Is Nintendo becoming irrelevant?

[Dragonbums]

This again man?

Come one. Make a thought provoking thread for once.

This is pretty similar to the last thread you made.

 

[Doom972]

Seems like it. The Wii drove away many due to its casual-centric approach, and the casuals don't really care about the WiiU - many of them don't seem to realize that it's a new console, according to Nintendo.

While the 3DS is beating the PS Vita, gaming-only handhelds become irrelevant due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, which can provide gaming along with many other features.

They still have some very popular IPs that they are hoarding. They could become relevant by going the way of Sega.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Seems like it. The Wii drove away many due to its casual-centric approach, and the casuals don't really care about the WiiU - many of them don't seem to realize that it's a new console, according to Nintendo.

While the 3DS is beating the PS Vita, gaming-only handhelds become irrelevant due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, which can provide gaming along with many other features.

They still have some very popular IPs that they are hoarding. They could become relevant by going the way of Sega.

Sounds to me like handhelds becoming "irrelevant" is somewhat smalltalk coming from a few rather than just everyone, because if it was everyone well then Sony and Nintendo would have dropped out a long time ago.

What is all this talk of "hoarding"?, it sounds a lot like wishful thinking of personal desires, I have desires to but they usually involve me trying to give a care for illogical people, but alas that itself is illogical.

 

[wulf3n]

gaming-only handhelds become irrelevant due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, which can provide gaming along with many other features.

That's like saying consoles are irrelevant because PC's can provide gaming along with many other features.

I'm not saying smartphones haven't/aren't making gaming-only handhelds irrelevant just that there's little evidence to say that it is.

the image posted by Dexter111 arguably shows that the popularity of gaming-only handhelds is merely steadying itself out to Pre-DS levels.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Badge Farming topic detected.
OP made one post and shows no further interest in discussion, but simply leaving an obviously inflammatory topic to farm views and posts.

Requesting lock or merge on account of the redundancy with their other thread.

OT: This is Nintendo's darkest hour, more or less.
With new DBZ Pokemon on the way, they will remain solvent for a while, but the WiiU is so far a colossal flop.

 

[Doom972]

gaming-only handhelds become irrelevant due to the popularity of smartphones and tablets, which can provide gaming along with many other features.

That's like saying consoles are irrelevant because PC's can provide gaming along with many other features.

I'm not saying smartphones haven't/aren't making gaming-only handhelds irrelevant just that there's little evidence to say that it is.

the image posted by Dexter111 arguably shows that the popularity of gaming-only handhelds is merely steadying itself out to Pre-DS levels.

That graph pretty much proves my point. The gaming handhelds sales are declining, while in those same years (2010+) smartphone and tablet sales are rising.

 

[Comocat]

I disagree. Nintendo has the casual/family niche fairly well locked down. The Xbox and PS are essentially cheap computers that you cant upgrade for 7 years, which isnt exactly a niche that needs to be cornered. For the first time in my 20 years of gaming, I dont really see much point in spending $600+ dollars to fully outfit a console (extra controllers, service plan, multiplayer access, etc) when I can spend $200 or so to upgrade my computer.

I'm not going to disagree that nintendo has made some missteps, but I think we are more likely to be buying nintendo products in 10 years than Xbox.

 

[Buizel91]

Put it this way, As long as Nintendo has Mario, Link, Samus and the Pokemon franchise, they aren't going anywhere for a LONG time.

Hell they could survive on Pokemon alone, the amount of money them games churn out.

 

[Bruce]

Is Nintendo on its way to being irrelevant in the console market? I mean, the Wii U is practically dead in Europe, and the PS4 and One are coming soon. What about the people who are no longer Nintendo customers because of the Wii and now the Wii U?

No.

It would take more than the Wii U failing to take Nintendo out of contention - Nintendo has had weak console sales before and survived fine on its handhelds.

And the rebirth of the 3DS shows that it can recover from a period of weakness. It is just too soon to count them out yet.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

You mean how they had to back out of the handheld market because the 3DS was a total bomb and failed so epically that it-

Oh wait, the 3DS has recovered from the original slump and is now dominating the handheld market. Huh.

Not to mention, Nintendo KNOWS it doesn't have to win first place. They know that most people buy their stuff as a secondary console to compliment their PS3/Xbox so that they can play all the latest stuff while also getting to enjoy the Mario and Zelda and Smash bros games. Ninty's fine with second place.

They ain't going anywhere.

 

[suntt123]

That graph pretty much proves my point. The gaming handhelds sales are declining, while in those same years (2010+) smartphone and tablet sales are rising.

So? Why compare smartphone sales to console sales? Of course more people are buying smartphones; THEY'RE PHONES. People may play games on them but that's not why they buy them. People will always want a phone, not everyone wants a console- handheld or otherwise. Also, bear in mind that the 3DS isn't that far behind the DS original, and that's WITHOUT an exclusive Pokemon game at launch. What do you want to bet that, come October, the 3DS's start flying out of stores so fast that they have to start handing out padded clothing?

As long as Nintendo owns at least pokemon they'll never be irrelevant. But they don't just own pokemon...

 

[Doom972]

That graph pretty much proves my point. The gaming handhelds sales are declining, while in those same years (2010+) smartphone and tablet sales are rising.

So? Why compare smartphone sales to console sales? Of course more people are buying smartphones; THEY'RE PHONES. People may play games on them but that's not why they buy them. People will always want a phone, not everyone wants a console- handheld or otherwise. Also, bear in mind that the 3DS isn't that far behind the DS original, and that's WITHOUT an exclusive Pokemon game at launch. What do you want to bet that, come October, the 3DS's start flying out of stores so fast that they have to start handing out padded clothing?

I'm talking about handhelds in particular in that post.

 

[suntt123]

That graph pretty much proves my point. The gaming handhelds sales are declining, while in those same years (2010+) smartphone and tablet sales are rising.

So? Why compare smartphone sales to console sales? Of course more people are buying smartphones; THEY'RE PHONES. People may play games on them but that's not why they buy them. People will always want a phone, not everyone wants a console- handheld or otherwise. Also, bear in mind that the 3DS isn't that far behind the DS original, and that's WITHOUT an exclusive Pokemon game at launch. What do you want to bet that, come October, the 3DS's start flying out of stores so fast that they have to start handing out padded clothing?

I'm talking about handhelds in particular in that post.

Well, my point still stands. Phone =/= Console and consumers know it.

 

[Church185]

Minecraft has gotten 12 million total sales. That's good, sure, but that's not a figure stratospherically ahead of Nintendo's big hitters. Brawl hit a similar sales figure, as did Mario Galaxy.

Your numbers are a little off. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/127420-Minecraft-Lifetime-Sales-Reach-33-Million] Kids who aren't even that interested in gaming are playing Minecraft now, because they can play it on nearly any platform. These numbers are also before they release the game on PS3, PS4, and Vita. It's the same reason that games like angry birds became so popular with kids. Parents don't need to fork over $299 for a Wii U or $129 for a 2DS to play popular kid friendly games anymore. They can simply pay ~$0.99 to play a game on a device they may already have for other purposes.

Nintendo can't continue to try and compete with that.

 

[happyninja42]

I've never been a fan of Nintendo but what I'm guessing is that just not enough people in the new market they created (casuals like elderly people) wanted to continue to commit to the brand or gaming in general and that's likely part of the reason they aren't doing as well.

For me it's a case of not caring at all about Pokemon/Mario/Zelda and so I see no reason at all to buy Nintendo products, perhaps others are starting to feel the same way?

Same here mostly. I was a big fan of Nintendo back in the SNES and 64 days, when they made games that were fun to play, and interesting. However since then I've lost any interest in their platforms, couldn't tell you the last time I played, or even paid attention to a Nintendo title. They seem to be slowly atrophying away, which I'm fine with, no real big loss.

 

[Dr. Cakey]

There are currently two principal dedicated handheld gaming platforms: the PSP Vita and the 3DS. Setting aside phones and tablets, that means the 3DS's only competition is the Vita. According to Wikipedia, as of June 30, 2012, the Vita sold a total of 2.2 million units. The 3DS had by that time sold 19 million units. That's not competition. That's pretty much monopoly.

The Wii was a misstep for Nintendo in the same way the iPhone was a misstep for Apple. In that it was, you know, the opposite of a misstep. The downside of Apple's iPhone was that it ruined Apple's image of being an elite company. The upside was...it became the second-largest company in America, and Microsoft could go suck it.

Now the Wii U...is clearly a failure. I'm fairly confident sales will pick up and it'll recoup its costs at least, but it won't match the other two consoles. It's tempting to point out, though, that it has, so far as I can tell, still outsold the Vita, even though handhelds traditionally outsell consoles.

NINTENDO: Even when we suck, somebody else always sucks more. (TM)

 

[bug_of_war]

Is Nintendo on its way to being irrelevant in the console market? I mean, the Wii U is practically dead in Europe, and the PS4 and One are coming soon. What about the people who are no longer Nintendo customers because of the Wii and now the Wii U?

I have 4 words that will be the very reason for Nintendo surviving. Pokemon. X. And. Y.

So many people will buy a 3ds JUST for those games, and with the release of the 2ds, parents of children under 12 (or what ever the age limit for the 3ds is) will here a whole lot of, "I want a 2ds and pokemon for christmas".

So yeah, console wise they may be failing, but they're gods when it comes to handheld.

 

[Lightknight]

They aren't becoming irrelevant. They are just becoming less relevant. Huge difference. They're just looking more and more like a single large publisher than a huge hub where multiple publishers combine/contribute work.

This does look like it's shaping up to be a failed console generation for them, but that doesn't necessarily make them irrelevant. They certainly have the cash on hand to take the hit.

I would say that the more kiddy their work gets. The less relevant it'll be to the older gaming generation that grew up with them.

 

[happyninja42]

Is Nintendo on its way to being irrelevant in the console market? I mean, the Wii U is practically dead in Europe, and the PS4 and One are coming soon. What about the people who are no longer Nintendo customers because of the Wii and now the Wii U?

I have 4 words that will be the very reason for Nintendo surviving. Pokemon. X. And. Y.

So many people will buy a 3ds JUST for those games, and with the release of the 2ds, parents of children under 12 (or what ever the age limit for the 3ds is) will here a whole lot of, "I want a 2ds and pokemon for christmas".

So yeah, console wise they may be failing, but they're gods when it comes to handheld.

Which is fine as far as I'm concerned. If they wan't to focus on being the source of gaming for children, and family oriented stuff, that's fine by me. Some of the stories I've heard, about how the Nintendo systems have been installed in nursing homes, and the residents start up digital gaming, bowling leagues. Where they are now getting more exercise, social interaction, as well as something fun to do with their grandkids when they visit. Which I think is awesome. If they want to also focus on game systems for children, with the kind of games that kids always want to play? Well, that's fine with me. I'm not going to buy their products, simply because of my personal interests in gaming, but I won't begrudge them focusing their stuff that way.

 

[DrOswald]

There are currently two principal dedicated handheld gaming platforms: the PSP Vita and the 3DS. Setting aside phones and tablets, that means the 3DS's only competition is the Vita. According to Wikipedia, as of June 30, 2012, the Vita sold a total of 2.2 million units. The 3DS had by that time sold 19 million units. That's not competition. That's pretty much monopoly.

The Wii was a misstep for Nintendo in the same way the iPhone was a misstep for Apple. In that it was, you know, the opposite of a misstep. The downside of Apple's iPhone was that it ruined Apple's image of being an elite company. The upside was...it became the second-largest company in America, and Microsoft could go suck it.

Now the Wii U...is clearly a failure. I'm fairly confident sales will pick up and it'll recoup its costs at least, but it won't match the other two consoles. It's tempting to point out, though, that it has, so far as I can tell, still outsold the Vita, even though handhelds traditionally outsell consoles.

NINTENDO: Even when we suck, somebody else always sucks more. (TM)

I feel like in time the Wii U will pick up in sales a lot eventually. The reason being that it is different from the other two major consoles. Only the most hardcore of gamers will need both a XOne and a PS4. They are just too similar. The Wii U, on the other hand, is different. It will be the second choice for most gamers but many will want it for its exclusive content. I will buy a Wii U, it is just a matter of time. The PS4 is higher on my priority list, but that Wii U will eventually end up in my home. And I am willing to bet the same is true of many gamers out there.