Nintendo: Sony and Microsoft face a "significant strategic conundrum".

Sony and Microsoft have put themselves in a strategic hole by failing to court casual gamers, a top Nintendo executive, Regie Fils Aime said.

"They've gone down the path with very expensive machines where they lose money on every console sold," he said. "They have a significant strategic conundrum and one that won't be easy to resolve."

Nintendo, until recently a laggard in the console wars, has embarked on a campaign to extend the market for video games beyond the hard-core 15- to 29-year-old male demographic, Mr. Fils Aime said. The company has accomplished that by offering new DS titles beyond the shoot-'em-up genre like Brain Age 2, designed to help Baby Boomers maintain their mental acuity. New titles will help users learn French, raise their babies, and find recipes, he added.

"Others have chosen to drive immersion by incrementally increasing graphic resolution," he said. "We've focused on the tactile, how you interact with the game."

What do you guys think? Has Nintendo been the only one to make the right decision for this gen? Can Nintendo keep up its success? And will Sony/Microsoft be able to get out of this "significant strategic conundrum?

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

It's going to be tough for either of them to come back from this situation. Nintendo has just stolen the casual crowd and it's basically theirs to lose. Unless Nintendo does something stupid, don't expect this situation to change.

so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

Then why do they still create their franchises? Why is mario galaxy better than sunshine? Why is brawl better than melle? Why is Prime 3 better than prime 2?

There is not a right or wrong path. Sure, you could say Nintendo took the right path with the profits they are making and their sales, but Sony and MS have been advancing technology. nintendofreak_2

I agree 100%, you could say that Sony and Microsoft took the right path with advancing immersion by better graphics, sound, physics, etc. But you could say that Nintendo took the right path by trying to get more people into gaming with a simple, easy to use controller, but it all comes down to opinion.

[QUOTE="ramulux"]so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!goblaa

Then why do they still create their franchises? Why is mario galaxy better than sunshine? Why is brawl better than melle? Why is Prime 3 better than prime 2?

I think this market is big enough to support 2 companies confortably.

3 is pushing the issue a bit, so M$ and Sony will have to fight it out.

And I'm glad in the end WE ALL WIN.

.....And yet Little Big Planet doesn't "belong on the PS3."

Reggie can shove it straight up his A***. Friggin' hypocrite.

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

It's going to be tough for either of them to come back from this situation. Nintendo has just stolen the casual crowd and it's basically theirs to lose. Unless Nintendo does something stupid, don't expect this situation to change.

Zhengi

Little Big Planet, Echochrome, Ratchet and Clank, Loco Roco, Nobi Nobi Boy....

What the hell are you talking about? Please, stop with the conceited Nintendo nonsense.

All this Reggie Worship is giving me a headache.

.....And yet Little Big Planet doesn't "belong on the PS3."

Reggie can shove it straight up his A***. Friggin' hypocrite.

BobHipJames

so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

Seeing as how the Wii has more Nintendo Titles out and of higher quality then the GC had at this point and time your post is completely BS.

Nice try though.

So yeah they have good games, you dont, youve killed gaming, theyve only moved the industry forward

Dont worry Kidtendo, youll have online gaming in 2012.

so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

I don't see why a casual gamer would care about the virtual console. That seems to be mostly hardcore gamers.

At least I can get a decent number of third party games on their systems that aren't crap or games following some TV license.

[QUOTE="goblaa"]

[QUOTE="ramulux"]so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

Then why do they still create their franchises? Why is mario galaxy better than sunshine? Why is brawl better than melle? Why is Prime 3 better than prime 2?

I have a hard time taking anyone seriously who writes "you phail" at the end of their rebutal. Is your e-penis big enough now?

And opinions aside, if N didn't care about they old players, they wouldn't be putting any effort in to their classics.

So yeah they have good games, you dont, youve killed gaming, theyve only moved the industry forward

Dont worry Kidtendo, youll have online gaming in 2012.

WuTangG

Actually they did in 2005 with Mario Kart DS and Metroid Prime Hunters DS, nice try.

[QUOTE="WuTangG"]

So yeah they have good games, you dont, youve killed gaming, theyve only moved the industry forward

Dont worry Kidtendo, youll have online gaming in 2012.

goodlay

Actually they did in 2005 with Mario Kart DS and Metroid Prime Hunters DS, nice try.

.....And yet Little Big Planet doesn't "belong on the PS3."

Reggie can shove it straight up his A***. Friggin' hypocrite.

BobHipJames

that was an complement reggie said

The problem with Sony and Microsoft is they're just going with the status quo... Nintendo is the only company this gen that has tried to go mainstream, something Sony did pretty well last gen. The hardcore fans might be put off a bit, but Nintendo is making money... and that's the goal at the end of the day, so Brain Age, Nintendogs, and Pokemon are here to stay.

What's stopping PS3 and 360 from making games like this? Nothing but software sales that indicate the blood and guts shoot 'em ups still sell very well.

360 could easily make the kinds of games Reggie is talking about and put them on XBLA. French training? Face training? Finding recipes? What does the Wii mote have to do with any of that?

[QUOTE="ramulux"][QUOTE="goblaa"]

[QUOTE="ramulux"]so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!goblaa

Then why do they still create their franchises? Why is mario galaxy better than sunshine? Why is brawl better than melle? Why is Prime 3 better than prime 2?

I have a hard time taking anyone seriously who writes "you phail" at the end of their rebutal. Is your e-penis big enough now?

And opinions aside, if N didn't care about they old players, they wouldn't be putting any effort in to their classics.

but then they wouldn't have any games for the wii

For casual gamers, price and hype is everything. The Wii suits that little niche perfectly, as did the PS2 and the PS1 before that. As for the PS3 and X360, they are far too expensive and complicated for the casual gamers.

A little while ago Reggie said that Littlebigplanet doesn't belong on the PS3, and from a marketing point of view he is completely on the mark. Why? Because the game is aimed at the casuals, something that Sony's marketing focus for the PS3 has completely shied away from. As of right now the PS3 couldn't be more distant from casual players. It is the most expensive console on the market, it has the most complex features and the game-library caters mostly to the hardcore. It is more or less the same deal with the 360, however Microsoft have taken some great steps to attract the more casual players.

I wouldn't expect the more casual games to sell well on these consoles, because the casuals own a Wii, not a 360 or PS3. It is why the so called Wii hardcore games (Metroid Prime 3) have sold disappointingly as compared to other titles, such as Mario Party.

[QUOTE="Zhengi"]

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

It's going to be tough for either of them to come back from this situation. Nintendo has just stolen the casual crowd and it's basically theirs to lose. Unless Nintendo does something stupid, don't expect this situation to change.

BobHipJames

Little Big Planet, Echochrome, Ratchet and Clank, Loco Roco, Nobi Nobi Boy....

What the hell are you talking about? Please, stop with the conceited Nintendo nonsense.

All this Reggie Worship is giving me a headache.

Who's worshipping Reggie? So anyone who agrees with him is automatically worshipping him?

And it's not just about those games. The price of the console is too much and casuals won't buy it. You really think casuals will put out $400 for those games?

Also, you neglect the fact that Nintendo has taken away the spot light from Sony. It's not just what Sony is doing that affects the market, but it's also what Nintendo has done to take away what Sony once had. They need to work harder to get it back and that is going to be tough.

[QUOTE="goblaa"][QUOTE="ramulux"][QUOTE="goblaa"]

[QUOTE="ramulux"]so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!beavisofcod2

Then why do they still create their franchises? Why is mario galaxy better than sunshine? Why is brawl better than melle? Why is Prime 3 better than prime 2?

I have a hard time taking anyone seriously who writes "you phail" at the end of their rebutal. Is your e-penis big enough now?

And opinions aside, if N didn't care about they old players, they wouldn't be putting any effort in to their classics.

but then they wouldn't have any games for the wii

Sure they would. Brain age wii edition, nintnedogs, wii play, wii sports, wii fit, wii home sewing kit...

all this casul stuff for the new gamers, and the classics for us.

What's stopping PS3 and 360 from making games like this? Nothing but software sales that indicate the blood and guts shoot 'em ups still sell very well.

360 could easily make the kinds of games Reggie is talking about and put them on XBLA. French training? Face training? Finding recipes? What does the Wii mote have to do with any of that?

JiveT

He was talking about the DS for those kinds of games wasn't he? Touch Screen for hand writing and mic for speech for the French training.

What's stopping PS3 and 360 from making games like this? Nothing but software sales that indicate the blood and guts shoot 'em ups still sell very well.

360 could easily make the kinds of games Reggie is talking about and put them on XBLA. French training? Face training? Finding recipes? What does the Wii mote have to do with any of that?

JiveT

so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

To be honest I would consider Sony to be the "sellouts." They "abandoned" gamers with an expensive console and very few desired titles. All the consoles have their own faults, then again so do human beings. That doesnt mean we shun either just becase they made a couple of mistakes.

[QUOTE="nintendofreak_2"]There is not a right or wrong path. Sure, you could say Nintendo took the right path with the profits they are making and their sales, but Sony and MS have been advancing technology. goodlay

I agree 100%, you could say that Sony and Microsoft took the right path with advancing immersion by better graphics, sound, physics, etc. But you could say that Nintendo took the right path by trying to get more people into gaming with a simple, easy to use controller, but it all comes down to opinion.

so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

Metroid Prime 3, Twilight Princess, Battalion Wars 2, and Fire Emblem disagree.

[QUOTE="goblaa"]

[QUOTE="ramulux"]so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

Then why do they still create their franchises? Why is mario galaxy better than sunshine? Why is brawl better than melle? Why is Prime 3 better than prime 2?

check www.smashbros.com andyou'll know why SSBB is better than melee.

MP3 is much better than MP2.

but MP is a ****c.

Sony and Microsoft have put themselves in a strategic hole by failing to court casual gamers, a top Nintendo executive, Regie Fils Aime said.

"They've gone down the path with very expensive machines where they lose money on every console sold," he said. "They have a significant strategic conundrum and one that won't be easy to resolve."

Nintendo, until recently a laggard in the console wars, has embarked on a campaign to extend the market for video games beyond the hard-core 15- to 29-year-old male demographic, Mr. Fils Aime said. The company has accomplished that by offering new DS titles beyond the shoot-'em-up genre like Brain Age 2, designed to help Baby Boomers maintain their mental acuity. New titles will help users learn French, raise their babies, and find recipes, he added.

"Others have chosen to drive immersion by incrementally increasing graphic resolution," he said. "We've focused on the tactile, how you interact with the game."

What do you guys think? Has Nintendo been the only one to make the right decision for this gen? Can Nintendo keep up its success? And will Sony/Microsoft be able to get out of this "significant strategic conundrum?

the-very-best

Too bad Sony will win this gen. Bad for Nintendo that is :P

We know what happened when Nintendo tried to play the cutting edge tech position with Sony and Microsoft last generation. They got outsold by the Xbox which was new to the scene. It was either adapt, or die this generation for Nintendo.

It's obvious which way they went, but this isn't going to limit potential Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 sales. If anything the success of the Wii will expand the market and increase the amount of hardware and software sales of each console.

I'm floored by how much the Wii is selling, just the idea that it may surpass 17 million its first year is incredible. I'm happy Nintendo has made a come back. As for the amount of shovelware on the Wii,I would call to attention to all the *&$# that was published for the PS2. 50 Cent Bullet Proof selling over 1.5 million copies couldn't have helped the industry much could it?

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

It's going to be tough for either of them to come back from this situation. Nintendo has just stolen the casual crowd and it's basically theirs to lose. Unless Nintendo does something stupid, don't expect this situation to change.

Zhengi

[QUOTE="Zhengi"]

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

It's going to be tough for either of them to come back from this situation. Nintendo has just stolen the casual crowd and it's basically theirs to lose. Unless Nintendo does something stupid, don't expect this situation to change.

0rin

so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

o_o Calling them Sell Outs is silly.

[QUOTE="0rin"][QUOTE="Zhengi"]

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

It's going to be tough for either of them to come back from this situation. Nintendo has just stolen the casual crowd and it's basically theirs to lose. Unless Nintendo does something stupid, don't expect this situation to change.

BreakingPoint8

so basically they dont care about the people who ahve supported them from the begining... SELL OUTS!ramulux

they do care, but they also care about making a profit, unlike microsoft and sony gaming divisions which are both recording
losses

well now that the PS3 is $399, has appealing games, and has rather good PR, along with SWEET new advertisements, I don't think the PS3 is doing all that bad anymore. We'll see, but I'm pretty sure these things are helping sales in some way.

Nintendo has done good for themselves, but they have also separated themselves from the status quo.

Nintendo will be fine, as long as they keep the price down, and keep coming out with simple/"kiddy"/mainstream/offbeat games, with a few special games mainly for the more hardcore (like MP3, SMG, and SSBB), they will do great. However, it is NOT guarantee'd to win this gen. Just because a console takes off like a bullet doesn't mean it won't slow down or stop at some point. It doesn't mean it will either, but as the 360 and PS3 prices start competing with each other, and continue dropping closer and closer to the wii's price, you'll see the wii wither. Though, the wii is only projected to last 3 or so years, until nintendo anounces a "next-gen" version.
0rin

What do you call Super Rub a dub? how about R&CF? Echochrome? LBP (even reggie said he wants it). 0rin

Not only are half of those games not even out yet, but Super Rub a Dub sucks and how is Rachet and Clank even somewhat innovative?

Sony is doing fine with the casuals. A lot better than microsoft IMO.0rin

*Looks at NPD charts*

Bottom line: Graphics DO matter, Physics DO matter, and new technologies DO matter. You can skew it however you want, but the wii is just last gen tech with a new controller. Do I like it? no. Does it work for Nintendo? yes. They are selling wii's like hotcakes. Whilst I am a firm believer that this is due mainly to the price, i'm sure the whole "waggle wand" image helps.0rin

Honestly Graphics and Physics IMO don't matter for crap. How does graphics improve the actual GAME I'm playing? If I put new skins in Virtua Fighter is the combat system magically superior? If I put new skins in CounterStrike is the aiming more precise and the gunplay has more depth? As for physics....I'm sorry but this has to be by far the biggest joke in the industry has had in a long time. Save Valve I can't think of one game not one game out right this second that has strongly incorporated advanced physics into it's gameplay. And that's because 99% of games don't need it. What's the point of it? When you see somebody die that when they fall to the ground you see a rock roll of their foot because the kick it? When something explodes you see some planks of wood fall to the ground. That doesn't improve anything at all gameplay related all it improves is presentation. You know what I want to see in my games? I want my First Person Shooters to have better gunplay and depth in them, I want them to retain the level design of yesteryears such as Deus Ex and improve on that note by adding more choices and even containing puzzles. You wanna know what I want to see in my RPG's? Actual Role Playing along with blending the superior combat systems the Japanese have created with the superior amount of choices the Westerners have created and meshing them together. I'd like to see new ideas come aforth. The lack of innovation in this industry is just pathetic, I can think of dozens of original ideas in my head. Too bad most devs. are focused on having my main characters pores sweat and add in cool explosions instead of actually creating a satisfying and indepth gaming expereince.

I'll stick with the next gen thanks. When the wii can take advantage of my 1080p TV, and my bluetooth headset, let me know. Untill then.. yeah. Enjoy Mario 27: lets save the princess again. (btw, I do think SMG looks fun, almost made me want a wii, till i remembered the wii sucks IMO)0rin

By your logic why not get a PC, everything you asked for just now it's been doing for years and not only that but better the 360 and PS3 could ever dream of being.

I can't imagine playing mario without having direct controll of where he goes... (via thumbstick/d pad)
0rin

You do control Mario with the thumbstick.

[QUOTE="Zhengi"]

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

It's going to be tough for either of them to come back from this situation. Nintendo has just stolen the casual crowd and it's basically theirs to lose. Unless Nintendo does something stupid, don't expect this situation to change.

0rin

I think Reggie has a very good point. Sony has abandoned what made them successful the last two gens, and that is appealing to the casual gamers. MS went all in focusing on the hardcore gamers and hasn't been successful in trying to lure the casuals. They tried with Viva Pinata and that didn't do too well.

Zhengi

I agree, but I'd say that MS has done a pretty good job appealing to casuals, and one almost on par with the PS2 - it's just that the Wii outdid them both by a pretty large margin.