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This might sound sensationalist, but I sincerly hope that, in the next generation of consoles the rumours are true and that Nintendo team up with Microsoft to produce the next console.

Owning both an XBOX and a Gamecube, it means that I'd only have to get one console and, with Nintendos gaming brilliance, backed up by M$'s chequebook and online play, it could make the dream partenership to overthrow Sony.

I don't think Nintendo leaving the console arena is even an option, and it's been stated numerous times before that the day Nintendo leave the home console market is the day that they leave gaming.

And, anyway, why would they want to? They're still second placed in the world, as the brilliant Gamecube Christmas sales in America helped counteract the European slump, and leaving Japan to take it home for them.

Nintendo may not be the dominant force in the industry anymore, but they've still got a lot more money to burn before they've even got to begin thinking about pulling out Has EVERYONE forgotten about the sale of Rare? And the 'Q fund' seems to have been forgotten as well.

All that said, the next 2 generations are really sink or swim for Nintendo. If the 'decline' doesn't halt soon, then the only way for Nintendo is out of the home console market. There's no doubting that, since the hazy days of the SNES, sales for nintendo have decreased, and, as ar as I'm aware, the GC hasn't had a million seller yet, unlike the 64.

For me, though, the Gamecube has been much of an experimentation platform for Nintendo, using it to test out possibilities and general 'new' things - for, if you think about it, there hasn't been one 'true' sequel to any of the old games - the launch had Luigi instead of Mario, Mario's had a jetpack, Link has cel-shaded graphics and the karts had 2 per kart.

In the next round, Nintendo need to bring out their big guns straight away next round - do you really think that, if Nintendo would've had Zelda, Mario 128 and Mario Kart out within the first 6 months, that there would've still been this debate about it? By the time Double Dash had arrived, people had already chosen sides and decided who to support in the console race - If Mario and his karting buddies would've been there upon launch, it could've decided M$'s fate, and not have kept them in this so called 'limbo'

If I was Nintendo, I'd just give up this race, and concentrate efforts on launch titles for the N5, and concentrate on trying to give Nintendo the edge over its competition within the first few months.

Go N5

I thank you, Dringo

That is actually very true.

Strafio wrote:
> The reason why the PSOne is still popular is because it became huge
> BEFORE Sony cut it off.

The reason the PSone is still popular, in my opinion, is because it's diversified to appeal to a niché market - children.

All the games that come out for it, nowadays, are purely aimed at the child market - mainly Disney movie tie-ins and such.

I remember, my ex-girlfriends little brother had a PSone, plainly because it was cheap and had a huge back-catalogue of games.

it is, pretty much, perfect for Children, and that is why it's still alive.

mattributé wrote:
> Capcom buyout would be heaven...

What about a capcom AND namco buyout? Now that would be deadly to the competition!

It's a sad time indeed that Nintendo even need to consider the next generation carefully - but then again, realism is a good thing for them too.......

That's it though... that is what Nintendo have been saying all along... the N5 WILL have to be different enough to warrent it's existance and it WILL. The DS, they say, is a hint.

As for Nintendo not having experience with online gaming... ahem. Of course online banking was avalible on the NES, small networking plans were set up on the SNES, the experimental Rad-net on the 64 DD was used... internet capabilities were played with on the Gameboys too.

Nintendo have always said they'll only go Online if they can make it VERY cheap. They are perfectly competant in creating a good, easy to use online server... they are expert software makers in all fields and if they can strike a big deal making gaming VERY cheap then voila... Nintendo can compete with the rest in that department.

I believe it is Nintendo's wireless abilities that will give them the edge...

They have aquired the company that developed that VERY cheap method of wireless systems and they also own a part of Bandai.

Remember Nintendo have $6.2 billion in liquid profits. Sony and Microsoft have more... but 6.2 is more than enough... Nintendo don't even use it as working capital.

When Sony ditched the PSOne, it was showing it's age beyond belief.

The original Gran Tourismo had been specially designed to use every last bit of potential the machine had. After that it was prely down to what the develloper could get out of it, and it was often proven that devellopers were getting a hell of a lot more out of more powerful hardware.

Even the N64 was showing it's age when the PS2 came out and that was yonks ahead of what the PSOne could dream off.


The reason why the PSOne is still popular is because it became huge BEFORE Sony cut it off.


As good as Nintendo's franchises are to sell the console to it's fans, the majority of gamers don't come under that catagory.
And while in theory, Nintendo COULD come up with the best online service with the best online games, they don't have any experience in that department and would have to start from scratch.

MS are the kings of networking and even the sublime planning and refining of their Xbox live service couldn't prevent some serious teething problems.
I can see Nintendo providing a "make do if you're desperate for online gaming" service, but nothing that could compare to what Sony and MS have in mind.


It's not that Nintendo can't compete with them, it's just that Nintendo can't compete with them on their grounds - marketing and online. If Nintendo played to their own strengths (quality of games to provide amazing word of mouth) and devised a marketing plan which didn't involve taking the bull by the horns (pointing out that the Gamecube had become so cheap that it's the perfect little gismo to get while you wait for the biggies) and just focusing on getting the very best out of the Cube - something that they haven't even come CLOSE to achieving...

I mean, what would they do with more power and more hardware?
What would they do that they can't already do with the Gamecube?

But the PSone is still popular.

Nintendo could in reality create the best online service of them all.

Filled with Nintendo related iconography... in fact it would be easy to use... easy accessable for kids and boast the greatest online games of them all...

Mario Party, Kart, Zelda, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Smash Brothers, Metroid Prime...

These are titles Nintendo would use to full effect to launch an online offensive.

But they remain still.

Nintendo couldn't concentrate of the GC for another 5 years - no-one would want one.

it'd be seen as old and poor, in much the same way teh PSone is seen today.

Nintendo + Microsoft would be great.

Nintendo have everything MS lack and vice versa.



If Nintendo remain alone though, then the N5 isn't worth brothering with yet. They should concentrate on getting a cheap Gamecube into every home, getting people hooked on their Mario, Zelda and Metroid franchises before tempting them with the next step.


Besides, what have we seen the Gamecube not manage yet?
What have the Xbox and PS2 done that the Gamecube couldn't handle.

The main focus of the next gen Xbox and PS2 is online, and that's something Nintendo can't really keep up with, on their own...