(Insert stupid Blog name here)

Wii = Pee.

 

Wii U = Pee on you.

Yep. The last big N system I bought was a Gamecube.. and that was only for the Gameboy Advance player.

Yep, Nintendo is taking a beating (although both the 3DS and WiiU have sold better than the Virtual Boy). Hopefully they have a good-sized war chest from the Wii & DS. But the real question is what do they do now as their current strategy doesn't seem to be working.

 

IMHO the real challenge for Nintendo (and a lot of other traditional video game companies) is what people are willing to pay for games. I'm not sure how much longer traditional $50+ games can continue to survive (much less thrive). But I doubt lower price points (i.e. $10 much less $0.99 or "free-to-play") can support traditional game development either.

 

That being said, Nintendo has characters with huge brand recognition (although the Mario games seem to be a wearing thin). But even making games for other platforms will probably not bring in the revenue.

99-cent or free-to-play can support game development. Just not the mega-multi-million dollar productions - if that's what you call traditional.

 

To me, traditional game development means the style that was in vogue up until the NES came to be. That means a smaller team or single author.

 

These multi-million dollar franchises, to me, are bloated cancers upon the industry. Without even having thought about it over the years - all the games on my current systems are simulations and small productions done by individuals.

 

I don't care how big the production, or how big and famous the name, or how big the publisher's dick is: if the game doesn't have a classic and living feel to it I typically don't bother.

http://gamasutra.com/blogs/ChipSineni/20140120/208948/Nintendos_future_shouldnt_be_focused_on_Smartphones.php points out simply releasing old titles on mobile systems isn't a big revenue stream (based on Sonic) and suggests Nintendo should partner with Valve to provide content for the new Steam OS.

 

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2014/01/nintendo-mobile/ also notes the cost of games are a big issue.

I don't think it should be just mobile. There are a couple of other console manufacturers they could develop for.