Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft - 1981 to 2011 gaming division profits chart

[Johnw1104]

Well, i don't know how accurate these numbers are but they seem to match what I've generally heard. It may explain to some degree Nintendo's difficulties. It's a likely safe and wise strategy, but their insistence on not risking initial losses to produce a competitive console does seem to hamstring them.

I do wonder what kind of consoles nintendo would have produced if they felt safe in absorbing the kinds of losses microsoft and Sony have often experienced in order to expand their consumer base. There's a definite disadvantage to being solely a gaming company.