Nintendo as a company wouldn't be, but I think us as gamers would be.

They would be fairly alright as third party developers and it would ne interesting to see, but they shouldn't unless we got new console producers. Honestly I'm surprised companies like Apple, AMD and Nvidia haven't manifested interest on producing a gaming console or the likes of one.

Let's just put it this way:

In the last 108 financial quarters, when have they not made money? When you realize you can answer that with only ONE hand, the answer is a RESOUNDING, POUNDING, EVER-BOUNDING, no.

Disclaimer: I actually agree with you on this one, but someone should play devil's advocate.

There can be a case made for them as a third party. Their games sell bucket loads. Well beyond anything remotely reasonable. The PS2 had all of zero games that sold over 20 million on that platform alone, and the Wii has 4 already, and 2 more definitely on the table for getting there one day with a third likely on the table if we count Wii Fit separately. The access to an expanded base clearly aids them, and they can dominate in software in a way that should terrify all third parties if the worst happens and they do drop their hardware side.

There is an amazing caveat in all this though. Nintendo integrates hardware and software. Unless the hardware manufacturers gave them unprecedented access and influence over their hardware it would never work. Now, if it were my call I'd naturally ok them getting as detailed access as they like along with seriously considering their input in exchange for exclusive franchises X, Y, and Z. Nintendo has enough to go around too.

Apple has had gaming consoles before. They have a solid gaming platform now. AMD and Nvidia get more money from selling their chips to everyone else though. If either had their own console no one would dream of using them anymore.

Okay, who necroed this thread from 2004?

Hey Reggie!

Some here asking again about Nintendo being Third Party

Not only would they be sacrificing profits from hardware itself, not only would they be giving up the royalties that they get from third partiesp ublishing on their hardware, they would also be paying royalties to whatever hardware manufacturers they published their titles on. The fact that they would need to pay royalties on every single one of their 20 Million sellers in the console and handheld space makes this whole discussion absurd.

If any other company could move as many 10 million games as Nintendo does on a single system, they would be justified in making their own hardware if only so they wouldn't need to pay royalties to other companies.

I was going to say yes but I did not know that Ninty would take their games with them if they left although we've been playing the same games for the most part from their company for years I dont think I want to live in a world with no Luigi(dont really care for Mario) so for the skinny plumbers sake dont go no where Ninty

Short answer.  No.

Long answer #1.  We don't need less hardware competition.  Nintendo was made better by a more competitive atmosphere I.E. SEGA.  Obviously Sony and Microsoft are only made better by Nintendo brings its own ideas of what gaming can be and the two making their own spin on things.

Long answer #2.  I love the LOLWIISUXROFLROFL crowd because they're the ones that are not buying Nintendo products and I'm less likely to run into these idiots when I'm playing Brawl or Kart or any other future Nintendo titles.