Gibeau says the Wii firm must build an external dev ecosystem
Nintendo must break tradition and build a new console business with third parties in mind, a key EA exec has said.
EA Games Label boss Frank Gibeau said today’s diversity of platforms – each with their own relationships with external publishers and developers – could leave Nintendo stranded.
In an interview with IndustryGamers, Gibeau echoed a frequent claim within the games industry by describing the Wii as a “tough market for a third party”.
“When I look at a development dollar in terms of which teams do I invest in, and what platforms to go at, they [Nintendo] are not very competitive when you look at HD consoles, or free-to-play bets, or things like tablets and handsets”.
He said Nintendo must “think seriously” about crossing thresholds with its next console, likely a successor to the Wii.
Advertisement
“How serious is a third party development community for them on their next platform and their next bet?” he asked.
Nintendo traditionally builds successful consoles via sales of its internally made games.
Titles such as Wii Fit, Mario Kart and New Super Mario brothers have each sold over twenty million units on the platform.
Third party successes, with a few exceptions, are uncommon.
Gibeau said this approach will not work forever.
“[Nintendo] can get to a certain level of success with their own IPs and their own internal development, but if they don’t have that developer ecosystem where it’s frankly easy to make money on the platform, they’re going to see there are too many opportunities in the world right now to go build games on other platforms in a very successful high quality, highly profitable way,” he said.
“They need to take note of that.”
Come on... I had enough of these comments. If third parties did not money on the DS or the Wii, wasn't Nintendo fault. It surely was a problem of investment y sofware quality and moreover, understanding the Wii and DS markets.
Learn from Ubisoft or THQ for example. They did enough money and both really not succeed offering the ideal quality. Red Steel has been the biggest flop of the system which indeed harmed seriously the hardcore gamer market on the Wii, but in place, they offered good Rayman Rabbids games and other good games like Prince of Persia, HAWX 2 or succesful products that tie with the Wii market, like Your Shape or Just Dance.
So please, stop calling Nintendo for your own incompetence.
@Tanasten:
I disagree. AAA studios are generally made up of people that are hardcore gamers themselves, they want to make games that are technically the best they can do.
Nintendo doesn't offer that.
If you want to develop for PS3 or Xbox 360, you have to meet certain requirements. Nintendo just accepts everyone with the right budget.
@Wolfos
But this is about money, not about having your people doing what they like. Do you think that these hundreds of people doing service-games for facebook are happy with that? Not at all.
I think that what developers want is making products that makes people happy. What's good about giving a show of your performance as a programmer or artist whenever little people really enjoy your game?
When you'er a corporative manager, you must choice where you want to lead your company. Epic games needs to show the power of unreal engine. Microsoft needs to show the power of Xbox, Sony needs to show PS3 3D's capabilitties... and makes sense because they're aiming for that market. But when you're a developer on the half road, aiming to whatever platform gets in the valley, you need to choose carefully what type of games you want to release on each platform, and give your best on the perfect budget for the system. Trying to sell Fifa's or Need for Speed just because you're releasing a big version, may not be the best opportunity for you.
Releasing an On-rails version of a tiny HD hit, ignoring that the Wii platform wasn't expecting that kind of games, it's not an smart choice. You need to put the money on the games that this market wants, and not cheap and bad games, but quality games!
"When I look at a development dollar in terms of which teams do I invest in, and what platforms to go at, they [Nintendo] are not very competitive when you look at HD consoles, or free-to-play bets, or things like tablets and handsets"
Yes, because EA's line of free-to-play bets and tablet games have been profitable so fa...Oh, wait. They don't make any. Exactly how is he comparing the competiveness between Nintendo and the HD consoles? Has EA put their AAA team on any Wii project? Do projects for the Wii and the HD consoles get similar budgeting? No? So you're saying your third rank developers with 1/10th the budget of the HD developers can't compete with Nintendo's first party offerings. And you're suprised?
“[Nintendo] can get to a certain level of success with their own IPs and their own internal development, but if they don’t have that developer ecosystem where it’s frankly easy to make money on the platform, they’re going to see there are too many opportunities in the world right now to go build games on other platforms in a very successful high quality, highly profitable way,” he said."
Then why are you bitching? Why do you care if you're already making sucessful, quality, profitable content on other consoles? Other developers ignore the Wii, so you go right ahead and follow their lead. But methinks you're just blowing smoke out your arse. You don't want Nintendo to put so much effort in their first party titles so that you're half-assed attempts don't come off as the crap they are.
