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Batman vs. The Joker, Goku vs. Vegeta, Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates, Ash Ketchum vs. Gary Oak — these are all examples of classic rivalries that will be waged until the end of time. Should Apple vs. Nintendo be added to that list? According to The Times Nintendo no longer views Microsoft and Sony as its primary competition. Instead, it sees Apple as the biggest threat:
Satoru Iwata, the Nintendo president, is understood to have told his senior executives recently to regard the battle with Sony as a victory already won and to treat Apple, and its iPhone and iPad devices, as the “enemy of the future”.
Those comments are a stark contrast from Iwata’s previous statements. In the past he dismissed Apple as competition and brushed off the iPad as just a big iPod. (I wonder why nobody asked, “Then what the hell is the DSi XL?”)
While I think Apple and Nintendo do compete, the overlap isn’t 100 percent. Obviously the Nintendo DS reaches a younger audience than the iPhone, while Apple’s products reach an older audience. (If you’re a parent that has armed your child with a 32GB iPhone then kindly smash your head on a brick wall seven times.) Still, I can’t see Nintendo dismissing Sony like that. Sony has ruled the console world before and all it takes is one great product backed by great marketing to take it back.
What do you think of these provocative comments? Has Nintendo passed Microsoft and Sony by? If so, is Apple really its primary rival? If not, is it foolish to dismiss competitors that could swiftly strike back? I miss having a rival! I’m going to go find bleahy and hit him.
Nintendo has no rival. They have the casual market all to themselves. I doubt MOVE and NATAL will change that.
@Iron Man 2
I saw it Saturday with my wife and I really enjoyed it. I thought the final battle with Whiplash was way too short though.
@Raymond Padilla
You did stay to watch the teaser after the credits didn't you?
Apple is a threat to all major players. It started with IBM and computers, then music and movies (iTunes and such) now games on the iPad. With the legions of Apple drones (I am one myself but not to hardcore) to support its products I don't think any company should take them lightly.
If Nintendo's plan is to continue down this path where they cater to the casual market and more or less ignore the hardcore market, then yes….these statements are completely true. I really have a hard time even categorizing the Wii in the same breath as the 360 and the PS3 as it is because there's nothing there that appeals to me. So if they feel like they've got bigger fish to fry going forward, let them. What they do hardly matters to me as a gamer anymore anyways. And that's the biggest sign they can't be considered rivals w/ Sony and Microsoft anymore, because in order for the to be a rivalry, everybody involved has got to care.
@RRODisHere Of course I did! I liked the fight against Whiplash better than the one against Iron Monger.
Nintendo has no complete competitor. No one does what they do really. Apple definitely is their main competitor for hand held products at the moment, and I do not think that Microsoft or Sony is a big competitor right now for the Wii…but they should not forget about those two completely because they are the ones who hold the hardcore market while Nintendo only holds the casual market. Not to say "only" in a derogatory way, because it is a huge market that went previously untapped and it was genius to go after that market. But if Nintendo wants to get back in to that game ever they need to pay attention to Sony and Microsoft.
Overall I would have to say that Nintendo's only competitor is…..themselves 20 years ago. I think of it like a runner who is faster than everyone they are racing, so in reality they are really only racing themselves trying for a new personal record. Nintendo should be striving to figure out how to get a market share like they used to have, I seem to remember something like 73% of the market was theirs. It is far from that now, making it Nintendo V Nintendo.
@Raymond Padilla
It was a better fight but just too short. Vanko spent most of the movie making that suit only to be beaten in less than 2 minutes.
I doubt anyone will ever be a true rival with Nintendo. I still completely dismiss Apple a any kind of competitor in the gaming market.
Apple and Nintendo are running their own separate races. I don't see either actually overlapping to any worth while degree because as soon as they do, they'll just move onto the next thing so as to avoid competition. Look at iPhone and iPod, Apple still supports the iPod line, but now that the market isn't growing at an alarming rate any more they have shifted their primary focus on the cell phone market. Even now the smartphone market is getting over saturated and they are moving on to tablets. Nintendo has had their own way of doing thing since the beginning. I honestly don't see anyone keeping pace with them at what they do. (Still haven't figured out what they do, but they do it with style that is for sure.)
The girlfriend and I finally picked up a Wii last night. It was the only console i was missing. I didn't even know it but the black console went on sale yesterday which is good for the look of my entertainment center. So far we're pretty happy.
I liked Wii sports well enough before but resort is a lot of fun, we also picked up New Super Mario Wii which is a blast. While I know the Wii will get very little solo time it will be great fun for the 2 of us together and for when we have company.
I'm just tired of there not being enough local multiplayer games on Xbox/PS3, even though i will obviously prefer those 2 for single player gaming.
I'd like to pick up Boom Blox and Mario galaxy, but I don't know the Wiis game library too well. Does anyone have any recommendations?
@shockwave
SMG and Punchout. All you need. Deadly Creatures if you can find it.
Thanks Smartguy. I think you and I talked about Punch Out once before. I'd like to finish galaxy before 2 comes out. But i doubt I'll have time. 2 can wait. I already beat Twighlight Princess a couple of years ago so I'll pass on that. I'd like to see a new Zelda announced.
I couldn't get the hang of the motion ctrls for TP. Never finished it.
Cant you just play it with a gamecube controller?
@Shockwave562 I wrote about the black Wii twice! Pay attention!!! *joking*
There are actually lots of great games for the Wii. There are so many fantastic classic RPGs to download. Little King's Story is a fantastic game that was completely overlooked in 2009. Obviously most of the first-party stuff is great. I like EA's Grand Slam Tennis and Sex Addict Golf. No More Heroes is very cool. I love the art in Mad World. Boom Blox is probably my favorite casual game. Zack and Wiki is pretty awesome.
The point being this: don't buy into all the talk that the Wii is only for casual gamers. There are plenty of titles geared towards enthusiasts too.
@Shockwave
Boom Blox is pretty fun….. for a while, but like with all the Wii games I've encountered it can get a it stale. The only time it ever gets pulled out now is when there are plenty of people around and some drinks. Its like Jenga you don't have to clean up. After saying all that, I'd still buy it again and I don't even own a Wii. (I bought it because a friend has a Wii and never buys games for it)
Haha, i know Rpad. Its funny when we got it i told my girlfriend i heard it was coming out i just didn't know the date.
I'll probably end up getting galaxy and boom blox on Amazon since im in no hurry. I do like how well Wii does casual games and they do like to throw the core gamers a bone every now and then, so i think it will get a lot more use than it would have if i was single again.
@slicky – I played the original and really liked it but I've heard really good things about the sequel. I'm considering just buying that one
@shockwave
No. Wii version is Wii controls. Unfortunate.
@Ray
Madworld needed a save anywhere function.
If you saw Iron Man 2 over the weekend, let's chat it up in here:
https://rpad.tv/2010/05/06/random-thoughts-not-a-r…
I totally want to geek out with you guys on this movie.
@smartguy It looks like Sprint is going back on its press releasing and cancelling the Nexus One. Ha! If the June 6 Evo 4G launch is accurate, the move makes sense.
@Ray
A friend of mine wants that device. No clue why since we aren't good enough for 4G lol.