Nintendo could be on a 'path to irrelevance', says Atari founder

4.5
Atari Founder Nolan Bushnell fears that Nintendo could be on a "path to irrelevance".

Bushnell had yet more harsh words for Nintendo during a recent interview with BBC, in which he questioned the future of dedicated gaming portables and the console market as a whole.

"I don't think handheld game-only devices make sense anymore," said Bushnell. "Not when you have an iPod or an Android microtablet," he added.

"When it comes to the console market, I think the market is truncating," Bushnell went on. "Nintendo always had a soft spot for young people - they sort of did the 12-and-under pretty well, and the other guys did the 12-and-over.

"And now I think the other [consoles] are good enough on those things, and the rush to upgrade from the 12-and-under is not nearly as important."

Bushnell has candidly expressed his reservations over Nintendo's latest home console in the past, admitting he's "baffled by Wii U".

"I don't think it's going to be a big success," he said.

The games veteran also recently suggested that the mobile games ecosystem is now on borrowed time, citing the end of an investment boom for the now overcrowded mobile platforms.

"The last five years have been the days of mobile gaming and shortform gaming, exemplified by Rovio with Angry Birds and Zynga with FarmVille. And that is over," commented Bushnell. "All the money's out," he said.

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Related Forum: Gaming Discussion

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/428341/nintendo-could-be-on-a-path-to-irrelevance-says-atari-founder/

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"Nintendo could be on a 'path to irrelevance', says Atari founder" :: Login/Create an Account :: 61 comments

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LairPosted:

I liked the Wii, because you actually had to play the games, now this it's just a shame to me..

AlmightyHelixPosted:

I don't think that it will be that "relevant" in a couple of years. I think it may not because of the Wii U , that was a joke.

GossipPosted:

The only reason to even bother with a Nintendo console anymore is if you're a fan of their first party titles.

Third_EyePosted:

Younger gamers are playing the same games as older gamers now. The Wii U just brings nothing new and Nintendo was boss a decade ago. I've said it before, and I will say it again, Nintendo is the next big time game company to go bankrupt.

CokesPosted:

Dr-Ponyfile
lugiaisbeast101
Lia
Dr-J
-Amp
Seem Nitendo need's to stop making devices no one's play's try to make a console like xbox or playstation


They need something to boost their sales again, something that will make people interested again. The last thing they need to do is stop.


The 3DS got them a lot of sales.... They either need a great game or another handheld that's is absolutely amazing


I don't really see that happening anytime soon or at all for that matter. Nintendo seems like it's dying out and won't be going out with a bang.


What happened to Nintendo....NeS, SNeN, GC, N64, Wii= All successful and mind blowing systems. WiiU........it would have been something with many games and actually portable, but no....it's just a sloppy copy of the Wii. I wonder what they are going to do next. If they stop, I will cry, I cannot have Zelda ending without the completed timeline.


I cannot see Ninetendo just stopping in the console market they may bring out another console and majorly improve on the WiiU but the company itself seems adament that the WiiU will sell which it is not doing and denial is what will bring the company down.


Barely anyone buys Wii Consoles anymore.

CokesPosted:

Nintendo is just falling as a company.

Dr-PonyfilePosted:

Katsumi
570 I liked the Wii, because you actually had to play the games, now this it's just a shame to me..


What do you mean? you didn't really have to play games on the Wii, It was optional. If you're referring to the motion controls, i agree that those where pretty cool


Yeah the motion controls where good, the games required more movement to beat them I always use to love the bowling on the Wii but I was one of those people who broke a LCD TV by not wearing the strap lol.

KatsumiPosted:

570 I liked the Wii, because you actually had to play the games, now this it's just a shame to me..


What do you mean? you didn't really have to play games on the Wii, It was optional. If you're referring to the motion controls, i agree that those where pretty cool

Dr-PonyfilePosted:

lugiaisbeast101
Lia
Dr-J
-Amp
Seem Nitendo need's to stop making devices no one's play's try to make a console like xbox or playstation


They need something to boost their sales again, something that will make people interested again. The last thing they need to do is stop.


The 3DS got them a lot of sales.... They either need a great game or another handheld that's is absolutely amazing


I don't really see that happening anytime soon or at all for that matter. Nintendo seems like it's dying out and won't be going out with a bang.


What happened to Nintendo....NeS, SNeN, GC, N64, Wii= All successful and mind blowing systems. WiiU........it would have been something with many games and actually portable, but no....it's just a sloppy copy of the Wii. I wonder what they are going to do next. If they stop, I will cry, I cannot have Zelda ending without the completed timeline.


I cannot see Ninetendo just stopping in the console market they may bring out another console and majorly improve on the WiiU but the company itself seems adament that the WiiU will sell which it is not doing and denial is what will bring the company down.

lugiaisbeast101Posted:

Lia
Dr-J
-Amp
Seem Nitendo need's to stop making devices no one's play's try to make a console like xbox or playstation


They need something to boost their sales again, something that will make people interested again. The last thing they need to do is stop.


The 3DS got them a lot of sales.... They either need a great game or another handheld that's is absolutely amazing


I don't really see that happening anytime soon or at all for that matter. Nintendo seems like it's dying out and won't be going out with a bang.


What happened to Nintendo....NeS, SNeN, GC, N64, Wii= All successful and mind blowing systems. WiiU........it would have been something with many games and actually portable, but no....it's just a sloppy copy of the Wii. I wonder what they are going to do next. If they stop, I will cry, I cannot have Zelda ending without the completed timeline.


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