Where did this idea come from with the Virtual Console to ‘trickle’ its releases being a good idea? Other E-shops don’t do this, and they exist happily. i-Tunes doesn’t do this. So what is the deal with the stupid trickle release?
When I go to the used game store, there is no trickle release. There are hundreds of games available at that very moment. So saying the consumer would be ‘overrun with games’, as if that is a problem, doesn’t make sense.
What if I buy the Nintendo console late in its lifespan? Then the ‘trickle’ for years turns into a large library. Why is that ‘wrong’ early in the lifespan of the console but ‘ok’ if you hop on at the end?
“But we need people to keep coming back to see what is coming…” And new stuff is always coming. But there are even additional tools like sales. Like for this Christmas, all Mario games are half off.
“That would destroy the value. People would wait only for the sales.”
This is no different in behavior of retail. Other online stores are proving Nintendo is doing the Virtual Console wrong.
In the early years of the Wii, the Virtual Console was a really cool service. Coincidentally, it was also when the Wii was sold out. “You cannot say people were buying the Wii for the Virtual Console, Malstrom.” Well, that is the reason why I bought the console. After buying a hundred games, I stopped because there is no account system.
When will those crusty and dusty old people on Nintendo’s board get it together with the Internet revolution?
Past games are cashflow assets. Right now, they aren’t being used or being used rarely. Why not put them out there and get the assets working? Investors need to ask why Nintendo is deliberately leaving money on the table.