Logically, you are correct. But, Nintendo does not always operate according to logic. Also, the effect of old people on Wii sales is I think highly overstated.

You don't really think that, do you?

I literally did not know if you were serious. Not because borrowing games is something ridiculous, but because it really has nothing to do with whether or not Nintendo should provide a digital option. Even if there is a workaround, there is no reason for Nintendo not to provide an option in the first place so that no workaround is needed, and people who would rather by a copy, digital or otherwise, can do so.

As for the reasons why that would be, it shouldn't have to be said, but I guess it does. If I own a copy, physical or otherwise, I can play it whenever I want. I get bored next weekend, I can replay Bowser's Fury. I replay my games often. I don't have to spend time finding who has it, getting it, etc and don't need to worry about finishing it by a certain time or returning it. More importantly, I don't know if any of my friends actually have it. I don't keep tabs on that, and not many of my friends are big gamers, and there's only like two or three close friends I have that are specifically Nintendo gamers. It was not part of my screening process. There are something like 3 millionish physical copies, and 300 million people in the US. That means about 1% of people own a copy. I haven't crunched the numbers, but even for gamers who are more likely to have other gamer friends, it seems well within the realm of possibility for them not to know someone who would be comfortable in lending them the game. And that's just for this particular example, where the game is especially popular. Xenoblade DE sold like six million worldwide, so probably around 1.5 million physical copies are floating around in the states. Mario and Luigi on 3DS sold like, a million? It seems quite likely that even for a person of average popularity, it's unlikely any game you happen to want will be available to borrow. 

Obviously tons of people buy Nintendo games rather than borrow them, for whatever reason. Kind of the whole reason they're still in business. Around 10 million bought 3D World, so clearly for those people borrowing was not a suitable alternative.

So yeah, there's nothing wrong with borrowing in general. If you have a friend with a game, great. But the idea that this was a serious solution to the problem I presented stuck me as ludicrous to the point where I genuinely thought it was a joke I wasn't quite getting. Especially when you said this was somehow an example of generosity on Nintendo's part. 

If you think those two sentences make a rant, I guess you've never heard a good rant before. But please, stop saying "you said that" or "you asserted that" and then following with something I did not say. I made no statement about how Nintendo generally treats their most loyal fans, only talked about that particular circumstance.

I don't know what your general position on physical games vs digital has to do with anything. I already stated that my preference would be for these things to be available both physically and digitally, but business realities might make that non-viable. I'm sorry about your brother, but the issue was never at any point physical vs digital. It was having an option to buy Bowser's Fury and other similar content alone and digitally, vs not having any option at all. Neither are ideal, but one is clearly better for consumers. And, if they don't like it, they can always opt to borrow instead.

You've at least addressed some points, but not the main one. More options is better for consumers almost always. As it is now, people who want to play Bowser's Fury, legally, can buy 3D World physically or digital, rent, or borrow. Adding the option to buy the content separately would cost Nintendo next to nothing, and would be a better option for people who owned 3D World and for whatever reason could not/would not borrow. Assuming they only did that digitally, anyone who doesn't like buying digital games has the exact same options as they did before, so I cannot think of any rational reason for them to be upset. If you are upset that someone else is buying a game digitally, then yes, that is irrational and stupid.

Depends on what you mean.

I do think it could happen. I do not expect that it will.

I think the chance that it happens is like 1 in a million.

Nah, his dad works at Nintendo.

We've seen really successful systems followed up with duds before. The Vita was nearly as bad as the Wii U. PS3 was a pretty big drop off from the PS2. Not a Wii U failure, but a definite misstep. 3DS could have gone down as a huge flop, but Nintendo salvaged it with an aggressive price cut.

It's really not that hard to fuck up a system launch. Lots can go wrong. 599 US Dollars, always on, surprise launch on Saturnday, etc. And it's an industry that's changing pretty quick. I really couldn't put a number on it, because as most humans are, I am terribly at probability. That's why casinos are so successful. If it happened, I'd be very surprised, but not shocked. Obviously though I'm hoping Nintendo the next system will be a success.

PS3 and 3DS levels of underpeforming are doable, Wii U and Vita though...

Nintendo has the monopoly over 2 markets, the handheld market and Japanese market. This will prevent them to bomb. If with pitiful software sales PS5 will sell over 5 million there, anything I mean ANYTHING Nintendo releases there is a safe 10 million plus simply because there is nothing else left to buy

I honestly can't see Nintendo selling anything less than 50 million next gen even if they drop their next console quickly (4 years like the Wii U), it would need a brutal and unpredictable changing on gaming landscape that completely crash the market. 

Look man, I'm old. I've seen things. The rise and fall of Blockbuster. I've asked questions to jeeves. I remember when there was a K-mart on every corner. When AOL discs came through the mail. I've eaten an Arch Deluxe. When the Wiz was finally beaten, I was there. I worked at a Toys R Us. I remember when Yahoo was bigger than google. I remember when Apple was just the company that made weird computers to play Oregon Trail on during computer period in school. I once asked someone what Chipotle was. I remember when Marvel was on the verge of bankruptcy desperately trying to unload their characters on Sony. I've seen things you couldn't fathom. 

Point is neither success nor survival are ever guaranteed. Things can turn around really quickly, and usually nobody sees it coming. I don't see any reason Nintendo's next console will fail, but if that happened, it wouldn't be the most surprsing thing I've ever witnessed.

The next Free Title Update for Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak arrives 29th of September, bringing Mizutsune, Espinas, and Chameleos subspecies, and layered weapons.