I read your thread! It was very inspirational

With $14ish Billion in cash assets, they'll be around for a good long time even if the Wii U doesn't sell another system (which it will...maybe even two).  Now, Sony had to sell their two largest office buildings to get the cash needed to launch the PS4.  If things don't pick up for them, they'll be on the chopping block sooner than Nintendo.  As for Microsoft, they still have not made money on the Xbox division.  Makes you wonder how long they're willing to continue?!?

I could see myself switching to Sony for good but It wouldn't be the same. Also no more Zelda would kill me, I already lost Castlevania...

Lets assume ad arguendum that Nintendo is in fact on a course towards demise, that the slagging sales of the Wii U will continue and/or get worse and that Smartphones/Tablets are eating and will devour the 3DS's market in the near/mid-term. I really don't think these things are as dire as some speculate but again for the sake of argument lets assume they are I would:

Then I would say Nintendo would probably cease making video game hardware some time in the mid-2020s after the Wii U was discontinued, the 3DS did fairly well but died early and the combination successor - despite Nintendo finally utilizing its vast money reserves to try to pump out third party deals, etc. - dying a cold death.

This would require a massive string of bad decisions worse that they are doing now over a very extended period. At that point of Hardware demise (or even shortly before) I can see one of two courses (or perhaps a combo) for Nintendo: 1) attempt to put their IPs and studios to work on other platforms 2) Sell off their IPs and attempt to enter some other market. Either of these things I believe would result in a final demise of Nintendo circa 2030.

Of course that's all out of my ass, so unlikely to happen it would be nearly impossible to calculate and would be one of the worst things that could happen to the gaming industry as a whole.

The 3DS should keep Nintendo afloat this gen, even if the WiiU fails to recover.

That's quite the theory. It could happen if Nintendo did nothing but bad decisions...

To tell you the truth a few months back I was more concerned about Sony...

Noooo...!
That would suck, honestly. I suppose if it were to happen, my involvement in gaming would probably drop quite a bit. I don't think I'll ever actually stop playing video games, but Nintendo are a huge part of why I do. Just wouldn't be the same without them.

I'd go PC.

well, losing 6 billion in a single generation is concerning :P

WHAT?!

It's THAT BAD for Sony?!?!?
I just checked online to make sure this was true.

Had no idea they had to do all this!
It's VERY bad for Sony right now.

I knew they needed PS4 to be a hit but now I REALLY know that the PS4 can't fail for Sony.
They sold their New York HQ & their Sony City Osaki office in Tokyo...
...Damn. It's getting bad.

Maybe I was too hasty saying Microsoft would be first to drop out.
It can go either way at this point.
John Lucas