The lights are on
Everyone is excited about the Nintendo 3DS handheld, but Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter is raising questions and fears about the company's long-term strategy in the home console market.
Previously, Pachter believed that Nintendo would be the first of the big three console manufacturers to come out with its next system – even though he thought the next Nintendo system would not stack up technology-wise with the current PS3 and Xbox 360.
Now, in an interview with Industry Gamers, Pachter thinks that Nintendo is too far behind Microsoft and Sony. "With as much respect for Nintendo management as I can muster, I think Nintendo's completely blown it with their second-generation Wii strategy. I think the right strategy would have been to get a second-generation Wii out and keep the old Wii at the same time..."
Pachter thinks that Nintendo's timing is all wrong. "I just think Nintendo's blown it; I think by the time they launch [its next console] if it's Christmas 2011, it's two years too late, and for sure one year too late. So it's over – I don't think they can ever recover." Pachter paints a grim future where a Wii 2 follows the current trend of declining Wii sales, and thinks that the Nintendo's lack of timing puts them in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Any new Nintendo console that's either technologically behind or ahead of competitors' consoles will make it hard for third-party publishers to easily support the new system. "If they were going to emulate the 360, which is what I though they'd do, they should have done that in 2009. And if they're going to advance the tech, then 2011 is really not the right year. They're really in between right now."
As judgemental as Pachter sounds, he realizes he's like all of us, and just doing what he can to look into the future. "...Nintendo makes a lot of money, and the management has accomplished a hell of a lot more in their careers than I have. I'm just one guy with an opinion."
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Nintendo will survive with portable handhelds until the generation of the PS4, and new x-box. Hopefully then they can make a system that hardcore gamers, as well as 3rd party developers, can take more seriously. While they've made some poor decisions with Wii, I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet.
Judging by everything I've heard about it so far, it sounds like the 3DS will be a pretty big deal, but it doesn't sound like Mr. Pachter is taking that into account at all. I guess only time will tell! I personally think Nintendo will keep going strong for quite some time, though.
Yes Pachter. You are just one guy with an opinion that nobody cares to believe. You may as well just stop making predictions and let us make our own cuz they are guaranteed to be at least as accurate as yours.
Pachter is the biggest tool in the world. Yes Nintendo, release another lackluster system with poor graphics so that you have ANOTHEr console out just for the sake of it.
I know gamers would much rather get an AWESOME system and wait a few more years
I mean, they may be behind but, i wouldn't go as far to say they can NEVER recover. Theres a number of options for them.
I don't know who he thinks he is but I think he's forgetting that this is Nintendo. I may agree with him that they're a little late on releasing a new console but I have a lot of faith in Nintendo. They somehow manage to magically make everyone really excited every time they release a new console or handheld, so I don't think they're in any kind of trouble. Especially because the 3DS is going to be huge.
It's core nintendo fans, yes they still exist, who are going to continue to be screwed by nintendo unless they decide to just wait til the next generation of consoles when they can catch up with microsoft and sony technologically. Just wait til the next generation, why not?
I'm skeptical to see how successful the 3DS will be with the hefty price tag alongside it. You could easily just get a xbox 360 or for a bit more a PS3. Why bother with a handheld at that price tag, even if it is 3D?
Any chance they're planning on skipping a generation or doing what they did with the 64 expansion pack? Also, who are we kidding; the number of games that have been ported between the Wii and PS3/360 is virtually 0, at least for quality games.