themadlionsfan
New member
The Turnaround Plan
Nintendo fans are right to be concerned about the future of the house that Mario built, especially after the Wii U’s considerably shaky run. But there are still plenty of signs of light. It’s never fun seeing a game company choose to essentially sit out a full six months of the year, but there are already some indications that this was the right call.
First, the early signs are that Nintendo is tackling mobile in exactly the right way. Miitomo isn’t making crazy bank, but it proves that Nintendo “gets it” when it comes to smartphones and tablets, and the app successfully laid the foundation for a social infrastructure that Nintendo can apply to all its future mobile games. Today’s announcement that Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem are coming, and that Animal Crossing mobile will communicate with future console and handheld Animal Crossing games, is exactly the right way to tackle an expansion into mobile.
“
There’s a large number of talented teams working on secret projects...
The Legend of Zelda being Nintendo’s only playable game at E3 2016 says a lot about the company’s confidence in how the game is shaping up, too. A huge E3 booth for a single playable game is a big statement to make, even if you didn’t have too much else to show off to begin with. The game is absolutely gorgeous and more than five years in the making, with Nintendo dropping plenty of hints that it will be more open and Western-feeling. Nintendo seems confident that this entry in the long-running franchise will truly be something special. Of course, it’s always possible despite today’s announcement that Nintendo will surprise us at E3 with more 2016-bound games than we’re expecting, too.
Regardless, the majority of Nintendo’s development teams, including the talented teams behind Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, have not released a game since 2014, and have since moved on to unannounced projects. There’s a very large number of very talented teams with proven track records working quietly on projects that won’t see the light of day until next year, likely to help ensure the NX has a stronger Year One lineup than the Wii U received.
As for the NX itself? That’s the big question. The console is the crux of any 2017 turnaround plan. If its combination of pure power, an extensive software lineup, and unique vision for the future of gaming can convince the masses to buy in, Nintendo will be in a great position. After weathering 2015 and 2016, the company will have an ever-growing toy division powered by the continued success of amiibo, a solid console business, and a growing mobile presence that supports and augments that core console business.
Nintendo fans are right to be concerned about the future of the house that Mario built, especially after the Wii U’s considerably shaky run. But there are still plenty of signs of light. It’s never fun seeing a game company choose to essentially sit out a full six months of the year, but there are already some indications that this was the right call.
First, the early signs are that Nintendo is tackling mobile in exactly the right way. Miitomo isn’t making crazy bank, but it proves that Nintendo “gets it” when it comes to smartphones and tablets, and the app successfully laid the foundation for a social infrastructure that Nintendo can apply to all its future mobile games. Today’s announcement that Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem are coming, and that Animal Crossing mobile will communicate with future console and handheld Animal Crossing games, is exactly the right way to tackle an expansion into mobile.
“
There’s a large number of talented teams working on secret projects...
The Legend of Zelda being Nintendo’s only playable game at E3 2016 says a lot about the company’s confidence in how the game is shaping up, too. A huge E3 booth for a single playable game is a big statement to make, even if you didn’t have too much else to show off to begin with. The game is absolutely gorgeous and more than five years in the making, with Nintendo dropping plenty of hints that it will be more open and Western-feeling. Nintendo seems confident that this entry in the long-running franchise will truly be something special. Of course, it’s always possible despite today’s announcement that Nintendo will surprise us at E3 with more 2016-bound games than we’re expecting, too.
Regardless, the majority of Nintendo’s development teams, including the talented teams behind Mario Kart 8, Super Mario 3D World, and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, have not released a game since 2014, and have since moved on to unannounced projects. There’s a very large number of very talented teams with proven track records working quietly on projects that won’t see the light of day until next year, likely to help ensure the NX has a stronger Year One lineup than the Wii U received.
As for the NX itself? That’s the big question. The console is the crux of any 2017 turnaround plan. If its combination of pure power, an extensive software lineup, and unique vision for the future of gaming can convince the masses to buy in, Nintendo will be in a great position. After weathering 2015 and 2016, the company will have an ever-growing toy division powered by the continued success of amiibo, a solid console business, and a growing mobile presence that supports and augments that core console business.
