 2019

 

Louie said:

What Furukawa means is that due to smartphones being everywhere, there is no need to expand the gaming population anymore - because most people these days are already gaming! That, of course, does not mean Nintendo will only target an older core demographic.

Quite the contrary: When two of your big current games are 2D Mario and a more casual version of Pokémon and your heaviest hitters for 2019 are Animal Crossing, Pokémon and a more affordable Switch Mini (+ Yoga Watch in Japan) you are clearly trying to expand your user base. But these casual gamers already are gamers these days, so there is no need to explain the concept of gaming. Instead, you can target your mass market software at a hot market instead of a cold one like they had to do with Wii / DS.

What is this Yoga Watch you speak of?



When the herd loses its way, the shepard must kill the bull that leads them astray.

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pokoko on 01 February 2019

I really like the new era of Nintendo management far better than previous eras, at least thus far. It's less scattershot. Going for the home run is fine but you also want singles and doubles on a consistent basis.



Louie on 01 February 2019

 

zorg1000 said:

 

Louie said:

What Furukawa means is that due to smartphones being everywhere, there is no need to expand the gaming population anymore - because most people these days are already gaming! That, of course, does not mean Nintendo will only target an older core demographic.

Quite the contrary: When two of your big current games are 2D Mario and a more casual version of Pokémon and your heaviest hitters for 2019 are Animal Crossing, Pokémon and a more affordable Switch Mini (+ Yoga Watch in Japan) you are clearly trying to expand your user base. But these casual gamers already are gamers these days, so there is no need to explain the concept of gaming. Instead, you can target your mass market software at a hot market instead of a cold one like they had to do with Wii / DS.

What is this Yoga Watch you speak of?

Best typo I've ever made lol



zorg1000 on 01 February 2019

 

Louie said:

 

zorg1000 said:

 

What is this Yoga Watch you speak of?

Best typo I've ever made lol

Haha I just now realized you meant Yokai Watch, I literally looked up Yoga Watch game and found some cheap DS yoga games and thought maybe they were making one for Switch.



When the herd loses its way, the shepard must kill the bull that leads them astray.

outlawauron on 01 February 2019
RolStoppable said:
outlawauron said: 

I was pretty surprised to see investors so upset with it. Switch is doing super well, and Nintendo doesn't feel the need to invest in mobile any more. 

What are you talking about?

Share price after they released numbers tanked. I think it was a gross overreaction. Nintendo did cut forecasts, but they're making so much profit.

ETA: Although it's up MoM, so it might just be a small correction.

Last edited by outlawauron - on 01 February 2019

"We'll toss the dice however they fall,
And snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
Then follow young Mat whenever he calls,
To dance with Jak o' the Shadows."

Check out MyAnimeList and my Game Collection. Owner of the 5 millionth post.