Author Topic: Nintendo on Life Support? (Read 7821 times)

BlackGriffen · « **on:** July 14, 2003, 07:36:15 PM »

I got to thinking about the way the console wars world looks. This is the picture I came up with, please tell me how true it rings with you.

M$ and $ony are a pair of titans vying an all or nothing battle for the home console market. This is a no holds barred, no quarter asked or given battle, and third parties know it. No matter who wins, a one console world is a crappy one for third parties. So, third parties are keeping a backup plan: Nintendo. 3rd party developers are literally keeping the old warhorse on life support so that, no matter who wins, they'll have a bargaining chip to keep the big guy in line.

How plausible does this sound? It would certainly explain a lot about how 3rd parties behave towards old 3rd place.

BlackGriffen

Ness_the_Mess · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2003, 08:23:22 PM »

Interesting opinions, but if any of you guys get the Space channel (Canada only? I don't know), you will of heard of the conspiracy theory guy. He makes believable consperacies off the top of his head.
While reading your post made me think, it also reminded me that several companies opinions are actually waning towards Nintendo being the second place company. Who do they say is first? Sony. Supposedly the XBOX has a few big-talkers, and big-spenders, which make us believe the world is going down the XBOX toilet.
By they way - XBOX without x's is just BO.

Berto2K · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2003, 08:36:41 PM »

In my recent trip to Canada, I figured that the Space Channel up there is similar to the Sci-Fi channel here in the states. But ya, different shows for the most part.

I could see what you are talking about. Almost like blackmailing Sony and MS. That if they couldn't develop their games for the system, then they only will for Cube. But with so many scalings back, I don't see that happening either. Hopefully though, these scalings will bring us higher quality games.

BigJim · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2003, 12:35:22 AM »

Life support as far as what? As it's been said many times before, Nintendo's more profitable than either other company in the console space. As long as they continue to make money, they're not going anywhere. Even if they ever start to lose money, the 7 billion in the bank will still ensure working operations for a good deal of time following. But no, the idea of a conspiracy in the making doesn't seem likely considering the health of the company.

DRJ · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2003, 04:25:45 AM »

Nintendo is the best game developer their is, and they make all their games exclusively for the Cube (go figure), what games has Sony and M$ made themselves? If all third parties left Nintendo, they would still make money with their own dev. teams. If all third parties left Sony or M$, they are out of the gaming business. On the other hand, Sony and M$ can lose money on the gaming market and make it back with their other business products.

Also M$ and Sony are looking to make their system the all in one home theater hub, whereas Nintendo wants to make a gaming machine.

And also Nintendo makes a lot of money, and they have a lot of money in the bank, and gaming is the only thing they do. With the next generation, all three systems will be able to display basically the same realistic graffics, M$ and Sony can hype all the specs they want, but the bottom line is that the game quality is what will be the main focus of the next consoles, And as I have said, Nintendo makes the best games, and dont need third parties to succeed (third parties will help them, but the lack of them will not break them).

Nintendo is doing just fine, and will continue to do just fine for a long time.

M@ngosim64 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2003, 04:53:01 AM »

Quote
"...what games has Sony and M$ made themselves?"[/Q

Sony and M$ have made commendable efforts to establish their first-parties as respectable (ahem) developers/publishers by buying every single second party they can get their claws on. Bungie and Rareware ring a bell, anyone?

DRJ · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2003, 05:59:11 AM »

Sony and M$ may have bought up other second/third party companies, but what games are there? Has Rareware release a game for XBox? You can say you have 100s of companies making games for you, but if none of those games get published, does it really matter. I know for a fact that Nintendo themselves will continue to deliver quality games year after year. I cant say that for any certainty about Sony or M$.

Artimus · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2003, 07:31:04 AM »

Rare really has been...dead since Perfect Dark/Conker. It will be interesting to see how much collecting the new Conker has. It could end up killing itself. They invented the collection (mostly) and have managed to also successfully kill it.

The Omen · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2003, 12:17:43 PM »

Nintendo is fine, as always. they make the most money off their systems even if it sells less. GBA is a cash cow and Nintendo makes the best games. End of story.

reivned · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2003, 06:08:17 AM »

The GBA is indeed Nintendo's cash cow and the main reason why they are still making a lot of money. If Nintendo fail to succeed against newcomers in the upcoming handheld war (wich is possible ... remember, Sony was a newcomer once ...) and still remain 3rd in the console market, then it might be a problem ...

Joey · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2003, 05:22:23 PM »

I think Nintendo would have to be losing moeny before we consider them on life support.

Michael8983 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2003, 09:44:36 PM »

"M$ and $ony are a pair of titans vying an all or nothing battle for the home console market."

Sony is the only titan. The XBox isn't even close to being a serious threat to Sony at the moment and with zero chance of an MS console ever being successful in Japan where the majority of the most important third-party developers are, it won't ever be. I think most developers get that too. I doubt any of them actually believe MS will ever take Sony's place as the dominant force in the market.
I think a lot of third-party developers including Capcom and Namco understand that Nintendo is the only one that is capable of taking Sony down which is why they're getting behind it.
Nintendo, like MS, has the money to compete with Sony but, unlike MS, it has the potential to be HUGE in Japan in the console market (it already is in the handheld market in Japan) and is respected by Japanese developers. MS's biggest weakness is Nintendo's potential greatest strength. If Sony's reign over gaming ever comes to an end, I guarantee it will be Nintendo's doing.

Chode2234 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2003, 04:50:40 AM »

Your optimisim is appreciated. However I don't get how nintendo is doing so "badly". They make great games have great hardware and I do realize that they are in good financial shape, I just wish everyone knew what I know about them and that they got the appreciation from the industry, more importantly the consumer, that they deserve.

If money is video games is a dependant on quality and fun, Nintendo should be number one. Unfortunately it seems to be about something else and that is very frustrating as a video game enthusiast especially a nintendo fan.

Know what I mean?

Gamefreak · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2003, 05:40:36 AM »

Just so you guys know, I haven't read any of this thread except the topic...
But to the topic creator.....That is a far-fetched and totally wrong idea.

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2003, 07:58:10 AM »

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
What he said. Nintendo's fine, people- could be doing better, but in no danger at all.

Ms.Pikmin · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2003, 12:31:20 PM »

Ian Sane · « **Reply #16 on:** July 17, 2003, 12:52:55 PM »

A lot you guys seem to have complete forgotten the main topic.

I don't really think that third parties are keeping Nintendo alive solely to ensure of the existance of another option from Sony or MS but I do think that with some third parties there may be ulterior motives for their Gamecube support. From a purely business standpoint it doesn't really make sense why Capcom, Namco, and Sega are as interested in the Gamecube as they are. I think perhaps that the reason they're supporting Nintendo is, not specifically to maintain an alternative to the market leader, but to keep the last true game company alive. Sony and MS aren't videogame companies and if they were all that was available I truly think the market would die.

I think that some third parties deep down want Nintendo to succeed because they would rather have a company that encourages the creation of good games as the market leader then some multimedia giant who doesn't know one game from the next and encourages the creation and sales of bad games. The market is really saturated right now and there are a lot of developers out there releasing crap. With Sony in charge being a quality developer doesn't really make a difference in the market. In theory with Nintendo on top the cream will rise and the companies that go broke will be the ones that make crap games. Regardless of Nintendo's poor treatment of third parties in the past, quality developers didn't have to worry about their games not selling when Nintendo was on top.

BlackGriffen · « **Reply #17 on:** July 17, 2003, 02:39:17 PM »

Like I said, just a idea that occurred to me when I was in one of my darker moods.

BG

Gamefreak · « **Reply #18 on:** July 17, 2003, 05:20:57 PM »

Why should any idea occur at all? Third parties are leaving GCN cause they ain't making money, plain and simple.
Oh, and GCN isn't third place...and it never was, not that I ever heard of. I just got Xbox numbers a few minutes ago, and they are less than Nintendo's numbers from May....

thUnd3Rm0nk3y · « **Reply #19 on:** July 17, 2003, 05:32:08 PM »

Actually they are less then Nintendo's numbers from March, and barring any incidents the GCN would have hit well over 10 million units by now.

Gamefreak · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2003, 01:54:10 AM »

Well they are less than Nintendo's numbers from May too

Basically the Xbox has sold 9.4 million worldwide as of now and the GCN has sold 9.55 million worldwide as of May

nolimit19 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 19, 2003, 06:52:41 PM »

i could say the something, but everyone already knows that the xbox is hte one on life support. hahah O WAIT HALO 2 AHOY!!! I SEE IT COMING!!! LETS ALL PURCHASE AN XBOX!!!

Perfect Cell · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2003, 10:43:50 PM »

I wouldnt say the big N is on Life Support, but lets be honest, its not doing well either. Im a huge Ninendo fan, but the console isnt selling as well a it could, it keeps getting bad press and it had a real bad E3 showing. Nintendo know its got some problems, especially with the idea that its "a kiddie company" and Third parties. It needs to change that image problem in my opinion, Iwata has mentioned some of this but they havent actually started changing.

thUnd3Rm0nk3y · « **Reply #23 on:** July 19, 2003, 11:38:56 PM »

The GCN had sold 9.55 million as of March, not May.

So by now the console would have well over 10 million.

Gamefreak · « **Reply #24 on:** July 20, 2003, 01:31:01 AM »

The fiscal year ended in March, but the news was released near the end of May.

News:

Author Topic: Nintendo on Life Support? (Read 7821 times)