Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on August 04, 2004, 05:33:34 PM
Members of the online community are in a frenzy over a half-rumor sparking images of Nintendo and Microsoft holding hands. German magazine Wirtschaftswoche reports that Mr. Gates would buy out Nintendo in a heartbeat, were Hiroshi Yamauchi willing to sell his majority stock in the company.
Bill Gates' expressed interest in Nintendo is nothing to get excited about, however. A few years ago, before the official Xbox unveiling, the industry ran rampant with rumors of Microsoft trying to buy out Nintendo or Sega. Microsoft is serious about the home console gaming industry, and although the Xbox has been fairly successful in the marketplace, the corporation is always looking to further improve its standing. Microsoft has a long history of purchasing smaller companies—who better to absorb than a profitable company specialized in that market?
Bill Gates' statement should be taken as wishful thinking; it goes against Yamauchi’s strong-fisted, traditional Japanese business methods to sell his stock to American competition.
Post by: edgeblade69 on August 04, 2004, 08:14:39 PM
Seriously though....if Gates likes buying stuff so much, why doesn't he just buy cars or homes or something? Heck he can always send me money, I don't mind taking it off his hands.
Post by: Windrunner on August 04, 2004, 08:37:16 PM
Of course, I realize that Gates could buy them himself, alone... but I'm not sure why he'd ever say Microsoft is interested. He's not exactly CEO of MS anymore...
Post by: GaimeGuy on August 04, 2004, 11:28:07 PM
Post by: Infernal Monkey on August 05, 2004, 01:11:26 AM
"WHHOOOO'S NEEEELLLSSSOOOOON?"
Post by: CHEN on August 05, 2004, 01:20:44 AM
Post by: Polemistis on August 05, 2004, 01:59:31 AM
Post by: RABicle on August 05, 2004, 03:19:52 AM
But yeah, will never happen.
Post by: ABlueflameA on August 05, 2004, 03:54:33 AM
Meh, all of this is moot, Yamauchi will NEVER sell (or die, he is invincible you know) and so therefore M$/Bill can't buy.
-Blue
Post by: Spak-Spang on August 05, 2004, 04:12:21 AM
However, I would like to actually think about this for a second. Would Bill Gates buying Nintendo really be that bad? Why would Gates want Nintendo? Its obvious: No matter how big the Xbox gets it will never be successful in Japan. Sony and Nintendo just have that market wrapped up, and have very good relationships with all the Japanese developers.
If Gates buys Nintendo I don't see him re-organizing or changing anything with the Japanese side of the business. EAD and all of NIntendo's internal development house would be exactly the same.
What would change is perhaps the new found focus on Nintendo of America and Nintendo of Europe being able to step up and create games for our market. Bill Gates could easily revitalize the Nintendo name in America and bring us gamers the experiences Nintendo has been lacking to bring to the table.
What are your thoughts?
Post by: Bartman3010 on August 05, 2004, 04:51:02 AM
Post by: BigJim on August 05, 2004, 04:56:03 AM
Post by: Spak-Spang on August 05, 2004, 05:09:17 AM
Post by: Perfect Cell on August 05, 2004, 05:38:19 AM
Seriously... you need to be carefull though how you write this story. You could make it sound like Bill gates is buying Nintendo (Not planetgamecube other nintendoish pages)
Post by: Jale on August 05, 2004, 08:40:14 AM
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Originally posted by: Bartman3010
I think their idea is to attach a DVD player to the Revolution.
Innovative Idea! You should work for Sony!
Post by: Djunknown on August 05, 2004, 02:29:42 PM
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However, I would like to actually think about this for a second. Would Bill Gates buying Nintendo really be that bad?
It would probably give Nintendo financial security in America and Europe, but I doubt their sincerity. Past examples of scooping up Shenmue II for the U.S at the 11th hour of its release, only to not advertise it a year later, as well as dropping Psyconaughts (Thank Mr.Shane Kim for that one) because if might not sell, show that Nintendo may not get the attention they need....
Interesting propisition, but I think many faithful would rather see Nintendo sink gracefully, than be another corporate cog. But I can only speak for myself
Post by: The Omen on August 05, 2004, 03:27:58 PM
Post by: mouse_clicker on August 05, 2004, 04:23:22 PM
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as well as dropping Psyconaughts (Thank Mr.Shane Kim for that one) because if might not sell, show that Nintendo may not get the attention they need....
So THAT'S what happened to Psyconaughts- I always wondered why it mysteriously fell off the radar. A shame, too, that game was looking really cool.
Post by: Mumei on August 05, 2004, 05:28:37 PM
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Originally posted by: CHEN
Old news. They've wanted Nintendo (and Sega, and Capcom, and Square) all along, since its launch. It's the way Microsoft does, but this is something else. Nintendo has a market value of approximately 20 billion USD.
I was under the impression that their current assets were valued at about 11 billion USD. CAn you confirm that number, please?
Post by: ssj4_android on August 06, 2004, 12:13:13 PM
Post by: Mumei on August 06, 2004, 05:12:21 PM
....
Post by: Hostile Creation on August 07, 2004, 11:28:47 AM
Post by: Aussie Ben PGC on August 10, 2004, 03:17:20 AM
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Originally posted by: mouse_clickerQuote
as well as dropping Psyconaughts (Thank Mr.Shane Kim for that one) because if might not sell, show that Nintendo may not get the attention they need....
So THAT'S what happened to Psyconaughts- I always wondered why it mysteriously fell off the radar. A shame, too, that game was looking really cool.
Not quite - Psychonauts is still on schedule. As a matter of fact, it's been picked up by Majesco.
Double Fine are quite pleased about the whole thing, and rightly so. It was there for a few months without a publisher. Gamespot has an interview with Tim Schafer about the game.
Post by: seen33 on August 10, 2004, 07:08:33 AM
besides... it would deffenitly give sony a run for its money (finally) and although competition is a good thing.... 2 systems is better then 3. this generation was killed. way to many exclusives for all 3 systems. Not very fair. And with most developers heading to xbox or ps2 only or just those 2 systems... nintendo was left out.
Go BIll!!! Buy Nintendo.
Post by: Bill Aurion on August 10, 2004, 07:12:31 AM
Oh, and the loss of respect/support of Japanese developers for Nintendo... Anyone who thinks this is a good idea is a gaming newb, plain and simple...
Post by: seen33 on August 10, 2004, 07:53:39 AM
And only a guy who cares more about a company then good games would ignore an idea such as this. Its not opinions that the xbox sells better then the Gamecube... its a FACT. I enjoy my zelda/metroid games so I bought a gamecube. But When it comes to games overall.. Xbox is making the right choice. Online play is something that is not going away and I think Nintendo is now realizing that with the DS. Although they should of realised that with the gamecube. and Nintendo would still have its developement teams and all... M$ wants to buy them so they can get the Jap market... why would they change it once they have it? They would deffenitly change the image of nintendo which is what we need and there would be many more developers on board.
Post by: Bill Aurion on August 10, 2004, 08:35:48 AM
What? How would Microsoft buying Nintendo make better games? That kind of logic is completely bogus...
Post by: joeamis on August 10, 2004, 01:04:46 PM
"It turns out Gates' comment was an off-the-cuff remark made at a cocktail reception after Microsoft's July 29 analyst presentation. "He was just saying that he would talk to Yamauchi on the phone," an informed source told GameSpot. "His comments were taken way out of context.""
It's ridiculous to talk about this, and it seems people want to just so they can knock MS some more.
