I have thought about this for a while now. Nintendo makes some of the best games around. Why not just jump ship off making home consoles and just become a game developer. They will still sell their millions of copies but not have to worry about the hardware. This would also help them out since no 3rd parties really want to try and compete with Nintendo on their own console. What do you guys think?

 Part of the reason Nintendo makes some of the best games around is because they know how to design games around their own hardware.  If they became third party, they would be limited to the hardware capabilities of the console manufacturers they were developing for.

Well they make a lot of money off of hardware, licensing fees, and the fact their own games don't have them. It's hard to imagine that kind of money being made up by sales on other consoles, especially since they would be paying licensing fees to other console manufacturers.

Because they make the hardware in tandem with the software. Look at the Wii for the best examples.

I understand all of that but I am sure they would be able to figure out how to produce a game for the next PlayStation of Xbox console. Then they could just rake it in on the software sales. Even more if they cross platform.

@Derixs: As Legend11 said, there are lots of advantages from making hardware. You get to receive licensing fees from 3rd parties, and you don't pay licensing fees on your own software.

lol. Nintendo makes billions on hardware and software. Dumping the hardware would just mean less profit overall. Nintendo themselves have said that the day they stop making consoles is the day they stop making software.

There is a good reason you want to be in control of the hardware. Nintendo knew that they were adding motion controls and IR support to the Wii, and they made games that took advantage of it. They can build software to the hardware's strength, and build the hardware to make the types of games they wish to. Nintendo made the Wii so they could make games like Wario Ware, Mario Kart, and other games that support motion control.

In the end, if your console is winning, who cares if you get 3rd party support. Nintendo isn't stopping them from making games, 3rd parties just choose not to. Nintendo wants 3rd parties to make games because it means more money for them and more interest in their console, but they don't have to worry about 3rd parties.

How does supposedly going from 3rd parties not competing to having to compete with everyone on another console benefit the software side of their business?

Why would they do that when they are making billions on the hardware too?

This does make better sence. I would just love to see more 3rd party support for a great system. I just feel that sometimes Nintendo is shooting themselves in the foot when they are the top developer for thier own system.

@Derixs: Nintendo are not shooting themselves in the foot. They're making billions in profit and gaining tons of brand recognition in the process.

You have not yet given any good reason why Nintendo should get rid of hardware.