Should Nintendo go handhelds-only?

[remnant_phoenix]

Just a thought. I don't even have an opinion as of time of posting in this thread and may not even vote in the poll. I was just wondering: "You know, if I knew that every new first-party Nintendo game was going to come out on the 3DS, I wouldn't have to be on the fence on whether or not a WiiU is worth buying. Also, I find that the handheld first-party Nintendo games are more fun. Another thing, Nintendo has never shown itself to be interested in staying on the cutting edge of hardware...Twilight Princess was a Gamecube game ported over, Skyward Sword could have been on the Gamecube if they'd ditched the motion controls, same for Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2... Maybe Nintendo should just streamline their efforts into being a handheld company..."

Like I said, not saying it should happen or that I necessarily want it to happen, but it's just something I was thinking about.

P.S. I'm posting from work and the page won't display properly which prevents me from searching to see if this hasn't been discussed recently enough to merit a re-visit. I apologize if it's a re-hash of a recent topic.

 

[kilenem]

I sort of think this because consoles aren't making money. Apparently last year Microsoft was 3 billion in the hole on the entire xbox brand. The PS3 whipped out all PS2 profits and the PS vita TV in Japan isn't selling. I was surprised by that I'm going to get the Vita Tv when it comes to America. I hope Microsoft and Sony don't go broke with PS4 and X1.

I Also think the way tech is going Could Nintendo make a handheld as pwoer full as the Wii U since Nivida just made a cell phone chip as power full as the X1 and PS4. It can also use the Unreal 4 engine. SO nintendo could make a portable Wii U with access to your Wii U digital library if Nintendo would make online accounts for your game Library

Nintendo actually has been on the cutting edge of hardware sort of. They perfected rumble, Analog and Wireless controllers. WAVE BIRD MFers. They haven't perfected motion controls but your probably going to have more fun with Wii Sports the majority of Playstation Move or Kinect games. The game cube also was stronger the PS2 and easier to develop for.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Dedicated handhelds aren't going to last much longer, they are in competition with mobile devices where games are sold for cheaper and some mobile devices come cheap with a contract. For example, I now have an iPhone 5s for $100 with a 2 year contract. Don't know the specifics but I am pretty sure the hardware in the 5s puts the 3DS to shame. One thing I can tell you is that the cameras are about 100 times better in the iPhone.

I have heard I can use controllers with it too, for those action games that won't work well with virtual controls. I have even heard I can use the Wiimote.

 

[gamernerdtg2]

I don't understand why Nintendo doesn't upgrade their hardware, but I think consoles could be something that Nintendo thrives with if they do it right. I don't own any of the newer consoles (Wii or Wii U), but I am a fan...it just seems like they're "holding out" for some reason. I think that Nintendo could blow away the competition if that was their focus.

So I think Nintendo should do consoles, but they should give us a true, modern console with exceptional hardware.

 

[Souplex]

I don't understand why Nintendo doesn't upgrade their hardware, but I think consoles could be something that Nintendo thrives with if they do it right. I don't own any of the newer consoles (Wii or Wii U), but I am a fan...it just seems like they're "holding out" for some reason. I think that Nintendo could blow away the competition if that was their focus.

So I think Nintendo should do consoles, but they should give us a true, modern console with exceptional hardware.

Because higher end hardware costs more to produce.
Pretendo is a much smaller company than Pony or BigHard.

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

So I think Nintendo should do consoles, but they should give us a true, modern console with exceptional hardware.

What. Does. That. MEAN? If you're talking about power then you might as well stop. If we're going to try this then no console has EVER been modern. Computers have always had the power advantage due to their nature so there's never been ANY point in consoles trying to be powerful. A console trying to imitate a PC is STUPID. Sure, cyclical upgrades (typically five years or longer) are to be expected, but I've never once bought this idea that devs need power in order to accomplish their goals. Heck, I don't believe that the PS3 or 360 were ever maxed out nor do I believe they're obsolete.

Nintendo designs their hardware with one goal in mind: games. They make them as powerful as they need to be, because if a designer REALLY needs power to make a fun game then they're either A) Not really thinking, but just dreaming like an idiot or B) Just a plain idiot who doesn't have one creative bone in their body. Nintendo makes their hardware to serve the games, not the other way around.

 

[samwise970]

As someone who has only bought handhelds from Nintendo (aside from my used SNES), absolutely! I love my 3ds, and undoubtedly the next generation of handheld consoles will be more powerful than the Wii U, so why wouldn't this be a good move? Nintendo has stated that the difficulties of developing games in HD is more than they expected, and a single handheld console that can play every first party Nintendo game would become a must have.

There are those who say that the handheld industry is dead by smartphones, but I don't think this is the case. Even with controller functionality, the range of mobile games is nowhere near as fun as the 3ds/ds/virtual console library, and handhelds (Nintendo consoles in general) are also for children who don't (and shouldn't) have smartphones.

Soo yeah. This would be great. I don't want Nintendo to stop making consoles altogether, but I would kinda like to see them get their asses kicked well enough by the Xbone, PS4, and Steam machines that they decide to go this route.

 

[Elvis Starburst]

So I think Nintendo should do consoles, but they should give us a true, modern console with exceptional hardware.

What. Does. That. MEAN? If you're talking about power then you might as well stop. If we're going to try this then no console has EVER been modern. Computers have always had the power advantage due to their nature so there's never been ANY point in consoles trying to be powerful. A console trying to imitate a PC is STUPID. Sure, cyclical upgrades (typically five years or longer) are to be expected, but I've never once bought this idea that devs need power in order to accomplish their goals. Heck, I don't believe that the PS3 or 360 were ever maxed out nor do I believe they're obsolete.

Nintendo designs their hardware with one goal in mind: games. They make them as powerful as they need to be, because if a designer REALLY needs power to make a fun game then they're either A) Not really thinking, but just dreaming like an idiot or B) Just a plain idiot who doesn't have one creative bone in their body. Nintendo makes their hardware to serve the games, not the other way around.

Damn. Fucking. Straight. And THAT is why I will always love the GameCube~ And that is why I enjoy Nintendo consoles. Hardware doesn't have to be top of the line to make wonderful, memorable games. Nintendo gets that. And with that, they are more affordable. Too many people complain about graphics. That's not what games are about. That's never what they've been about (At least, not alone. If a game from now looks like it was from 2001, then I get that. But even Spectrobes Origins, a game for the Wii midway through its life, still looks damn good to me)

 

[suitepee7]

i would prefer they start making their console games for all consoles (and PC), but focus more on handhelds than anything else. i like some of their console games, but never enough to pick up the console itself. the 3DS on the other hand is just awesome, and i get loads of use out of it.

so basically, they should revolve their entire business practices around me... sounds fair

 

[Dr. Doomsduck]

Jesus Christ, I hope they're not going anywhere, because what the hell else am I going to distract my young cousins with during looooong car-drives?

I mean, I get you guys are all about specs and quality, but the handhelds also serve another purpose. They're sturdy, the internet is still mostly out of reach. I mean, I KNOW the 3ds has a wifi function, but it's not like you can access the browser as easily as you would on a phone or ipad. Look, I don't like giving a five-year-old a tablet or smartphone to play with without supervision, and the handheld's core-function is still gaming, which makes it ideal for kids.

 

[elvor0]

Dedicated handhelds aren't going to last much longer, they are in competition with mobile devices where games are sold for cheaper and some mobile devices come cheap with a contract. For example, I now have an iPhone 5s for $100 with a 2 year contract. Don't know the specifics but I am pretty sure the hardware in the 5s puts the 3DS to shame. One thing I can tell you is that the cameras are about 100 times better in the iPhone.

I have heard I can use controllers with it too, for those action games that won't work well with virtual controls. I have even heard I can use the Wiimote.

1 word: Pokemon. That brand can keep the handheld afloat forever.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Dedicated handhelds aren't going to last much longer, they are in competition with mobile devices where games are sold for cheaper and some mobile devices come cheap with a contract. For example, I now have an iPhone 5s for $100 with a 2 year contract. Don't know the specifics but I am pretty sure the hardware in the 5s puts the 3DS to shame. One thing I can tell you is that the cameras are about 100 times better in the iPhone.

I have heard I can use controllers with it too, for those action games that won't work well with virtual controls. I have even heard I can use the Wiimote.

1 word: Pokemon. That brand can keep the handheld afloat forever.

Until it doesn't.

How many games have come and gone that were supposed to save the Wii U? If you think that Nintendo's handhelds are immune to failure...well I disagree.

 

[Roxas1359]

Until it doesn't.

How many games have come and gone that were supposed to save the Wii U? If you think that Nintendo's handhelds are immune to failure...well I disagree.

I think there is an image for that. Let me Google it to find it. Although if anything the Wii U is just gonna end up as Niche really, but hopefully Smash Bros and Mario Kart 8 might move a lot of units.

Spoiler: Here's the most up to date chalk board

Here's what the original board looked like before the giant Zelda Musou was added:

Spoiler

And for retrospective, the PS3 had 2 chalkboards by the end of it, so there's still hope. XD

Spoiler: PS3 Chalkboard

 

[WeepingAngels]

Yeah the chalkboards are hilarious. As for Pokemon saving everything, that shit isn't going to fly forever. Hell, people have to be getting tired of the same ol same ol.

 

[ClockworkUniverse]

Dedicated handhelds aren't going to last much longer, they are in competition with mobile devices

This has allegedly been about to happen any moment for seven years now.

where games are sold for cheaper and some mobile devices come cheap with a contract.

Sure. But if you want a good AAA-style gaming experience, you have maybe seven or eight options. Developers have NOT learned how to deliver those sorts of products with a buttonless interface yet, for the most part.

Don't know the specifics but I am pretty sure the hardware in the 5s puts the 3DS to shame. One thing I can tell you is that the cameras are about 100 times better in the iPhone.

Funny thing about hardware specs and gaming systems: There's basically no correlation between power and sales. It's easy to forget this on a gaming site where people who are not representative of the public at large are all around, but the vast majority of the gaming public don't care about power. They care about games.

I have heard I can use controllers with it too, for those action games that won't work well with virtual controls. I have even heard I can use the Wiimote.

You can use "controllers" with it, i.e. bits of plastic that you strap onto the phone that tap specific spots when you press a button. And making a game that requires extra hardware is generally a bad idea.

It's TECHNICALLY possible to use a traditional controller or Wiimote with it. You have to jailbreak it first. I can guarantee that no app that requires jailbreaking will ever be on the Apple store.

I don't understand why Nintendo doesn't upgrade their hardware, but I think consoles could be something that Nintendo thrives with if they do it right. I don't own any of the newer consoles (Wii or Wii U), but I am a fan...it just seems like they're "holding out" for some reason. I think that Nintendo could blow away the competition if that was their focus.

Because it would cost them money, and any extra sales (which would be very few, since by and large the market doesn't care about specs) would not make up for that.

How many games have come and gone that were supposed to save the Wii U?

Yeah, those came out this year. And then on Christmas, their servers went down from all the people bringing their new Wii Us online. Huh, how about that.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Yeah, those came out this year. And then on Christmas, their servers went down from all the people bringing their new Wii Us online. Huh, how about that.

You tell me, did Nintendo really sell boatloads of Wii U's or were they just incompetent? I honestly don't know but I do know that it took me 4 days to redeem an eShop card that I got for Christmas.

 

[gamernerdtg2]

So I think Nintendo should do consoles, but they should give us a true, modern console with exceptional hardware.

What. Does. That. MEAN? If you're talking about power then you might as well stop. If we're going to try this then no console has EVER been modern. Computers have always had the power advantage due to their nature so there's never been ANY point in consoles trying to be powerful. A console trying to imitate a PC is STUPID. Sure, cyclical upgrades (typically five years or longer) are to be expected, but I've never once bought this idea that devs need power in order to accomplish their goals. Heck, I don't believe that the PS3 or 360 were ever maxed out nor do I believe they're obsolete.

Nintendo designs their hardware with one goal in mind: games. They make them as powerful as they need to be, because if a designer REALLY needs power to make a fun game then they're either A) Not really thinking, but just dreaming like an idiot or B) Just a plain idiot who doesn't have one creative bone in their body. Nintendo makes their hardware to serve the games, not the other way around.

You're absolutely right with your assertions in the second paragraph. Good on you for calling me out with the hardware thing.

What really confuses me is how the creators of Super Mario Brothers, Zelda, Metroid, etc, could ever be "on the run" from Sony or Microsoft in terms of actual titles. Perhaps the market has become so diverse and saturated with ideas that Nintendo has had to fall back, or restrict itself? I would think it's more than just one issue. I guess what I really meant was that PC, PS3 and 360 owners maybe don't respect the Wii U for some reason...like they want it to do more or have certain kinds of games available etc?

You can bet your sweet dollar that I'll be playing my PS3 and 360 for a while. No way those systems are obsolete, what with all the other services that are offered on them and the backwards compatibility issue with the new consoles...or non-issue...but the PS4 now has a cloud service of some kind that will allow you to play all PS4 stuff, so that's some incentive for me to spring for a PS4.

But see... the whole cloud issue kinda proves the OP's point a bit. Why have a physical console when you have an entire console library in a cloud? I personally want to own my hardware, but that's personal preference. Even if the hardware is a tiny flash drive, I want personal ownership of it.

 

[gamernerdtg2]

Yeah the chalkboards are hilarious. As for Pokemon saving everything, that shit isn't going to fly forever. Hell, people have to be getting tired of the same ol same ol.

Goodness...I really hope that Pokemon won't be depended on in that way. I'd rather see Super Mario 57 than Pokemon, because Mario (at one point) appealed to everyone. Pokemon does not appeal to everyone.