Topic: MSNBC likes Nintendo's chances this generation

[ginx619]

MSNBC on Nintendo Wii

The author tells us why Nintendo stands a good chance of capturing more of the market this generation.I thought it was pretty interesting that an article like this would come from a Microsoft owned site.

[TrueNerd]

The fact that he thinks there's any possibility that this could be Nintendo's last hurrah in the console race is laughable. However, I do think his opinions on marketing are interesting but not quite right. Marketing it in a different space then PS3 and 360 is smart, but not directly against the PS2. One, that's a David vs. Goliath kinda thing, minus the Divine Intervention, and two, it will result in tons of "Wii is last gen" comments. But he may be on to something there.  

[ginx619]

He does kind of act like the Wii is a make or break proposition for Nintendo which is hardly the case but overall I thought he was overwhelmingly positive about it.

One thing marketing wise that I did agree with him on is that Nintendo should try and capitalize on marketing the console to parents with overweight children.All of us here know that the extreme movements to play the games aren't necessary but selling it to parents who aren't going to research it and see it only as a way to get their kids to exercise would be a smart move.

[wandering]

Good article, though I disagree about Nintendo not having a chance to catch up with Sony. I still think there's a strong chance the Wii will be the top-selling console of this upcomming generation.

On a semi-related note, what ever happened to Steven Kent?  

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Everything has to catch up with the DS.

[Karl Castaneda #2]

Quote
Originally posted by: wandering
Good article, though I disagree about Nintendo not having a chance to catch up with Sony. I still think there's a strong chance the Wii will be the top-selling console of this upcomming generation.

On a semi-related note, what ever happened to Steven Kent?

Steven Kent quit game journalism last year to devote his time to become an author. His first book, The Clone Republic (or something like that), came out recently. I think Bill Kunkel put it best when he said this about Kent:

"We need more great game journalists and less crappy Sci-Fi authors."

He had this part-gushy/part-insane article in Game Informer last year that dealt with his time in the industry and what he sees for the future. It was alright.

[Ian Sane]

"He does kind of act like the Wii is a make or break proposition for Nintendo which is hardly the case but overall I thought he was overwhelmingly positive about it."

Isn't it make or break?  Nintendo has kinda hinted that it is.

I agree completely about Sony and MS being vulnerable.  MS I see as less so.  There only real problem is that they cannot make it in Japan which will always ensure that Sony and/or Nintendo will be competing against them.  Sony is really screwed.  The only way I can see them winning Japan is if the Wii controller is REALLY unpopular.

[Adrock]

I don't get this "catch up to Sony" thing. Nintendo is set to close the gap with 360 this year while Sony limps through Christmas. I know this sounds like mindless fanboy drivel, but I can't really see it any other way. I'm a Nintendo fan, but I'm highly critical of them. Despite some questionable decisions and setbacks, they've done an amazing job of making Wii a very attractive platform.

Wii just needs a steady stream of quality titles and it'll do far better than Gamecube and maybe N64. Coming out on top is far trickier and would require no less than a miracle.

[ginx619]

"Isn't it make or break?  Nintendo has kinda hinted that it is."

I think it is make or break for the Wii control scheme but I don't think it's make or break as far as Nintendo consoles as a whole.
 

[Deguello]

No Ian.  The Wii isn't make or break.

The DS was make-or-break.  If Sony wrangled Nintendo's handheld empire away from them, Nintendo would have really been screwed.  But since things are totally rosy on that front, Nintendo is now able to float another lukewarm console or two, not that the Wii will be one.

That's what Yamauchi said about the DS, that they will "rise to heaven, or sink to hell."  He's pretty much right.  It was the DS that was important.

[King of Twitch]

"Oh, and don't get me started on that ridiculous name.."
Give em a break! Not everyone can be named after a great philosopher!

"...this may actually be Nintendo's best chance to matter on the console side. Quite frankly, it may be its last chance, too. "
Quite frankly, this libelous propaganda is getting old

"Four years ago, I suggested that Nintendo drop out of the console race and stick to its handheld and software strongholds"
Four years ago? Weren't you looking forward to Mario Sunshine? Metroid Prime? Zelda? Eternal Darkness? TimeSplitters 2? The Wavebird?

"In reality, the Wii will be duking it out over the holidays with PS2 and second-hand systems being sold at GameStop more than the scarce and pricey PS3."
So the Wii is competing with the PS2 and not 360 and PS3? What?

----
Truthiness - 2.5/5

[ginx619]

I agree with him that in a way the Wii is competing with the PS2.When parents looking for an inexpensive console walk into the store the 360 and PS3 are already marked off of the list,where as the Wii probably isn't completely out of the question.

Also,let's be honest, compared to the best of what the PS2 has to offer graphic wise and what the Wii is offering with it's launch line-up there isn't a huge difference.

You have to remember there are parents out there who know nothing about video games and are just looking for something inexpensive for their kids,the Wii is closer to their price range than either the 360 or the PS3.

[Kairon]

At $250 a pop, I think the "competing with/mistaken for a PS2" argument doesn't hold up, and that's even disregarding the mind-blowing effect seeing people play Wii Sports will have on casual gamers and shoppers.

The Wii is a next-gen (or new-gen) system, the price tag declares it, the controller shouts it, and game experiences that are actually all new and eye-poppingly innovative cement it. The N64 was next-gen because of the first and still almost perfect 3D game Mario 64, the Wii will be next-gen because of the first and universal appealing anyone-can-use Wii Sports.

It is true that the PS2 will be a great value proposition this fall, but then it's competition for everyone. Heck, It'll probably outsell the PS3!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com  

[ginx619]

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
\

It is true that the PS2 will be a great value proposition this fall, but then it's competition for everyone. Heck, It'll probably outsell the PS3!

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

There's no doubt the PS2 will outsell the PS3,just like the PSOne outsold the PS2 during the PS2s launch but the Wii has a better chance of competing against the PS2 than either the 360 or the PS2.I think that's what the writer was trying to say when he said the Wii was competing against the PS2 instead of the 360 and PS2.

It's pretty much been proven that with all consoles the casual market doesn't begin to pay attention to the new consoles until they've fallen under the $200 mark. The Wii, in a way, starts right off at that mark since it includes a game which is rare in this day and age.

[Kairon]

But the author's proposition is ridiculous. He's suggesting that Nintendo position the Wii outright NOT as a next-gen system. That's like admitting defeat already by suggesting a short shelf-life, gimickry, and half-hearted support.

Besides, Reggie already dumped Wii-60.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[couchmonkey]

I agree with him on one thing: This is a great chance for Nintendo.  Otherwise...get ready, folks, here I go...

Random things:

-Wii vs. PS2?  No.  The whole point is to market Wii as it's own thing.  Nintendo is aiming for total Wii domination, it doesn't need a "rival", besides there are too many to choose from.

-Xbox the third viable console?  You know what, I just realized that we consider Xbox the machine that proved that three consoles can exist...but it doesn't prove that at all!  Why?  Because it cost Microsoft 4 BILLION DOLLARS*.  Microsoft bought it's way into "viability", few other companies could afford to do that, so it's technically not really viable.

-Gypped by Xbox 360? He writes, "Until then, I'll just...[feel] gypped after overpaying for software titles that don't offer a whole lot more than their sixth-generation versions." Wait a minute, isn't this what Nintendo is combatting?  Of course your 7th gen games don't offer "more", because more equals more budget.  This is where Nintendo's plan is genius: instead of relying on super over-development of existing game types (I expected at least 10 arenas in Mario Kart: Double Dash and I'm sure many of you did too)  Nintendo will refresh them with a new type of control.  Mario Kart will be worth experiencing on Wii even if it doesn't offer "more" of everything.


Nintendo's last chance:

Nintendo has said that if this system isn't more popular than GameCube it will be a failure, but Nintendo never said it would leave the console space, and I believe Perrin Kaplan has said quite firmly that Nintendo will have another home console.  Nintendo has over 8 billion dollars in the bank, which, as I pointed out earlier, is twice as much as Xbox cost Microsoft.  So Nintendo could afford to accept two Xbox-sized failures before it would be out of cash, and let's be honest, GameCube still made a profit in spite of it's "failure" status, so Wii is not going to be a Xbox-sized failure.  Top it off with DS, the only highly successful next-gen system so far, and Nintendo is actually in a much better position than Sony or Microsoft!

Don't believe me?  Sony's hardware business has been in decline for years.  Competing products like Apple's iPod are tearing into Sony's traditional markets and the company has switched Presidents and laid off tons of employees.  One could argue that PS3/Blu-ray is Sony's "last chance" in the hardware business.  The irony is that in trying to use PS3 as a trojan horse for Blu-ray, Sony may have shot its popular console brand in the heart with a bullet made of high prices.  PS2 will keep Sony afloat for a while, but if PS3 isn't a hit in 2-3 years, it will probably never be a hit.  Then what does Sony do?

Microsoft is not in any danger of going out of business, but like I said before, Xbox lost the company $4 billion.  There were already execs in the company against Xbox before it was even released, can you imagine what those people are saying now?  Investors can't be too happy with those ridiculous losses either.  If Xbox 360 wastes another $4 billion dollars without achieving any kind of dominance in the market, will Microsoft subsidize a third console?

Thanks to DS Nintendo is sitting pretty right now, I think Sony and Microsoft are more likely to exit the home console race than Nintendo is.

* Joystiq: Forbes says Xbox lost $4 billion  

[Michael8983]

These analysts need to learn that the every new generation of consoles means it's anyone's game.
Just look at the shake-up between the 16 bit and 32/64 bit generation. Some would argue that was then and this is now and times have changed. But I don't think they have. It's just been a while since any company has screwed up bad enough to shake things up. Enter: Sony and the PS3.
The Wii will be ahead of the PS3 by default come to the of the year. The question is will Sony be able to catch up with Nintendo?

[Nick DiMola]

I think the bottom line here is that I can't see Nintendo EVER leaving the console market even if they "fail" again. I mean seriously, the Gamecube "failed" so badly they turned a bigger profit than both their competitors combined. Maybe they don't have the hearts of most gamers, but they sure are banking a ton of money. From a business/profitability position Nintendo is doing downright fantastic and there is absolutely no reason to leave a market where they are making money. Everything they sell is at a profit not a loss, so third place or not, their still 1st place in pratical business. Nintendo makes money not matter what place they are in, period.

[couchmonkey]

Mr. Jack: Yeah, that covers my opinion for the most part, too.  A year ago I would have pointed to Nintendo's constantly shrinking user base as the counter-point to this.  Who cares how profitable Nintendo is if it becomes marginalized so badly that you can't find its products at most retailers?

That said, now I really believe Wii is going to turn the falling user base around.  In fact, a year ago I also would have said that I'd be satisfied if Nintendo could just sell a few more Revolutions than GameCubes.  Now I won't really be satisfied with the sales figures unless they at least match the N64.  Wii has totally raised my expectations for Nintendo. Edit: DS helped, too.

[Infernal Monkey]

I can't be arsed reading this prediction blabber but wow wow wow at the photo.



I KEEP FORGETTING JUST HOW SMALL IT IS.

[couchmonkey]

I don't think I'll truly comprehend it until I hold it in my hands and use it to bludgeon rude children.

[JonLeung]

I remember being wowed at the size of the Game Boy Color and GameCube, but both only after holding it in my hands.  For the GameCube especially I'd heard a lot about its size and seen many pictures of it, but it seems to be something different altogether the first time you physically have one in your hands.

I tried out the Wii at E3, but of course I never got to touch the actual console.  After getting so used to GameCube discs, Wii discs will feel so big (in comparison, 'cause they're the same physical size as any CD or DVD).  I mean, a console the size of three DVD cases?  They've said that over and over but I'm sure it'll still be a surprise of sorts.

I think the size will help sales...people who don't usually game might think the larger machines, while being more powerful, are probably more complex and therefore more intimidating-looking.  Also, its complexity makes them look more easier to break and more costly to fix if there is a problem (and if they knew about Microsoft and Sony, they'd know problems are more likely, too).

[thejeek]

Quote
I don't think I'll truly comprehend it until I hold it in my hands and use it to bludgeon rude children.

bludgeoning children to death with your wii is a hanging offence in some juristictions

[Ian Sane]

"I think the bottom line here is that I can't see Nintendo EVER leaving the console market even if they 'fail' again."

Their market share has consistently shrunk though and eventually you figure it would get small enough that they can't make a profit anymore.  Nintendo needs to stabalize their market share and maintain a profit in order to be safe.

This pic is nice.  When looking at it I thought "why is the disc so big?" because it's almost hard to fathom a console that tiny.

[couchmonkey]

Oh no, a hanging offence?  Good thing I live in Canada.  I'll get off scott free!! Scott, I say!

Edit: Yeah, small marketshare is the problem, Wii is the solution.  I really don't see it failing any more than GameCube did, and GameCube was still profitable.