The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
A wave of steady Nintendo criticism has emerged from the massive European market as of late, stores are dropping prices ready for clear outs, consumers are distasteful over lack of marketing and delays are a constant news item on the C-E news desk. And yet please let me assure you that Nintendo have not pressed the self-destruct button and in fact Nintendo’s “bizarre” decisions are far from bizarre.
CONNECTIVITY
After what was concluded a disappointing E3 (for a change) on Nintendo’s behalf a mass hatred for the Big N’s connectivity plan hit the web. Millions wondering why Nintendo would sacrifice time and money, that could be spent on online play, on some daft connection between the GBA and GC.
But there is a reason, a very good reason in fact, and that this is Nintendo’s “back up” plan. Zelda sales (despite raising Nintendo briefly) weren’t as phenomenal as hoped and neither was Sunshine’s, in fact Nintendo came to realise their AAA titles weren’t cutting it in the long term anymore… it was time for a new strategy. The GBA was a success from day one and the crazy Japanese sales of Pokemon made the latest Gameboy easily as big as the Playstation brand, time to leach that success. The connectivity was always a quirky extra that really has failed to take off, but if Nintendo can somehow make it bigger then you’ll see some of that GBA success emulated on the NGC. What Nintendo need to do is re-launch the idea. Enter Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Zelda and Pac Man, combined with 20 plus EA games and nearly EVERY other Gamecube game. 80% of GC games will feature a connectivity option… you simply can’t escape it. If Nintendo can make the Gamecube and GBA two halves of the same console as they proposed 2 years ago then you could see a leap in sales. That’s not all, as a short term fix Nintendo revealed the GBA player, which is a clever little device that has indeed bumped sales. It is less notable in the west but in Japan (where the simple word Gameboy sells like hotcakes) Gamecube sales have risen from approximately 7,000 to 13,000. Nice.
MARKETING
The idiot who thought it was amusing to say Nintendo cannot market seemed to have a good case. Whilst Sony was selling their products on prime time slots on ITV and in Heat magazine, Nintendo opted for Kerrang and Cartoon Network and print adverts on the back of the Beano… wow. But you see prices for Heat and prime time slots on TV are ludicrously expensive, and if these adverts don’t pay off (SEGA’s Dreamcast catastrophe being a notable example) then Nintendo would be in a whole host of trouble… it’s best to play it safe. Please remember Nintendo has outlasted all of its original competitors and is still surviving against the “young guns” Sony and Microsoft. Evidence of Nintendo’s capability to advertise comes in the form of a creature phenomenon… Pokemon. Everyone knew about Pokemon, many loved it and those who hated it secretly played the games at home… it became a moneymaking company in itself, proof Nintendo can market if they want to.
THE END IS NIGH
No it bloody well isn’t. With Virgin and WH Smiths being the next inline for a Nintendo clear out following on the heels of Dixons and Argos many claim that this signals the end. Pappa_Lazarou commented saying: “You brought it on yourselves Nintendo, and I can't say I'm particularly bothered anymore.” Is this really the final farewell from Nintendo? Not a chance, you see the reason why Dixons and Argos are stop selling Nintendo products is because they weren’t selling Nintendo products… so what’s the problem? All it means is that Nintendo can now concentrate stocking the high street stores that are selling Nintendo titles, online juggernaut Special Reserve has reported that Gamecube products are amongst its best selling items as has high street store GAME. The reason why Dixons and Argos didn’t sell their products was because of simple high street rivalry; GAME got Argos’ customers because GAME did loads of Gamecube related promotions… Argos and Dixons did not.
But of course you can’t hide the fact that Nintendo are simply not selling in some places in Europe (namely the UK, places like Germany love Nintendo), but this isn’t a permanent thing. Nintendo sales change places with Microsoft when Nintendo release a big game, it is that simple… out comes Metroid up goes sales… and this will happen to a far more dramatic effect when we, at long last, get a decent Christmas. Despite the apparent delay of Crystal Chronicles (which might I add, with the wealth of titles is a good thing… it’s always been bigger in Japan anyway), Nintendo have pulled out all the stops this year for a Christmas explosion. F Zero, Metal Gear Solid (America anyway) and Mario Kart are sure to triumph over a GTA missing PS2 or Halo less X-box line up and of course we shouldn’t forget Pikmin 2, Mario Golf, Party 5, Viewtiful Joe and a whole host of others. And what about that price drop? Since the launch of the Gamecube Nintendo have not dropped the price once… how can a company that is apparently struggling in Europe not feel the need to drop the price. Sony and Microsoft keep second-guessing Nintendo with their own price drops and yet Nintendo, now quickly becoming the most expensive console, haven’t done it once. Will we see one in time for Christmas? And if we do will we see Argos and Dixons knocking on Nintendo’s door once more?
Watch this space.
Dringo.
CONNECTIVITY
After what was concluded a disappointing E3 (for a change) on Nintendo’s behalf a mass hatred for the Big N’s connectivity plan hit the web. Millions wondering why Nintendo would sacrifice time and money, that could be spent on online play, on some daft connection between the GBA and GC.
But there is a reason, a very good reason in fact, and that this is Nintendo’s “back up” plan. Zelda sales (despite raising Nintendo briefly) weren’t as phenomenal as hoped and neither was Sunshine’s, in fact Nintendo came to realise their AAA titles weren’t cutting it in the long term anymore… it was time for a new strategy. The GBA was a success from day one and the crazy Japanese sales of Pokemon made the latest Gameboy easily as big as the Playstation brand, time to leach that success. The connectivity was always a quirky extra that really has failed to take off, but if Nintendo can somehow make it bigger then you’ll see some of that GBA success emulated on the NGC. What Nintendo need to do is re-launch the idea. Enter Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Zelda and Pac Man, combined with 20 plus EA games and nearly EVERY other Gamecube game. 80% of GC games will feature a connectivity option… you simply can’t escape it. If Nintendo can make the Gamecube and GBA two halves of the same console as they proposed 2 years ago then you could see a leap in sales. That’s not all, as a short term fix Nintendo revealed the GBA player, which is a clever little device that has indeed bumped sales. It is less notable in the west but in Japan (where the simple word Gameboy sells like hotcakes) Gamecube sales have risen from approximately 7,000 to 13,000. Nice.
MARKETING
The idiot who thought it was amusing to say Nintendo cannot market seemed to have a good case. Whilst Sony was selling their products on prime time slots on ITV and in Heat magazine, Nintendo opted for Kerrang and Cartoon Network and print adverts on the back of the Beano… wow. But you see prices for Heat and prime time slots on TV are ludicrously expensive, and if these adverts don’t pay off (SEGA’s Dreamcast catastrophe being a notable example) then Nintendo would be in a whole host of trouble… it’s best to play it safe. Please remember Nintendo has outlasted all of its original competitors and is still surviving against the “young guns” Sony and Microsoft. Evidence of Nintendo’s capability to advertise comes in the form of a creature phenomenon… Pokemon. Everyone knew about Pokemon, many loved it and those who hated it secretly played the games at home… it became a moneymaking company in itself, proof Nintendo can market if they want to.
THE END IS NIGH
No it bloody well isn’t. With Virgin and WH Smiths being the next inline for a Nintendo clear out following on the heels of Dixons and Argos many claim that this signals the end. Pappa_Lazarou commented saying: “You brought it on yourselves Nintendo, and I can't say I'm particularly bothered anymore.” Is this really the final farewell from Nintendo? Not a chance, you see the reason why Dixons and Argos are stop selling Nintendo products is because they weren’t selling Nintendo products… so what’s the problem? All it means is that Nintendo can now concentrate stocking the high street stores that are selling Nintendo titles, online juggernaut Special Reserve has reported that Gamecube products are amongst its best selling items as has high street store GAME. The reason why Dixons and Argos didn’t sell their products was because of simple high street rivalry; GAME got Argos’ customers because GAME did loads of Gamecube related promotions… Argos and Dixons did not.
But of course you can’t hide the fact that Nintendo are simply not selling in some places in Europe (namely the UK, places like Germany love Nintendo), but this isn’t a permanent thing. Nintendo sales change places with Microsoft when Nintendo release a big game, it is that simple… out comes Metroid up goes sales… and this will happen to a far more dramatic effect when we, at long last, get a decent Christmas. Despite the apparent delay of Crystal Chronicles (which might I add, with the wealth of titles is a good thing… it’s always been bigger in Japan anyway), Nintendo have pulled out all the stops this year for a Christmas explosion. F Zero, Metal Gear Solid (America anyway) and Mario Kart are sure to triumph over a GTA missing PS2 or Halo less X-box line up and of course we shouldn’t forget Pikmin 2, Mario Golf, Party 5, Viewtiful Joe and a whole host of others. And what about that price drop? Since the launch of the Gamecube Nintendo have not dropped the price once… how can a company that is apparently struggling in Europe not feel the need to drop the price. Sony and Microsoft keep second-guessing Nintendo with their own price drops and yet Nintendo, now quickly becoming the most expensive console, haven’t done it once. Will we see one in time for Christmas? And if we do will we see Argos and Dixons knocking on Nintendo’s door once more?
Watch this space.
Dringo.
Page:
Tribute wrote:
> Whitestripes DX wrote:
> I think you care too much..
>
> Once again, I agree with WS.
>
> All this and you can't even win a GAD for it...
Who cares?
I thought it was a damn good read and it settled many a question that's been recently raised in the Nintendo forum.
> Whitestripes DX wrote:
> I think you care too much..
>
> Once again, I agree with WS.
>
> All this and you can't even win a GAD for it...
Who cares?
I thought it was a damn good read and it settled many a question that's been recently raised in the Nintendo forum.
Hedfix wrote:
> Tribute wrote:
> Nintendo have been in gaming for over 100 years - they started Card
> making in 1890-something, and only changed to video gaming towards
> the
> end of the last century.
>
> Exactly.
>
> But I was trying to trick someone into saying "Nah dey wazn't u
> lyer...".
>
> *Shrugs*
I'm referring to the computer game market and i didn't say prior to 1985 or something similar.
Yes a Price cut followed by huge releases WILL work... as i said in the article.. well done for re-iterating it Pratical magic.
> Tribute wrote:
> Nintendo have been in gaming for over 100 years - they started Card
> making in 1890-something, and only changed to video gaming towards
> the
> end of the last century.
>
> Exactly.
>
> But I was trying to trick someone into saying "Nah dey wazn't u
> lyer...".
>
> *Shrugs*
I'm referring to the computer game market and i didn't say prior to 1985 or something similar.
Yes a Price cut followed by huge releases WILL work... as i said in the article.. well done for re-iterating it Pratical magic.
Tribute wrote:
> Nintendo have been in gaming for over 100 years - they started Card
> making in 1890-something, and only changed to video gaming towards the
> end of the last century.
Exactly.
But I was trying to trick someone into saying "Nah dey wazn't u lyer...".
*Shrugs*
> Nintendo have been in gaming for over 100 years - they started Card
> making in 1890-something, and only changed to video gaming towards the
> end of the last century.
Exactly.
But I was trying to trick someone into saying "Nah dey wazn't u lyer...".
*Shrugs*
Dringo wrote:
> And the Dixon's chain didn't sell £100 Gamecube's too well and
> Argos just got rid of their shipment and that was it.
Wrong actually. Games TM issue #5 reported that the company had restocked when it's initial run of £78.99 'cubes ran out, though Argos does no longer sell the console.
Games TM also reported that the combined Argos/Dixons price cuts caused a 4 week 68% sales jump, and around the time of Metroid's release Nintendo has a 40% share of the UK games market.
My conclusion ? The problem is price. Cut the price to £99.99, throw in a free game on the run up to Xmas, get 1080, Rogue Leader 3, Soul Calibur 2, PN03, Crystal Chronicles, Mario Golf, etc out on time, and Nintendo stand a chance of having a good christmas. The games lineup last year was crap beyond belief - Starfox and Mario Party 4 were the main lead titles and that was not good enough - both came out in November for starters.
> And the Dixon's chain didn't sell £100 Gamecube's too well and
> Argos just got rid of their shipment and that was it.
Wrong actually. Games TM issue #5 reported that the company had restocked when it's initial run of £78.99 'cubes ran out, though Argos does no longer sell the console.
Games TM also reported that the combined Argos/Dixons price cuts caused a 4 week 68% sales jump, and around the time of Metroid's release Nintendo has a 40% share of the UK games market.
My conclusion ? The problem is price. Cut the price to £99.99, throw in a free game on the run up to Xmas, get 1080, Rogue Leader 3, Soul Calibur 2, PN03, Crystal Chronicles, Mario Golf, etc out on time, and Nintendo stand a chance of having a good christmas. The games lineup last year was crap beyond belief - Starfox and Mario Party 4 were the main lead titles and that was not good enough - both came out in November for starters.
Nintendo have been in gaming for over 100 years - they started Card making in 1890-something, and only changed to video gaming towards the end of the last century.
Although Nintendo have been in the market of game-making way before 1985...
djerrud wrote:
> Since when were Sony 'Young Guns'.
In that sony entered the market in 1995 over ten years after Nintendo.
> Since when were Sony 'Young Guns'.
In that sony entered the market in 1995 over ten years after Nintendo.
1: I've always been a sad lover of the Nintendo franchise
2: I wrote it as an article for another site but was ignored.
And the Dixon's chain didn't sell £100 Gamecube's too well and Argos just got rid of their shipment and that was it.
2: I wrote it as an article for another site but was ignored.
And the Dixon's chain didn't sell £100 Gamecube's too well and Argos just got rid of their shipment and that was it.
I wonder if Dringo has a secret stash of Mario an Peach porn.
Yes I do.
Whatever he says, he will be crying inside when it is still alive.
Whatever he says, he will be crying inside when it is still alive.
Page: