This is a response to something I read online. I’m not going to call it an article
because too many “articles” online are just blogs (like this one). They’re all blogs nowadays, but that’s not the point. The writer, if anything, brought up a
good point about whether or not Nintendo will become like Sega. Meaning, they
will eventually drop out of the console race and just make games.
Recently, the Nintendo 3DS had a massive price drop. I kind of saw this coming because the
launch titles for 3DS weren’t so great.
I still tell people now I am not interested in purchasing a 3DS because
it really doesn’t have must have games.
If anything, I’d just buy it for Ocarina of Time, and that’s just
because I’m a huge Zelda fan, not because I actually want a 3DS.
The fact is that something that was so highly anticipated at
E3 2010 didn’t do as expected. The
writer in the article claims that this will happen with Wii U also, especially
because although Wii U finally makes the jump in HD and graphics, by the time a
new Sony and Microsoft console comes out, it will overshadow the Wii U again,
and Nintendo will be in the same place as they were with the original Wii.
Wii U’s graphics are only slightly better or on the
same par as a PS3 and XBOX 360.
Why wouldn’t Nintendo go the extra mile? Yes, the new controller looks cool and will definitely
attract consumers that like touch screen devices, but is that the only driving
force behind the machine?
Right now, it seems to be. If you take a step back, you will see that since Nintendo 64
that Nintendo always used a gimmick as their driving force to sell a product,
and I know that’s hard to say coming from a huge Nintendo fan as myself, but
it’s true. Nintendo 64 sold most
games with 64 in the title – to emphasize the game has 64 bits compared to
Playstation’s 32. Gamecube connects with Gameboy Advance, the Wii has motion
controls, and now Wii U has a touch screen controller that is also, motion
controlled. If Wii U fails, which
in my opinion based on sales it probably won’t, but if some reason, Nintendo’s
plan to win back the hardcore audience fails, will Nintendo drop out of the
console business?
And what if they did?
They’d become like Sega. Would that be such a bad thing? Would it be bad playing a new Mario
game on an Xbox or Mario Kart on the PSN be such a bad thing? What about PC gamers? Would they also be treated to the likes
of Mario, Link, and Samus? There
is already pressure from investors that Nintendo sell games as downloads on
smart phones, but Nintendo holds back. Is that their problem? Their image isn’t the same as it was
back in the Nintendo/Super Nintendo era.
The people that grew up with them, like myself, have grown up, and a lot
of them jumped ship to XBOX and Playstation because of the kind of games on
those consoles. They appeal to an
older audience.
If Nintendo gives
up on consoles one day, is that so bad?
 |
| My response to the blog. If you have an argument, it's best to stick behind your words. |
0 comments:
Post a Comment