Nintendo was founded as a playing card making company in 1889, survived the Second World War and reinvented itself as a video game console maker and developer during the digital age. However now in 2014, the Japanese company finds itself at a crossroads, its newest console Wii U has failed to capture the attention of the public and is struggling mightily at retail. There as been pressure from both investors and the gaming media for Nintendo to publish its games on either smartphones or Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's Playstation consoles. Nintendo has money from the 3DS and from last generation's successful Wii and DS systems but expenses from producing the Wii U have caused the company to take on losses.
Right now there's been a significant amount of talk stating that Nintendo should pull a Sega and go third party. However I feel like that would be a bad move. In the last few years, third party video game publishers such as Square, EA, Capcom, and Konami have all had some financial troubles. Midway and THQ are no longer in business while Sega is a shell of its former self. There might be short term profit in putting Mario on the Iphone but you would be devaluing your product and hurt any long term business strategy. Microsoft and Sony poured years and millions of dollars into their video game divisions without showing a cent of profit. Nintendo however doesn't have the same luxury. It isn't 1994 anymore and from a business standpoint a few executives in Nintendo headquarters need to adjust their calendars and look to the competition around them. I feel that the video game console industry itself is changing with the rise of tablets, smartphones, and cloud computing.
Regarding the Wii U I feel that Nintendo needs to go on an all out marketing blitz as in I should have seen a quick commercial to the Super Bowl. People need to see the value in your product. Currently the Wii U has mostly first party support with mostly Mario or similarly inspired games. I say Nintendo should publish a Metroid or a Star Fox even if it is a smaller downloadable affair to increase the depth of their game library. I believe this can build off of releases such as NES Remix. Adding GameBoy Advance Virtual Console support its a good step but I want more. Give me Gamecube VC and Dreamcast VC. Regarding Nintendo's recent merges comment, I think the should go out and buy Sega or Platinum Games or Atlus if need be. I want Nintendo and its consoles to succeed not only because I am a fan but because I want to keep the video game industry vibrant and alive.
Right now there's been a significant amount of talk stating that Nintendo should pull a Sega and go third party. However I feel like that would be a bad move. In the last few years, third party video game publishers such as Square, EA, Capcom, and Konami have all had some financial troubles. Midway and THQ are no longer in business while Sega is a shell of its former self. There might be short term profit in putting Mario on the Iphone but you would be devaluing your product and hurt any long term business strategy. Microsoft and Sony poured years and millions of dollars into their video game divisions without showing a cent of profit. Nintendo however doesn't have the same luxury. It isn't 1994 anymore and from a business standpoint a few executives in Nintendo headquarters need to adjust their calendars and look to the competition around them. I feel that the video game console industry itself is changing with the rise of tablets, smartphones, and cloud computing.
Regarding the Wii U I feel that Nintendo needs to go on an all out marketing blitz as in I should have seen a quick commercial to the Super Bowl. People need to see the value in your product. Currently the Wii U has mostly first party support with mostly Mario or similarly inspired games. I say Nintendo should publish a Metroid or a Star Fox even if it is a smaller downloadable affair to increase the depth of their game library. I believe this can build off of releases such as NES Remix. Adding GameBoy Advance Virtual Console support its a good step but I want more. Give me Gamecube VC and Dreamcast VC. Regarding Nintendo's recent merges comment, I think the should go out and buy Sega or Platinum Games or Atlus if need be. I want Nintendo and its consoles to succeed not only because I am a fan but because I want to keep the video game industry vibrant and alive.
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