Given the Wii U is not doing so great and the 3DS is selling very well Nintendo could try a hybrid machine. This might not be such a bad idea, having a console you can place in a docking device at home which links into your T.V. and charges the unit. Then you could detach the console and take it with you on your travels. Sounds great, plus having a single platform means all of Nintendo’s production efforts can be focused on its software lineup and they can keep their innovative edge over the competitors. The console should keep the dual screen clamshell design of the 3DS so it is backwards compatible with Nintendo’s latest handheld.
However there are a few drawbacks to a console like this. Nintendo thrives on having two main revenue streams, home and portable. Having just the one main source of income means if it fails it will hit Nintendo harder than just the Wii U not selling great. Another issue I can see is size and weight because it’s a portable home console a hard drive will be necessary, and a good size one at that, if it has to store virtual console as well as downloadable versions of games on top of save and extra-content data. The console must also push graphical ability that is at least as good as the current generation machines.
I know this a pure speculation piece but I think Nintendo should go down this path, How about you?
Or how about a cloud console? All the hunky hardware stuff sits in your living room, but when you want to continue on the handheld, you can do so over mobile network.
A cloud console could be intersting. Unfortunatly Nintendo's internet history is not very good also I don't know how fast 4G is.
Having only a 3DS I want good games for it.
No.
I like the idea of interoperability, although they should remain independent as well. For example, use your portable as a GamePad/controller, play console games via wifi on the portable, play portable games on the TV, etc. They don't need to be entirely combined, but having games be able to use the connectivity features could be amazing. For example, play your Pokemon battles via wifi on handhelds, but if you're in front of the TV the battle displays there. Lots and lots of possibility.
Colin, I hate to totally disregard everything you've said in the article to point out something so menial, but you're writing articles for everyone to see on the website…your grammar is not very good.
Sorry about any mistakes but the two grammer checkers i used both cleared it. I'm not sure what mistakes i have made.
Aren't you kind of saying they should expand on the gamepad? Um…..
At any rate, I'm not sure they even need to be in the console business anymore. There are rumors Microsoft could get out of the console market, so that would change everything, but right now – why not make games for all platforms (including PC and mobile)? It would make money, and at the end of the day that's what businesses need to do. And Nintendo is not doing it.
The company would have more money and we'd have more games. Win-win.
Colin – I like your contributions, but writers should avoid the word "great" at all costs. That's a basic piece of advice I was given anyway. For comments, who cares, but if you're looking to be a writer keep challenging yourself. And, keep writing.
What about a PS Vita TV sort of scenario, where their handheld is the only platform, but you can play them on the TV if you want to.
Thanks for the support Lou.
I think if Nintendo does a hybrid console it wont be a dual screen as then there will 3 sceens to work with when connected to a TV.
I could see Nintendo rebrand the Wii U as part of the DS family as DS is now a better brand with gamers. Perhaps DS U or DS Ultimate? They could even include a DS/3DS cartridge slot in the console and sell an adapter for existing Wii U owners.
Nintendo needs to look into the Oculus Rift. For mature hardcore gamers only…. because kids shouldn't be wearing that thing…
I think the sales figures for the PS Vita TV show that the "3DS as a home console" idea is not going to be a hit, even if it's Nintendo doing it. Granted, the Vita itself was never a hit, but Vita TV is going nowhere.
Chris Kohler did a great (yup, I said great) piece on why "just go mobile" and "just go third-party" are two losing strategies. I hope Nintendo ignores the echo chamber as they did in the Gamecube days when the "just go third-party" mantra was last in full swing. Besides, why on earth would Nintendo give up on the 3DS when it's selling faster than the DS at this point in its lifetime, even if it missed their ridiculously optimistic projections?
However, I do think we might see another "third pillar strategy" as we did in the DS days, where Nintendo's handheld dominance was threatened by the PSP (and unless you were gaming 10 years ago, you won't remember how gleefully the mainstream gaming magazines and the likes of Gamestop predicted the PSP's quick victory over both the GBA and DS). I don't know what that third pillar will be, and I don't think Nintendo will go the Oculus Rift route after having one totally failed 3D product and another where the 3D capabilities are regarded as superfluous by so much of the market. Maybe they'll release a console just for hardcore gamers in a year or two, backward compatible with the Wii and Wii U but with different branding and as much CPU/GPU/RAM as the XB1 and PS4 but with a lower price. I think that's unlikely too because it was the strategy they pursued with the Gamecube and they lost.
In the end, Nintendo doesn't need to scrap everything and start over. They need to overhaul their online/account strategy (even kids want a unique online identity, just prevent those under 13 from communicating with other players, they should look to Microsoft for clues on the interface) and their attitude towards digital distribution (Sony and Valve have cracked that nut, and I'm simply not going to give Nintendo any more money for intangible goods until they're tied to an account I can take with me when my console dies).
Maybe a cost-reduced Wii U called the "Super Wii" that comes with just a Wiimote or pro controller would help, though then you basically have a last-gen console with fewer games. It would solve the problem that the Wii U isn't the value-oriented second console that the Wii was as well as their horrific branding issue, but access to HD Mario and Zelda at a lower price being enough to kickstart sales seems unlikely, especially if those games make a lot of use of the tablet. (Still don't have a Wii U, only got a PS3 last year.)
While markets change, you don't have to be a highly-paid analyst to see that the console that wins every time, out of the participants who stayed in the market for each entire generation, is the lowest-powered one. People bring up the Dreamcast (a console that was priced right but botched in just about every other way and didn't last for half of its generation before Sega pulled out), forgetting that the Wii U has already sold more units in its first year than the Dreamcast did in its entire 3-year lifespan. People bring up the Virtual Boy, forgetting that the Wii U sold more on day 1 than the Virtual Boy did in its whole life. And people bring up the Gamecube, forgetting that Nintendo made more money than Sony and Microsoft put together did in that generation — not too hard, as the "big boy" consoles were both money losers.
Nintendo may have issues right now, but I'm pretty sure they're short-term. I know better than to expect their third-party relations to improve much after all these years, but the rest of it can be fixed if only they execute a little more nimbly.
Wow, raindog469, that has got to be the most detailed comment I have ever seen. Excellent points, well made.
Raindog – please provide support for your claim that the 3DS is selling faster than the DS at this point in their lifetimes.
Most estimates I've seen have the 3DS about 9 million units behind the DS.
Sales surely picked up around the holidays, but that would be very misleading if that's where you were going with that, given their different launch months.
Also, the "lowest powered console wins" line is incredibly weak. What's winning right now?
High-powered Nintendo phone (can be Android-based, if need be). FullHD HDMI out and slide out gamepad tray w/ option for Bluetooth controllers. There you go. Recipe for Nintendo success in the modern climate.
Isn't the Wii U already capable of doing the same thing as DS? The TV screen serves as "Upper Screen" and the Game Pad can serve as the "Lower Screen". All Nintendo has to do is release a Stylus for the Wii U Game Pad and have DS like games! Nintendo can do this!!
If a person is blogging for revenue or as per internet marketing of a business or product, it is essential that that blogger work towards increasing traffic to the blog. I need a place to air out my thoughts and to put everything in perspective.
Really? You let the blatant spam through but my actual on-topic post is still "awaiting moderation" after 3 weeks because I backed my points up with links?
Chơi độ từ w88
I can't have any idea the way i ended up being right here, however I considered this upload was superior. I don't recognize who you are however surely you'll some sort of well-known writer discover presently. Cheers!
Excellent information, excellent articles, will add your weblog to my weblog for my visitors to view!
A person essentially aid to make seriously articles I would state. This really is the very first time I frequented your site page and thus far? I surprised with the research you created to make this certain publish incredible. Fantastic job!
Just a smiling visitant here to share the enjoy (:, btw outstanding style .
Never Ever give up: Even though you fail initially; Do not handle it to get a great deal of views at first, do yourself a favour, dont give up.
Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that Ive truly loved browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing on your feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!