Iwata: Revolution will bring a "paradigm shift" to

[xaer0knight]

intresting article, i thought i would share:



Nintendo president confirms his company's next-gen console will be unveiled at E3, says it will lure retired gamers and nongamers to the market.

TOKYO--In a full-page interview in Thursday's Kyoto Journal, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata commented on the current state of the company's next-generation game console--being developed under the working title "Revolution."

Iwata said the Revolution will cause a "paradigm shift" in video gaming, and reconfirmed that details on the machine will be unveiled at the upcoming E3 in May. He added that the machine will most likely come out somewhere between 2005 and 2006, when Sony and Microsoft are expected to release their next-generation consoles. Currently very little is known about the Revolution except that it may not use a conventional controller and may be able to connect to a PC monitor as well as the traditional TV screen.

"The keyword for the DS was 'innovative product,' but it will be 'paradigm shift in [game] play' with the Revolution," Iwata said in his interview with Kyoto's popular local newspaper.

"The concept behind our new console, tentatively named 'Revolution,' is the same as the DS. We want it to broaden the [video gaming] audience range, and we don't want it to be something that people will see as too irrelevant to them, too difficult to use, or as something that wastes space. We'll announce specific details at the E3 ... It will most likely come out between this year [and] next year, which is considered to be the transition period for home consoles," Iwata said.

Iwata said the DS and PSP aren't directly competing, because Nintendo is aiming for nongamers and retired gamers with its handheld, while Sony is targeting the traditional gaming audience. He added that his company will also attempt to avoid competing in the next-gen console market.

"Similar to the relationship that the DS has with the PSP, we won't fight over the same share of the pie with another company. We have no intention of fighting over shares of the market in a way that will shrink it. For us, success will depend on whether we can call back people that have stopped playing games, and whether we can also bring in a new base of customers. That way, our share [of the market] will increase since the market will grow bigger," Iwata said.

Iwata also took time to comment on the success of the DS. "We shipped 2.8 million units in Japan and America by the end of last year, and most had reached the hands of our customers by early after New Year's. Its sales are very good when compared to the launch of other game machines we've sold in the past. We feel that the DS has gained a wide range of audience. Aside from video game fans, people that haven't played games in a long time, or never played games before, have been picking up the DS," Iwata said. "According to research, the sales of game hardware for one month, starting in late November, increased by 75 percent compared to the past year, and game software sales also rose by about 10 percent. I believe that the DS is hindering people from losing interest in video games."

When asked by the Kyoto Journal what he thought of the PSP, Iwata stated relatively bluntly that Sony is going in a direction that Nintendo doesn't believe in, though he softened that by saying he welcomes Sony's entrance into the market--since it should expand the total gaming audience.

"In the past, the video game industry grew on high-quality graphics and data volume," Iwata said. "We decided to move into a different direction, since we believe that those days have ended. But by watching the PSP, we see that there are also people that have different thoughts from us. But it's up to the consumers to make the judgment, and it'll also be good if we can expand the market size by bringing out our best points."

Iwata also commented briefly on Nintendo's entrance into the movie market, hinting that although the company is strongly considering the move, it isn't completely sure if it will be going into the business just yet.

"We're strongly considering the matter. I've been in contact with the script writers, directors, and the production companies. We're looking into the potentials between movies and video games. But if we decide to really go into the movie business, it will be around summer of 2006 at the earliest."

By Hirohiko Niizumi -- GameSpot
POSTED: 01/14/05 05:14 PM PST

Comments?

[boatofcar]

Iwata said the DS and PSP aren't directly competing, because Nintendo is aiming for nongamers and retired gamers with its handheld, while Sony is targeting the traditional gaming audience. He added that his company will also attempt to avoid competing in the next-gen console market.


Retired gamers? WTF? Somehow I don't see that as part of the pie chart of demographics in Nintendo's board room. :roll:

[Jibbajaba]

I really hate the phrase "paradigm shift".

Chris

[xaer0knight]

Iwata said the DS and PSP aren't directly competing, because Nintendo is aiming for nongamers and retired gamers with its handheld, while Sony is targeting the traditional gaming audience. He added that his company will also attempt to avoid competing in the next-gen console market.


Retired gamers? WTF? Somehow I don't see that as part of the pie chart of demographics in Nintendo's board room. :roll:

Well, a lot of people like my dad, got out of gaming about the SNES age. the games got to complicated and too many buttons for him, like the PS2 controller. I know some other that dont like the controllers or itimidated by them because they went from 4/6 to what, 8 button? thats not counting start, (or select/back) or the Analog Stick buttons x2, so that would bring it to 12 buttons for the XBOX. Ive heard a lot of people say why isnt there a Idiot's Guide for controllers

[Mr.FoodMonster]

It has me intrested, thats for sure.

[classicb]

Well, a lot of people like my dad, got out of gaming about the SNES age. the games got to complicated and too many buttons for him, like the PS2 controller. I know some other that dont like the controllers or itimidated by them because they went from 4/6 to what, 8? thats not counting start, (or select/back) or the Analog Stick buttons x2, so that would bring it to 12 buttons for the XBOX. Ive heard a lot of people say why isnt there a Idiot's Guide for controllers

While I never got out of gaming I think gaming has gotten to complicated for me. I never thought the DS looked very easy though. I remember playing the metroid demo on the DS and saying too complicated for me.

[Mattiekrome]

Well, a lot of people like my dad, got out of gaming about the SNES age. the games got to complicated and too many buttons for him, like the PS2 controller. I know some other that dont like the controllers or itimidated by them because they went from 4/6 to what, 8 button? thats not counting start, (or select/back) or the Analog Stick buttons x2, so that would bring it to 12 buttons for the XBOX. Ive heard a lot of people say why isnt there a Idiot's Guide for controllers

Thats what im thinking. Hopefully they will bring back a lil simplicity -_-

[Kid Ice]

Sounds like a bunch of hot air to me. This reminds me of Sega's "really HUGE announcement" that turned out to be the stinkin' Matrix.

I don't know who all these people who stopped playing games are supposed to be. And selling games to "nongamers" is about the worst business model you could possibly have. What the hell is he talking about?

I think tomorrow I'll make up a completely new type of pizza for people who don't eat pizza. Uhh, yeah...

[Drexel923]

I'm a huge Nintendo fan, but do these guys even listen to what they're saying. Almost everything that comes out of their mouths is the complete opposite of what is really happening. I will still support them because I love their games, and I think they are one of the few companies that will at least attempt to innovate, but I think they need to get off the high horse for a bit and actually take a look around. I hope the "revolution" isn't a dissapointment.

[Algol]

To me, it sounds like Nintendo is trying to add something different to games. However, I can't see it being much more than a new console with a gimmick, like the DS. But who knows? Perhaps they might really have something neat going on.

Then again, it's probably a Gamecube shaped like Mario's head.

[Algol]

Double post. :monkey:

[Leo_A]

It will be something as useless as the touch screen I'm sure.

[Half Japanese]

Well, when you can't capture the market your competitor is busy beating your ass entertaining and milking of cash, I guess you've gotta turn somewhere.

[Push Upstairs]

Sounds like a bunch of hot air to me.

Yup.

I really like the part about how the DS and PSP "aren't directly competing".

Yeah....is the sky blue in your little world, Iwata?


Well if Nintendo can crank out a game that doesnt have Mario crammed into it and running his mouth off and possibly a more mature storyline (i dont mean sex and violence) Then i might consider the Revolution.

Although, if they put messed up the controls like they did on the DS (****A D-PAD????****) Then all bets are off.

[Jasoco]

I really hate the phrase "paradigm shift".

ChrisHas a catchy ring to it..

[Saves name to use as title for HD after he gets tired of using "Sine qua non"... look it up.)

Sure has me interested as well, thats for sure. I must say I am a fan of what Nintendo does, the games they make, and I look forward to whatever it is. And no, that does not make me a Fanboy. "OMG!!! NINT3ND0 IS TEH ROXX0RZ!!! PS2 XBOX SUKKS~!!1" does. I enjoy a good Pikmin or Mario game. Does that make me a kiddie? No.

I wish people would really leave them alone. They're the only different ones in the market. Let the people who LIKE different things have their fun already! As Dubbya might say, Think Differentably.

Now that that's out of the way, I really look forward to seeing what they're up to.

[Promophile]

I don't know who all these people who stopped playing games are supposed to be. And selling games to "nongamers" is about the worst business model you could possibly have. What the hell is he talking about?

I think tomorrow I'll make up a completely new type of pizza for people who don't eat pizza. Uhh, yeah...


Really? Heard of something called the Sony Playstation? EA? they are both hugely successful companies in their respective fields, and they both made most of this money from "nongamers" and people who stopped gaming. If you can develop a pizza aimed at people who don't eat pizza and sucessfuly bring them in believe me you would be VERY weathly and move VERY far up the corperate ladder.

[petewhitley]

Well, when you can't capture the market your competitor is busy beating your ass entertaining and milking of cash, I guess you've gotta turn somewhere.

Holy shit, that was great man!

[davidbrit2]

Jesus Christ, they need to paradigm shift back into reality. Claiming you don't want to compete is the most psychotic business plan ever. People aren't going to eat out of your hand if you just keep rehashing the same old stuff that sold ages ago, and marketing all sorts of gimmicks. Let's look at some past Nintendo "revolutions" and count the ones that lasted any appreciable amount of time, and had any impact at all on gaming trends:

ROB
Power Pad (Yeah, I know, Bandai.)
Super Scope
BS Satelleview
Virtual Boy
Gameboy Printer
Gameboy Color Infrared Port
E-Reader
Gamecube modem and ethernet adapters
GBA wireless adapter

I'm sure I'm forgetting some, and I've got an uneasy feeling that DS might get added to this list. I don't want it to, but if they're too wrapped up in fantasy land to compete with the Sony/PSP juggernaut (GTA or a rerelease of Mario 64 - I can't imagine which launch title would move more copies)... Nintendo has apparently switched from the business of making money to making really cool and creative commercial failures.

[Leo_A]

You're missing the 64DD, the N64-GB Transfer Pak, the tilt pak, and several others I'm sure. They've had a lot of failures when they try to revolutionize for sure.

[SkiDragon]

Not to defend them too much, but you could also add the D-pad and the analog stick (I think). Sometimes they just try too hard though. Sometimes I think they should try to blend in a bit more.

[squirrelnut]

Not to defend them too much, but you could also add the D-pad and the analog stick (I think). Sometimes they just try too hard though. Sometimes I think they should try to blend in a bit more.

umm THE ZAPPER! geez how can you forget about that? @_@

Oh and there expansion pack was a hit.

Were they the first to invent rumble in a controler?

And battery back up carts i think they were the first.

Um cart variations too.

Werent they the first to have like million seller now on sale for 20 bucks too?

Oh and the ability to pause games too.

[Dimitri]

And battery back up carts i think they were the first.

They were also the first to have passwords for games, before batteries were used. Metroid and Kid Icarus...

I'm not sure if they were the first to use a d-pad, though certainly most older consoles had a big joystick on the controller instead. I'm pretty sure they were the first to put analog controls on a home controller (unless the 5200 joystick was analog) and they were definitely the first to put rumble in the controller with the rumble pak -- I remember the promo video they mailed out for StarFox 64 that featured the Sony guy and the Sega guy kidnapping the Nintendo guy in order to find out about his plan so they could steal it.

They were also the first to offer games for sale on rewritable media, first with the Disk System (you could get a new game written to a disk for about five bucks) and later with the Nintendo Power...all that was just in Japan though. But these systems proved quite popular over there...they just don't work very well on disc-based media. ;)

That said, the DS is certainly a unique piece of hardware (and I still need to finish Mario DS) but it really seems too early to call it out as either a novelty or an innovation. I'm personally hoping they've got something more interesting planned for the "Revolution"...

[lendelin]

This is sad, sad news. It is pretty safe to say that someting happened that I was afraid of for some time now:

Nintendo is out of the traditional console business!

The statements are just euphemism for officially declaring that N will not enter the next console market. I don't know what this system "Revolution" will be, but it won't be a competitor for the PS3 and the Xbox2 because it won't be a a high-powered console.

Quote: "He added that his company will also attempt to avoid competing in the next-gen console market."

It is a retreat from the competition for traditional consoles. Nintendo is out. Nintendo cannot compete anymore with Sony and Microsoft.

[squirrelnut]

what happened to the cut throat agressive 85 nintendo? Now I just picture Nintendo being a whiney emo kid begging stores to carry their games.

[soniko_karuto]

Quote: "He added that his company will also attempt to avoid competing in the next-gen console market."

It is a retreat from the competition for traditional consoles. Nintendo is out. Nintendo cannot compete anymore with Sony and Microsoft.

you just tickled my fanboy spot there, lendelin.

I believe they said it more like 'we don't want to compete, we know we aren't gonna make an impact, so we might as well take another aproach at it.'

<runs to the corner>
<hides>
go to a happy place
go to a happy place
go to a happy place
<covers ears and closes eyes>
<starts singing>

[lendelin]

Quote: "He added that his company will also attempt to avoid competing in the next-gen console market."

It is a retreat from the competition for traditional consoles. Nintendo is out. Nintendo cannot compete anymore with Sony and Microsoft.

you just tickled my fanboy spot there, lendelin.

I believe they said it more like 'we don't want to compete, we know we aren't gonna make an impact, so we might as well take another aproach at it.'

<runs to the corner>
<hides>
go to a happy place
go to a happy place
go to a happy place
<covers ears and closes eyes>
<starts singing>

It is not a different approach, it is an attempt to be successful in another game market.

Well, I'm not a fanboy, this is just sad news. Nintendo played THE dominant role during the 8bit times and 16bit times, it wrote great chapters of videogame history, this is just a sad end. It will also mean less competition, which means as a rule games will not drop in price so fast as they used to in the last couple of years. So there is no reason for you to dance...;)

The statements fits into statements we heard for about a year now. I thought N is looking for a niche market, but N is looking for a DIFFERENT game market than the console market. It is a good-bye to the traditional console market, and the PS3 and Xbox2 will be the only competing consoles.

Sad, very sad, looking at all the groundbreaking N franchises in the last two decades.

[Promophile]

"In the past, the video game industry grew on high-quality graphics and data volume," Iwata said. "We decided to move into a different direction, since we believe that those days have ended.

The revolution = NES?

[xaer0knight]

The statements fits into statements we heard for about a year now. I thought N is looking for a niche market, but N is looking for a DIFFERENT game market than the console market. It is a good-bye to the traditional console market, and the PS3 and Xbox2 will be the only competing consoles.


Let em duke it out. maybe one will be left standing... only 1 of the 2 left. and the Nintendo comes back. Great way, stand back let em fight, when one dies, come back to reality :)

[Lord_Magus]

If the Revolution is anything that can bring fun and simplicity back to games, I say bring it on! :)

People always say that Nintendo is a slow learner and fails to succesfully stand against its competitors, although from my point of view I always saw Nintendo as simply being a more independant company. I understand the comment about not directly competing with Sony or Microsoft; its like hearing a musician say that he doesn't plan to directly compete with whatever might be popular on the radio at the time - in the end, its artists like these that bring innovation to music, and in the long run these are the only ones worthy of our respect.

Anyway, what I mean to say, is that if maintaining this attitude for Nintendo means continuing to produce gaming masterpieces and industry-shaping innovations, then I hope they stay that way for a very long time. :)

[studvicious]

Well, a lot of people like my dad, got out of gaming about the SNES age. the games got to complicated and too many buttons for him, like the PS2 controller. I know some other that dont like the controllers or itimidated by them because they went from 4/6 to what, 8 button? thats not counting start, (or select/back) or the Analog Stick buttons x2, so that would bring it to 12 buttons for the XBOX. Ive heard a lot of people say why isnt there a Idiot's Guide for controllers

Exactly, maybe this will be the return of the "mash the B button, and slide your thumb over the A button every now and then" gaming.. I can only hope! :D

[NintendoMan]

Well, I don't know about a "paradigm shift", I for some reason don't like this word either.
I am anxious too see what Nintendo has in store! There are some things that I have read like 1 button controllers, no D-pad or joysticks. Stuff like that makes me kinda scared.

[Kepone]

Oh and the ability to pause games too.

Actually, the Atari 5200 had the ability to pause games long before the NES.

[Muscelli]

maybe it will play nes, snes, 64, dd, and gamecube games...

as much as i love nintendo... they gotta learn that the general public doesnt care if a product is innovative, as for a paradigm shift.... ITS JUST VIDEO GAMES, not the second coming of the world.... I would buy a classic gaming machine, no doubt... but i mean, come on... it could get emulated in like, 10 seconds on playstation 3 or something.....

basically nintendo is saying... we will do something different, if we get crushed in the competition, then it wont count because we are not in the same market... right....

I am curious, though... i mean, if they made a NES 2, then it would be bliss... I love memories of going to the video store, 5 years old and playing streets of rage 2 on a demo machine.... any classic comeback would be awesome, and nintendo has been constantly throwing "classic" stuff at us lately (nesgbasp, classic nes games,know ur roots shirts) and such... it could be possible... but come on, its probably just a new generation hardware with a touch screen for button placement... just something to get us talking, and trying to get us to forget about xbox2, and PS3...

[Aussie2B]

Sounds like to me that they're not so much saying that they want to compete as they're saying they CAN'T compete. It would require a huge shift in the industry for Nintendo to ever become like they would before, and with American-style games becoming more and more popular, that's just not going to happen.

They know that's there no going back, so rather than trying to scrape away a little of the market from Sony, they're looking for a comfortable niche market of their own. They're 100% correct when they say Sony has a different approach to games (and Microsoft's approach is basically the same), so they're about the only ones offering something different. I know I'm not the only one that appreciates Japanese-style game design, so if they reform their business tactics and recruit all the gamers like myself who want innovative, Japanese-designed games, they can have a safe, firm hold on their part of the market.

[sirgeoph]

Sounds like a bunch of hot air to me.

Yup.

I really like the part about how the DS and PSP "aren't directly competing".

Yeah....is the sky blue in your little world, Iwata?


Well if Nintendo can crank out a game that doesnt have Mario crammed into it and running his mouth off and possibly a more mature storyline (i dont mean sex and violence) Then i might consider the Revolution.

Although, if they put messed up the controls like they did on the DS (****A D-PAD????****) Then all bets are off.

Actually, SCEA's CEO said the same thing -- that their PSP won't be competing with the DS... so if Sony thinks the DS isn't an issue and Nintendo thinks the PSP isn't an issue, it's very possible that the two can coexist... I mean, look at it... the DS is great for younger kids, fanboys, and most retrogamers... the PSP is for the newer gamer, the college student, and the guy who thinks better graphics means better games... it's arguably two seperate gaming markets

Nintendo has done it in the past. They revived the market with NES, changed it with the SNES and killed their share with the 64, made their fans happy with the Cube... maybe this IS the system that gives Nintendo the clout they once had.

[Jasoco]

Frankly, I'm appreciative of their decision. I know that they would never be able to win against the other two, I'm happy they didn't decide to pull a Sega. If they're gonna go down, or stick around, why nt do it beringing out some pretty cool unique things? It's a HELL of a lot better than just playing GTA sequel after GTA sequel on the other two. Or Halo 3. I enjoy Pikmin and Paper Mario more than I even enjoyed Halo 1 and 2 combined. (Hell, I enjoyed DOOM more than Halo. So sue me.) If Nintendo wants to try something different, let them and GET OFF THEIR FUCKING BACKS ABOUT IT! Mario's not going anywhere. Pikmin will stick around. Samus may even make another sequel. Link is a staple of gaming. All of them are. Can you even IMAGINE a world without them? No, you can't. How about Fox McCloud? Sure, he had his bad day, but he's still a great character. And Nintendo has already said they'd never become "Game only", so that leaves only one option.. Stay alive. Even if it means being #3. Don't compete anymore. Just like small shops don't even bother to compete with Walmart, they know they can't win. So stay independent.

I firmly believe Nintendo has a strong enough following that they can survive as a secondary choice. A non competing third console.

Let Sony and Microsoft battle it out. Microsoft with its billions in reserve and Sony with its Square games and big hits and huge following. You can tell neither of them are going anywhere soon.

Always root for the underdog. They're usually the ones who do the coolest things and don't mind taking chances.

[Kid Ice]

I don't know who all these people who stopped playing games are supposed to be. And selling games to "nongamers" is about the worst business model you could possibly have. What the hell is he talking about?

I think tomorrow I'll make up a completely new type of pizza for people who don't eat pizza. Uhh, yeah...


Really? Heard of something called the Sony Playstation? EA? they are both hugely successful companies in their respective fields, and they both made most of this money from "nongamers" and people who stopped gaming. If you can develop a pizza aimed at people who don't eat pizza and sucessfuly bring them in believe me you would be VERY weathly and move VERY far up the corperate ladder.

Yep, I've heard of the Playstation and EA. They made most of their money from nongamers and people who'd stopped gaming, you say? That's news to me. I thought Sony made most of their money from consumer electronics like the Walkman. I thought EA gathered momentum in the C-64 era with innovative packaging and event games, and eventually became the #1 seller of sports games.

[EnemyZero]

well either nintendo is going to blow gaming wide open again like they did with the NES or there going to follow in segas footsteps

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm sure it's going to bring a paradigm shift, just like the Nintendo DS has shifted developers from thinking "How can we make our game simple to play but fresh and exciting at the same time?" to "Our game is a sidescroller, WTF." LOL

Well...I'm watching. Bet you I won't be an early adopter, seeing how I was a late adopter (week of the GC+GBP bundle) and STILL don't have more than one game for each finger.

[NintendoMan]

Frankly, I'm appreciative of their decision. I know that they would never be able to win against the other two, I'm happy they didn't decide to pull a Sega. If they're gonna go down, or stick around, why nt do it beringing out some pretty cool unique things? It's a HELL of a lot better than just playing GTA sequel after GTA sequel on the other two. Or Halo 3. I enjoy Pikmin and Paper Mario more than I even enjoyed Halo 1 and 2 combined. (Hell, I enjoyed DOOM more than Halo. So sue me.) If Nintendo wants to try something different, let them and GET OFF THEIR FUCKING BACKS ABOUT IT! Mario's not going anywhere. Pikmin will stick around. Samus may even make another sequel. Link is a staple of gaming. All of them are. Can you even IMAGINE a world without them? No, you can't. How about Fox McCloud? Sure, he had his bad day, but he's still a great character. And Nintendo has already said they'd never become "Game only", so that leaves only one option.. Stay alive. Even if it means being #3. Don't compete anymore. Just like small shops don't even bother to compete with Walmart, they know they can't win. So stay independent.

I firmly believe Nintendo has a strong enough following that they can survive as a secondary choice. A non competing third console.

Let Sony and Microsoft battle it out. Microsoft with its billions in reserve and Sony with its Square games and big hits and huge following. You can tell neither of them are going anywhere soon.

Always root for the underdog. They're usually the ones who do the coolest things and don't mind taking chances.

Wow, you have said in words, some of the same exact stuff i was thinking in my head, but you have said them clearer and BETTER than I can think them. You have such a damn good point, which could be what is happening, or not.

Only one thing is unclear to me though, do you really believe Nintendo can stand and just sit back and not even really try to be #1 again?? It just doesn't seem like Nintendo.
Does anybody else on here think that nintendo could and would do alot better if they did these two simple things:
-get online gaming
-pay companies like Rockstar (and other mature gaming producers) to get games on their machines
That is one thing they could do, that I have thought about before, but don't think they really want THAT many "M" rated games on GC.

But your right, with the Millions and Millions Microsoft and Sony are worth it's very hard for Nintendo to compete. Isn't Sony still worth more than MS though??

But, it would be a great idea for them, if they just want to be the third or OTHER choice in gaming. They would EASILY still have enough following to support the N. I mean if things like those plug and play games, leapfrog, etc. can make it today, Nintendo can still easily do it. (Probably are bad examples, I know there are more game system type things but can't think at the moment)

[sabre2922]

Ill stick with the Gamecube for a while to get my nintendo fix then maybe Ill pick up a DS also

[NintendoMan]

Ill stick with the Gamecube for a while to get my nintendo fix then maybe Ill pick up a DS also

Um, ok. :hmm:

[kainemaxwell]

When asked by the Kyoto Journal what he thought of the PSP, Iwata stated relatively bluntly that Sony is going in a direction that Nintendo doesn't believe in, though he softened that by saying he welcomes Sony's entrance into the market--since it should expand the total gaming audience.
I'm intrested to see what they ment by that. Though welcoming a competetor does show a sign of good faith.

[Leo_A]

"Were they the first to invent rumble in a controler?" Nope

"Oh and the ability to pause games too." Nope

And your other reasons I assumed were jokes...

[sirgeoph]

When asked by the Kyoto Journal what he thought of the PSP, Iwata stated relatively bluntly that Sony is going in a direction that Nintendo doesn't believe in, though he softened that by saying he welcomes Sony's entrance into the market--since it should expand the total gaming audience.
I'm intrested to see what they ment by that. Though welcoming a competetor does show a sign of good faith.

Well, think about it: if the DS was the only handheld on the market, non-handheld gamers would probably overlook it. BUt fi there's a choice and a controversy over which is better, non handheld gamers might be more inclined to look into both systems, which could mean more purchases for the DS if that gamer thinks it's better.

[Ed Oscuro]

Ill stick with the Gamecube for a while to get my nintendo fix then maybe Ill pick up a DS also

Um, ok. :hmm:
To me this almost seems more meaningful than the "wow Nintendo is SO SMART!!11 THEIR PLAEYING TEH MARKET BY FAELING LOLS" response somebody or other posted ;)

Seriously, we've been burned by the GC already, and I wouldn't even go so far as Sabre did - I'll eventually pick up a DS, with great emphasis on "when it's cheap enough for me."

[NintendoMan]

Ill stick with the Gamecube for a while to get my nintendo fix then maybe Ill pick up a DS also

Um, ok. :hmm:
To me this almost seems more meaningful than the "wow Nintendo is SO SMART!!11 THEIR PLAEYING TEH MARKET BY FAELING LOLS" response somebody or other posted ;)

Seriously, we've been burned by the GC already, and I wouldn't even go so far as Sabre did - I'll eventually pick up a DS, with great emphasis on "when it's cheap enough for me."

Very true, if that was what he meant. I don't think it was. I think he meant more that he was just telling all us he is just satisfied with his GC and maybe he will pick up a DS sometime. This thread is about if the "revolution" will be a revolution or what it's about though. :)

[sirgeoph]

Ill stick with the Gamecube for a while to get my nintendo fix then maybe Ill pick up a DS also

Um, ok. :hmm:
To me this almost seems more meaningful than the "wow Nintendo is SO SMART!!11 THEIR PLAEYING TEH MARKET BY FAELING LOLS" response somebody or other posted ;)

Seriously, we've been burned by the GC already, and I wouldn't even go so far as Sabre did - I'll eventually pick up a DS, with great emphasis on "when it's cheap enough for me."

thats when i buy any system... all my friends were pissed when i got my ps2 for 120 used and they paid 300 for theirs new. :) i'd love to be an early adopter, but i can't afford it, and on top of that, i want to make sure theyve worked all the bugs out... look at the PSPs launch in Japan...quite a few bugs in the hardware...i'd wait a whuile after it hits US shores... and even for the DS

[Ernster]

The wait for E3 is killing me....but this sounds troubling. "We dont want to compete against Sony and Microsoft? WTF are they smoking!

I dont want Nintendo to become a litle cult were only freaks play their games, I want Nintendo do be number #1 or alteast a respectable company how they once were.

I really want to trust them, but this is the same company who thought the best colour to launch Gamecube was purple @_@

[lendelin]

Holy moly, forget all the euphemistic marketing blah blah, and translate it into plain English; Iwata stated that N cannot compete anymore in the traditional console market; and he gave hints that the new system won't be a traditional console.

Forget about hyped "paradigm shift," forget about the nonsense that N will be in a gaming market of the future. Forget about wishful thinking that N will come back; forget about a new Paper Mario or Pikmin on a traditional console. Forget about Ns merits and startegies of the past. It is 2005. It is over.

I don't know what this new system will be, probably something between cell-phone games and some features of console systems; wireless connectivity and Internet enabled...who knows.

Now all the nonsensical statements over the last year make sense. Iwata repeated over and over again that gamers go for simple, shorter, graphically less impressive games; which didn't make sense at all. The market for these games are expanding, not shrinking, it just doesn't expand for Nintendo. Games N fought for so hard, like Resident Evil 4 and Metroid Prime 1 and 2 are not exactly simple, short games with inferior graphics.

With past statements and the newest, euphemistic, and contradictory one, Iwata prepares a decision which was obviously made more than a year ago: N goes out of the traditional console business, and tries to survive in the simpler, less costly handheld market, going in the direction of cell-phone games. If a "paradigm shift" occurs, it will be for such a market. There are the simple, short games with inferior graphics.

Nintendo is out, let's face it. It will be only the PS3 and Xbox2 in 2005/2006.

[Dr. Morbis]

Nintendo is out, let's face it. It will be only the PS3 and Xbox2 in 2005/2006.
You're about to draw the ire of a million Nintendo fanboys, but I think you're right.
I was thinking the 'revolution' would be sort of a Virtual Boy redux: a virtual reality headset with glove sensors or something like the movie "The Lawnmower Man" But that's just wishful thinking.

[Ed Oscuro]

I was thinking the 'revolution' would be sort of a Virtual Boy redux: a virtual reality headset with glove sensors or something like the movie "The Lawnmower Man" But that's just wishful thinking.
I thought Mario had gotten stupider over the years...guess I didn't know how far it could go! LOL

[Ed Oscuro]

Nintendo is out, let's face it. It will be only the PS3 and Xbox2 in 2005/2006.
DON'T FORGET POL-er Japan. I'm sure the Revolutionary War will be fought more successfully on home turf! See, all the parallels are there. Just imagine!

Well, it'll be fun importing Nintendo Omega games in the year 2015 (I'll probably wait until 2020 though).

[Push Upstairs]

Actually, SCEA's CEO said the same thing -- that their PSP won't be competing with the DS... so if Sony thinks the DS isn't an issue and Nintendo thinks the PSP isn't an issue, it's very possible that the two can coexist... I mean, look at it... the DS is great for younger kids, fanboys, and most retrogamers... the PSP is for the newer gamer, the college student, and the guy who thinks better graphics means better games... it's arguably two seperate gaming markets

Well then both Iwata and SCEA's CEO are smoking the same crap and blowing nonsense out of thier asses. These are both portable systems and as such they share the same market...people wishing to buy a system to take on the go. It like the CEO of McDonald's claiming that Taco Bell isnt competition because the food caters to different people. Food is food and since both places serve food they are both trying to accomplish the same thing: To get people to spend money on what food they offer.

The DS and the PSP were created for the same purpose...to get me and other gamers to plop down our disposable income on these handheld devices.



Nintendo has done it in the past. They revived the market with NES, changed it with the SNES and killed their share with the 64, made their fans happy with the Cube... maybe this IS the system that gives Nintendo the clout they once had.

Actually, i see the past as thier falling from the #1 spot.

NES - #1 and the only
SNES - Sharing the market with Sega untill the 32-bit systems rolled out
N64 - losing out to a machine that is inferior, graphics wise and dropping to #2
Gamecube - With Sony firmly in #1 and MS taking #2 that drops the Big N down to #3.

[thegreatescape]

Nintendo's revolution- A plan for online gaming that goes beyond just releasing the hardware :monkey:

[soniko_karuto]

I dont want Nintendo to become a litle cult were only freaks play their games

heh heh, we're already on that wagon.

Now, serious:
Nintendo needs to look at china and hong kong. Have you seen the current games over there? there are a lot of female gamers who dig the manwa scene, as a lot of guys, but mainly china and hong kong have internet gaming. Have you looked at the hordes of people who play ragnarok online? And where did they came from? If nintendo grabbed the interest of gravity, and maybe sega (who would not like to play shenmue online) they could own the market.

[SkiDragon]

First of all, just because one person said something that could be interpreted as "not competing" does not mean that will actually happen. Im curious about how much of a failure the current generation has been for Nintendo. I was under the impression that they were more or less tied with the Xbox. At least Nintendo, I've heard, is still profiting, which is really all that matters in the end. Although Im sure they'd like to profit more.

About online gaming, Nintendo needs to implement this just for their image, even if its not the most popular thing ever.

If the "Revolution" is just a system with touch screen controllers... well then that will be pretty dumb. I think Atari (or before?) invented these things called "overlays" that allowed different games to have their own button configurations. I dont see how a screen for extra buttons will be exceedingly different than that.


I'm pretty sure they were the first to put analog controls on a home controller (unless the 5200 joystick was analog)

Actually, you're right, the 5200 has what I guess are analog joysticks. I guess Nintendo can only be credited with making the first WORKING analog joystick, then. LOL

[Oobgarm]

Nintendo's revolution- A plan for online gaming that goes beyond just releasing the hardware :monkey:

http://www.spaceballsthewebsite.com/oobgarm/1.jpg

LOL

[Captain Wrong]

Wasn't the DS supposed to cause a "paradigm shift"? Or was that the GameCube? Or was it GameCube/GBA interconnectivity? Maybe it was the N64?

Every time someone from Nintendo talks about whatever their next hardware is it's predicted to change the way people look at gaming (or something to that effect) and it never does. Honestly, I wish they would deliver for a change bacause modern gaming bores me for the most part, but it's hard to take anything coming from Nintendo seriously anymore.

Nintendo's biggest problem is they still haven't gotten past the fact that it's not the late 80s anymore and the number of people who take everything they say as gospel while increasing in intensity are dwindling in numbers.

[davidbrit2]

Well, just remember, revolution means turning, i.e. going around and around in circles. I fully expect a revolution from Nintendo. ;-)

[le geek]

I'll hazard that the Revolution will be interesting to hardcore fans (as the DS is), but will the public at large bite? It will no doubt make or break Nintendo.

It's too early to tell if Nintendo's goin' DOOOOOWN.....in a...
http://abscape.org/ebay/blaze.gif

[JJNova]

Every time someone from Nintendo talks about whatever their next hardware is it's predicted to change the way people look at gaming (or something to that effect) and it never does. Honestly, I wish they would deliver for a change bacause modern gaming bores me for the most part, but it's hard to take anything coming from Nintendo seriously anymore.

That's just funny to me, you stating that Nintendo never changes the way you look at gaming, but that modern gaming bores you...so it must have been Sony or Microsoft that changed your view of gaming from entertainment to boredom?

[dethink]

maybe a change in the way they do business altogether?

i.e. take a chance on courting smaller, independent developers with different ideas?

what made the NES/SNES great? 3rd party support. now we're getting to a point where your 3rd parties are EA, rockstar, namco, and konami. back in the day, there were tons of 3rd party developers who could compete on a fairly even keel as far as [visual] quality of the product was concerned. everyone had pretty much an equal opportunity to create what was a visually appealing game, and what separated the good ones from the terrible ones was play mechanics. more alien hominids, and less FPS's, perhaps?

an ipod like device that would store your games on it? if the games aren't going to be as visually demanding, and nintendo's biggest selling product they don't sell seems to be all-in-one controllers full of their games, then why not some kind of small, portable device that plugs into the TV, and does an HD-loader number, where you only need to pop in the game once, and offer things like emulated classics as paid downloads?

of course this brings up the piracy issue, but registering the software/etc. could easily be implemented.

otherwise, the cliffs notes of that article are:

"we are going to do something different. that's all we know at this point."

[xaer0knight]

okay good posts everybody, mostly FULL of SPECULATIONS and RUMORS. i like to post topics about current news, and after having a great conversation with JJNova last nite, i would like for people to comment about the news and not the rumors/speculations of anything when i post new topics (i bet JJNova would like that to). I'm not tring to be an @ss or anything... like i said i love to get comments about a news article, and share them with fellow DPers, and the last couple times they have been shot down and it shifts from news to rumors...

It would be nice to see a console, with a 2-4 button controller. JJNova said that 2 button controllers would be great for games like Kirby's Air Ride and i dont think you can play First Person Shoters with 2 buttons, plausible but near impossible. I think its great that Itawa has stated that he would like to get "retired gamers", but thats not the main focus, because i know that he would like to get everyone to play or have one, and you just cant target that demographic and get the same number of sales. I think thats its great that nintendo isnt directly trying to compete with the PSP, he said it in many interviews and videos, if you want a link i got 'em. He know and i think i know that the PSP will appeal to a different crowd of gamers than the DS will. But that hasnt stopped Nintendo from releasing a "supposive" MP3 player attachment for the DS, so in a way... it makes you wonder if they ARE competeing with the PSP. I will dig up the link if anyone asks. Now, it brings me to 3rd party support, with an additude like they have with the DS and if they carry that same additude to the next console, what will happen? we will just wait and see.

Thanks to JJNova, for a great conversation and being a REALIST at heart.
thanks everyone.

[Half Japanese]

I wish some of you closet fanboys were as gullible in real life as you are about Nintendo on the internet. The Gamecube's a great system (while the DS is, for most at the moment, merely a glorified tech demo with some nifty minigames), but this generation is only further proof of Nintendo's continual decline. The same fanboys that bitch about Madden, GTA and Halo getting sequels are the same ones that bought Paper Mario, Pikmin 2, Super Mario Sunshine, Wind Waker, Mario Party 6, etc. I'm not saying those games are bad, just the hypocrisy is amazing.

"Not directly competing" is what the loser says so he can relax in his own world without ever admitting to himself that he is in second (or worse) place. Maybe if Nintendo spent less on pointless R&D funnels (GBA wireless adapter, GBA/GCN link, e-Reader) and more on courting the third parties whose games people want to play or developing new games and franchises, they wouldn't be begging for scraps and pulling fanboys a little closer to their teats.

I own an Xbox and Gamecube myself, but you have to ask yourself: if you're Johnny Q. Casual Gamer and you walk into EB/Gamestop/etc. to buy a new system and briefly browse the game selections for each system, is it any wonder that most people choose the Xbox or Playstation 2? Their end was their creation.

[Push Upstairs]

okay good posts everybody, mostly FULL of SPECULATIONS and RUMORS.

What excatly does the article give us to talk about on a non-rumor and speculation level.

As far as the "Revolution", its all a bunch of vague talk about the damn thing...all that was really mentioned, as far as what it can/could do, was the bit about it hooking up to a monitor.

The rest of the article was standard press release BS filled with some utter nonsense about how Nintendo's products arent competing with those of their competitors.

[Nature Boy]

I think that I just read a press release for a system that they want me to have in the back of my mind without actually telling me what the system is going to be able to do. A little pre-hype if you will.

After all, they don't want to tip their hand to their competitors (who will beat them to market, most likely), but at the same time they don't want you to forget about them either.

(BTW: Just because they don't acknowledge their competitors in a press release doesn't mean *a thing* - it's all posturing).