Topic: Where Does Nintendo Go From Here?

Of all the senior people at Nintendo I think Tezuka is one of the more likely candidates. He's been in more of a management role for a while and unlike Miyamoto he doesn't seem interested in retirement anytime soon. Plus unlike quite a lot of the other senior people at Nintendo he's not tied to a particular game series. That said whoever they pick, they won't be able to replace Iwata.

That's a rather sensitive thing to talk about now. Still, Iwata seems to have locked Nintendo future in the last few months of his vivid life, after all Iwata only had a very low chance of survival in the first place. I'm sure the new president has already been decided at least a month before now, and the plans he can't fulfill in his life time has already been laid out now. A company like Nintendo needs to plan ahead just in case somebody dies/unable to work. Don't expect Nintendo to really start changing for a year or 2. The real question here is who will become the new president.

The same direction it has been going. It's a company. One person may have a lot of guidance to offer, but Iwata isn't the one who makes every game, console and decision. They have a long-range business plan and scores of prior announcements they'll continue to follow. That's just how these things work.

I actually kind of hope Nintendo does change a bit (which they probably won't), because at the moment, the way things are, they aren't doing so well.

I'm confused how they haven't. Most of their major titles have heavy use of DLC, they're working on theme parks and mobile games...

Of course your post is too vague and generic to mean anything at all so...shrugs

My apologies. What I was specifically was referring to, is that Nintendo has to start appealing more to their consumers, specifically gamers, because as of lately they really haven't been doing that. Recent events, with the Wii U and E3 have really been pushing their fans and audience away along with several of their choices. All of those things hurt Nintendo's image and the faith its consumer have in them, and as of lately it doesn't seem like Nintendo has really been trying to fix that (with them being very quiet and secluded). So by them changing, I mean for them to become more open to communication with their fans and show that they are really willing to please their consumers by doing things that they normally wouldn't do, and in general become a more modern company.

I think there's a couple of areas where they could afford to change their direction, especially in regards to Western preferences. Better third party support, more mature games, etc. Not that I want them to go full on in that direction, but I think a bit more open mindedness on those issues could go a long way for them.

While I think it's slightly too soon to be discussing this, I think Satoru Shibata is a possibility. Regardless of who takes the position, anything like NX, QoL, and the DeNA partnership are already set in motion. NX in particular is too far along to make drastic changes at this point - in order to do so, they'd have to delay it by a couple years. So this untimely occurrence and whatever fans say they "should be doing with NX" aren't going to change anything.

And you base this on your own opinion or the opinions of a small sample?

Recent events, with the Wii U and E3 have really been pushing their fans and audience away along with several of their choices.

Again, based on what exactly?

All of those things hurt Nintendo's image and the faith its consumer have in them, and as of lately it doesn't seem like Nintendo has really been trying to fix that (with them being very quiet and secluded).

Yes, because you are conveniently ignoring most of their communications with consumers in the past few years.

So by them changing, I mean for them to become more open to communication with their fans

So Nintendo Directs do not exist?

and show that they are really willing to please their consumers by doing things that they normally wouldn't do,

Digital Events, move to mobile, make games that are unlike others in the franchise just to name a few things.

and in general become a more modern company.

In what context? Most "modern" companies simple copy one another and push very few important boundaries. While Nintendo is behind in several aspects in their console designs, they have taken more risks than any other company. Some of these risks turned out to be successful (Wii) while others not so much (Wii U). I believe the problem here is that the market is currently favoring the same ideas over and over again with just a fresh coat of pixels and paint.

See. At least BoltStrike specifies things based on things that make sense. I do actually agree for the record.

Maybe not more mature games necessarily, if solely because AAA gaming is so obsessed with that that Nintendo at times feels like the sole company focusing on something else for major console releases. And if they get decent third party support in terms of major console releases it would likely be redundant.

@LztheQuack: @kkslider5552000 I'm sorry, it's very late where I am at the moment, it's actually 12:06 and I haven't slept at all. So I'm sorry if I'm not specifying enough. I'm usually much better at holding a discussion, sorry. Maybe we can continue it tomorrow.

Honestly, I don't know where Nintendo from here. I think the best thing to do is make the co-president the new president of Nintendo.

Also, I bet Reggie is in his room right now, crying while eating Ice Cream in his bed, just thinking: "I should have said goodbye to him when the last time we meet! I should have said sorry for the [Something mean] I did to him!" I'm sorry, Iwata, I'm SORRY."

"Where does Nintendo go from here?"

The way its always gone: creating unique pieces of entertainment that last forever.

As Nintendo have been stating for the past few months the company is making very large and drastic changes probably due to the help of Iwata. Communicating with 3rd parties with the NX is one of their main concerns while also trying to use existing IPs with other companies to create new experiences and partnerships. Revamping their account system has been something many people have asked for and they are currently working on that with Dena who are also working on their entry into the mobile division.
They also are working on projects that don't relate to gaming at all like the mysterious Quality of Life division they are working on. Nintendo are making big strides in the past few years and I think we have Iwata's genius to thank for that. I hope someone can pick up where he sadly left off.

Are people really wanting Nintendo to make more "realistic" looking games? Is a grittier Zelda, Mario or Metroid really what will draw people back to them? Mario vs Doom? I don't want to see stuff like that, but then I accept that I'm out of step with what "real" gamers enjoy playing. I think the closest Nintendo could reasonably get is buying some western developer and putting out a clone of Call of Duty or GTA - does that even make sense though? Moving more towards mobile seems like a better fit, which seems anathema to many on this board. Let's face it, if you're primarily interested in dark, "mature" games, then I think it's you who have moved away from Nintendo; they don't need to change to accommodate you.

What will happen now? I hope more of what we've already seen and a shift towards trying to keep the younger demographic rather than trying to chase people obsessed with playing 18-rated action games.

@rallydefault I don't mean any disrespect either, but respect for the dead is an archaic ritual, and nobody is being disrespectful for discussing the future.

I like how I didn't have to edit this

I don't know, but with his illness his passing wasn't going to be a surprise for those close to him or himself even. I doubt this hasn't been thought of, at least for a short while, by himself and the people close to him.

I don't expect nintendo to announce anything until after his funeral. Iwata was a wonderfully talented man, I hope he recognised the talents needed in others to make recommendations himself. I think he was able to align and steer the company well, so I think nintendo will end up in the right hands regardless, due to having everyone on board.

lol at saying that Nintendo should focus at younger demographic rather than trying to chase people obsessed with playing 18-rated action games.
Seriously, Nintendo should slowly switch from the young demographic. Nintendo always been a company that release kiddie games. But I believe that Nintendo has the ability to release mature games that aren't kiddie or shooters. Because honestly, I'm tired of Nintendo thinking everyone who play their game are a kid or on Miiverse. (Because on Miiverse, you're a kid or a banned user! :V)

Or they can continue doing what they have always done and make games that are targeted at everyone. I like that idea, it's a good idea, smart thinking this man.