Mummelmann said:
YES! Nintendo need to make games, they have to do SOMETHING to stop the sales from falling and that has been my point all along! They are resting on their laurels. Where did I leave the impression that I see Sony as invincible by the way? If anything, this generation has shown that they most certainly are not and it is clear to most everyone that they're the ones who fell the hardest on their ass by far, there simply is no denying that.
Again, you talk of the amazing games the PS3 (and 360) have been getting lately compared to the Wii, look at my list again and tell me where this huge advantage lies exactly, I sure can't see it. The 3DS launch is hardly an excuse for letting the Wii at the wolves and to forego development or delay the launch of titles and gear that could be very helpful in maintaining momentum is not very clever at this point. The fact that they have lowered their projections several times and by significant amounts shows that they were indeed resting on their laurels and were counting on the Wii to keep on sailing across the Blue Ocean without proper winds to aid it, in effect; they misread the market rather badly (you can argue that if you want and I cannot prove or disprove either way but it certainly seems so, why else would their initial projections miss their target so heavily?).
You also seem to assume that Nintendo will acheive the same thing next gen when you claim that my rant on momentum is merely speculation. Aren't your rants equal parts speculation then?
As far as third parties and Sony go, the Playstation brand has proven itself in the past as incredible at moving 3rd party software, something any Nintendo home console would be hard pressed to show. The low sales and crash at the beginning of the gen is all Sony's own fault, they were being morons to say the least and they paid for it. However, the PS3 has also turned out to be fairly adept at selling 3rd party software despite a fairly low installed base. Yes, developers are of course aware that the PS3 has sold a lot less than the PS2 but the fact still remains that the PS3/360/PC development model is a lot bigger and better suited for selling 3rd party software. Please, don't start with the whole "combining platforms against the Wii is cowardly/wrong/faulty" etc, the Wii is very different (by Nintendo's own choice) and this has turned out to be the achilles heel this generation. Having by far the biggest installed base and moving relatively small amounts of software (look at total software sold and total software revenue for all consoles) doesn't look any better than halving your installed base from last generation.
And what's this about Sony intent on going further into the red? They have gradually become more and more profitable and are now turning profits on every console sold along with Blu-ray and lots of software, this seems like a point you dug up from 2007 or something. As to what I THINK Nintendo will be doing, what I'm saying is what I'm thinking and its not based on ramblings from the industry or the gaming media. Anyone in here who knows me knows that I hold the gaming media in low regards and I read only tech previews and coverage from a sheer development angle with any interest and intent. Reviews, rants and propaganda are of no interest. I have always been a Nintendo fan, up until this generation where I honestly believe they took a turn for the worse (for my part) in wantinig to appeal to other customers. Which is fine, its a perfectly viable strategy and it worked in the beginning. However, I have also always maintained that the casual market is treacherous ground to walk upon and that this crowd will difficult to please in the long run (all such talk is of course brushed of as "the Wii is a fad!" drivel) since casual gaming is branching out and moving in different directions and is even finding new outlets (social media, phones etc).
Let's not discuss Malstrom, we'll never agree on that anwyay, I think he's the biggest ass on the web (I used to like what he wrote though, before his head grew ten sizes) and you practically build shrines to his honor. Regardless, I can assure you that my views are based on genuine concern, observation and a wish for the return of a Nintendo that cares about the customers again (me) and revives the passion they are known for having and not the misguided hate from gaming media and press. I'm not saying you can't think for yourself, I've actually always liked you as a user and have your posts and analysis earlier on to be both fair and insightful but you seem to have been slipping lately and I cannot fathom why. Don't take anything I say personally, it is certainly not meant that way.
Edit; how did Neos get away with his blatant trolling earlier in this thread?!
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Oh but I DO build shrines in his name, and pray to them to bring the spring rains! In all seirous though, you overstate my supposed love of his writings. He's merely a breath of fresh air admits a sesspool of misguided analysts and journalists who all keep to say the same things. But still he has said plenty that I strongly disagree with, from his political views, to his hate of Mario Galaxy and MS, to his baseless doomsday talk for 3DS. I also dislike his recent arrogance he's obtained. He seems he is trying to be somewhat of the Maddox of gaming. Though I guess if you're litterally the only one to publicly predict something like Wii's success, you're bound to get a bit full of yourself. But enough about Malstrom..
I'm not saying the HD consoles are getting AMAZING games, but certainly getting a steady supply of solid games when compared to the Wii. No games, no sales, simple as that.
I wouldn't say Nintendo is missing the market, considering they've sold 85 million in 4 years. Quite the opposite, they read the market better than any this gen. Which is part of the reason why they are seemingly in the game alone while everyone else is off going a different direction and appealing primarilly to a niche of hardcore gamers. Have they begun to lose touch lately? Perhaps, but that remains to be seen.
I'm also not too sure how you can talk down on Wii's software when it currently 8 games that have sold over 10 million units, 6 of which have sold over 20 million. It also has over 100 games that have sold over 1 million in 4 years. Those kinds of stats are absolutely unprecedented for a console, no matter how you spin it. While they have declined recently, that's because the games themselves have recently declined in quantity and quality. But overall, Obviously a HUGE leap from Gamecube software sales. You can argue the attach ratio was better, but when you've only sold 22 million, attach ratio means little.. Revenue is a poor means of measuring software success.
The so called "casual" markets you warn of are a big chunk of Nintendo's success. The fact that they drifted from that path in 2010 is the very REASON Wii sales stagnated, not because they've stuck with the casual audience.. The key is reaching out to new audiences (non gamers and ex gamers alike). In 2010, none of their games really achieved that, hence the poor momentum.
As far as the weak software library right now, I'll reserve judgement until E3. If E3 passes and the future releases are largely still like this, THEN I will begin to shun them. But considering third parties have left them cold (as a result of their fear of Nintendo 1st party software competition), and Nintendo is focusing on getting 3DS out there, I can't really fault them right now on the drought. Though you're right, it had better not continue much longer. I don't think it will. We are due to see an outpouring of motion plus games from them soon, probably by E3. I personally need me some F-Zero, Star Fox, Pikmin and Kirby info, Zangeki, and ToG localization. But really I'm in no rush, as I have no money to spend on games right now anyway :/
). But simply calling the PS360 an 'upgrade' is trolling which deserves to be on other forums back in '08. We know now that the Wii is a worthy console, which can easily hold its own with the HD Twins.
