If Nintendo Were Primarily a Software Company...

This thread is not about discussing whether it will happen or not. Rather, it's about discussing what things would be like if Nintendo dropped hardware (consoles) and focused primarily on software (games) instead of both consoles and games. Kind of like SEGA right now.


So...


IF Nintendo went the way of SEGA by dropping out of the console race for good and focusing primarily on their games...what do you think it would be like? Would they go multiplatform? Would they stick with one console company? If so, which one and why? How do you think it would affect your gaming experience? And other stuff we can discuss here.

Again, this thread isn't to debate on whether Nintendo will actually throw in the towel or not. Please make your own thread if you wish to start a quote war about that. This thread is for the scenario of it happening.



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Nintendo make great games! I always have and probably always will be a Ninendo fan. If they decided it was getting to be too much to try and sell consoles for their games though, I imagine them going multiplatform. Why? Because they'd still command enough respect to call their own shots to a degree and not cling to a single platform. I'd also see their handheld games being released on smartphones, old and new. I actually wouldn't mind this because I'd have all my stuff in one place instead of having to buy multiple handheld devices.

One thing that really excites me about the idea of Nintendo going third party would be all the collection games they could make. Remember the Sonic Mega & Gems Collection? Mega Man Anniversary Collection? Namco Museum? Various SEGA collections? Yeah, it could be like that, but with Nintendo games. I love to collect games that are collections, and it would be awesome if Nintendo were to do it. It would also be cheaper than their current Virtual Consoles.

Another thing would be improved online gameplay. Nintendo are still dragging their feet when it comes to online. Sure, they've made improvements, but they're still far behind their competitors. If Nintendo were to go third party, games with online would be up to the standards and have the features of the other consoles. If you ask me, that would be just the kick in the pants that Nintendo need.

Yet another good reason: I feel that if this were to happen to Nintendo, it could actually be a good thing because they could focus even more attention on the games! This third reason is probably my weakest, but I think that if they worried less about hardware, more devotion would be spent on software. That's just common sense to me.



Now I'll try to think of some cons...


Nintendo could lose their relevance in the world of gaming. Would Nintendo lose respect once becoming third party and also lose software sales? I don't know. Just something to think about. I bring this up because of SEGA and their history and present.

Certain IP's could be dropped? If Nintendo went third party, would they also lose enough money that they wouldn't be able to churn out a variety of games like they do now? I could see Nintendo focusing only on Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon. Sort of like they do now, but to the point where everything else could be dropped. No more Star Fox, Metroid, etc. Could this be a consequence of going third party? Or worse, would they drop Zelda and Mario and focus on games similar to Wii Sports? Or, would they drop the more casual stuff?

I'd rather have Sony drop out of the console race and produce hardware for Nintendo, like how the N64/PSX era was supposed to be. Hardware hasn't been Nintendo's strength ever since they've been competing with tech giants like Sony and Microsoft, so I think a Sony produced Nintendo console could do well to reclaim the fans and 3rd party support Nintendo lost with the N64 by sticking to cartridges.

I'd really like to see Nintendo buy off SEGA and make them one of their major first party developers, like what they did with Retro, Monolift Soft, and Rare. SEGA has been in financial trouble as of late, and Sonic, the only thing that's been keeping them afloat, has had some serious quality control issues. I think with help from Nintendo EAD, Sonic can be good and popular again. F-Zero GX was a prime example of what Nintendo and SEGA could achieve through their combined efforts.

EDIT: But if Nintendo does go 3rd party, I'd like to see them be PC exclusives through Steam. I'd hate it if Microsoft or Sony starts buying rights to individual Zelda games.

If that happen it would be the end of home and handheld consoles. Nintendo is the one who keeps them alive. Every 2-3 years Nintendo release one while Sony is 4-6. Also most of the things like Kinect and playstation move would not exist withought the Wii. So if Nintendo stop doing consoles it would be the end of home console gaming.

Part of me would be sad cuz I've supported Nintendo my whole life and I love their consoles and games.

But part of me would also be happy cuz I'd be able to get Sony exclusives and Nintendo exclusives on the same console.

I would be exceedingly sad for a pretty good while. But eventually i would get over it...maybe. I wouldnt want this venture because Nintendo's consoles have always really been about quality and that quality that i supported for 25 years wouldnt really be there anymore.

The games would be there but would they be as high quality as they are now if Nintendo was at the whims of other companies? Thats the real question. It would be super weird playing a Zelda or Mario game on a Sony console. If Nintendo where to somehow go the way of Sega, i would hope they would just stick with another console, like Sony. Nintendo games would be exclusive to that one company or some junk. Because, Nintendo has always been about quality and fun. When focusing on one console, they can ensure that to be the case.

Software is the only thing I have ever cared about and Nintendo makes damn good software and would continue to make damn good software except now I can get at it without buying a designated machine. I don't see any downsides.

If Nintendo were to go 3rd party I actually think there would be a better chance of them teaming up with Microsoft than Sony because such a move would be more beneficial for both parties.

Microsoft would benefit by picking up Nintendo, as it would finally give them a foothold in the Asian markets and Nintendo would benefit as Microsoft has been putting more resources and has has more success into developing a "family friendly" userbase with the success of the Kinect and XBLA titles, in comparison to Sony's Move and Playstation network stuff.

I'd be interested in seeing what Nintendo could do with Kinect and the creation of XBLA titles that are reminiscent of classic Nintendo consoles and Handhelds.

Originally Posted by Pietro

Microsoft would benefit by picking up Nintendo, as it would finally give them a foothold in the Asian markets

Could this be bad for Nintendo for the same reasons? I mean, since Microsoft ain't the best in Asia, as you say, don't you think Nintendo would also suffer? Wouldn't be smarter to go with Sony in this case?

Nintendo makes an innovative console and design their games around their consoles to create gameplay that's different from most games. If they'd have to rely on the basic scheme of PS360, the games would lose much of their uniqueness.

Nintendo going software-only would be a sad day for the game industry.

Even if, they should stick with working on hardware for one company, so they don't have to worry about ports.

Zelda on X-box=Nerdgasm

Nothing of value was lost.

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

Could this be bad for Nintendo for the same reasons? I mean, since Microsoft ain't the best in Asia, as you say, don't you think Nintendo would also suffer? Wouldn't be smarter to go with Sony in this case?

I really don't think it would hurt them, Nintendo is the biggest thing in Japan as far as console gaming goes and if Microsoft were to sell their console to the Japanese on the fact that its now the home of Nintendo, their market share would skyrocket. I just think Microsoft would be the more natural choice as both Nintendo and Microsoft have put a huge focus and investment on new control choices, while Sony's Playstation Move was essentially an afterthought which has been left for dead.

As many staunch Nintendo fans such as many of yourselves on this forum are; be realistic with this possibility I am about to share with everyone.

Before smartphones and when the iPod did not have its iOS kernel, the first iteration of the DS family of systems sold well because of the touch screen gimmick and the functionality that competed with the likes of the PSP and now is the best-selling system of all-time, surpassing the PS2; now that the casual market only cares about quick gaming with no input for intense gaming, I think sooner or later, Nintendo will have to make a deal with the World's cell phone providers like Sony did with the Xperia Play PSP Phone and adding 3G to the Vita, Nintendo, as always, is behind, and I think the gimmick will only save them from the Vita.

Once again, I ask that everyone look at this in an objective manner and not give in to sometimes flamboyant and even ill-informed fanboy bantering. (I apologise if I offended anyone with this statement).

If you want to refute my conjecture, be reasonable and provide legitimate sources such as sales graphs, executive reports, etc. Failure to do any or all of that means I WILL IGNORE YOU.

Now, your thoughts?

But yeah, I could see Nintendo putting a lot of their Gameboy - Gameboy Advance games on smartphones. Don't know if DS games would work very well though. I guess you could play it vertically.

Star Fox games on XBL with classic spaceship multiplayer mode? Hells yes.

I'm surprised the top option has the most votes. I asked a similar question earlier and was attacked by fanboys.

On one hand I'd love to play new Mario games on my PC without having to wait for emulators to catch up. On the other hand Nintendo are the ones who are currently leading in bringing out and supporting different control methods of peripherals, which I like.

The PC hasn't seen a Nintendo game since Mario Teaches Typing, I believe.

[4:10:07 PM] Blizzaga Lantean: I expect you to do a fair amount of fanboy-trolling in your post. xD
Sorry bro, I actually have a srs opinion on this.

I actually think they could still make their own consoles (so not to upset any fans at least, and the fact they are profitable) while making third party games still. Sort of how Valve releases their games on consoles while owning steam. Would be a good idea.

But really, I really want this to happen! I enjoy many Nintendo games, but the last console I bought was a gamecube. I just don't want to spend so much money for a console just to play one or two games. I already have a PS3 that never sees any use, it would be great if consoles had more cross compatability. I think consoles would also be cheaper if the games where released for all three, as the companies would have to compete in other ways than just exclusive games.


But yeah. Needs to happen man.

I would probably buy them unless they were for PC due to my not very good computer.