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bigtakilla on 04 February 2016
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Soundwave said:
burninmylight said:

Not really. Instead of seeing them as two distinct consoles, they'd pretty much be the same console with different SKUs. Normally, a handheld console and a home console hurt each other because a consumer may have to choose only one and be locked out of the other's library of games. When I was a broke ass college kid, I had to miss the entire DS generation because I chose the Wii. The Wii cannabalized the DS for me, because I couldn't afford both, so I missed out on DS software.

If they share the same library of games (and physical copies of games work on either console), then they don't hurt each other because the same copy is sold to the base of both groups of consumers. The console themselves matter less in this scenario because Nintendo now doesn't have to try to justify development for the less popular console. No more internal debates on "Do we try to salvage the weaker console, or do we cut our losses and go all out on the better seller?". Nintendo can just focus on making games. If one SKU proves to be more popular than the other, so what? Just adjust production accordingly. Software sales and peripherals are where the real money is made anyway.

It's like saying iPad cannabalizes the iPhone. Sure, it does in a way, because there are a demographic of customers that only buy one or the other. But Apple doesn't mind too much. You're buying the same software on whichever one you have, and it's cashing in either way.

Yup you totally get it. 

Even today with lower iPad sales, Apple doesn't really care because they know a lot of that is because people are buying the larger iPhone Plus model which is a phablet. So either way they're getting paid and people are locked in to that iOS ecosystem. 

Well sure I can agree with you guys there, but you're talking about software sales of single titles and I'm talking about hardware. There would be no reason to get the other if you had one, especially since now they have the same exact games. This also cuts out the people who DO own both systems. Before Nintendo could get money from 3D Land AND 3D World. Now they only get money from one. And while building only one game for two systems will mean home console titles release quicker, having to wait for a handheld game to get developed for a home console before releasing it may mean fewer titles on the handheld than what hh console owners are used to. Just think, there have been 2 new hh LoZ (ALBW and Triforce Heroes) and two pretty well upgraded LoZs (MM and OOT). Home console we had Windwaker HD (great updated version) Twilight Princess HD (meh upgrade not even done by Nintendo), and soon Zelda U. I doubt because the developers combine we're going to get 7 LoZ's. It's only when we look directly at individual title's sales that we would see any real benefit.

This ultimately results in fewer consoles sold and less titles developed when looking at Nintendo as a whole entity (home consoles and handheld)in its current state, all they will get from that is a boost in software which they honestly really don't need anyways.