Sheikah

You ever tried MMORPGs? Final Fantasy XIV has really been doing it for me recently, you can pick it up for around £3-4 with a month's worth of play included.

Even they had wanted to produce a similar spec machine with the gamepad, it would have sold for a horrendous amount due to it already costing 300 as it was. Basically, if they pick a peripheral it has to not cost too much if they want to compete on specs. Not due to specs. That's why you can't say that the specs were a bad thing.

Yes, or bettered. No. Innovate with software, or additional peripherals that don't subsequently result in gimping of the console. Gamecube had specs not too dissimilar from the competition and nobody complained.

Yes. I'll definitely be watching!

When I say toxic, I don't mean it as a personal opinion but rather that third parties mostly won't touch it.

Hindsight? The specs were known from D1. The crappy name was known from D1. The fact the Wii trailed off and lacked a lot of good third party support by the end of its life was also known, yet here they were continuing the Wii brand. The reason people like me didn't jump on board when it was launched was not an act of clairvoyance, believe me!

It was toxic from D1. The price, the specs, the name, the audience. No one was going to waste resources making expensive games on something that was flagrantly a gamble. They knew that there were Wii owners who probably never played these games, so they tested whether they would buy the ports. PS4 and X1 show that people will buy re-releases. The problem is the console and audience, not the games.

It's just silly really. Anyone with a shred of animosity against a company in it to make money needs to take a long hard look at what they're arguing. If the money was there they'd be there. The money is not there, because Nintendo fucked up when they made the console, and are bad with third party relations. Those are the reasons to blame, not EA.

Fair play to them, they pulled out of supporting a pretty bad product that was obviously going to make them little money. It's basically toxic to nearly all third party devs, not just them.

The unquestionable level of defence for Nintendo products here is pretty startling (and really a bit sad). I'm honestly amazed at how you think everything would be enhanced on the crappy small low res screens of the 3DS in which only one of the screens is touch sensitive. If you had played Fruit Ninja on both tablet and phone, you would know how much better it is on a larger screen. Playing on such a small touch screen would be horrendous. Not only that - in order to get more than one line of fruits at once, multi-touch on phones/tablets is needed to swipe multiple fruit simultaneously (e.g. during a frenzy). 3DS does not support this! It would be crap for playing the game. I'd also like to point out: If you make such a wopping generalisation then be prepared to be challenged. Big time. In this case, you outright claimed that every single game would run better on handheld than on mobile platforms, so this is the reaction you get. There is nothing personal here - all discussion is based solely on the arguments you've raised and the information you've put in front of me.

Always got another excuse stored that you never mentioned before. :p I don't buy that you've played it at all, like Serebii you seem willing to say whatever to defend Nintendo. It seems like the kind of game that hardly anyone has ever played or bought (2 lone reviews on Amazon), which mostly would be due to the horrendous markup over the app version and that nearly anyone could get it for peanuts on their phone. Either way, there's the iPad mini and 7 inch tablets (the latter of which weigh little more than a 3DS XL). Speaking of ergonomic design, the 3DS's almost square like corners make the thing very uncomfortable for use over extended periods of time. I remember playing Monster Hunter on my XL for a good amount of time and the bottom left and bottom right corners really dig into your palms. Still, are you really still insisting that every game (even those you have not thought of) can work better on a 3DS than a tablet or phone? How about fruit ninja? I don't want to hear how it's better with a stylus because there's no way in hell using a stylus on just one of the screens, on a much smaller and low res space is! Even playing fruit ninja on a phone is crappy, because the screen is too small. It really shines on a large tablet screen which you can rest flat on your lap as you play.

According to Eurogamer, MGS5 Ground Zeroes sold three times as many copies on PS4 as X1. That's a pretty demonic lead they seem to be having.

Come on, this sounds so much like someone who is just guessing at quality to yet again defend Nintendo. I don't have the 3DS version, but from the paper thin arguments you're making I'm guessing you don't either. Can't you just admit you were wrong - that some games can be made to work better as an app than a handheld game? That statement is so matter-of-fact and easy to knock down, and the Doodle Jump example works best to prove it. While I don't own the 3DS version, absolutely everything you could possibly learn about it tells me it is inferior to the app version. The app version is a critically acclaimed success, whereas the 3DS version, as far as I have been able to find out, is a pretty average (I could only see a 60% score from Nintendo Life) estimation of the original. Because of the devices they're on, the Doodle Jump app versions run at a nice and crisp resolution and benefits from other things like fall off markers for your friends and the ability to challenge their scores. They're also updated with new gameplay modes like the Ninja setting, which, if new updates like that come out again, then the 3DS version won't get them. The 3DS version also apparently lacks online leaderboards, and the screen split halfway on the 3DS version just looks stupid. And your argument about depth of field - you know this is also available as a tablet version (tall devices you hold with two hands), right? And you can even hold a phone with two hands if you want, so that nulls whatever perceived advantage you think the handheld version has. The simplicity and form factor of tablets makes them very easy to manipulate the device with your hand(s) to move the character on screen. The worst part? Doodle Jump costs over £13 on 3DS, whereas I picked it up way back in app form for 69p. As for angry birds, the simplicity of using your fingers by far wins out over a stylus. Accuracy is good whatever you use, because you only release your finger when the bird is angled how you want it to be.

The only thing anyone can really say to this is that you are so wrong, so very, very wrong. :p Doodlejump better on 3DS? Puh-lease.

Baloney. They could so very easily make a game different enough but using Mario (as I showed they have done a thousand times already, even with games on PC) while preserving their other games.

Brand damage? Ca'man. Can't be serious with that one...Nintendo have totally whored out our friend Mario to death. He has survived, he is immortal to this kind of shit. I mean, look at the games he's been in (bolded some particularly fine examples): Donkey Kong Donkey Kong Jr Donkey Kong II Mario's Cement Factory Mario's Bombs Away Mario Bros. Mario Bros. Special Punch Ball Mario Bros. Donkey Kong Circus Donkey Kong Hockey Tennis Vs. Tennis Pinball Vs. Pinball Golf Vs. Golf Wrecking Crew Vs. Wrecking Crew Super Mario Bros. Vs. Super Mario Bros. Super Mario Bros. Special Super Mario Bros. 2 I am a Teacher: Super Mario Sweater All Night Nippon Super Mario Bros. Famicom Grand Prix: F-1 Race Mario Bros. II Punch-Out!! Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally Super Mario Bros. 3 Kaettekita Mario Bros. Tetris Alleyway Baseball Super Mario Land Qix Dr. Mario Vs. Dr. Mario F-1 Race Super Mario World Super Mario Brothers 3 NES Open Tournament Golf Super Mario Brothers 4 Mario Teaches Typing Super Mario Bros. & Friends: When I Grow Up Mario the Juggler Yoshi Mario is Missing! Super Mario Kart Super Scope 6 Mario Paint Yoshi's Cookie Super Mario Race Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins Mario's Time Machine Mario & Wario Super Mario All-Stars Mario's Early Years! Fun with Letters Mario's Early Years: Fun with Numbers Mario's Early Years: Preschool Fun Yoshi's Safari Tetris & Dr. Mario Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 Mario's Playschool Hotel Mario Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island Mario's Game Gallery Undake 30 Same Game Mario Excite Bike BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge Mario's Picross Mario's Super Picross Mario's Tennis Mario Clash Mario Teaches Typing 2 Super Mario 64 Mario Kart 64 Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars BS Mario Paint: Yuu Shou Naizou Ban Dr. Mario BS Version Game & Watch Gallery Game & Watch Gallery 2 Yoshi's Story Mario no Photopi Wrecking Crew '98 Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Mario Golf Mario Party Mario Party 2 Super Smash Bros. Game & Watch Gallery 3 Mario Golf Mario Artist: Paint Studio Donkey Kong 64 Mario Artist: Talent Studio Mario Artist: Communication Kit Mario Artist: Polygon Studio Mario Tennis Paper Mario Mario Party 3 Animal Crossing Dr. Mario 64 Luigi's Mansion Super Smash Bros. Melee Mario Tennis Mario Kart: Super Circuit Super Mario Advance Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World Super Mario Sunshine Mario Party 4 Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 Game & Watch Gallery 4 Mario Party 5 Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Nintendo Puzzle Collection Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Classic NES Series: Super Mario Bros. Classic NES Series: Dr. Mario Mario Party 6 Mario Power Tennis*(GameCube) Mario vs. Donkey Kong Mario Golf: Advance Tour Mario Pinball Land Super Mario 64 DS Yakuman DS NBA Street V3 Mario Superstar Baseball Dance Dance Revolution Mario Mix SSX on Tour Mario Kart DS Mario Party 7 Super Mario Strikers Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time Yoshi Touch & Go Mario Party Advance Mario Tennis: Power Tour Dr. Mario & Puzzle League Yoshi Topsy Turvy Mario Kart Arcade GP Super Princess Peach New Super Mario Bros. Mario Hoops 3-on-3 Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis Yoshi's Island DS Tetris DS Super Paper Mario Mario Party 8 Mario Strikers Charged Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Super Mario Galaxy Mario Party DS Itadaki Street DS Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Super Smash Bros. Brawl Dr. Mario Express Dr. Mario Online Rx Mario Kart Wii Game & Watch Collection Mario Super Sluggers Mario Power Tennis*(New Play Control!*series) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games New Super Mario Bros. Wii Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Super Mario Galaxy 2 Game & Watch Collection 2 Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! Mario Sports Mix Super Mario 3D Land Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Mario Kart 7 Fortune Street Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Mario Party 9 Mario Tennis Open New Super Mario Bros. 2 Paper Mario: Sticker Star New Super Mario Bros. U Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move Super Mario 3D World Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Mario Party: Island Tour Dr. Luigi NES Remix NES Remix 2 Mario Golf: World Tour Mario Kart 8 Yoshi's New Island Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Mario Maker Mario Party 10 Mario vs. Donkey Kong As for the lack of ability...they outsourced some of the Wind Waker HD production. They can do it...if they want to. It's also nonsense. A game like Doodlejump wouldn't work as well on a handheld as it works better with something easy to hold and tilt in one hand. Likewise, a game like angry birds needs no button input at all, so again benefits from the form factor and the fact it's streamlined (no additional buttons/features that aren't needed). Nintendo loyalists have trouble challenging legitimate arguments, whereas straw men are always easy to knock down? :p

Yeah, but their main point of comparison is app gaming, which is considerably cheaper. Some apps actually have considerable depth, but still the cost is much lower. There are a lot of people used to app gaming, who probably don't care enough to check out £30-35 games. I have never liked the cost of Nintendo's handheld titles; at around £35 or so they were basically the same cost as new PS3 titles.

My PSN (main thing I use) is Meltigemini.

The problem with this option is that people aren't happy with their console offering either, so are letting Nintendo know by their wallets in that way too.

People will still buy the hardware for the games they want. Pokemon is hugely successful and newer versions could continue to be released on their proprietary hardware. A Mario runner isn't likely to take over as their main Mario handheld game, but what that fear does show is how pitifully stale some of their franchises have become. Minecraft does extremely well both on PC and Pocket Edition. Why? Because the PC version is mod/customisable friendly, has proper online and controls. Nintendo need to up their game and they could easily make a premium, comprehensive version on their handhelds and a lite version (that could be even very different, like a runner). TL;DR - they need to pull their finger out. That's tough and looks like that avenue is somewhat doomed. Even the premium, all about games Vita with dual analogues didn't take off. It genuinely seems like the people have spoken. To join in or to drown, really.

In which case, same question to you: is there evidence that the iOS/Android versions of Rayman Jungle Run impinged upon the sales of the console Rayman games? They're already using tablets to play their Minecraft Pocket Edition and Angry Birds, so the audience is there. Put interesting software using a strong brand in front of a large and listening audience and you're in with a very good shot.

If I'm being clearer, I mean the risk is so small/unimportant as to not be worth considering. It will cost them next to nothing to make, as apps are generally pretty cheap, and can hardly hurt their image. They already loan Mario's face to everything. I'm still expecting Mario does the ironing to release at some point. Money. Fucking lots of it, if they use their strong brand and tailor a game to the mobile audience. It can be done, and they're in a great position to do it. Mario and his games are well known, but for how much longer if they don't continue to engage today's audience? A lot of kids don't even have/bother with the devices to play Mario games these days, opting for an iPad or some other device with cheaper and free options, so whether they know about the character is less important. If they don't even get the devices to play these games (and I'm sure that's many kids these days) then they're not going to know much more than the character, ie. the games themselves will be lost on them. Incorrect on one of those, Minecraft is available on a variety of mobile platforms. Either way, my point was that kids are more and more opting for these sorts of games instead, some of which are on mobile formats. It doesn't have to boost sales. It just has to not impinge on the sales of the other games, while also making money itself.

What gamble? What are they staking? These games don't cost much to produce, probably a drop in the ocean for a company like Nintendo. It'd just be something like a Mario runner game tailored to phones, not a full fledged super Mario title. It'd promote the Mario brand to people that aren't otherwise exposing themselves to Nintendo. It's mostly about Angry Birds, League of Legends and Minecraft for kids these days.

I imagine they did pretty well. Square Enix have also decided to port Dragon Quest games to mobile. As bad as that sounds, why would they do it if money wasn't there? They can just outsource this shit to someone and watch the money come in. You're also overlooking that Mario is potentially much more lucrative, much more well known and far more adaptable to phones.