I felt like something was missing from E3 this year. Something playful, something colourful, something beginning with "R" and ending in "eggie". Nintendo went MIA from E3 2013 opting to present their software and hardware updates via a new format, their Nintendo Direct presentations. Owning every Nintendo console (except the Super Nintendo) their conferences have always been a personal highlight. However as hard as I try, in recent years the lack of exciting announcements have left my loyalty waining. This lack of big announcements is why I believe Nintendo had to make the decision to distance themselves from E3 2013.
Prior to E3, Sony and Microsoft announced new consoles in the PS4 and Xbox One respectively. The new home consoles were bound to attract the main attention and with no big news on the same scale as their competitors, Nintendo knew they would struggle to compete. This wasn't just any old E3 either, it was the unveiling of the next generation of video gaming. Nintendo had already released their "next gen" input with the Wii U and the 3DS was enjoying dominance over the handheld market, therefore all that left to show was software.
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| The next generation of gaming. |
Nintendo's biggest mistake has been the Wii U. The hardware, branding, and timing of the release have let its next-gen cousins move far out of sight. The Wii was a huge commercial success and introduced non-gamers to a form of entertainment previously ignored. Inevitably though the novelty wore off as consumers demanded more depth in their experiences. This gave Nintendo the perfect opportunity to develop this new influx of non-gamers into regular gamers, by evolving the console and games that originally caught their interest. For the video gaming industry to expand it needs more hardcore gamers who will make repeat purchases and stay loyal to brands. Instead Nintendo ignored this chance of consumer development, effectively starving themselves and the industry of growth.
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| The Wii U hardly broke any technological ground. |
What Nintendo did was add HD to the old console and include a tablet to entice the growing touch screen friendly market. Neither of which are huge leaps into the next generation, in fact both of these technologies are commonplace in households already. Nintendo should have waited until this year to launch a console that could compete with its rivals, however they released a same generation console that severely lacked in innovation. Waiting would have given a longer transition period for the beginner gamer to get into more advanced games and also gave Nintendo more time to develop innovative technology enabling them to create a next gen console matching the same high quality of their first party software.
However it is not all doom and gloom for Nintendo. Unless they have plans for a competitive console lurking in the background, there are still a few options that would help them to continue as a dominant force in the gaming industry.
1) Solely focus on casual and non gamers
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| The Wii's accesability captured the casual gaming market. |
The hardcore gamer expects an unrestricted online experience, flawless graphics, and innovative gameplay. At its current capacity the Wii U cannot provide any of this. Therefore Nintendo could release the hardcore crowd and instead target non and casual gamers. Providing fun, gimmicky, and easy to play experiences.
2) Relinquish the console market
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| Nintendo boasts an impressive amount of established franchises. |
Nintendo's forte has always been their games. Zelda, Mario and, Pikmin are original series that have showed their longevity through countless iterations. Transitioning their brands over to other consoles would give developers the ability to work with better technology, bringing the same games we love but with next gen updates. Who knows, series might get a new lease of life, take Banjo Kazooie's Xbox 360 revival for example.
3) Handheld only
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| Could Nintendo enjoy a handheld only future? |
Nintendo are without a doubt the kings of handheld. Exclusives like pokemon
have continually helped them dominate the handheld market since the Gameboy introduced portable gaming to the masses. Ironically, unlike its console market, Nintendo are continuing to successfully fight off competitors through innovation. Firstly with the addition of touch screen gaming and more recently the inclusion of a glasses free 3D experience. An exclusively handheld Nintendo may even give them the power to compete with the rapidly expanding mobile gaming scene.
Nintendo has options, and certainly has a place in the market, it just has some big decisions to make. They will always hold a special place in mine and the gaming communities hearts. But if they continue with their current business model they will soon be swept beneath the rug and disappear as serious contenders in the video gaming industry. However only a handful of people know what Mr Miyamoto and crew have brewing in their mushroom shaped cauldrons, so all we can do is cross our fingers and hope we will see the contents at E3 2014.
What are your thoughts on Nintendo's future? Comment below.
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-techradar.com
-videogamer.com
-cnet.com.au
-gamestatistics.com
-operationrainfall.com
Depending on you look at it, Nintendo have either boxed themselves into a corner, concentrating on the cute & easy to play aspect of gaming that appeals to non-gamers, thus alienating themselves from the rest of the gaming community who are always eager to gobble down next-gen tech.
ReplyDeleteOr, Nintendo are sticking to their tested formula, filling a gap in a market place that Microsoft and Sony either can't or won't enter into, probably because Nintendo already have it filled and can therefore create hardware and software aimed at a specific section of the gaming community - people who aren't dedicated hardcore gamers.
However, as gaming evolves the traditional gaming console is no longer enough and needs/strives to offer other media access, not only keep its loyal fans but appeal to new ones, Nintendo seems to be lagging behind the big boys in offering something new.
I think Nintendo will continue to have its place in the gaming world yet it feels as if they're stuck in the 1990's where they assume cute, cuddly games with bright colours and binky sounds are what gamers want.
Sure, they're evolving too, just at a much slower pace, and perhaps that means at some point the much faster, more powerful animals like Xboxrapter Beast and Playstation-a-saurus will feast on the slow cumbersome Nintendo-plodasaurus, reducing its numbers until it becomes extinct.
Having said that, there is the possibility, however unlikely, that Nintendo-plodasaurus grows some fangs and pounces back at its would be challengers. Wouldn't that be a nice treat to see at E3 2014!