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Smashchu2 on 27 December 2010
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jarrod said:
Smashchu2 said:

The only time the bold is true is for Sony, and that is because Sony has to. They rely so heavily on third parties that they will always lose if the launch later than someone else. Of course, The SNES's problem wasn't launch time but software. Sega couldn't compete until Sonic.

I disagree with the second part. If Nintendo was planning to do all that, why not just keep supporting the Wii. There is no reason to launch a new console if there is not content that couldn't be done on the current system. Software defines consoles. Nintendo needs to keep following their mission of to expand gaming. That should be the top priority with any system launch. Of course, they are making the 3DS, a system which I think adds nothing except pretty graphics.

No, launching SNES and N64 so late did hurt Nintendo generally, and it did also allow Sega and Sony to gain traction with developers, publishers, media and the market.  It wasn't the only factor contributing to that, or even the main one really (at least in N64's case... hello carts!), but it had an impact.  And had SNES/N64 launched alongside MD/PS, there's a good chance things would've turned out somewhat differently as a result (MD would've been an obvious non-starter, PS likely would've faced a much more uphill climb).

As for the 2nd part, uh, did you look at the EAD list I just posted?  Pretty sure EAD is cooking up stuff right now that's beyond Wii's thresholds... software does define Nintendo's consoles, but that definitive software comes mainly from EAD and it's crystal clear EAD's pretty much done with Wii already.  They'll finish up whatever projects they have too far along to transition (Zelda, maybe Pikmin) and spend a year or two on 3DS in the interim, but you can bet they'll have Wii 2 stuff ready for 2012...

I tbhink it's not true about launch times. If Nintendo had launched first, they would still have to rely primarily on their own software. At every turn, third parties have tried to leave Nintendo. They jumped on with Sega, but since Nintendo and Sega were similar in their policies, they became indifferent. Sony has very lax policies, so they were very willing to work with them. Not to mention that Nintendo's software is amazing. In their eyes, they have to compete with Nintendo. Third parties will always try to side with anyone besides Nintendo. Launching first is really all about thrid party support. This is why Sony always has to launch first. If they don't, they wont get enough support to hold their own. Nintendo can launch whenever, because third parties will always try to jump ship.

The reason the Gamecube and N64 didn't work is because Nintendo abandoned their roots. If there was a 2D Mario on either system, it may not have gone Sony's way. The Wii is doing well thanks to it's software. In the N64 and Gamecube eras, their software didn't shine as well. They were no different that third parties. This is why Sega later became one. What is hurting the Wii now is Gamecube plus titles like Mario Galaxy and Other M.

The second part I agree with. I expect Nintendo to announce the Wii 2 in 2012 and to release it either late 2012 or early 2013 depending on what the competition does.