VG_Addict said:
Why do we give Nintendo a pass for not making a powerful console like Sony and Microsoft? Why do we let them be different for the sake of being different? A triangular wheel is different, but that doesn't make it useful.
If Nintendo wants to get third party support, they need to make a powerful console. It's as simple as that.
Here's the thing. What do they really have to gain by directly competing with the other big two? Nothing. They'll have to spend tons of money, sell the console either at a prohibitive price like the others or take a big loss on each unit sold.
For what? The chance that MAYBE, they might possibly overthrow one of the other two and be the dominant console? Or maybe they'll just fail and not get as many of their games into people's hands as they'd like and the generation will be a "Waste" for them. That's a big gamble to take.
Instead they've focused on their two strengths. Innovation (Ie, doing something wild to get attention, and trying to do that wild thing WELL. Sometimes mixed results like the WiiU, sometimes killer bank like the Switch), and the power of their IPs. They know that as long as their system is reasonably strong, and that they pump out enough quality games, AND that the price is in the ballpark of reasonable, people WILL pick up their console as a secondary option, so they can have that sweet sweet Zelda/Smash/Mario/etc action as well as the "big" games on other consoles.
Nintendo knows the business better than anybody. If they've decided that direct competition isn't the best idea, I'd be inclined to trust them (although they ARE very slow to adapt, for better and for worse).
09philj said:
Nintendo's handhelds have always done very well for them and are an essentially uncontested market;
Also this. They're the kings of quality handheld gaming. Leveraging that niche is wise for them, especially with the Switch being a hybrid.
The Switch is an extremely savvy bit of design which is at the perfect compromise point between something that's small enough for people to carry round while still having enough hardware oomph to look nice when hooked up to a TV.
Ah, there it is. Man do I love the system.
It's such a smart idea.
I have a PC. I don't need a Playstation or Xbox, and at the moment I can't foresee any circumstances in which I'll go back to playing games on console instead of PC. A Nintendo handheld, though, can do things my PC can't
Exactly this.
Most of the big games from other companies come to PC eventually, where I can mod them, or get them on sale, or any number of PC-only perks (up to and including total freedom of controls, I can use the mouse or basically any controller as I please). Nintendo games, however, don't leave Nintendo consoles, outside of illicit means. Also, Having Slay The Spire or Fire Emblem, or Stardew Valley or Smash be playable on the bus is legit awesome.
To conclude: The Hare mocked the Tortoise at it's peril. Especially here. Because I've SEEN the Nintendo Tortoise. He's massive, has spikes on his shell, breathes goddamn fire, and even when he goes down, it's never for long. I'm puttin' my money on him in the long run. Seems only prudent.
