Random Gaming Thoughts

[MrPopo]

Says Iwata: “A key term should be ‘wide and small’ rather than ‘narrow and large.’ The basis of our strategy will be how we can receive a small amount of money from a wide range of consumers."

http://www.siliconera.com/2015/05/18/ni ... etization/

That's right, the president of Nintendo discussing monetization strategies for their upcoming mobile games. How does this make you feel?

It sounds like they want to focus on selling a $2 game to a ton of people rather than a freemium game to a few whales, at least from that soundbite.

[ZeroAX]

Says Iwata: “A key term should be ‘wide and small’ rather than ‘narrow and large.’ The basis of our strategy will be how we can receive a small amount of money from a wide range of consumers."

http://www.siliconera.com/2015/05/18/ni ... etization/

That's right, the president of Nintendo discussing monetization strategies for their upcoming mobile games. How does this make you feel?

It sounds like they want to focus on selling a $2 game to a ton of people rather than a freemium game to a few whales, at least from that soundbite.

If they're anything like SquareEnix we'll be paying a lot more than that

[BogusMeatFactory]

Says Iwata: “A key term should be ‘wide and small’ rather than ‘narrow and large.’ The basis of our strategy will be how we can receive a small amount of money from a wide range of consumers."

http://www.siliconera.com/2015/05/18/ni ... etization/

That's right, the president of Nintendo discussing monetization strategies for their upcoming mobile games. How does this make you feel?

It sounds like they want to focus on selling a $2 game to a ton of people rather than a freemium game to a few whales, at least from that soundbite.

Exactly. You have evidence of that in games like WiiU Sports. You can purchase the entire package as a retail game, or piece out the mini-games. You have Rusty's Real Deal Baseball where you spend $.50 here and there for mini-game packages and unlocking a quirky story.

Nintendo has been playing around with this style of stuff for a while now to see what works well and what doesn't. It will be interesting to see what they land on.

[Nemoide]

It was just pointed out to me that the Strider series consists of five completely different games: Strider, Strider, Strider II, Strider 2, and Strider.

I love this.

[Exhuminator]

It gets a little more confusing when you find out Strider II was called Strider Returns in some territories. And that Strider II and Strider 2 are completely different games.

[Ack]

It gets a little more confusing when you find out Strider II was called Strider Returns in some territories. And that Strider II and Strider 2 are completely different games.

It's like the Aliens versus Predator line of games.

Alien vs. Predator (arcade) IS NOT Alien vs Predator (Jaguar) IS NOT Alien vs Predator (SNES) IS NOT Aliens vs. Predator IS NOT Aliens versus Predator IS NOT Alien vs Predator: The Last of His Clan IS NOT Aliens versus Predator 2 IS NOT Aliens versus Predator 2: Extinction IS NOT Alien vs. Predator (mobile phone) IS NOT Alien vs. Predator (also mobile phone) IS NOT Alien vs. Predator 3D IS NOT Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem IS NOT Alien vs. Predator 2 2D: Requiem IS NOT AVP: Evolution.

[RCBH928]

As of March 31, 2015, the Wii has sold 101.52 million consoles worldwide.

It is the fifth best selling piece of game hardware in history, and the third best selling console. It is the best selling Nintendo console, and the third best selling Nintendo product, after Game Boy and Nintendo DS.

I am not arguing the numbers, I am arguing why these numbers happened. Is it because of

1) Mario Kart Wii, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros?

2) Or is it because the Wii was one of the most affordable consoles ever and the average consumer was for the first time exposed to controlling games using motion controls?

According to Wikipedia numbers, Nintendo console sales are on a downward spiral from the NES all the way to Wii U except the crazy spike with the Wii. Surely its not the games Nintendo has been pumping pre and post Wii.

Will Nintendo regret betting on the short-term success that might have damaged their console business forever? Only time will tell, But what confuses me is why does Nintendo decided to build mobile games when their mobile platform is super successful?

[Ack]

As of March 31, 2015, the Wii has sold 101.52 million consoles worldwide.

It is the fifth best selling piece of game hardware in history, and the third best selling console. It is the best selling Nintendo console, and the third best selling Nintendo product, after Game Boy and Nintendo DS.

I am not arguing the numbers, I am arguing why these numbers happened. Is it because of

1) Mario Kart Wii, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros?

2) Or is it because the Wii was one of the most affordable consoles ever and the average consumer was for the first time exposed to controlling games using motion controls?

According to Wikipedia numbers, Nintendo console sales are on a downward spiral from the NES all the way to Wii U except the crazy spike with the Wii. Surely its not the games Nintendo has been pumping pre and post Wii.

Actually, it's both of those. Nintendo games are only available on Nintendo consoles, so if you want to play them, you have to buy that console. And Nintendo did manage to tap into a massive and largely untouched market that has since migrated to mobile and social media platforms.

It's also worth noting that during the NES days, Nintendo didn't really have any effective competition, and only had one effective competitor during the SNES days. During the N64 and Gamecube era, they were up against multiple competitors, one of which was at its prime in the console market, Sony, one of which was falling out of favor and left the business, Sega, and one of which was an upstart in the market but had mountains of money and the support of the richest man in the world, Microsoft.

[BogusMeatFactory]

I am not arguing the numbers, I am arguing why these numbers happened. Is it because of

1) Mario Kart Wii, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros?

2) Or is it because the Wii was one of the most affordable consoles ever and the average consumer was for the first time exposed to controlling games using motion controls?

According to Wikipedia numbers, Nintendo console sales are on a downward spiral from the NES all the way to Wii U except the crazy spike with the Wii. Surely its not the games Nintendo has been pumping pre and post Wii.

You can not make the comparison of sales numbers from the NES to current consoles. Nintendo had more NES in homes in the U.S. than computers and had an overall console market share majority that could never be replicated today. What was Nintendo's competitors? The Master System? Didn't even make a dent! Now, there are two big name competitors and the PC market.

I agree that the Wii's success was its affordability and novelty, but it was also with its advertising. They spent so much money advertising and marketing to new, untapped markets, had great commercials that were engaging and exciting and led to Reggie Fils-Aime from being a marketing executive to preisdent of Nintendo America. It was a perfect storm that most definitely helped Nintendo in a lot of ways and may even have a ripple effect for its future.

Now...if they would just name their next game system, The Nintendo!

[RCBH928]

@BogusMeatFactory

Are you saying that the reason Wii U had disappointing sales (along with the NGC before it) was because of bad advertising?

Actually, it's both of those. Nintendo games are only available on Nintendo consoles, so if you want to play them, you have to buy that console. And Nintendo did manage to tap into a massive and largely untouched market that has since migrated to mobile and social media platforms.

Thanks for the reply, I edited my previous post. I guess we agree then. Nintendo's Wii success was a good business that lasted 6 years but that untouched market has since long gone and they didn't decide to pick Nintendo's mobile platform. As for the future, I am just going to guess that Nintendo's 10-15m fanbase that decide they want to play exclusive games is just not large enough to keep a console manufacturer going on.