Topic: RUMOR: Nintendo management unhappy with Iwata

[NWR_insanolord]

1. Nintendo will never, ever sell a game at a 99 cent price point.
2. If they were willing to cut the price of VC games they would have done so on 3DS and/or Wii U.
3. Number 2 again, except replace "cut the price" with "cross-buy."
4. Game controllers designed to clamp onto phones exist, but all the ones I've seen are $70+, more than any console controller.

[Shaymin]

5. If you're pulling out a controller to clamp onto your phone you might as well pull out a 3DS and save your phone's battery for, I dunno, communication.

[Ian Sane]

I like the idea of cheaper VC games but I don't need them on a phone.  What I'd like is cross-compatibility between console and handheld so I can buy the game once on the Wii U and then play it on my 3DS if I'm on the go.  Having different stores with different games is idiotic.  I suppose it could become cross-compatible between Wii U, 3DS and phone but phone support doesn't need to be there to make the concept a reality.

I feel a bluetooth gamepad for phones would destroy the public impression of the 3DS's need to exist.  Hardcore gamers will know better but the mainstream won't.  I consider smartphones to be the 3DS's main competition because we all know Nintendo wanted it to be the next DS but it is not getting to that level because the casual portion of the DS audience is content with their phones.  The DS was a universal handheld for all audiences while the 3DS is more for dedicated gamers that want more depth than a phone game provides.  That wasn't Nintendo's goal.  Smartphones have taken away a big chunk of their audience and any future videogame handheld has to work harder to justify its usefulness.  Making games play BETTER on phones will drive more consumers away from handhelds.  Right now the whole point of owning a 3DS is effectively because smartphones are inadequate videogame players.  Take that advantage away and it just seems pointless to carry around two devices if you could get away with one.  And take their handheld success away and how long do you think Nintendo lasts as a videogame company?

[nickmitch]

6.  Once people see Nintendo release games outside their systems, people will become infinitely more reluctant to buy Nintendo systems.

[NWR_insanolord]

It's a highwire act. They'd need to be substantial enough to get people to care but not so much that they're seen as a valid alternative to dedicated hardware.

[BlackNMild2k1]

1. Nintendo will never, ever sell a game at a 99 cent price point.
2. If they were willing to cut the price of VC games they would have done so on 3DS and/or Wii U.
3. Number 2 again, except replace "cut the price" with "cross-buy."
4. Game controllers designed to clamp onto phones exist, but all the ones I've seen are $70+, more than any console controller.

1 & 2. Like I said, if they got an additional 100 million cell phone users to sign up to ClubN through whatever phone app, and purchase a few $.99 games, that would more than justify dropping the price.
3. This self contained VC service would be on whatever systems Nintendo wants to put it on.
You buy the game once, it's in your ClubN connected account, and now you can play it one whatever device you have on hand as long as you have compatible controls available.
4. Nintendo could corner the market on bluetooth controller and set the controller standard for cell phones.start selling these controller shells for $29.99/$39.99 and rake in the profits.

This appeases the shareholders, expands their audience and in the process significantly raises Nintendo's awareness among the casual gamers and the awareness of all their brands. They can even market the eShop and Nintendo dedicated hardware for a more immersive gaming experience with bigger, better games that can only be played on "Wii U/3DS" or whatever the successors are.

*and I didn't mean to include the 3DS in the included systems on the previous post.

But I think this plan wouldn't compromise Nintendo's core business, but actually properly supplement it and inject additional funding towards actually supporting the VC with timely releases and increased catalog.

on the other hand, Nintendo absolutely should not move into making any original games for cell phones, only resell all the old ones that fit in the VC service.

[nickmitch]

It's a highwire act. They'd need to be substantial enough to get people to care but not so much that they're seen as a valid alternative to dedicated hardware.

Call me cynical, but the second Nintendo puts out a press release announcing anything like that, the headlines will read: "Nintendo FINALLY Goes Third Party", "Beginning of the End: Nintendo's First Release on iOS", "EDITORIAL: Why Nintendo's Newest Release Spells the End of the Nintendo Console". Et cetera, et cetera.

[NWR_insanolord]

Probably, but we still see articles like that all the time even with Nintendo swearing up and down they won't do it.

[nickmitch]

But it would add so much more fuel to that fire.

[BlackNMild2k1]

any news is good news. as long as they are talking about you.

I think the idea makes too much business sense to really happen, and it's not exactly what the shareholders had in mind (just another plus towards making it happen... it would be giving them what they asked for "technically" with out doing what they intended.). It would be cheap to implement and also giving the existing userbase exactly what they want and deserve for being loyal/supportive this whole time.

Hell, they could even make it a subscription based service. Play all you want for $14.99 mo. I'm sure some people might go for that.

[nickmitch]

any news is good news. as long as they are talking about you.

Unless they're writing your obituary.

[NWR_insanolord]

Hell, they could even make it a subscription based service. Play all you want for $14.99 mo. I'm sure some people might go for that.

I would absolutely love a Nintendo equivalent to PlayStation Plus. I think the only reason they aren't doing it is because they have that sort of stubborn, prideful attitude for not copying from their competitors, even when they really should.

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

Yeah lets not forget this is the company that had Squere/FF safely tucked away in their camp and let them get away because they refused to make a console that used CD ROM, which they have technically not done even to this day. The same company when they did get around to using industry standard DVD, they left out the movie part intentionally, and the same company that swore up and down online was not really worth the effort and have shown no intentions of correcting that stance, they were dragged online against their will kicking and screaming and would kill to return to the glory days where the industry bowed to their will.


Honestly if it wasn't for eShop/VC I think Nintendo would still be resiting online entirely, somebody probably had to really twist their arms to see that as a revenue stream and hey look at their efforts to get their games on that service clearly they are still resisting being online period.

[Spak-Spang]

any news is good news. as long as they are talking about you.

Nope this isn't true.  What is written is extremely important for the image of a company, individual, political party.  This idea of any publicity is good publicity or any news is good news is such a silly notion.

Nintendo does not want their name to be linked with stories of going 3rd party.

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

I think it could backfire on them if the suggested going third party but they could THREATEN to go third party to get third parties back on board. Think about it 3rd parties are scared to put their games on Nintendo consoles because they can't compete with Nintendo. Now suppose Nintendo went to someone small like Capcom whose games are the most similar to Nintendo and said listen we need your help put games on our machine or we might have no choice but to go third party and Capcom/Konomi and Sega all three would lose to a Nintendo who was emboldened by a new market and unrestricted by their platform. Seriously going third party might not be bad for Nintendo but it would be devastating for the rest of the industry they could leverage that to get support back if they were tactful about it.


I don't think their games are so great because they are tied to the hardware the hardware is fucking limiting to their designers give them damn near unlimited resources and a traditional game console controller that hard core gamers and casual gamers are already interested in, the people who are clamoring for Nintendo games but don't want to buy two systems suddenly flock back to buying Nintendo games and everybody else goes bankrupt and Sony is forced to cut a deal to keep Nintendo exclusive to their platform to protect the motherland.

[Ian Sane]

I think it could backfire on them if the suggested going third party but they could THREATEN to go third party to get third parties back on board. Think about it 3rd parties are scared to put their games on Nintendo consoles because they can't compete with Nintendo. Now suppose Nintendo went to someone small like Capcom whose games are the most similar to Nintendo and said listen we need your help put games on our machine or we might have no choice but to go third party and Capcom/Konomi and Sega all three would lose to a Nintendo who was emboldened by a new market and unrestricted by their platform. Seriously going third party might not be bad for Nintendo but it would be devastating for the rest of the industry they could leverage that to get support back if they were tactful about it.

Third parties aren't scared to compete with Nintendo.  The Wii U is selling like **** and the token third party efforts at the Wii U launch all bombed.  THAT is why third parties are avoiding the Wii U.  Nintendo is also the hardest console maker to work with.  And if they were afraid of competing with Nintendo why would Nintendo threatening to go third party attract support?  Don't the third parties have to compete with Nintendo either way?

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

that is why I said it could backfire but it is  strategy they could pull not directly threatening but you know dropping hints. I don't know it seems to me like the ONLY way to gain third party support is to just make a PS4 equivalent and suck up to everyone with money hats and that is a poor business model to follow.

[Ian Sane]

I think teasing going third party would cause their stock to drop and would pretty much kill the Wii U off for good and maybe even the 3DS.  Going third party means their existing systems are effectively discontinued and no one is going to buy them if they think Nintendo is discontinuing them any time soon.  It's like how the Saturn was toast once that idiot Bernie Stolar publicly stated that it wasn't Sega's future.

The strategy is not that complicated.  Make a console that developers want to support and consumers want to buy.  Make sure it has a steady release of quality games.  There is no trick to it, it's just competency and hard work.  Wacky strategies is why the Wii U is a flop.  "Well we have no games and no third party support but our controller looks like a tablet so everyone will just be so mesmorized that they won't notice!"  Nintendo thinking they're King **** and can cut corners everywhere and jerk their customers and business associates around the whole time has blown up in their face.  They ride out this gen (since they're clearly not abandoning the Wii U) and next time stop fucking around for the first time in 20 years and maybe they'll bounce back if they haven't completely burned all their bridges.

[BlackNMild2k1]

any news is good news. as long as they are talking about you.

Nope this isn't true.  What is written is extremely important for the image of a company, individual, political party.  This idea of any publicity is good publicity or any news is good news is such a silly notion.

Nintendo does not want their name to be linked with stories of going 3rd party.

As opposed to no one giving a ****?
At least someone cares enough for it to be news or discussion worthy in the first place, which is why the saying exist.

[nickmitch]

The strategy is not that complicated.  Make a console that developers want to support and consumers want to buy.  Make sure it has a steady release of quality games.  There is no trick to it, it's just competency and hard work.  Wacky strategies is why the Wii U is a flop.  "Well we have no games and no third party support but our controller looks like a tablet so everyone will just be so mesmorized that they won't notice!"  Nintendo thinking they're King **** and can cut corners everywhere and jerk their customers and business associates around the whole time has blown up in their face.

That's still easier said than done.  Nintendo needs to find way to decrease the development cycle without compromising game quality, build a better support network for devs, and a whole host of other things.

But yeah, they do need to get their heads out of their asses first.

[Ian Sane]

The strategy is not that complicated.  Make a console that developers want to support and consumers want to buy.  Make sure it has a steady release of quality games.  There is no trick to it, it's just competency and hard work.  Wacky strategies is why the Wii U is a flop.  "Well we have no games and no third party support but our controller looks like a tablet so everyone will just be so mesmorized that they won't notice!"  Nintendo thinking they're King **** and can cut corners everywhere and jerk their customers and business associates around the whole time has blown up in their face.

That's still easier said than done.  Nintendo needs to find way to decrease the development cycle without compromising game quality, build a better support network for devs, and a whole host of other things.

But yeah, they do need to get their heads out of their asses first.

It's a huge amount of work but no one forced Nintendo to dig the pit they're in.  Had they done the "fix all the stupid **** we're doing" strategy back with the Gamecube then they wouldn't have to deal with an additional three generations of screw-ups.  They've been ducking their problems for multiple console generations now.  I think the most insurmountable part of this is that the guys on top are the same guys that dug the hole.  To fix things they have to admit they have made mistakes, recognize what those mistakes are and know what the correct course of action is to address them.  Well if they knew how to do THAT then why make the mistake in the first place?  Why not address these mistakes in prior generations, particularly when something like poor third party support has been a problem for 18 years?  If they knew how to fix the problem why wouldn't they have done so at least ten years ago?

That's probably the main reason why anyone is calling for Iwata's head or any sort of major management turnover.  Everyone involved in the major decisions has been a long term employee of Nintendo.  Realistically the chronic problems that never get resolved were introduced by the same people calling the shots now.  The negative aspects of Nintendo's corporate culture are long engrained in Nintendo management.  The possibility of improvement from the same guys that largely fucked everything up or were mentored by those guys seems to be nil.  How could it happen?  Iwata would have to be one of the most humble and self-conscious people in history to accurately recognize his mistakes, know how to solve them and be willing to address them without any concern of losing face or bruising his ego.

[NWR_insanolord]

Unless Gunpei Yokoi built a time machine that's been sitting on a dusty shelf in the basement of NCL the last 30 years, what happened in the past is irrelevant to Nintendo's decision making process in this regard. It doesn't matter if Iwata was part of the reason they're here; all that matters is whether he's a good choice to lead the company going forward. And honestly, no one reading these forums knows whether or not he is. I'm not sure if anyone truly does, but it would take a lot more familiarity with the internal workings of Nintendo than anyone here has.

[oohhboy]

Ok, I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my phone to an iPhone and while it is a slick kit the Games on it are universally awful even after you have waded pass the infinite number of click to farm "games". The vagueness of the controls would automatically send the control centric Nintendo packing. The games mostly don't take into account differing screens shapes an resolutions resulting in unusable UI.

Then there is the app store itself which just vomits "Free" IAP games everywhere and you can't filter them. Even if you are Nintendo, good luck getting your game sold pass the click farm games. Then there are the duplicate entries, "Lite" Versions, Paid IAP that is gold/gem/wood, more click farm games, fucking outright lies, iAds and no I don't want a game account or to share this diarrhoea. The e-shop is a surprising massive step up from all this.

Good thing I never had any intention to play games on the thing as it is an absolutely horrible platform for it. If Nintendo does go Zynga, I will be the first to go while I pour a forty out for Nintendo. That said there are some nice apps for normal, everyday things.

[Spak-Spang]

The strategy Nintendo needs to pursue next system is simpleā€¦and I don't think it is what everyone things.

1)  Make the System Nintendo wants to make.  Hardware be damned if it is too expensive to develop for.  I don't care.  I just want good games. 
2)  Make the System extremely easy to develop for.  If that means using similar specs as other systems go for it.  If that means gaining the support of the leading 3D Graphics Engine and what not.  Get whatever you need and make developers happy.
3) Make it extremely easy for developers to make a profit on your system.  I am talking cheap development kits, cheap royalty fees.  I am thinking royalty fees could be as low as 12-15% until you hit X units sold, then it jumps to 20% royalty fees. 
4) Have built in functions for internet, chat, and everything you need for online play built into the OS so that developers do not have to worry about that.

[Ceric]

Ok, I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my phone to an iPhone and while it is a slick kit the Games on it are universally awful even after you have waded pass the infinite number of click to farm "games". The vagueness of the controls would automatically send the control centric Nintendo packing. The games mostly don't take into account differing screens shapes an resolutions resulting in unusable UI.

Then there is the app store itself which just vomits "Free" IAP games everywhere and you can't filter them. Even if you are Nintendo, good luck getting your game sold pass the click farm games. Then there are the duplicate entries, "Lite" Versions, Paid IAP that is gold/gem/wood, more click farm games, fucking outright lies, iAds and no I don't want a game account or to share this diarrhoea. The e-shop is a surprising massive step up from all this.

Good thing I never had any intention to play games on the thing as it is an absolutely horrible platform for it. If Nintendo does go Zynga, I will be the first to go while I pour a forty out for Nintendo. That said there are some nice apps for normal, everyday things.

Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catana are suppose to be good.   I can vouch for Ticket to Ride.