Let's be real here, 3 of Nintendo's last 4 home consoles didn't sell well. Their last handheld system completely stumbled out the gate, and has accumulated the fewest handheld sales in Nintendo history. Clearly there are lessons that can be learned as Nintendo gears up for its next hardware launch.
Here are some of mine:
Lesson from Wii U: Make sure the product has significant appeal over market alternatives. New ideas are fine, but those new ideas need to be strong enough to convince people to move from old hardware, or intriguing enough to access new audiences.
Lesson from Wii: Make sure your system is somewhat future-proofed. The Wii sold decently through 2010, but the steam was completely out come 2011. The system completely lost it's ability to keep up with trends in online retail, online play, graphics, etc. You could argue that casuals don't care about these things, but tech saavy people and gamers are the foundation that sparks the hype within other markets.
Lesson from Gamecube: Impression matters for sales. If your system looks juvenile and your marketing doesn't really change that impression, that is going to stick with the system. I had thought the Gamecube was weaker than the PS2 for the longest time, in part because the GC made such a poor impression.
Lesson from N64: Make your system easy to develop for. I think this one is self explanatory.
Lesson from 3DS: We are in the mobile era. Either switch to a business model that accepts handhelds as a "niche" product, or do something that convinces more people that they need a handheld and a phone.
-Make sure your hardware has a clear message and marketing.
-First party support is not enough to support a console.
-Make sure your hardware is easy to develop for and port to.
From their E3 2015 lineup:
-Don't forget about what made your IPs popular in the first place.
-Give fans what they want before you give them what they didn't know they wanted.
@TheLastLugia: Well not only that but the last generation was their most successful, but here it seems like they've failed for years. For shame @iKhan! You get a slap on the wrist!
Anyway, they definitely need to step up marketing to attract new audiences. Nintendo Directs are fine for the fans that are buying the games anyway, but we need a bigger crowd here.
@TingLz: I mean maybe it's just me but I think you can learn from your success just as much, if not more, than your 'failures' ('cause let's face it if the 3DS is considered a failure in the circumstances then we might as well just give up now). As you say last gen was Nintendo's most fruitful so far, with what nearly 300 million consoles sold and more than 1 billion games? Why is this always overlooked when certain people on this site reflect on the past and look forward to the future?
Nobody around here likes it, but Nintendo has to compete with Microsoft/Sony.
They've tried this "we're the alternative gaming system" thing for a while, now, and like @iKhan pointed out, it's only worked in... two cases out of six or so? (The Wii and DS were certainly commercial successes.)
But yea, the 3DS, the Wii U, the N64, the Gamecube... not too hot either on their own or in the 3DS's case when compared to its predecessor.
So my point is, they've tried tapping into this magical market of people who either don't want an Xbox/PS or are willing to have a Nintendo as well, and the numbers just don't seem to be panning out. I think it's time they just craft a competitive box, continue with their unique IPs, and jump into the fray with pledged 3rd-party support that needs to manifest in some kind of launch title that will be on NX/Xbox/PS simultaneously. None of this "3 months later" garbage that EA/Ubisoft pulled with the Wii U.
If you launch with Zelda AND the new Call of Duty next Holiday, I guarantee you have a shot at roping some new people in with the Zelda game, and persuading them to then say, "Well, I'm playing my NX a lot for Zelda, I'll just get Duty for NX this year, as well." And if you can do that, you'll set yourself up for some snowballing. (Slightly improved performance over Xbox/PS wouldn't hurt, as well.)
They need to watch Gladiator and listen to Proximo. To win the crowd they basically need graphical violence and destruction and sport. When you empty an entire clip in to some polygons, it has to look smoother, slicker and sexier than anyone elses. Hehe. in my mind this is what most Westerners want. Guns, explosions and Ronaldo. I love Nintendo for the creativity. I don't see selling 12 million consoles as a failure because what exactly do you measure that against? They made a profit. They are doing what they want? That's what life is about. However, to the millions that spend their time clicking a mouse button until they own a virtual Messi Fifa card, it is a failure and the only way for Nintendo to succeed is to appeal to that audience.
I never drive faster than I can see. Besides, it's all in the reflexes.
@rallydefault: More is needed than just the new CoD, the version itself needs to be identical to the XB1 and PS4 versions (i.e. it has both the solo/coop campaign and competitive online, it has the season pass with all the content the other versions have, etc.). One of the biggest problems with CoD on Nintendo consoles so far is that since CoD4 there's always been missing content:
. CoD4 - Missing Variety Map Pack (5 maps) and 2 years late
. CoD WaW - Missing 4 map packs (16 multiplayer maps and 4 zombie maps) and free Makin Bonus Map
. MW2 - Doesn't exist on Nintendo systems
. Black Ops - Missing 4 map packs (16 multiplayer maps and 4 zombie maps)
. MW3 - Missing 4 map packs (12 multiplayer maps, 8 spec ops missions and 5 face off maps), 2 free face off maps and 1 free multiplayer map
. Black Ops 2 - Missing 4 map packs (16 multiplayer maps and 4 zombie maps) and Nuketown Zombies map
. Ghosts - Missing 4 map packs (16 multiplayer maps and 4 extinction maps)
Nintendo is a great innovator and has always been. But we don't always need a gimmick. Let the software be the innovation.
Pokemon Go could be an innovation for example.
Nintendo also can not go it alone. They must have third party support. If you can not play COD, Fifa, Minecraft and to a lesser extent the Japanese games, then this will end like the Wii U.
Hopefully Nintendo has learned a lesson they didn't seem to understand since the snes days. You need third party support.
The third party games must be on par with Xbone and Ps4. That includes DLC.
Except Pokemon Go is the epitome of a unique software idea driven by unique aspects of hardware. Pokemon Go simply would not work on the 3DS. The reason it works is because of GPS chips, cameras, gyroscopes, and powerful phone hardware.
Ultimately, it goes back to my first point. Whatever Nintendo makes, it needs to have some sort of appeal over systems that people already own. Otherwise, what is the point of spending a crapton of money. Yes, software drives hardware to a degree, but in my oft cited example, no one would buy a $200 system with NES-level power just because it had good games.
This means that the next console must either be significantly more powerful than the PS4 and XB1, or it needs to have some unique innovation people want.
Nobody around here likes it, but Nintendo has to compete with Microsoft/Sony.
That really says it haha. The second you say the WiiU & 3DS are actually direct competitors with the Xbox One & PS4 they lose their minds and say it's not the same thing and isn't competitor. People whine that the 3DS isn't competing with the consoles because it's a handheld, but it is. If it's selling a damn video game on it then it's a competitor, because it's driving sales away from other video game systems and software. How dense can one be? Well, pretty dense. But then again no one should be surprised these idiots can't grasp that, they're the same ones who come into the retail stores and fight with the employees about what's what and think we want to hear their 2 cents on the matter.
On a side note, nobody is ever going to be happy with the Amiibo support. If they put a lot, people are pissed off that they hide content behind an Amiibo. If they put just a tiny bit of content, or none at all, then people are pissed off because it was lacking. Of course in both situations there's always a big group of happy people. The opinion is split and they're never going to satisfy anyone even if they make the right moves.
On a side note, nobody is ever going to be happy with the Amiibo support. If they put a lot, people are pissed off that they hide content behind an Amiibo. If they put just a tiny bit of content, or none at all, then people are pissed off because it was lacking. Of course in both situations there's always a big group of happy people. The opinion is split and they're never going to satisfy anyone even if they make the right moves.
I would much rather Nintendo just put out a line of figures that don't have anything to do with games. That's clearly why most people are buying them.
Leave the locked content behind.
Currently Playing: Steamworld Heist, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Tales of Graces F
I don't mind amiibo support, but I heavily dislike locking content behind amiibo. Small things like "Health recovery", "More arrows" are perfectly ok, but for the love of god don't lock things like missions, items, or an entire freaking dungeon behind them, especially with how difficult some of them are to find, and especially at a reasonable price.
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Topic: What does Nintendo need to learn from previous failures?
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