How Nintendo Could Win It All 245
ElFozzie writes "In a huge piece on mobile gaming, Pocket Gamer reports on the latest battles in the handheld console market and reveals why Nintendo might just have the right strategy to win this war. From the article: 'Let's go back the beginning, the games. It's all about the games, Nintendo's faithful fans will argue, and the DS has great, mad and unique games where the PSP so far has, at best, competent-to-very-good PS2-lite fare. Yes, but it's not that simple. See, I was there in the mid '90s playing the genre-defining Mario 64 and the breathtaking Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, perhaps the two greatest games of their generation, on the Nintendo 64. And I remember Sony going on to win that war, and PlayStation becoming the de facto shorthand for 'video games'."
Some things that will help (Score:5, Insightful)
Some things that I think would help cement Nintendo:
1. DVD player - I believe word is that the DVD player aspects are a "plug in" - I'm assuming something like the original Xbox codec plug in device to enable DVD playback. Personally, I'd just as soon see it just built in - bite the bullet on the cost, Nintendo, and people will go "Hm - $200, and it plays games *and* my DVD movies", instead of "Hm - $200, but I have to spend another $30 to play movies? Eh."
2. Push the online gaming. While I'm a single player gaming whore, I still think that online is the way to go. I'm very disappointed that Tecmo is bringing Pangya Golf [pangya.com] to the Wii, but not the online play! Maybe they feel it won't matter much, but I think the difference can be crucial. Nintendo should make it clear in cases like these that online play is to be built in - or the game doesn't get ported. I'm not saying they should make online play when it doesn't exist - but in clear cases like this, but the sucker in.
3. Advertise, advertise, advertise. Advertise the sports games during Oprah for exercise. Advertise "Red Steel" during "24" and such. Get the word out, and don't just show the game - show how people play it. Let people see that controller until there isn't a person in the world who doesn't go "Oh - that's that Wii thing - looks interesting."
We'll have to see what happens, but Nintendo could take back a lot of market. So far, I'd say their making a lot of the right moves.
Not really... (Score:2, Insightful)
That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... (Score:4, Insightful)
How does this work? Assuming a reasonable bell curve, I'm sure there are PSP owners in Japan with 8 games... what do the people that buy 0 or 1 games do with their PSP? Did the UMD format take off in Japan when I wasn't looking? What's going on?
Re:That's a statistic I'd like to see expounded... (Score:3, Insightful)
I keep having hope for PSP titles, like "Blade Dancer", but I just haven't found one that really grabbed me - or that wasn't (like "Mega Man Hunter X") another remake (though I will buy "Valkyrie Profile", though I hear the PSP port was less than steller compared even to the PSX version).
Re:de facto shorthand for 'video games'. (Score:5, Insightful)
I think Nintendo is still the sinonimous of video game, even between non gamers, and that is because in the NES era, there was nothing else*, just the Nintendo, unlike the Playstation era where you had 3 or 4 different systems making a real competition.
* I know there were the Segas, NECs and even NEO-GEOs, but for your parents, you where always going to "play the Nintendo" to your rich friend house (who happened to have the Neo-Geo)
Re:Some things that will help (Score:3, Insightful)
If 99.9% of the homes that will buy a Wii already have a DVD player, isn't it to everybody's advantage to not have to pay the licensing fees for yet another player?
SirWired
Re:Heck.... (Score:4, Insightful)
It's great to be able to have instant access to nintendo's full first party backcatalog, a few third party games, and the sega and TG-16 stuff, but then what? Personally, I've had access to those for years now. They are great for a few hours, but not worth spending money buying. Worse yet, most of us have grown up buying nintendo games. Ultimately, some titles will have to be bought all over again. They are using the iTunes example for video games, however iTunes always had the ability to import your current CD collection. If I have a cartridge copy of Super Mario 64 and I want to play it on my wii, I dont want to have to pay $10-20 to buy it again.
Until nintendo comes up with some way to allow games already bought by a user to be provided free, or imported onto the wii, I feel like it's a black mark on an otherwise wonderful idea.
Re:Some things that will help (Score:3, Insightful)
why tax EVERYONE for such a non-feature?
who has a DVD collection but not a DVD player? who likes the idea of buying DVDs but hasn't bothered to get one yet? who can't buy a DVD player for about 10 big macs anyway? who thinks DVD playback is actually worth writing on the box, let alone comprimising an entire "it's all about fun games" business strategy and marketing campaign over?
omg. you're so wrong.
Re:Some things that will help (Score:3, Insightful)
Sure - I could go buy a $30 DVD player, but now I've got two pieces of electronics cluttering my home. Nintendo could offer to clear some of that up. Lord knows, most people I know want less electronics, not more.
Thid-party support is getting better (Score:5, Insightful)
The title is not "Nintendo Dogs". It's Nintendogs. Had you ever actually played it, you'd know this.
Castlevania isn't a Nintendo game. Why don't we talk about the awesome DS games from third-party developers? You've already mentioned Castlevania, but there's also Meteos, Sonic Rush, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Sk8land (at last a fresh Tony Hawk's game), Viewtiful Joe, Feel the Magic, Pac Pix or Trauma Center. Nintendo had trouble with third-party support on the N64 and on the Cube, but on the DS, it's changing, and they're investing a lot to get third-parties on board with the Wii.
Although I must admit that I do not care too much. It's great having third-party support, but I'd buy a Wii if only Nintendo made games for it: They're always top notch and a lot of fun.
DVD != HD (Score:4, Insightful)
Some people are saying that unlike when the PlayStation2 came out, everyone has a DVD player now, so noone needs that functionality. Well my DVD player (first one I've owned, besides my DVD-ROM drive) is making all sorts of funny noises, and may be on its way out. So if I can get a sweet game console that includes a DVD player, but is only as big as 3 DVD cases stacked, then that sounds like a great deal. I'd guess I'm not the only one in need of a DVD player replacement.
Re:Some things that will help (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously, what is the big deal about DVD playback? Sure, it was cool back when the PS2 came out and no one had a DVD player, but now everyone does. Also, the reason the Wii is going to be so much cheaper than the PS3 and Xbox360 is because they're ignoring everything besides what will make fun games. DVD playback isn't nescessary for fun games. Not to mention, the DVD playback liscensing fees go to Sony (amoung others). Why should Nintendo send money to their competitor so that their product has a feature most won't use? I just don't get it.
Nintendo fan after all? (Score:3, Insightful)
For someone who complains about Nintendo a lot, you've sure spent plenty of time playing their games.
Re:It's like comparing apples and idiots (Score:3, Insightful)
Probably because everyone has completely failed to care that the PSP plays movies.
UMD movies anyway... Playing ripped movies may be a different story, though I'm not sure if that qualifies as something only 'power users' do, like booting Linux on a PS2. UMD though has turned out to have basically zero impact on the handheld wars. You're right it probably should have been mentioned, even if dismissed quickly.
I don't understand (Score:1, Insightful)
If you take a look at the DS sales [videogamecharts.com] and assume they will sell 4 time the amount of Wii you still fall about 17 million short (less then half) of where the PS2 was and (actually a little more) than the Xbox at the end of 2005.
The console and the handheld market are entirely seperate markets. You can't predict success in one because of the other (look at the PSP). As for the Wii inovation, they were inovative with the DS too and (according to June's issue of EGM) 80% of the games don't use either the touchpad, second screen, or either. Again, assuming the wii does twice as well, that leaves 40% of games as standard style games, with slightly better graphics than the (lackluster) gamecube games.
I'm not logging in because bad mouthing the Wii gets you modded down. I think we should wait until all the systems are out before we declare a winner to the (media created) Console War. To assume the Wii has already won is premature and ignorant.
A practical breaking of the mold (Score:4, Insightful)
Nintendo is making a very simple and approachable system, that is still elegant and versatile. Plus the departure from the two-handed, all-in-one controller that perpetuates games that are more about button-mashing then much else is a nice touch. The Wii's Wii-mote (remote) gives the player quite a bit more interactivity with the games, but still is simple enough to pick up with little prior knowledge of how to use it.
Clever and fun games is a big aspect of it too. A lot of PS2 and Xbox/Xbox360 games require a huge time investment, and can't easily be put down whenever the player would like without hurting progress. Obviously I'm speaking in general...and don't wish to get in an argument of which specific games I'm picking on. To be fair, there are a few games on Nintendo's platforms that have poor save-points.
CHEAPER. This is a huge one. Having a nice gaming system that provides fun and distraction, and is simple and elegant, but is also cheaper than everyone else is a big deal to me and most people. The Xbox360 decent system at $500 and the PS3 at $600 is pricey...especially with games for $60-70. At this point I would start to question why I just wouldn't by a Windows computer. So, $200-250 is pretty affordable, especially keeping titles at $50.
I love Nintendo's commitment to simple, elegant, and inexpensive systems...with clever and fun distractions and games. I'm happy they haven't gotten sucked into the contest that Sony and Microsoft are in with their systems.
Far reaching implications (Score:4, Insightful)
What's better is that this has implications for the other side of HD DVD and Microsoft's game console. We know that Microsoft will offer an HD DVD accessory, and while that may not be sufficient reason to buy an XBox 360, it will be advanced leverage for HD DVD in convincing any current XBox 360 owner to buy the HD DVD accessory over an excessivly expensive stand alone blue ray player or the still more expensive PS3 for its blue ray capabilities; at last count ~1.5million or so people world wide.
What does this have to do with Nintendo? Alot. As we know, Microsoft and Nintendo's systems together are still projected to be cheaper than the PS3 alone. This affects those who would buy as second console most of all. Rather than PS3, persons primarily concerned with gaming may choose Xbox 360 as their second console, adding to the number of persons who would find it logical to buy into HD DVD once they have HDTV (I assume that those concerned with games have a lower probability of owning HDTV than other concerned groups.) A resounding victory for Nintendo could bolster Microsoft sales into or tied with PS3 in second, effectivly neutralizing the blue ray PS3 advantage and instead giving an even better advantage to HD DVD. Even a minor victory could create an deadlocked tied between the three, yet still give some advantage to HD DVD.
Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are not only the warriors of the next console wars, but indeed key figures in a greater battle unparalleled in its depth compared to any battle before it, that I would call The Great Home Entertainment War!
Re:Heck.... (Score:3, Insightful)
And your tape collection? And your vinyl and eight-track collection? Okay, if you had a tape/record/8-track player you could record onto your computer, encode, and then add it, but that requires compatible players and inputs, analgous to owning an older game console which you could just use instead, which brings me to the Wii virtual console:
How would this work? Without providing a way to insert a NES/SNES/N64 cartridges, the Wii itself won't be able to use your old games. So how would Nintendo know that you owned the old game? You probably don't have receipts or UPC symbols for the games... are you going to ship your old cartridges to Nintendo HQ? The shipping would cost almost as much as Nintendo has been quoting for their VC games.
It's a fine idea you have, but not really practical. Repurchasing content is fairly normal when moving to a new format especially when it drastically changes physical form factors. Compatability among multiple forms of cartridges isn't something that any console does; it only makes sense in the generations that have started to use optical disks. Nintendo seems to be offering very reasonable prices for old games -- I'd say $10 is a good price for anything N64 generation, and hopefully NES era games will be very cheap or come in bundles. I think it's unfair to call it a "black mark" that the Wii won't read your Mario64 cartridge. If that's really what you want, you should have kept your N64.
too many metaphors (Score:3, Insightful)
Wow. That's too many metaphors.
Fire-fighting
battleground
shoe on foot
competitor on back foot
Re:DVD != HD (Score:1, Insightful)
By that logic...
1. record AM radio
2. Upsample to DVD audio bitrates
3. ???
4. Profit!
Re:Wii're Gonna Fail (Score:1, Insightful)
And it's complete, and udder bullshit.
Let's rapp.
"But there is no way Nintendo Wii will be a mega-hit in the United States."
This is rediculous. You have no basis for saying such a thing. EVERYONE, and I do mean everyone, thinks the Wii is a sweet idea. Read any forum. Talk to any teenager/young adult. They all want one. And yes... mom and dad will buy one for Johnny because it costs 200 dollars vs 400,500, or $600. You are again, another blind Sony-ite that will follow that company off their proverbial cliff.
"This is no surprise -- Nintendo always phones home when it's taking a risk."
Why is this considered a bad thing? I've never played a Mario game (traditional, that is; Super Mario 1,2,3,World,64,Sunshine,NSMB) that I didn't like. And most of those I love. The same for Zelda. Many critics might dog a certain release of Zelda or Mario, but they were all good games. Period. Some other factor might have been involved to keep the 64 or GC to REIGN SUPREME, but no-one regrets playing those games. They were good.
Also, why does this seem to only apply to nintendo? They're dogged for pulling out the Zelda, Mario, Metroid Pyramid Powerhouse, when other companies do the same. Why isn't playstation dogged for releasing new MGS, and FF games? Or xbox for Halo and Splintercell? BECAUSE THEY'RE GOOD GAMES. Because we love to see the concept taken to new hights. This isn't a bad thing. This is an excellant thing. try again, douch bag.
"Sony gave too much away -- despite the price of the Playstation 3, which I expect to drop by $100 before the launch. They said, here it is, it's great, here's when you'll get it, and here's everything you'll get.
Take another look at the first Nintendo Promo Video. No prices; no exact release date. All you're getting here is a high energy video in a high energy booth at E3 that teases the assembled journalists so that they'll want more.
Sony put a gyroscope into their new controller -- in effect this could be better than the Wii controller because no external hardware will be required by the Playstation 3. However, they kept the exact same looking "dual shock" design that the original Playstation had. Wii's controller is different -- it looks like nothing you've ever seen before. Thus, you want to touch it, feel it, and get to know the Wiimote. It may offer absolutely sub-par gaming, but it's different and journalists love different."
The price will NOT drop before launch. I promise. They might tank as a company as it is (a bit of an exaggeration, but definately not impossible), so they can't afford to lose another $100 on each console. They just can't. You also said they said "look, here it is, here's what you'll get, and when you'll get it... and at what cost." Sony didn't lose the PR war at E3 because they annouced the price or date, they lost because of WHAT THAT PRICE IS. Too expensive. Many more are learning that sony's pushing another format on us that no one wants (at least right now), and we're paying for it with no choice in the matter. They told us what we'd get from the playstation... but its nothing that was previously promised. Two DVI ports? NO FUCKING SUCH THING. One on the premium model. Three Network (RJ45) ports? NO FUCKING SUCH THING. Only one. 7 USB ports? only 4. 1080p gaming? Nope. Only 720p gaming, save some arcade style 'small games' that might see 1080p. See the promises falling through? Sony talks much, and delivers little. Always has.
Also, many would argue that the Dual Shock design is old and tired. I would agree.. but yes, this is purely opinion. In any case, the gyros in the dual shock design seems quite gimiky. Also, many would agree. In fact, I have yet to find someone who agree's with your rediculous views on the matter. Many are crying for the gyro functionality to be optional in the games that support it, as they don't want their games rui