Yeah I agree with that. 

Marketing to everyone really actually means not marketing or designing a product specifically for kids. Once you do that, you're really not "marketing for everyone", you are basically alienating teenagers and adults by doing that. 

The majority of the gamers are adults so your point is moot, OP ...

I get what you are saying, but by target everyone I don't mean one campaign directed at everybody. I mean multiple campaigns that are directed at each demographic. The Wii U's biggest issue to start was an entire lack of marketing and campaigning for the system. Also it had loads of hate on it for the gamepad. Not that more people have got the system it's actually, very slowly mind you, but it is picking up momentum and much of that is due to the games that interest many different demographics. I'm not sure where it came from but there seems to be a fairly strong bias against the Wii U for some reason, much of it is based on unfounded opinions. 

If any system ignores any demographics they are loosing a potentially large piece of the pie, it's all a matter of garnering interest in each one. 

As I said though, you do make a good point. I'm not so sure about the "adult" opinion on it though as much of the "adult" material around is actually purchased by, or for, teens. Adult interests tend to be a much wider spectrum than what is often lumped into as "adult" or "mature". 

To put it simply, Hell naw. When Nolan Bushnell put out one of the first Arcade machines, he saw that children were pulled in to it more than adults. Adults will have their phones. The DS was a different situation because, Nintendo could have held the gaming and mobile markets in their hands because they were a year or 2 ahead of the competition and Adults understood that. But when smartphones came out, everything changed. They need to market it more to teenagers and thus, kids like what teenagers think is cool and bam, you just hit 2 demographics with one stone.

When looking specifically at the handheld market though

1.) There is no MS or Sony for Nintendo to have to worry about (assuming Sony is out). There's no Sony/MS to compete with third parties with here either.

That's a pretty big difference from the console business. The portable business is instead overpopulated with cheap, casual games available on smartphones thanks to Apple/Google. That is Nintendo's main competetion now in the portable space. 

"Counter-programming" here may actually point to going in a direction that is more like Nintendo of the mid-1990s ... focusing on higher end hardware, graphics, more marketing/iniatives towards enthusiast gamers (getting the Star Wars license, Kobe Bryant in NBA, Ken Griffey Jr., oking violent games like Killer Instinct, Conker, Perfect Dark, Eternal Darkness, starting Retro Studios, etc.). 

Maybe they should try that route at least for the launch year. Try to please your teenager/adult market moreso upfront, get sales off to a good start, play up nostalgia and "cool factor" early on.

For kids who are just starting out ... hey that's what the New 3DS is for, by then they can cut the price on that and make it dirt cheap. Maybe even throw in an Amiibo toy for free too. Let that cater to kids for a while.

I think going upmarket in the portable business now makes some sense. If you are going to die on the hill of $39.99 games, then I think you need today to redefine what a $39.99 portable game is. It can't be something that consumers view as cheap/low-tech .... otherwise they can just get that style of experience for $1/free. You have to show consumers a new style of portable gaming that is higher end.

Handhelds should stay with the younger generation/ for everyone for the one simple reason... How many adults really have time to play a handheld while on the go? Like seriously. The big thing about a handheld is you can take it anywhere and if you really only have time to play games when you're at home after work or whatever, what is the likelihood that you'd choose the handheld over the console on the big screen?

I disagree that the device was aimed at strictly adults. It`s design and games definitely seems something aimed at kids, but still something all ages can enjoy. It`s a friendly design that welcomes all to play, and the games are colorful and fun which almost everyone can enjoy. I think the Vita was the device that aimed towards strictly young adults, which is part of why it struggled. It didn`t pull in the kids like the 3DS did. It`s quite apparent that the 3DS is favorable to kids.

Nintendo should be doing what it has been doing since possibly the Game Boy, and that`s appeal to as many people as possible. If they can make a great device with great games, they can continue living in the portable space where the smartphone is becoming more dominant.

The problem with colorful games is they're all over the iPhone/iPad ... and for free.

If Nintendo's whole sales pitch now is "well you can't play real games on an iPhone with real controls", then they may be better served towards having more games that really can't be replicated properly on a smartphone. They need to differeniate themselves from smartphones in a larger way in other words. 

Going more high end may let them have their slice of the market.

Look at the New 3DS launch which was aimed more at an older demographic vs. the 3DS XL launch ... the numbers of the New 3DS launch are much higher. 

The problem is Nintendo will predictably stop doing the things that got them success in this case. I've watched Better Call Saul for the last two weeks for example and no more 3DS ads (whoda thought). Monster Hunter and Majora's Mask appeal to older teens/adults ... but what else is coming in the next few months that does the same? This is where you will lose momentum. 

They may well be doing this, if not they have to realise that the market has shrunk and act accordingly , do what mobile can't while selectively entering the mobile arena , run Nintendo on the basis of being able to make a profit from game cube size home console sales and a smaller handheld market.

Stop trying to hard at replicating the Wii's success if it happens it happens, by this I mean put out a product that is in the ball park of your competitors , the Wii is dead ,that doesn't mean you need to be better or more expensive just similar hardware , software is the differentiation.


Perception is a hard thing to break and Nintendo's image is what it is and tying to alter it to a more adult orientated image is a catch 22 situation go to far and you risk alienating your existing fans or in regards to minors their parents , don't do anything and you upset people who want more so called adult content and you are labeled the same old conservative Nintendo .

In regards to this I would just ensure the next console measures up with the others and let 3rd party do what they do, I don't think you will get parity but with a bit of planning you should be able to get most of the bigger 3rd parties.

I don't believe targeting one demographic will yield results. The Wii is a testament to this, as is the DS. both catered to every demographic. I believe that Nintendo will enter with a much better focus come their next handheld and console. Until then, we just have to wait and see.