Topic: Portables vs. Home Consoles

[kirby_killer_dedede]

Something that has always puzzled me is though Nintendo makes a point of using more or less the same strategies in both the handheld and home gaming realm, they've always had amazing success in the handheld area and as of late they haven't been doing so hot in the home console business.  What is Nintendo doing different in the two markets?  If I sit down and think about it, I think the true reason for their portable success is basically the audience that the portable gaming market appeals to: younger kids who don't have the patience to sit in a car for 2 hours without being busy.  It's no secret that Nintendo's games are more kid-friendly than other companies', but it's ironic that this has only propelled them further in the handheld market while holding them back in the home console market.

What is Nintendo doing different in the two markets?  What can they learn from the success of the DS?  What strategies that have worked in the portable market could be implemented in marketing the Revolution?  I'd just like to hear your thoughts.

[Hocotate]

That's a good point. But I think the Revolution is more similar to the DS, then the GCN was to the GBA. The GBA had no competition so it was a sure sucess. The situation Rev and DS are/will be in at launch are almost exactly the same. A new way to play but with lower graphics then the competition. And Nintendo has dominated Sony dispite the fact the PSP has "better graphics." It seems EVERYONE is developing on the DS, if Nintendo can get the same kind of developer support on the Rev, I believe it has a very good chance of taking the #1 slot.

[kirby_killer_dedede]

Though the DS is completely obliterating the PSP in Japan, even with a three month head start, the PSP managed to sell out the DS in North America for 2005.  Hell, even software sales were higher.  There is tons more buzz for the PSP than the DS.  Maybe that's just because Americans are dumb yuppies, but I think it has something to do with Nintendo being...I guess the best way to say this would be that Nintendo's just too Japanese, however politically incorrect that may be.  Chibi Robo?  What the hell kind of mainstream white guy is going to buy something like that?  Nintendogs?  In the eyes of a mainstream 16-year-old, playing with a cute little virtual puppy isn't fun.  I honestly feel like in the States the non-gamer strategy is a failure.  I'm not saying a abandon that strategy completely, but Nintendo's biggest problem has always been not appealing to the mainstream gamer, and that's something they have to fix (I don't think the "mainstream gamer" even exists in Japan) before the Revolution launches.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Nintendo simply fails the marketing war in the U.S.  People won't buy what they don't hear about.

[Hocotate]

But you see, the mainstream gamers like crappy games.... I don't want Nintendo making crappy games. If we can just get the same great 3rd party support the DS has onto the Rev, I think we'll be set. I'm not so sure we'll actually get it, but if the controller is as much fun as it looks, I think 3rd partys will want to at least try to develop on the Rev.

[Infernal Monkey]

One gets a tidal wave of third party support thanks to the system only requiring games with the gameplay style of broken Atari 2600 cartridges to sell, the other gets four and a half third party games every year or so because it's never worth the time to compress video clips, split it across two discs or leave content out (which is which, mystery!)  

[darknight06]

"If we can just get the same great 3rd party support the DS has onto the Rev, I think we'll be set. I'm not so sure we'll actually get it, but if the controller is as much fun as it looks, I think 3rd partys will want to at least try to develop on the Rev."

You know, I'm glad you brought this up because here's yet another situation Nintendo has an issue with.  The Japanese support has been great for the DS this year, but the western side of it has been nothing short of abysmal.  With the exception of Vicarious Visions, the DS has NO good western third party support right now.  This is IMO probably the biggest reason alongside it's multimedia capabilities that the PSP get's it's sales in America, it gets the better versions of "western culture relevant" software.  And it's not so much in the sense that it looks better graphically as much as it is the PSP version of those games received a lot more time and polish.  Just look at Burnout Legends, Need for Speed MW, Madden (despite it's bugs), or Peter Jacksons King Kong.  All throwaways on the DS, but decent to good on PSP.

Now the revolution should have the advantage of being a console arguably on similar ground as the other two, but a repeat of the DS situation will screw it over just as bad as it's doing there.  And to be honest with you, it wouldn't surprise me if western 3rd parties ended up pulling this crap on there too.  

[Ceric]

So to put it bluntly.  Nintendo needs more American 3rd party support and maybe an American active 1st party division.  We need a Miyamoto of our own.  From what I can tell Europe has a much more active third party arena.  Though to my knowledge there isn't very many US Developers period.  How is Nintendo going to get support for the system if there is no one to support it.  I work in a multi-national small business.  I like all the people who you would consider foriegn here but, I have a hard time relating to them because we don't share many common experiences.  Nintendo of America needs to stop being so dependant  and start getting there own talent and actively recruiting US developing houses.  There are lots of "in" jokes and other things in a game produced in a certian region.  It happens subconciously.  Sort of like you never here of anyone being in the marching band in a high school game from Japan.  Which is common in the US.  To get more US gamer, especially non-gamers, you need to have people developing games that know the culture, live the culture... Well you just need Americans to make American games.  They need more of those types of games.  It's a rant and after looking through it I don't know if what I'm trying to say is clear.  I just can't think of a good way to put it into words.

[couchmonkey]

I get what you're saying Ceric.

The problem with a "Miyamoto for America" is that nobody with Miyamoto's talent would want to be trapped in a contract with Nintendo because the company is too controlling.  If Nintendo could give up some of that control, as EA has with Will Wright's MAXIS, then maybe we could have a North American "Miyamoto" but so far Nintendo isn't giving that control up.

And for that matter, Miyamotos don't just grow on trees.  They grow in the ground like Pikmin and you have to pull lots of developers up before you find the Miyamoto...errr....yeah.

However, I do somewhat agree that Nintendo could use more ties with western developers.  I'd also add, though, that once SquareEnix's games start making their way over here, along with other major Japanese third party games like Megaman ZX, I think you'll see the tide turn in Nintendo's favour a little.

[Ian Sane]

I think Nintendo's strategy for both portables and consoles is the same.  It's just that they screwed up and scared away all the third parties on the N64 but didn't for the Gameboy.  Thus one market flounders while the other does well.

Nintendo got on top because they were originally the only game in town and thus got nearly 100% of the initial support.  Both the NES and Gameboy arrived at a time where there wasn't really any competition.  Then Nintendo has basically kept ahead by momentum.  They have the best support so they have the best sales and they have the best sales because they have the best support.  It's basically the same thing as their current situation only with low sales and low support.  Nintendo traditionally has kept third parties on board through fear.  "Support us or lose out on the success we bring!"

It's really not much of a strategy at all.  It's just being at the right place at the right time and riding it out.  The problem is they screwed up on consoles and scared everyone away and their "strategy" doesn't really work for rebuilding.  It's a method that relies on instant success.  If they ever screw up with portables they'll be in the same pit as they are with consoles.

So since Nintendo is on top in one market and at the bottom of another they need two totally different plans.  The console plan needs to be completely rethought.  They have to think more like their old competitors who had to rise from nothing.

[JonLeung]

I may be generalizing, but I think (North) Americans are more into "macho" games like FPSes and sports games, genres that don't seem prevalent on the GameCube.  These games are also more on the realistic side.  Playing realistic games where you shoot up or tackle people are the kinds of games the Western audience seems to want.  Hence, people will give the N64 a boost when they can play games like GoldenEye or Perfect Dark, but will salivate over Halo for the Xbox.

I don't know what kinds of insecurities people have, but apprently a lot of people here in the West won't play cutesy games.  As gaming becomes more mainstream and more social, I think people become more tied down to traditional perceptions...they're not "mature" if they're levelling up Pikachu.  And I must admit a bit of that myself...  I may be a big Pokémon fan, and have in the past been vocal about how it's a game experience worth having, and that you shouldn't take the cartoon and merchandise as an indicator as to what the game is like, but seeing as how I'm 25, most of my peers never would never consider it.  So even if I felt I should openly defend my quest to catch them all, it'll fall on deaf ears and make me look like a lunatic.  Those that I know have (in the past at least) won't talk about it openly.  If you HAVE to talk about video games in a social setting, it's easier to say you blew up some aliens' heads than that you managed to catch Mewtwo without using the Master Ball.

And those games that Nintendo has that aren't cutesy and should appeal to the insecure crowd?  Well, Nintendo doesn't market them enough.

Anyway, about the Revolution - the FPSes that will be capable on this should help make up in that regard.  Unfortunately, insecure people might now feel like they're holding a toy gun.  Light-gun games aren't as popular as FPSes, it seems, probably because of that reason.  There's no pleasing some people.

[Avinash_Tyagi]

One thing you have to note is what games sell in the US:

Sports, racing, Star Wars, GTA, 50 cent, FPS, etc.

These aren't genres that Ninty is well known for (thankfully so IMO)

[vudu]

I love how 50 Cent is now his own genre.

In truth, there isn't one original thing about him.

[IceCold]

The Japanese support has been great for the DS this year, but the western side of it has been nothing short of abysmal. With the exception of Vicarious Visions, the DS has NO good western third party support right now.

Yeah, and you'd think that with the DS's touchscreen, it would lend itself perfectly to western PC developers.. Odd.

[Infernal Monkey]

Well, Nintendo USED to be well known for Star Wars.

[Ceric]

In way this is sort of like how in cartoons that what is considered an American Cartoon has an overarching story art but is made in such a way that you can jump in at anytime and not be lost.  Each episode is consice and does not necessarily need the others to be understood.  Though it helps.  While on the other hand we have Anime which known for it's strong story arch and made in such a way that if you don't see the other parts you be lost.  American cartoonist have a hard time with Anime style cartoons and Anime cartoonist have a hard time with American style cartoons.  Good example, Invasion America and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

That being said Games are probably the same.  The genre we like are the ones we identify with most and have a talent at doing.

[Hocotate]

It's sad how we're talking about how Nintendo needs more crappy games to win. The industry is so sad right now.... After Rare broke up and died, I gave up hope in almost all American devs. And Nintendo does have Retro, which is located in Texas I believe.

[IceCold]

After Rare broke up and died, I gave up hope in almost all American devs.

Eh? Rare's located in the UK..

[King of Twitch]

America bought out the UK so it's an American dev now.