Do you think Nintendo NX will be successful?

[Polygon]

It will not be Nintendo's last console.  Stop perpetuating this ridiculous rumor.

Nintendo is FLUSH with liquid assets.  Last year they had $10.5 billion banked up.  The original Wii was one of the only consoles to actually make money on hardware at launch, the DS line is still extremely popular, and things like Amiibos have actually returned them to profitability.  Sony has sold lots of PS4s, and made nothing on those hardware sales.  Like Microsoft, their money comes mainly from software sales.

Nintendo is not going anywhere. 

^^^ This.

Anyone who makes claim that Nintendo is somehow struggling is not paying much attention to the numbers.  They're FAR more profitable than either Sony or Microsoft's game divisions. Those two are only able to carry on with console gaming because they have other, profitable products/services. If they were games only, such as Nintendo is, then they would be long-since bankrupt.

Just because you don't particularly like what Nintendo is doing, doesn't mean that they've fallen off the wagon, but rather adjusting to the market AND tapping into markets that they hadn't invested in before (I.e. Amiibos)


Also, it's really rare that a console launches with more than a couple of worthwhile titles. The SNES launched with about 5 games, and while they were almost all worth owning (minus Bill Lambeer), it didn't have the sort of launch that the DC did, and look how well that went. Point is, launch titles don't matter whatsoever. You need just one decent game that appeals to as broad an audience as possible in order to move that first wave of consoles. Nintendo gamers know that they'll eventually get Zelda, Mario, DK, Mario Kart, etc. down the line. That's why people buy Nintendo consoles anyway, not for third party support. If I want to play Call of Dookie, then I'll buy and X-Station or whatever other me-too machine is popular at the moment.

There's not a whole lot I can add to this except that as long as they learned from the mistakes they made from the Wii U they will get a return on hardware much quicker. Oh, and make a new damn F-Zero game for crying out loud!

[Einhander]

I think a launch of what might be a console/handheld hybrid this year is way too soon.

It's alienating 2 groups of gamers, who only just bought into the last generation. Too many brands to run with, considering ds and wii is still live, along with 3ds and wiiu, nx makes 5.

The wiiu is a great piece of kit, and should be exploited to the fullest before a new system is released.  Of course bearing in mind what scant details we have of the nx, it could just be an add on for the u 0r the pc.

But the problem is that there are still lots of people that don't even know the Wii U exists and still think it's an add on to the Wii. Watch ReviewTechUSA. Nintendo should want nothing more to do with anything with the word Wii in it.

[Einhander]

I'm willing to bet that it isn't at all what anyone thinks it will be.  Most everyone seems to think that it's just the next gen. You guys seriously think Nintendo is as short-sighted as the other guys?


The word "hybrid" seems to be key. My guess?  Hybrid console-iOS/Android device. While Sony and Microsoft sit around with their heads up their asses, concerning themselves with how many useless non-gaming features they can shove into their next giant, oblique-esque box, Nintendo is likely thinking about current and future state of gaming. That most assuredly includes cellphone gaming, and they'd be really smart to capitalize on that by implementing some proprietary hardware, versus simply producing games for iOS/Droid.  Not to mention that this would most certainly NOT replace or interfere with their current hardware lineup, which is something they've been insisting upon.

I supposed that is possible. Could be an IOS/Android device considering they filed a patent for a discless drive. But why would they want to make an IOS/Android device when we already have the smartphone and they can just add games to phones? Anyways, you think it will be a hybrid console? So then it is what we think it is, just that the games are IOS? Please explain.

[KalessinDB]

But the problem is that there are still lots of people that don't even know the Wii U exists and still think it's an add on to the Wii.

Bullshit. That was barely believable (for a non gamer) 3 and a half years ago, before it released. It's complete poppycock now. Anyone who games knows what the WiiU is. Anyone whose loved ones game knows what the WiiU is. Saying people don't know what it is because it's got a similar manner is like saying people think the Playstation 4 is two PS2's glued together because they're both black.

[sheep2001]

I don't often (ever) agree with einhander, but he's right.  Lots of people have asked me what it is, and when I tell then it's a wii-u they ask if that's different to a wii.  admittedly not gamers, but lots of them parents with a wii in the house and kids who you would think would have asked for one.

I don't think the wii-u was marketed very well at all.

[Polygon]

Yep, I agree completely. It was one of Nintendo's largest mistakes with the Wii U. My nephews play a lot of games. And none of them knew what they Wii U was. They all thought it was an add on for the Wii. They have one now after I told them it was a new system and let them play mine. A vast majority of people didn't know it was a new console. And dedicated gamers make up a small percentage of the market. The average consumer had no idea. Sure, that may be much less of an issue now but it's a matter of too little to late.

[KalessinDB]

Interesting. I have literally met no one that doesn't know what one is. Coworkers, relatives, friends, no one. Whether they play games or not, whether they had a Wii or not. I've never met one person in real life that thought it was a Wii add on, figured these people were invented by the media like the people who were supposedly offended by red Starbucks cups.

Different experiences from different areas I suppose.

[wiggy]

I'm pretty sure Nintendo was banking on the success of the Wii to carryover when naming the WiiU.

Unfortunately, as a lot of you have already pointed out, it seems to have proved mostly confusing for the casual market.  It does sound entirely like some stupid peripheral like the balance board or any of the other excercise-related items.  It's just about as dumb a name as "new" 3DS. I can't even imagine the confusion that caused at every Best Buy, GameStop, etc. last Xmas. I think it would be wise to just drop the whole "DS" thing for the next gen (if there is one).  We get it. There are two screens.

[Einhander]

Wiggy, about that possible Android/IOS device, how would it be different than just making games for the phone? Would it be like a phone or maybe even be a new phone?

[wiggy]

I'd wager either a device which is essentially an add-on for iOS and Droid devices (not likely), or an iOS/Droid-compatible portable with some sort of dock in order to play at home, or possibly communicate with the WiiU in order to help boost interest in the console. Either way, the idea of bringing iOS/Droid games home, which isn't really a thing right now.

It seems almost a no-brained for Nintendo. This will allow them to test a physical media-less console with virtually no risk of damaging their 3DS brand, it gives them access to a whole slew of developers which the home console game companies have never tapped into before, and potentially access to marketplaces which are already VERY well established and reach the vast casual gamer market with virtually zero new infrastructure and/or marketing needed.  While I don't think it's likely, an alliance with Apple seems like a win-win relationship. One which would help Apple get into the gaming market as a "serious" player, while letting Nintendo continue its quest to convince everyone on Earth that they're a gamer.

I see really little kids running around with $600 iPads all the time. I'm sure parents would jump at the chance to give them essentially the same thing in a more affordable, and likely far more durable package (I imagine it would be wifi only, no 3G/LTE support).  

Nintendo doesn't do what everyone else does. If anyone seriously thinks that they're just gonna roll out some sort of PS4/XBO killer, then you've got another think coming. They no good and well that just another "me too" console won't matter in the least.

[amiga1200]

*snip*
Saying people don't know what it is because it's got a similar manner is like saying people think the Playstation 4 is two PS2's glued together because they're both black.

sublime! 
wish i saw that earlier, needed a rofl! 
as you were ladies.

[Dr.Agon]

While I don't think it's likely, an alliance with Apple seems like a win-win relationship. One which would help Apple get into the gaming market as a "serious" player, while letting Nintendo continue its quest to convince everyone on Earth that they're a gamer.

both apple and android have "micro consoles", the only advantage of ninty teaming up with either would be a mutual exchange of games...

[Einhander]

After all things considered, I wager that Wiggy is right. And this may be good for Nintendo. Why would we need another Playstation and Xbox console? It doesn't help anything.

I think that Wiggy is right though. Nintendo did file a patent for a disc-less optical drive. We also know they filed a patent for a touch screen. And there are other clues like the fact that Nintendo never said it's going to be a console. So this does lead me to believe that it will in fact be an IOS and Android device. But the question is, will you be able to play these games with just a smartphone?

And what about Starfox and Zelda? Do you think those games will be on the NX instead of the Wii U?

[Arseen]

Starfox on WiiU but Zelda might move to NX.

[amiga1200]

 
a diskless optical drive?
look up storage mediums.
it's likely to be a solid state area (or high capacity cartridge/sm) the wii has 256m, wiiu 32g flash nand.
probably use hardisks too, maybe an existing bus like sata or usb?!