sc94597 said:
Too bad that would devastate their profits. It's not going to happen with a company like Nintendo. They are not Sega. Even in their worst time as a gaming company their losses were vastly miniscule compared with other big developers. Nintendo benefits from the control it has over its games. They wouldn't flourish as they do, in terms of game development, on another platform where they don't call the shots. That is just how Nintendo works as a company. They need entire control over their games, otherwise they turn out - not that great. Costs as a third party publisher >>>>> costs as a first party publisher. And if there is anything that hurts a company as conservative fiscally as Nintendo it is high development/publishing costs. |
What makes you think they would give up control? 3rd party has power. EA, Activision, Rockstar, Ubi, etc. have power over Sony & MS.
Costs as a platform holder >>>>>>> costs as a third party publisher. The platform holder has to pay for developing the hardware, tools and libraries, OS and apps, and usually to sell the hardware at loss to compete. They have to pay for developer support. They have to pay 3rd parties for exclusive games or features. They have to pay for 3rd parties marketing. All that requires a large user base and lots of games sold to recoup.
I don't think being a platform owner is working for Nintendo, because the platform holder business needs large user base, and the game business needs large userbase. Nintendo is both, and it doesn't have a large user base now. Being a platform holder is hurting their game business.
It can not fix it's platform business by publishing on PS/XB, but it can fix it's game business.
Nintendo doesn't even need it's own platform to sell accessories. Amiibo can sell on other platforms, just like Skylanders & Disney Infinity. Wiimote or balance board? Sure, just need a USB driver. Every game on Wii could've been made on PS3/360 if they wanted.
