Say what you like about Nintendo, but at least they’re willing to take a gamble with new console hardware ideas. Sometimes, the risk pays off as the original Wii console was a console that propelled Nintendo into the mainstream space that had been dominated by Sony and Xbox. Sometimes, creating something new doesn’t always result in instant sales as the Wii U has struggled to sell outside of Japan despite having some of the best games released in the last couple of years. But whatever Nintendo has planned for their next device, the NX, they want it to be surprising.
“In the past few years, the idea of what [encompasses] a gaming platform gradually changed,” Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said in a Nikkei interview via Kotaku.
If you only expand upon existing hardware, it’s dull. In some shape or form, we’re always thinking about how we want to surprise players as well as our desire to change each person’s video gaming life.
Iwata also mentioned Nintendo having a need to “start from zero” when putting out a “new game machine”. As usual, Nintendo will reflect on previous hardware that met great success, and see how they can revive such appeal with what consumers want these days.
“Switching platforms had [resulted] in a gap in the relationship with our customers,” Iwata said.”Whether with Nintendo DS, 3DS, or what happened in the transition from Wii to Wii U. I think it’s [something] to be reflected upon greatly.”
That thought process will most likely also take advantage of their new deal with DeNA, as Nintendo’s new membership program will take advantage of the mobile company’s expertise in online systems and infrastructure, working across multiple Nintendo platforms including the NX.
“The new membership service is compatible with multiple devices and that it will form a bridge among these devices,” Iwata said.
If I can go a bit further, we will construct a system so that we can invite the users who play our game applications on smart devices to our dedicated game systems. Something you have done on one device can be utilized on another. We have scheduled this new membership service to start in the fall of this year, and it will have a loyalty program like the existing Club Nintendo. We will make further detailed announcements on the new membership service when we progress further in its development and are ready to explain it in a more comprehensive way.
I don’t know what Nintendo has up their sleeves, but I reckon it’s time for them to finally bridge their handheld and home console worlds with some kind of combination device. That alone could be the system-seller that they need to have in order to regain the ground that the Wii U lost.
Last Updated: March 26, 2015
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:20
Surprise!!! (Refresh)
R20.00 to the person that gets it…
Ryanza
March 26, 2015 at 08:31
http://media.2oceansvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Screen-Shot-2012-11-02-at-9.00.20-AM.jpg
Geoffrey Tim
March 26, 2015 at 08:31
Orkney Snork nie?
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:45
Nope. Wrong.
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 08:32
Orkney Snork Nie, I’ll split with Geoff
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:45
Nope. Wrong
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 08:46
Wrong she wasn’t in Orkney Snork Nie?
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:47
She was. But that is not what I am looking for.
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 08:48
Oh….Tanie Ansie? (I really need that R20 :P)
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:49
Nope.
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 08:51
All in
Jakkalsdraai se Mense, 1975
Ma skryf matriek, 1975
The Fourth Reich, 1990 as Ouma Smuts
Mattewis en Meraai
Bosveld Hotel
Swart Kat
Joachem Verwey
Miss Julie
Egoli: Plek van Goud
Platteland, 2011 as Tannie Sanet
Pretville, 2012 as Ouma Sarie
Liefste Kayla (TV-reeks op kykNET), 2013
100 meter Leeuloop, 2013
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:51
Nope! None of those.
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:55
Do you give up?
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 08:55
Yes
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 08:57
How old are you?
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 09:08
Old
Dutch Matrix
March 26, 2015 at 09:52
LoL. She was in the advert for Surprise Rice. I have tried to find the add, but it is nowhere on the net it seems. 🙁
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 10:54
Yeah, you’ll find Orkney episodes though.
GooseZA
March 26, 2015 at 09:00
Please tell them coz now I’m dying to know..
justlikemo
March 26, 2015 at 08:20
they are developing in the mobile space, so maybe a tablet or phone
WitWolfy
March 26, 2015 at 08:29
I’ll never buy a Nintendo console EVER again, And thats a promise.
DarthZA
March 26, 2015 at 08:48
I’ll almost blindly buy an Nintendo console. You know you’re getting a quality build, that there will be incredible games (Nintendo games are always amongst the best of every year), and you know you will always have games to play with your friends. They’re like the win win win of our industry.
WitWolfy
March 26, 2015 at 08:52
Meh.. Wasnt for me… The reason I bought the Wii U originally was for that Zelda tech demo back in 2011. Which they scraped anyways for the Zelda we have now.
GooseZA
March 26, 2015 at 09:05
If I had the money I’d definitely pick up a Nintendo console to go with my XB. It really sucks missing out on all the Mario and other platforming stuff. I LOVE platformers.
Hammersteyn
March 26, 2015 at 08:33
The biggest suprise would be more third party support for their next console.
bartleby451
March 28, 2015 at 22:11
Surprise = shock and horror