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Nintendo Comment On Alleged Problems
Thanks to GMR Magazine for their feature interviewing Nintendo executives about alleged issues with their console strategy, as "a sentiment spreading throughout the industry holds that Nintendo is marching its own way right out of the home-console business." Perrin Kaplan of Nintendo suggests there are three ways to look at her company's position: "One would be how we are doing financially, and we're clearly No. 1. Second, where are we perceptionwise, and we suffer being third there. And then the third is the actual reality of the market share, and I'd say that we're No. 2 worldwide." She also takes Xbox to task, suggesting Microsoft's console may be too adult-oriented: "They chose to pick a certain segment of the demographic, and Microsoft is having a heck of a time expanding out of that. That's their niche, the older guy."
Well duh, everyone knows the XBOX is not japan oriented. (this is a bad thing)
When we got a console for our kids, we picked GameCube over XBox for because GameCube seemed to have more kid-friendly games, so there is some truth in what he says.
On the other hand, being percived as more mature can't hurt XBox sales in the long run as those kids get older.
Andrew Semprebon EQ Systems Inc.
I'm with them 99%.
One thing that I think hurts Nintendo tremendously is their lack of creativity lately. How many original characters have come out of them recently, ignoring throwaway Mario Party/Kart/Golf/Tennis characters like Waluigi?
I think they need to create some sort of "adult" character. The game doesn't have to have tons of blood and carjackings and other GTA stuff, just a character that doesn't look like a cartoon. There is Samus, but yet again that character is about 15 years old at this point.
You would think Nintendo could create another awesome franchise, especially after all this time. Pikmin doesn't cut it.
I'm on top of my game like I'm standin' on Xbox.
Perrin's pretty much hit the nail on the head on Nintendo's position in the console wars. It would seem that Nintendo's future looks much brighter for the holiday season... Let's see... #1 selling console in the United States right now, at $99. They probably have the largest number of anticipated games coming out for Xmas.... They're probably the "second" console of choice for gamers who want more then one console... plus they've got a stranglehold as being the "family" friendly game console.
Microsoft has been and will always be losing money on Xbox. Sony is losing profit in hardware sales because their console sales have eroded. Nintendo's has increased.
MSFT's marketing machine in North America is much more refined then even Sony's is. However, they also spent millions more then anyone else has in marketing (just because Bill can). Considering that Nintendo spends a fraction of MSFT's marketing cost promoting the Xbox, Nintendo's market cost per console sales makes it easier to sell the Cube at $99.
Also, Nintendo is in a nice niche right now. It doesn't need to compete for the "older" gamers. Why spend the marketing money? Let MSFT and Sony spend millions in marketing to slug it out for what's left of a saturated "older" gamer market.
uhm, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't "older" guys (and when I say older I'm talking twenties and thirties) the ones with the most disposable income and the time to actually play games? It seems to me that Microsoft is, or is trying to at least, steal away the "Nintendo" generation. The kids who grew up playing NES and SNES. Worked with me at least. It might be a niche, but it's a hell of a niche to have cornered.
-sam
I was just here, where did I go?
What a slanted article. At every point in the article that was NOT part of the interview with Kaplan, the author writes as if it is a foregone conclusion that the most profitable games company, with the only increasing user base, is doomed.
In reality, compared to Microsoft's perpetual financial hemorrhages in this market and lack of ability to turn their single major innovation (online gaming) into a PS2-beating advantage, and compared to Sony's stagnant sales, Nintendo is smelling like roses right now. Somehow, even though Kaplan mentions the discrepancy between Nintendo's market-leading performance and their perception problem among the know-nothings, the author goes right ahead and spews the same shit. "PSP is going to be freaking awesome I tell you, Nintendo should be crapping their pants LOLOLMAORTFFOLTAMO!!l!1one!I! Purple is ghey....yeah no kidding d00d!"
I don't think we could have seen worse if Paul Thurrott were to interview Steve Jobs.
Your first question: "Why so kiddy?"
Your last question: "Where is the company that I used to love?"
Think about it, genius.
[quote]aren't "older" guys (and when I say older I'm talking twenties and thirties) the ones with the most disposable income and the time to actually play games?[/quote]
You're right on the first, and totally wrong on the last. Yes they tend to have more disposable income (in their 20's) but time? Seems to me the most time I had to play games was in my college years, when homework wasn't the priority. Had very little disposable income then. Hit your 30's and you find that time is scarce. You work, you do your chores, you take care of family, you spend time with significant other. There's next to no time for gaming. So I disagree with this.
Game Cube is having serious issues with their appeal to the older, say teenage to adult, crowd. Many of my gaming comrades believe that the game cube controller is shaped in a perculiar way for a reason ; to be shoved up the mother's cervix in order to reach it's intended audience.
Oh, puu-leeze. The only people concerned with "looking adult" are teens who are so worried about looking like a kid that they deny themselves fun things because a kid might enjoy them too. Real adults have stopped caring about whether or not we look like kids and will do fun things because they are fun. Nintendo's games are fun. And cheap!
I have a lot of opinions about Cyborgs and Architects
When Nintendo uses the phrase "family friendly", why does it seem to mean uber cute (pikmin, animal crossing, any mario game, pokemon, etc)?
A game like Mario Golf was a decent game, but I developed cavities from all the bouncy/cute/happy characters.
I don't think Nintendo has to start making "adult" games, but there has to be a middle ground between "It'sa me!" and "Die you bitch!" I think Viewtiful Joe is a good example of a game that looks good, is pretty cool, is fun to play, and doesn't have anything particularly offensive in it.
Correct-a-mundo-
I've got a fairly large collection of Xbox games. They love me at EB Games, but they don't like my tastes. (Of course, I think they are all like the 'Comic Book Guy' from the Simpsons, talking about which RPG is the most realistic)
I buy a lot of games, but I never FINISH any of them. Simpsons Hit and Run is my latest. I bought it, I played it, I had fun, and now it is time to move on. I think that I actually completed something like 18% of the game. No, I am not going to 'explore' the entire town to find every single little (bee camera, card, gag) but the ones I do find are pretty fun.
I've got 4 other people in the house all needing something- so my video game time is very short. I try to make it as exciting as possible, and usually that means some new game that just came out.
Too bad nobody else at home is interested in games- I could just imagine how I would have been thrilled if my dad was into video games, and had a huge collection. Instead they all just think I'm a dork. Well, at least my 13 year old daughter gives me SOME respect, because I do know what all of her friends (who are boys- as opposed to boyfriends) are talking about...and I can at least hold my own on NBA Street when they come over.
Oh...I did finish Halo...I think that is the only one.
No reason to lie.
If they are doing so well, why do they keep explaining themselves?
Apple hasn't had to give a bunch of interviews about why iTunes and iTMS is being perceived as unsuccessful.
Sony doesn't have to give a bunch of interviews about the PS2's perceived failure.
EA isn't out talking to everyone about the perceived poor reception of Madden '04.
Of course they have had to explain themselves for EA.com plenty of times. Quite the parallel I'd say.
People and companies don't explain themselves unless they have explaining to do. I love how they always talk about worldwide terms on the Nintendo side. I don't live worldwide, I live in the US. EA, Activision, THQ, Take-Two, these are not worldwide companies and don't care about the Gamecube's success or failure in Japan. They want consoles in the houses in the US and Europe and Nintendo just isn't delivering.
If they didn't have explaining to do, they wouldn't be doing these interviews. Period.
maybe the old purple ones, but I've got a black Cube. It sits on top of one of my JBLs, next to the big Mitsubishi HDTV which has all the stereo components on it. The only thing that looks out of place is the grey on the front of the console and on the Wavebird reciever in one of the game ports, and that mostly blends in anyways. I would say my cube looks just as at home in my living room as the DVD player.
The preceding post was not a Slashvertisement.
Why does the media invent stories when there aren't any? I guess after Sega shifted out of the scene they needed a new target.
Don't get me wrong. The only current-generation system I own is a GC. I think their commitment to quality releases makes their games worth the money. But I would say their games are in general more expensive.
The competition has done wonders. Microsoft has really pushed Sony. The system price wars have been great. The Xbox brought the hard drive and realized the kind of online gaming that the Dreamcast dreamed of. Sony's kind of scrambled to keep up on both fronts, but you can be damn sure the PS3 (as will every console from now on) will both have a nice hard drive and a cohesive online gaming plan - no more "here's a network adapter, do something with it" stuff.
Nintendo has found a home in the low price range and the young audience, and I hope they stay there. Consoles that serve niches are a desirable thing. Nintendo's got a good deal going, and still have plenty to offer a post-teen gamer like myself (Metroid Prime, Eternal Darkness, Super Smash Bros, even the kiddie-looking-but-fun Zelda, as well as Mario Kart soon).
I own all three consoles - the only "generation" of consoles in which I've owned all the major ones. They all have provided plenty of entertainment for their cost. Thanks to all three manufacturers, this is one of the best periods of home video gaming the industry has ever seen. We should hope for continued success for Sony, Nintendo, and yes, even Microsoft (frankly, if they ran all of their business the way they run the Xbox, maybe their software wouldn't suck).
if the ninty situation is so rosy, why dont they make the gamecube anymore?
Nintendo's blunder with the Gamecube can be pretty much summed up by the lack of any of it's flagship titles at launch.
Mario Sunshine and Zelda were just too little, to late. The PS2 may have been in the same boat, but they had the advantage of backwards-compatibility, so it wasn't crucial that a FF or Gran Turismo (I can't remember if that was launch or not) weren't available at launch. But what really gave them the edge was the success of GTA. Xbox did well with Halo, but it's been slow to build. But Xbox Live certainly has the edge for online gaming and will help push it in the future.
Which leaves Nintendo's GC out in the cold, even the GBA adapter came out too late.
Of course, it's not that it's a bad system. Maybe Nintendo just needs to rework their slogan..
The Nintendo GameCube: More Popular Than The N*Gage
Dr. Wu
"Yes, There's Gas In The Car"
You don't work much in public entertainment, do you?
Apple hasn't had to give a bunch of interviews about why iTunes and iTMS is being perceived as unsuccessful.
No, but Apple has had to give interviews constantly since 1995 to explain that they are doing fine financially and any system you purchase from them will be supported for years to come.
It's a matter of public perception. Why spend X many dollars on a system if it is going under? That makes it useless. But if Billy says that Nintendo is going under because they don't have GTA and Microsoft does, and Nintendo says nothing, it must be true. Of course, by your logic if Nintendo starts bringing out pieces of paper with lots of impressive numbers on it, they must be lying.
People and companies don't explain themselves unless they have explaining to do. I love how they always talk about worldwide terms on the Nintendo side. I don't live worldwide, I live in the US. EA, Activision, THQ, Take-Two, these are not worldwide companies and don't care about the Gamecube's success or failure in Japan. They want consoles in the houses in the US and Europe and Nintendo just isn't delivering.
I'd like to mention here that Activision was extatic about the sales reception our game recieved in Korea, and were looking to release in more territories there. Publishers care about selling games, not about whom they sell them to. Of course, publishers tend to specialize in their own region because that's where they're drawing their talent pool from. If what you want are FPS Computer Games, then westernized companies are the way to go. However, you're ignoring the more console-centric Japanese developers such as Konami, Treasure, Sega, Namco, Capcom, etc, whom any console company also needs to placate.
While you may not live worldwide, they do sell worldwide. And worldwide numbers should matter to gamers buying a system: Sega's systems have routinely tanked in the US, but thanks to sales in Japan US gamers were still treated to Shenmue, several legendary Treasure shooters, great incarnations of Street Fighter, and many others. Even the Sega CD got Lunar 1 and 2 as well as some of Core's finest work. The Jaguar tanked everywhere: and games were completely nonexistent.
If you want to be a small-town gamer and bury your head in the American Sand, that's fine. Eidos et. al has some Legacy of Kain love stored up for you. But you will be missing out on the industry's best fighters, RPG's, twitch arcade games, racers, and many other underrepresented genres.
Nintendo does these interviews to change public perception. Saying that attempting to change public perception automatically validates that perception is as convienient an oversimplification as saying that because you live in America you automatically don't have to care about what happens abroad. If you don't want to have to think about the world around you, that's your prerogative. But don't expect your perceptions to translate to that of EA, Activision, and the rest of the western producers.
The ______ Agenda
Game consoles are simply entertainment. Entertainment needs to be marketed. When the louder party shouts, everyone listens. Hence Playstation 2's wild success--it doesn't have the best graphics or gameplay, but it is far, far overhyped.
Sooner or later the most-hyped non-specifically-kiddie console is going to win. This is very bad for Nintendo.
I am a Nintendo fanboy, and I am extremely ashamed to write this post.
Ironically, the problem you note in the second half of your point stems from the high quality of the games themselves. To anyone who has ever played Metroid Prime, Super Smash Bros. Melee, or The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker (okay, fine, it wasn't the best of the series), you'll understand why it's so hard to give a GCN game up. FFX is fun, but you pick it up and place it down when you're done, and so it is with most PS2 and X-Box games.
The used games market for the Gamecube is horribly shallow to the point of irrelevance or even non-existance. Nobody wants to give up a game that is fun. This cycle continues, however, when Nintendo continues to make fun, entertaining games: a good game costs money to make.
Nintendo's (almost) inadequate answer: Player's Choice. But unfortunately, the price of games on a modded PS2 can't be beat.
There is no Playstation or Xbox game which made me feel the way I did when playing Zelda: WW or Ocarina of Time, Super Mario Sunshine, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, and Star Fox....the point is that nintendo focuses on quality rather than quantity, "fun-factor" rather than graphics....somthing that Sony and Microsoft games sorely lack...when is the last time you felt as satisfied as satisfied with a game as you did with Zelda: Ocarina of Time?
http://chrono.posterous.com/
You may as well try and argue that most adults sit down and watch cartoons all the time.
Not all cartoons are for kids. There exist Japanese animated films and series that if dubbed and released stateside would be related PG-13/TV-14 or R/TV-MA.
Will I retire or break 10K?
Nintendo licensed a video game invented by a Soviet Russian as the pack-in for its Game Boy handheld system. The simplicity of Tetris possibly accounted for much of the popularity of Game Boy (that, and the competitors ate batteries like Pac-Man).
Will I retire or break 10K?
Maybe Sony might have something to say about that? Also, Nintendo is being very "sour grape"-ish about online because they were late to the party.
METROID PRIME
Deal with it!