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Working in the japanese game industry it feels like Nintendo is ramping up in a big way for the NX.So I assume this revamp is more in prep for the NX than it is

by Danieru 10y ago

Working in the japanese game industry it feels like Nintendo is ramping up in a big way for the NX.So I assume this revamp is more in prep for the NX than it is for the WiiU.

hoodoof 10y ago
The PoGo game must be giving Nintendo believers a big morale boost.
- snaky 10y ago
  Yes and no. Moving games to mobile platforms is a downward spiral, eating the future of Nintendo consoles.
  - joshschreuder 10y ago
    I disagree, as long as the experience is right. Nintendo have been hesitant because they don't want to dilute and diminish their IP, but if the experience is nailed (PoGo is close enough to nailing it, and should only get better) then the IP should only be bolstered by the mobile version. On the flipside, a traditional Mario / DK / whatever title on mobile for example would eat away at their console market, which is what they're aiming to avoid.
    - snaky 10y ago
      If you can play Pokemon on mobile, you won't buy next 3DS, plain and simple.
      - dtech 10y ago
        I think that is why they made the experiences so vastly different.
        snaky 10y ago
        Of course they was trying to made is different, but it's just trying to minimize the damage.
      - joshschreuder 10y ago
        That was my point - PoGo is not really like main series Pokemon games. They share some similarities in terms of game mechanics, but overall they are quite different.
        cm2187 10y ago
        But aren't margins higher on games than hardware?
        snaky 10y ago
        > Nintendo generates more revenue with their hardware (consoles + handhelds + accessories + other) than with their software (retail + digital + royalties). > Furthermore, their hardware gives them a base for their own software sales, for accessory-sales, royalties and the possibility for their own online infrastructure http://www.zeldainformer.com/articles/a-deeper-analysis-of-nintendos-financials-why-they-cant-drop-hardware http://www.zeldainformer.com/articles/a-deeper-analysis-of-n...
        snaky 10y ago
        Pokemon Go is enough for the vast majority of users, who are potential mobile Nintendo console buyers. Margin is crucial between "I've got Pokemon game" and "I have no Pokemon game". "You've got Pokemon game on your phone, but they say there's a some other Pokemon game which maybe have some others features, but that would cost you $300" is not an unique selling proposition.
        qu4z-2 10y ago
        I'm really not sure that's true. Most Pokemon fans I know do care about features like ... training, and battle, and story.
      - ben_jones 10y ago
        Emulators on mobile devices that can play pokemon have been around for a long time, but they yield a much worse experience (IMO) then portable consoles. If I had to guess this is both tactile and graphical, as touchscreens and mobile graphics libs were not designed especially for them. I still think they have a broad appeal for Nintendo fans.
      - morgante 10y ago
        I don't think that's true, at least when it comes to Pokemon Go. Playing Pokemon Go has inspired me to dig out my ancient gameboy and to start playing Pokemon again. I'm strongly considering buying a new Nintendo device—I'd forgotten how fun Pokemon is.
        Slump 10y ago
        Totally anecdotal but I had the same experience. Playing Pokemon Go prompted me to go on a nostalgia-fest and purchase red and green on VC for my 3DS. I wouldn't be surprised if the core game sales are seeing an uptick from the interest around Pokemon Go if for no reason other than it reminds those of us that were around for the original Pokemon surge.
        snuxoll 10y ago
        Pokemon Go got me hyped up for Sun & Moon and the drive to finally go through Omega Ruby which I had sitting installed on my SD card forever but never bothered to beat the first gym.
      - douche 10y ago
        Playing games on a touch-screen is really not fun, for me at least. I like actual tactile buttons and sticks.
        pjmlp 10y ago
        I think it is only good for RTS, but sadly there aren't many interesting ones.
        criddell 10y ago
        It depends a lot on the game. My kids love those musical games where the screen scrolls and you have to tap on the notes.
      - surge 10y ago
        I wouldn't buy it anyway. I already have a gaming device in my pocket, with a plethora of other options, the only person missing out is Nintendo for not putting their IP on it.
    - imtringued 10y ago
      The problem is nobody is willing to pay $30 - $40 for a mobile game. Even in the top 100 paid apps the most expensive game is minecraft which is priced at 6.99€. The only way a true pokemon mobile game can happen is with in-app purchases which results in bad incentives for the developers.
      - Zelmor 10y ago
        >The problem is nobody is willing to pay $30 - $40 for a mobile game People spend way more than that on subscription models and micro-transactions. Look at Fallout Shelter, Crossy Road, Fallen London (really niche, but still has a strong active base of around 30k MAU).
        noxToken 10y ago
        But that's not a bulk $30-$40 up front. If I buy a game for $30 and play it for 5 hours over 1 month before calling it quits, I'm out $30. No way around that. If I download a free game with a $4.99 subscription model and spend the same amount of time over the course of 1 month, I'm out $4.99. $30 is a hard sell on mobile games, because most people understand that app store is full of incomplete, unpolished, dishonest, over-hyped or some combination thereof apps. There are terrible Pac-Man clones where the AI is too dumb to even touch you [citation needed]. Conversely, there are ported popular franchises where your game play is severely limited by micro-transactions or artificial time limits. Ignoring bad control schemes, mobile is damn near the perfect platform for gaming. Everyone carries a phone or tablet. Even kids carry phones. Too bad it remains somewhat tainted by bad developers and greedy companies alike.
        Fej 10y ago
        > Ignoring bad control schemes That's the whole point. Mobile devices aren't the perfect platforms for gaming. They have the worst control scheme, which makes it all but impossible to pull off great games in "traditional" genres (platformers, shooters; in fact, now that I think about it, anything with a movable camera). So we get new things that don't require a decent controller, but have the gameplay dumbed down to compensate. This is why the 3DS still sells. It's incredibly difficult to put out a good AAA game on a phone (and forget about selling it for a reasonable price).
  - dtech 10y ago
    Out of the last 4 Nintendo consoles, only the Wii has been doing well compared to the competition at the time (by a small margin), with the others only selling 10-30% as much units. I think they see the writing on the wall and want to diversify.
    - snaky 10y ago
      The risk is huge. You can do crap Mario for mobile, and nobody cares and you got bad PR and sales of consoles go south. You can do great Mario for mobile, and everybody got Mario for free and sales of consoles go south. Running between these scenarios is tough.
      - maruhan2 10y ago
        "everyone got Mario for free" huh?? So you are suggesting that all the mobile games are not earning money
        snaky 10y ago
        Comparing to the price of console games plus price of console it's free.
        jpreiland 10y ago
        It's still important to note that newer gamers are becoming more and more unwelcoming of non-free or at least "high" priced games. I remember loads of people throwing a hissy fit about Overwatch being $40, despite it being a very well polished AAA title. I don't know how much longer the game industry can expect its target audience to spend $60 each on piles of games. Things have been trending towards freemium for long enough that it almost seems weird when the game that everyone's playing is not free(ish). My point being, if enough people aren't buying console+game anymore, would the opportunity cost of doing it on mobile instead be that bad?
      - ekianjo 10y ago
        You can do nothing and have only your eyes to cry down the road.
  - bluedino 10y ago
    On the other hand - a failed console won't result in the company coming to a halt like Sega.
    - surge 10y ago
      Sega has done alright doing what Nintendo delayed to do, which is just becoming a third party developer for other platforms.
      - snaky 10y ago
        > Sega has done alright O_RLY
  - criddell 10y ago
    Just like moving to the PC was a downward spiral for IBM?
- SyneRyder 10y ago
  I think you're right, because of halo effect. I'm really not a gamer, but I've been playing Pokémon Go a lot this week - the news today reminded me about the Nintendo NX, and I'd now consider getting one, where previously I wouldn't even think about it. Pokémon Go might be bringing new customers into the market (Blue Ocean Strategy style), much like the original Wii did.
rosstex 10y ago
Could you say more about this? I'm interested in your perspective.
snaky 10y ago
"We don't care about these platforms anymore, so let's open it for indy crapware"
- Zelmor 10y ago
  More like 'let's bring in some new blood, since nobody gives a fuck about a next gen Mario platform anymore'. Their titles have been skinned so many times, they no longer carry the weight of a platform. I think they are looking to get developers on their platform before pushing new hardware, so that they have a baseline of titles and people working in their ecosystem already. This is a necessity when pushing new hardware these days. Remember the Vita? Neither do I...
  - snaky 10y ago
    More like 'let's bring in some new blood, nevermind it will be indy crapware'. http://www.iplaypsvita.com/upcoming-ps-vita-games-2016/ http://www.iplaypsvita.com/upcoming-ps-vita-games-2016/
  - douche 10y ago
    Seriously, Nintendo needs some new IP, Mario and Zelda are played out. I wonder if anybody under 25 has any idea who half the characters in Super Smash Bros are?
    - gramstrong 10y ago
      >Mario and Zelda are played out. The last 4 Mario games of this generation (New SMB, 3D world, 3D land, Mario Maker) have all been amazing, unique titles. Zelda is a little bit harder, because the IP is a bit more restrictive. I honestly haven't played one since Twilight Princess (which I thought was great). The upcoming Breath of the Wild looks incredible though. I hope they never stop making Mario and Zelda games, as long as they stay consistent with their innovation and creativity. To me, saying that they should stop, is like suggesting that they should stop making Bond movies.
      - 10y ago

by Danieru 10y ago

Working in the japanese game industry it feels like Nintendo is ramping up in a big way for the NX.So I assume this revamp is more in prep for the NX than it is for the WiiU.

hoodoof 10y ago

The PoGo game must be giving Nintendo believers a big morale boost.

snaky 10y ago
Yes and no. Moving games to mobile platforms is a downward spiral, eating the future of Nintendo consoles.
- joshschreuder 10y ago
  I disagree, as long as the experience is right. Nintendo have been hesitant because they don't want to dilute and diminish their IP, but if the experience is nailed (PoGo is close enough to nailing it, and should only get better) then the IP should only be bolstered by the mobile version. On the flipside, a traditional Mario / DK / whatever title on mobile for example would eat away at their console market, which is what they're aiming to avoid.
  - snaky 10y ago
    If you can play Pokemon on mobile, you won't buy next 3DS, plain and simple.
    - dtech 10y ago
      I think that is why they made the experiences so vastly different.
      - snaky 10y ago
        Of course they was trying to made is different, but it's just trying to minimize the damage.
    - joshschreuder 10y ago
      That was my point - PoGo is not really like main series Pokemon games. They share some similarities in terms of game mechanics, but overall they are quite different.
      - cm2187 10y ago
        But aren't margins higher on games than hardware?
        snaky 10y ago
        > Nintendo generates more revenue with their hardware (consoles + handhelds + accessories + other) than with their software (retail + digital + royalties). > Furthermore, their hardware gives them a base for their own software sales, for accessory-sales, royalties and the possibility for their own online infrastructure http://www.zeldainformer.com/articles/a-deeper-analysis-of-nintendos-financials-why-they-cant-drop-hardware http://www.zeldainformer.com/articles/a-deeper-analysis-of-n...
      - snaky 10y ago
        Pokemon Go is enough for the vast majority of users, who are potential mobile Nintendo console buyers. Margin is crucial between "I've got Pokemon game" and "I have no Pokemon game". "You've got Pokemon game on your phone, but they say there's a some other Pokemon game which maybe have some others features, but that would cost you $300" is not an unique selling proposition.
        qu4z-2 10y ago
        I'm really not sure that's true. Most Pokemon fans I know do care about features like ... training, and battle, and story.
    - ben_jones 10y ago
      Emulators on mobile devices that can play pokemon have been around for a long time, but they yield a much worse experience (IMO) then portable consoles. If I had to guess this is both tactile and graphical, as touchscreens and mobile graphics libs were not designed especially for them. I still think they have a broad appeal for Nintendo fans.
    - morgante 10y ago
      I don't think that's true, at least when it comes to Pokemon Go. Playing Pokemon Go has inspired me to dig out my ancient gameboy and to start playing Pokemon again. I'm strongly considering buying a new Nintendo device—I'd forgotten how fun Pokemon is.
      - Slump 10y ago
        Totally anecdotal but I had the same experience. Playing Pokemon Go prompted me to go on a nostalgia-fest and purchase red and green on VC for my 3DS. I wouldn't be surprised if the core game sales are seeing an uptick from the interest around Pokemon Go if for no reason other than it reminds those of us that were around for the original Pokemon surge.
      - snuxoll 10y ago
        Pokemon Go got me hyped up for Sun & Moon and the drive to finally go through Omega Ruby which I had sitting installed on my SD card forever but never bothered to beat the first gym.
    - douche 10y ago
      Playing games on a touch-screen is really not fun, for me at least. I like actual tactile buttons and sticks.
      - pjmlp 10y ago
        I think it is only good for RTS, but sadly there aren't many interesting ones.
      - criddell 10y ago
        It depends a lot on the game. My kids love those musical games where the screen scrolls and you have to tap on the notes.
    - surge 10y ago
      I wouldn't buy it anyway. I already have a gaming device in my pocket, with a plethora of other options, the only person missing out is Nintendo for not putting their IP on it.
  - imtringued 10y ago
    The problem is nobody is willing to pay $30 - $40 for a mobile game. Even in the top 100 paid apps the most expensive game is minecraft which is priced at 6.99€. The only way a true pokemon mobile game can happen is with in-app purchases which results in bad incentives for the developers.
    - Zelmor 10y ago
      >The problem is nobody is willing to pay $30 - $40 for a mobile game People spend way more than that on subscription models and micro-transactions. Look at Fallout Shelter, Crossy Road, Fallen London (really niche, but still has a strong active base of around 30k MAU).
      - noxToken 10y ago
        But that's not a bulk $30-$40 up front. If I buy a game for $30 and play it for 5 hours over 1 month before calling it quits, I'm out $30. No way around that. If I download a free game with a $4.99 subscription model and spend the same amount of time over the course of 1 month, I'm out $4.99. $30 is a hard sell on mobile games, because most people understand that app store is full of incomplete, unpolished, dishonest, over-hyped or some combination thereof apps. There are terrible Pac-Man clones where the AI is too dumb to even touch you [citation needed]. Conversely, there are ported popular franchises where your game play is severely limited by micro-transactions or artificial time limits. Ignoring bad control schemes, mobile is damn near the perfect platform for gaming. Everyone carries a phone or tablet. Even kids carry phones. Too bad it remains somewhat tainted by bad developers and greedy companies alike.
        Fej 10y ago
        > Ignoring bad control schemes That's the whole point. Mobile devices aren't the perfect platforms for gaming. They have the worst control scheme, which makes it all but impossible to pull off great games in "traditional" genres (platformers, shooters; in fact, now that I think about it, anything with a movable camera). So we get new things that don't require a decent controller, but have the gameplay dumbed down to compensate. This is why the 3DS still sells. It's incredibly difficult to put out a good AAA game on a phone (and forget about selling it for a reasonable price).
- dtech 10y ago
  Out of the last 4 Nintendo consoles, only the Wii has been doing well compared to the competition at the time (by a small margin), with the others only selling 10-30% as much units. I think they see the writing on the wall and want to diversify.
  - snaky 10y ago
    The risk is huge. You can do crap Mario for mobile, and nobody cares and you got bad PR and sales of consoles go south. You can do great Mario for mobile, and everybody got Mario for free and sales of consoles go south. Running between these scenarios is tough.
    - maruhan2 10y ago
      "everyone got Mario for free" huh?? So you are suggesting that all the mobile games are not earning money
      - snaky 10y ago
        Comparing to the price of console games plus price of console it's free.
        jpreiland 10y ago
        It's still important to note that newer gamers are becoming more and more unwelcoming of non-free or at least "high" priced games. I remember loads of people throwing a hissy fit about Overwatch being $40, despite it being a very well polished AAA title. I don't know how much longer the game industry can expect its target audience to spend $60 each on piles of games. Things have been trending towards freemium for long enough that it almost seems weird when the game that everyone's playing is not free(ish). My point being, if enough people aren't buying console+game anymore, would the opportunity cost of doing it on mobile instead be that bad?
    - ekianjo 10y ago
      You can do nothing and have only your eyes to cry down the road.
- bluedino 10y ago
  On the other hand - a failed console won't result in the company coming to a halt like Sega.
  - surge 10y ago
    Sega has done alright doing what Nintendo delayed to do, which is just becoming a third party developer for other platforms.
    - snaky 10y ago
      > Sega has done alright O_RLY
- criddell 10y ago
  Just like moving to the PC was a downward spiral for IBM?
SyneRyder 10y ago
I think you're right, because of halo effect. I'm really not a gamer, but I've been playing Pokémon Go a lot this week - the news today reminded me about the Nintendo NX, and I'd now consider getting one, where previously I wouldn't even think about it. Pokémon Go might be bringing new customers into the market (Blue Ocean Strategy style), much like the original Wii did.

rosstex 10y ago

Could you say more about this? I'm interested in your perspective.

snaky 10y ago

"We don't care about these platforms anymore, so let's open it for indy crapware"

Zelmor 10y ago
More like 'let's bring in some new blood, since nobody gives a fuck about a next gen Mario platform anymore'. Their titles have been skinned so many times, they no longer carry the weight of a platform. I think they are looking to get developers on their platform before pushing new hardware, so that they have a baseline of titles and people working in their ecosystem already. This is a necessity when pushing new hardware these days. Remember the Vita? Neither do I...
- snaky 10y ago
  More like 'let's bring in some new blood, nevermind it will be indy crapware'. http://www.iplaypsvita.com/upcoming-ps-vita-games-2016/ http://www.iplaypsvita.com/upcoming-ps-vita-games-2016/
- douche 10y ago
  Seriously, Nintendo needs some new IP, Mario and Zelda are played out. I wonder if anybody under 25 has any idea who half the characters in Super Smash Bros are?
  - gramstrong 10y ago
    >Mario and Zelda are played out. The last 4 Mario games of this generation (New SMB, 3D world, 3D land, Mario Maker) have all been amazing, unique titles. Zelda is a little bit harder, because the IP is a bit more restrictive. I honestly haven't played one since Twilight Princess (which I thought was great). The upcoming Breath of the Wild looks incredible though. I hope they never stop making Mario and Zelda games, as long as they stay consistent with their innovation and creativity. To me, saying that they should stop, is like suggesting that they should stop making Bond movies.
    - 10y ago