MAY
22
2003
News
Nintendo profits slump
37% fall in profits, on 31st March year end
Poor sales of the GameCube console has hit the big N badly this year – with a 37% fall in profits. Shipping under 10m units compared to a staggering 51m PS2s it's easy to see why. Several hyped releases, such as the latest Zelda game and Metroid Prime, haven’t been enough it seems.
I’d like to say it's not all bad news for the Japanese gaming giant – but it is. The announcement of the PSP (Portable PlayStation) by Sony directly attacks Nintendo’s lucrative and well-seated GameBoy in the handheld market.
Several sources have predicted that profits will fall again next year.
Comments
I knew this would still happen. Even with the release of Metroid Prime (at first) it wouldn't help boost the unit sales of GC, and now even with Zelda: Windwaker, it still wouldn't make much of a difference. No matter how good people think Nintendo is making 'quality' games, it's not a taste for everyone's filling. They need 3rd parties....
They are getting the third party support, but not enough of it. I'd personally love to see Miyamoto et al. taking a real go at a truly adult game.
The market has changed, it's really that simple. Nintendo afficionados often make much of the fact that Nintendo refuse to 'sell out' to the fad for controversial or provocative games. I'm thinking maybe they should...
I have played games all my life, and I can appreciate the love and quality that goes into games like Mario Sunshine and Zelda. But to me, these games are wonderful despite their childlike storylines, not because of them. Imagine the possibilites of an adult/dark Zelda style game. Adult storytelling combined with the worlds best game design would be truly an unbeatable combination.
Something I think we'll hear from Rich when he's done his Zelda review...
R u an idiot or just dumb?If their so brilliant why are they selling less than other competitors. Sony are making games for all areas of the market as SUPER nintendo are not.And looks who's winning.You ever get the feeling someone likes to make love to their GC's?
To the fanboy down there, Jason and Cooper hinted it for you my friend.
Yeah, I agree, unless Nintendo cuts the crap out and start getting serious, they'll never change. And they have been like this since when? Since the NES came out. 20th century and they're still producing games that usually underage audience will appreciate very much.
I agree, but another factor is that even the underage audience (and perhaps especially them) want to play adult games. Kids now want GTA, not Mario.
Marketing wise, the 'kids' demographic has been shifting downwards for some time...
Damn those kids. Just think, if they parents find out they want to play games like those, parents are gonna like establish an anti-violence coup on videogames.
I think you'll find the parents are the one's buying the games for there kids...
Besides I have always been a fan of the Mario series et al, but I think it's time for a new direction, there's only so many Mario games you can make, even sega who went under cut back on the amount of Sonic games they make because nobody buys them anymore Running around with a Blue Hedgehog may have been fun the first 6 times but it starts to get stale very soon...
I would say that Nintendo are perhaps going in the same direction as Sega, which is a shame. I've grown up with Nintendo and Sega, but I'm happy with my PS2 at the moment. Sony are dominating because they have a great marketing department, they done the one thing that no other games company did... Appeal to adults rather than children. They are reaping the rewards now and will be into the foreseeable future...
To follow up from what Jason said.
When Sony first lunched the PS1 they didn't market it at the traditional socio segments i.e. under 16's. They made the PS1 fashionable by making it appealing to the 18 – 35’s with games such as Wipeout and Tomb Raider. That market segment was ignored by both Nintendo and Sega……….. (The rest is history)
Sony has successfully used the same strategy to sell the PS2. Whilst Nintendo went with aesthetics rather then quantity, the PS2 was and still is occupying people's living rooms in droves.
Let me ask you this Nintendo is still seen as a kiddie toy to the mass public whilst Sony has massive creditability attached to its name. For example: Sony gives as the Walkman (notice the word 'Man') Nintendo gives us the Gameboy. I don't want a Game’boy’ I'm 22 years old. If Nintendo released a Game’man’ I would play until the cows come home. Get my point?
Just shows how thick headed and stupid you people are. Why the hell does the name of the console matter?