Why do Zelda Console games take 5 years to develop.... ?

[TK14]

bigtakilla said:

TK14 said:

WWHD came out 11 months after launch...not really a launch title. And Wii U was probably around 4-5 million by that point if I remember.

I'm not saying Zelda U couldn't do a respectable 3-4 million or more, but I just think Nintendo may be worried about investing so much $$ into an open-world, HD Zelda game (previously, Skyward Sword was their most expensive game to make, and because of its late release after Wii was dead, it didn't sell as well as they wanted it to) and then not getting a healthy profit return on it because of Wii U's puny install base. They will no doubt think of Twilight Princess, how it sold incredibly well on the new console and still a decent amount on the low install-base of the GameCube, AND helped sell the Wii at launch because a new-Zelda launch title is a HUGE deal. So if they dual-release on NX, they increase the sales/profits of Zelda U, as well as guarantee a strong NX launch (if its even a console and not a handheld that wouldn't be able to handle Zelda U anyway), which means a lot less risk after investing so much into the development of Zelda U. 

3.91 mil, so true a little more than I though (and a little less than you were saying) and true 11 months which is a little longer than a release title, but still earlier than any must have on the console. (that would come in Nov with 3D World). So the truth kind of lands in between. Still, even for a little less than 4 mil, 1.5 is pretty freaking good.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/35841/how-do-wii-us-sales-compare-to-nintendos-past-consoles (where I got the Sept numbers for the Wii U)

Well, WWHD slowly worked its way up to that total while Wii U went up to 6 million that holiday and then both crawled up to their current totals this past year. But, I definitely agree that 1.5 is respectable, even for Wii U's current install base of 9-10 million. And I have no doubt the new Zelda will move systems and sell 3 million or more, but I still do believe that Nintendo might go with the "better business decision" in terms of trying to maximize profit with a game they've invested so much into.