I've rarely actually heard developers say it precisely like that. The point most of them are trying to make, is that on Nintendo's system, you're fighting against the world's biggest and - arguably - best developer. Not only that, but the customers have an extra bias in favour of Nintendo.

Releasing a game on a Nintendo machine puts you up against the hardest competition you could possibly face. Releasing it on other systems doesn't.

And, for the consumers, this is a bad thing, because it makes third parties more reluctant to release games on Nintendo's machines.

It's not something Nintendo can easily turn around, though, because it really just means that their consumers would rather play their games than third parties'.

Well If I was in charge of a gaming studio and I was developing a game that couldn't sell well on a specific Nintendo platform, I wouldn't get my team developing it.

More than everything I would like a nice profit. That platform already has various genres of games dominated by Nintendo IP - and they've got multi million sellers for platformers, adventure, puzzle, racing, shooter, you name it!
Why would I be fighting for leftovers ?

We gamers, gotta also think inside a Developer head. Who knows someday you my friend, will win lottery and can put together your own gaming studio. Gotta take the right decisions. One tip: don't make a karting game for a Nintendo platform.

Edit: I completely misunderstood the question. Sorry.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but, wouldn't you BUY Nintendo platforms for Nintendo games? You think I'm going to get a 360 if I want to play Mario?

I don't get it.

Creating the biggest mega-hits is not a bad thing. Outperforming your competitors is not a bad thing.

It's about 3rd party games not having the same cut of game sales as they do on other consoles. It's almost impossible when Nintendo games sell several times what other companies' first party hits do on average. They'd have to sell several times more to get the same percentage. That really does make them seem a lot less successful.

It's not fair to judge based on multiplat games either. I mean why buy the gimped version when you can have the superior version on another platform. Games that are Nintendo exclusive or are made a lot better on Nintendo platforms do tend to do better (Just Dance for example). Most 3rd party Wii efforts look like rubbish compared to the real efforts made on other consoles.

PS: Not totally blaming developers. Wii simply couldn't handle the same games as the other platforms. Also, I think most people in the gaming industry are passionate about their work. Personally, If I were a game developer, I'd want to create something on the best hardware possible with the least limitations.

!!!!!THE1!!!!!!
"But along with that they also want to enjoy third party titles, which is why they consider a Nintendo console purchase a waste."

Actually every Nintendo console since the SNES has had a plethora (joking) of 3rd party exclusives (on consoles)

N64
- Turok series
- WWF games
- Star wars games
- F1 world grand prix
- Hybrid heaven
- Winback
- Mission impossible
- Ridge racer 64
- Bomberman 64
- San Francisco rush
- Beetle adventure racing
- ISS 64/98/2000
- Automobil Lamborghini
- Quest 64
- Ogre battle 64
- Aydn chronicles
- Rocket robot on wheels
.....
GC
- Resident evil Zero
- RE4 (timed)
- Resident evil remake
- MGS remake
- Star wars games
- S Monkey ball
- Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
- Lost kingdom 1 and 2
- Baten kaitos
- Beach spikers
- Phantasy star 3 CARD
......
Wii
- Epic Mickey
- NMH 2
- Madworld
- MH Tri
- Muramasa
- Sonic games
- Red steel 1 and 2
- The Conduit 1 and 2
- RE: UC (timed)
- Dead space EX (timed)
- Go vacation (not joking)
- DQ swords
- DQ X
- Drawn to life
- Fragile
.....


to name just a few....:P

I love how people try to spin this as if there's something wrong with Nintendo gamers.. Um no, there is something wrong with the PRODUCTS, in this case, third party games. This has to be the only industry to actually blame its customers for their own failings. It's a joke. We're the ones with the money, dammit. We hold the power. As a seller, it is YOUR job to convince US to buy the product. Just make a better product if you want us to buy it, end of story.

Just remember, the customer is always right ;)

I like this post : P

(We need a like button lol)

I find it funny that without Nintendo there would not be a playstation. Back in the day of cartridge based consoles Nintendo was looking for a company to make a cd drive console. Sega was killing them with the genesis at the time with its cd drive console. Nintendo asked sony and they had an agreement and deal in place for sony to make the cd drive console for nintendo. Sony started making the unamed system. The development of this secret console was going better than expected. Sony seen the graphics and quality of what they made. They then went to Nintendo and asked for a bigger percentage cut of sales for these cd games. Nintendo agreed grudgingly. Sony continued with the making of the console. Sony then announced publicly to promote the new system that it was indeed making a console for Nintendo. Nintendo when confronted and asked about this sony deal inturn denied the report and said we have someone else making our new system.Sony was enraged and embarrassed by Nintendo's statements. They spent all this money and hardwork and had no gaming company to sell the console to. They were left holding the bag. Sony decided not to waste this new console when they seen the power and graphics they decided to go all in. They announced that they would introduce and back there own console called PLAYSTATION. The rest is history. It was the best console at that time and it was amazing. I remember laughing when sony made this annoucement. I was like they have the gaul to challenge Nintendo and Sega. I thought it would fail like the 3DO system. When I saw the graphics in the Sears store I was blown away. Everytime I would go to the mall, I would go the Sears store and play the playstation every chance I could. I couldnt afford it but eventually I was able to get my own playstation a year or so later. I been with Sony Playstation ever since.

Well the reason why is sort of a catch 22... Nintendo fans claim that 3rd parties don't support or put as much effort into making games for Ninty consoles as they do others, but on the other hand 3rd parties can have their titles in the spotlight more often with Sony or M$ than say Nintendo because Nintendo is unwilling to share the spotlight with big third party games on their own console.

M$ and Sony go out of their way to accommodate and promote 3rd party offerings on their respective systems (see all the commercials for multiplatform games that end with a plug for 360 or PS3), while Nintendo tends to focus solely on their own software, and seems to treat 3rd parties as an afterthought most of the time.

It's just a lazy excuse for third parties not trying or whining about their games not holding a candle to Nintendo's games. It's also ammunition for fans of other systems who like taking shots at Nintendo.

I think those companies would love to have Nintendo's "problem".  A company that doesn't need to rely on 3rd parties to sell its own system and can carry it's system on the strength of its own software is definitely not a bad thing.