Would you mind if Nintendo went third-party?

[zorg1000]

Teeqoz said:

zorg1000 said:

 

How do u know they don't sell to the same demographics? Do we have any type of data that shows there aren't a large number of 3DS owners that also own a PS3/PS4/360/XB1?

Why couldn't those teams also make other big franchises? The team behind Mario Kart is also the team behind Nintendogs which sold over 20 million last generation and despite a massive decline still did close to 4 million this generation. The Animal Crossing team released Wii Sports/Play last generation and created Splatoon this generation. The New Super Mario team created Super Mario Maker this generation. It's not just about software sales but also creating a more diverse library that can bring in new fans.

In ur scenario the teams that make Mario Kart, Smash Bros, etc. would have to release a handheld entry followed by switching over to making entries on PS/XB instead of continuing to support their handheld and diversify the library.

 

For starters, over one third of 3DS owners are Japanes. I can guarantee you that most of those don't also own a PS3/PS4/360/XBO. So there's that.

 

The same EAD sub-divisions made Mario Kart and Nintendogs. Likewise for Animal Crossing and Wii Sports. However Animal Crossing, Splatoon and the Wii series aren't made by the same team, and the same for Nintendogs and Mario Kart. You don't have a single development team releasing multiple games a year. A single development team only releases one game every multiple years. The different development teams are overseen by the same senior staff though, but that's hardly the same as them actually being the same team.

Yes, in my scenario, the studios making Mario Kart, Smash Bros etc. would, in addition to the handheld entry, make a multiplat home console entry each gen. Like I've already explained, because it would most likely sell boatloads more than their hypothetical handheld project.

 

I don't see how 1/3 of 3DS sales coming from Japan somehow rules out the possibility of a large number of 3DS owners also owning PS/XB consoles.

Yes that is true but the same sub-division working on PS/XB games along with Nintendo handheld games could instead be multiple handheld games which would help sell Nintendo's hardware. We have no idea that Smash/Kart/etc. would sell boatloads better than new IP on their handheld, Splatoon is a good example of a new IP moving a lot of software and even helping out the hardware.

By having 100% of Nintendo's resources dedicated to a single platform, Nintendo can diversify which makes the hardware a more compelling purchase. If Nintendo were to stop making consoles but still make handhelds, they would do everything they can to make sure the handheld succeeds and would probably just release a Vita TV type device to satisfy people who prefer to play on consoles.

Releasing their games on PS/XB doesn't benefit their handheld at all while potentially hurting it.