Topic: Nintendo of America Comments on Lack of 3DS Virtual Console

[NWR_Neal]

Basically, they say there is a whole bunch of other content out there.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30127

While we're now aware that Nintendo of America's two-month 3DS Virtual Console drought will end next week with Kirby's Block Ball, here is Nintendo of America's comment to us in regards to the lackluster support in 2012 for the service:

"Each week Nintendo makes available a mix of Nintendo eShop, Virtual Console, WiiWare and Nintendo DSiWare games. Combined, these services currently provide gamers with hundreds of fun and interesting downloadable games to choose from. There is no preset schedule as to how many games will become available in a given week, but many more are on the way via all of these digital-delivery systems."

Nintendo is saying that they give gamers options, defending the original content-heavy release schedule by saying that the eShop (and the Wii Shop, for that matter) has hundreds of games already.

How do you feel about Nintendo's comments? Would you rather have more Virtual Console than original eShop games? Or vice versa? Let us know in the Talkback section below.

[broodwars]

I think Nintendo's statement is indicative of their biggest problem with these online services: they view them all as all appealing to the same audience, competing and taking dollars from each other.  I don't own a 3DS, and I doubt I ever will.  But Wii Virtual Console titles will definitely sell to me, if they're titles that interest me.  Some people may not care much for titles on the Wii Virtual Console, but they're interested in the portable classics so 3DS Virtual Console titles will sell to them.  Nintendo of America doesn't seem to understand that having an audience that's cross-platform doesn't mean you only kind of support one platform and ignore the others in turn.  Nintendo's "mix" of titles every week is 1-2 to one service and 1-2 to another, and usually the titles available just aren't enticing to most gamers.  No wonder Nintendo is often seen as out of touch.

[joshnickerson]

I wonder if this is sort of a concession to third parties on the eShop... let's say a third party game (we'll leave out any snide comments about quality control just for the sake of argument) is gearing up to be released on the eShop, the developer is getting excited and what's this? Nintendo decides to drop Wario Land 3 the same week. Which one do you think will be getting more attention?

[Eyothrie]

I just want gb, gbc, and gba games, not NES games.  The 3DS is a handheld, and its VC should reflect that

[supergtt]

they need to realize that if they put stuff, people can buy it whenever they want. they don't have to worry about shelf space, stock, etc. if they suddenly do a sale later on (yea, right) they don't have to stock up to meet demand.

they need to get people in management who understand the world where supply is infinite, where shelf space is unlimited. bascially they need to go hat in hand down the street to valve and beg gaben and his people to teach them how to turn digital into giant, massive, scrooge mcduckian piles of cash.

[broodwars]

Nintendo also doesn't seem to known how to drum up fan anticipation for the Virtual Console in particular.  One week, we'll have total silence from them, and the next a random game will drop on the service with no fanfare whatsoever.  Considering the sheer volume of noteworthy software on the service, that is kind of inexcusable. 

This is one aspect where I think Sony (and possibly Microsoft to some extent, though I don't know of many older games hitting their service) has the situation figured out much better.  Every week, we get a series of blog posts about upcoming games, including PS1 and PS2 games when they hit PSN/SEN.  And these games often get dropped in the same week as other new and notable PSN titles, such as the case with Persona 3 FES a few weeks back.  Sony even managed to get the fans salivating for the release of the PS1 game Legend of Dragoon a few weeks back, a game I wasn't aware had fans until a few weeks back.  Really, Nintendo?  Your Virtual Console PR effort has been bested by a PSN release of Legend of Dragoon?  That's just...sad, really.

[joshnickerson]

I will agree with you on that Broodwars. It's almost as if they're shy about announcing these things, as if they're worried it would come off as bragging.

"I say, I don't want to bother you much, but we do have some nice games coming out this week. Yyou can check them out if you like, but if not, that's okay too. No pressure. Sorry to bother you."

But yeah, a bit of pumping up fans in anticipation would be nice to see. Perhaps it's time Reggie or someone gets a blog. *L* To be fair though, they do pimp their releases and promotions via Facebook and Twitter, so they're not completely in the stone age here.

Personally, I would prefer more original content. Of course, this is rather selfish of me, since I already own most of these VC releases in their original form, complete in box to boot.

[Kairon]

they need to realize that if they put stuff, people can buy it whenever they want. they don't have to worry about shelf space, stock, etc. if they suddenly do a sale later on (yea, right) they don't have to stock up to meet demand.

they need to get people in management who understand the world where supply is infinite, where shelf space is unlimited. bascially they need to go hat in hand down the street to valve and beg gaben and his people to teach them how to turn digital into giant, massive, scrooge mcduckian piles of cash.

In a world where shelf space is unlimited, then what's important is "discoverability," which is how likely someone is to even see your product when there's a smorgasbord of other competing products on this "infinitely" long shelf. People's attentions, time, and energy are not infinite! iOS and Android games definitely suffer from this problem as well. In that sense, I suspect that Nintendo is still trying to figure out a good way to give the products that come out on what sounds like their collective services sufficient time and attention to shine.

[supergtt]

In a world where shelf space is unlimited, then what's important is "discoverability," which is how likely someone is to even see your product when there's a smorgasbord of other competing products on this "infinitely" long shelf. People's attentions, time, and energy are not infinite! iOS and Android games definitely suffer from this problem as well. In that sense, I suspect that Nintendo is still trying to figure out a good way to give the products that come out on what sounds like their collective services sufficient time and attention to shine.

Open the steam client, pretty much done right there. There is a middle ground between throwing everything up there and never talking about it, and never putting anything up at all.

In the world of digital distro, I think companies of all stripes would be best served by looking at what valve has done, and using that as a starting point. Lets be honest, nintendo isn't building this thing in a vacuum.  at this point there is a decade or so of work done up to this point they could look at.

[Kairon]

Steam customers are a different demographic than Nintendo customers. Right now, 30% of Nintendo 3DS owners haven't even connected their systems to any form of internet, at all! And that's supposed to be an improvement over before! Steam doesn't have that problem.

The problem is not just the functionality of the storefront, it's the extra steps console users currently have to take to even reach the storefront, as well as the basic shopping and usage behavior of the customers themselves.

[UncleBob]

I think Nintendo's statement is indicative of their biggest problem with these online services: they view them all as all appealing to the same audience, competing and taking dollars from each other.

This.  So much this. Nintendo has this problem in all aspects of their marketing philosophy.   Release one major game across all platforms per month (except holiday seasons, if we're lucky).  Nintendo fanboys don't tend to suffer from this as much, as we have all the current systems... but others notice.

[supergtt]

Steam customers are a different demographic than Nintendo customers. Right now, 30% of Nintendo 3DS owners haven't even connected their systems to any form of internet, at all! And that's supposed to be an improvement over before! Steam doesn't have that problem.

The problem is not just the functionality of the storefront, it's the extra steps console users currently have to take to even reach the storefront, as well as the basic shopping and usage behavior of the customers themselves.

that has much less to do with the system and more to do with nintendo themselves. why not a video that plays the first time you open the system that takes you through the features and shows the shops? why not advertised sales? why not a free VC game when you buy a new games kind of deal? or, 20$ eshop credit with every new 3ds? that's just off the top of my head. They could do anything to raise awareness outside of their news following faithful(ie us) and they chose to do... nothing.

[oohhboy]

Nintendo doesn't have enough games released to even consider the infinitely long shelf discovery problem yet. Releasing 0-3 "items" a week is not going to flood your service into uselessness. The Eshop isn't the most usable thing out there by a long shot, but it not remotely in danger of getting flooded.

I haven't brought a single thing from it yet only because there hasn't been anything that screamed **** yes, I need this now. If they are only looking at that 30% right now, they are being incredibly short sighted by holding back. Like a console, it is games that drive the sales and it is no different for a virtual store front. It's not helped by the unwanted "Wallet" system either adding another step and preventing me from paying the exact price for the item. People feel like they are getting ripped off, even if it is a couple cents at a time. It's the action, not the magnitude of it that annoy.

[Kairon]

Steam customers are a different demographic than Nintendo customers. Right now, 30% of Nintendo 3DS owners haven't even connected their systems to any form of internet, at all! And that's supposed to be an improvement over before! Steam doesn't have that problem.

The problem is not just the functionality of the storefront, it's the extra steps console users currently have to take to even reach the storefront, as well as the basic shopping and usage behavior of the customers themselves.

that has much less to do with the system and more to do with nintendo themselves. why not a video that plays the first time you open the system that takes you through the features and shows the shops? why not advertised sales? why not a free VC game when you buy a new games kind of deal? or, 20$ eshop credit with every new 3ds? that's just off the top of my head. They could do anything to raise awareness outside of their news following faithful(ie us) and they chose to do... nothing.

Those are fine ideas, but they may not be what Nintendo wants to do. Are you ready for you to sell customers a system that plays them commercials and shows them ads as soon as they turn them on? Do you really want to teach consumers not to pay full price for your software despite arguing against the devaluation of games at GDC 2011.

And actually, they are giving away free VC and download games with purchases (see: Club Nintendo,3D Classics Kid Icarus promotion). And whereas they haven't given people a $20 eShop credit with every 3DS, they HAVE created free services that consumers only benefit from if they take their console online, like Nintendo Video and Swapnote. (However, unlike an eShop gift certificate, which attempts to "push" consumers to go online, these benefits are invisible until someone does go online.)

But you're right, these are problems because of Nintendo. They're because Nintendo is concerned about things that other companies aren't and they sell to consumers that other companies ignore.

I'm not saying they're perfect. And I'm not saying there aren't things I wish they'd steal wholesale from other companies. But there IS a Nintendo difference, for better AND for worse, and that's one of the things that shapes what they do.

That said... I still want my Wii U home screen to be something akin to the Nintendo Channel though. I just want to set it on infinite play so the ads, previews, trailers, and content give me a nice steady stream of game-related background noise!

[Kairon]

Like a console, it is games that drive the sales and it is no different for a virtual store front.

That's a great point actually. The download services right now are sort of not driven by Nintendo first-party software.

I guess that's one reason to look forward to Nintendo releasing most of their future major releases as downloadable as well as retail: Nintendo first-party titles could drive traffic to their download services and just generally increase user flow to those services period.

[leahsdad]

I think another problem here, maybe the biggest one, has a name:  Reggie.   NCL and NOE have released much more VC than NOA has.  Then, NOA has been more original content heavy than NCL and NOE.  I think it's because NOA has a very different marketing plan or strategy than anyone else.  They don't want to put out Wario Land.  They want to put out Sudoku.  And IOS ports.  And occasionally, really good games like Mighty Switch Force and Mutant Mudds.  A lot of people are comparing NOA to Valve/Steam, saying NOA should look more closely at their model.  I think they have.   And Apple's.  And I think NOA/Reggie are trying their best, within their limited power and scope (because at the end of the day, NCL is still in charge) to craft this kind of sucky Steam/App Store hybrid, where they can sell I Must Run to IOS converts and VVVVVV to Steam converts.  And VC, well, that just doesn't fit the model, because hey, Apple doesn't do it, and Steam doesn't do it, so it must not work.  So screw the old games that give the eshop a unique character, because the customers that they're trying to win over don't like old games.

[UncleBob]

I bet Apple and Steam WOULD do Nintendo VC ports if they could...

[AV]

I think Nintendo is trying to be anti apple and NOT have an overwhelming choice of content, but to give a select few a chance to shine every week.


it's playing a little too safe, and it feels like they are not even trying instead of giving the focus to a few.


I don't know about anyone else but if I see something i want I'll buy it, and while I'm buying that I might also get something else. That whole " people who buy this usually buy this too" mentality works well on me and when I spend some money I spread the wealth around. I rarely just get ONE song off itunes, I usually get a few cuz if I am going to spend I might as well get this one too.


sort of like a vending machine, I spent 50 cents on a dr. pepper and still got 50 left so I might as well buy some lays while I am here.


For e-shop, if a game I want pops up I want like  Kirby Tilt n' Tumble (optimised for 3DS's gyro sensor) released and at the same time a demo for x 3rd party game is also on, I'll get that demo too. I'll play both and that demo may lead to a purchase. I wouldn't be interested in the demo itself but because I got something I wanted and that too it lead to me spending more. If they keep putting stuff up I don't care about or know about I'll keep ignoring it and they won't get my money, but lure me in with something every week and I'll spend more than.


just a random thought of mine

[NWR_insanolord]

If they could just commit to one game, and only one game, every single week, it would provide a steady flow while not overloading the market.

[Kairon]

If they could just commit to one game, and only one game, every single week, it would provide a steady flow while not overloading the market.

There IS the possibility that they actually might just not have that many games in the pipe to begin with.

[supergtt]

Steam customers are a different demographic than Nintendo customers. Right now, 30% of Nintendo 3DS owners haven't even connected their systems to any form of internet, at all! And that's supposed to be an improvement over before! Steam doesn't have that problem.

The problem is not just the functionality of the storefront, it's the extra steps console users currently have to take to even reach the storefront, as well as the basic shopping and usage behavior of the customers themselves.

that has much less to do with the system and more to do with nintendo themselves. why not a video that plays the first time you open the system that takes you through the features and shows the shops? why not advertised sales? why not a free VC game when you buy a new games kind of deal? or, 20$ eshop credit with every new 3ds? that's just off the top of my head. They could do anything to raise awareness outside of their news following faithful(ie us) and they chose to do... nothing.

Those are fine ideas, but they may not be what Nintendo wants to do. Are you ready for you to sell customers a system that plays them commercials and shows them ads as soon as they turn them on? Do you really want to teach consumers not to pay full price for your software despite arguing against the devaluation of games at GDC 2011.

And actually, they are giving away free VC and download games with purchases (see: Club Nintendo,3D Classics Kid Icarus promotion). And whereas they haven't given people a $20 eShop credit with every 3DS, they HAVE created free services that consumers only benefit from if they take their console online, like Nintendo Video and Swapnote. (However, unlike an eShop gift certificate, which attempts to "push" consumers to go online, these benefits are invisible until someone does go online.)

But you're right, these are problems because of Nintendo. They're because Nintendo is concerned about things that other companies aren't and they sell to consumers that other companies ignore.

I'm not saying they're perfect. And I'm not saying there aren't things I wish they'd steal wholesale from other companies. But there IS a Nintendo difference, for better AND for worse, and that's one of the things that shapes what they do.

That said... I still want my Wii U home screen to be something akin to the Nintendo Channel though. I just want to set it on infinite play so the ads, previews, trailers, and content give me a nice steady stream of game-related background noise!

you have great points, and I'm not saying ads, I'm saying more like a video that says 'here is how you connect, the eshop is this thing, here is how you set parental controls, here is how you make folders'. and then at the end, go check out the eshop, here, have some credit there, see how it works.

and as far as not wanting customers to pay less, that ship has sailed. and sales and bundles increase revenues by large factors. Steam has done the leg work here. if NES games were 1 or 2 dollars a peice, I'd probably own 30 or 50 dollars by now, instead of the... well, zero dollars worth I have now. and during a sale, I spend way more than usual during a steam sale. and it's not like valve or the publisher is out a copy sold at a discount that otherwise would have sold at full price, that's the magic of digital.

On a very fundamental level, nintendo just does not understand digital. they don't get it.

[Pixelated Pixies]

It is a pretty frustrating situation for those who would like to see a steady flow of VC games. In recent months in Europe we've had the opposite situation. We weren't getting eshop content like VVVVVV, Mutant Mudds, Sakura Samurai etc. but we were getting frequent VC releases. It seems that Nintendo (at least in North America and Europe) are just unable or unwilling to run multiple download services concurrently. It really shouldn't be a zero-sum situation, gamers I'm sure would prefer more choice not less, but NOA and NOE clearly think differently.
 
I'm not very familiar with Japan's download release schedule, but from the few occasions I've seen their weekly VC, WiiWare & eShop release lists it seems to me that they get a more steady stream of content for all services. Can anyone verify whether or not this is the case? If so, doesn't that make this statement kind of ineffectual?

[oohhboy]

It's a really silly situation. You can't sell what you are not offering. Every time they try to be "Clever" with online, they score an own goal. They don't have enough items to have a schedule. Steam doesn't get enough games to have a "schedule". Just sell the games and be happy with the money.

[Kairon]

On a very fundamental level, nintendo just does not understand digital. they don't get it.

Yeah, Nintendo definitely... does not view the digital retail space the same as everyone else. I'm not particularly surprised at this, I suspect that a lot of their developed strength over the years comes from knowing how to do retail, and of course Nintendo customers are more retail-oriented compared to the other console's demographics.

I think one of the things about Nintendo is that they straddle so many roles: developer, publisher, now retailer. Valve may make games, but you almost forget that when looking at Steam, they seem to be in full retailer mode there selling other people's games. However, with Nintendo you can see that even when they sell digital download, they are still intensely concerned with the selling price of their own games.

[ejamer]

Nintendo will continue doing things the way they are now. Because it works. Because they continue to earn profits (ok, rare exception this past year) and because don't feel any need to change their business philosophy based on short-sighted feedback from analysts or fans.

Unfortunately, Nintendo earns a profit despite their business philosophy - not because of it. If they didn't consistently create and exclusive provide some of the best gaming experiences around, they would've been sunk a long time ago because so many of their current strategies are ass-backwards.  Maybe their decisions will come back and haunt them anyway.  I have no interest in buying Wii U, or another 200 odd games for the platform like I did with Wii.  I'm probably not the only "serious" customer they've alienated this past generation either.