Topic: The Nintendo Hardcore Fanbase Cycle.

Let's say Nintendo was the the first console manafacture to release a console in the eight-generation and Microsoft and Sony didn't follow until two to four years later. Well, with the exception of already loyal fans who enjoy the Wii, here's how we can expect the Nintendo hardcore fanbase to behave. There won't be any pictures (Yet.), but I'll try to explain how the fanbase could operate there reaction towards Nintendo.

• Nintendo announce a new console before Microsoft and Sony even has the money to do so.
  They announce that casual gamers will still be a focus, but the hardcore gamers will be there primarily focus.
  Console is more powerful then the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 combined.
  Fanbase get's excited and proclaims that Nintendo is back and learn there lessons from the Wii era.
• Console is release.
  Quality casual and hardcore games pours in and Nintendo ports are consider the best.
  Fans love on it like it was the best video game console in the world.
• Microsoft and Sony announces a new console.
  Said to be more powerful then Nintendo's new console.
  Has promising exclusives.
  Fans gets outraged at Nintendo and say "they abandoned the hardcore gamers".
  Fans also proclaimed that they will never be fooled by Nintendo again.

Ouch.
I think I died a litle bit inside.

The cycle can't be that bad..... can it?

It's not a cycle if it ends.

Please note that even if Nintendo's next console is release 2+ years before it's compeaitiors, it's not guarantee. But is it likely. Knowing how patehic the former fans act towards Nintendo, don't be surprised if this happens.

Main reason why I came up with this is because Square Enix is predicting Nintendo's next console in 2011, while no such thing for the PS4 and Xbox 720.

Can someone rinse the blood out of my eyes?

What 'lesson' did Nintendo learn for the WIi era - that a tiny chunck of the overall market takes console marketing way to seriously?

It's called Nintendo software, and it has sold well for 30 years now, hell Nintendo was ruling the top 10 with Pokemon games on the GBC in the year 2000, why would fringe gaming movement drive them out of business????????

I stopped reading after this paragraph. It is just random crap. Hardcore gamers don't exist.

Microsoft will have plenty of money to make a new console, it is a very successful business, and with the 360 sales increasing, and Windows 7 releasing next month, they will be making money like crazy. You also have to remember that Microsoft made Bill Gates the richest man in the world, that means Microsoft is probably the most successful company of all time.

There is no such thing as a casual gamer. There is a gamer, someone who plays video games as part of there lifestyle, and a non gamer, someone who does not play video games as part of there life style, if at all. Nintendo needs to put all of their time and effort into the games that made them great, like Zelda, Metroid, and others, but they won't. They will continue to make games for the non gamers for the money. Nintendo will never return to what they once were.

It's not a cycle if it's never even happened once.

Except that WIi Sports and such are just as high of quality as Mario and Zelda.

And harder.

Oh well, other than that, yeah, this cycle is pretty accurate. Reminds me of my favorite muscial - 'Hello Dreamcast.'

I think it is a spin cycle, click.

When can we expect pictures? I am looking forward to that.

Funny seems you always have everything figured out Mr. Smash. But you forgot one thing Microsoft does not just rely on system and game sales. Their software is on the majority of every computer unless someone buys a Mac or goes with a Linux based operating system. Microsoft has a lot more money than what they know what to do with and trust me they already have the money. Like Random said Windows 7 hits the market soon they are going to make a killing off of it just like every past version. Nintendo does not need to be more powerful than the competition. All they got to do is keep making great games and unique consoles. This generation Nintendo has excellent marketing. Hell when I go to physical therapy they even got a Wii in there for therapy !

But to give you credit you got me looking forward to seeing what the next Nintendo platform will be like. Only time will tell.

Solid prediction.

oh i've got a fanbase cycle of my own to present.

Hang on just a tick though. I've got to make some pictures up to accompany it. Presentation is everything.

It isn't a mindless assumption. It is partially true.

And like clicketyclick said, it isn't a cycle if it only happened once, and it didn't even happen yet.

Alright. Done my hwk. Now, may I present you with...

The Nintendo Hardcore Fanbase Cycle

Let's say Nintendo puts out a console that is not very popular with core gamers after Sony or MS puts theirs out, which are popular with core gamers. Here's how we can expect the Nintendo hardcore fanbase to behave:

• Fanbase gets excited and proclaims that the Sony and MS consoles don't appeal to them at all because they, as discriminating gamers, prefer "gameplay over graphics" -- and of course everyone knows that the games on Sony/MS consoles are pretty much only about picture-perfect blood and gore -- so Nintendo is the best company in existence.

• Fanbase comes to the realisation that most other core gamers disagree with them.
• Members of fanbase make forum posts whining about those who don't think Nintendo's console is the best thing since Kraft Dinner. The fans oversimplify and misrepresent the dissatisfaction expressed by others in their tirades.

• Fans get overdramatic and predict dire misfortune for Nintendo, so depressed are they that there are people out there who have different opinions and like other consoles too (!). Eventually, the "opponent's" arguments (as presented by the defensive fans) resemble the objectors' original complaints against Nintendo like a child's fingerpainting resembles a dinosaur.

• Nintendo eventually acknowledges that they've been resting on their laurels and plan to increase their effort in the future, thereby vindicating the people who were dissatisfied. They make lots of money.

I call BS on this whole thread

Nintendo will most probably release a revision eventually and it will likely be favourably comparable to the current competitors. If they want to release it in 2011 for the same price point we can pretty much expect it to be about 10 times more powerful than the Wii (thanks Moore's Law). Even if they fall short and make it only 4x more powerful than the current Wii it will still compare favourably to the PS3/360. This isn't a revelation, its common sense.

What I think is more likely to happen is that Nintendo will continue doing what they are doing. Their next console will probably have a similar footprint, a similar price, a similar energy consumption and a new control scheme. It will do HD now that HD sets are commonplace and be shock/horror more powerful. The games will be the same but online will probably be "fixed".

When all of this happens... the Wii will still be for "kids" until something like Bioshock 3 becomes an exclusive. Which will never happen because Sony and MS will be trying to push 4xHD and 3D-HD by then with bump-mapped blood droplet splatter.

The real hardocre cycle - and this one happens every day, every system.

hardcore 12 year old goes on internet.

reads game sites editorial that passes for a marketing arm for the product in question - with reviews and hype.....

believes every word....

goes on forum and has his opinions reinforced by reinforcing others opinions.

plays game for about 2 hours total and buys a new one - that sure ws awesome!

goes on internet and whines about things that do not make sense, ignores every market reality, including the one that he, the 'dissatisfied gamer', is still the most certain buyer of products he calls casual.

predicts nintendo backlash that never comes.

cannot figure out why.

Uggh. Anyone else sick of the hardcore/ casual terminology ?

@SSBfan: Please, do tell me how old you are? Were you really born in 1999? Are you really 10? (I'm gonna check the 'age thread' cos a ten year old can't really be wasting their childhood worrying about all this, can they) If so, what are doing to yourself get outside and do something fun instead creating mini whirlwinds to get caught up in. You're making me sad now.

Thank you CC for making this thread worth visiting.

Ugh...seriously...now because Nintendo is my number one seed, I can't like Sony or MS? This is definitely a generational thing because when i was a kid, this didn't exist amongst my friends and I. We played Genesis, we played NES, we played Commodore, we played Atari and never in a million years did we imagine or even wish the Sega and Atari would be out of the console business because we loved it all...that's just the way it was. This taking sides, and forecasting doom FOR THE NUMBER ONE COMPANY, is all so ridiculous.

BTW, I'm a Nintendo fan because of the amazing games NINTENDO makes and has on their console. I love Nintendo because they haven't changed their stripes, they're still the same company I loved as a kid, still produce games with the same quality from when I was a kid, and they almost never sacrifice challenge for accesibility (or at least gives you the option to ramp up challenge). I, for one, has had enough of this doomsday for Nintendo and they're not giving me what I want BS.