Could the Nintendo consoles end up like Sega?

August 10, 2013

Now this is something I've been feeling for sometime now.

Sega

Now we all know that Sega was once one of the biggest home console manufacturers, particularly in the 90's. With the Sega Genesis and the introduction of the character Sonic as it's mascot.

While the Sega Genesis was a legendary console, the Sega Saturn was disappointing. True it sold well in Japan but sales in other countries were quite poor.

Then it's final console, the Dreamcast which was intended as a comeback console by Sega failed miserably due to the launch of the world's best selling game console the PS2. Sales dropped heavily and Sega didn't have the resources to compete with the Sony PlayStation series of consoles. Thus, they discontinued sales of the Dreamcast.

Nintendo

Now, Nintendo, reached it's peak in the in the 1980's, the video game crash was eminent but the NES brought gaming back, it was a revolution. It gave way for more legendary Nintendo consoles, games like Zelda and Mario sold well. The Nintendo 64, gamecube, DS and Wii all sold fairly well despite stiff competition from the PS and Xbox consoles.

While, Nintendo's video game console's performace is significantly better than Sega's, let's take a look at it's 2 recent consoles, the 3DS and the Wii U. The 3DS sold 8 million units worldwide more than the PS Vita but significantly less than the DS.

Now, the Wii U comes in to play and it was a big disappointment. The games were disappointing with the top game selling less than 1000 copies in the UK alone. The PS4 and Xbox One was announced (although sales for the Wii U increased when the X1 was previewed) but still it was disappointing. Now the situation is similar to Sega's, new power consoles unveiled and the focus is much much less on Nintendo now. Mario which used to be one of the best games of the 80's and 90's is shunted sideways by games like GTA, The Division, AC, Far Cry etc.

Also Sega's last two consoles sold below par, the same goes for Nintendo with the 3DS and the Wii U.

Tabular Column - Sales of Nintendo consoles

Console	Sales
Color TV Game	8 million
NES (including SNES)	100 million approx
Nintendo 64	32 million
Gamecube	21.74 million
Wii	100 million
GBA	81 million
DS	153 million
3DS	32 million
Wii U	3 million

If Nintendo's next console isn't a hit, it could definitely end up like Sega.

What are your thoughts?

Of course this is all just my view of things, do YOU think that this era is the decline of Nintendo? Do YOU think that Nintendo do not have the resources to compete with Sony and MS? Do YOU think that Nintendo's classics are now outdated?

August 10, 2013

DS is the second best selling gaming system of all time. It's right below PS2 but only a little below. Also the Wii sold well. The problem with Nintendo is their lack of care of the Hardcore community. There's a reason why I don't buy a Nintendo products. Cause all their third party games suck compared to the Sony and Microsoft. I remember Nintendo had a rule back then that didn't let developers show blood on their console. Seeing how much a hit Sony did with that they had to change the rules.

I honestly don't get how people still buy the same games with Nintendo. I mean Super Mario ( How many did you buy? ) It's all the same thing. Nintendo is focusing too much on causal gamers and that can be its downfall. Causal gamers are not loyal and will just leave when they feel its right. If Nintendo focus more on hardcore gamers and have titles like GTA then maybe Nintendo can rise back up. If they don't you might see Nintendo only focus on handhelds until phones beat them. Then just go out.

August 10, 2013

I hope they continue doing well with the handheld market, but even that's risky with all of the tablet and smartphone gaming that's done these days.

As for home consoles, I really don't care much if Nintendo stops making them. I'd actually welcome the day when I can get both Sony and Nintendo titles on a single console (preferably on a Sony console, possibly the PS4). The consumers kind of won when Sega dropped out of the console race. So, you can now buy Sonic games on Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft consoles. Granted though, there should always be competition, but that only needs to be two companies.

August 10, 2013

I hope they continue doing well with the handheld market, but even that's risky with all of the tablet and smartphone gaming that's done these days.

As for home consoles, I really don't care much if Nintendo stops making them. I'd actually welcome the day when I can get both Sony and Nintendo titles on a single console (preferably on a Sony console, possibly the PS4). The consumers kind of won when Sega dropped out of the console race. So, you can now buy Sonic games on Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft consoles. Granted though, there should always be competition, but that only needs to be two companies.

I wouldn't say two companies is always a great thing. What if both companies agree with a illegal partner ship?

I honestly don't give a crap about Nintendo and I know some people who like it. I rather them stay in and struggle rather then leave and turn consoles even closer to a monopoly.

August 10, 2013

The trouble is nintendo had tapped into a new generation of gamers with the wii. I know for a fact several of my parents friends including my parents aswell went out of there way to buy wii's and started having wii partys. You know something is very wrong with the world when your parents actually go and buy a console with no quibbles. The main trouble is apart from the token wii bowling and other party games they didn't keep pushing new games to their new demographic 35-50+ year olds. They aren't looking for the next new mario! And allthough the base sales of wii were enormous considering the time on the market I'm pretty sure that they missed out on a pretty penny when it came to software.

It's starting to smell of sega in terms of their homebased systems. I think the main problem is that they have tried to make a ds for the houselhold and have failed horribly and made some frankenstine that just wants to be loved but is only held together by 2 bolts.

Don't get me wrong the ds is a great idea 2 screens makes sense on a handheld more screens more viewable area is good for a device that allready has limited screensize. Not to mention the touchscreen to help with interactivity due to the less than epic design of handheld buttons.

The trouble I have as a consumer when it comes to a wiiu is I cannot understand why an extra 10inch screen would be needed when I'm allready staring at a 52inch telvision set. If I have to look down to see the map or my inventory then in essence I'm not using my tv for that time and vice versa. They should have either made it so it was either all on tv or all on tablet. I realise the tablet has a use as main screen mode but this is not supported by all games but my problem with that is this is their next gen console they are obviously not really looking towards the future exspecially with dual view 3d displays becoming more common place where they can be shared and have 2 seperate pictures running at the same time.

Nintendo tried todo something unique when it comes to the console market but unfortunately have never got passed the hype of ooooo look what we have done it's so unique and you need this in your life part of the advertising campaign. I think they knew they made a turkey hence the imaginitive ways they were making up in order to try and sell consoles.

They are dying stick with the handheld market nintendo because the big boys have now taken over the home market and oeft you behind!

August 10, 2013

I have said it before - Nintendo CAN have the best of both worlds, they really can.

I have zero objection to their flagship titles. I like Mario, I ADORE Kid Icarus and even have a soft spot for Kirby - perhaps the cutest cannibalistic serial killer ever depicted in the annals of fiction.

However, cast your minds back to the glory days of the late 1990's - and the N64.

Was Nintendo abandoning their family-friendly titles? f*ck no. They still had Zelda and the rest of the gang in brilliant, widely acclaimed games. But the N64 also had dark titles, didn't it?

And it wasn't just that they had these games, it was that their presentation and aura of the console made people know that those games BELONGED on that console and that buying it gave them the best of both worlds - happy, carefree family material and darker, maturer stuff.

The Wii has went too far towards clean entertainment, it's not edgy, it's not reaching as wide a demographic as it could. Nintendo won't fail, I truly hope they never go bust or wind up like SEGA, but I think they need to diversify a little and rekindle what made the N64 era so magical.

Oh, and if they could bring out a new Kid Icarus game, that'd be great, too.

August 10, 2013

I think it'd be great if they stopped focusing on gimmick consoles and just made consoles that played their games simply and well, like the gamecube and n64. I wouldn't even have a problem if they kept forcing their own gimmicky accessories as long as you don't need them to play the game (Super Mario Galaxy - Nunchuck, LoZ Skyward Sword - MotionPlus, etc.). Just as long as they eventually stop forcing people to use their elbows to play their games.

They do portable gaming very well though. So much so that they could probably get away with making just portable games.

August 10, 2013

I think it'd be great if they stopped focusing on gimmick consoles and just made consoles that played their games simply and well, like the gamecube and n64. I wouldn't even have a problem if they kept forcing their own gimmicky accessories as long as you don't need them to play the game (Super Mario Galaxy - Nunchuck, LoZ Skyward Sword - MotionPlus, etc.). Just as long as they eventually stop forcing people to use their elbows to play their games.

They do portable gaming very well though. So much so that they could probably get away with making just portable games.

Portable systems will die since phones are so much better. Home consoles are the things that keep these companies going. Nintendo needs to realize their mistake and try to get back the hardcore gamers.

August 10, 2013

Portable systems will die since phones are so much better.

I'm almost positive that there will always be a large group of people who prefer dedicated mobile gaming systems to phone gaming. 100% sure that there'll be at least one as long as I'm alive! With the sales of the Nintendo DS it looks like they could survive off of handheld stuff alone, but it wouldn't be a good business decision at all.

(And I think part of the problem with their avoidance of the "hardcore gaming" market is that they don't have the specifications to keep up with "hardcore games")

• Wii U technical specifications

• Playstation 4 technical specifications

• XBox One technical specifications

Edited August 10, 2013 by zoo3891

August 10, 2013

I think it'd be great if they stopped focusing on gimmick consoles and just made consoles that played their games simply and well, like the gamecube and n64. I wouldn't even have a problem if they kept forcing their own gimmicky accessories as long as you don't need them to play the game (Super Mario Galaxy - Nunchuck, LoZ Skyward Sword - MotionPlus, etc.). Just as long as they eventually stop forcing people to use their elbows to play their games.

They do portable gaming very well though. So much so that they could probably get away with making just portable games.

Portable systems will die since phones are so much better.

The 3DS is currently game for game one of the best platforms for titles at the moment, a number of titles for it in the past few months have had fantastic sales and are constantly getting great reviews. Portable systems are very far off from dying, I don't have a clue what gives you that impression at all.

August 10, 2013

I haven't really been a handheld game guy for years, I'm just waiting for my Xbox mini.

I wish Nintendo would make a powerful smartphone/ds. I'd be willing to spend my money on it.

August 10, 2013

Nintendo seem to be very much hit and miss, with the exception of NES and SNES, they both sold well consecutively. 64 was a hit, Gamecube miss, Wii Hit, Wii-U miss (Althought Xbox one is helping its case a lot lol)

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Nintendo consoles, They really need to cut the gimmicky sh*t, or at least cut down on it and release all their consoles with a pad as well, not just some motion remote, sure that can be their focus, but Microsoft is getting pretty hot on their heels with that whilst providing something else. That something else in my opinion is not so much a lack of third party games, it's a lack of games with Solid Controls.. By that I mean that pretty much every game I tried didn't require much, if any, finesse on my part with the gamepad, it was all; Slam the Analog stick all the way one way; Slam the analog stick the other way, no middleground that you get with pretty much every AAA title on Sony Or Microsoft consoles. This lack of solid controls was an issue on its own, combine that with the pad that was sold separately (Wut?) and wasn't even grippable, it had a flat base, plus the Analog sticks didn't feel consistent at all, then again, it was hard to tell with a lack of games requiring finesse.

Like I mentioned before, they need to cut the gimmicky sh*t - and provide something more than a funky remote to compete with Microsoft particularly, who is really cutting into Nintendo's share of the market - and then release some solid titles, I think Nintendo could really pull off dark, horror like games because graphics aren't as important as setting, music and buildup for games like that. They could once again carve themselves out a square in a niche market that PC is currently dominating in, but provide it for a far lesser price, I think that'd be a smart move for them. Also if they could find a way to fix Spyro and bring him back for a reboot, kids love that sh*t. I'd buy a Wii-U if they put out a good controller and a great new Spyro game or something similar to Crash Bandicoot, something like that.

Nintendo has dominated handheld gaming though, The DS being the best selling console ever, well it was until the PS2 overtook it again Link, they struck gold with the the Gameboy, Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advanced and the DS, that's a pretty solid streak right there, they're definitely not failing the handheld market. The 3DS isn't selling that great at 33 Million now, but it's nothing to scoff at that's for sure, and it's still pushing over 130,000 units weekly. I think as long as Nintendo is pushing Pokemon on their own handhelds, they're going to be moving units, that game doesn't need to change and it will be forever fun, that much has been proven already. But perhaps one day Nintendo will abandon ship and release pokemon for mobile devices other than their own consoles, they'd make an absolute killing I think, but whatever.

Oh, Also one thing to add, I think a large part of why the Wii-U failed so far I already outlined, but the other reason is marketing, same with the 3DS. I think a lot of people were under the impression the Wii-U is just an add on for the Wii, and that the 3DS is just a 3D DS console. I have barely seen any marketing for their latest consoles here in Australia, they really need to get it out there I think, it's been swept under the rug.

Also relevant, I remember my younger sister had A Nintendo DS with the Gameboy slot thing, She upgraded to A DSi, I asked if I could have her old one to play my gameboy games, she said no, picked it up, and smashed it down on the floor into a million pieces just so I couldn't have it. f*cking biatch! And of course my father flat out refused to buy me one because there was already one DS in the household. That sucked. That was when I decided I didn't want to spend any money on Nintendo handhelds.

August 10, 2013

I'd love for Nintendo to abandon the console market (I like their handhelds though) and just develop their IPs for XBox and Sony. They have some amazing series that I never get to play because, though I enjoy them, they are not worth buying an entire console for.

Either that or they need to lay off the gimmicks and try and compete with Next Gen systems in the technical sense so they can attract some of the bigger 3rd party IPs.

August 10, 2013

no there is just not the console seller games out yet it will pick up wean they come out like super smash bros zelda and the dreamcast was and still the best console ever

August 10, 2013

I think it'd be great if they stopped focusing on gimmick consoles and just made consoles that played their games simply and well, like the gamecube and n64. I wouldn't even have a problem if they kept forcing their own gimmicky accessories as long as you don't need them to play the game (Super Mario Galaxy - Nunchuck, LoZ Skyward Sword - MotionPlus, etc.). Just as long as they eventually stop forcing people to use their elbows to play their games.

They do portable gaming very well though. So much so that they could probably get away with making just portable games.

Portable systems will die since phones are so much better. Home consoles are the things that keep these companies going. Nintendo needs to realize their mistake and try to get back the hardcore gamers.

Mistakes? Really? I guess making millions upon millions on the portable market, despite advances from phones and tablets, is a huge mistake, eh?

Every time Nintendo "fails" to achieve their lofty goals, people claim it's going to be their doom, that they should exit the market altogether and just develop software. That's never going to happen. Nintendo will fold completely if it has to go software only.

Reason is simple: Quality. Making both products, Nintendo doesn't have to worry about working under someone else's frameworks, someone else's certification rules, someone else's publishers. They don't have to worry about hitting things quick on the market. They can focus on quality. They can focus on innovation. They can focus on things that make their games great. Imagine if they go multiplatform. Developing for multiple platforms will incur higher development costs and time, as they can't do the same thing for all of them. Architectures change, and the game must change as well. Not to mention they would lose most of their verticality, and have to acquiesce to whatever deals the publisher/stores/digital content systems wish for, as they won't have their own console to bargain with, and will lose bargaining power. They will also have to take on whatever release date those things have in place, as well as deal with the whims of Microsoft and Sony and whatever else when it comes to processing their games. Not to mention the huge hole the market will have if Nintendo exits, as it is seen by parents worldwide as the console for kids. Can you imagine a new parent buying a Playstation or an Xbox for his toddler? It's very, very unlikely to happen. Nintendo exits, those people exit, and their kids will likely never buy a game console, as they'll be accustomed to whatever tablet/phone their parents gave them, or even a PC, and continue with that. For many of us, and for many kids worldwide, a Nintendo console is their first console.

So yeah, Nintendo is not going anywhere but their own way, making quality titles, gambling on innovation, as they always have. Every new generation, people say that Nintendo will fail and should just quit, and every generation Nintendo has proven them wrong. Give it a year, when the best first party title start to arrive, and you'll see their power. Actually, give it to christmas season, when the new consoles launch at a premium price and Nintendo does a price drop on the WiiU, along with a much wider game catalog, and you'll see that Nintendo knows what they're doing. The way I see it, with the WiiU, Nintendo is testing the grounds for their future console. They are seeing what people are thinking of the tablet controller and the proposal in general. Look at the advances it has made with their handhelds, closing in on the gap between it's graphical capability and the console capability. Nintendo is getting ready to make a new home console that's going to be a portable as well, more powerful than the WiiU, with all the usability of the handheld.

Seriously, Nintendo to exit the hardware market, is just such a daft idea. It makes no sense from any perspective you can get. Players complain about quality, yet can't realize that Nintendo's way is largely responsible for the quality of their games.

August 11, 2013

One slow selling console isn't going to kill Nintendo. Had Sega sold as many consoles as Nintendo did prior to the WiiU - Sega would still be in business and the Dreamcast wouldn't have sunk the company. And comparing the Wii to the PS3 doesn't even account for the fact that the PS3 was lead loss console. Nintendo will be fine.

Give it a year, when the best first party title start to arrive, and you'll see their power. Actually, give it to christmas season, when the new consoles launch at a premium price and Nintendo does a price drop on the WiiU,

Exactly, they can cut prices and still profit.

August 11, 2013

One slow selling console isn't going to kill Nintendo. Had Sega sold as many consoles as Nintendo did prior to the WiiU - Sega would still be in business and the Dreamcast wouldn't have sunk the company. And comparing the Wii to the PS3 doesn't even account for the fact that the PS3 was lead loss console. Nintendo will be fine.

Give it a year, when the best first party title start to arrive, and you'll see their power. Actually, give it to christmas season, when the new consoles launch at a premium price and Nintendo does a price drop on the WiiU,

Exactly, they can cut prices and still profit.

That's all Nintendo can do to back up their products. Don't you get sick of the same old Mario after a while. This isn't the 90's they need something new and fresh.

August 11, 2013

One slow selling console isn't going to kill Nintendo. Had Sega sold as many consoles as Nintendo did prior to the WiiU - Sega would still be in business and the Dreamcast wouldn't have sunk the company. And comparing the Wii to the PS3 doesn't even account for the fact that the PS3 was lead loss console. Nintendo will be fine.

Give it a year, when the best first party title start to arrive, and you'll see their power. Actually, give it to christmas season, when the new consoles launch at a premium price and Nintendo does a price drop on the WiiU,

Exactly, they can cut prices and still profit.

That's all Nintendo can do to back up their products. Don't you get sick of the same old Mario after a while. This isn't the 90's they need something new and fresh.

Well, you can say that about most game franchises really.

August 11, 2013

One slow selling console isn't going to kill Nintendo. Had Sega sold as many consoles as Nintendo did prior to the WiiU - Sega would still be in business and the Dreamcast wouldn't have sunk the company. And comparing the Wii to the PS3 doesn't even account for the fact that the PS3 was lead loss console. Nintendo will be fine.

Give it a year, when the best first party title start to arrive, and you'll see their power. Actually, give it to christmas season, when the new consoles launch at a premium price and Nintendo does a price drop on the WiiU,

Exactly, they can cut prices and still profit.

That's all Nintendo can do to back up their products. Don't you get sick of the same old Mario after a while. This isn't the 90's they need something new and fresh.

Well, you can say that about most game franchises really.

We'll try that then:

Mario: Simple platformer every time, getting progressively more difficult as you go along as it should. Save a princess every time. Story never changes...

Zelda: Basic open world game that's mechanics haven't really changed since the N64.

Saint's Row: Big open world that has had very different cities each game even though for two of them, the city was the same (i'm not counting IV... yet) Story changes every game going from dominating the thug life, dominating a city, and then dominating another city.

GTA: Every game has had a different city and a different story save for the PSP games.

Fallout: Changed completely from a 2.5D RPG to a massive 3D open world shooter.

August 11, 2013

Nah, they're ok, Nintendo have like bajillions in reserve, they can actually afford to coast through the Wii U generation at a full out crash course loss and just call it a write off when they do their next console. Hopefully though, this whole mess with the Wii U will open Nintendo's eyes as to what gamers want these days and how not to become lazy and coast on previous success, Sony learnt this with the PS3 after that whole ordeal in 2006 and Microsoft are feeling this right now with Xbox One.

August 11, 2013

We'll try that then:

Mario: Simple platformer every time, getting progressively more difficult as you go along as it should. Save aprincess every time. Story never changes...

Zelda: Basic open world game that's mechanics haven't really changed since the N64.

S

Some games don't need to change, some games are just fine the way they are, just like Pokemon. People keep buying them because it's just simple fun with solid controls that will give you a nice challenge and a lot of fun.

August 11, 2013

Zelda: Basic open world game that's mechanics haven't really changed since the N64.

GTA: Every game has had a different city and a different story save for the PSP games.

Zelda and GTA are completely interchangeable here (with the different variations of Hyrule - and if you replace N64 with the top-down games). And the mechanics changed very much in the DS and Gameboy games for Zelda.

^ and what Finn said applies to many other regular Nintendo series.

Edited August 11, 2013 by zoo3891

August 11, 2013

Zelda: Basic open world game that's mechanics haven't really changed since the N64.

GTA: Every game has had a different city and a different story save for the PSP games.

Zelda and GTA are completely interchangeable here (with the different variations of Hyrule - and if you replace N64 with the top-down games). And the mechanics changed very much in the DS and Gameboy games for Zelda.

^ and what Finn said applies to many other regular Nintendo series.

That's the problem. What's the point in buying a Wii U if someone can just pull out the NES and play the SAME GAME.

Nintendo really needs to step up their game. Dealing with Causal players isn't going to be the best forever.

Causal players have no loyalty and will most likely leave when they see something better.

August 11, 2013

Zelda: Basic open world game that's mechanics haven't really changed since the N64.

GTA: Every game has had a different city and a different story save for the PSP games.

Zelda and GTA are completely interchangeable here (with the different variations of Hyrule - and if you replace N64 with the top-down games). And the mechanics changed very much in the DS and Gameboy games for Zelda.

^ and what Finn said applies to many other regular Nintendo series.

That's the problem. What's the point in buying a Wii U if someone can just pull out the NES and play the SAME GAME.

Nintendo really needs to step up their game. Dealing with Causal players isn't going to be the best forever.

Causal players have no loyalty and will most likely leave when they see something better.

Are you dense on purpose? Or do you just not know anything about games, or are a fanboy of something else?

It's not the same f*cking game. Or else, that could be applied to everything. Why buy the new Call of Duty when you can play older Call of Duty, they're the same game! Why buy GTAV if you can play GTA3? They're the same game! Why buy "Game X" if you can play "Game X-1"? They're the same game!

Seriously. People complain Nintendo never tries anything new, but here, 75 new IPs since 2000. That's around 7 new IPs a year, with varying genres and varying successes. That's more than Microsoft, Sony, EA, Activision or what have you have done/published in the same span of time.

But people ignore most of them. Why? Because they want new Nintendo IPs with always the same level as their household names. And that takes time to build, it's not an overnight/one title thing, as that's all but impossible to do. So they launch something new, it's not at the same level as their old IPs, people won't care. So they launch the same IP, and they change a little bit, and people will complain that it's changed too much and they lost their soul and Nintendo is cashing in on the IP. If they don't change anything and stick to the formula, then people complain that it hasn't changed at all and that Nintendo is just cashing in on the IP.

f*ck, they're not even released yearly on the same genre! And f*ck, they still have a level of quality and fun that largely stands above everything else in the market. Do you know why Nintendo games appeal to the casuals so much? BECAUSE THEY'RE f*ckING FUN, WHICH IS A VERY GOOD THING FOR A GAME TO BE! And guess what, "fun" has no demographic! It appeals to everyone! Nintendo isn't pandering to casuals, Nintendo is pandering to fun! But people can't understand that, well, "hardcore" players at least. To everyone else in the market, Nintendo produces great products. To so called "hardcore", and not even a majority of them, dismiss anything with the big N on it as pandering to casual, or kiddy, nor not hardcore enough. It's just so stupid. All this "hardcore", "midcore", "casual" labeling, is just marketing bullsh*t. A good game is a good game regardless of it's audience.

And that's what Nintendo does, good games, regardless of it's audience.

August 11, 2013