Poll: Should Nintendo Stop Making Consoles?

[Maxtro]

The only games I have for the Wii are

Skyward Sword
Twilight Princess
Brawl
Mario Kart
Metroid Prime 3
Monster Hunter Tri (which should have been on the PS3)
Xenoblade (which should have been on the PS3)

Basically I own a Nintendo system to only play Nintendo made games and the odd games that are on the wrong system. And of course all the Wii games simply look bad, while motion controls add nothing.

I would much rather prefer Nintendo to only make games for other systems. I really don't need a Nintendo system.

 

[D0WNT0WN]

They should stop making gimmicky consoles.

 

[deadish]

It's their company so ...

But I probably won't buy them.

As the OP mentioned, they are mostly gimmicks and sell only because of novelty.
IMO they follow the "throw random shit at the wall and see what sticks" "method of innovation". They just throw whatever they can think of and afford without much thought into their products. Apple they are not.

When it comes to the "meat", things developers request and care about, they are severely lacking. Their consoles are almost always underpowered.

The WiiU is just fail. It's been 5-6 years since the launch of the 360/PS3 and they are releasing a console that's only barely more powerful.

The 3DS is plain out specced by the PSV.
IMHO they really dropped the ball with the 3DS as a whole. Price drop of $90 within 6 months of launch, 3D that mostly just gave people headaches, battery life (the saving grace of all their previous handhelds) was horrible, they forgot to add a 2nd analog stick and want you to pay even more for a fucking huge and ugly add-on that runs on AAA batteries. WTF.

 

[RandV80]

This notion that Nintendo should stop making consoles is silly. It also isn't entirely honest for some people, what's really being asked is 'why can't I play first party Nintendo games on my console (PS3/Xbox 360) of choice!'

What we have is basically 3 groups of people here:

1. People who like or at least can respect Nintendo
2. People who don't like Nintendo or their games
3. People who don't like Nintendo but still like some of their games

Only one of these want to see Nintendo drop the hardware and focus on software only, and it's for completely selfish reasons.

 

[gigastrike]

Why? All they need to do is add more support for mainstream games.

 

[scorptatious]

I'm currently enjoying the heck out of Skyward Sword, a game that is far better on the Wii with Motion Plus than it would be on another console. Granted, the Wii isn't perfect, but Nintendo makes games that use the hardware very well, and not just party games.

So, no. Don't assume all hardcore gamers hate Wii controls.

This.

Before I played Skyward Sword, I wasn't that big a fan of motion controls. But this game has made me believe that perhaps there is a future for motion controls.

OT: I think Nintendo should continue making consoles. The Wii U isn't even out yet, so I can't really place judgement on it right now.

 

[The White Hunter]

Gimmicky party game = Xenoblade?

At any rate I dont want to see nintendo go the way of Sega but I would like to see them get with the program in some areas, online gaming and some more "hardcore" (for lack of a better word" games on their format.

As much as I like mario platformers I don't care too much for zelda, or any other of their current 1st party franchises. Some new first party franchises, possibly more mature ones, would definately be a welcome thing.

 

[Maclennan]

Id wait for the Wii-U, I can see the Wii-U going poorly unless they reverse the no extra controllers for sale position.

 

[Callate]

Riiiiight. They should become Sega. Because, y'know, that's worked out so well for Sega.

Nintendo released the most popular console of this generation and set the presumed market paradigm on its ear. Arguably, that hasn't been without its downsides, but something needed to be done; the model that every generation of console was simply more powerful than the last was heading for another early-eighties market crash, and may yet. We need to start moving video games in new directions rather than just piling more powerful chips into consoles that the producers can't afford to sell at a price point people will accept, forcing developers to create games that can't pull in their production costs. It could be said that it's that model which is Nintendo's nemesis right now, more than gimmickry.

Nintendo needs to show that it takes third-party developers seriously, and that it's willing to do more on its home consoles to embrace the Internet and the mostly digital-distribution independent scene which may end up providing much of the content we play in the future. It needs to have a better sense of how things like its touch-screen controller will add value to the playing experience and differentiate it from its opposition in positive ways, and communicate that to its customers.

What it doesn't need to do is abandon hardware. Leaving the field to Sony and Microsoft would be a disaster for all of us.

 

[Epona]

I'm currently enjoying the heck out of Skyward Sword, a game that is far better on the Wii with Motion Plus than it would be on another console. Granted, the Wii isn't perfect, but Nintendo makes games that use the hardware very well, and not just party games.

So, no. Don't assume all hardcore gamers hate Wii controls.

I would imagine they could have made a Skyward Sword in HD with far better graphics AND motion control with PS3 + Move.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Why? Because they're not pandering to the small brain, small dick, loud mouth, dipshit demographic; also known as "hardcore" gamers?

 

[Jeremy Avalon]

The 3DS was a complete disaster, yes.

Complete and utter falsehood. It outsold its predecessor's launch year sales in two-thirds the time with half the library. I do personally think it was released six months early, but it is a "disaster" by absolutely no measure.

 

[gillnavisingh]

Let's not forget that Software is what makes a console, not the hardware.
If Nintendo can get some really good exclusives, or even some neat exclusive content for the Wii U, i think they'll still have a leg up on the others.

Let's see:
Considering the Wii U has a touch screen, motion controls, 3DTV Support, AND the standard 8 buttons and two analog sticks, I can see it having a larger lineup of games than the PS3 if developers use the motion and touch controls responsibly.

The HD from that non pre-rendered Zelda demo looked too good to be true. If Nintendo can keep that up, we might be able to reach a new level of fidelity otherwise unknown to us. (Not to mention, re-releasing Twilight Princess in HD would make for some very happy Zelda-fans like myself (and a boatload of cash).)

Touch Screens tend to have more physical feedback than motion controls do, which is why I preferred using the Celestial Brush in the PS2 Okami, or the DS' Okamiden, over the Wii Okami. Using these as like a GPS, inventory, or even a Starcraft-Style minimap would greatly improve the gameplay.

Like I said, if you use the touchscreen like a Starcraft-Style minimap, it could also open the way for the Wii U to play RTSes I think that Wii U could rival PC gaming, and even make things more intuitive. (Hold your flame, PC gamers, let me explain)

Let's not forget that since the Wii U is capable of supporting a digital download service, we might be able to get Steam or *shudder* Origin on the Wii U Shop channel.
If Wii U prooves it can compete with PCs AND the PS3/360, Steam or Origin PC games could be available right off the bat on Wii U, and Nintendo would have an Achievement system (finally...)

Can you imagine that? If you bought Skyrim off of Steam, and Wii U prooves it can handle PC games responsibly as a console, you could potentially be able to play Skyrim on either your Wii U or PC, saving you an extra $60, and drastically increasing your Wii U catalog. (To me, that would mean an extra 50 games!)

Of course, I might have read that incorrectly. If only Steamworks supported games will work that way, then at least I would get to play Portal 2 on PC, PS3, and Wii U...
But this is all speculation. I have high hopes for this console, but I AM ready to have my hopes shattered at a moment's notice.

 

[Epona]

The 3DS was a complete disaster, yes.

Complete and utter falsehood. It outsold its predecessor's launch year sales in two-thirds the time with half the library. I do personally think it was released six months early, but it is a "disaster" by absolutely no measure.

Sales aren't the only thing that matters. People talk about the success of the Wii too, in terms of sales but in terms of usage, the Wii collects dust more than the other two console. People on gaming boards would rather game on their smartphone than the Wii. Now, if sales are all that matter, then do you think Nintendo should just make another Wii? Well, they are and there is already a lack of enthusiasm around it. It won't sell like the Wii did because people won't get burned twice.

The 3DS may have more sales than the DS but an $80 price drop a few months after release may be responsible, not that people love their 3DS. Just like the Wii people ran out to buy it but how many were disappointed? How many use it to play DS games because they can't bear to see such an expensive toy collect dust, like their Wii?

Final Fantasy XIII was the fastest selling Final Fantasy game, does that make it the best? No.

Sales are only one way to look at something and alone, aren't very helpful.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

If Nintendo stops making consoles, then how will they release their re-release of every game they made back in the 1980's?

Gimmicky consoles are the only way they can bring some variety to the party, so let them sit in the corner with their 900-pound irregularly shaped object controllers and their dollop of sour cream motion controls. It'll give the children, moms trying to get their kids to try aerobics, and "special" gamers a place to play while the rest of us enjoy our Christmas parties.

 

[Vivi22]

Sure many of us aren't fans of motion controls but it was something very new & interesting and we will look back in 20 years and appreciate the pioneering of the wii.

Why would we look back on it like that? Especially when you even acknowledge that many of us aren't fans of motion controls. The problem is that motion controls are a creative dead end in all honesty. They can't replace the precision that comes from standard controllers or keyboards and mice (in part because physical feedback is essential to our brains being able to learn how to control things precisely). Controllers may very well be substantially different in 20 years than they are now, but I would bet money it won't be because of continued development of motion controls. Outside of drawing in casual gamers there is no further potential with them. And frankly, if simple, intuitive controls are the goal, motion controls aren't the only, or even the best way to achieve it.

So yeah, honestly I'd be fine with them getting out of the console business. They can't compete in terms of console power, they've been relying on gimmicks to draw in a casual audience at the expense of their hardcore fans, and what's worse for them is that casual market is now saturated with more competition than they had 5 years ago. And now, when they basically needed to release a new console, not only to continue to compete, but to replace the aging and waning Wii, they showed off what amounts to a poorly thought out console version of the DS (only being able to use one tablet is just plain stupid when that's supposed to be the draw with the WiiU), and have tried to pack in as many other superfluous features as they can in the hopes that if they throw enough gimmicks at the controller something will stick.

Nintendo has been too directionless for far too long. Before the Wii they didn't know how to cater to their core demographic and draw in third parties, while ignoring legitimately interesting developments like the implementation of online play. With the Wii, they decided to target another demographic entirely, still didn't know how to draw in third parties or core gamers, and now have to face the fact that the market they chased after wants iPhones and iPads, not consoles. And now with the WiiU, they have to not only deal with that competition, but try and cope with the fact that they had no clue where to go after the Wii's motion controls, in part because there's nowhere to go from it yet assuming there ever will be. The entire announcement of the WiiU smacked of them grasping at straws.

And I won't even bother mentioning the 3DS.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

I don't think that they should (or even will) stop making consoles. People might believe that the Wii is starting to look a lot like the Dreamcast because of it's very narrow audience, classic exclusive franchises, unique features, dwindling popularity, and failure to keep up/compete with other next gen consoles in the game department. The Wii U is definitely looking to be more promising, but it's still a stretch whether people will want to buy it, especially if it won't be as inexpensive as the Wii was when it was first released (I doubt it if they are promising 1080p graphics), and assuming that the Move and Kinect introduce more appealing games.

In short, Nintendo is the only company at the moment that needs to release a new console, if only to compete graphically and with online features.

 

[Kenjitsuka]

It'd be great if they made their games available to as much people as possible, i.e. I want Zelda but I am not able to be forking over several hundred bucks for the pleasure.