state of the industry (especially Nintendo)

sounds like an investment question. If your nearing retirement I think Nintendo would be a safe bet. If you have a long time to retire, I would invest on something more risky with more upside potential.

Is it already time to sound the death knell for console gaming yet again?
I don't agree with any of the poll responses. My answer is just plain "No".

I think the days of a stand alone console died with the PS2.

You sound as if you are a bit removed from the current situation and when you mention not having any current consoles it makes it a bit more apparent, but what I am trying to say is a console hasn't been solely for games for multiple years now and people just bought Wii's because they were different.

If you own an Xbox 360 or PS3 these days, it is a multi-media device and that is for sure where the future (aka $$$) is heading.

Quote from Curtieson : I think the days of a stand alone console died with the PS2. You sound as if you are a bit removed from the current situation and when you mention not having any current consoles it makes it a bit more apparent, but what I am trying to say is a console hasn't been solely for games for multiple years now and people just bought Wii's because they were different. If you own an Xbox 360 or PS3 these days, it is a multi-media device and that is for sure where the future (aka $$$) is heading.

If you're measuring that way, the stand alone console died with the Dreamcast, since you could watch DVDs with the PS2 (if VCDs had been more widely used with the DC, there would be an argument for pushing back further). To me, the current batch of consoles are still stand alone consoles, in that they're still primarily gaming consoles.

If you're talking about investing in the games industry, I'd recommend picking up stocks on Zynga as soon as it's gone public (or if it hasn't already). They've figured out how to exploit the casual space more effectively than any other company and continue to do so.

so you're gonna diversify by buying ADR? Cause you know Nintendo only trades in japan.

Quote from Frogstar : If you're measuring that way, the stand alone console died with the Dreamcast, since you could watch DVDs with the PS2 (if VCDs had been more widely used with the DC, there would be an argument for pushing back further). To me, the current batch of consoles are still stand alone consoles, in that they're still primarily gaming consoles.

I don't remember the report I saw...but it stated teh average user uses their Xbox for more hours a week watching netflix than playing games...something like that...

Crappppppppppp, I can't find it ;(

Good call on the PS2 = DVD thing.

Quote from Curtieson : I don't remember the report I saw...but it stated teh average user uses their Xbox for more hours a week watching netflix than playing games...something like that... Crappppppppppp, I can't find it ;( Good call on the PS2 = DVD thing.

Those people should have a Roku instead

Quote from Frogstar : Those people should have a Roku instead

Yea...but they want to play Halo in between

I don't think you can lump home consoles and handheld consoles together just like that. They are different beasts with different competition. Home consoles aren't really facing a challenge. The delivery method for console games is an interesting battle, but the console is still there regardless. Handheld consoles, however, are a different story.

Nintendo has a magic formula it stumbled upon and has been milking for many, many years now. Nintendo sinks its hooks into kids' hearts and minds at a very early age. When these kids grow up, they retain a childhood fondness for the brand and its characters. When it comes time to find a virtual kid-sitter then, these grown-up kids entrust their own kids with the Nintendo brand. Nintendo sells this new generation of kids the exact same games (those constant, lazy remakes that cost them little money and effort to remake) that hooked their parents. And the cycle continues. How long can that last? Well, that's kind of like asking how long Disney can keep milking their same old classic animation library.

Tablets, though, will mount a very serious challenge. They present a very compelling bundle of benefits: tablets are more functional, can consume all forms of entertainment, and the games and entertainment cost less. With very usable tablet hardware coming down in price and with technologies, such as Gorilla Glass, which fortify their durability so they aren't looked upon as fragile high tech grownup-only gadgets, it's only a matter of time before someone pinpoints this niche of a smaller fortified tablet with good hardware (like the 1.2Ghz A8 with integrated GPU in that Chinese tablet that keeps popping up in Hot Deals) designed specifically for kids for $100 to $150. Then things could get interesting. Until the tablets get their own strong stable of kid-friendly characters, which has already started with games like Plants vs. Zombies (though also available on DS) and Angry Birds, Nintendo still has a dominant marketing advantage. Also, people still go to stores with their kids, and Nintendo has a lot of retail shelf space packed full with bright little boxes and demo kiosks, which is kid-targeted advertising that online app makers don't have.

Quote from IPT : so you're gonna diversify by buying ADR? Cause you know Nintendo only trades in japan.

Stock symbol NTDOY. I mean, its at 19.45 right now, ridiculously low and very reactionary based on their quaterly losses and poor outlook. Bought and sold it several times now, and im not using Nikkei. Been considering jumping on it at the end of the year, but geez they are hemorraging lately. I really want to root for Nintendo, but they really need to make better decisions. The 3DS price drop is a surprisingly drastic move, but its a cause of their own poor planning. But it will bring benefits down the line(despite selling at a loss). Id keep an eye out for WII U info in the 4th quarter, early 1st quarter 2012. Stock will tick up,stabilize, or drop depending on its status at that point.

Quote from thermoelectron : If you're talking about investing in the games industry, I'd recommend picking up stocks on Zynga as soon as it's gone public (or if it hasn't already). They've figured out how to exploit the casual space more effectively than any other company and continue to do so.

Do this also. Oh, and keep an eye on publishers such as EA (ERTS), Take Two (TTWO), and Activision (ATVI)

3DS was priced outside of the range of Nintendo's usual demographic. Will the $170 price be a loss? I thought they had a policy of not losing money on hardware.

I don't know how well the Wii U will be accepted. If you look at Nintendo's failures in the past, you could maybe have predicted the failures based on the complexity of the controller, but, of course, that's looking at things through hindsight. No idea how complicated that big arsed controller can get, and still no idea on Wii U pricing.

Activision-Blizzard is sitting pretty. They have the top FPS franchise, the top MMO franchise, the top RTS franchise(s) and that Diablo thing. But the mantra is buy low, sell high. Can Activision-Blizzard still go higher?

Quote from H00t : 3DS was priced outside of the range of Nintendo's usual demographic. Will the $170 price be a loss? I thought they had a policy of not losing money on hardware. I don't know how well the Wii U will be accepted. If you look at Nintendo's failures in the past, you could maybe have predicted the failures based on the complexity of the controller, but, of course, that's looking at things through hindsight. No idea how complicated that big arsed controller can get, and still no idea on Wii U pricing. Activision is sitting pretty. They have the top FPS franchise, the top MMO franchise, the top RTS franchise(s) and that Diablo thing. But the mantra is buy low, sell high. Can Activision still go higher?

Breaking the mold then:
http://ds.ign.com/articles/118/1184703p1.html


Whatever, how long will it be at a loss ayways?