Nintendo Likely to Go Software Only, Says Zynga Board Member

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

As this is coming from a Zynga board member, a company that's falling apart as the Farmville bubble bursts, I'm less inclined to take him seriously. Nintendo will fight hard to stay in the hardware business. It's what is expected of them. I don't want to see Nintendo going Software only while I'm still young enough to have the free time to buy consoles.

 

[Olas]

Note to self, never go to the Escapist forums for informed or realistic opinions on anything relating to Nintendo. ಠ_ಠ

It's obvious that this thread is underestimating the hell out of Nintendo's durability. If they were going to throw in the towel on consoles they would have done it during the Gamecube era, not now. Nintendo's been through some rough patches before, but since 2005 they've basically been coming back in case you haven't realized. So I'm supposed to believe that after being the only one who's consoles were sold for profit last gen, after outselling the other 2 consoles, and being first to the punch unveiling their next one which will have no direct competition for at least a few years, that after all that, Nintendo's gonna decide to jump ship and abandon their gravy train?

Feel free to call me a "fanboy", that word lost all meaning on this site when it started referring to anyone who doesn't automatically hate Nintendo.

 

[I forgot]

Nintendo is highly unlikely to go software only for a long fucking time. Sony and Microsoft are more likely to go that route with their latest stream of fuck-ups but nobody gives 2 shits about either of them going software only. This idiot doesn't even have much argument for the case either, it's just his fantasy.
Even if the WiiU was a commercial disappointment, Nintendo has enough resources to keep going for another 2 decades. Neither the N64 nor the Gamecube forced them to become software only.

 

[JWAN]

EA? The same company that bitched about STEAM sales cheapening creative license?

Hey, nintendo might go software only but I doubt it. The Wii sold just fine and they made a lot of money off of it. Was it perfect? No. But it worked better than the 360 and its price was more compelling than the PS3. It found a niche market and preformed admirably.
What I would like to see on the next one:
- backwards comparability to the Nes either with an online function or the ability to play the hard copies (that would be SWEET)
- ability to connect wirelessly and with an ethernet cable to the internet
- connection to the 3ds
- ability to play DS games
- refined browser
- a real controller (I like the wiimote, but I like a regular controller better)
- more horsepower for the system as a whole
- an attempt to attract more 3rd party companies and the ability to play more 3rd party games
Will I get any of this? Some of it has been confirmed. The price is going to be around $300 USD, I can live with that.

 

[JWAN]

Note to self, never go to the Escapist forums for informed or realistic opinions on anything relating to Nintendo. ಠ_ಠ

It's obvious that this thread is underestimating the hell out of Nintendo's durability. If they were going to throw in the towel on consoles they would have done it during the Gamecube era, not now. Nintendo's been through some rough patches before, but since 2005 they've basically been coming back in case you haven't realized. So I'm supposed to believe that after being the only one who's consoles were sold for profit last gen, after outselling the other 2 consoles, and being first to the punch unveiling their next one which will have no direct competition for at least a few years, that after all that, Nintendo's gonna decide to jump ship and abandon their gravy train?

Feel free to call me a "fanboy", that word lost all meaning on this site when it started referring to anyone who doesn't automatically hate Nintendo.

Exactly^

Also, this is coming from the guy who is about to drive Zeynga into the ground as the Farmville bubble is bursting,also associated with EA a company that bitched about steam sales not bringing in revenue for start up companies, a bold faced fucking lie.

 

[dfphetteplace]

Right, because the Wii only outsold both other consoles several times over. They seem to know what they are doing for the most part. While I personally didn't care for the Wii (it was okay, I own one, but haven't played it in a long time), it was still a success.

 

[Atmos Duality]

It was a bad product which burned some bridges with core gamers. The WiiU would have to be something really special to make up for that but it doesn't look like the WiiU will win over too many core gamers.

Yeah. It burned bridges with the efficiency of an erupting volcano.
But it also made Nintendo a shitload of money; they found a new market that wasn't being fought over by Sony or Microsoft (or PC, but PC meant comparatively little to mainstream gaming at the height of the Wii's dominance. Primarily was MMOs/Grinders and ports of 360 games).

...At least until their domestic sales tanked in late 2010 and a strong Yen rendered the (falling) sales of their non-domestic market mostly moot. Oh well. You can't grow forever.

In any case, after Nintendo shitcanned bringing the Binding of Isaac to the 3DS, I'm pretty sure that they are going for the Disney-Public-Image approach now (regardless of what they claimed) so I'm not exactly counting on the WiiU to provide anything that core gamers will clamor for barring remakes and ports.

EA? The same company that bitched about STEAM sales cheapening creative license?

To be fair, he is Ex-EA and wasn't with the company when EA issued that hilariously stupid statement.

 

[Epona]

Right, because the Wii only outsold both other consoles several times over. They seem to know what they are doing for the most part. While I personally didn't care for the Wii (it was okay, I own one, but haven't played it in a long time), it was still a success.

That the Wii sold alot is not in dispute, stop arguing a point that isn't in dispute. Thanks.

Now for what is in dispute. The Wii collects more dust than any console this gen. In m y house we have two and they get turned on very rarely. When my sons friends come over to play, it's the PS3 and the 360 they want to play (10 year olds). I ask them if they play their Wii at home and they say no. I think you'll find a similar opinion everywhere. Oh, you'll find a few people who love their Wii and turn it on daily but they are most certainly the minority. If you like, you can start a poll to find out.

This kind of thing will likely affect WiiU sales. Lightning will not strike twice.