There is some discussion on whether or not sales are a good indicator of whether or not a company should make a game.
Ladies and gentleman, here's an example of how to completely misconstrue someone's point.
I'm going to stop you right there, Perm. Let's go back to what I specifically said.
Software sales are a good indicator of whether a company should prioritize a specific series or type of game.
Making something and prioritizing it are entirely different things. The former is about that thing's existence, the latter is about when that thing should exist. A niche game with a small but loud fanbase has no business being a priority, especially for a company like Nintendo that is coming off its weakest home console. Metroid can't carry a holiday season, doesn't sell, and generally doesn't appeal to anyone except its own fanbase. It isn't the kind of series Nintendo should try to sell a console with. Metroid isn't an appetizer; it isn't the first thing people generally eat at a restaurant. And it sure as hell isn't the meal they went out for. If anything, it's the dessert most people can talk themselves into buying after getting their fill. For some, they go out specifically for the dessert, and that's great for them, but they're the outliers.
And again, Metroid is my favorite series. Of course, I'd want a new game. However, what I want and what I think should happen are entirely different things. Metroid isn't going to help Nintendo sell NX in any significant way. I'd rather wait for a new Metroid game if it means Nintendo gets off to a much better start in part because Retro Studios worked on the next Splatoon-esque success instead. Release a new Metroid when NX is rolling. And if it doesn't and Nintendo doubles down on its own fans again, release it then. Launch, near launch, or even the first year is really not the time for it.
I didn't misconstrue anything. We both understand the word
indicator. Also, that wasn't entirely aimed at you. That was a generalized statement. It was even worded in a generalized ways. My point wa sometimes sales numbers fail us. How does Halo sell so well? What's the huge difference between Halo and Metroid? Halo was a system launcher and became popular because it was a decent game when there were few games to buy. Is Red Steel a better game than Metroid Prime? The sales of these games are entirely determined by market perception.
Retro busy? Then get another team to make it. There are plenty of hungry teams that do quality work. People don't buy Nintendo systems because the perceived lack of variety. We are well past the n64 era where only Nintendo and a handful of developers made quality games. We need quality and quanity, and variety. You can combat that by making more games. Ideally first impressions matter. What comes out at launch matters. What would journalists talk about if they were given access to a new incredible Metroid game on NX?
What Nintendo should do is make sure games are coming out. It needs to release old franchises and new. One could compare Nintendo to Disney. We know the next few years of Disney are going to be good. The next few years of Nintendo? A mystery.
Hopefully Nintendo just does the whole unified account system. That solves all sorts of issues.
I'm not opposed to any Metroid game coming out, 2d or 3d. I feel like last year they purposely bated us. They lowered the price of the 2d ones in the Nintendo wii u store and released Metroid Prime trilogy in the eShop. I bought them all, played the **** out of them, and made a Metroid clone in unity.