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Forums - Gaming - Where Does Nintendo Go If Wii U Never Takes Off?

Screamapillar on 22 January 2013
JEMC said:

Well, if WiiU doesn't perform as Nintendo wants, I think that Nintendo would wait the usual 5 years or so to launch a new console, otherwise it could be seen as a betrayal to their WiiU users like SEGA did with the early move from the Saturn to the Dreamcast.

Besides, even if it doesn't perform well, it's better to continue selling a product that gives them money than launching too early a new device that will make them lose money without knowing how well it will be recieved.

I also think that they will ditch the Wii brand and, like many have suggested, the integration of the home and handheld hardware divisions could be an indication that Nintendo's new consoles could be a home console with a fully capable handheld as a controller or something like that (but then, this machine would be expensive).

Another thing to consider is third party support. If WiiU has it, Nintendo's next console may try to follow WiiU steps in that regard, but if WiiU fails again to get their support, Nintendo could (should?) reconsider it altogether and develop a machine for their exclusive needs and games, allowing third parties to come along and develop for it if they want but without making any compromise in specs or special features to cater them.


Wasn't there a four year gap between Saturn and Dreamcast?  '95-'99 in America, I believe.  That's not too unusual.



The Screamapillar is easily identified by its constant screaming—it even screams in its sleep. The Screamapillar is the favorite food of everything, is sexually attracted to fire, and needs constant reassurance or it will die.

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Soundwave on 22 January 2013
*Sound Of Rain said:

 

If the Wii U manages to sell 20 Million+ like the GameCube did, they will likely just release another System in 2017 and move on.

If Wii U fails completely as in pulls a Saturn or Dreamcast and manages only 8-10 Million lifetime, I'd assume that Nintendo would stop making Home Consoles, and focus on their Handhelds. I personally don't think that would ever happen though. 

Plus, unlike back in 2001, a lot of people buy more than 1 System per gen. PS2 completely dominated while the GC & XB were left with only the Deepest and most dedicated fans. Wii wasn't ALL Casuals. People had a PS3 + Wii or 360 + Wii. Sure, it wasn't their main System but it was their 2ndary. 

Once the Wii U expands its library, it will start selling fine IMO. Also, not just Mario or Zelda. I'm talking other games too like Kirby, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Starfox, The Wonderful 101 and many more. Sure they don't sell AMAZING on their own but they still have a following and can still help sell Systems. I am a believer of library's selling Systems not individual games. I could be wrong but I expect Wii U to also be the 2ndary System for a lot of people because of the exclusives. Orbis + Wii U or Durango + Wii U is likely IMO.

 

 


One of the problems I think Nintendo has with their franchises is many of them appeal to the same audience. The Kirby and Donkey Kong Country fan is likely to be the same person who's a Mario fan. Ditto for the Animal Crossing folkes. 

It would be a different story if Nintendo's top five franchises were say ... Mario, Zelda, Halo, Pokemon, NBA 2K, and God Of War. That would bring in a more varied audience. 

If NSMBU and Nintendo Land aren't selling the system, then I don't see Kirby or DK or even Animal Crossing (not nearly as big on consoles) doing much other than selling to the same core Nintendo fanbase. 

If Nintendo had more variety in their franchises that genuinely appealled to very different market segments, as I mentioned above, then yeah, I would agree with this premise. 



WagnerPaiva on 22 January 2013
Screamapillar said:

Wasn't there a four year gap between Saturn and Dreamcast?  '95-'99 in America, I believe.  That's not too unusual.


You are right, it was 4 years, in america and also in Japan.

 

Also, are you sure God doesn´t want this creature to die? (Screampillar).



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JEMC on 22 January 2013
Screamapillar said:
JEMC said:

Well, if WiiU doesn't perform as Nintendo wants, I think that Nintendo would wait the usual 5 years or so to launch a new console, otherwise it could be seen as a betrayal to their WiiU users like SEGA did with the early move from the Saturn to the Dreamcast.


Wasn't there a four year gap between Saturn and Dreamcast?  '95-'99 in America, I believe.  That's not too unusual.

Yes, there were 4 years between them, but the impression that the people got was that they did it too soon, and that they didn't even maximized what the Saturn could have done.



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thranx on 22 January 2013
Salnax said:
Worst case scenario, Nintendo repeats the GameCube era, sells 30 million Wii U's, tightens their belts, lives off of 3DS income, and releases a new system in 2017 or so.

After the success of the Wii/DS, Nintendo can survive a relative failure.


no need to tighten their belts, they may have finished third gamecube sales wise, but they lead profit wise. Nintendo will do fine as long as they dont continue to sell at a loss (i know they released at a loss not sure if they still sell at a loss)



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Busted on 22 January 2013

All it will do is speed up the realease of their new console, maybe 2 years earlier than planned, honestly that's what would happen.



*Sound Of Rain on 22 January 2013
Soundwave said:

One of the problems I think Nintendo has with their franchises is many of them appeal to the same audience. The Kirby and Donkey Kong Country fan is likely to be the same person who's a Mario fan. Ditto for the Animal Crossing folkes. 

It would be a different story if Nintendo's top five franchises were say ... Mario, Zelda, Halo, Pokemon, NBA 2K, and God Of War. That would bring in a more varied audience. 

If NSMBU and Nintendo Land aren't selling the system, then I don't see Kirby or DK or even Animal Crossing (not nearly as big on consoles) doing much other than selling to the same core Nintendo fanbase. 

If Nintendo had more variety in their franchises that genuinely appealled to very different market segments, as I mentioned above, then yeah, I would agree with this premise. 

I disagree that they appeal to the same people. Sure some Core Nintendo fans like nearly all of their games but to say they have the exact same audience isn't true IMO. No way to tell for sure though I guess. Lets just say that most Nintendo fans do enjoy nearly every franchise they have. Would they be willing to pay $300 for a System just to play Nintendo Land & Mario U? I don't think many would. Would they pay $300 for a System in order to play Nintendo Land, Mario U, Pikmin 3, Game and Wario, Kirby, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, and Donkey Kong? This is much more likely.

By the way, I only get 1 Console per gen and have gotten all Nintendo in the past. I am waiting until after E3 to decide if I want to buy a Wii U, Orbis, or Durango. I am tired of Mario personally (2D, 3D, Kart, Party, everything, tired of same setting and feel) and have never liked Zelda or Metroid. Those 3 are normally associated as Nintendo's main franchises. If I do choose to buy Wii U it will be for their "Smaller" franchises that appeal to the same Mario audience. (We do exist)



Gamerace on 22 January 2013
Screamapillar said:
DanneSandin said:
Well, I don't see them releasing a new console in 2014/2015 - they didn't do that whilst the GC was failing, and they're not gonna do that now. Earliest release date of a new console is 2016, but more likely in 2017.

But I think you said it with "Does Nintendo re-focus and create a handheld/console tablet hybrid machine". I've been thinking along side the same note; a home console you can pick up and play on the go - but nothing like the Vita, mind you. What a console like that would look like I have no idea, but I'm sure Nintendo would find a way to make it work. That would put them in a category for themselves; combating both the threat of smartphones and the other home consoles. We'll at least see much more integration between the home console and the handheld.


Releasing a new console before the five-year mark will damage their reputation and image in the long-term, as many will simply not buy hardware from them anymore if they think it's a possibility it will be replaced in three or four years.  It would cause more damage than merely having a five or six-year system lifespan with moderate success.

Hogwash.   Microsoft released 360 after Xbox had been on the market merely 4 years.   Didn't hurt them one bit.

I've been predicting WiiU will flounder and be replaced by 2016 since last year.  It's quite possible that console will replace both 3DS/WiiU and act as both a portable and home console.  It will likely also be the last dedicated game console very released as everything released after (if not before) - including future systems from MS/Sony will be multimedia devices that play games (like PCs/Tablets/smartphones do now). 

Even if WiiU is a complete sales disaster, it's happened to Nintendo before (VirtualBoy) and they came back stronger than ever.  I don't predict WiiU flopping that hard though, it'll more be along the lines of Gamecube - around 30m.



 

sales2099 on 22 January 2013

Nintendo has learned that they need casuals to stay alive. WiiU just doesnt bring in the same crowd that Wii did.

Expect this to be the last "core first" Nintendo console, because frankly, there aren't enough core to support them anymore.



Xbox: Best hardware, Game Pass best value, best BC, more 1st party genres and multiplayer titles. 

 

Soundwave on 22 January 2013
sales2099 said:
Nintendo has learned that they need casuals to stay alive. WiiU just doesnt bring in the same crowd that Wii did.

Expect this to be the last "core first" Nintendo console, because frankly, there aren't enough core to support them anymore.


There is no where to go with a "casual console" either though. iOS/Android/tablets have sucked all that type of gamer up. 

I think Microsoft will try a middle ground console with the 720 and try to push Kinect 2 and the broader Windows TV type features as a main selling tool next time out though.