Topic: Sit Down, We Need to Talk- Nintendo's Software Strategy

This concerns all of Nintendo's platforms and not just the WiiU or NX. The hardware of their next console boils down to issues of price point (and being 3 years younger than PSX41). But I've seen multiple people raise the valid issue over the past few days that Nintendo needs substantive, internal change.

Nintendo of Japan has an issue with variety with their software strategy and that affects their ability to draw a larger Western audience, which in turn decimates their third party support, and the snake eats its own tail as the death of third party support leads to the ultimate demise of the platform itself.

This issue is made very clear in the statement from Metroid Prime producer, Kensuke Tanabe on Metroid development:
"If we started for Wii U now, it would likely take three years or so. So it would likely now be on Nintendo's NX console," said series producer Kensuke Tanabe, speaking to Eurogamer at E3.

"Truth be told, making HD games takes a lot of time and resources," Tanabe added when asked why Nintendo had not made a Metroid Prime for Wii U. "I haven't been able to collect a team or the resources to do it."

While the comments about NX being a console steal the headlines; this quote also confirms that they can't collect the will within their company to make a new HD first person Metroid happen.

What needs to happen is a return to Yamauchi's strategy of the Western 'dream team.' Nintendo has to start with a great expansion of Retro, but they also need to acquire some new studios-- not to own a wrinkled dried up IP like Resident Evil but to snatch up tomorrow's hits.

Post what indy studios you want to see Nintendo acquire.

Here are some studios that I think could fill the gaps-

Strike Vector by Ragequit

Hawken by Adhesive

New & Tasty by Oddworld

SQUAD by Project Reality Team

Erm...Nintendo are working on other projects. Are you suggesting they stop work on these to satisfy your gaming needs? I think you need to sit down and think about what you are saying / expecting Patience. We will see Metroid again. But let them do it in their own time. After all they haven't disappointed us in the past and posts like this just sound like an 8 year old going

"Dad, can I have some sweets? Please. Pleeease. Pleeeeease"

So don't beg for stuff and appreciate what those creative folk come up with.

I think creating new studios and getting fresh and new people in the company is what nintendo needs

I don't want to see them aquire studios as much as partner up with them, possibly with multi-game contracts but my list is WayForward and Renegade Kid. Both companies are able to turn out fast, quality titles that really stand out. While these companies already support Nintendo a lot, I think they could both do well with certain Nintendo Franchises. The multi-game deals would be important because it would give these companies to build out their ideas and really create unique experiences. Plus I just really enjoy these companies products

What's needed in new acquisitions are teams that create games that are different from the games they make at NOJ.

Skylanders Super Chargers: Bowser/DK edition. Ryu, Tekken in Smash Bros. I think Nintendo has a good strategy going now already in this regard. Now they just need a platorm that reaches across the multiple gaming platforms in the industry right now To expand that strategy and sell it, and that should be what NX is: N(Nintendo) X Activision, Sony, PC, mobile, XBox, etc,.

I actually agree with you, I think Nintendo needs more development studios to help give their IPs more attention, there's a lot of games that Nintendo could be making but can't because they have to prioritize other projects. Nintendo also needs to bolster their western appeal, and Nintendo passing up games like F-Zero and Metroid is not helping. Since the Japanese studios don't want to make them, they should find and acquire Western developers that would be willing to work on some of those IPs. Maybe they could create new ones as well.

The best thing Nintendo could do, would be to look to indie studios, and their games. Cuphead, No Man's Sky, and others have amazing style, with small teams. However, for some reason, all they come up with are games like Project Robot, like the old Rock Em, Sock Em robots. It isn't really comparable. It is kinda sad that they can't emulate these small indie teams, with the same results. They seem like the perfect company to do it, but haven't done it, so far.

I'm finding this more awkward and confusing than our talk on the birds and the bees

What bugs me is that NoJ are pretty much have complete creative controll over every IP that they own. Why on earth they don't allow NoE and NoA to set up their own development studios is beyond me sometimes.
It just seems like such an obvious decision to make. Spend the time and money to set up western teams to develop for the markets they're running. Done right, there would be far more options, far less droughts, and far more people happy with Nintendo's overall output.
Even where the VC is concerned, it would have a far more positive effect as more time could be spent getting them released.

While I don't see where this post is going, I will say that, after this direct, Nintendo needs to be more careful about what they are greenlighting for their systems.

While that's in part about making games in franchises that are missing, the bigger matter at hand is diversity.

The Wii U has almost zero adventure or exploration focused games. Outside of Splatoon, there isn't much in the area of shooters either. There is an incredibly lopsided focus on action and multiplayer. A party board-game literally was released a few months ago in Mario Party 10.

Taking that into account, Animal Crossing: Amiibo party should absolutely not have been greenlit. A similar deal with Mario Tennis. The resources for games like that really should have been pushed towards something that could diversify the system.

On the 3DS side, Chibi-Robo Zip Lash straight up shouldn't exist. The 3DS has a grand total of 2 3D Platformers, while there are more 2D platformers than I can count. There is absolutely no reason to turn a previously 3D franchise into a 2D platformer.

Also, Nintendo needs to watch what parts of a game they are showing. Triforce Heroes, Federation Force, and Happy Home Designer look like eShop games. If they are planning on them being full retail launches, they need to show us why they are worth it.

Why are we sitting down?

Because it's pretty awkward to look down at your screen whilst your standing.

Oh, another "Nintendo should buy _____" thread. Why didn't you just say so?

I put whoopee cushions in everyone's chairs. It was worth it.

@Pahvi
That is why I suggested indy studios and not large developers. If you buy Konami, what do you really have-- the talent is leaving Konami and you're stuck with a bunch of old franchises (some of which havn't been touched in as many years as some of Nintendo's). You buy indy teams or create new teams because Nintendo needs talent (to create new IPs), not somebody else's old franchises.

send an armored guy first to take hits from the enemy when they're close enough use the lord and other powerful units to finish off anything within range...
I mean that's the basic strategy for anything, right?

Really, I think the main solution is to replace Iwata with someone younger who looks outward toward the West instead of inward to Japan. Given Japan's ever-decreasing base of console gamers, focusing on the Japanese audience, or directing one's primary efforts to appealing to it, is quite frankly a waste of time and money. It seems Iwata has been responsible for Nintendo's primarily "inward-focused" approach.

While I don't always agree with Motley Fool's take on Nintendo, I think this excerpt from http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/02/09/these-3-bril... is dead-on:

"Satoru Iwata was chosen by former-President Hiroshi Yamuachi as his successor and the man who would return Nintendo to its former glory. The successes of the original Wii and DS did just that and then some. Unfortunately, these systems were followed up by confusing successors that tried to recapture previous magic with rote and undesirable features. As President of the company, Iwata has repeatedly demonstrated a proclivity for ignoring obvious market realities. He is also responsible for facilitating the failings of Genyo Takeda and Shigeru Miyamoto.

The last console cycle made it abundantly clear that Western game development was on the rise and that online functionality would be key to future success. In light of these obvious truths, Iwata and company became increasingly focused on Japan and delivered a joke of an online ecosystem. Nintendo of America used to be something more than a glorified PR wing. The Kyoto-based company used to maintain partnerships with a number of Western studios, which gave its software lineups some much-needed lineup diversity. Iwata's recent strategy has been to spurn Western tastes in hopes that the industry will fall in line with more Japanese philosophies. His management of the company in recent years has been nothing short of disastrous."

Iwata is a great game designer, and I think he still has a role to play at Nintendo. However, he has shown poor judgment in directing the way Nintendo develops software. I have a feeling he's primarily to blame for Nintendo's being woefully unprepared for developing HD titles for example. That and something about how the man carries himself just doesn't inspire confidence.

Honestly lets face it....nintendo development teams are becoming old and stale. They need new fresh people to create more new games like splatoon and to let new people and teams experiment with already existing IPs like earthbound.

Edit: Also they keep trying bring back the casuals and its not working. They need to make their games more to their core nintendo fan base.

Their ''old teams'' still make great games. But yes, it's good to see new games from younger developers like Splatoon. That doesn't mean I think they should let anyone have a go at their games, because I like to see quality above anything else. About that last statement, I definitely agree, the casuals aren't coming back, they never will.

If anyone other than Itoi makes an Earthbound game I'm not sure I'd be happy and I disagree with Ninty should be focusing on Ninty fans, keep them happy sure but they need to expand the audience like with Splatoon.