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From what only appears to be a gaming rut of hell... Nintendo are sliding... fast.
The console has only been out a year but failing to reach tragets by just under 50% was a drastic disaster for Nintendo. GBA selling millions or not Nintendo will not keep a dead weight going as long as Microsoft will. Sales for Nintendo's Gamecube are at the stage where they ARE indeed making money... but recent reports show this is only a temporay thing.
Dixons and Argos have removed their Gamecube stock. Argos are only willing to stock under 50% of their normal Gamecube shipments but originally planned to cut the console all together. The GAME group have also scaled down its Gamecube size and so has Blockbuster/Choices who are removing Gamecube stock all together from certain stores. Despite shocking concerns it doesn't appear all TOO bad, Nintendo stock is still booming in certain retailers with Special Reserve indicating that they are enjoying some success with Nintendo's console. Also independant retailers across britain are enjoying some success.
Nevertheless it all looked grim but Nintendo have to face another problem... the 3rd parties. Whereas the N64 began with little 3rd party support and that grew, it is the opposite for the Cube. Codemasters already withdrew from Nintendo support and the success of Zelda was to define Infogrammes support. Capcom are trying to shift attention slowly back to Sony and SEGA's new plan includes a dramatic recline in Nintendo support.
In an attempt to counter-act the problem Nintendo are to produce a royalty scheme. Nintendo will also stop the high prices 3rd parties are forced to spend. EA, the biggest company that threatened to leave Nintendo, the company that broke SEGA, were the last straw for Nintendo and their 'wait and see' attitude. EA are vital to Nintendo's success and So Nintendo revealed that a deal broke last month, Nintendo offered Electronic Arts a fresh royalty break of the cost of game production, plus $1 US, resulting in the slew of titles announced by Electronic Arts during March.
A similar deal (although not AS great) is being done to all 3rd parties. Nintendo have their backs to the wall, the games that saved them during the N64 are NOT doing it this time. Zelda and Mario unsuprisingly hit the number one spot but for a mere week, Mario's success was similar to Pikmin's in Japan and this was a devestating blow. In an attempt to push Zelda Nintendo announced a bonus disc. It took record pre-orders but then, as it with Mario, the game dropped!
Metroid Prime did moderate success again and just as Nintendo had hoped... great but not world smashing. Nintendo realize that it is the other developers that can unleash a smash hit and so losing them would be killer.
It is the new titles that Nintendo are developing that look to save the company in the long run. Pikmin did VERY well and as the game gets a sequel, and another... the game will become bigger. Metroid Prime is also looking like a firm favourite for the west. Animal Crossing is also set to get bigger.
But these games will take time to reach critical success... the third parties and the dwindeling success of their ancient franchises Zelda and Mario are all Nintendo have left to stay alive.
Maybe it is time Pokemon returned to the home consoles... and then we may have that temporary revival that is so vital.
Dringo.
The console has only been out a year but failing to reach tragets by just under 50% was a drastic disaster for Nintendo. GBA selling millions or not Nintendo will not keep a dead weight going as long as Microsoft will. Sales for Nintendo's Gamecube are at the stage where they ARE indeed making money... but recent reports show this is only a temporay thing.
Dixons and Argos have removed their Gamecube stock. Argos are only willing to stock under 50% of their normal Gamecube shipments but originally planned to cut the console all together. The GAME group have also scaled down its Gamecube size and so has Blockbuster/Choices who are removing Gamecube stock all together from certain stores. Despite shocking concerns it doesn't appear all TOO bad, Nintendo stock is still booming in certain retailers with Special Reserve indicating that they are enjoying some success with Nintendo's console. Also independant retailers across britain are enjoying some success.
Nevertheless it all looked grim but Nintendo have to face another problem... the 3rd parties. Whereas the N64 began with little 3rd party support and that grew, it is the opposite for the Cube. Codemasters already withdrew from Nintendo support and the success of Zelda was to define Infogrammes support. Capcom are trying to shift attention slowly back to Sony and SEGA's new plan includes a dramatic recline in Nintendo support.
In an attempt to counter-act the problem Nintendo are to produce a royalty scheme. Nintendo will also stop the high prices 3rd parties are forced to spend. EA, the biggest company that threatened to leave Nintendo, the company that broke SEGA, were the last straw for Nintendo and their 'wait and see' attitude. EA are vital to Nintendo's success and So Nintendo revealed that a deal broke last month, Nintendo offered Electronic Arts a fresh royalty break of the cost of game production, plus $1 US, resulting in the slew of titles announced by Electronic Arts during March.
A similar deal (although not AS great) is being done to all 3rd parties. Nintendo have their backs to the wall, the games that saved them during the N64 are NOT doing it this time. Zelda and Mario unsuprisingly hit the number one spot but for a mere week, Mario's success was similar to Pikmin's in Japan and this was a devestating blow. In an attempt to push Zelda Nintendo announced a bonus disc. It took record pre-orders but then, as it with Mario, the game dropped!
Metroid Prime did moderate success again and just as Nintendo had hoped... great but not world smashing. Nintendo realize that it is the other developers that can unleash a smash hit and so losing them would be killer.
It is the new titles that Nintendo are developing that look to save the company in the long run. Pikmin did VERY well and as the game gets a sequel, and another... the game will become bigger. Metroid Prime is also looking like a firm favourite for the west. Animal Crossing is also set to get bigger.
But these games will take time to reach critical success... the third parties and the dwindeling success of their ancient franchises Zelda and Mario are all Nintendo have left to stay alive.
Maybe it is time Pokemon returned to the home consoles... and then we may have that temporary revival that is so vital.
Dringo.
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Zool!
That's what we need.
That's what we need.
Whitestripes wrote:
> Games that should be made for GC:
>
> Castlevania
> Goeman
> Pilotwings
> Pokemon
> Earthbound
Wonderboy
Zool
Sonic 3, in 3-D
> Games that should be made for GC:
>
> Castlevania
> Goeman
> Pilotwings
> Pokemon
> Earthbound
Wonderboy
Zool
Sonic 3, in 3-D
Well, you can all say what you like. Theres nothing we can do.
Nintendo rule.
Nintendo rule.
Whitestripes wrote:
> Left field were crap, that's why they were sold.
I enjoyed Excitebike 64 and Wave Race: Blue Storm.
> Left field were crap, that's why they were sold.
I enjoyed Excitebike 64 and Wave Race: Blue Storm.
Left field were crap, that's why they were sold.
If Starfox was so "bad" then why was I addicted to it from start to finish? Confessingly it had so many bloody problems that it got dragged into the 70% range but I still enjoyed it.
Nevertheless the sale of Rare is a disaster. Rare at one time would be developing 5 EXCLUSIVE top rate western games. Retro Studio's produce one and Silicon Knights produce games that are really aimed at all audiences.
Nintendo of Japan have HAl, Nintendo, Camelot, Intelligent Studio's etc... and exclusive support from Squaresoft, Capcom, Konami and Namco.
Compare that to the west and no surprise we are doing so badly! Selling Left Field and Rare is the worse thing Nintendo have ever done.
E3 is make or break time for Nintendo...
Can Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, F Zero, Starfox, Pikmin, Metroid Prime and any future concepts from Nintendo save the company? After all recent sales prove Mario and Zelda can no longer support Ninty.
And we can't rely on Pokemon forever...
Nevertheless the sale of Rare is a disaster. Rare at one time would be developing 5 EXCLUSIVE top rate western games. Retro Studio's produce one and Silicon Knights produce games that are really aimed at all audiences.
Nintendo of Japan have HAl, Nintendo, Camelot, Intelligent Studio's etc... and exclusive support from Squaresoft, Capcom, Konami and Namco.
Compare that to the west and no surprise we are doing so badly! Selling Left Field and Rare is the worse thing Nintendo have ever done.
E3 is make or break time for Nintendo...
Can Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, F Zero, Starfox, Pikmin, Metroid Prime and any future concepts from Nintendo save the company? After all recent sales prove Mario and Zelda can no longer support Ninty.
And we can't rely on Pokemon forever...
Who cares?
*Walks off*
*Walks off*
Dr Gonzo - you've blown all of that way out of proportion. As far as companies go, Nintendo really are one of the best.
Strafex wrote:
> Mav, the fact that Nintendo aren't all corporate and mainstream
> suck-ups is what makes them so special.
Yeah! Nintendo - the nice friendly company who held the entire console market at gun point for years, demanding severely inflated prices and holding back technology to boost their already huge profits. Illegally taking part in cartels with retailers and distributors to grab even more cash, annoyed every single publisher and third party by their ridiculous royalty scheme. Even walked out on an agreement with Sony that resulted in the PSX – the act that ultimately set off a chain of events that would show Nintendo as the brutally unreasonable corporation that they were.
They still haven't got over their arrogance from the early 90's, unfortunately for them no one else has forgotten how Ninty treaded them either.
> Mav, the fact that Nintendo aren't all corporate and mainstream
> suck-ups is what makes them so special.
Yeah! Nintendo - the nice friendly company who held the entire console market at gun point for years, demanding severely inflated prices and holding back technology to boost their already huge profits. Illegally taking part in cartels with retailers and distributors to grab even more cash, annoyed every single publisher and third party by their ridiculous royalty scheme. Even walked out on an agreement with Sony that resulted in the PSX – the act that ultimately set off a chain of events that would show Nintendo as the brutally unreasonable corporation that they were.
They still haven't got over their arrogance from the early 90's, unfortunately for them no one else has forgotten how Ninty treaded them either.
Games that should be made for GC:
Castlevania
Goeman
Pilotwings
Pokemon
Earthbound
uh...add to the list
Castlevania
Goeman
Pilotwings
Pokemon
Earthbound
uh...add to the list
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