Rumormongering - Apple Could Buy Nintendo? 377
An anonymous reader writes "CNET wonders if 'Apple is about to frag the gaming community with a revelation that could shake Microsoft to its core: Apple will buy Nintendo. What could be more quintessentially left-field Apple behaviour than buying out the U.S.'s number three games console manufacturer?' The article goes on to compare the companies, saying 'both have followings whose brand dedication verges on the religiously devout' and design styles that are so similar that 'the Nintendo DS Lite practically looks like Jonathan Ive built it.' The writer says an Apple and Nintendo merger will 'penetrate the mainstream consumer market with Macintosh computers'. The possible outcome of a merger would be a console based around the Mac Mini. As for whether Apple have the cash to pull it off: 'Cisco was rumoured to be looking at a purchase of Nintendo earlier in the year, so the idea of Nintendo being bought is not outlandish in itself. Apple's market cap is $51.7bn (Nintendo's is $23.1bn)'"
Stupid. (Score:5, Insightful)
That is quite possibly the stupidest sentence I've ever read.
I certainly hope that Apple doesn't buy nintendo (even if they could) because the reason nintendo are great is because the concentrate on games, games, games. No failed computer / pda / music player / whatever for them. They just concentrate on what they're good at.
Any dillution of that fervour would be sad.
Re:Stupid. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Stupid. (Score:2, Insightful)
And if Apple bought them, what would keep their Nintendo operation from continuing to do the same? Apple wouldn't be reinventing the wheel here, just buying the people who invented it first.
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Insightful)
They're both good companies, but I don't really see them getting together...It just wouldn't make sense unless they had some mutually envisioned killer app sitting in the wings.
A limited deal for game development/
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Interesting)
Intendo -- using the Itunes system for buying and playing old games on the new console. It would totally "revolutionize" the online distibution and billing systems for consoles in a heartbeat. If the retro emulation's one of the main focii of the Wii, it'd be the obvious solution.
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Insightful)
That's not as convenient? Then guess what you're paying for.
Re:OT: such and such are better (Score:2, Offtopic)
Re:Stupid. (Score:5, Insightful)
Agreed. My first thought was, "Who let Dvorak out of his cage?"
While the white plastic designs of the current Nintendos and Macs may make them seem like a good match from a marketing perspective, this fellow's suggestions on technology integration show a distinct lack of understanding of the Game Console market.
Game Consoles are very good at what they do. They play games, and they support the graphics and sound of those games. Generally speaking, they are capable of providing a gaming experience far in excess of anything a general-purpose computer could do at a similar price point. The reason for this is the use of customized graphics, sound, and CPU hardware. Engineers who look at the specs of most game consoles tend to think, "but this would perform horribly under condition XYZ, which most computers see on a regular basis!" And they would, if they were made into general purpose computers. But they're not. They are focused gaming hardware.
Now the Mac Mini is NOT a piece of focused gaming hardware. All of its internals are all wrong. Its graphics performance would be slow, its bus bandwidth is poor, and its CPU is on a distinct bus from the GPU. Not a very good gaming machine.
Of course, all of this discussion is academic. Nintendo won't sell, and no vector exists for a hostile takeover. So it's a virtual certainty that Nintendo will not be bought off, even if Apple wanted to purchase them.
Re:Stupid. (Score:2)
And how. (Score:5, Insightful)
And they wonder how digg grew so fast...
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Informative)
2. Nintendo has NEVER sold below cost. They make a profit [nintendoinsider.com] on each unit sold.
3. The reason why Microsoft had to sell the XBox at a loss was because they put PC Hardware into a game console. Which made it a lot more expensive than the Nintendo and Sony counterparts.
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Funny)
Heh, sure he did. And 10 years later, Apple actually switched!
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Insightful)
Indeed. If Apple really wanted to get in on the "home digital appliance" market that MS and Sony are positioning to take over teh next 5-10 years, they would not do well by buying a self-identified "toy maker" like Nintendo. If anything, an Apple/Sony partnership would make more sense in this emerging sector since Sony has the hardware and penetration, and Apple has the software.
Re:Stupid. (Score:2)
In about a year
Re:Stupid. (Score:5, Informative)
That would honestly make more sense. Have we all (or at least C-Net) forgotten this [forbes.com]?
Nintendo is for all intents and purposes a privately owned company. If Yamauchi says they're not for sale, they're not for sale. (Yamauchi stepped down only as CEO - he is still majority shareholder.) And we all know him - he's not about to sell out the company for a merger that doesn't help Nintendo in the least.
A hostile takeover of Apple by Nintendo, though, is unlikely but theoretically possible.
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Informative)
Check the Japanese [the-magicbox.com] sales [joystiq.com] charts [joystiq.com]. In the last two weeks, New Mario Brothers for the DS has sold ~1,000,000, one of the (if not THE) fastest selling games ever. The demand for (good) games with Nintendo characters is there. Look at the Best Buy [gamespot.com] and Amazon.com [amazon.com] US sales ranks for some more evidence... (NMB is currently the top selling console game on Amazon.com, and #2 at Best Buy).
Mario's (and other Nintendo
Re:Stupid. (Score:2)
Re:Stupid. (Score:2)
Even Nintendo, with their hopes of "casual gaming" has managed to make a "nunchuck" controler that looks like its from a sci-fi movie. Games are about buttons and levels and power-up and complexity on the complicated side, and on the friendlier side they're still complicated enough to need two screens on a handheld and a virtual weapon of a controller on the console.
Apple chose to lic
Re:Stupid. (Score:2)
Also, Japanese companies don't want to be bought by Americans. I think they would put up a fight; I don't see the leaders "selling out to the West" like the Chinese do. I also don't see what Nintendo would gain from selling out to Apple... Nintendo is doing just fine right now.
Re:Stupid. (Score:4, Informative)
Yeah, there's a real question. Apple's apparently worth around 72 billion [macdailynews.com], Nintendo I had a bit harder time finding a figure (and wildly disparate "guesses" online - from 6 to 30 billion). I use the data in this [gamespot.com] article to guesstimate around 14 billion. Notable from that article is that as of a year ago Nintendo was the opposite of courting takeover. Suffice to say, Apple could probably afford it. It would not be a trivial expenditure. Nintendo would likely resist it. Whether Apple could actually manage a hostile takeover is questionable. It sounds like blue sky bunkum to me. (But guaranteed to generate just this sort of chatter, hmm...)
Re:Would kill them in the Japanese market (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Would kill them in the Japanese market (Score:5, Informative)
Japan than any of its Japanese-manufactured competitors.
Re:Would kill them in the Japanese market (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Stupid. (Score:3, Insightful)
Nintendo selling? (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah it is. You think that a Japanese company with that much tradition would sell out at all, much less to an American company?
Re:Nintendo selling? (Score:2)
Re:Nintendo selling? (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure you assume wrong.
From 2001:
And 2005 (here [gamespot.com]):
Re:Nintendo selling? (Score:4, Informative)
Actaully, it's been traded on a number of exchanges during it's history, most recently the Tokyo exchange (since 1983).
Company History [nintendo.com]
Re:Nintendo selling? (Score:2)
That being said, it's been executing stock buybacks for a number of years to prevent any possible takeover. I don't know the actual shareholder lists, but Nintendo's bought at least 15% of its outstanding stock in the past 5 years. Presumedly they held a decent amount before then as well.
Re:Nintendo selling? (Score:4, Informative)
From the first line of Nintendo's Wikipedia entry [wikipedia.org]:
Nintendo (Japanese: , Nintend; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 ) is a multinational corporation
They are on both the Nasdaq and the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Also, from the corporate information sidebar on the same page:
Nintendo Company, Limited
Nintendo Logo
Type Public (NASDAQ: NTDOY)
Founded November 6, 1889
So, yes... you are incorrect.
Re:Nintendo selling? (Score:2)
Wha? (Score:5, Insightful)
Gaming has *never* been one of Apple's core competencies, and Apple has a knack for changing things around when they buy something.
The only way that a merger with Nintendo would work, is if they leave Nintendo the hell alone - and that won't happen.
Re:Wha? (Score:2)
I've never been a Nintendo fan (especially in recent years -- their games just aren't my cup of tea) but I do own a used N64 for FZeroX (only game I have). From what I have read here, and elsewhere, the latest generation of Nintendo's offerings are innovative, inexpensive, and "what consumers want".
I don't typically buy into the rumors that float around but your reasoning why we sho
Re:Wha? (Score:4, Insightful)
Nonsense - in 2000, I would have said:
Apple's successes lean heavily on not straying too far from their core market competencies - PCs.
But I would have been wrong, because inspite of the failure of the pippin & newton, Apple's wildest success was going out & making a music player - completely outside their core market.
Difference between that & buying nintendo however, is that:
1) Apple did that on their own.
2) They expanded into a new, emerging market (like the newton should have).
Apple should continue to look to new markets, rather then try to get in to an already overcrowded market using a brute-force approach (like one of their O/S competitors).
Want my Wiipod (Score:2)
Never since the day that cholocate fell into penut butter has there been such a great convergence!!! This is a gold mine, I'm
Re:Wha? (Score:2)
Dude... Oregon Trail!!!!!
Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
I'm so confused.
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
Re:Huh? (Score:2)
Re:Huh? (Score:2, Troll)
Get it right! (Score:5, Funny)
I'm so confused.
Sheesh. The incompetence around here. IBM is buying Apple. Actually, before that happens, Apple will buy Nintendo. Then IBM will buy Sun, at which point IBM/Sun/Apple/Nintendo (iSunNipple) will buy out Disney/Pixar. From there, world domination is pretty much assured, as iNippleDix will be unstoppable.
Interesting idea... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Interesting idea... (Score:2)
What the hell are you talking about??? [macdesktops.com]
Re:Interesting idea... (Score:2)
everyone mod this article down!!!! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:everyone mod this article down!!!! (Score:2)
Re:everyone mod this article down!!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
-T
Don't bother (Score:3, Interesting)
Even if they had enough now... (Score:2)
Ok, that was a bit of an exageration, but since we all seem to be saying outlandish things...
Re:Even if they had enough now... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Even if they had enough now... (Score:3, Interesting)
You see, it kind of works like this. Nintendo made money. It could have been one cent, and it was still more than Microsoft and Sony made together. They lost money. Lots of money. They hemoraged huge bloody soaked piles of cash out of their spend-happy assholes.
So yes, Nintendo was #1 in profit. They make tons of money off of their first party software sales for the Gamecube, because let's face it, the best games on the the
Re:Even if they had enough now... (Score:3, Informative)
Sony has higher revenues, but Nintendo has much better margins. This is what I found after a quick Google - I know I've seen similar figures for just the home console market somewhere.
Re:Even if they had enough now... (Score:2)
Oh, come on. I'm sure they have enough money now to buy a Mac.
Do what now? (Score:5, Informative)
Even if this were a serious issue, which it isn't, I somehow don't see Japan's pride and joy Nintendo selling to an American company for anything, even if it is Apple.
AHHHH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA (Score:4, Funny)
Yes, the very profitable Nintendo is going to sell themselves to the maker of the Pippin [wikipedia.org]. That would be a brilliant move!
Re:AHHHH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA (Score:3, Funny)
More like, the very profitable Apple would never agree to acquire the maker of the Virtual Boy. [wikipedia.org] (While we are dragging out ancient history of course.)
whatever (Score:5, Funny)
The Apple Purchase/Speculation Game! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The Apple Purchase/Speculation Game! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:The Apple Purchase/Speculation Game! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Apple Purchase/Speculation Game! (Score:3, Funny)
* buy Nintendo?
* buy a fertilizer factory in Peru?
* go into the soft drinks business?
* open an on-line strip-joint and call it iBoobs?
* start shipping marvellously good-looking military hardware?
All of the above! Here would be Apple's long term fun plan: 1. Make a "next-generation" game console called i-Game that'll be the name of the system aft
Re:The Apple Purchase/Speculation Game! (Score:2)
Damn, one of us
Your post inadvertantly highlights yet another.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The Apple Purchase/Speculation Game! (Score:4, Funny)
Apple are too... (Score:2)
Reliable sources (Score:3, Funny)
Even the writer doesn't appear to have any confidence in the idea.
Smells of straight up stock manipulation (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Smells of straight up stock manipulation (Score:2)
Noooo! (Score:3, Insightful)
If Apple were to by Nintendo, the Wii will double in price overnight, and likely catch fire if left on a carpet. Woe betide me!
(Joking. Mostly.)
As A Long Time Apple Game Developer (Score:2, Interesting)
Microsoft -> Security
Linux -> User Interface
Apple -> Games
I've seen other game developers run screaming from meetings with Apple game people. Apple can't even handle getting a decent OpenGL driver for their systems. I could go on all day describing what a nightmare it is to work with Apple on game development.
The only rational there can be for Apple buying Nintendo would be from some sort of desire to drive Nintend
So it's *Apple* now. Well, that makes a difference (Score:5, Insightful)
What is it people in the tech industry don't understand about Nintendo?
Nintendo is a 117 year old company. The analogy I used last time when someone mentioned Microsoft is still apt - this is the equivalent of a 15 year old kid coming over and saying "here's $500, can I buy your house?"
For 113 years of its life, Nintendo was a family owned business. It only passed the reigns on to someone not in the Yamauchi family when Hiroshi Yamauchi named Satoru Iwata his successor, and it's not like the Yamauchi family just up and sold all of their shares.
You can't buy a company if they're not willing to sell the shares.
Re:So it's *Apple* now. Well, that makes a differe (Score:2)
Re:So it's *Apple* now. Well, that makes a differe (Score:2)
Family run. Dangit. I should read through stuff multiple times.
Obviously they've been public for a long time, although they've been executing stock buybacks for the past few years, so they're "kinda sorta" public.
Re:So it's *Apple* now. Well, that makes a differe (Score:2)
So what? Honestly, does that make a difference, especially now that they are publically traded?
Nintendo was a card game company for a great many of those years. Things change.
Re:So it's *Apple* now. Well, that makes a differe (Score:2)
Yes.
Just because they're publicly traded, do you really think that the Yamauchis and other longtime (as in, decades-long) investors in Nintendo would be willing to sell?
Do you really think that the family of those who founded a company don't place a value in their stock slightly higher than the market value?
Not today (Score:2)
Don't forget DHL! (Score:2)
FANBOYS OF THE WORLD: UNITE! (Score:2)
one of apple's biggest weaknesses to the mainstream user today, as i see it, is its perceived lack of games. i posted about this on Digg a few weeks ago, that perhaps Apple is working on first party games in orde
iWii (Score:2)
iWii Pro EXTREME
MacDS
MacGameBoy
marioTunes
Super Smash Garageband
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Ives
Metroid Nano
Bonjour Pokemon
NintenPods
Sun first ... (Score:3, Funny)
Buying Nintendo wouldn't make any sense, as Apple has indicated litle desire to get involved in the games market.
I want to be a web writer. (Score:5, Funny)
I can't believe that they actually pay people to write that shit. What's worth, I can't believe how many bloggers and link aggregators keep linking to them.
Don't forget the Steve Jobs/Disney&ABC connect (Score:5, Insightful)
Remember that Steve Jobs is a majority shareholder in Disney. This means access to content!! Remember that Apple is a 'serious computer company' and is not interested in games. Buying Nintendo would allow it to access to a less serious market without diluting the Apple brand. Lets not forget the iPod & ITMS. Imagine being able to connect your iPod to your Wii console, or playing videos (and photo slideshows) on your Wii. Best wait until WWDC and see if a PVR capability becomes available on Macs.
Personally Apple should buy Sun (or vis-versa). Sun has a lot to offer, but needs someone like Jobs to give it a will to live and produce some interesting products with all that technology they have.
Re:Don't forget the Steve Jobs/Disney&ABC conn (Score:5, Informative)
Merged entity (Score:3, Funny)
I predict Apple will buy Microsoft! (Score:2)
Muwahahahaha!
Psst! Keep this under your hat (Score:2)
Sounds crazy - crazy enough to be true! Also it makes perfect sense. DaimlerChrysler has been bleeding money for a while, mainly because of its stodgy management. Apple understands that a charismatic, forward-thinking leader is just the shot in the arm the company needs to become profitable again. And it also makes perfect sense from Apple's point of view - they're primarily a hardware company, after all.
Re:Psst! Keep this under your hat (Score:2)
More likely to be other way around. (Score:2)
I remember when MS wanted to get into the console market they looked at Nintendo and found they couldn't afford them.
What chance does Apple have?
It would probably be easier for Nintendo to buy Apple.
Buyout? Probably not.... (Score:2)
Future game consoles are targeting HDTV, not regular TV. This means TVs that you can use as a monitor.
Mac Minis make nice DVD/DiVX/whatever else consoles. (Front Row, etc .
Now, imagine a Nintendo System that utilized OS X, played all the next-gen Nintendo games, had a built-in wifi connection/hard drive, and could run OS X applicaions. IMHO, these would be great selling points, and this is the direction that Sony and Microsoft's multimedia center efforts ar
Number 3? (Score:3, Informative)
Was this article written to start flame wars or something?
Cereal? (Score:2)
for those who don't remember [wikipedia.org]
Answer (Score:2)
Long Answer: Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Thought Proccess of an Industry Analyst (Score:5, Funny)
Oh look, it's all white and shiny.
Hey, Apple makes white and shiny things...
OMG! Apple is going to buy out Nintendo! *hurries off to write an article*
Unexplained packages (Score:5, Funny)
Re:And so we come full circle (Score:2)
Re:total bullshit (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:This article is crap. (Score:2)
Nor does he do the research to realize that Nintendo's been executing stock buybacks exactly to prevent any sort of hostile takeover in recent years. Apple can't just up and buy Nintendo without the company's approval, and given that the company is one hundred and seventeen years old I've got a feeling they might look at Apple and say, "Uh huh. Yeah. Right. So how many industrial revolutions, world wars, and global economy coll
Re:This will NEVER happen (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:It makes total sense! (Score:2)
Next merger (Score:2)