Nintendo is making moves behind the scenes. After a rather tumultuous battle with convincing people that the Wii U was something worth picking up, they are finally in the process of getting the next generation ready for the public. After one of the largest console releases in the history of gaming is followed up by one of the worst, the big N certainly has a lot of work ahead.
The Nintendo NX (codename, not official name) is the next home console from the company, and it needs to succeed. Once upon a time, Nintendo dominated the market and easily edged out competition, but in the years since Sony and Microsoft have grown bigger and stronger. After the launch of the Wii U, both competitors came out with boxes that blew it out of the water in terms of appeal and ability.
So, with the company that helped to mold many of our childhoods out to steal the spotlight again, there’s a few things they need to make sure happen if they want to impress the masses and make tons of money.
What’s in a Name?
One of the biggest mistakes Nintendo has made in recent years was when the company named the Wii’s successor. Simply adding the “U” at the end seemed like a genius idea to Nintendo, but it instead caused tons of confusion among consumers looking for something new. Naming a console the Wii U while there is still something called the Wii on shelves didn’t pan out the way they probably intended.
Sure, Sony only increases the number after each of its platforms’ names, but that provides a clear indication of succession. Difference between a PS3 and a PS4? One has a higher number, so it must be newer. That’s clear cut, right? Throwing a U behind an existing platform lead to the confusion of whether or not it was just an add-on.
A clear name that represents what it is and what it’s capable of will go a long way in moving the NX off of shelves. Or they could just, you know, call it the Wii U 2. Third time’s the charm, right?
Two Awesome Controllers, Please
While Nintendo’s last console struggled with its name, one thing it definitely had going for it was a really cool controller. The Wii U Gamepad was perfect. You can control your games as you’d normally expect, but with the added functionality of a large touch screen, camera, gyroscope, and microphone, the controller was able to add some really innovative ways to interact with software. Players could blow on the controller to raise platforms in a Mario Game, or use the Gamepad to scan environments, or have a top-notch, second screen experience. Heck, you could even play games without turning on your TV by just using the screen right there in between all of your buttons.
One of the unfortunate issues, though, was that you could only use one of these devices with the console. Everyone else was stuck using either a Pro Controller or a Wii-mote. While those worked perfectly well, it still felt like being relegated to a second class position. Why give such an amazing device but allow only one to be used? If the patent that was revealed not too long ago is in fact the Nintendo NX’s input device, then it may work very similarly to how the current Wii U Gamepad does. A touch screen with amazing graphical capabilities, all of the buttons you’ve come to expect, and an even more comfortable design will make this a must-have. But, Nintendo has to make sure that you can use more than one. Two should be the very least, but if all players could have one, that would be amazing.
This will also require that the device isn’t priced to high. The Wii U Gamepad costs over $100 to replace, double the price of an official controller for the PS4 and Xbox One. The smaller design will hopefully mean a lower price, but only time will tell. This can definitely be a major factor for the console’s success and ability to essentially print money.
Ain’t No Party Like a Third Party
Let’s make one thing clear, not many first party games are on the same level as Nintendo’s library. The company is dedicated to fun and never fails to deliver absolutely amazing exclusives. Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, and more have been able to stand the test of time and wow generation after generation of gamers. First party titles are what you need to attract a crowd; unfortunately, they aren’t the best at keeping them glued to everything you do. That’s where third party titles come in; The Call of Dutys, Witchers, Far Crys, Mortal Kombats, Star Wars, and more.
What third party games do is keep a steady stream of content flowing onto a console, while the first party teams work on unique experiences that can only be found in one place. Without third parties, there is no way that the PlayStation 4 could have maintained a stronghold on the market if it wasn’t for publishers like Ubisoft, EA, and Activision doing a lot of the heavy lifting in a very exclusive-light year. One company that didn’t fair so well, Nintendo, lacked that same support. Yes they saw temporary surges when an exclusive was released, but other than that the Wii U, was pretty much a non-factor. Poor sales lead to the Wii U losing most of its AAA third-party support, so Nintendo needs to foster those connections again, build those bridges, perhaps even take a page out of Sony’s book. Bring devs into the fold while designing the hardware to make sure it can play the games they want to make.
Fans want to know that they won’t miss out on too many major releases. Letting a Star Wars game here or a Dragon Age game there slip through the cracks is fine every once in a while, but in a year like 2015 where almost every major third party title was a GOTY contender, Nintendo can’t afford not to house some of that content on their own machine.
Trophies, Achievements, Nintendo Awards… Whatever You Wanna Call Them, Just Include Them
Okay, so some people may say that trophies/achievements aren’t really a big deal. They’re just digital stickers that say you completed some arbitrary task in one game or another, big whoop. But did you know that there are gamers out there who refuse to purchase a game if it doesn’t have trophies/achievements? It may sound a bit crazy, but it’s become such a normal part of modern gaming that even cellphones have them. Seriously. Nintendo is not one to follow a trend. They are, after all, one of the biggest trendsetters in the industry, but there’s nothing wrong in joining the crowd every now and then.
It took the company forever to get an online network that could compete with Xbox Live and PSN up and running, but now that they’ve got that all set up (though it can use a few improvements) and it’s time to give some digital rewards. With how creative Nintendo has been through the decades, we’re pretty sure they can make a trophy/achievement system that would blow the competition out of the water. And sure, it may not be for everyone, but having it as an option will certainly give some individuals a bit more incentive, because who doesn’t like to show off?
All Nintendo NXs Need a Headset
It’s about to be 2016, gamers are more connected now than ever before. There is no shortage of gaming networks to play on, and online multiplayer (co-op and competitive) is more common now than it ever was in the past. Both Sony and Microsoft have figured out that if you want things to move along, you need to provide a way for players to communicate with one another. With the complexity of modern games and the rapid growth of competitive gaming as a sport, talking is becoming one of the most important elements of any team strategy.
Nintendo is about wholesome fun and sometimes headsets kinda break that down. We get that. But you can’t let a few bad seeds spoil the fun for everyone. Providing a headset shows the Nintendo is stepping into online gaming wholeheartedly and supporting whatever is necessary to facilitate the gameplay. This will also incentivize developers to include more chat functionality in games on Nintendo’s platform. It will provide a less spotty availability (which is what it currently has) and make it more of the norm. This will also help with the whole third party front, as well, as many of the major AAA third party games are multiplayer affairs.
What’s Under the Hood Matters
Nintendo has always put experience before power, and that is truly commendable. There is no denying that the Wii U has some undeniably amazing games that easily stand up against the competition. But power is often what attracts the big leagues in terms of developers as well as prospective consumers. While power doesn’t guarantee good games (creative development teams do that) it does give some security in knowing you’ll get solid support, as well as variety in your games. Look at the PS4 and Xbox One, for example. Both really powerful when compared to the Wii U, and that allows the platforms to have games as simple as Spelunky and as graphically complex as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. A powerful console allows for a company to cover the complete spectrum and deliver almost everything that a gamer would want.
The NX needs to impress on the specs front. With all of the games looming on the horizon, it needs to be able to entice developers to put those experiences on their platform. They can still have the adorable, less graphically intense, yet still insanely fun on their machine, but also including options for players and other companies is the best route to a successful future.
How Much Will This Cost, Kind Sir?
Price, ah the thing that makes you say “I’ll take two please!” or, “What, do they think I’m made outta money?” It’s difficult to find that sweet spot while selling new tech. Both Microsoft and Sony learned this with the Xbox One and PlayStation 3, respectively. Too low and people will think it’s cheap and not want it. Too high and prospective buyers will laugh as they walk out of their nearest retailers with the competition’s product instead.
The NX will most likely be stepping into the middle of a huge fight between Sony and Microsoft, who will have the lion’s share of the market. It will have to cost more than both, considering they’ve each been seeing price drops, but if they back it up with some of the aforementioned features, they could still make lots of dough.
There’s no telling when the next Nintendo console will hit store shelves, but it will certainly have its work cut out for it. Nintendo knows how to create success, even if their last console seems to betray that fact. They just need to expand their focus and realize that the landscape is shifting. They’ve proven in the past that they can adapt and innovate, so it’s time to do that once again.
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