I'm not demanding that you agree, and I'm open to discussing why I think so, that's grounds for a conversation. ;)

And that's why THQ went down, and many publishers are not making profits. 

And what changed since THQ went down? Business models are what prevents publishers from making profits. EVen if we regress back to only 2D sidescrollers, the show will go on...that much, I can guarantee.

Nah, we'll either see big AAA blockbuster tittles (your GTAs, CoDs, FIFAs etc) or indie games. Middle end software will disappear or become extremely rare. Games will either have to sell 5 million units to become profitable or become failures. Publishers will take even less risks than now. 

That's how I see the future of the game industry.

I disagree, if nintendo falls then I wii skip gaming all together!

@OP

Okay look. You certainly have wiggle-room to argue that points 2. and 3. are true or not. Those are a bit more subjective in nature to be sure. Though honestly it's still a valid point that Nintendo DOES always tend to be the most inventive/innovative, and it's a fact that their games are almost always of the highest quality/some of the highest rated in any given year.



BUT, I'm sorry, point #1. is not arguable. Nintendo absolutely is indispensable to the industry, and if you don't understand why, then I'm afraid you don't truly understand video games. I'm not saying that to be a prick....but there's just no two ways about it. I cannot think of a single other video game company MORE indispensable than Nintendo. That is to say, I can't think of a single game company who would have MORE of a negative impact on the industry by "going away" than Nintendo would.

Yes, if Nintendo died tomorrow and not a single new Nintendo console or especially NIntendo franchise game would ever see the light of day again, other companies would try to rise up and "fill the void". But let's be real here. If NIntendo were gone, the gaming industry would quickly become a pretty boring, "me too" place. It already is that, to a large degree. And a world without new Nintendo games is honestly not one I would like to ever have to live in. And considering that MOST of the Top 50 highest selling video games of all time ARE Nintendo published titles, I tend to think a majority of gamers would probably agree.

Me too.

I might indulge in some retro collecting, but my days of being at the forefront of gaming will be over.

What you say about Dreamworks is true, but I think it's fair to say it's becoming less and less relevant (Shrek 4 was something like 4 years ago, afterall). 

If I'm understanding you right, there isn't anything that can come around and just replace Zelda. If so, I agree, but I don't see that anything needs to. Zelda itself is such a nebulous franchise in terms of mechanics that virtually nothing has remained consistent. Which is fine, but that's more or less what I mean when I say it's more of an institution; very little of practical substance remains constant except the prominent fanbase. I mean, if Zelda games stopped being made, it would suck, but it wouldn't really change the state of the industry as a whole, only a specific niche that, like most niches, would probably find something to fill it sooner or later.

But the show will go on, yes? If it's nintendo  you're trying to defend, they're the masters of taking no risks on software.

So your factual explanation of why ninty is indespenable is that, you wouldn't like to live in such a world? Great facts you got there.