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Cisco Eyeing Tivo/Nintendo for Buyout?
We've already covered Cisco's push into the home electronics market, but CNet is reporting that they may be planning even bigger purchases to come. The article speculates that Cisco may be planning on purchasing Tivo or Nintendo to add to their growing portfolio of companies. From the article: " Another possible acquisition candidate for Cisco is Nintendo, the No. 3 game console maker in the U.S. A stretch? Not really. Microsoft, which is emerging as a key competitor to Cisco in the home entertainment market, is already in this market with the Xbox 360. Gaming has already proved to be a strong application for broadband, so it makes sense that Cisco would want to own a game device to help drive more traffic on its network. With its popular GameBoy product, Nintendo would also provide Cisco an entree into the mobile-handheld market." Some commentary at GameDailyBiz, which finds it unlikely that Nintendo would sell to Cisco.
So if Cisco were to buy TiVo what would be the result? Here are some possibilities:
1. Mandatory Jazz music soundtrack while in Menus and while fast forwarding.
2. Higher cost (everything is worth more with a Cisco label on it).
3. Different TiVo features will now be ala-carte, pay extra for HMF (again), pay extra for IR Blaster funcionality.
4. The only networking configurations that will be supported is if EVERY piece networking & voice component in your house is a Cisco product, your'e on your own if you have a D-Link or SMC broadband router or a Motorla set top box.
Amusing, but the real question is: Who's writing this CRAP?
Many a-company has tried to purchase Nintendo. The answer has always been "No". While Nintendo may be third in the American console market, this soundly ignores the presence of the Nintendo DS as well as Nintendo's strength in Japan. Not to mention that Nintendo is the only company that is profitable as just a game company. The other players are running on ultra-tight margins (Microsoft loses money) while Nintendo sits back and enjoys a stogie.
This has got to be some of the worst rumor-mill crud that Slashdot has ever reported. I'd complain about CNet reporting it, but we lost them a LONG time ago.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
Cisco would want to own a game device to help drive more traffic on its network.
What network is that? I thought they made hardware. Wouldn't the traffic be carried by the DSL or cable providers?
Seriously, I could not imagine a worse scenario. Nintendo is the only game company left who places fun, gameplay, and design over advertising, hype, and corporate greed. The gaming industry is dying slowly and turning into a mini-hollywood and the pervasiveness of ad's in games and lack of innovation in favor of sequels and making the biggest grab for money and power does nothing to further gaming.
Nintendo stays true to its roots, and wavers for no one or no money. They have a quirky business set-up but it works, to turn that into a carbon copy American corporation would ruin everything that makes Nintendo Nintendo. I would be deeply saddened to hear news of Cisco purchasing Nintendo, and I can only hope that the Revolution is a great success and sale of the company would be out of the question. That would be the darkest day in gaming of all time.
http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
If I said I was going to purchase Nintendo, would you write a slashdot story about me? I didn't think so, because I couldn't buy Nintendo. Neither could Cisco.