Iwata Apologizes For Ugly Nintendo Financials

[Sylocat]

The fact that they're acknowledging it at all is a decent sign.

Unfortunately, what's killing the 3DS isn't just one specific factor, it's a couple of factors snowballing: Third-parties won't make games for it because the unit's not selling, and the unit isn't selling because there's no games for it.

Oddly, while Nintendo gets a lot of flak for their current plan to re-release basically their entire primary first-party N64 library in 3D, that might actually be what's needed to break the cycle and salvage them. I don't think it's too late for third-party support, and they are finally waking up to the fact that they need it now.

I think salvaging the Wii-U will be simpler: Just get some better demos and previews, even if this means rushing some of the debut first-party titles into production early (they can take their time on those once they have something to show... trust me, once they know it's coming, gamers will wait).

Also, if they could work out some way of porting the big-name releases of last-gen over to the Wii-U, that would clinch it, but that would rely on the developers being willing to play ball... it could be easily pitched to them as "Hey, get a brand-new segment of the market!," but corporate politics could be blocking it... we can dream, though.

 

[CrystalShadow]

Well, when you reach the ridiculous heights Nintendo has recently, A fall of some kind was to be expected eventually.

I didn't think it'd be quite this bad though... I mean, their first loss since 1981? Wow.

Still, it's hardly their worst year ever.

I mean, they went into video games precisely because they were at the point of collapse.

Remember that Nintendo is over 100 years old, and Video games account for just the last 35 years of their history.

They have been in much, MUCH worse situations. Assuming their management hasn't forgotten this, I doubt they'll collapse now.

Still, it's disappointing to see them mess up this badly.

 

[duchaked]

they just need to release more games that their primary consumer base doesn't see as "just GAMES" games...er titles. or whatever

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Unsurprising, considering Nintendo is about as well informed as Hollywood when it comes to their target consumers. You can't build an entire game system that only provides the technological equivalent of dangling keys and expect people to gobble it up because there's another Zelda title scheduled for it.

But that's Nintendo for you. Money for nothing and their chicks for free.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

*sigh* I grew up with nintendo but the xbox is my new friend... Why nintendo? Eternal darkness is one of the greatest games. How did you fall so badly? No mother 3 and no 3rd party support. What the hell should have been expected? Even my nephew prefers the xbox to wii right now and he's in the demographic that you try to cater. Even children get tired of shovelware and shiny keys.

 

[Pandaman1911]

I've kind of stopped being a fan of Nintendo in recent years (like many, I assume), but Satoru Iwata will forever hold my respect.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Hey Nintendo, yo financials so ugly...
They make the Greek austerity measures look like GE's first quarter earnings for 2011!
Boom!

I miss "Yo! Mtv Markets."

I am seriously glad I unloaded those nintendo stocks a while ago.

 

[TheDooD]

Iwata it's really entirely your fault overall I blame Reggie. He's the one that been pushing controllers and gimmicks over games. It worked at first but you can't expect people to care about your console when you aren't releasing quality titles throughout the year. I mean NOT rehashes of your own products that come free when you buy the console. You should have allowed more openness to your products each and every wii game should have an option to be played on a wii-mote or a classic controller. Remember you're whole point of the Wii was getting people to play and not allowing people who disliked the motion controls to play their way was a fatal flaw in your planing.

Next Nintendo should have taken more smart risks with their products. Kirby was once lower tier compared to Link, Samus and Mario. Look at him now he's the biggest thing that's going for their characters. Since Link's storyline is more jumbled and makes less sense then street fighter. Trying to make Samus modern polarized her fanbase and basically killed the Metroid series. Finally Mario hasn't been cool since Sunshine and Paper on the damn Gamecube. Where's F-Zero, Advanced/Famicom Wars, Fire Emblem and Where in the FUCK is a legitimate console Pokemon game.

Nintendo has SO many options they want to get into connecting social media and all that bullshit. Wouldn't that be perfect for a CONSOLE Pokemon game where friends are able to explore and battle with their friends and family. The last Advanced Wars game was deep and fulfilling story and Fire Emblem always carried that darker side of war storyline. The fans of those games love'em. Hell for real where's F-Zero how in the fuck that series didn't cross your minds all these halfed ass mario karts where's F-Zero you know Capt Falcon is a meme icon now.

Let me end this here because Nintendo pisses me off at how they messed over their consoles over the years. They all had potential to be just great if not greater then the SNES yet....they just didn't follow through.