Perhaps I am the only one who thinks that the "Nintendo will make more money as a software only publisher" theory is very shortsighted.

Some quick thoughts from a financial perspective:

The good:
1)Lower tech support expenses
2)No R&D costs for new hardware
3)Higher overall game sales

The bad:
1)Can no longer rake in the $$$ from accessories: controllers, mem cards, nintedo power, gc to gba cables, game boy players, replacement parts, broadband adapters, etc...
2)Make less money on each game sold due to licensing fees.
3)Make NO money from licensing fees from 3rd party publishers.

Obviously I'm ignoring any philosophical reasons for Ninteddo wanting to stay in the hardware business. I'm sure there are tons of other points to be made for both sides of the financial argument which I haven't touched. I just listed the 3 things that came to my mind.

I believe that you'd have to see a significant increase in sales as a 3rd party publisher to make up for all of the lost revenue from hardware sales and 3rd party licensing fees, especially since you are making less money per game sold as a 3rd party publisher due to said fees. With all of the "gamecube is too kiddy for me" crowd out there, you'd be hard pressed to convince me that Nintendo would see a significant increase in game sales as a third party.

Edit: ripped from a Chicago Tribune article about the GC price drop:

Jeff Brown, the president of corporate communications at Electronic Arts--the world's largest independent game publisher--said his company has "16 to 17 games in development for the GameCube.

"It's like network television," Brown said. "Boy, you would be a dope to get out of the business just because you came in third. It's like asking if ABC should get out of broadcasting. You can come in third and still make a handsome profit."

Funny, not because it makes my point, but also because I hate ABC with a passion with the exception of Alias. I would not shed a tear if ABC left broadcasting tomorrow. Might even throw a little party.

Do you not read before posting, I outlined this above. ;)

To recap.

1. Nintendo is the only company to retain a gaming only philosophy, while MS and Sony are hell bent on Set top boxes. This means they'll like cost more than Nintendo's next system, especially given that the GC was $100 less than the PS2 and X-box this generation.

2. I like nintendo's controllers the best.

3. Third party games usually (with exceptions obvioiusly) aren't as good as first party or second party games (or third party one-system exclusives) due to the games usually being based around the best selling system and then hastily ported to the competition.

As I said above, I don't want to see Nintendo go 3rd party, but I wouldn't mind if they partnered with Sony or MS (and only made games for that system) as long as there was a cheaper gaming only alternative to the set-top box, and Nintendo was allowed input in designing the controllers.

Well, that's basically what I was talking about - their PC games are great... however, I was talking about their console games too, they've managed to pick up some good talent. They certainly need some Asian influence though.


Someone's got to go to make room for Samsung... they want to enter the console market, but they're waiting for the right moment to strike. There are other companies as well (aside from Infinium Phantom) that could release a home console if there was only one on the market. I just don't see that happening anyway.

Nintendo should be going all out trying to get a partnership with them.

It would help nintendo by getting someone else to build the hardware as well having a lot more investor $ to work with.

It would help Samsung by instantly giving them several system-seller type franchises.

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but Alias IS the best. Only four more days...

And why did Acclaim have to cancel Alias for the 'Cube?!!

They stopped supporoting the GC period.

Probably not much of a loss anyway:

1. 99.9% of Acclaims games suck.
2. 99.9% of TV and/or movie licensed games suck.

i anticipate that many a cube will be under xmas trees this year, especially if bundled with mario kart or zelda.

i love my cube, i don't play a ton of games, but the nintendo games are always my favorite (sans GTA of course :) )

I really hope Nintendo dosn't get out of the hardware business. I have also found Nintendo systems to be the best made (except the original NES, why of why didn't they copy the Famicom design first), and the controllers to be some of my favorites.

Well, only time will tell. However, Im sure this christmas with Cube priced at $100, and GBA SP's at $100, there will be tons under the christmas tree.

So you don't think that I'll get one under my Hannukah bush?

No, sorry.

Hehe, you said bush.

Cube+game you would've gotten anyway=150

Oh wait, you're all idiots.

personal attack

He's posted at least 3 so far this morning, and then he claims the posters on this borad are bad.

Jebus, he was on a roll. We are idiots, mental imbalanced, we voted for Gore (wait, is this a bad thing), and we all just suck. Revoltor took his username pretty seriously this morning.