I know plenty of Nintendo fans were excited about some of the E3 announcements regarding the revival of some old franchises, but I'm wondering if Nintendo has made the correct decision as far as efficient use of their resources? Would it have been a better financial decision to create new IPs or potentially revive other ones besides the games showcased at E3?

The three main titles I'm thinking about are Donkey Kong, Kirby, and Kid Icarus.

Donkey Kong -  I think this was a smart choice, Donkey Kong is too big of a mascot to have been dormant for so long.

My conclusion- After the success of NSMB Wii, I'd expect this game to sell 5 million+, making it a big blockbuster and a smart decision.

Kirby - This franchise is a little different because it has still been active on the handheld side in recent years. Still it had been a long time since Kirby was in a console platforming game. Kirby games have been consistent million sellers over the years and have had 6 titles over the 2 million mark making it a bigger franchise than Metroid. It is also a very successful franchise in Japan where Nintendo could really use some more big Wii games. I do question how it will do releasing in the same quarter as the bigger franchise Donkey Kong County in the West.

My Conclusion - A big enough franchise that it deserves to continue/ be revived on consoles, at the same time I do think it is possible Nintendo could have created a potentially bigger franchise with a new IP, but Kirby is a safe bet.

Kid Icarus - I think this one is the biggest question mark. Obviously rumors of a revival to the franchise had been going around for years, and that alone made its announcement exciting. But it seems a little strange to me that Nintendo seemed to premiere this game as their headlining 3DS launch title. Sure the original game sold a solid 1.75 million but that hardly makes it one of Nintendo's bigger hits. Throw in how long ago the last title in the franchise released and many of the potential 3DS customers weren't even alive at that point. From the creator of the massive Super Smash Bros. series I wonder if they could not have come with a game that was a new IP and be more successful.

My Conclusion - Really hard to predict, a game coming from this long of an absence is almost like starting a new franchise.  I can't really think of an example of where such an old and lesser known game was revived to a large commercial success. I think there is a chance this title really goes overlooked. I'm guessing less than 1 million total sales meaning the team behind the game could have been better utilized somewhere else.

I want to make sure it is clear that these are just my thoughts regarding the sales potential of each game and not whether or not I think they will be enjoyable titles (I am looking forward to playing each game). So what do you all think from a sales perspective, do reviving these games make sense for Nintendo or could there resources have been better utilized working on other projects?

The advantage Nintendo has is thet these franchises are classics. So a good revival will not only bring back old memories of previous generations but also playing with brand new content.

They will do very very well in sales

they have BIG frnachises like MARIO,DONKEY KONG which are easily ported and played on many platform by many people

the newer console from PS1 gen have been restricted to their consoles so the exposure has been lower

Nintendo has overused their franchise but because of their brand names the franchises lived on

For all intents and purposes, Kid Icarus IS a new IP; his last outing was roughly twenty years ago, and despite the internet clamor most folks have never heard of him.  Moreover, it's obvious that the new game has little to do with its predecessors: the gameplay seems closer to Sin and Punishment than anything else, which further clarifies how this game is for practical market purposes a new IP.

I think it was wise to tie the IP to the new system: it lets Nintendo introduce what is in essence a new IP while wrapping it in the shell of an old title which many of the hobby's most enthusiastic consumers (i.e. us) have not only heard about for years now, but with which they've been teased about for years.  It's something of a win-win, really; make whatever game you want, while giving The Fans the game they've been hearing about.

Donkey Kong Country could be a bigger hit than most think. The original sold a good 10 million on a userbase half the size of the Wii. I think this game could potentially get 10 million sales, maybe even more. People like classic 2D platformers, and there just hasn't been many these days to satisfy the demand.

again userbase == SW sales

it could sell 10m but not because of Wii userbase but because of being a good game and the way nintendo games on Wii sell

Sales wise? for sure it's a good decision, even if it won't pull out numbers as the wii series it will please their core. So they will be entitled to continue to buy Nintendo machines to continue to play their favorites series.

On the new IP side, Nintendo continue to pull some: Wii Party is a new IP for exemple. But here it's funny how the people dismiss the wii series as they don't appeal to their "hardcore" taste.

Last, the long gaming history f Nintendo is a gift and curse to them. A gift because they have some beloved series that granted them a strong core (Mario platform, Pokemon, Zelda, Kirby,...) and a curse because their fans want them to put sequel of most of their IP, and with their current size. It's impossible to pull out new iterations of the old IP and create some news.

Yes, it is good to release new titles for any franchise at least twice a decade if not more. New IPs are nice, but they are a gamble due to not having the nostalgia factor along with a segment of gamers who dub themselves "hardcore" and everything Nintendo "casual" may very well likely not even look at your game unless their "hardcore" junior high and high school friends are raving about it.

Gamers have a long memory. I am speaking mainly of adult gamers who were well into their teens by the time Halo came out. These gamers like myself grew up playing Mario Bros on the NES, Super Mario Bros. 3, Donkey Kong Country 1-3, and on. We will buy this game.

As for the younger "hardcore" gamers, I am quite unsure and am keen on wanting to know what their beloved franchises are?

My predictions:

Donkey Kong Country Returns - 3 to 7 million range

Kirby's Epic Yarn - 2 to 4 million range

Kid Icarus - 2 to 4 million range

Goldenye 007 - 4 to 8 million range

no. sales not no, but they are games that should be made anyway

now nintendo bring NEW ones. :D