Video Game System re-releases

[AKay]

Hey guys dont know if this question has been posed before or not, but why doesnt Nintendo in particular re-release maybe for some anniversary the NES/SNES systems?
I was thinking today unless the cost to make these systems is somewhat pricey. Why wouldnt this sell?

I know, I know emus, ebay and thrift shops. But with a strong marketing campaign and cheaply priced ($10 and less) games couldnt this be somewhat successful for Nintendo? Lately its been cool to do retro and those controls with games built in have been successful. Why couldnt Nintendo re-release SNES or NES at a 25 bucks price point with games?

Obviously they are banking on this same intellectual property to fuel the revolution. But it was something that just popped into my mind as I was thinking about me driving an Hr on Friday to pick up a NES/SNES and N64.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts/comments.
AKay

[Tan]

the price of cartridge media would be a big problem, plus i don't think they could make the hardware in a way that would be profitable for themselves, just because the systems are older doesn't mean they'd be cheap to make.

the ique is a good example of why nintendo won't do it, they are really paranoid about piracy, and fighting piracy doesn't come cheap.

[AKay]

I see.
thats one of the things i was thinking was that the cartridges would be too expensive to make to still keep the costs low.
It could be a cool thing if ever i mean so many of the classic games are so fun.
Im sure the idea has been entertained at Nintendo but something has made it a non viable option.
Perhaps it is the cartridges still costing too much to make.
AKay

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I think, even more than the cost of re-minting cases for consoles and cartridges, they don't want to create confusion for the consumer that might erode their market share. It's easy for someone like the newfangled Atari to release the equally newfangled Flashback consoles, because they don't have a current-gen hardware platform on the market. Nintendo already has the GBC, GBA and DS to support, and I think throwing one more completely different hardware platform into the mix, isn't even an option - especially a "retro" machine that would, by its definition, have a "niche" audience. (I know that "everyone had an NES back in the day!" - well, everyone had a VCS back in the day too, but that hasn't stopped the Flashback 2.0 from being knocked down to under $20 at my local Wal-Mart because the masses just aren't buying it.)

I think it's a lucky fluke that we got the NES Classics GBA series, and that we're going to be able to download NES titles on the Revolution. That's more than we'd probably get from any other retro outfit still in the hardware biz today.

[mgriff]

I think that Nintendo wants nothing to do with the original nes console anymore, they especially wouldn't relrelease the NES because of the following. 1000s of people would call up saying that their nes game that has been sitting in the basement gathering dirt and dust on the contacts won't play and now they can't get anything to play because they plugged in the dirty cart. That is indeed why nintendo will never rerelease the NES.

[Jibbajaba]

I think that Nintendo is playing up to the retro market by having downloadable NES/SNES/N64 games on the Revolution. Nintendo would never try to release hardware based on a classic console. It wouldnt be a big money-winner, and it just isn't the business that they are in. They release their old games in the form of GBA "Classics" series, and in the game "Animal Crossing". That way people can play the old games on current hardware. That being the case, why re-release the NES?

Chris

[Darren870]

I thought that legally nintendo couldn't make the nes or snes over again due to certain hardware and stuff. Maybe im just thinking of something else though...

[Blur2040]

I thought that legally nintendo couldn't make the nes or snes over again due to certain hardware and stuff. Maybe im just thinking of something else though...

They can, but wouldn't.

Mcgriff hit it on the head...it would be a support nightmare.

You could argue for a unit with built in games, but that begs the question: why produce old hardware at all if you're not going to use the old cartridges? Why not just put it on a newer console (ie: Revolution)?

[Rejinx]

If you are looking for cheaper top loaders, there are a few NES clones selling brand new out there. I have wanting to pick one up but can't decide which one.

[Tron 2.0]

Well if it was a release with some like "bulit in games" fine.

Still i doubt, Nintendo would bother making, NES and games all over again to much money.

Still i'm glad there was so much NES&Famicom games made. The system still.. has a good used market afther all ;)

Beside with the, Revolution on the way i doubt, Nintendo would care to do 'that any ways.

Btw afther getting a, Famicom AV i'm discovering the joys of the system all over again :D

[AKay]

i think the support issue makes the most sense.

I agree the NES/SNES are some awesome machines!

AKay

[googlefest1]

if they were as big as sony they could possibly have entertained an idea like that but they arent so the initial tooling and facility setup cost would be troo high for such a small market scheme

I say sony becasue they have thier own machining capabilities - which would greatly reduce the initial tooling cost

[Grunaki]

I've seen some NES clones floating around that are just a JoyPad that plugs into a TV with about 50 games built in on-board.

They're obviously not sanctioned by Nintendo, but they usually sell pretty cheap (between £15-£20 in the UK). They're usually sold on stalls in Malls or on Markets and usually around Christmas, but I've seen them other times of year as well.

[rbudrick]

I never thought of it from the support side of the issue, although the consumer confusion of having too many systems on the market did cross my mind.

I figured Nintendo figures there's WAY less overhead by just offering roms for sale on the Revolution than making hardware, new carts, etc. I wonder if third party games will be sold through Nintendo or through third party sites accessible through the Rev console.

-Rob

[Poofta!]

well first of all, nintendo lost its NES patent, so anyone can legally release and market NES clones. If Nintendo decided to market and re-release the NES, it would have to compete, in a market with already very little interest. the investment would not be worth the return. as for the SNES, most SNES cartridges are way too expensive, and nintendo has rereleased most of the games that it owns the publishing rights to on newer systems. as for the other popular games, most of their respective copyright owners also have released their most popular snes franchises (chrono trigger, ff3, final fight, bof1&2 etc etc).

there simply is no reason to invest into this market, just cause you think its a good idea doesnt mean it is.