gaming Nintendo software only.

[CastletonSnob 3,081]

The Wii U is flopping. Do you think Nintendo would make more money as a software only company?

[Espurr 449]

Uh no. I really like the 3ds and it's sales seem to be fine. Besides, it's just one bad sale. They'll be fine, I'm sure.

[CastletonSnob 3,081]

Uh no. I really like the 3ds and it's sales seem to be fine. Besides, it's just one bad sale. They'll be fine, I'm sure.

But then there'd be more people who could buy their games.

[Espurr 449]

But then there'd be more people who could buy their games.

I guess, but some things need to be different in a world where things are the same. There are so many PC games and not enough console ones. They're making a stand, making a change. I also just don't think they'd do so well in that business. I mean, they can only go so far with a PC, but every year they make a new kind of console opens a new world of possibility.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

The Wii U is flopping. Do you think Nintendo would make more money as a software only company?

Alright, from the perspective of a Wii U and 3DS owner and a religious follower of the video game industry, I'll throw in my two cents, as I've seen this type of argument time and time again.

The Wii U is not flopping. It's just not selling as good as we want it to. The Wii U has great games right now like Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors, and Super Mario 3D World. The system is also getting some good titles in the future, such as Bayonetta 2, Yoshi's Wolly World, Sonic Boom (Maybe), and Super Smash Brothers.

This would also be costing Nintendo more money to drop the Wii U and become a third party developer rather than rolling with what they've already put out. Nintendo has over 4 billion dollars in the bank and they have zero debt, so they're sitting pretty well right now. It's all a matter of how long that giant bag of cash will keep them afloat. Dropping the Wii U will be deflating a large amount of cash from that bag.

Nintendo is nowhere near the point where they need to drop what they're doing and go third party. If they end up in the position Capcom's in, where they can be bought out, I'll say otherwise. But, for now, they'd be better off sticking with the Wii U rather than dropping it and switching gears.

Edited October 7, 2014 by Geek0zoid

[GenderIsAnIllusion 2,178]

Meh...... I really think they need to go back to basics to be honest.....Maybe remake the N64......the N128?.... and make it back compatible with all its previous systems (save the wii and wii u)..... Yeah i think that might redeem Nintendo at the moment.... that and if they bought Rare back so they could go back to making kick ass games, and not Kinect Sports (or BJK Nuts and boltts *Vomits*"

[CastletonSnob 3,081]

Guys, the question is if Nintendo would make more money as a software only company.

[Celtore 2,770]

No. They own the handheld gaming market (the one that isn't 99% crapware) and the biggest reason their hardware is flopping is entirely repairable. The next console should be designed with users and developers in mind. Something powerful enough to perform at the needs of the user and simple enough so that any third party could develop and port for it. No motion controls or extra screens, a simple WiiU pro controller, a console and a strong lineup of launch titles. Groundbreaking, eh?

 

So yeah... The WiiU is a bit of an immediate flop, but that doesn't necessarily mean they should jump ship in a mad panic and port Super Mario World for the PS4. They still have options to turn things around and make more money than just pumping out software.

[Barbaloot 198]

Guys, the question is if Nintendo would make more money as a software only company.

Considering how well the 3DS is doing, how well the Wii did, how well the DS did, how well the Gameboy  and Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advanced did, how well the NES and SNES did....... not even in the slightest bit.

 

Man it's like one console does bad, and that company is doomed to die. That's not how shit actually works. Sega had 2 or 3 failure consoles before it finally became Software only. Nintendo isn't going anywhere soon.

[deadprofile 1,123]

We are only looking stateside as to how things are progressing....In Japan, the Wii U is more popular both the PS4 and Xbox One....On the flip side, The PSVita is more popular than the 3DS in Japan, whereas stateside, it's king.

 

Remember that other than the Xbox, nearly all game hardware comes from Japan, and that is its main market. Although the west can bring in oodles of $$$$$$$$$ for Nintendo, they have to appeal to their own market before they will go outside it.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

Guys, the question is if Nintendo would make more money as a software only company.

I've already answered you; no, they wouldn't. Dropping the Wii U would be a financial disaster for Nintendo. They'd be better off just sticking with it than dropping out of the console market and going third party.

[CastletonSnob 3,081]

People say going software only "worked" for Sega in the sense that they're still around. The only reason Sega's even still around is because they were bought by Sammy.

[A Black Circle 1,586]

(Dreeeaammmcaaaassstttt)

 

(Buck you Microsofffttt)

[Jeric 46,873]

Guys, the question is if Nintendo would make more money as a software only company.

But by leaving the question that general you opened it up to discussion of other interests. The only correct answer to your question is, 'it depends'.

 

Nintendo has a history of producing less than stellar hardware (sales wise) that are followed up by cash cows. If I were an investor, I would expect the current hardware sales to be an aberration and Nintendo to continue to reap the fiscal benefits that come with being a hardware and 1st party publisher.

 

Switching to 3rd party only closes off potential income streams as well. The only time that this would make a lick of sense is if Nintendo had two more hardware flops, AND lost the handheld market as well.

[A Black Circle 1,586]

the 3ds is my 2nd fav console.

 

 

SECOND

[Megas 27,972]

Nintendo going the Sega route would be terrible, and I highly doubt they'd be any more successful

[Envy 6,299]

Nintendo going software-only would probably be the day I completely abandon gaming.

 

I have my major complaints about them, even the way they handle their consoles, but at the end of the day they are the only company I know I can get my money's worth buying their console day one. They are the only console-making company that focuses on colorful family-friendly games as opposed to zombies, war, guns, aliens, and violence. Of course, these types of titles are not completely absent from other consoles, but Nintendo specializes in them and they excel in them. Even their more darker series like Metroid are nothing like the violent games that everybody talks up on the Sony and Microsoft systems.

 

That isn't even to begin going over what would happen with Nintendo games and franchises. They would become different, and they would be spread out among different platforms, forcing you to buy more than one to be able to enjoy them, like Kingdom Hearts.

 

Nevertheless, I am not worried about this happening. The Wii U may never be considered a 'success' for Nintendo, but it isn't anywhere near enough to send them out of the hardware business. People really need to quit being so melodramatic... Think realistically.