Author Topic: nintendo's next system (Read 8084 times)

c0mf0rta13lynumb · « **on:** May 30, 2003, 11:29:09 PM »

Hey.

I've been thinking about what Nintendo needs to do in order to get back on top of the business ever since I heard they are working on their next system. Here's what I think they need to do.

- Use regular sized DVDs.
They need to do this, so the developers won't have to compress everything whenever they port games from other systems to Nintendo's. I'm tired of seeing ports of games with compressed sound and video, especially FMVs, because Nintendo uses the mini DVDs.
And since Nintendo has strong ties to Panasonic (SD cards), one of the best at making DVD players, they can ask them to help them out in that department. Panasonic develops high performing DVD players at really cheap prices. Their $100-150 DVD players outperforms Sony's $500-600 DVD players. They support everything from DVD audio, DVD video to music CDs, and VCDs. Don't short change this aspect like Sony did. Watching DVD movies on the PS2 sucks. The quality is really bad.

- Use a hard drive and online gaming.
With the hard drive, they won't need to make memory cards anymore. I could see Nintendo going with the SD cards instead of the hard drives though. But that would mean their customers would have to shell out for the cards seperately. And it's not garenteed that everybody will get the same sized card either. Whereas with the hard drives, everyone who buys the system will have the same sized hard drive.
One of the games I still play is Nightfire 007, but there aren't enough levels in the multiplayer options and levels. With online gaming, gamers could download more levels for a game that they bought. Online gaming would benefit alot of players. For me, I get to play with or against my cousin, who lives on the other side of the country. Nintendo could set up a server or network and charge a monthly fee to play any games for the system online.

- Lower the cost of making games for Nintendo.
I don't know what it's called, but I think console makers charge developers a certain fee for making games on their systems. What I think Nintendo should do is either make the cost lower than Sony's and Microsoft's, or eliminate it altogether. Maybe that's not good business, but Nintendo needs to get third party support like the SNES days one way or another.

- Design
They need to make the system look cool (no purple this time). Make it look like a DVD player. Slick and black. Make the controllers wireless with the sensors built in. I think Nintendo came up with something cool already. The GBA-SP has a rechargable battery built in. Nintendo should use this technology with their next system somehow for the controllers. Built in rumble would be nice too.

That's it. I'm out of ideas. What do you guys think?

Lanseryl · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2003, 02:41:45 AM »

Um Iwata hinting that the next console will be retro compatible with GCN games, I doubt it will go for the normal DVD. And Nintendo is on the frontline concerning anti-piracy, so I would not be suprised if again there is a proprietary format. I don't think it's an issue as long as the prices are fair to attract 3rd parties.

I believe too Nintendo will keep to its philosophy of Game-machine only. To be competitive they need to launch the new console at a low price, something you can't do if you have too much multimedia/ non-game related options. And then Nintendo gains money from software, I think you must have royalties to pay to Sony for Dvd movies? (could be wrong on this one), and no need to distract palers from games with "gimmicks". In the long run, an affordable gaming machine might appeal more to people getting confused with the heavy priced multimedia boxes, Sony and Microsoft want to lead to.

But I think as far as gaming is concerned, the next console must have all included as you said. Wireless controllers built-in, hard drive, or high capacity media storage, something to link out-of-the-box with the next GB iteration( no need to buy a lousy cable), and online capabilities.

And most importantly, support at launch from 3rd parties, AAA launch titles, and before Sony or microsoft.

PIAC · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2003, 03:56:19 AM »

-___- this is like the 5th topic on this, wouldn't it be easier to corelate all the ideas into 1 thread?

c0mf0rta13lynumb · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2003, 05:07:08 AM »

I know Nintendo's trying to battle priracy, but one of the reasons Sony won last time around was because everyone and their grandmothers knew they could burn Sony's games. In the long run, getting a large user base is just as important as selling software.

When this generation came around, I thought Nintendo did everything right. But Sony and Microsoft came out with their multimedia machines and blindsided Nintendo once again. That's why I think that's the way to go for the Gamecube's successor. This times around, Nintendo introducing everything the competition have plus something they don't have might attract potential customers. Also, kids don't own the gaming scene like the olden days. Marketing to people who has money, especially college students who work and are looking for an all-in-one package, might not be a bad idea.

About the pricing, I don't think Nintendo should price their system lower than Sony's or Microsoft's. There was an article on IGN.com that stated a very good point about this. It said something along the lines of the customers see lower price as lower quality. And I agree with it. I'd love for them to price it cheaper because I'll buy it regardless, but the marketing department needs to see the bigger picture. They can't just depend on Nintendo loyal fans anymore. It's not enough to get them first place.

kennyb27 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2003, 11:29:02 AM »

Quote
- Lower the cost of making games for Nintendo.
I don't know what it's called, but I think console makers charge developers a certain fee for making games on their systems. What I think Nintendo should do is either make the cost lower than Sony's and Microsoft's, or eliminate it altogether. Maybe that's not good business, but Nintendo needs to get third party support like the SNES days one way or another.

You said it yourself: it's bad business. One cannot expect Nintendo to remain competitive while not making as much money. If you're saying this because you think it would make more 3rd party games and therefore more console sales, you have to ask yourself, when was the last time you thought about buying a Nintendo console for a 3rd party game.

The Doc · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2003, 02:33:44 PM »

Nintendo does charge developers a fee to develop software for the GCN, and the charges are known as royalty fees. Nintendo has already lowered these fees to stay competitive with Sony And Microsoft. The news of Nintendo lowering royalty fees was announced a while ago, where have you been?

The Doc

220man · « **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2003, 02:02:07 AM »

The next system I would thinkwould be that panasonic gamecube that was all cuby but silvery.

PIAC · « **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2003, 02:17:10 AM »

the Panasonic Q? ehm thats a gamecube with extras (or a dvd player with a gamecube, which ever way you want to look at it) it would get crushed next gen for obvious reasons + those emoticons are annoying ;P

KDR_11k · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2003, 02:49:22 AM »

Nintendo's next system:

code name: NEXUS
design: Green, glowing, cube-shaped
motto: Resistance is futile!
processor: DRONE processor, able to connect to the "COLLECTIVE" and distribute computing power over the internet (much like the Cell)
controller: remote controlled, requires implantation of "NANOPROBE"s into user
misc. abilities: can use "NANOPROBE"s to assimilate Sony and Microsoft fanboys

Now, THAT would convince people of its coolness!

JSasky · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2003, 08:41:25 AM »

Nintendos main problem right now is image, everyone sees it as a kiddie system. The only way I can see Nintendo conteracting this is to embrace it in a way, by releasing two different systems.

The first system has to have all the bells and whistles of their competitors in order to compete for mass market dollars. If the graphics are going to be the same on the next gen systems then you don't want to lose customers on a short feature list, even if your games are better. And you must price the system the same or even hight than the competition, this is the adult system and adults will pay more if they feel they are getting the best.

The second system they realese will be a full blown kiddie system. It will have exactly the same graphics and power as the adult system, but any extra features will be upgradable, using plug in adapters like the current cube. This one you release with all the cute colors. And you sell this one at a significantly lower price so parents can buy them for there kids.

With this strategy you are competing for 3 different markets at the same time. The older adult market, the kid market which Nintendo has a firm grasp on, and the broke asses like me who just want a pure gaming system and could care less about having a DVD player or not.

Think about it.

kennyb27 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2003, 04:37:30 PM »

JSasky, the way I see that is what i dub as BS: Business Suicide.
Launching two systems, similar as they may be, would not be business smart. It would also lead to consumer confusion. Then, even further you ask yourself, why would you want to restrict certain games to either system when the smarter move would be to release them for both systems.

My second point (kind of a different direction): I don't like the term "kiddie" system, sure we all say it sometime or another but look at the sales. Sony is ahead (for good in this generation) but simply because of a year's head start and a huge transfer of userbase from PS to PS2. Microsoft and Nintendo are in a close race for second. Yet, Microsoft's console is considered the more mature system? Allow me to show you how this argument falls apart. Most video game analysts say that the majority of gamers are now 16+ in age, which could be considered a mature market (or if you want to be very techincal, 18 and older is mature and 16-17 is just teen). Following that train of thought, the Xbox and PS2 should be murdering the GCN in sales, not just the margin it is today.

Just my thoughts.

JSasky · « **Reply #11 on:** June 03, 2003, 04:37:59 AM »

You would totally want the same games to be able to play on either system, sorry if I was'nt clear.

It would be comparable to the car market, where you can buy an entry level model for cheap, or go all out and get the delux model.

Another interesting idea would be to give the consumer the ability to upgrade the system feature list by buying different modules. Want dvd playpack? Buy the DVD adapter. Want LAN buy the adapter. This way Nintendo can keep the initial cost of the system down, which nintendo likes to do, and still provide the same feature list as its competitors. You would have to be carfull not to alienate the consumers this way, they might just say why do I have to buy everything seperate when this one has everything included in one package. Nintendo would just have to price it right thats all.

The main thing is that Nintendo has to have the same capabilities as the Box and the PS3 so that there are no excuses not to buy the cube, like there are now; as trivial as those excuses are. The mass market is like a bunch of monkeys you got to give them the bannanas to make them happy even if they are'nt ripe and covered in pooh.

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2003, 06:26:09 AM »

I don't see two systems coming out, nor do I see Nintendo bowing down like that and putting that stuff on their system. It may happen, possibly, but I find it extremely unlikely.

The adapter concept is much more reasonable.

JSasky · « **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2003, 07:30:23 AM »

Personnally I like the fact that Nintendo did not put DVD capability on the system, and gave us a choice about what kind of modem we wanted.

If Nintendo is going to go the route of Hardcore gaming machine, why o why do they not market themselves that way? THe hardcore gaming machine idea could work with effective advertisement. I think that is a harder way to go though, and only appeals to a niche market.

Features is all the mass market understands. I know a couple of people who simply bought PS2 because it had a DVD player, these people are not serious gamers (read uninformed). All they saw was two machines that play games that look kinda the same, but the PS2 played DVD and they went with that.

kennyb27 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2003, 01:45:57 PM »

I like the adapters concept. However, I could see two potential problems with that (kind of interlaced too). One: although this may lower the original cost of the system, in order to stay and look (see second point) competitive, Nintendo would start the price no more than $50 less than the other systems and each adapter could run anywhere from $15-$40 (US). The eventual cost of the system could be sky-high. Two: IGN stated a while back that the lower price point may appear to the uninformed consumer to be lower quality (for example, my stepdad loves the quote "you get what you pay for"). Also the uninformed consumer may not realize all the additional add-ons or may see the XBox 2 that comes with a modem built in and stupidly say to himself, "better-value, better system."

BlkPaladin · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2003, 09:19:52 PM »

In a way Nintendo is doing the adapter system for the Gamecube and it has hurt the use of the adapters because the third parties are less likely to include programming that utilizes them.

(Broadband/Modem, GBA/Gamecube hook up, SD card Adapter, Gameboy Player to name a few of them)

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2003, 03:36:32 AM »

JSasky: That is one helluva great idea there. But i also agree with kenny.

dmbfan755 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2003, 08:38:35 AM »

I don't think the hard drive is very good. I think it should have memory cars, since they are mobile and can be taken to other people's houses if you want to play with a friend, etc. But, I think 1 mem card should be able to hold alot, like 20 games, unlike the mem card 59 which can only hold one game (animal crossing). I know you can't make memory cards as big as hard drives, but they should be big enough so you only need like 2 for every game.

aoi tsuki · « **Reply #18 on:** June 11, 2003, 08:34:05 PM »

Before even beginning to speculate on "what Nintendo's next system needs", it's important to know just what Nintendo plans to do with the system. Portable, games-only system like the Cube, a multifaceted digital entertainment system like the Xbox, or something completly different? If it's portable, a hard drive isn't such a good idea. And if it's a digital entertainment system, just what tricks besides games and DVD playback will it offer?

i like Nintendo's current modular approach to gaming consoles. i don't like their lack of support for their add-ons, which becomes more evident with each purchase. After nearly two years we'll finally have first party broadband support. The GB Player is a little disappointing though it's still new, so improved developer support could be on the way, but i'm not happy with the fact that you can't currently link two GBP-equipped Gamecubes as you would two GBAs. Nor am i happy about the lack of communication between the GBA and GC for games like Metroid Fusion. [i'm aware of the fact that you can do this with two GCs.] For a company that focuses so much on connectivity, it's practiced in a limited fashion. If Nintendo goes with another modular system, they must have better support for the add-ons.

Quote
If Nintendo is going to go the route of Hardcore gaming machine, why o why do they not market themselves that way? THe hardcore gaming machine idea could work with effective advertisement. I think that is a harder way to go though, and only appeals to a niche market.

No company needs to sell to their hardcore market. Many of them are early adopters, and even if they're aren't up on game news and don't buy the system at launch, they'll still buy it before Joe Casual. If appealing to a niche market was enough, Sega would still be a hardware manufacturer.

Bartman3010 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2003, 05:42:05 PM »

What I think is that they shouldnt make another system. Just make an enhancer for the Cube. If it has to be the size of a Game Boy Player, so be it. That way it can be affordable, people wont have to shell out $200 again, and all the games the GCN had can still be played.

Okay, I'm a cheap-ass. Realistically Nintendo should just come out with a $150 system that just does what they have done best: play games. No need for any of this DVD, MP3 or whatever crap, keep the small discs but with more space in them and cheaper, and be compatible with the GCN add-ons.

Although, Nintendo needs to watch the others and see what they'll do. They should make a very powerful system. That cant be beat, but is still affordable.

Hmm, I think my idea is somewhere in fantasy land. Exscuse me.

Round Eye · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2003, 11:56:07 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: aoi tsuki

No company needs to sell to their hardcore market. Many of them are early adopters, and even if they're aren't up on game news and don't buy the system at launch, they'll still buy it before Joe Casual. If appealing to a niche market was enough, Sega would still be a hardware manufacturer.

Maybe not target the hardcore market, but advertise your system as a 'hardcore gamer' only machine. Then you will be attracting gamers and all the wannabes as well. You may not get the DVD/MP3 player crowd, but they smell like fish.

Actually I think Nintendo should look into advertising, some advertising, any advertising. I don't see them anywhere anymore. All I see now is xbox Brutal ads.

Chickety china the chinese chicken...

Joshtheleo · « **Reply #21 on:** June 21, 2003, 04:01:41 PM »

something i havent seen anyone mention, the next game system needs to be HD compatable. if the release date for this thing is 2005 the fcc has mandated the change over to be 2006. thats gonna be alot of people buying HDsets. im not sure how possible it is but if games could be displayed in 1080i they would rock the compitition.

Another thing, nintendo needs some digital outputs on their next system! plz nintendo! prologic is ok, but its still not nearly as clear and crisp as dolby 5.1 encoding.

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2003, 04:47:37 PM »

Personally I would prefer Prologic II, as I would have to buy extra hardware to support 5.1.

Besides, Prologic is more efficient, as it's much less processor intensive than 5.1.

oohhboy · « **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2003, 03:37:36 AM »

Well, sound isn't done by the CPU anymore and if it is, it shouldn't. GC has a sound processor intergrated with flipper. I believe the Xbox has one. Not sure about the PS2. SNES had one but the N64 lacked one and had to use the CPU to do it's sound.

manunited4eva22 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2003, 08:36:21 AM »

you don't have to use 5.1 sound. You can still use the analog cables, but some of us would like to use a S/PDIF cable every now and then.

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Author Topic: nintendo's next system (Read 8084 times)