- Let’s go back to the durable, long-lasting, portable format of cartridge-based games again. With current SDHC flash memory cards holding as much as 64gb of memory, there is no excuse to keep using crappy DVDs.
- No moving parts in the hardware. There should be no spinning motors or delicate lasers (this ties to #1, i suppose). My NES, SNES, and Genesis work as good as they ever did, but my PS1 and GameCube do not. It is inevitable that my Wii and Xbox360 will also die due to these moving parts.
- Make controllers more affordable. Does this mean they must contain less technology inside them? So be it. I’m tired of shelling out $60+ for each controller I want to own, especially in the days of analogue thumbsticks which wear out in only a couple years without exception.
- 100% perfect D-Pad on the controller. The 3DS’ D-Pad is as insulting as Microsoft Xbox 360’s, except that Nintendo has no excuse for not offering a proper one like Microsoft does.
- Make the console launch at an affordable price. Remember when there was buzz that the Wii may launch for $99 way back when? Truth is, it could’ve! Nintendo chose to make more profit of course, which turned out to be a great decision, but affordability is something I demand. I found $250 affordable when Wii launched simply because of the value proposition it offered… but I’m not certain that a penny more than that can get a purchase out of me in the future.
- No bloatware. Get rid of all this stupid “default” software (and advertisements!!!!! wtf) that comes on consoles these days. It’s ridiculous and worthless. How about this? When I boot up my new console for the first time, let me choose which of your stupid add-on software I want to install so I can teach you “none of them” in a way that’s easy for you to understand.
- More backwards compatibility/content ownership. Similarly to how you mentioned the digital download library should be permanent, I want options for carrying over the library of physical games I already own. It would not be at all difficult to release a multi-headed hydra beast with a USB cord on it that could “download” my old NES/SNES/N64 cartridges, GameCube disks, etc, and tie this ownership to my Nintendo account. This is 2012– there is no good reason not to do this.
And perhaps we can buy blank SD cards and ‘digitally download’ games onto them to make a permanent copy. It solves the inventory risk and allows players to “own” the game.
The only thing I’d take issue with is the affordability. These companies do a ton of market research when trying to come at a price. This price is researched and obtained usually before console development is completed so they know how much they can include to stay within the price range. With the Wii, they said they wanted to make a $99 console but added things like 500 mb harddrive and other elements to it.
What I think occurred is that the market research on the $99 turned up negative. Their goal is to have the maximum amount of sales. Decreasing the price doesn’t necessarily increase the sales. Sometimes increasing the price increases the sales. There is tons of ‘free’ software available. The games that have a price get more players than the ‘free to play’ games do.
If you were presented with a brand new $99 console, what would your reaction to it be? You would think there is something wrong or missing with it to be so cheap. And you might opt to go for the $299 console instead because you associate it with having more value and being a ‘full product instead of half a product’.
I prefer a high value approach than a cheap price approach. A game like Civilization or a Blizzard game can still sell for its original price years after release because of its high value. The Wii maintained its $250 price for several years because there was such a high value placed on the Wii (it was sold out for the first three years).
Check this video out:
Look at all you got when you bought a NES! You got the console and TWO controllers. You got a light gun. You got two games with Gyromite and Duck Hunt. And you got a robot with R.O.B. What a tremendous value!
Above: Unboxing a NES Action Set.
The Gameboy also came with headphones, BATTERIES (batteries *were* included), the Gameboy, a link cable, and TETRIS. Everything I needed to start playing immediately was in the box. I bought the original Gameboy and played it before I got home. It was a complete package.
And since the Wii U shows Nintendo wants a complete package in not requiring a TV, why not go this path?
The Atari 2600 came with four controllers (two joysticks and two paddle controllers) along with Combat. That is some sweet value there. Maybe it came with a programming cartridge, but I cannot remember. Note people’s faces on the box. SHOWING the gamer stopped being done in game console marketing during the NES era and was revived with the Wii.
Now before readers think I am going on a nostalgia trip, let’s look at the Wii unboxing.
Above: I love how Super Mario Brothers 5 cameos an appearance, hahaha.
Wii sold so well due to it being perceived to have a high value. Much of it was due to Wii Sports being included. The BEST video game should be included with every game console. Sonic came with Genesis, Tetris came with Gameboy, Super Mario Brothers came with the NES, etc.
I think a game console should be a complete package in the box. You should be able to just take that box and have a fantastic experience with it. The very best video game should be included. Japanese executives hate this idea and even didn’t want Sonic to be included with the Genesis. It is why the 3DS comes with crappy games where it should be coming out with the *best* 3DS game (whatever game that is).
These game console executives reveal the hardest moment is to get the consumer to buy the hardware. Yet, that same game console executive refuses to sweeten the pot with adding value like bundling the most awesome video game with the package or multiple controllers. Once you sell the hardware, the rest will take care of itself.
What I hate is how these executives are trying to re-define value. They want the game console to do tricks we don’t want it to do. I don’t care if a Nintendo console can ‘browse the Internet’. That’s not additional value to me. I don’t care if a Sony console can ‘play Blu-Ray movies’. That’s not additional value to the gamer. Including the best game is a tremendous value.
One thing I’d like to see game consoles do is to include free credits for digital purchases in addition to the bundled game. The bundled game is to give players a tremendous experience even if they don’t want the game. Many Zelda fans didn’t want Wii Sports until they played it since it came with the package. Many NES fans discovered Mario through the Action Set when they might have wanted to get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game instead.
Since digital games don’t cost anything, let me choose the game(s) I want. Give me a $50 spending spree with the console for digital games. Already, Nintendo has given away free digital games to early 3DS buyers. The pot can never be too sweet.
Why not include every arcade Nintendo game with every Nintendo console? Donkey Kong, Balloon Fight, etc. should be included with every Nintendo hardware. These games lack the value to sell as stand alone. And these games have stood the test of time. Sweeten the pot.
If the Wii U isn’t sold with a game, I’d be extremely disappointed. And Nintendo’s Wii Play type games do not count. I want THE BEST game to be included with the Wii U. A game like Wii Sports or 2d Mario.