Topic: Is Panasonic interested in Nintendo?

A copy/ paste from my Website, but this is something I thought you all might be interested in:

So while I was in Japan, I did a tour of the Panasonic showcase building. It's a big building, with four floors all dedicated to showcasing the newest and most exciting Panasonic technologies - both available now and stuff for the future.

What was really interesting was that of the four floors, all the technology was 100 per cent Panasonic, except for one half of one floor. Where I saw this fellow:

Notice the "Panasonic Center" right above Mario's head?

Now, I asked Panasonic about this relationship, and they were very diplomatic indeed. Given that Panasonic absolutely dominates the consumer electronics space in Japan, and has no gaming credentials of its own, it makes sense that it would use Nintendo as a partner in providing videogames to its "Panasonic home." Sony has its own competing products with Panasonic, and Microsoft has a light touch in the Japanese consumer electronics market.

And yet, you can't help but wonder. Panasonic has its fingers in every part of the home electronics pie, except for gaming. Nintendo would be a great acquisition or merger for Panasonic, and would be good for Nintendo too, since Nintendo could use some extra resourcing at the moment.

So just file this one away in the memory. I'm not going to be surprised if there's a Panasonic acquisition story in the short to mid term.

that or they (like a lot of others) like Mario

This is a business building. Nintendo is taking up a lot of very expensive real estate in that building.

Panasonic people who are fans of Mario would buy the games. Not give away a shop-sized block of space in its building.

Nintendo is selling out to Panasonic!

what would they do if nintendo joined up with them?

I don't think they're terribly intent on buying Nintendo. I would think that since they don't have a gaming leg, and as you said, other competitors have arms in Panasonic's business, they're showcasing Nintendo's stuff as a way of promoting the gaming side of electronics without supporting their competition. If someone buys a Wii, for example, they need to also buy a TV (if this person is coming from under the proverbial rock and doesn't already own a TV). So if they encourage Nintendo sales, Panasonic sales may make a slight increase as well. The 3DS they advertise in the background may be even more subtle. May be a request on Nintendo's behalf ("If you want to show off our stuff, OK, but you have to show the 3DS."), or it may be an attempt at building brand loyalty/recognition in the attempt at selling more TVs for people's Wiis that they bought because they loved the 3DS and now love Nintendo. Roundabout, yes, and unlikely... well, probably. But I don't think it's a sign of a business merger.

And yet, the companies are natural fits for one another. Nintendo consoles use the least power in the industry, Panasonic is a company big on "green" technology. Panasonic is a dominant force in consumer electronics in Japan, yet the one product category it doesn't have is gaming consoles. Nintendo is trying to find relevance in the broader entertainment market, Panasonic is very relevant.

Most importantly: They're both Japanese companies.

It's a very, very good fit.

Nintendo's not the type of company that would let themselves be acquired even if it's good for them, methinks.

I didn't think Nintendo was that "green" and some group of people didn't care for Nintendo for that reason.

Source: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/e...

1.8 out of 10

Nintendo isn't rated as "Green," because it doesn't supply adequate documentation to environmental groups such as Greenpeace, so those groups rank Nintendo the lowest by default.

The power usage can be measured though. The Wii consumes considerably less power than the PS3 and Xbox 360.

I don't buy Panasonic products, so I hope that doesn't happen.

@WaltzElf: I'm not saying I'd be totally opposed, or that they don't fit or anything of the sort... I just don't think that's what the Nintendo display in their building was heralding.

It's clearly a close association between the two companies, though. And in this day and age in the business world, such close associations often lead to acquisitions.

It's a good thing, mind. Panasonic is a great company.

Now that you think of it, Nintendo and Panasonic would be a really great pair, maybe they will be mergering based on this, or ot could simply be Nintendo buying retail space from Panasonic. Thanks for the news WaltzElf.

I'm gonna agree with Oddy on this one; Nintendo doesn't seem like a company that would let themselves be acquired, whether or not any benefit would come from it. Now, the idea of Nintendo and Panasonic partnering for a short time (possibly with the release of the Wii U since it's Nintendo's first HD console) seems much more plausible to me.

If memory serves, Panasonic and Nintendo have had a friendly-business relationship for some time.
Or does no one remember this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panasonic_Q

That said, and acquisition is unlikely; i think it'd be much more in line with both businesses' approaches to have a strong working partnership rather than one acquiring the other.

i think it'd be much more in line with both businesses' approaches to have a strong working partnership

Panasonic acquires the businesses it's friendly with. Like Sanyo.

Don't worry though, even if the acquisition happens, Panasonic is a very, very good business with strong vision and a spirit of innovation. Sanyo's done just fine under Panasonic, as will Nintendo.

Maybe if Nintendo makes a god awful movie with an absurd budget and needs to do this.

um wasn't the last time nintendo did something like this we got the, eh um... CD-i?
run hide children, it's not safe here any more,