GDC 2005 - Is the gaming industry in trouble?

http://www.gamespy.com/articles/596/596734p1.html

This worries me greatly.

My observation: Nintendo are doing everything they can to counter this threat with the DS handheld and the upcoming Revolution and it seems no one appreciates their effort.

Sony and Microsoft seem to be at the root of this problem. I'm not saying I want them to pull out of the industry; competition is only good. I just wish they would sort out their priorities. Sony's new PSP handheld is a prime example of the concerns in the link above.

Can Nintendo save the gaming industry?

No flaming, open your mind, discuss.

I can somewhat agree to this article. I just hope Nintendo will continue to make innovative games.

Just because Nintendo is failing doesnt mean the game industry is. Sony is definitly booming, and Microsoft is doing ok. Nintendo was doing OK until Sony realeased the PSP, which im sad to say is doing so much better than the DS. And that is the sad sad truth.

No, Nintendo was doing great until they decided they'd be more picky with what games they publish that are third-party, they don't allow online play (yet), and the DS is HARDLY innovative. I mean, seriously, a touch screen? It was kind of like Gatorade finally making it lemonade flavored.

The DS games are weak if the PSP also has it. The graphics, the sound (because the PSP was made to also be an MP3 player), and the just plain good games get developed for the PSP. DS games are usually so focused on the touch screen, only a few games are actually fun.

As for "seeing something new". Well, it's really hard right now. People are expecting something like .hack//SIGN's game, like with the head visor and that you could see just like a regular person.

Are new/innovative games in trouble? Maybe. Does that mean I'll stop playing them? Nah, there are still really good games.

Nintendo introduced the first real adventure game. They have set the basis for good games. No matter what microsoft/sony does nintendo will always be there. They make the best games. I actually only play games made by nintendo. Andas Real Link said they have saved it once theyll do it again.

I anit gonna trip if the gaming bussiness gonna go under. Nintendo save video games in the 1980's, and hell, they can do it again. There are amazing games coming from Sony, Mircosoft and Nintendo every month, so, I not gonan trip over if some happens to the gaming bussiness. But I'll admit, Nintendo is showing some flaws these days and Sony and Mircosoft have taken notice of that trying to beat down on Nintendo. But I'll belive Nintendo gonna strike back in a year or so and gonna take over the game bussiness by storm. So I not worry about any of the companies. All they need to do is do somthing orginal and something nobody had done before. Everything gonna be cool, well to be that is. But hey, as long as Mircosoft, Sony, or Nintendo pull a "Sega" on the bussiness, they can last for about a good more years to come.

I don't think that we can depend on Nintendo to 'come and save the day' again. If it ever gets saved, it may be from the most unexpected source.

Maybe it can be if at least a new president who actually knows what the new generation of gamers want...

Mr. Iwata and Mr. Miyamoto are that man. Nintendo is the only company that will take the risk that will be envolved to save this industry. That is why Nintendo is going to make the changes needed in the form of the Revolution. Nintendo is taking a huge risk just like they did with the DS. And as far as I can tell the DS is a huge success. In future months when more games come out we will see just what a big impact it will be in the handheld market.

The industry does not need saving! Nintendo needs saving. Over the past couple of years, the gameing industry has made more money than the movie industry by a lot. And thats the truth fanboys.

The industry's broken because nobody's ever taken it seriously. It's ruled by the producers, who shun and turn away the academics, and build development houses out of art school grads and dropouts. They abuse the developers because they can, and don't pursue new distribution and development paradigms for the same reason, expecting developers to swallow the new challenges that each generation introduces. Ever wonder why so few colleges and universities offer serious education in "game development?"

None of the major producers help matters. They're all dragging the industry down, and it'll pop unless one of them takes the time to re-evaluate the bubble.

It's the same trouble faced by Hollywood and the music industry. Not that anything huge will happen for some time; they're all good at sustaining bubbles.

DS. Big success. My arse.

PSP basically owned it in sales, has better audio, has better graphics, and has some better games.

Just how bad does Nintendo need saving? Hmmmm......Lets see. They have 7.2 billion dollars in the bank. They make more then seven hundred million a year and they have no dept to speak of. Sony on the other hand had to borrow 63 million recently. Now you tell me who's in trouble.

Originally Posted by Haruhiko

DS. Big success. My arse.

PSP basically owned it in sales,

PSP, owning in sales? My ass. The DS has sold alot more than the PSP in JP and USA. Not to mention that the DS had the best launch in UK and Australia, and the PSP sold pretty bad in the US.

What goes up....must come down. Last time games got this popular... the industry crashed, right? Nintendo only saved it with it's old-school innovation and new ways to amaze people.

Everyone bought the DS and not the PSP because by the time PSP came out everyone had a DS. Plus people now that nintendo will always make better handhelds.

Also nintendo is way better at making systems. The PS2 always breaks,and if it falls of a shelf its broken,dead not operable. GameCube you can drop from 10ft in the air and it will bonce and still be operable. Gamecube is faster then Ps2. GC is way better.

Also nintendo doesnt lose sales on burned games because of the small disks. Nintendo is down in sales but will jump backw with the revolution. In a way,sony and microsoft are following in nintendos old footsteps.

Nintendo will never leave us. If anything microsoft or sony will. Nintendo has zelda. The only reason everyone her joined is because of zelda. So do not diss nintendo.

P.S that was the longest post I have ever written O.O and it will most likely be deleted.

Ummm... the original question and whole point of this thread was "Can Nintendo save the gaming industry", not "Nintendo is screwed, can they save themselves". Another point is how no one (except for the Nintendo fan) seems to appreciate the effort Nintendo is putting out in terms of innovation.

Make sure to read the article.

On another note, I got a DS yesterday and damn... it's amazing. The dual-displays are unbelievably sharp, rich in color, with totally pure backlighting (unlike the blue-tinted GBA SP sidelighting). The PSP screen is just as beautiful (only bigger), but hey, the DS has two of 'em - one with touch input. Whichever you feel has the edge here is your deal.

The Metroid Prime Hunters Demo is pretty sweet. It's clear that the FPS genre has a bright future on the DS. I love the use of both screens to display cutscenes.

Super Mario 64 DS is more of an update than I ever realized. It's practically a whole new game. Naturally, it's great. No killer-app, but many of those will be coming along down the road. There's quite a learning curve on the new control, but I've managed to get it down. It's really not as bad as others claim. If you play this game, I recommend using the "TOUCH CONTROL" control option, using the thumb-shoe thing on the touch-screen to emulate the N64 analog-stick. Turning to the visuals, amazing are the revised models; Mario is much closer now to his Sunshine incarnation. The all-new minigames are great. Some ingenious, some charming, and some quite touching (pun intended). I love the Yoshi, "She loves me, she loves me not game" there's no point to it, but it makes me smile!

While rabbit-catching outside the castle (a new feature) I noticed how wonderfully the DS emulates surround sound - the birds seem to chirp all around you. A 3d Zelda on this, would be quite sonically pleasing.

GBA games are simply drop dead gorgeous on this little piece of hardware heaven. Believe me: you haven't lived until you've experienced TMC on this baby. Simply stunning. Such beauty gives one renewed incentive to finish games one hasn't finished, and actually get into games one couldn't previously get into. I never liked the Tactics Final Fantasy games (why do I own them, then? Best not to ask), but I now find myself ripping through FF Tactics Advance like I love it.

To make a long story short, the DS is wonderful. Pure and simple, bold and true. Is this off-topic? Possibly. I just had to get it out of my system.

MY MOST ANTICIPATED GAMES (click to learn more)
Another Code Looks to be a killer-app...
Lost in Blue
Legend of Zelda DS We all love Zelda, right?
New Super Mario Bros.
Super Princess Peach Now, if only Princess Zelda had her own game...
Castlevania DS
Harvest Moon DS
Metroid Prime: Hunters
Ganbare Goemon
Gyakuten Saiban DS "You can't handle the truth!!" :cool:
Caduceus: Surgical Operation
Mistwalker DS RPG [untitled]
Moonlight Fables

No good games, indeed...
"Patience my young padawan, patience..."