Today Nintendo had a surprise "Nintendo Direct" in which they talked about the upcoming Mario Kart 8 release, That includes a new Wii U bundle that they hope will bring them sells.
The new Wii U Mario Kart 8 bundle will include a red Wii U wheel and one of the very cute and neat Mario Wii Remote's, along with the 32GB Black systems. They didn't go all out and make a real special edition system but they still made a $330 bundle to hoping get some Mario fans on the "Next Gen" wagon.
They also announced that, for the folks who already bought a Wii U that when you buy a copy of Mario Kart 8 you will receive a free digital download for one of four Wii U games, New Super Mario Bros U, The Wind Waker HD(Which i really need to pick up so this is nice to hear), Pikmin 3 or the Wii Party U. For folks in Europe the games are different( Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Nintendo Land, Wonderful 101, Sonic Lost world, Mario & Sonic winter games and the Game and Wario collection) I believe that is a nice gesture from Nintendo, But is it enough?
The Wii U has its issues as any Nintendo system will have, always a step behind the big boys of Sony and Microsoft, but Nintendo has slowly started to listen to its fanboys. The online side of things has started to become something and Mario Kart 8 looks to help that as well.
What about their Tablet?
Most consumers don't realize that the Wii U is a newer Nintendo system and not just a Tablet add on for their Wii, They don't see the need to spend so much money on some tablet. But its not news of any kind that Nintendo's marketing has been horrible for the Wii U, Can they fix this? or will they possibly ignore it by removing the Tablet from its bundles?
They could if they wanted or needed to, remove the tablet from the system and lower the price to try and gain some speed on the other companies, No one really seems to be in that Touch mode in the home system fight. Smart glass is not used in the same way and Sony seems to have just ignored the feature as well.
I already own a Wii U and I must admit i have not really used the tablet for much besides getting kind of annoyed when I find myself looking at it instead of my beautiful TV while playing Mario 3d World with my other half. The second screen is neat at times but everyone admits that nintendo has yet to really use it to its full potential.
Even with upcoming games such as Mario Kart 8 it seems Nintendo has bailed on its own baby so early in this generation. It is neat for a map and such but it seems to fail to be much more, Yes it is early they could still develop something but can Nintendo wait much longer? They need to sell systems and a lower bundle without the tablet could help boost sells, Or they could promote the titles(and system) they already have out.
But what if Nintendo fails? If all hope is lost. Mario Kart no Smash Brothers really bring in the sells that they have hoped for?
Would Nintendo turn their focus away from the home systems and just to their handheld market? the 3DS has come into its own with several great titles of the last 2 years, They have a history in the market that they all but own.
Or maybe they will be bought out?
Could a company such as Apple come along and buy out our beloved Nintendo? Turn the home system into an Apple set top box that plays games, such as zelda and mario? Linked with the app store to bring other things to your TV as well?
Maybe Apple would shut down the home system and just focus on the handheld side of things, with the 3DS bringing in solid numbers still they could focus on that, But many people ask "What about the iPad and iPhone?" Could Apple let Nintendo have their handheld market place and have the eShop bring them sells on the Apple products? Have classic games officially on the iPhone would bring in money still and we would still have new, full fledged games on the 3DS.
Other companies might have interest in Nintendo tho, Someone like Facebook, Could they let Nintendo be Nintendo? Help promote the company as a whole to let them live on? Or would be just see Mario and co show up on FarmVille(is that still a thing?) or could Facebook open an eShop as well? or even bring Nintendo titles into the Oculus Rift world?
I'm not too sure why this story/idea/whatever it is popped into my head but what do you think the future holds for Nintendo?
Will the Mario Kart bundle help boost sales? Can Smash Brothers make this holiday system something Nintendo can be proud of? or will Nintendo still be the ugly step child to Sony and Microsoft come January? Or worse....
3 comments:
I love that I'll be able to get Pikmin 3 when I buy Mario Kart. 2 great games. As for Apple buying Nintendo? I can't see that happening. That seems right out of left field to me. I hope Mario Kart & Smash Bros. do increase their sales of the Wii U, but if they don't I can't see anything bringing them out of their current gutter.
I do think if Nintendo could have made a Pokemon game like Skylanders that would have helped them as well(or been part of the skylanders craze to begin with)
Or finally give myself and millions of others what ive always wanted.... A full fledged 3D Pokemon game. Both could help the system with sells no doubt, more so the 3D than the figure based game now.
Nintento will never ever be bought out by apple. I won't let it happen lol. I still feel like it's a wait and see game right now. By the end of this year with Mario Kart and Smash bros out I think they will be better off. I know of several of my friends alone that said they would buy a wii u just for smash bros. I think if they made a bundle with mario kart and smash bros and called it the ultimate party bundle they would sell a million lol.
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