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Topic: Could NX be the beginning of a new Smartphone-esque release structure for Nintendo?

Posts 1 to 18 of 18

iKhan

I'll start by saying this is 100% speculative, there is no rumor or interview I'm trying to read into or anything like that.

Right now I'd say there are 2 key things we can say are likely about the NX.
1. It's a console. Reggie's 2 statements and Tanabe's statement make that pretty clear
2. It will be weaker than the PS4. Unseen64 is pretty reliable, so I'd say we can be confident about that.

I think one possibility given these two constraints is that the NX is the first in a new release model for Nintendo, one more akin to Smartphones. If you haven't noticed, Smartphones maintain compatibility across multiple generations for most software, while releasing new hardware and an OS every year.

If NX is not competing with PS4, it could be that the NX and Wii U will share compatibility with several games. Then the successor to the NX, releasing in 1 or 2 years, would share compatibility with NX games.

Do you think this is a possibility? And if it happened, would you be okay with it?

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TylerTheCreator

I think it's definitely possible, since Nintendo has teamed up with the mobile company, DeNA. Would I be okay with it? Not sure. The new phone/game system would have to have some sort of wow factor other than it being a smart phone with Nintendo games.

TylerTheCreator

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Blast

It's gonna be a huge joke if that's true. It's time to appeal to the hardcore Nintendo fans and 3rd parties. It's just that simple. Anything else is a huge letdown.

I own a Wii U and 3DS. I also own a PS4!

Master of the Hype Train

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Justlink

Nintendo has already said NX is a dedicated gaming system, so it will last a full cycle, whether handheld or home device. There is no way a conclusion on it's power can be had at the moment, and the partnership with DeNA is to have games on smart devices.

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iKhan

justlink wrote:

Nintendo has already said NX is a dedicated gaming system, so it will last a full cycle, whether handheld or home device. There is no way a conclusion on it's power can be had at the moment, and the partnership with DeNA is to have games on smart devices.

@justlink

It being a dedicated system has nothing to do with it's lifespan. It could last 2 years, but still be compatible with software on the next 2 platforms.

Currently Playing: Steamworld Heist, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Tales of Graces F

CaviarMeths

Nintendo is having a rough time getting consumers to pay $200 for a new machine every 5-7 years, so I'm not sure if they're confident in getting away with doing it every 2 years.

So Anakin kneels before Monster Mash and pledges his loyalty to the graveyard smash.

iKhan

CaviarMeths wrote:

Nintendo is having a rough time getting consumers to pay $200 for a new machine every 5-7 years, so I'm not sure if they're confident in getting away with doing it every 2 years.

Well the idea of this type of model is that you don't have to buy every single system to experience most of Nintendo's software. Games are compatible with 2 or 3 generations of hardware at a time.

Currently Playing: Steamworld Heist, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Tales of Graces F

CaviarMeths

iKhan wrote:

CaviarMeths wrote:

Nintendo is having a rough time getting consumers to pay $200 for a new machine every 5-7 years, so I'm not sure if they're confident in getting away with doing it every 2 years.

Well the idea of this type of model is that you don't have to buy every single system to experience most of Nintendo's software. Games are compatible with 2 or 3 generations of hardware at a time.

The rise of smartphones was very much reliant on service carriers subsidizing the cost. Almost nobody actually buys a smartphone outright. Nintendo can't do that. Unless they offer a subscription service, they can't subsidize hardware.

And people don't want to upgrade that often unless they're getting the upgrade with a service that they pay for anyway. That's why Windows 7 is still the most popular OS in the world.

So Anakin kneels before Monster Mash and pledges his loyalty to the graveyard smash.

skywake

I like the idea but I think it would be smart to have this as a single "platform" that covers both portable and non-portable. Basically the NX would be both a home console and a portable, be only one at a time and be their last platform.

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6ch6ris6

Blast wrote:

It's gonna be a huge joke if that's true. It's time to appeal to the hardcore Nintendo fans and 3rd parties. It's just that simple. Anything else is a huge letdown.

this. so much this.
nintendo needs to get up. they lack in so many ways to the other consoles makers.

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CM30

I really, really hope not. The smartphone model only works because of the carriers subsidizing the costs and letting you get 'free' upgrades. I'm not sure many people would buy a new Nintendo system every year or two, even if it isn't required to play the games (and for Nintendo fans, if the games offer new features on each 'version', they will pretty much be locked into buying all the upgrades).

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iKhan

CM30 wrote:

I really, really hope not. The smartphone model only works because of the carriers subsidizing the costs and letting you get 'free' upgrades. I'm not sure many people would buy a new Nintendo system every year or two, even if it isn't required to play the games (and for Nintendo fans, if the games offer new features on each 'version', they will pretty much be locked into buying all the upgrades).

Subsidized phone costs are still very high, coming in at 200-300 dollars for the top of the line phones.

Anyway, while I'm not sure about home console, I think it could very well be that Nintendo is going for this strategy with handhelds. Dedicated handhelds are niche devices now, and a good way for Nintendo to move forward without dropping their old install base like a rock is a gradual release structure akin to what smartphones have.

Currently Playing: Steamworld Heist, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Tales of Graces F

Blast

iKhan wrote:

CM30 wrote:

I really, really hope not. The smartphone model only works because of the carriers subsidizing the costs and letting you get 'free' upgrades. I'm not sure many people would buy a new Nintendo system every year or two, even if it isn't required to play the games (and for Nintendo fans, if the games offer new features on each 'version', they will pretty much be locked into buying all the upgrades).

Subsidized phone costs are still very high, coming in at 200-300 dollars for the top of the line phones.

Anyway, while I'm not sure about home console, I think it could very well be that Nintendo is going for this strategy with handhelds. Dedicated handhelds are niche devices now, and a good way for Nintendo to move forward without dropping their old install base like a rock is a gradual release structure akin to what smartphones have.

Yeah... No. 3DS still has amazing support in Japan and Nintendo will abandon it when the Japanese desire for it is completely gone. The next handheld won't be a smartphone esque situation. That wouldn't do well in Japan.

I own a Wii U and 3DS. I also own a PS4!

Master of the Hype Train

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CaviarMeths

Blast wrote:

The next handheld won't be a smartphone esque situation. That wouldn't do well in Japan.

Really? Here's some alarming stats. In Japan:

  • 2014 was the lowest grossing year for dedicated console/handheld video games and hardware since 1991.
  • 2014 was the highest grossing year for video games in general of all time.

So where do you think that money is going? Hint: It's not PC.

Edited on by CaviarMeths

So Anakin kneels before Monster Mash and pledges his loyalty to the graveyard smash.

iKhan

Blast wrote:

iKhan wrote:

CM30 wrote:

I really, really hope not. The smartphone model only works because of the carriers subsidizing the costs and letting you get 'free' upgrades. I'm not sure many people would buy a new Nintendo system every year or two, even if it isn't required to play the games (and for Nintendo fans, if the games offer new features on each 'version', they will pretty much be locked into buying all the upgrades).

Subsidized phone costs are still very high, coming in at 200-300 dollars for the top of the line phones.

Anyway, while I'm not sure about home console, I think it could very well be that Nintendo is going for this strategy with handhelds. Dedicated handhelds are niche devices now, and a good way for Nintendo to move forward without dropping their old install base like a rock is a gradual release structure akin to what smartphones have.

Yeah... No. 3DS still has amazing support in Japan and Nintendo will abandon it when the Japanese desire for it is completely gone. The next handheld won't be a smartphone esque situation. That wouldn't do well in Japan.

I'm not saying to drop the 3DS now.

Remember, handhelds are niche devices now, and they are never coming back from that. Smartphones have become too pervasive. So Nintendo shouldn't be looking to make their handhelds "do well". They should be looking to simply sell enough games and units to justify the continued existence of handhelds. Whether they do it tomorrow or 4 years from now, dropping 3DS support and switching completely to a new device is a bad move, because they have to build a niche audience from scratch again. It would work a lot better for them if they continued supporting the 3DS by making many their next system's games available for it. Then they could gradually focus more on the next system over time.

Currently Playing: Steamworld Heist, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Tales of Graces F

skywake

Blast wrote:

Yeah... No. 3DS still has amazing support in Japan and Nintendo will abandon it when the Japanese desire for it is completely gone.

People keep repeating this but I don't really see the logic in it. Why wouldn't you keep releasing new versions of a form factor that has been and remains successful? The Wii U is decent hardware but isn't doing particularly well. The 3DS is older hardware but is still doing ok. Maybe that has more to do with the market for a Nintendo product in that category more than the device itself.

If they release a new handheld what is its competition? Other than the 3DS itself. Smartphones? Tablets? What about devices for deeper gaming experiences on the go? .... And a new home console? Well we know what it's competition is. Not only the Wii U itself but also the PS4 and the XBOne. Likely the PS5 and XB4 or whatever also. They are far more likely to get a decent return investing in the markets where they already dominate.

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"Don't stir the pot" is a nice way of saying "they're too dumb to reason with"

MightyKrypto

Would that mean there would be no home console coming?
Nope, besides if that's going to be the case, they would be competing with Apple & Samsung and others, as well as Sony & Microsoft. So ...nope.

Edited on by MightyKrypto

MightyKrypto

Akira_1975

@iKhan: Honestly, I think you hit the nail on the head with this one. I am sure this is in the fact the route Nintendo will take going forward. Instead of forcing developers to relearn each time a new console is released, the developers will instead develop against a operating system (similar to iOS) used in various devices. Think of the effort that's involved in creating a new SDK every time you release new hardware. That's a major undertaking and eliminating that would be a HUGE efficiency gain for Nintendo. The Nintendo NX may simply be the first dedicated Nintendo console to run this operating system.

As you said this would ensure backwards compatibility. It would also greatly ease development efforts going forward which is a bonus and may help with the current lack of 3rd party support. It could even allow Nintendo to one day licence out the platform for use in other devices akin to what Android does now.

I'm fine with this model as long as we still get physical releases. I love collecting and giving that up would be difficult. My biggest concern is in regards to how Nintendo will market themselves going forward. Let's be honest they're pushing themselves as the family friendly casual gaming system in NA. This trend is forcing gamers like myself to pickup a 2nd console for the mature rated tripple AAA titles. I wish I could just stick to one console but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Edited on by Akira_1975

Akira_1975

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