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Soundwave on 30 September 2014
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DarthMetalliCube said:
Soundwave said:
DarthMetalliCube said:

What are these many failed attempts? NES and Wii were sales phenomenons, SNES sold respectively and edged out the "more hip" genesis, N64 and Gamecube, while huge declines saleswise, still profited. Only the Wii U hasn't profited for Nintendo, and that could have changed lately. 

Hardware is what Nintendo does. It's one sets them apart from a typical game developer. And the console/handheld hybrid, while it could be a good idea in theory, there's no guarentee it will be successful just because their handheld line is. And if it fails, then they're REALLY in trouble, as they will only have one piece of hardware to rely on. Probably best to get their revenue from multiple sources.

I'm pretty confident Nintendo has come to their sense and will get it right next gen. That is, go back to the NES/Wii formula of appealing to a mass audience, that brought them such success. If they don't, I do think their "quality of life" platform could at least be enough of a hit to keep them afloat on the hardware front.


All of Nintendo's consoles try to aim at the "mass audience". The general family audience, fun for little 9-year-old Timmy, but his mom, dad, and even sister can play. That's the Nintendo vision for every console they make (I'd say probably an outdated and misguided one, but alas). 

The Wii just rode the success of the motion gaming fad for a few years before it fizzled out. 

If you mean make another platform aimed at soccer moms and teenage girls ... sure ... just be ready to charge 99 cents a game. Because that audience ain't interested otherwise and to think that Apple/Android haven't had a major impact with these demographics is beyond naive. 

To be honest I don't think women are interested in any type of Nintendo hardware anymore. A smartphone keeps them connected to their social circle constantly, surfs the web, Instagrams, Facebooks, has Twitter, Tinder, and bazillion other apps and tons of "friendly looking" free or cheap games like Angry Birds, Candy Crush, and even Flappy Bird with easy to play button-free interfaces. Not only that but having a new iPhone is as much of a fashion accessorie as it is an electronic gizmo, a 3DS is a child's toy by comparision.

Nintendo can't compete with that, not in functionality, not on price ($40 games vs. free/99 cent ones), and not in style/marketing (not even close). 

Yes, they tried to reach the mass audience with all, but went about it wrong except for the NES and Wii.

I've spent 8 years on this board explaining to death the many many flaws in the "Wii rode the motion fad" argument and am officially burnt out on attempting to explain it to the thick headed hardcore, so I will not do so again.

Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Obviously Nintendo trying to appeal to the hardcore has failed (Gamecube, Wii U, N64). Hardcore ignore Nintendo so they need to learn to ignore them back. They did it with Wii and, not coincidently, it was a smash hit. So yes, the soccer moms and teenage girls should be a big part of their focus, as it was with Wii; but also the retro/lapsed gamers who don't like the current stuff in gaming. This is a huge part of the Wii's success, and one that is overlooked. And there are more out there than you think. I know they exist because I somewhat fall in this group myself, and so do many I know. The audience aint interested unless its 99 cents? Than why did so many millions spend $100 on Wii Fit? Oh right, that's a "fad." The go to hardcore excuse..

Blah blah blah.. more typical misguided hardcore/industry progadanda talking points. I'm done here...


The NES and Wii also took advantage of windows of oppurtunity where th competetion wasn't great. Apple/Android wasn't around when the Wii was launched, nor were Sony/MS even remotely offering anything for that audience. Nintendo had *years* alone with that concept until about 2009 when Kinect finally came out and the iOS shop started to really open up (Angry Birds would launch in December 2009). 

The NES forced third parties to make games exclusively for Nintendo through the lock-out chip which effectively froze Sega out of the market. I remember the NES was my first machine, but back then I didn't know much about Nintendo or Sega and my friend was telling to make sure to get the Nintendo because it had the far wider variety of games (racing games, hockey games, basketball games, adventure games, etc. what he was really saying was it had all the 3rd party support, even though neither of us knew what that meant back then). 

When Nintendo is confronted with direct competetion they tend not to do too well, Apple/Android is directly taking away casuals and kids from Nintendo. 

The Genesis and then ultimately the Playstation/XBox took away the kids who grew into teengers and then adults from the NES days, aside from a loyal remaining fanbase. 

Nintendo can't compete for soccer moms/girls, they're not sitting around waiting for Nintendo. A smartphone is 1000x more appealling to them then a Nintendo product, it fits their social lifestyle much moreso. They can't match a smartphone's functionality -- does a 3DS Twitter? Take really nice photos? Instagram? Text message? To be honest from what I gather outside of Mario, women tend to prefer iOS games too, they don't want Metroid or Fire Emblem or Zelda ... that's too heavy for a casual player. Candy Crush, Angry Birds, Farmville, etc. are far better at getting the job done. The iPhone is a fashion accessory, the 3DS and Wii/Wii U are toys by comparision.