The great thing about Nintendo is that they can falter, misstep or simply fall out of favor but come back strong years later. I do not doubt that Nintendo will just bide their time until the paradigm shift allows them to make a comeback like they?ve done so many times before.
Nintendo has incredible brand power and Brand Loyalty. You're absolutely right about that. They can go quite far on name alone.
The DS isn't really being significantly impacted by iPod Touch sales. The gamers involved in these groups are completely different. iPod Touch gamers are, in essence, the same type of gamers who sit at home and play flash games in their web browsers. Nintendo DS gamers are either children who desire portable games or young people who are fans of series or characters.
This article makes a point about the games' pricing. DS and PSP games cost much more than iPod Touch apps, yes, but their games are of much higher quality and longer length. iPod Touch games lack depth and are very simple, addicting games to play when on the go with little time. DS games have much more immersion.
yeah nice try AI. every other site reporting this doesn't mention a word about apple, they talk about currency exchange and other factors contributing to falling profits.
the ipod touch / iphone and ds have such an incredibly different price point and feature set that it's hard to argue that they compete directly.
the iphone has no physical buttons, making it incapable of anything beyond 10-second gaming.
Nintendo's profits fell from 133 billion yen a year prior to 64 billion yen , or $709 million, last quarter. Those losses, in part, were attributed to increased competition, including Apple's iPhone.
Prove that part of the losses weren't due to competition from the iPhone/iPod Touch.
The impact of the iPhone and iPod Touch was already acknowledged by Nintendo in their previous quarterly report!
The DS isn't really being significantly impacted by iPod Touch sales. The gamers involved in these groups are completely different. iPod Touch gamers are, in essen
This article... Frustrates me.
Except that Nintendo already acknowldged the impact in their previous quarterly report.
To me it seems unlikely that iPhone or iPod Touch had that much of a significant impact on Nintendo's portable sales. Another example of Apple cheer-leading by AI.
What does seem likely is that we are 1) in a recession 2) somewhat stale hardware 3) everybody and their brother already has a Ds. Sure some impact from the touch, but I have yet to any kid dropping the Ds for the games on the Touch.
I've even asked my 9-yr old about the Touch, and he said it was too hard to control compared his Ds or PSP.
Thoughts?
I think your analysis of the situation is a bit more realistic than AIs. Especially on the stale hardware bit. I really don't think the iPod Touch is eating into their market share. Two very different devices. For the most part, iPod Touch games are just fancier Cell Phone games, things you pick up and play for a few minutes. DS games usually are the type that you play for 15 minutes or so, save, and come back to. Rolando is probably the closest I've seen to a console style game on the iPod Touch in terms of length and story. (There are a few more, but only a few... I really wish there were more out there! For all its downfalls made by Apple, the iPod Touch / iPhone is screaming for more indepth games.)
To me it seems unlikely that iPhone or iPod Touch had that much of a significant impact on Nintendo's portable sales. Another example of Apple cheer-leading by AI.
What does seem likely is that we are 1) in a recession 2) somewhat stale hardware 3) everybody and their brother already has a Ds. Sure some impact from the touch, but I have yet to any kid dropping the Ds for the games on the Touch.
I've even asked my 9-yr old about the Touch, and he said it was too hard to control compared his Ds or PSP.
Thoughts?
What games was he playing? Were they the same or similar games to those he has on the DS/PSP?
The reason that I ask is that myself, my wife and our 2 sons all play games on our iPhones and Touch and have no issues with the controls. Perhaps it is the games he has been playing, which would not be too surprising as there is a lot of shovelware on the iPhone which shoehorn in generic crap controls.
Since getting the kids iPhones they have stopped playing their DS and PSP (although, the PSP had not been touched for months). They play the majority of their games on the Xbox 360 online and all their handheld gaming on the iPhone.
If by "cheerleading" you mean "reality", then you're absolutely right.
I think that you have a vision of reality extremely distorted.
iPhone/Touch is not the primary element in Nintendo sales drop, is Wii, 10 millon sold in the first six months of 2008 and 5.75 in the same period of this year, a price cut of 25% and the yen stronger than last year.
DS sales drop from 13.7 to 11.7 and is in this drop where Apple could have been a factor but the primary factor is saturation.
And, surprise surprise, this news actually was issued by our propaganda squad at AI without, of course, any real reference for their claims.
Ninja edit:
You can actually skip the electigpic.com news as the Mirror already points to AI.
That is a strong rebuttal. The NYTimes article that the AI article got its info from is no longer available. Searching for it now…
edit: It’s looking like Nintendo’s biggest falter in sales is from the Wii, which Apple doesn’t come close to directly competing with. However, to say that the Touch has had no impact on DS sales is like saying the iPhone has had no impact on iPod sales. If a kid has to choose one or the other, it’s possible that many will choose the Touch since it can do gmes, though not as robustly or as well, but has many other features to it.
Instead of quoting another Mac-Friendly site, please help me find facts to help your argument on Nintendo's site. I rather hear it from Nintendo than MacWorld.
And, surprise surprise, this news actually was issued by our propaganda squad at AI without, of course, any real reference for their claims.
Ninja edit:
You can actually skip the electigpic.com news as the Mirror already points to AI.
If so, AppleInsider outright LIED, because AI alleged that the statements Nintendo made about cmpetition from Apple were on the record, and the first of its kind made by Nintendo:
Nintendo's comments are the first on-the-record statements from the Japanese company that treat Apple as a genuine competitor. The iPhone maker itself has been quick to challenge Nintendo, calling the iPod touch a "console experience," but until now hasn't been acknowledged in return.
Aparently, at some point during the conference call, Nintendo either declared Apple a genuine competitor, or somehow intimated the same.
To me it seems unlikely that iPhone or iPod Touch had that much of a significant impact on Nintendo's portable sales. Another example of Apple cheer-leading by AI.
What does seem likely is that we are 1) in a recession 2) somewhat stale hardware 3) everybody and their brother already has a Ds. Sure some impact from the touch, but I have yet to any kid dropping the Ds for the games on the Touch.
I've even asked my 9-yr old about the Touch, and he said it was too hard to control compared his Ds or PSP.
Thoughts?
My thought is that the DS is already dead and floating.
The PSP Go will have a hard time keeping it's head up and is essentially treading water right now but it might survive for a while in the hands of the old school "I can't play without buttons" crowd.
This is just the way of the world when it comes to technology and I've seen it happen many times in the past. I remember when the very first calculators became available for the average consumer and there were a lot of people that said similar things to what we hear today. I've actually been in the room when people said, "You can't do *real* math on a calculator, give me a pencil and paper or a good old slide-rule anytime."
When computers came out there was a whole lot of people who just couldn't "get it" and they looked at the things as if they were some kind of futuristic monsters and shook their heads at anyone who would want to use one because they knew they didn't understand them themselves. When graphical UI's and mice arrived, I listened to people say things like "*real" computers have keyboards" and " I can work twice as fast on CLI than I can with the graphics, it will *never* catch on."
Now it's "real computers have buttons" and there is a whole group of people who used to be cool and hip that will now be lame old-schoolers because they can't stomach (or understand) the new devices.
Same old same old.
I mean if you think about it logically for a second or two, there is absolutely nothing that a touch based device with no buttons can't do that one with plastic buttons can. Nothing. I'm not saying the iPod touch is that device today, but there is nothing in the technology of buttons itself that gives any real advantage. It's 100% a preference thing. some people prefer buttons. That's fine, but it won't change the future and time waits for no man (or woman).
Nintendo's portable game machine, the DS, also faces increasing competition from Apple Inc's iPhone, which has become a popular platform for handheld games.
Certainly you're not suggesting the NY Times gets it's information from AI?
The DS isn't really being significantly impacted by iPod Touch sales. The gamers involved in these groups are completely different. iPod Touch gamers are, in essence, the same type of gamers who sit at home and play flash games in their web browsers. Nintendo DS gamers are either children who desire portable games or young people who are fans of series or characters.
This article makes a point about the games' pricing. DS and PSP games cost much more than iPod Touch apps, yes, but their games are of much higher quality and longer length. iPod Touch games lack depth and are very simple, addicting games to play when on the go with little time. DS games have much more immersion.
This article... Frustrates me.
It's true that the quality of Iphone games can't compare with a dedicated game consul ... that's a given, but if you use the newspaper industry as a comparison you see some interesting facts.
While a "real newspaper" like the NY times or whatever may be a better newspaper, the fact is, those kind of papers are having all kinds of problems trying to stay alive, while the quick read, free papers given out at most major cities are flourishing.
Most people today seem to be really pressed for time and it shows up with almost everything they do. Eat a sit down dinner? .... without being on the computer or watching tv at the same time? .... not likely. .. the examples are endless.
The major advantage the iPhone has is twofold ... variety (to hold small attention span people, nearly all of us) and convenience ... let's face , if your leaving the house, what's the one device you're not doing without? ... the cell phone, right ?
For these reasons I would be very surprised if iPhone did not cut into traditional game markets.
Also note that even the Reuters news lack any kind of reference to a Nintendo spokesperson or similar. It sounds more like interpretation by the author than anything else.
Comments
The great thing about Nintendo is that they can falter, misstep or simply fall out of favor but come back strong years later. I do not doubt that Nintendo will just bide their time until the paradigm shift allows them to make a comeback like they?ve done so many times before.
Nintendo has incredible brand power and Brand Loyalty. You're absolutely right about that. They can go quite far on name alone.
This article makes a point about the games' pricing. DS and PSP games cost much more than iPod Touch apps, yes, but their games are of much higher quality and longer length. iPod Touch games lack depth and are very simple, addicting games to play when on the go with little time. DS games have much more immersion.
This article... Frustrates me.
yeah nice try AI. every other site reporting this doesn't mention a word about apple, they talk about currency exchange and other factors contributing to falling profits.
the ipod touch / iphone and ds have such an incredibly different price point and feature set that it's hard to argue that they compete directly.
the iphone has no physical buttons, making it incapable of anything beyond 10-second gaming.
Nintendo's profits fell from 133 billion yen a year prior to 64 billion yen , or $709 million, last quarter. Those losses, in part, were attributed to increased competition, including Apple's iPhone.
Prove that part of the losses weren't due to competition from the iPhone/iPod Touch.
The impact of the iPhone and iPod Touch was already acknowledged by Nintendo in their previous quarterly report!
The DS isn't really being significantly impacted by iPod Touch sales. The gamers involved in these groups are completely different. iPod Touch gamers are, in essen
This article... Frustrates me.
Except that Nintendo already acknowldged the impact in their previous quarterly report.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
To me it seems unlikely that iPhone or iPod Touch had that much of a significant impact on Nintendo's portable sales. Another example of Apple cheer-leading by AI.
What does seem likely is that we are 1) in a recession 2) somewhat stale hardware 3) everybody and their brother already has a Ds. Sure some impact from the touch, but I have yet to any kid dropping the Ds for the games on the Touch.
I've even asked my 9-yr old about the Touch, and he said it was too hard to control compared his Ds or PSP.
Thoughts?
I think your analysis of the situation is a bit more realistic than AIs. Especially on the stale hardware bit. I really don't think the iPod Touch is eating into their market share. Two very different devices. For the most part, iPod Touch games are just fancier Cell Phone games, things you pick up and play for a few minutes. DS games usually are the type that you play for 15 minutes or so, save, and come back to. Rolando is probably the closest I've seen to a console style game on the iPod Touch in terms of length and story. (There are a few more, but only a few... I really wish there were more out there! For all its downfalls made by Apple, the iPod Touch / iPhone is screaming for more indepth games.)
iPod Touch games lack depth and are very simple, addicting games to play when on the go with little time. DS games have much more immersion.
This article... Frustrates me.
It's pretty evident you haven't played any games from the App Store recently.
To me it seems unlikely that iPhone or iPod Touch had that much of a significant impact on Nintendo's portable sales. Another example of Apple cheer-leading by AI.
What does seem likely is that we are 1) in a recession 2) somewhat stale hardware 3) everybody and their brother already has a Ds. Sure some impact from the touch, but I have yet to any kid dropping the Ds for the games on the Touch.
I've even asked my 9-yr old about the Touch, and he said it was too hard to control compared his Ds or PSP.
Thoughts?
What games was he playing? Were they the same or similar games to those he has on the DS/PSP?
The reason that I ask is that myself, my wife and our 2 sons all play games on our iPhones and Touch and have no issues with the controls. Perhaps it is the games he has been playing, which would not be too surprising as there is a lot of shovelware on the iPhone which shoehorn in generic crap controls.
Since getting the kids iPhones they have stopped playing their DS and PSP (although, the PSP had not been touched for months). They play the majority of their games on the Xbox 360 online and all their handheld gaming on the iPhone.
I think your analysis of the situation is a bit more realistic than AIs
No, it isn't.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
No, it isn't.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
Just in case people are too lazy to click the link… ...or don’t trust a MacWorld link….
Except that Nintendo already acknowldged the impact in their previous quarterly report.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
Ah, I knew this ugly myth would rear its head one day again. Just follow the references and you'll realize something surprising:
From
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
to
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technol...5875-21561458/
to
http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2009/07...-hammering-ds/
finally to
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...its_sales.html
And, surprise surprise, this news actually was issued by our propaganda squad at AI without, of course, any real reference for their claims.
Ninja edit:
You can actually skip the electigpic.com news as the Mirror already points to AI.
If by "cheerleading" you mean "reality", then you're absolutely right.
I think that you have a vision of reality extremely distorted.
iPhone/Touch is not the primary element in Nintendo sales drop, is Wii, 10 millon sold in the first six months of 2008 and 5.75 in the same period of this year, a price cut of 25% and the yen stronger than last year.
DS sales drop from 13.7 to 11.7 and is in this drop where Apple could have been a factor but the primary factor is saturation.
Ah, I knew this ugly myth would rear its head one day again. Just follow the references and you'll realize something surprising:
From
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
to
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technol...5875-21561458/
to
http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2009/07...-hammering-ds/
finally to
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...its_sales.html
And, surprise surprise, this news actually was issued by our propaganda squad at AI without, of course, any real reference for their claims.
Ninja edit:
You can actually skip the electigpic.com news as the Mirror already points to AI.
That is a strong rebuttal. The NYTimes article that the AI article got its info from is no longer available. Searching for it now…
edit: It’s looking like Nintendo’s biggest falter in sales is from the Wii, which Apple doesn’t come close to directly competing with. However, to say that the Touch has had no impact on DS sales is like saying the iPhone has had no impact on iPod sales. If a kid has to choose one or the other, it’s possible that many will choose the Touch since it can do gmes, though not as robustly or as well, but has many other features to it.
It's pretty evident you haven't played any games from the App Store recently.
Which games do you recommend?
No, it isn't.
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
Instead of quoting another Mac-Friendly site, please help me find facts to help your argument on Nintendo's site. I rather hear it from Nintendo than MacWorld.
Ah, I knew this ugly myth would rear its head one day again. Just follow the references and you'll realize something surprising:
From
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
to
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technol...5875-21561458/
to
http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2009/07...-hammering-ds/
finally to
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...its_sales.html
And, surprise surprise, this news actually was issued by our propaganda squad at AI without, of course, any real reference for their claims.
Ninja edit:
You can actually skip the electigpic.com news as the Mirror already points to AI.
If so, AppleInsider outright LIED, because AI alleged that the statements Nintendo made about cmpetition from Apple were on the record, and the first of its kind made by Nintendo:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...its_sales.html
Nintendo's comments are the first on-the-record statements from the Japanese company that treat Apple as a genuine competitor. The iPhone maker itself has been quick to challenge Nintendo, calling the iPod touch a "console experience," but until now hasn't been acknowledged in return.
Aparently, at some point during the conference call, Nintendo either declared Apple a genuine competitor, or somehow intimated the same.
So what's AIs source?
To me it seems unlikely that iPhone or iPod Touch had that much of a significant impact on Nintendo's portable sales. Another example of Apple cheer-leading by AI.
What does seem likely is that we are 1) in a recession 2) somewhat stale hardware 3) everybody and their brother already has a Ds. Sure some impact from the touch, but I have yet to any kid dropping the Ds for the games on the Touch.
I've even asked my 9-yr old about the Touch, and he said it was too hard to control compared his Ds or PSP.
Thoughts?
My thought is that the DS is already dead and floating.
The PSP Go will have a hard time keeping it's head up and is essentially treading water right now but it might survive for a while in the hands of the old school "I can't play without buttons" crowd.
This is just the way of the world when it comes to technology and I've seen it happen many times in the past. I remember when the very first calculators became available for the average consumer and there were a lot of people that said similar things to what we hear today. I've actually been in the room when people said, "You can't do *real* math on a calculator, give me a pencil and paper or a good old slide-rule anytime."
When computers came out there was a whole lot of people who just couldn't "get it" and they looked at the things as if they were some kind of futuristic monsters and shook their heads at anyone who would want to use one because they knew they didn't understand them themselves. When graphical UI's and mice arrived, I listened to people say things like "*real" computers have keyboards" and " I can work twice as fast on CLI than I can with the graphics, it will *never* catch on."
Now it's "real computers have buttons" and there is a whole group of people who used to be cool and hip that will now be lame old-schoolers because they can't stomach (or understand) the new devices.
Same old same old.
I mean if you think about it logically for a second or two, there is absolutely nothing that a touch based device with no buttons can't do that one with plastic buttons can. Nothing. I'm not saying the iPod touch is that device today, but there is nothing in the technology of buttons itself that gives any real advantage. It's 100% a preference thing. some people prefer buttons. That's fine, but it won't change the future and time waits for no man (or woman).
Ah, I knew this ugly myth would rear its head one day again. Just follow the references and you'll realize something surprising:
From
http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipod-itune...74#mainContent
to
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technol...5875-21561458/
to
http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2009/07...-hammering-ds/
finally to
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...its_sales.html
And, surprise surprise, this news actually was issued by our propaganda squad at AI without, of course, any real reference for their claims.
Ninja edit:
You can actually skip the electigpic.com news as the Mirror already points to AI.
Today's article in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/...profits&st=cse
Part of it reads:
Nintendo's portable game machine, the DS, also faces increasing competition from Apple Inc's iPhone, which has become a popular platform for handheld games.
Certainly you're not suggesting the NY Times gets it's information from AI?
The DS isn't really being significantly impacted by iPod Touch sales. The gamers involved in these groups are completely different. iPod Touch gamers are, in essence, the same type of gamers who sit at home and play flash games in their web browsers. Nintendo DS gamers are either children who desire portable games or young people who are fans of series or characters.
This article makes a point about the games' pricing. DS and PSP games cost much more than iPod Touch apps, yes, but their games are of much higher quality and longer length. iPod Touch games lack depth and are very simple, addicting games to play when on the go with little time. DS games have much more immersion.
This article... Frustrates me.
It's true that the quality of Iphone games can't compare with a dedicated game consul ... that's a given, but if you use the newspaper industry as a comparison you see some interesting facts.
While a "real newspaper" like the NY times or whatever may be a better newspaper, the fact is, those kind of papers are having all kinds of problems trying to stay alive, while the quick read, free papers given out at most major cities are flourishing.
Most people today seem to be really pressed for time and it shows up with almost everything they do. Eat a sit down dinner? .... without being on the computer or watching tv at the same time? .... not likely. .. the examples are endless.
The major advantage the iPhone has is twofold ... variety (to hold small attention span people, nearly all of us) and convenience ... let's face , if your leaving the house, what's the one device you're not doing without? ... the cell phone, right ?
For these reasons I would be very surprised if iPhone did not cut into traditional game markets.
That is a strong rebuttal. The NYTimes article that the AI article got its info from is no longer available. Searching for it now...
You are probably looking for this (note that the NY Times URL only references news from Reuters):
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKT25817420090730
Also note that even the Reuters news lack any kind of reference to a Nintendo spokesperson or similar. It sounds more like interpretation by the author than anything else.