Topic: Here's a great way to make a Sega/Nintendo merger work.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I think the old excuse was that 3rd parties didn't want to compete with Nintendo on their own platform, so if Nintendo bought Sega, and started releasing quality products in all the genres that that the 2 frequent, then that would leave no room for the decent to mediocre efforts of the majority of 3rd parties, therefore they will just go elsewhere.

Then I believe the excuse was that Yamauchi soured relations with most 3rd parties decades ago and they still, to this day hold a grudge against Nintendo, even after leadership has changed (numerous times) on either side. They don't know what they want, but if Nintendo is offering it, then it must be wrong.

Now it's Nintendo doesn't communicate. And maybe that was the real issue the entire time.
But I personally believe that if they started releasing games in all those genres (which an acquisition of Sega could help with - IP and man power) then you start to build familiarity with those types of games among the Nintendo loyalist, which in turn would lead to them branching out to explore more options in those genres provided by 3rd parties. and on the flip side, all those other gamers that don't buy into Nintendo because it doesn't provide them something they can't get elsewhere, will now have a reason to buy Nintendo, as Nintendo will have exclusives in those genres too.

I think Nintendo needs to lay a solid foundation if they are expecting 3rd parties to come build a home.

This is why platform games usually sell best on Nintendo systems.
and puzzlers, kart style racers, 4 player fighting and quirky niche style games too.

[Adrock]

Is there a reason Nintendo can't improve their third party relations AND increase their first party output with a major acquisition like Sega?

Well, no, but that's not what I'm saying. Please re-read the part I quoted. I said, "Not that it would be ideal..." If Nintendo increases their first party output either internally or by acquisition, they're even less likely to engage third parties. There's a marked difference between what I think Nintendo would do and what I think they should do. Of course, I'd want them to engage third parties and continue improving their first party stable. Who wouldn't want that?

Though I can't help but think of what a Nintendo/Sega merger would be like with the OLD Sega.  Current Sega sucks.

Current Sega lacks direction, but they still have all of those old IPs. That's the real value of picking up Sega.

[Ian Sane]

Is there a reason Nintendo can't improve their third party relations AND increase their first party output with a major acquisition like Sega?

Well, no, but that's not what I'm saying. Please re-read the part I quoted. I said, "Not that it would be ideal..." If Nintendo increases their first party output either internally or by acquisition, they're even less likely to engage third parties. There's a marked difference between what I think Nintendo would do and what I think they should do. Of course, I'd want them to engage third parties and continue improving their first party stable. Who wouldn't want that?

I think I was writing my post more in a frustrated "why does it have to be this way?" frame of mind.  The two concepts are not mutually exclusive and it's so damn annoying that, yes, in Nintendo's mind one would be good enough to cancel the other.

In the end it's a big reason I have been very reluctant to buy a Wii U.  Nintendo doesn't want to improve if they can get away without doing so.  The Wii's success drove me nuts because it seemed like Nintendo was putting in a shitty effort and being effectively rewarded for doing so and that would just encourage them.  Buying a Wii U is me saying to Nintendo "all this bullshit is okay" and it isn't okay.  I could see Nintendo making an effort to improve and then falling back into old habits after the initial positive feedback from consumers.  We need a change in their attitude where their reaction to positive feedback would be "Alright our hard work and self-improvement is getting people back.  Let's keep at it."

[ThePerm]

Actually, if Nintendo improved their first party support, they would really just be on even footing compared to xbox and sony. They had no games 2 generations ago. Now they are probably in a better position.

If Nintendo had Ubisoft, Namco, Tecmo, Konami, etc working on some games then we would have a really full portfolio.

[MagicCow64]

I feel like everyone here is ignoring the fact that Sega can't tie its own shoelaces anymore. Nintendo could acquire the company, but then it would be their problem to get competent development teams together to make Nintendo-quality product out of Sega's IPs. Even conservatively that would require a pretty huge expansion of development management, and most of the actual production would have to be done by outside teams (I'm assuming they'd want to rip up a lot of Sega's legacy personnel).

Personally, I never clicked with Sega's salad days stuff on the Genesis, but even if you hold those games in high regard, what have they produced post third-party that can withstand a lot of scrutiny? I contend that all 3D Sonic games are terrible, but even if you have a soft spot for those, what else have they pulled off? All Stars Racing Transformed seems to be the best received game they put out in a long time, but from what I understand that was farmed out.

[BlackNMild2k1]

The first thing New Nintendo should do with a newly (and secretly) purchased Sega, is maybe not kill the 3D sonics, but instead make New Super Sonic - a 2D speedy side scroller, and once they got the basics down on that, release a 3DS version, and if that does well, release Super Sonic Unleashed - a 3D explorative game in the stylings of Super Mario Galaxies.

Now that we've taken care of the sonic platformers, they should make Super Sonic Speedway - a Sega themed kart racer

Then they create a puzzler called - Sonic D.D.S. - It's like Super Breakout where Sonic wears a white Dentist coat, and his goal is to bounce around inside the mouth and break up plaque before they form on the teeth.

Then we are gonna start a Sonic Sports line: Super Sonic Soccer Smash, Sonic Sliders (baseball), Super Sonic Slap Shot, Super Sonic Hoopz, etc etc.

and once those and all the supporting characters become familiar, they will introduce Super All-Star Sideshow Brawl

These releases are to be offset with the Nintendo equivalents, as Nintendo playing the role of Coke, would create their own Pepsi to compete with.

Once they've got all that down, then they can start working on Phase 2:
NiGHTS, Jet Set Radio, Skies of Arcadia, Space Channel 5, Super Monkey Ball, Samba De Amigo, Ecco the Dolphin, Crazy Taxi & Toe Jam & Earl.

and Phase 2.5:
House of the Dead, Shenmue, Phantasy Star, After Burner, Panzer Dragoon, Shinobi, Space Harrier, Virtua Cop, Virtua Fighter, Yakuza & Vectorman.

After that, sequel the successful series, and add a few more revivals to the mix.
Oh and dump all of the old SEGA roms onto the VC immediately.

(this post was motivated purely out of boredom - not a direct response to anyone in particular)

[Kytim89]

A Sonic game developed by EAD Tokyo with the quality of Super Mario 3D world and Land.

[Oblivion]

no

[UncleBob]

Then they create a puzzler called - Sonic D.D.S. - It's like Super Breakout where Sonic wears a white Dentist coat, and his goal is to bounce around inside the mouth and break up cavities before they form on the teeth.

I know that Dr. Mario isn't the most medically accurate game, but this...  Do you know how cavities work?  This sounds like you're making the cavities bigger...

Oh and dump all of the old SEGA roms onto the VC immediately.

HAHAHAHA.  This is joke, right?

[BlackNMild2k1]

I meant plaque, not cavities (going to edit).






the rest of this post is hidden

[nickmitch]

Why does every proper noun have to be a verb?  Whatever happened to the phrase "pulling a ____"?  Can't you just be "pulling a Kytim"?

[BlackNMild2k1]

It was part of someones tag, but I can't remember who.
It might have been changed now, but it was there. I didn't make it up.

[UncleBob]

That makes much more sense.  The correction - not the part about not being serious.  I'm going to take that post at face value and fax it to Reggie as my business plan.