DM235 said:
johnlucas said:
Apple's phones are not the same as Windows-powered phones are not the same Android-powered phones.
Apple's computers are not the same as Windows-powered computers are not the same Android-powered computers.
The solid platform really ain't so solid. It's the PC after all! ANARCHY! CHAOS!
Take a look at this:
Angry Birds price slashed to $0.99 on Windows Phone, 6 other title join in promo
Excerpt from article:
"On Android Angry Birds is ad-sponsored and free, but on iOS you need to pay a dollar. On Windows Phone? Three dollars. Up until now that is - Microsoft takes action and slashes the prices of seven popular titles including the Birds and that’s more than welcome."
It's one thing to have a hit or even a few hits. It's another to have a long term STABLE business plan that will ensure you be around for decades instead of a few years.
It doesn't get more stable than Nintendo & that's why console gaming endures. They're the captain of that ship in the creative sense AND the business sense.
Wii U continues this tradition.
The social games bubble is bursting and mobile is next
Choice excerpt:
"I am not a stock market analyst, I am not a professional pundit and I’m certainly not any kind of journalist so why does it feel like I’m one of the few who actually saw this coming? I certainly didn’t see it happening this fast but I was laughed at when I said this type of growth was unsustainable. When companies grow too fast, they tend to crash down hard. It’s the ones that have measured, controlled growth that tend to survive and thrive."
John Lucas
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I think you are downplaying the effect of smartphones / tablets on gaming too much.
The smartphone market is just maturing in terms of gaming. Developers / publishers are still trying to figure out pricing models (should the games be free, but supported by ads / microtransactions, or should there be a "high" upfront cost). However, I don't think this is going to hinder things much.
Developers have already found innovative ways to add controls, either by using the gyros / accelerometers, touch screen gestures, or virtual D-pads and buttons.
The hardware improvements happen every year, and it won't be long before they rival the last generation of consoles.
Smartphones and tablets also have many of the easy-to-learn, easy-to-play casual games that I think compete with the Wii audience.
What I think will make things even worse is when parents upgrade their tablets, they can just give their old tablets to their kids. This is what I am planning to do for my daughter. There will be no need to buy her a console when the games on the tablet are good enough. Heck, smartphones and tablets may be the reason the 3DS is also down year-over-year.
I know there is content on the Wii U that you cannot get on smartphones and tablets, but again I feel that the smartphone and tablet content is good enough to steal marketshare away.
As for the "second screen" aspect, I think this is a great idea. Heck, even Sony (with the PS Vita) and Microsoft (with Smart Glass) are betting that this will be something that gamers want. Personally I am excited about it. I'll be happy enough when I can continue my gaming when my wife wants to take over the TV. However, Nintendo hasn't marketed this feature well at all. I have only ever seen it used as a glorified controller for the Wii with a bonus screen in the middle. How can Nintendo expect to sell more when consumers aren't aware of its main features?
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What I find troubling is johnlucas reads this news as that it means the videogames industry is now going to die off, and just leave Nintendo alone. Individuals who are immensely partisan fail to see that their beloved company will get affected by things. Social and mobile gaming crashing is not good for anyone. A crash at cheap price point does NOT mean that masses of people are suddently going to go back to $60 a pop for what they had been. Casual gamers may just be happy with what they have, and just find other stuff to do. Heck, maybe they go back to boardgames or find other activities. The news here does NOT mean that Nintendo remains sole survivor. It stands AT LEAST as much that Nintendo will be dragged under.
johnlucas, to me, is someone caught up in Nintendo's past, and merely looking a longevity as the answer to everything. Nintendo can end up getting swept under, as anyone else can.
