Random Gaming Thoughts

[RCBH928]

Nothing is large enough to keep console manufacturing going, so the whole industry is moving towards mobile. That's just how it is in video games right now. Fastbilly and I have speculated back and forth about about how much longer we'll be seeing dedicated consoles, and truth is, we don't expect it to be much more than a decade or so.

In the last generation, Nintendo reached out and captured that casual crowd when they could and helped bring them into gaming. Now they intend to go for mobile, where most of that casual crowd has gone. It makes the most sense, as mobile gaming is huge in Japan, many people already own smartphones for communication purposes so no additional hardware is required, mobile-based companies are seeing exponential profit growth, and consoles aren't what they used to be. Small companies are raking in millions and billions, and a lot of folks are flocking in that direction, just as so many flocked to video games in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including Nintendo. You complain about Nintendo constantly, but everyone will likely either go this way, has gone this way, or will go/has gone towards the PC and digital distribution networks. Microsoft has done both already, even though their digital distribution system totally sucks. Hell, Sony has a whole division for mobile hardware and software which they formed in 2001.

So I understand from your post is:

1) Nintendo is breaking exclusivity and will become a software only company because there will be no dedicated consoles in the future?

2) Consoles will disappear and we will have either a smartphone or a PC ?

unless by "mobile" you mean smatphones, Nintendo has its own mobile device and its successful.

[Ack]

Nothing is large enough to keep console manufacturing going, so the whole industry is moving towards mobile. That's just how it is in video games right now. Fastbilly and I have speculated back and forth about about how much longer we'll be seeing dedicated consoles, and truth is, we don't expect it to be much more than a decade or so.

In the last generation, Nintendo reached out and captured that casual crowd when they could and helped bring them into gaming. Now they intend to go for mobile, where most of that casual crowd has gone. It makes the most sense, as mobile gaming is huge in Japan, many people already own smartphones for communication purposes so no additional hardware is required, mobile-based companies are seeing exponential profit growth, and consoles aren't what they used to be. Small companies are raking in millions and billions, and a lot of folks are flocking in that direction, just as so many flocked to video games in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including Nintendo. You complain about Nintendo constantly, but everyone will likely either go this way, has gone this way, or will go/has gone towards the PC and digital distribution networks. Microsoft has done both already, even though their digital distribution system totally sucks. Hell, Sony has a whole division for mobile hardware and software which they formed in 2001.

So I understand from your post is:

1) Nintendo is breaking exclusivity and will become a software only company because there will be no dedicated consoles in the future?

2) Consoles will disappear and we will have either a smartphone or a PC ?

unless by "mobile" you mean smatphones, Nintendo has its own mobile device and its successful.

Perhaps it will become a software-only company, or perhaps it will find its way into hardware for smartphones. We're not sure. But yes, this is the most likely scenario that I can think of. Nintendo has also been the king of handheld consoles for a long time(the only Nintendo hardware to sell better than the Wii are the Game Boy and Nintendo DS), but with smartphones becoming the norm in society, they may even shy away from that eventually.

[ExedExes]

Nick Arcade was mentioned on a thread here last night, but has anyone seen the unaired pilot? The only reason I mention this is because they played a very early version of Sonic the Hedgehog during a Video Challenge.

Side note: As goofy as Phil (the eventual host of the show) would be, I'm glad they didn't go with this over-caffeinated guy instead.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Kotaku says this is a glitch, i say this is the coolest thing i have ever seen and it's so fitting with Jason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gORUWaFWngE

The only glitch I see is you perusing Kotaku.

Sometimes they put something decent... and most of the time i laugh at what they consider "news worthy"

I still check them on occasion in case anything good comes up, and I hop on to make sure I see Highlight Reel, but other than that most of their stuff is so goofy.

EDIT: While I am thinking about it, I have to say I'm actually quite excited about E3 this year. I just don't know if I'll be able to see everything I'm hoping to see.

[Luke]

Usually I hate long and drawn out tutorials as I could as easily skip an hour and read a manual.

But Watch Dogs expects me to know the game without playing it. Granted, there are shots of "Press X to do this" but it doesn't explain why pressing X is important.

I've already spent two hours on the first level and want to give because there is no manual with the game and the "in game tutorial" is terrible at best.

The big flaw is that the game will tell you "press this" but won't tell why nor when you should press the button. It says "Press X for a take down", but doing so causes you to lose a mission. Plus you get things like "press LB and rotate the R to trigger". Huh?

In the few games that require a tutorial (see Assassin's Creed, that reminds you that pressing up means you move up) this one needs it. Watch Dogs is Metal Gear Solid with even more cut scenes and less instructions.

Playing this on the 360, and possibly that makes a difference. But dear God why can't I just roam around Chicago and do cool stuff?

For once I actually want a game to say "Hey Dude. You need to pick this up and give it to that guy in the cave" instead of blindness puzzles.

[RCBH928]

@Ack

In a post some months (or years) ago here I proposed that Nintendo should evolve their hand-helds into smartphones. I know some will say that is not Nintendo's market, but let us not forget they started as a playing card company and turned into the most dominant console manufacturer.


If they can sell a cool 80m smartphones like they do with their handhelds, surely that will generate enough profit.

[marurun]

@Ack

In a post some months (or years) ago here I proposed that Nintendo should evolve their hand-helds into smartphones. I know some will say that is not Nintendo's market, but let us not forget they started as a playing card company and turned into the most dominant console manufacturer.


If they can sell a cool 80m smartphones like they do with their handhelds, surely that will generate enough profit.

Given Nintendo's issues with network/online services, I would not trust them to be able to create a smartphone. If they don't simply develop for existing platforms or license out properties to 3rd party developers, I could see them perhaps developing an overlay or environment for an existing smartphone platform in which you load and play games. They could partner with certain hardware manufacturers and networks to sell phones made by others that came equipped with the Nintendo mobile environment or overlay.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Why would Nintendo make a smartphone. Yeah, let's go from making systems and handhelds where we are at least somewhat in the running, if not dominating (handheld market) and go into a market where we hold zero percent and could not even contend with companies like Samsung and Apple.

[Damm64]

Why would Nintendo make a smartphone. Yeah, let's go from making systems and handhelds where we are at least somewhat in the running, if not dominating (handheld market) and go into a market where we hold zero percent and could not even contend with companies like Samsung and Apple.

Konami: "We don't see how this could go wrong"

[Luke]

Why would Nintendo make a smartphone.

Punctuation BMF!

The answer is "market". I held a lecture about six years ago where I asked undergrads if they had a smart phone. About a quarter of them did. I then said "In five years you will all own one". Pretty sure my prediction was correct. (I had a blackberry at the time...still use it for data storage)

Nintendo has some of the best brand recognition on planet Earth and is more liked than Samsung or Apple. I would also say Nintendo has the same if not better brand loyalty than Apple. To me this is a no-brainer if Nintendo can put together a decent product and network.

And design? Nintendo can handle that.

Last, but not least, if Nintendo introduced a smartphone would you not be craving to buy it?

And if you were a hotdog, would you eat yourself? I know I would.