Why Nintendo should stay first party? From a former Sega and especially Sonic fan, this is pretty obvious. We can trace the decline of Sega as a publisher of good games back to when they quit the hardware business and became third party. We can trace the exact game where Sonic started going off the rails to the first main non-remake Sonic game developed for non-Sega consoles i.e. Sonic Heroes. If Nintendo go the same way it will be far more tragic, as they have a number of franchises whose quality it would be awful to see compromised.

It's not just coincidence this, either. First party games are so often superior, and there are many reasons to this. Focus on optimisation for a single console, having cooperation between software developers and hardware developers for a fuller understanding of the hardware, a company having more to lose if they're developing games to try and sell their own console etc. etc.

And that's not to mention the fact that Nintendo are the only ones making interesting hardware, rather than glorified PCs. Take them out and that's pretty much it for me and gaming. I'll become a retro gamer, with a small amount of PC gaming on the side. Sony and Microsoft offer me nothing.

Wow... people really want nintendo games, yet they hate them because "they are for kids". I don't get it. And I've read a lot of people using the argument that 'they are forcing people to buy their console to able to play their games', that's exactly what exclusives are for. It's like saying that microsoft forces people to buy an xbox to play Halo or a PS to play whatever. I enjoy my Wii U, a lot. I'm willing to go as far as saying it's my favorite console ever, and I've owned most of the consoles released since the SNES, except SEGA's consoles (never liked Sonic).

The thing is that I'm not interested in Destiny or 99% of all the fps games that gets released, Sunset Overdrive, Infamous, Forza, Watch Dogs and so on. I tried 'Knack' the other day (flagship title of PS4 release, if I'm not mistaken) and it was horrible. I like the games I have on my Wii U and I'm not willing to spend 30% more money on a console that doesn't offer the titles I enjoy. If nintendo became 3rd party I would have to pay that extra money just for their titles plus some others. Not worth it



TL;DR:

Nintendo games are enough for me and if their console is cheaper than the competition, I save money if they stay 1st party.

As long as their core market is happy and they make a profit, they should stay first party. I would like to see sales like the original DS/Wii because I felt good being a Nintendo fan then. 3DS sales don't necessarily disappoint but Wii U does because I know it has so much potential and deserves more, but that's not (completely) Nintendo's fault

My reasons why ninty should keep making their own hardware:
-usually they try to inovate in hardware more than PS and MS.(sometimes the inovation doesnt work, but is always good to see new ideas, good or bad).
-they try to compensate its hardware lack of power with good artstyle and gameplay mechanics.
-motivation. a company tends to be more motivated to make games for its own hardware.
-nintendo games follows the philosophy of the hardware. its a simbiotic relation. one doesnt make sense without other.

But they should do something to avoid their IPs to be forgoten. Maybe some deals with disney?(everybody knows elsa, but no one knows one of the main ninty characters: rosalina)

Those who want Nintendo go third party good luck :), it's like saying I want Sony games to be on Wii U or Xbox One games on Ps4.

1. The PS1 is hit and miss. It's a reasonable system but had some issues with the lid not closing and the lazers and spinners crapping out. They are all over the place at farmers markets and the like for parts, to find one that works perfectly is rare. The PS2 and 3 both have their issues with lasting, same goes for the 360. Both the X1 and PS4 have heat issues so they are unlikely to be long lasting at this point. 

2. How are they resisting innovation? They are late to the party with some stuff (online), but I wouldn't say resisting innovation by any means. 

3. That's the point. Would you buy a PS for a naughty dog game? How about Xbox for Halo? It's the same, just for the most case they are of lower quality over all, not saying that both don't have some very good offerings. Just get a Nintendo system, you'll like it lol. 

4. The PS2 and original PS3 both had backwards compatability, so Sony is at 2 and MS is at 1. Many people seem to ignore the greatness of backwards compatability when this generation really shows why they should have it. All the new systems had dry first years and with backwards compatability it wouldn't have been that way because you will still have something to play. Of course for those that keep their old consoles might not have as much of an issue, but many do trade them up. I wonder how well TLOU would have sold on the PS4 if there was backwards compatability, or any of the within a year remakes for that matter. 

5. moot.

I really hope that they don't go third party. I'd prefer to not have another Sega in the industry.

The PSone was my first console that broke.  I was only able to play games when it was upside down. PS2 fat laser died (slim works like a charm!)  PS3 fat Ylod (slim works great) 360fat  had RROD I fixed it and sold it (slim works without problems). Never had the first xbox so I cant comment on that thing. Dreamcast still works (like every sega console I ever owned)

I have never had a single Nintendo console that broke. And I had them all.

The only thing that is "broken" at least partially is my DSlite hinge because I dropped it several times since I bought it like 8 years ago. And one day last year I saw a cack  but its still a little crack so the DSLite still works.
(well and I killed a few NES and SNES power supplies because I was a dumb kid and ignored "dont pull the calbe! pull the plug!" etc so I caused lead fracture on 2 power supplies. Moved the cables around until it worked used some tape and voila works again. Looks like shit with all the tape tho)

As long as they are profiting it's not much of an issue I don't think. Their business model seems to work. The business models of many third parties are the really risky ones. If Sony or MS do pull out they will likely go out of business over night. Them not using proper business practices are the issue here, that and exorbitant spending on bug ridden games, just hoping that their audience will again buy millions of them to ensure there is some profit to be made. That's one hell of a risky business model. 

If they could retain the quality they have and go PS exclusive or a second party to them, then I'd be down. I grew up with Nintendo and own every console they've made but lets be honest, unless things change, they're going to go out of business unless they put their games on someone else hardware. Their sales have been declining every single console they release sans the Wii, which sold to a completely different demograph... one which left the party years ago.