forethought14 said:
Those quotes from Iwata aren't referencing their libraries though, his comparisons to iOS and Android are that they have a common way of programing that works on various models. That doesn't mean there will be a shared library. If you look at some of Iwata's other statements and remarks, he clearly wants to create an environment where they dont start from scratch development-wise like they do with every launch of new hardware, which causes software droughts in the launch window. Not once does he, nor any Nintendo rep ever mention a "shared library". A shared architecture can imply a shared library, but at this point, no Nintendo rep has ever confirmed this to be true.
But then that places the NX Console in a very compromising position, meaning that it's gonna be intentionally kept VERY underpowered (like, nowhere near PS4 power) just so it could be cross-play with the NX Handheld. Who would wanna play handheld games in higher resolution on a console? There will be no point to the console-version of NX. |
Shared ecosystem is meaningless from a practical POV if there isn't shared games. Imagine iPad, iPhone, iPod touch if the apps (the software) weren't shared. That would basically render the whole concept moot.
As to the second point, maybe Nintendo is simply waving the towel to the graphics race and saying "we're fine with basically making our games with about Wii U fidelity". The advantage for Nintendo would be that they can now sell all their games to the vast majority of their fanbase. For example right now they can only sell Splatoon to like 20% of their audience base because it can't be shared with the 3DS. I think they want to get away from that problem in particular. The best/most expensive to make Nintendo games should not be selling to the lowest section of their userbase, that's just bad business, and I think really more than anything that might be the driving force behind Nintendo's unification plans.
It's not the approach that thrills me as a gamer per se, but I can see the reasoning from a business point of view. Unforatunetly I don't think Nintendo really cares much about graphics performance, even 2/3rds of their Wii U games barely utilize the Wii U's hardware as is. Most of their design teams will likely be as happy as pigs in dirt with a home console even just 2x the Wii U.
I hope they don't go this route, but deep down in my gut, I can totally see them doing it. You're right though, the console likely wouldn't sell that great, but maybe Nintendo has simply made peace with that are happy to at least get all their games to their wider fan base which they can't do right now with 3DS/Wii U.
If the 3DS could run Wii U games (even down rezzed-ones) that would means games like Splatoon, Mario 3D World, Legend of Zelda, Bayonetta 2, etc. would have had access to like 5x the userbase (52 million 3DS owners + 10 million Wii U owners) but that isn't possible today, my guess is that will change with NX.
