Nintendo To Dominate Next Generation?

Via GameSetWatch, an editorial on the site Firing Squad suggesting that Nintendo is poised for a gaming industry coup. Their unique controller and appeal to casual gamers, the author posits, will turn the status quo on its head. From the article: "The cheapness of the console will help it sell and it's unlikely that Nintendo will face production shortages since it won't use exotic and difficult-to-make components. With a large installed owner base, more developers will be inclined to take a shot at it, publishers will feel pressured to release key titles (like Madden) for the Revolution regardless of their past GameCube experience. The controller is standard enough to work for most titles - so Xbox and PlayStation games will most likely work on the Revolution without major trouble, yet that same controller offers unique features that will be difficult to replicate for Microsoft's and Sony's consoles."

Comments

Re:A couple of prerequesites

[MBCook]

I agree with the author that Nintendo is in a good position. You mention the possibility that Ninteno will be seen a cheap, but I don' think that is the case.

This is Nintendo. Nintendo isn't the synonym for video games it used to be (that job is now taken over in popular culture by Playstation or X-Box). But they are still a MAJOR brand. Everyone knows about the GameBoy. They had a very successful system in the GameCube, the N64, the SNES, the NES, and the DS. They weren't always the leaders of the generation (that stopped in home consoles with the SNES), but they have good solid stuff.

Besides, this is Nintendo. That means Mario. Mario Party. Super Smash Brothers. Zelda. Mario Kart. Plus tons of other great little games that will come out like Pikmin. Was there anything even CLOSE to Pikmin on any other system?

Nintendo may not be the post powerful console out there. That's fine with me. As I have said in previous posts, it's not like we are hurting for better graphics with the current generation (and the Rev is supposed to be 4x as powerful as the system that showed us Resident Evil 4). But I know there will be great games. Even if theys system is not the most popular (which could happen this time around, if Nintendo's bets pay off) it will have great games.

Even the Virtual Boy which failed in the market (which I loved) had great games. Mario Crash, Mairo Tennis (about the best tennis game I've played), Wario Land, and more.

The games will keep the afloat if they get stuck as an "also-ran". But I think they will be more successful than there were this generation.

Look at history

[Anonymous Coward]

Just look at history, since Sony has entered the console market every one they have faced has used the exact same strategy (better graphics, conventional controller, more features, etc.) and has lost; in fact if you compare the strategy of the XBox 360 with that of the Dreamcast there is a remarkable similarity (focus on online service, built in network connection, released a year early, etc.). Sony is so effective because they're masters of the super generic console.

The only time Sony has been humbled is with the Nintendo DS which decided to change things up dramatically; whereas all systems Sony faced before used conventional input the DS has a Microphone and Touch Screen; all systems Sony faced before pushed for greater graphics whereas the Nintendo DS focused settled on a much more modest graphical level; and finally where every system that faced Sony before lacked decent Backwards compatibility, the Nintendo DS contained a catelog of games from one of the most popular platforms ever.

Now the Revolution has many similar charateristics to the DS, they both use a more conventional game medium (DVD and SD [like] flash memory), they have a well established back catelog, they have new input possibilities, they're both (expected) to be affordable, neither are focused on being the graphical powerhouse, etc.

I actually see a Nintendo backlash brewing.

[thatguywhoiam]

With all the ridiculous hype around the PS3 and Xbox360, I've seen many comments here and elsewhere about how Nintendo is going to 'clean up' and 'revolutionize the industry' (gag, choke) simply because:

1. We've had a chance to watch the 1st next-gen console launch, with its attendant hardware failure stories, and criticise it (X360)
2. We've seen Sony do ridiculously stupid things with DRM in the music space, and so we hate them, and have possibly boycotted them
3. Nintendo showed us a really wizzy controller... and not much else.

I like Nintendo, they are true innovators, but the way the hype is blowing right now, people are expecting the sun and moon from their next console. If it doesn't deliver, the fan base is going to be incredibly bitter (well, except for the really hardcore fans). Expectations are very high for the Revolution. But its only partially based on that neat demo they did - the rest is bitterness and resentment towards MS and Sony. Nintendo looks good just standing still... but the Revolution had really better be a true revolution, I actually think the hype is higher for that box than any other at the moment.

Re:A couple of prerequesites

[MBCook]

That's true. But it can't get much worse than it is now, and I think the ability to attract all the casual gamers with the unique interface will draw in many game companies. Nintendo has proven with the DS that they can get casual gamers with their unique interfaces (example: Nintendogs). The ability to make a game that will be easy to use and attract gamer who aren't the "gamers" everyone else is targeting would be huge. And having a price point where an adult could buy the system (say $200 or $250, as opposed to $400+ for the others) without having to miss a car payment. I've seen people who bought a DS for Nintendogs.

How many non-"gamers" will plunk down $400 + game + tax if they find something they like on the 360. How many other games do they think they will find on the 360 they like?

This should be interesting to see what happens. I'm hoping the Big-N takes first in the next-gen race (a bit unlikely). But I wouldn't be surprised if they were much more competitive, perhaps taking 2nd place by a small margin.