Since late 2006 with the debut of the Wii, Nintendo has made a profit of somewhere between 5 and 6 billion dollars. Most likely it is closer to 6 billion than 5. The success of the DS, and the Wii combined has brought Nintendo into its most profitable times ever. Even in the midst of the worst worldwide economic crisis most people alive on this earth have ever experienced.
It’s simple business 101 that states that during the plentiful times you use the excess to plan for and safeguard future growth. Especially if your business is doing well when others are struggling or going under. In truth, who knows what Nintendo may be researching, developing, or planning right now? They tend to keep their secrets well. But the company message to their customers lately seems to be: “Don’t expect, and you won’t be let down.”, and there are a few major opportunities that have either passed Nintendo by already or will soon if they don’t act.
5. Masahiro Sakurai should have been allowed whatever budget he desired, and full unhindered creative authority in developing Super Smash Bros Brawl.
Brawl is an awesome game. But most long time Smash Bros gamers feel that since this is the third iteration of the game, there should be more characters. The tragedy? Masahiro Sakurai, the games lead developer thought so too, but couldn’t do anything about it due to circumstances beyond his control. (Nintendo, his boss).
Add to that the fact that the online function for the game sucks more often than it doesn’t (also against his will), and could have been better had Nintendo opened the wallet a little bit more, then we have to wonder if Sakurai san will ever even bother with another Smash game if they ask.
4. Speaking of crappy online servers… Nintendo has failed to invest in this much needed area.
It’s been estimated that Microsoft has spent around a billion dollars on their Xbox Live server and they are touted as having the best online experience in the business. Even though they charge a fee, they’ve done all of this from a debt standpoint, as well as Sony, who's service is comparable to Microsoft's, and free to boot. Meanwhile Nintendo has made over 5 billion dollars in two years and remains happy with the crappiest online setup and choices available.
But wait, it gets even worse. 3rd party developers are confined to this absurdity as well with a few small concessions made for giants such as EA, and possibly Capcom with Monster Hunter 3. Gamers are in the wrong for feeling upset with Nintendo over this though, right? Remember: “Don’t expect, and you won’t be let down.”
3. How do you pass up on a game like The Conduit?
Don’t get me wrong, High Voltage Software is doing quite well to have Sega as the publisher for their upcoming, and highly anticipated first person shooter The Conduit. However, considering that this game is the greatest effort ever put forth for an original FPS on a Nintendo console, you’d think Nintendo would have done what it took to snatch up the rights.
It only makes sense to lock up such a franchise to keep it exclusive when you have the opportunity, and they did have the opportunity. But Nintendo passed; even though they’ve made the aforementioned billions in profit in the past two years alone. Not only that, it appears that this game, for which its developers have made every effort to please gamers, will be needlessly hindered with Friend Codes to “protect” the people too stupid or lazy to use their built in parental controls feature. Just like with Brawl, gamers will likely end up with an awesome game, that just didn’t quite go all the way, though it could have. All because of Nintendo. While there are plenty of awesome games on the console, there are almost always unnecessary issues. Such disappointments seem to have become The Way of the Wii. It is the way it is truly distinguishing itself. If you don't want to be disappointed, don't expect.
2. Console RPG’s. (Pokemon anyone?)
This current age of gaming has seen the meteoric rise of the MMORPG. The problem with the genre though is that few catch on like wildfire. When they do though, it’s just ridiculous. Meanwhile, Nintendo sits on what is likely the greatest intellectual property in gaming, with an unreal fan base ready and waiting for an MMORPG, yet they twiddle their thumbs.
It doesn’t take a (Team) Rocket Scientist to see the answer to the potential problem of people abandoning the hand held should an MMORPG be released. Make the two integral. DS game registry would make it possible to catch, trade, and play with all pokemon, while those who didn’t buy the handheld version would be limited in what they can catch, trade, what items they can obtain, etc. Duh. What are we thinking though. We should not expect…
1. Hiring the talent from the recently fallen Factor 5.
Factor 5 is well known for their ability to work wonders with Nintendo’s recent hardware configuration. Games like Star Wars: Rogue Squadron still look good years later. The group over there really knows how to milk the Nintendo Machine. The company apparently went down in December, and once again, you’d think that with all of that profit, it’s a no-brainer for Nintendo to swoop in, and give those guys jobs where they’ll be able to do their best work directly for Nintendo. But it hasn’t happened. Unemployed people need jobs Nintendo. It’s already mid-March. They’re going to move on if they haven’t already. Why are you missing this opportunity?
Who is/are the Fat-Cat(s) pocketing all of that profit? It’s ridiculous.
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WHERE is the money being spent is what I'm wondering to!
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