Quote:
Originally Posted by Scipio
As everyone knows, console manufacturers sell their systems BELOW COST, and make money on the games.
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Except for Nintendo! They actually make a profit on each console sold, which is part of the reason they're doing quite well financially still. The other reason, of course, is the GBA/Pokemon combination.
Your point is valid, though - game sales drive profit a lot more than console sales, and Nintendo needs to get some developers aboard if they're going to compete in next-gen. I doubt this is what they'll do, but here's my hope for part of their strategy:
The gyroscope company Nintendo bought has already hinted it could be used sort of as an improved lightgun or mouse - move the controller to move a little pointer or reticule around the screen. Make that REALLY EASY for developers to do, and get games like Splinter Cell, Counterstrike, and other "realistic" FPSes to sign on. Maybe a new version of GoldenEye? Sponsor FPS tournaments and things. Make sure you've got stellar online support, a la Xbox Live, and watch everyone flock to your platform to play "adult" games (as if FPSes aren't full of more 11-year-olds than Mario games). Then you make a great attraction for developers, a huge amount of titles, and you can make the only console FPSes that don't suck. Also, you shake the curse of being the "kiddie" platform, but you can continue to make Mario games and so forth. You can also do versions of the same game on the DS, using the touchscreen capability.
Unfortunately, they'll probably just license Mario some more (NASCARKart 2006, anyone? Battlefield: Mushroom Kingdom?) and pollute their fantastic IP
while still not catering to the mainstream audience that's avoiding their platform like the plague. That way they can piss off their existing fans who hate to see Peach spreading her legs on the street corner while still presenting the "juvenile" face to the rest of the world. Argh.
Bingle