Love him, or hate him, Wedbush Securities research analyst Michael Pachter sometimes makes some quite interesting predictions when it comes to Nintendo, and this blast from the past really makes us chuckle.
Back in 2012 on a episode of Bonus Round, everyone's favourite analyst inadvertently predicted that Nintendo fans would go crazy for Nintendo Labo.
First he said Nintendo fans weren't that stupid:
I don’t think Nintendo fans are so stupid they would buy a piece of cardboard.
But then, when explaining his position, he went on to say:
A box on the other hand, that says Nintendo on it, they probably would. Remember when you were a kid and you get gifts, and when you’re really little you like the box better than the gift? That’s how I think of Nintendo fanboys.
Quite a damning view of "Nintendo fanboys" from our old chum Pachter there, but it is amusing that he even thought of the idea of Nintendo selling cardboard in the first place.
Of course, Labo is so much more than just cardboard; it's got the engineering precision of an IKEA chest of drawers - and lest we forget both sets come with innovative games to play, too.
Let us know what you think about Pachter's prediction with a comment below.
Comments 142
This is better than the Kenner Christmas Box of 1977.
(This was an empty box pre-order for Star Wars toys which were not yet produced).
Heheh, I miss the Pach Attack.
The guy did explain a lot of really basic stuff to people with no iside into game creation, budgeting, and marketing. But he never did understand Nintendo.
Oops!
And I gotta say. I was one of those kids that thought the box was the best part. And I grew up to be a massive Nintendo fan.
Notice how he stopped publicly talking about Nintendo when the Switch became successful.
He's not everybody's favourite analcyst.
I heard that Hawaii is once again frozen.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE The word is ANALYST.
@Pod he’s still got a YouTube show - the Pachter factor
Last time I bought a cardboard box with "Nintendo" on it, there was a Switch inside. And I regret nothing!
Yeah... the Labo is so much more than cardboard. It's also strings and lousy tech demo's don't forget
@Leu10antFalcon That’s the joke. Read it again.
He said people would buy whatever just because it's made by Nintendo. I get that this article is just supposed to be a joke, but it's a bit of a strech even so
@Leu10antFalcon
I think that was deliberate ...doesn’t matter.
I like Pachman, makes me laugh.
Can we stop referencing this man? His statement about Iwata after his passing is unforgivable and just vile. There's no reason why he should ever be brought up again. I don't care how good or not good of an analyst he is.
Haven't heard from him in quite a long time, frankly since the Switch launched... suspicious. One of the biggest things I've agreed with him on though is about the reach and supposed success of the Xbox One X, which it likely won't be for the obvious reasons he stated.
Oh hey, it's this douche again.
@Leu10antFalcon Oh I know what the word is.
Not this fanboy....but Labo isn't designed for me. It's geared towards kids. And sorry adults, I doubt that robot pack will come in a size big enough that won't cause your arm-span to rip it to shreds.
Wow, another clickbait Michael Pachter article after all this time! Feels like a blast from the past, NL used to run these all the time! However, uh... There's a reason why those fell out of favor:
https://gonintendo.com/stories/266853-gonintendo-will-no-longer-share-michael-pachter-commentary
"Iwata the late and not so great" sums it up.
Pachter often made jokes at the expense of others, such as in the "Nintendo fans will essentially buy a polished turd if it has the Nintendo brand on it" insinuation with the cardboard comments. Which is whatever. But making light of Iwata's passing, even with the full context in mind, is still in poor taste to this day, which he was forced to apologize for. But that didn't excuse his poor, unethical, and unprofessional behavior in the first place.
So if you're asking whether it's too soon to be giving this man attention yet again for easy clicks...
Yes. Yes it is. And I'm guessing whoever is responsible for this little beauty of an article has a short memory on the matter.
We should contact Nintendo Life to please not publish anything related to this man's content again, due to his callously opportunistic use of Iwata's passing to generate more income from insensitive idiots.
Pachter is always right.
It just sometimes takes a bit longer for him to be right than other times.
Question: would Labo be as big a thing if you clipped bits of plastic together and connected the joycon to usb wires?
No. The selling point of this is something as simple as folded cardboard can be used to make a bit of technological magic happen. It’s the collision of high tech and schoolroom engineering.
Now you see how the majority of gamers see Nintendo fanboys. Not Nintendo fans, but fanboys.
@TheJebou It's not as much of a stretch as you think. Nintendo are actually selling empty Switch Splatoon Bundle boxes on their Japanese site.
https://store.nintendo.co.jp/category/FEATURE_SPLATOON/V485553.html
If you go to the link and scroll down a little, you'll notice that they're sold out.
@thesilverbrick He's been quieter since Wii U launched.
@Dizzy_Boy lol I know my cat will be eyeing up the cardboard if I get it she'll be thinking oh that's some fancy cardboard can't wait to get my claws into that
Please, don't generalize, Mr. Pachter. I'm not buying any expensive cardboard, not even from Nintendo.
@DarthFoxMcCloud It was an adult who was playing the robot game in the trailer. Remember it's also for those who are "kids at heart".
What a pathetically worthless article.
Come on guys. Really.
I have never been that great at creating things and crafting, I would somehow mess up and break the cardboard. I hope this sells well for Nintendo the more support we get for the switch the better for everybody involved.
@OorWullie Oh right that did happen
I believe Nostradamus also predicted Nintendo Labo. And so did I. I think the Ayotola warned about it in one of his television addresses about western affluence. There you go, there’s three more potential news stories for nintendolife!
He was right about Wii U... Whoop-de-freaking-doo, it wasn't hard to predict. 3DS on the other hand proved him wrong.
@OorWullie I'm still a kid at heart...but I like tech and toys to withstand being used and to survive the occasional water spill. Nintendo Labo doesn't live up to this. That piano, press the keys enough times and those won't bounce back up like they do in that video. Or the fishing rod, it'll break. The cardboard will fall apart and then kids and "kids at heart" will be left without. And not many people have the printing technology in their homes that will let them use Nintendo's free designs online to print off replacement accessories. It's an interesting concept but clearly not designed for some people who really see this as nothing more but extremely temporary, recyclable knick-knacks. If I'm going to spend over $100 CDN (because remember there's currency conversion), I want my Nintendo and other nerdy items to LAST.
Not really, that quote was reaching and intentionally demeaning. Labo at least has a functional purpose.
He is a piece of s***. He makes statements just to get clicks. I'm glad he disappeared after he made the Iwata comments some time ago. That grumpy analyst that worked with him was really good though, I feel so bad I forgot his name...
He is a nintendo fan.
@garydbz25 You won't be saying that when all the announced for E3 one year is more cardboard, PUPPIES and Animal Crossing.
Nintendo actually doing what he "predicted", for me it's like they're actually making fun of him. xD
He sounds like a jerk. That very rude to insult people for loving a company and liking what they make just because it’s different.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I didn't know people had their favorite selection of professional business analysis in the Nintendo fan community lol
@SimplyCinnamon53 well just to point out, he's a business man first and will say everything in a straightforward fashion. Don't get me wrong he doesn't sound like the nicest guy but when working in a business where numbers and precise vocabulary needs to be said to get the point across he will not come across a nice guy to most people
@Aloth Actually still on the internet conducting professional business and does Q & A for SIFTD.net for free so in a way he's always been there, but just wanted to point out facts.
@JustJulyo Yeah you’re right, It’s just his job. People like that just get under my skin though, he seems so stuck up.
If you are a grown man, and you are going to sit on a stool, on camera, please wear some freaking pants [uk: trousers]
@PlywoodStick I'm just going on a long Pachtor publicity cleaning spree because I just woke up on my day off so hopefully I don't come across as his fan boy or something.
Pachtor has always respected Iwata, loved the man for his personality but it was business decisions which lead to the "not so great Iwata" comment. Everyone kinda casts Pachtor as this evil jerk, in reality he's just a business man who relies on numbers more so than emotion and opinion.
Not gonna say to like the man or to continue what he is up to but just laying out the facts.
But yes I do agree Nintendolife really didn't need to make this article. Seems kinds arbitrary as it doesn't seem like a Nintendolife article that I love coming for.
Yay?
@SimplyCinnamon53 I'm sure he is we just gotta learn how to distinguish opinion and facts from one another to help us understand why we say things.
Everyone has the right to theor opinion just when it comes to pachtor he isn't the most likeable guy but if we can get past the things we dislike about him it will get us a better understanding on why he says the things he says
@bluesdance I always imagined Alex Onley the face of the Nintendolife YouTube channel to have always been pantsless this whole time haha
@Axlroselm they have and it's called Arms
drum and cymbal sound effect
And now I regret making that horrible joke as I do have arms hahaha
Who? What?
I don't get why this guy gets so much attention @NintendoLife.
He's just making stupid and nonsensical 'predictions' all the time.
And no, he didn't predict Nintendo Labo.
He was just talking about a simple, functionless box as a means to discredit Nintendo fans.
I don't know why anyone would take these self-proclaimed 'analysts' seriously, they don't have a clue about anything.
Then, I'm not a Nintendo fanboy!
I won't buy this Nintendo Labo thingy... thanks, Pachter, you ruined my me being nerd.
Sodium overdose.
Seems accurate to me.
@JustJulyo I understand, and if Pachter had presented his post-Iwata sentiments in a more objective and neutral fashion, while maintaining professionalism in his prose, there wouldn't be a problem. Even if he said the same things he did, but only in private outside of business, it would still be horrible, but ultimately a whatever sentiment. But the fact he used his profession, from which he generates income, to propagate such a message with the meaning behind it ascribing a disrespectful title, is unacceptable. If he used the same words in the context he did on my deceased grandmother, especially since he'd be making money off of doing so, I'd want to punch him square in the face. And I'm sure there's plenty of people who would feel the same way if that were said about someone they deeply care about. Apply the golden rule. There are plenty of people who would do the same thing for Iwata, if Pachter told them what he said to their faces.
He's not wrong, I would buy these boxes the moment I saw em if that means making my Super NES more presentable again. Screw the people who hate cardboard box.
@Meowpheel In response to...?
Pachter is a troll. There are many legitimate criticisms to make of Nintendo, but he's rarely shown interest in unpacking these. By going visceral, he'll be guaranteed a response from those who've enjoyed the company's products over the years. The response is his goal.
But-but-but it's pretty, creative cardboard!
It’s weird to see a 75 year old man flaming fanboys. Makes me uncomfortable.
The only thing Pachter is ever right about, is how much he gets wrong. He has at best a sub-par understanding of the videogame industry. Why people pay this guy for analytical advice is beggars belief.
Maybe that's the only prediction he got it right. Like the Switch was going to fail...
The only reason I can find about The flame against Nintendo fans is because he's being paid for the rest of the industry to get cover stories about them.
I'm not buying the cardboard at this point, so he was WRONG.
Pachter? Favourite? Never thought I'd hear those two words in the same sentence.
I think there is something wrong with Nintendo Life lately. Another article that it's like it is written from a 6 year old kid. Please, Darren Calvert, whoever you are, don't do that again. Thank you.
I remember when Michael Pachter predicted that the Wii U would only sell between 30 and 50 million units:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/03/pachter_wii_u_will_sell_between_30_to_50_million_units_during_its_lifetime
Some of the comments are brilliant...
But seriously though, 30-50 million units for the Wii U? And people say Pachter isn't favorable towards Nintendo...
@JustJulyo Wait... Alex WASN'T pantsless this whole time!? 😱
Ahh Patcher. If only I could make the money he does while being as terrible at my job as he is. He's like a meteorologist who predicts an earthquake every day. Eventually he'll be the visionary who saw it before everyone else!
How he has any clients at all I'll never understand. Thank goodness in finance the only thing hiding the fact that you have no idea what you're talking about in any given industry is the fact that your clients have no way to know that you have no idea, since if they had any knowledge they wouldn't have hired you to begin with.
@Pod I'm about to make your day. He's been doing a new show with us for almost three years now! Up to 90 episodes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T1F2DuMnxY&list=PLEKvNTcBdHEScVKK90pw9JKZdee6K-TBt
@thesilverbrick Wrong!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T1F2DuMnxY&list=PLEKvNTcBdHEScVKK90pw9JKZdee6K-TBt
@Menchi187 nah just people like you and idiots like Pachter
Damn.
I hate patcher ever since the iwata quote I want to hear nothing about him!
So he was finally right about something.
Yes, we're being funny and stuff, but let's not give Pachter false kudos and pretend he came anywhere near close to ever predicting something like this. Just saying.
@Menchi187 There certainly are some extreme examples of fanboys who would, no doubt, buy anything that has the name Nintendo on it.
I like Nintendo, just like everyone else on this site, but I have no need to purchase every retro game or Amiibo or box of cereal or what have you just because it says Nintendo.
Mind you, I did stop in North Bend, WA and took a picture of the Nintendo sign. I think it's a production and distribution centre.
@DINFIRE Aren’t we aggressive? Making an account just to scream a one word post at someone? I stand corrected, but even you have to admit he’s sure a lot quieter than he was several years ago when he took every possible opportunity to insist Nintendo was going the way of the dinosaur if they didn’t turn to third-party publishing (a prediction that was complete garbage, by the way).
@Menchi187 I'm gonna take a guess and say you're basing this off of internet blowhards who exclusively invest in other console families and whom you can probably turn the same argument back on them.
At the end of the day, this isn't anything exclusive to Nintendo fanboys (which alot of those noise boxes like to imply)
I don't even know who this guy is, but he seems like he isn't worth paying attention to.
@thesilverbrick Not aggressive at all. I work with him on a weekly basis so I know that this narrative about him is 100 percent false.
Michael Pachter says things like this because website such as this, and fanboys, go gaga over his words and as a result, its gone to his head and he views himself as a sort of high priest in our hobby. The fact that he actually said this is truly amazing.
Can you imagine an auto industry analyst making fun of customers of Ford, Toyota or BMW? Of course not. Here, Pachter shows 1) how highly he thinks of himself and 2) how poorly he views Nintendo and its fans.
This site should not give him any more time, as he is not your friend, he would laugh at you behind your back and he is not a true gamer, the way Mr. Iwata always was. He does not respect the hobby or the fans, all he cares about is the money generated.
@bluesdance
You can tell he has no pants on? 😯
@mike_intv I actually just watched a documentary about Kenner's Star Wars toys on Netflix the other day. Interesting stuff.
@Biff_ARMStrong "lousy tech demos" sure. I'll bet you spent a long time with the software to come to that conclusion.
Ugh, this guy again. What's his point? Are you telling me PlayStation and Xbox wouldn't do they same? Please. PS and Xbox fans bought PS Move and Kinect after years of bashing it when Nintendo were the only ones doing motion controls. Let's quit pretending Nintendo is the only brand with super loyal fans.
His comment towards Iwata and the fact he frequently uses the term "fanboy(s)" speaks volumes about how unprofessional he is.
"A box on the other hand, that says Nintendo on it, they probably would. Remember when you were a kid and you get gifts, and when you’re really little you like the box better than the gift? That’s how I think of Nintendo fanboys."
Hahaha.....
Let see if his claim will NOT proven.
@Nintendo_Thumb Are you not paying attention? People are labeling these as "software" and not even considering them games. You can clearly tell by the footage these are as basic as it gets
@Pod
he still does that show on site called SIFTD Games
it appears
@Biff_ARMStrong This footage you're talking about was only shown for no longer than a second per game (if that). How are you supposed to know anything about it based on that? You're just making up lies, and using those when you don't know things. Unless you work for Nintendo, you have no idea. I'll bet you don't even know how to play the Piano game.
@gortsi Judging by your emotional reaction, I'd say you're probably one of the offending cardboard buyers.
@Nintendo_Thumb Trust me it's gonna suck, there;s no way they're making full fledged games out of these. You'll get maybe a few tunes to play on your silly piano and a small little city block to destroy with your ridiculous robot. Then they'll be in Wallmart bargain bins for everyone to get 5 mins of fun
Yeah, this guy sucks.
It's likely because of human filth like this guy that it remains popular to hate on Nintendo and Nintendo fans. I despise people like this, and yes, I wish ill on them. Bullies who take delight in spitting on other people's fun.
Well I'm pretty sure the box the Wii U came in had 'Nintendo' on it soooo.....
@Biff_ARMStrong
Um...
Maybe i can have fun with LABO more than 5 minutes as you said.
You can't tell the game will be so boring before you have tried first.
And remember, the adults who still have kids in their heart probably will enjoy the Cardboard games more than adults who threw away their childhood memories.
@DINFIRE I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen someone shout “Wrong!” at someone with any kind of intended civility. I apologize for not recognizing that as some sort of new brand of politeness that nobody has ever seen before.
And granted, you clearly know the guy better than I do, but several years ago he quite often publicly spoke of a lot of prophetic doom and gloom for Nintendo and wasn’t shy about it. That’s all well and good, but he absolutely lost me when he mocked Satoru Iwata after his passing by calling him “the late and not so great,” as if Pachter himself is in any reasonable position to comment on greatness. But go ahead; tell us more about what a great guy he is.
@Menchi187 nah, not really my thing. And my reaction was not emotional,just pointing out stupid comments. It's called an observation
@thesilverbrick Well, considering one would need a similar level of empathy as a certain American President who uses the same exclamation, to be able to work with someone like Pachter on a prolonged basis, it actually fits pretty well.
@Anti-Matter For years everyone has been begging Nintendo to stop pushing silly gimmics. For some reason there will always be loyalists who fall for it every time. Nintendo's gimmics never last long. Given their history, this thing is almost guaranteed to suck. lol
If i'm buying a game i want the real deal not an empty box. I can get a box ANYWHERE & not have to spend $200 for an EMPTY box! 😎
I like boxes as much as the next person but not enough to waste good money on empty boxes. I could think of a MILLION other things to waste my money on rather than an empty box.
If that's Nintendo's next big concept in the gaming industry it's a cliche idea (fad that won't last long) than it tells me there running out of idea's for games...
Just wow...
Happy Gaming! 😊
Labo? Like it, don't like it, does not matter one bit. It is innovation, and it is enjoyable to see a company trying different things and trying to push other companies to try something different.
Pachter? Like him, or don't like him, does not matter one bit. He does his thing, you do your thing. News coverage is objective, and uncensored. This article is tongue in cheek. Don't like him? Don't watch him. Don't want to read about him? Don't click on articles that mention him.
@DINFIRE Thank you for the link to siftd, and the alternate take.
Labo, too much labor before play.
I still have the Switch packaging box, there's a cardboard inside, any Nintendo fans wanna buy it? It's from Nintendo, it's got the scent of Nintendo factory. Still in good condition.
@PlywoodStick Expertly put, my friend. How’d I miss that glaring parallel?
@Biff_ARMStrong
I don't think so.
Maybe gimmick is suck for you, but LABO gimmick to me is fun.
What exactly does this Cardboard that Nintendo Fans will buy do?
I hate how condescending he is about Nintendo fans, no matter how true he is. He's the worst.
And that's why he get's paid the big bucks.
How many years did he say a wii HD was needed before it went on to sell 101 million units? Or how he said the vita was going to be a slam dunk? This idiot just guesses constantly until he's right.
Do you ever get the impression Patcher asked Nintendo to Prom in High School, was flatly rejected and has never been able to live it down?
Imagine the look on your childs face when he screws up his Labo kit the day he buys it... or tears 1 bit the wrong way which renders it useless.. Ninty should really consider reinforcing it by laminating it. That way it would be almost tear proof and spillage proof.
I am amazed he actually got this prediction right. Good for him.
Now if only Pachter could make accurate predictions about things related to his actual job (video game sales & revenue).
Gotta be honest, this was the first thing I thought of when Labo was announced.
Nintendo do make nice boxes though.
With nintendo you no longer play with power...you play with cardboxes
@jos
Interesting. I'd want to see what he's talking about these days.
@DINFIRE
SPLENDID!!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE "He's not everybody's favorite Analcyst" - actually killed me.
It's true though. I have almost every Nintendo console (including the Virtual Boy) but the fanboys are the worst. Especially here on Nintendo Life. Just embarrassing.
Excited for every indie crap game or lame port from two generations ago. Now it's some card board mini game collection. This could've been done with the Wii motes. Lame.
@Menchi187
"Now you see how the majority of gamers see fanboys. Not fans, but fanboys".
Fixed it. You're welcome.
@Leu10antFalcon
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/012/132/thatsthejoke.jpg
@Fandabidozi UK friends, I meant “trousers”
More than likely its the only thing this fool will get right. Switch won't sale he said look at it now, this man is jokes.
Nintendo fanboys are obviously as stupid as the people that pay this man for his services!!
Such a tool. This guy was all wanting Nintendo to leave the hardware business. Had all but left Nintendo for dead.
@bones I actually think he said it would sell. Maybe not like it is, but he had some respectable predictions, iirc.
@PlywoodStick
I watched the clip.
PC outrage over the Iwata comment.
He doesn't think Iwata was great, that is his opinion.
The clip there was also from October 2016, Iwata passed away(Rest in peace) in July 2015.
Now was this video posted during that time or later?
That would be pretty relevant.
Either way though, its nuts that I have to go out and defend this douche bag, because he really is a douce bag, and a smug one at that.
But was there a problem with his Iwata comments?
No, that was his opinion. And far from the smuggest thing he ever said.
@Biff_ARMStrong "Trust me it's gonna suck" Why should anyone trust you of all people? You're a known liar; you're claiming things to be true that you know nothing of and stating it as if it's fact. It's not fact, and you don't know what you're talking about, just making it up as you go along. Either you work for Nintendo, or you'd have some sources. Where are your sources? Where is your evidence?
@Nintendo_Thumb LOL. You really like your LAMO don't you? Look at the evidence.
1. Many people are calling this "software" and not even considering it a game.
2. The racing game it shows doesn't even have any other racers on the track.
3. How big can a music game be with such a small piano?
4. Look at Nintendo's past when it comes to games that have gimmics. DK's bongo drums came with very small and simple games
5. The robot game doesn't look like there is much too it
6. It's just plain obvious, how are you going to make a full fledged game out of one simple function?
@MIDP If it were the case that his comments were simply his private opinion, which he wasn't making money and generating hits from, then yes, my response would be mere "PC outrage." However, the fact that Pachter used his show, which he derives an income from, to essentially apply a disrespectful title to Iwata posthumously for the sake of generating extra hits, regardless of the amount of time passed, is worthy of scorn. He made money off of his negative post-Iwata comments. That is unethical and unprofessional, no matter how one looks at it.
An analyst is the most useless job in the world. Everyone's at least sometimes an analyst and makes predictions. That's like getting paid to eat burgers, not even to review the burgers but just for the sake of eating burgers.
@PlywoodStick
But did he name the video something involving Iwata too?
@MIDP The topic was on the pricing structure of Super Mario Run. Pachter said, "I think the problem with Super Mario Run is, to quote the late and not so great Satoru Iwata, it's free to start. And he said this a couple of years ago, and I think I did a Pachter Factor/Attack about this, he said- he was questioned about what he thought about free to play. And he said, 'we prefer [the term] free to start.' And he didn't explain it. But we now are seeing it..."
He went on to talk about how he made a bet with someone that Nintendo would charge at least $10 for Super Mario Run, due to their business model of putting a high value on their properties and being wary of the mobile market's race to the bottom, which Pachter described as "being stuck looking at the rear view mirror to their past." He later went on to talk about potential download numbers, saying that with a premium price, it would largely be dependent on Nintendo fanboys. Then he mused, "What the hell is Nintendo thinking?", saying SMR should have been free to play with paid DLC, or in other words, joining the mobile race to the bottom.
So essentially what Pachter did there was insult Iwata posthumously for his business decisions and philosophy. Then Pachter inserted his own ideas as being better, insinuating that Iwata and the other executives made poor leadership decisions for Nintendo, wondering why the rest of them would go along with it.
And he made money from those comments. That is the height of arrogance.
@PlywoodStick
Ok, but in that case, clearly it was his opinion, whether or not he made money on it.
So yes, I'd still file that under PC outrage, because by that logic, you are basically not allowed to say anything.
He does video game market commenting, his job is to have opinions - and yes, make money on those opinions.
He clearly doesn't like Nintendo(if you don't believe that watch him more) and then he should be able to state his opinion.
Let me ask you this instead, if he wanted to state his opinion - that he believes that Nintendo has backwards business practices and that he thinks Iwata is out of touch - how else would he describe it?
@MIDP The key here is in what Pachter meant by what he said. There are plenty of ways he could have expressed his distaste and disagreement with Iwata's business decisions and philosophy, as well as Nintendo's admittedly archaic policies, without being condescending and insulting. He could have even said most of what he said anyways, while simply rephrasing them in a neutral and not arrogant way.
For example, simply saying, "the late Satoru Iwata" instead of, "the late and not so great Satoru Iwata." And explaining himself by phrasing in ways such as, "I believe Nintendo would have been better served by doing such and such, based on this and that knowledge", instead of phrasing it as, "What the hell is Nintendo thinking", while tying that in with deriding Iwata's business decisions and philosophy. Pachter could have easily disagreed with Iwata without acting patronizingly superior about it.
The way he phrased what he said was a low blow, especially now that Iwata is dead and cannot defend himself. There's a difference between being straightforwardly critical and being unfairly and demeaningly critical. Pachter's penchant for the latter and failure to demonstrate the former is key to what makes his behavior unethical and unprofessional. The only reason he's able to get away with it is because he's silver-tongued, not bombastically incendiary. He is a master of obfuscating the meaning behind his words.
@Biff_ARMStrong
"LOL. You really like your LAMO don't you?"
I have no opinion on the matter without any evidence by either: having played it myself, seen extensive videos on Youtube of someone else playing it, nor have I read any article or heard rumors of anyone who has spent an extensive time with the finished software. You are the one making the claim as to the quality of the software, not me.
" Look at the evidence.
1. Many people are calling this "software" and not even considering it a game."
They're calling it software, because that's literally all we know at this point that it's digital software, and there's currently a single video showing the software for a few seconds, and the hands-on demos that have went out don't go in depth with any of the software in the articles.
"2. The racing game it shows doesn't even have any other racers on the track."
Yeah, a screenshot of a game, or a couple seconds of footage isn't going to give anything away except that it's a motorcycle game. Besides that, Nintendo is well known for making fun games, so, however it turns out will probably be fun, no matter how it plays or if it's online, or how many levels it has, or how the controls feel, etc.
"3. How big can a music game be with such a small piano?"
The skies the limit; just because you have no imagination doesn't nobody else does. Considering the technology only just now became available, I wouldn't be surprised if they had software in mind for many years, just waiting for the technology to catch up with their ideas.
"4. Look at Nintendo's past when it comes to games that have gimmics. DK's bongo drums came with very small and simple games"
Those were great games and that's exactly why I like them. There's tons of great music too on the rest of the Donka Konga games that came out in Japan. The 5 games or so that came out for that are perfectly made for it. Complaining about things like Donkey Konga being the game on the bongos, is just like complaining about the plastic guitar in Guitar Hero only being practical for use in Guitar Hero. Well, yeah, that's the whole point of it. You weren't going to be playing a guitar or a bongos game with a gamepad, so, they made it possible. Or Wii Fit, when that came out it sold like crazy, and it was just the one software at first, and then later Wii Fit Plus, and then the one Wii U, and it's great software, and probably the best fitness software available (or at least at the time). There was tons of fun games to play on there, and tons of Yoga, and Strength Training, and stat tracking, it made the whole Balance Board worth the large price tag, because they made sure the software that accompanied it was amazing. Then there was the Wii Remote that came out with Wii Sports, which was at the time revolutionary, and the games of Wii Sports showed it off perfectly, and got people of all ages and demographics playing that wouldn't otherwise play games. It was simple at first, but, like any game, the more you play, the harder your opponents become, and there was tons of challengers, and then there was the training mode as well. Wii Sports had an incredible amount of game length, there was so much to do there, and that's the whole reason the Wii sold as well as it did. If it came with dud software nobody would have cared. Then there was the Wii Motion Plus accesory that came with Wii Play Motion, which had a bunch of fun games on at as well, things you can't play anywhere else, like the ghost hunting game where you have to find ghosts nearby (in real life away from the tv) and drag them to the tv screen like from Ghostbusters, and Skipping Stones was surprisingly good as well, as were many others.
5. The robot game doesn't look like there is much too it
Again, you've seen it for a few seconds, and you're already to coming to that conclusion. You do realize that it's a whole set, and they've been working on it for at least 4 years for this single game. It's laughable that you'd think they'd do all that to build a suit just for this one game, and you think they wouldn't spend any time and money on the software; Nintendo of all companies.
6. It's just plain obvious, how are you going to make a full fledged game out of one simple function?
LOL, tell that to the Wii, or the Smart Phone, or the Dance Mat, or the Guitar Hero guitar, or Zapper, or the Balance Board, or the Bongos. These things aren't made for a multitude of tons of games, they're made for the software, and the software was made for the game. They don't need to cover all genres, or, do anything besides play one game. Nintendo knows how to make games with unconventional control schemes, they've been doing it a long time. They wouldn't make the hardware if they didn't have the software to support it.
@Nintendo_Thumb Some people in these forums are complete and utter psycho's. lol. How long did it take you to write that? I would read all that but I got games to play. lol
@Nintendo_Thumb I read it...
Heh, so Labo and the Wii U are now the only two things about which this man has ever been right when discussing Nintendo.
@MIDP Well, like I mentioned before, there's a difference between being straightforwardly critical and being unfairly and demeaningly critical. One can debate both a company's policies and a deceased president's former decisions, and make postmortems/proposals about what could have been and can be done better, without being vulgar and haughty about it. This does make a difference in the professional world, which does not require being "PC," but rather, mindfully choosing your words and maintaining a decent demeanor. Especially when you've reached Pachter's age.
It sounds like you've allowed the regressivism of "PC culture" to color your thoughts in a certain way... Which is kind of ironic, if you think about it. Your position is that everyone should be allowed to say almost whatever they want in whatever context, even if they're being high and mighty, with a few notably horrendous exceptions. Which is basically the opposite side of the coin- you completely skim over nuances, and somehow interpret things like "straightforwardly critical instead of demeaningly critical" as "can't make any criticism at all", since you hold to a sort of "anti-PC" position. From your position, if you can't be demeaningly critical without reprisal, it's somehow the same as not being able to make criticism at all... Which ironically mirrors "PC reactions" in an uncanny way.
Iwata's previous line of thought for online gaming that you're referencing goes back to about 14 years ago. You're talking about an era where internet access was still a relative luxury, Xbox Live was in it's infancy, the PS2's online features had just barely begun to lift off, the Gamecube modem/ethernet adapters pretty much only provided online support for Phantasy Star Online and LAN support for three 1st party racing genre titles, and the Dreamcast was still the only console that had actually managed to launch with a basic online infrastructure. You're going off on a tangent, talking about ancient history and extrapolating that into Iwata making poor decisions throughout his life.
The truth is, you don't know what was going on in Iwata's head at any point in time. You don't understand what their perspective was from any era. And yet you preemptively determine that you know best, and attribute Iwata's thoughts and decisions, both from the distant and recent past, to some inherent point of failure. Which is not so different from what Pachter does. So I understand now why you're so eager to defend him.
@electrolite77 Oh... LOL (as Scooby-Doo): I don't get it. (end of sarcastic impression)
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