In Theory: Nintendo's next-gen hardware - and the strategy behind it

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teigaga said:

GTAexpert said:

teigaga said:

Yeah, I definitely agree. My thing is Nintendo has that power where their core audience is concerned, if they launch strong with software there core fans will pay any reasonable price and IMO 449 for cutting edge tech in 2017 would be reasonable- remember that the gamecube launched at $199 and the wii at $250. Xbox at 299, Xbox 360 at 399. Beyond that it would play into repositioning Nintendo's brand, they're not going for cheap gimmicks any more or fads, they're selling a premium product which will have Nintendo best IPs out of the gate and superior 3rd party titles to sony and microsoft. This would be the pitch anyway ;)

The points you made actually go against what you want to believe. Nintendo consumers don't like to spend much money on hardware the same way PlayStation and Xbox gamers do. If they launch their next console at a high price they will neither be able to get their fans to buy their console nor would fans of the other consoles buy their console for the same reason they aren't buying Wii U's right now.

I don't think that just launching a console at a premium price makes it a premium product in the eyes of consumers. They would have to come out with games like Uncharted/Halo/God Of War/Gran Turismo, and have to prove that they can develop these kind of games as well. With their current lineup its hard to believe that they can pull it off. They would also need proper marketing on channels whose viewers are more than small kids.

I don't know where you got that idea from, not saying its wrong simply I have never seen such a pattern. Nintendo's products are typically overpriced by what they're offering in comparison to the competition, luke warm home console sales for them have always been down to software weakness or hardware design. When the Wii U dropped in price there was no notable sale adjustments, sales were more or less flat. Its hardware is wholy unattractive and software line up still one of the worst we've seen despite a few big games here and there. So I will stick firmly with the believe that Nintendo's core fanbase will pay a premium price for Nintendo hardware if it features there key properties delivered in a timely fashion and the hardware itself offers a premium value (cutting edge). They would not just be selling at a premium price, they would be delivering a premium service and marketing the system as one and for that reason your Wii U comparison doesn't make sense for me. When I say price will ''play into repositioning Nintendo's brand'' I'm elduing to being a generally rebranding/marketing the system. Stuff like finding relevant Tv spots and marketing styles to mature/generalise their brand isn't rocket science.

''they will neither be able to get their fans to buy their console nor would fans of the other consoles buy their console for the same reason they aren't buying Wii U's right now''

No one is buying Wii U's right now because it has weak outdated/unappealing hardware that was obsolete the minute it launched, the software is weak, it lacks third party support (largely down to the lack of appeal in the hardware) and has horrible marketing attached to it. I'm suggesting Nintendo's next system would do away with all of those issues.

-Have great, cutting edge hardware far above PS4/X1 and future proofed for the next generation (and as a result)
-Have great 3rd party support, with games which perform far better on it then on PS4/X1 (incentive for core gamers to pay interest in the system as PS4 and X1 will be showing there age in 2017 but probably not have successors for another year or 2). 
-Have great 1st party support out the gate to secure they're core fanbase early, (a matter of planning). This alongside future proofed tech would make far more people comfortable in making the system a primary console for the next gen and thus garuntee them a very impressive launch year in regards to sales (impressive sales act as a form of marketing)
-Market the system in a more mature/neutral way (something which isn't as challenging as you make out-just focus on the games  both 1st/3rd party/focus of the tech using slogans like ''most powerful console ever'' /and design the actual hardware to look sleek and modern. Use the same marketing channels that everyone else uses.

I would expect Nintendo do diversify they're portfolio and have Retro/other western devs deliver something like a Turoq reboot and more mature games big games. The sysem I'm proposing wouldn't have a ton of ''Uncharted/Halo/God Of War/Gran Turismo'' but Mario  >>> All of those franchise if we're being honest. What it would have which is far more important then playing tic for tac in regards 1st party Ips (something even sony has stopped trying) is the established mega selling and consistent 3rd party games people spend the majority of their time playing. Whatever the 3rd party franchise (Mass Effect 4, Elderscrolls 6, Battlefield next, GTA, Metal Gear Solid,  Final Fantasy, Assassins Creed etc), it should be on Nintendo's platform. Third parties like new hardware, especially ones that they can easily port to... even with the Wii U many gave it the benefit of the doubt in spite of its ill fitted hardware. All Nintendo actually needs to do to garunteed long term 3rd party support is not mess up.

The only thing that will be a genuine issue imo is Nintendo being competetive/taken seriously in the online space, but thats fine. This is simply how I think they will grow not how they will convert the entire COD audience and go on to sell 100m systems. 

There are two main characteristics for any videogame consoles; ones that are overpriced compared to what competition is offering and ones that underpowered. All the 8th generation consoles fit both categories. It's really hard to justify the pricetags of the 3 consoles when the last generation ones have big libraries and they're going to sell you only sequels anyway.

When we look at the most mature games this generation so far, they're already on the Wii U, as it has Wii Fit U and Wii Sports Club.