robio said:

I think the most interesting thing about how Sony has had runaway success with the PS4 is because they acheived it by not doing anything particularly special. It was well priced, but never really "a deal." They haven't really had an exclusive must-play game. Their first-year line up of software was actually below average if you ask me. They forced their audience to pay for PSN when they previously had free online gaming. It wasn't even backwards compatible.So what did they do?

They just didn't fuck up and do something stupid.

They didn't overprice their system and force additional hardware onto it that no one wanted. They didn't make a bizarre controller (though their own touch screen thing on the controller is more or less worthless) that jacked up the price of their system. They didn't scare anyone with talk of DRM. They just delivered a decent system, with decent games, at a decent price and guess what? It was enough. I wonder learned anything from that. For that matter, I kind of wonder if Sony learned anything from that.

The truth here.  Sony didn't do anything revolutionary but they didn't fuck up.  They put out a reliable system and sort of mimicked the Xbox Live model.  No DRM nonsense, no screwy controller.

Launching NX Next Year Is The "Proper" Thing To Do, Says Nintendo Boss Tatsumi Kimishima:

The Q&A portion of Nintendo's latest investors briefing has just gone live, and while the official English translation hasn't arrived yet, Japan resident Cheesemeister3k has posted a summary which covers the key points.

Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima addressed a lot of different points, including the renewed focus on 3DS and general profitability, but the most interesting portion relates to NX, and its new release window of March 2017:

Q: You indicated that building up software is the reason why NX will be released in March 2017, and I know development takes time, but I don't think there's any reason in missing the year-end sales season. When the GameCube was launched in September, I recall that President Yamauchi said that, "It is absolutely imperative that we do not miss the year-end sales season," and after the 3DS launched in February and NX will miss the year-end, making an impression that Nintendo's conventional thinking has changed. Why is NX launching in March?

A: There is no change to our thinking about launch timing. When launching hardware, "How much software can customers play?" is important. Launch timing must be based on that. Customers having more money to spend during the holiday season is one big factor in starting then. But our integrated hardware/software business doesn't end that year, but is something that can continue to be played for several years so we think that "releasing something proper" is the most important thing. By that, we don't think "holiday season timing is a must" but rather that we should launch when we can provide something proper. That point has not changed.

Regarding the focus on 3DS, Kimishima had this to say:

Q: It seems the great reduction in the Wii U hardware sales forecast is influenced by the timing of the NX release, but how about 3DS?

A: This fiscal year, the 3DS has big titles as previously presented, and in sufficient quantity. Both hardware and software will make large contributions to sales. Also, while Wii U sales are forecast to drop to 800,000 units, the upside is that we can focus on the 3DS.

He also addressed NX's software lineup, and the company's aim to ensure that the console will be "profitable" from day one:

Q: While NX details are not being announced today, I want to know about its effect on results for this fiscal year. Previous launches have not had enough titles and were therefore slow to start. Can you promise to have a proper lineup at launch? The Wii U was a net negative, so also in consideration to cost, please tell me how the first year of the NX will contribute to results.

A: As the concept and other details of NX will be announced another time, I will just answer the points of your question. As you said the software lineup will be built-up. Having a full software lineup when the hardware launches is one reason for the NX launch timing. Also, we must be in a state to release titles not just at launch, but continually afterwards. We are planning for it to be a platform that will be played for a long time. Next, about cost, we aren't thinking of the hardware being unprofitable. When the Wii U launched the exchange rate was that of a very strong yen, and so that we don't have that kind of a situation again, launching as a loss-leader won't be what makes up our business, so that's how we're progressing with NX development.

He also claims that NX, smarphone games and download content will more than make up for the poor performance of the Wii U:

Q: While the forecasted sales for the Wii U this fiscal year are extremely weak, NX contributions to profitability seem to be included appearing to be numbers showing that, "We have some confidence in the NX, which will start with a sprint." Do you believe that the new NX will be able to cover for the decline of the Wii U?

A: We have forecast Wii U sales of 800,000 units for this fiscal year, a decline from 2.4m units last fiscal year. In terms of what will cover for it, essentially, the NX and smart device businesses will be central, and also, the download content business is included.

Iga_Bobovic said:

Keep moving those goal posts!

I never had a set argument I made a comment, you can believe what happened at Sony is normal every day activity, I think that's total bullshit.    

Not one of you ever said don't would easily escape this mess, therefore your thoughts on it now is total bs.

Remember that time when a boss actually admitted that what his company was doing wasn't a smart move?

Yeah, me neither...

What a load of total bullshit from Nintendo. He has to say that but we all know it's a lie. Something went wrong, they can't physically meet the demands of the launch. If what he says is true he should be fired immediately as not launching in holidays is the stupidest shit any game company can do.

Pretty sure the first video I ever posted of PvZ said exactly that...  

Then they should've waited two more months and released it on Mother's Day to get the kids and moms.

SupremeAC said:

Well perhaps this just shows that gamers are rather tech savvy and having superior hardware actually does influence hardware sales.  Hopefully all console manufacturors took note and we'll actually see some decent hardware upgrade next time round.  

And now we're back to the why-consoles-fail/succeed circle jerk again becase history has shown that the most powerful console doesn't always win. This is a circular, never ending argument that never gets resolved, that no one can agree on. And this is why I hate the internet.

edgecrusher said:

LOL....ok GG...and look who the Wii sold to. People who don't give a fuck about games...yeah, that's great.

Yeah I'm sure that when Nintendo was making 400% more cash then any other platform holder in history, it was secretly gritting its teeth because some of the cash came from soccer moms. What is your argument here?

Edgecrusher said:

"No unnecessary crap, & a guarantee to have the majority of games that come out. Equals success"

And the Wii had your "unneessary crap" and didn't have the "the majority of games that come out" on it. And it was an amazing success.

So what you said is factually wrong. Now you're saying some consumers cash is worth more than other consumers cash?

edgecrusher said:

I can see how that must be doing so much for you.

I'm checking my accounts, but last time I checked I didn't have any Nintendo shares. Did you buy some for me? What does this mean exactly? Oh right, you're being a dick again because I don't agree with you about an old Nintendo console. Or like you do when Vader disagrees with you and you drop the Sony superfan accusation on him. Well in that case I'm gonna drop the Super Dick accusation on you.

You are being a Super Dick!

Ass.

edgecrusher said:

That success blinded them to what actual gamers want.

It's great to look back in hindsight and magically predict that you were right all along. I'd say consumers massively purchasing your gimmick laden system and having unprecedented profits success would only lead them to follow that same path. It didn't work out this time but no one was blinded. Businesses go by what worked before.

If you sold a sugary citrus based drink and it sold a fuckton, then you came out with a different citrus flavoured drink, no one would really think anything of it. Even if it bombed.  

Based on Wii and DS, having a new concept did wonderfully for Nintendo's bank balances so there was no reason to think a new one would fail so badly. If Wii had failed, sure make a normal console. Wii didn't fail. It made Nintendo relevant again and cash rich. Maybe it didn't satiate your deepest, wildist, hardcore gaming desires personally but you can't argue against how well it performed for them.

edgecrusher said:

Gamecube did not have the majority of games....

Gamecube did have the majority of games up until a certain point when support dried up. Up until that point it had great third party suport. Still didn't sell like gangbusters, but neither did the OG Xbox. But then if you're saying not even Gamecube can get decent third party support - when it was pretty much a normal powerful console, then I'm not sure what you're arguing again. Seems Nintendo is fucked either way it seems. As always.

Do you think if GC had a DVD drive that would have solved all Nintendo's problems?

edgecrusher said:

They can do no wrong in many people's eyes because they are the gaming equivalent of the catholic church. Whatever. Let me know 7 months from now when they actually show something.

Don't drop this bullshit at my front door. If you can't be bothered having a normal discussion don't start one. I've given Nintendo plenty of shit in my time, when it's deserved. That's^ a BS way to end a discussion.

gamingeek said:

SupremeAC said:

Well perhaps this just shows that gamers are rather tech savvy and having superior hardware actually does influence hardware sales.  Hopefully all console manufacturors took note and we'll actually see some decent hardware upgrade next time round.  

And now we're back to the why-consoles-fail/succeed circle jerk again becase history has shown that the most powerful console doesn't always win. This is a circular, never ending argument that never gets resolved, that no one can agree on. And this is why I hate the internet.

I'll give it another shot.  Gamers will pick the most powerfull console out of the Sony and MS offering, because they know that they'll both get good 3rd party support.  Should Nintendo have the most powerfull console, everyone will still ignore it because people know it won't get supported by a lot of third parties.  

NES and SNES were the most powerfull.  PS1 won because it played CD's (POWER) and was edgy.  PS2 won because it played DVD's (POWER), MS was unproven and the GC was purple and came with a handle.  PS3 and 360 were very close both in sales and hardware, but Nintendo soared past both because it created the casual gamer market.  This gen, PS4 is winning out because it's clearly more powerfull than the Xbone, despite both hosting the same games.  Nintendo is doing it's own thing in the corner.  Next gen, Sony or MS will win based on who has the most powerfull console.  If Nintendo has the best hardware, it won't matter because 3rd parties will still ignore them.  And even if they get 3rd party support, no one will buy their console as by the time people notice, everyone will already have a PS5 or Xblock.

People are pissed about that, GG.  They assumed that the U games drought is because the NX was coming.  Now....nothing!