The problem with the 3DS is yes it's relatively successful, but on a per year shipment basis it's falling into territory that's their lowest since before Pokemon was created. Yes even the Game Boy Color had far better yearly shipments.

I think the issue the 3DS has was that early in its life cycle tablets were still prohibitively expensive for most people. When it was basically like a $500 iPad. But today kids have access to $100 tablets, so parents just buy each kid their own tablet.

I see this *all* the time on airplanes and in airports, as I travel a lot for work. Little kids with each sibling having their own tablet (probably because their parents got tired of listening to them fight over one). And they're loaded with free/cheap games.

So the first half of the 3DS cycle was OK, but the last few years where I think the impact of these cheap tablets is being felt moreso is leading their portable division into a yearly decline every year ... not even the 2DS + Pokemon was able to stop this decline (which is what a lot of people here were swearing would happen ... 3DS sales were going to explode ... never happened).

"I don’t think the NX needs to compete against the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to be successful. Nintendo has a history of doing things its own way, and that’s partially what’s allowed it to deliver excellent, oddball experiences like Splatoon and Super Mario Maker completely out of left field. When this experimentation works, as it did so well for the Wii, DS, and 3DS, it has paid dividends for Nintendo – but, unfortunately, when you take big risks, you’re going to have a few missteps along the way," Diener told Examiner.com

"The worst-case scenario I could see for the NX is if Nintendo tries to copy the PlayStation 4/Xbox One too closely in an attempt to entice more third party support for the platform. Those 8th generation console gamers without a Wii U are already well established in the Sony and Microsoft camps, and convincing them to leave for an experience that doesn’t offer anything different from what they’re already getting seems like an incredibly hard sell," Diener said.


I totally agree, you really can't release just clone of PS4/X1 in middle of life span of those console and expecting that will sell well. If they will release new console next year they need to offer again something new and different in comparison with PS4/XboxOne, that whole unified platform thing can do that.
Second option is to wait PS5/X2 and launch basically clone, but we all know that Nintendo cant wait that much and they definitely will not do that.

You've basically outlined why though one hardware will not suffice for them next time around. 

If they release a cheap, kid/mommy approved console, it will get its legs cut off by th established PS4/XB1, which will reach impulse buy pricing by next Christmas. 

If they release a PS5/XB2 type console but two years early, it's set up easily for Sony/MS to overtake them with more powerful machines similar to what happened with the Dreamcast (which was a wonderful console, just a victim of bad timing). 

The solution IMO is to destroy the console "rule book" and make NX a multi-hardware platform that has no traditional type of generational rules. Make it an evolving platform with multiple form factors so people can jump in any time into the ecosystem and get started. Embrace cloud computing too if you can do things like stream really high end PS5/XB2.

I almost wonder if NX is less a "console" and more of a "hardware hub" that can wirelessly stream to devices around where ever you go, and this hub is a modular/upgradable piece of tech that can be configured to meet your specific needs as a consumer. Just like to play Mario Kart, Kirby, Mario Maker, Android apps, Nintendo Virtual Console, and Japanese portable style games? Great the lower end NX can work for you and its cheap. Like to play high end third party PS5 style games? Get the higher end NX hub. 

Actualy one hybrid device that can stream games to TV could do same trick and be very popular. But of course better chances are that they going for multiple form factors.

Why do you think this is a practical possibility? How much do you think even a basic "steaming hub" would cost? What kind of controllers would it use? What would its power be comparable to? How will it offer a better experience than the Wii U offers? Do you think third parties that would be making PS5 style games would be interested in making a game that only a small fraction of a platform's fanbase can even play? How can Nintendo make such a solution compelling to third parites to get them on board and make games for such a platform?

Flesh out these ideas. Explore them further.

I know that u are opposed to the idea of Nintendo unifying their consoles and handhelds but I remembered this article from earlier in the year and found it interesting.

http://dromble.com/2015/02/04/what-do-game-developers-want-from-a-future-next-generation-nintendo-handheld/

Many of these developers expect and actually want Nintendo to go this route, here is a quote from a developer at Shin'en who has 15+ years experience working on Nintendo devices.

“First of all, we think it would be wise to unify the mobile and console platforms. There was already some talk about that from Mr. Miyamoto, and it would be certainly a step into the right direction. Of course mobile chip-sets can’t compete with desktop chips in terms of bandwidth, but already by simply using a lower resolution for mobile than on desktops, it could make it happen. Using 480p compared to 1080p means already nearly 80% bandwidth reduction.

A priority for a new handheld should be a GPU on par with the Wii U GPU, in terms of capabilities, but not necessarily bandwidth. Also its’ multicore setup would make sense on handheld platforms. This would already allow Mario Kart 8 or Nano Assault Neo visuals on a handheld, which would make everyone pretty happy I guess. More important than GPU and CPU specs would be a new form factor. Merging physical and touch controls into something unique and exciting is something that we would love to see from Nintendo.”

Two of Nintendo's recent patents actually could point to such a thing, a handheld that is the equivalent to Wii U that 3DS/N3DS are to Wii, meaning able display similar level of visuals and ports at a lower resolution that can be connected to a "secondary device" to allow those games to be displayed at a higher resolution with increased performance. Plus the idea of a control input that blends together the touch controls of mobile with the psychical buttons of consoles has also recently been patented by Nintendo.

What do u think of such a setup?

Like how the wii u was a "success"?

Wii U is a console that appeals to a niche group of the Nintendo fanbase. Not even the entire fanbase are happy with the Wii U.

I think if Nintendo does go with this route it's not how many people think. It will be the same console in mutliple form factors - Let me explain. Picture a Wii U gamepad with dual screens, and the console built into the gamepad. Picture a docking station that connects to the TV and handles things like multiple controller inputs from things like WIi U gamepads sold seperately. No performance improvement, maybe minor image upscaling of the top screen with some image smoothing effects, similar to how Blu-ray players upscale DVDs.

Along side that, picture Wii-U style console with the exact same specs as this new handheld, but has all the functionality of the dock built into a single unit, and uses the wii u gamepad as the controller, but multiple gamepads are supported as secondary controller.

Both the handheld and the core system would be functionally equivalent in terms of a development point of view, with very very minor additional testing needed. One version of the game. One standard for inputs. One standard for outputs.

I agree for the most part, I don't think we will see a Wii U level handheld along with a PS4 level console and expect them to share a library, to me that is unrealistic. When I say improved performance I'm only talking something similar to the N64 expansion pack that for the most part upressed games from 320x240 to 640x480 and sometimes increased frame rate and a few games had exclusive features that reguired it.

Also what do u feel are realistic price points for the devices u outlined above?