60°

Pachter Says Nintendo is Making Good Decisions with The New 3DS and IP Licensing

Gamnesia - In a recent interview with NintendOn, Michael Pachter discussed the marketing strategies of the New Nintendo 3DS and how Nintendo intends to pursue the licensing of their most popular IPs. He also said that Nintendo were making a good decision by releasing the New 3DS in tandem with The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4.

When asked why Nintendo only decided to release the New Nintendo 3DS XL in the U.S., Pachter replied that while he didn't understand the decision, he believed that Nintendo's U.S. marketing arm probably had a basis for their decision.

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gamnesia.com
randomass1713394d ago

Well I think hell just froze over...

shaw983394d ago (Edited 3394d ago )

I don't care how nice this guy is acting to Nintendo now. He is still a joke when it comes to analysing anything.

MSBAUSTX3394d ago

I had the opportunity to demo a New 3DS XL at Best Buy today and I was very impressed. The c stick is a little stiff like an old style track dot you had on laptops years ago. However, overall the added buttons worked really well, the screen is clearer, it is actually lighter I think or right at the same, and the Face Tracking 3D worked perfectly. It isnt intended for sudden movements or anything but you do not have to be perfectly lined up anymore. It didnt make me sick or give me a headache while playing. Nintendo did a good job and releasing it with Monster Hunter 4 is really tempting me to buy one.

Neonridr3394d ago

I am sure the stick will loosen a bit over time. I mean a laptop nub isn't exactly ideal for quick movements..

At least games can now come with sensitivity settings for that small stick.

MSBAUSTX3393d ago

I agree that it isnt ideal for quick movements but the new c stick is really stiff. A couple times I wasnt even sure if I was moving it because there is no give in it like one would expect a second thumb stick to have. I am sure I could get used to it though. I only messed around with it for about 20 minutes.

JacketsNest1013394d ago

Wait, so even pachter is praising nintendo now? Am I dreaming?

MadMenX3394d ago

Agreed, now if they would dump the wiiU, they would be moving in the right direction as a whole.

Show all comments (18)
540°

Microsoft Losing to Sony Is a Wrong Perception, Says Pachter; They Want to Win Business, Not Console

Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter believes it's an incorrect gamers' perception that Microsoft has lost to Sony.

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wccftech.com
Christopher88d ago

"If we change what our goal is, we're not losing" attitude. Kind of like how Microsoft didn't lose to Valve, they just changed their business model. And they didn't lose to Android and iOS, they just changed their business model. They 100%, after spending 3 generations competing heavily in console hardware, aren't losing to Sony, they're just changing their business model.

You can't ever lose if you just 'change your business model'!

Jin_Sakai88d ago

Pachter is full of crap. Always assume the opposite of what he says.

Cacabunga88d ago

This clown is still around? I cannot remember he ever got one prediction right

Profchaos87d ago

Patcher predicted that take two would be brought out by ea he knows very little about the content of games and is so numbers focused

Petebloodyonion87d ago

Yet I remember that he predicted perfectly that there was no way the acquisition of ABK would not go through and that the FTC and the CMA would fold when all the media had It's basically over kind of news.
He mentioned that MS would outsource COD streaming rights (or deny COD from appearing on GP) in UK.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 87d ago
crazyCoconuts88d ago

What's kinda crazy to me is - if they retreat from consoles they're left with a business model that depends on making great games that people want to buy.
What has been Xbox's biggest issue over the last decade or so?
It's not like they're falling back to a strength...

GamerRN88d ago

They didn't retreat and even promised the biggest generational leap! Where did you get retreat from?

crazyCoconuts87d ago

@Gamer if you don't see it yet, there's nothing i can say to convince you.

FinalFantasyFanatic87d ago

And just think of all those game franchises that are trapped with them, especially those they bought instead of creating.

Charlieboy33387d ago

@Gamer Yeah, just like the One X was a leap. Just like Series X was a leap. What did they bring to the table.....a leap in games? No, they brought sweet f all. Guys like you just never learn or are just dumb, falling for MS' talk talk talk over and over again.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 87d ago
PhillyDonJawn88d ago (Edited 88d ago )

Business is all about money not actual sales. If I sell 1 thing for 1 million and you sell 10000 things for 900k Who really won.

remixx11688d ago

The person who sold 10000 things because he has developed a consumer base and consistent revenue stream while simultaneously showing that he has the capacity to obtain market share.

The person who sold 1 thing for a million hasnt proven much outside of the simple fact that he can get an idiot to pay a copious amount of money for a single product. Holla at me when he has proven he can do it consistently overtime.

This is a nuanced subject matter

The Wood88d ago (Edited 88d ago )

How about the gamers perspective

Xbox as a console business is last in the gamersphere. Pivot after pivot, swerve after swerve. If it wasn't for pc the xbox console would died a while back. Console owners need to choose what's best for them, their experiences or the console owners profits

Christopher88d ago (Edited 88d ago )

Great. Guess who is in third place (just talking the main console market, not even including mobile and PC) both on software sales, hardware sales, and video game revenue?

PhillyDonJawn87d ago

Chris you might wanna do ya research

Christopher87d ago (Edited 87d ago )

***Chris you might wanna do ya research ***

You're right! It's only 2nd place on revenue. Good on you.

"Based on these revenues, we can see that: PlayStation made $11.3 billion more than Xbox, and $14.7 billion more than Nintendo. Xbox made $3.4 billion more than Nintendo."

Now, do you want to find me proof that Xbox isn't in third on hardware and software sales? They've literally cannibalized their own sales via subscription services and their hardware is well known to be last place.

But, hey, Microsoft is okay losing in every category here, why would they get rid of a part of their business that they are in turn (and wasn't accounted for in 2023 numbers totally since it was distributed over 5 years, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, the cost of their latest purchase) spending more than 7x their annual revenue on.

PhillyDonJawn87d ago (Edited 87d ago )

@Chris I'm glad you did ya research seen you were wrong but you also forgetting this. Revenue isn't everything my friend, remember business is about money
https://www.essentiallyspor...

DarXyde87d ago

Oh my days, this is a terrible analogy...

If it was just about money, Microsoft wouldn't be doing a sub model, would they? They are literally making it cheaper than game purchases to get more uptake from more people. The goal is to have enough recurring subs over time to increase revenue (and eventually profitability), but that doesn't work in your assessment because they literally need to "sell 10000 things".

Good grief...

Christopher87d ago

***Revenue isn't everything my friend***

Yeah, you know what that TweakTown report doesn't include? Any of the cost to buy ABK. That makes it a massive loss. Massive.

FinalFantasyFanatic87d ago

@DarXyde

That analogy still works, they need to consistently sell those subs to maintain/gain revenue, if they can't constantly sell those subs.

Switch "things" with "Subs", and it still works, but they need to constantly convince people to keep buying that subscription, other people will drop their subscription and revenue will decline.

DigitallyAfflicted87d ago

ou can do math... well done.... you win

DarXyde87d ago

FinalFantasyFanatic,

I don't think that quite works:

The argument this guy is making actually sounds supportive of Playstation selling a game over Game Pass subs.

Let's take a practical example, Persona 3 Reload.

If Atlus sells you the game at $70 on Playstation and "gives it away" on Xbox as long as you continue to pay for Game Pass, well... Following their logic, wouldn't it be better if fewer people buy it for a higher price than basing it on engagement via more people on XGP? How many people would you need to play P3R on Game Pass to get the same revenue?

Eventually, the latter *can be better*, but there is the matter of a larger install base on Playstation and XGP subs are a fraction of Xbox gamers.

It's a bit ironic and I think biases are on full display because what Philly boi is saying is, in principle, more supportive of the PlayStation model, but the thing is, PlayStation has both a higher price of access AND a larger pool to pull from.

If we want to talk about the manufacturers themselves and hardware, Xbox can be purchased cheaper than PS5, but it is still getting trounced in number of sales and price of admission.

I don't really see how this argument works.

crazyCoconuts87d ago

The console war we've been watching for the last two decades has been what I find interesting. I don't really care how much profit MS can make by buying King and running Candy Crush any more than I care how much money they make bleeding businesses for MS Office licenses. That's boring. The fun thing to watch has been the work these companies have put in to try to win the console market.

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 87d ago
88d ago Replies(4)
Eonjay88d ago

The obvious rebuttal to Pachter's cray cray notion is that you wouldn't have to change your model if you were winning.

senorfartcushion87d ago

Or "those who win get to change their business model."

Fanboyism ends at a brick wall of "big company no care about whether you like or hate them, get a life."

Reaper22_88d ago (Edited 88d ago )

Sony said similar things when their Walkman was beaten by Apple and when Samsung surpassed them in the TV market. I can go on and on but I'm sure you get the picture. Business is business. All companies take a whippen every now and and then. The difference is how you bounce back. Microsoft net worth has grown over the years. Business wise they are very successful and no matter what, sony would love to be where they are financially. Sony isn't the competition microsoft worries about. That been clear for a long time now. Microsoft wants gaming to be a part of their ecosystem. Sony needs it. Big difference there.

Christopher88d ago (Edited 88d ago )

There's a lot wrong here.

First, the attempt to turn this argument into one about other failed businesses. Which, surprisingly, you make the argument I'm making but then...

Second, the attempt to confirm that Microsoft isn't competition when Microsoft admitted in court that they are.

Third, the attempt to act like Microsoft, from a business perspective, doesn't need what they spent over $100b to acquire but Sony does? Laughable.

Businesses are about profits. If you stop earning enough profit in a division, it goes away. Simple as that. Xbox is a division competiting against Valve, Epic, Sony, Nintendo, Android, and iOS. Simple as that. Xbox, to remain 'part of the ecosystem' needs to not cost the company more than it brings in. Simple.

87d ago
Rude-ro88d ago (Edited 88d ago )

They actually won.

The whole point was to force Sony into playing ball so that they could not put “windows” in more jeopardy than it was at the time.
Apple, Google, then Sony innovating while partnered with Linux…

When will people realize it has never been about gaming as to why Microsoft got into gaming?

Trojan horses people.

FinalFantasyFanatic87d ago

With the way Linux and Steam Deck are going, Linux might one day catch up to Windows, it's doing pretty well for gaming these days compared to say, 10 years, or even 5 years ago.

crazyCoconuts87d ago

I don't understand who u r saying won...
But I agree in that I wouldn't be surprised if Windows was part of the calculus for MS supporting Xbox. The OS was based on Windows at first and Xbox One kinda had two Windows instances if you count the hypervisor.
But, like the console space, I think MS is walking back on OS domination. Apple and Google completely ate their lunch because....surprise surprise they innovated. I'm 100% confident the reason Phil talks (and shows) about the Asus ROG Ally more than Steam Deck is because of Windows. The Steam Deck has to sting for them.

senorfartcushion87d ago

Well, yeah, that's the point. They're too big-a-company for fanboy stuff to be at-all relevant.

badz14987d ago

If Pachter said MS is not losing, it means that MS is losing.

Petebloodyonion87d ago (Edited 87d ago )

Well last I checked a company goal is to make more and more money,
Nintendo could be an example of how they stopped trying to compete with Sony (during the Gamecube day) and decided to focus on a different market and reinvented themselves with the WII.
They reinvented themselves with the Switch by bringing 2 markets together when ppl said that portable consoles were doomed thanks to cellphones and tablets.

Sony's business models also changed when they decided to port games to PC something that was never supposed to happen.

crazyCoconuts87d ago

If Xbox exits a market (consoles) to focus on another (games) I guess I don't care anymore. They lost the console market and pretty much the same companies that have been there before making games are still there flying a different flag. If they suck, other companies will eat their lunch by making better games.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 87d ago
shinoff218388d ago

How's this guy still around. According to him consoles were dying after ps2, ps3 Era.

Christopher88d ago

Analysts are never wrong, the market just had a swift change for which no one could account.

shinoff218387d ago (Edited 87d ago )

Aka wrong lol

VenomUK87d ago (Edited 87d ago )

In his Gametrailers past I’ve found Pachter to be friendly and entertaining. However he’s always blindly predicted Xbox success even up to the start of this generation. Now Pachter has adopted and repeated the new terminology of Microsoft, that it hasn’t lost the console war, it just wants more business. This is illuminating because it suggest he, like Tom Warren at the Verge, is inline with Microsoft’s PR strategy.

Tedakin87d ago

He was the only person who completely nailed how the ABK court case would play out. When everyone said the deal was dead, he said no and stood firm and said MS would do exactly what they did.

MrNinosan87d ago

Did everyone say the deal was dead?
Most analytics said it would go through, but be delayed, which actually was the case.

Christopher86d ago

Almost everyone said the deal would go through.

88d ago
stonecold388d ago

michael and his bs view just give me headache wish he would go and retire

senorfartcushion87d ago

Thing is, if fanboys understood business, they wouldn't be wasting their time commenting on gaming websites.

S2Killinit87d ago

And you are here to lecture the rest of us because you understand business and MS is doing great?

neomahi87d ago

senorfartcusion....... So what brings you to the house of Pachter?

FinalFantasyFanatic87d ago

Technically Microsoft is doing great, it's just not in gaming, OS and software (e.g. Microsoft Office) is where they're doing great business. I can't think of many other ventures they've had that has worked out for them, despite resorting to some of the same tactics that made them the dominate OS for computers.

87d ago
senorfartcushion86d ago

Microsoft own things like Microsoft Office and Windows, games are secondary to them. If Xbox shut down the computer company will be ok

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 86d ago
MIDGETonSTILTS1788d ago (Edited 88d ago )

They only way that plan works is if people still want to play in their ecosystem.

Eventually, they’re ecosystem needs more games.

Helldivers 2 could swing Xbots to ps6 if it isn’t countered by the end of the gen.

Abnor_Mal88d ago (Edited 88d ago )

Supposedly some well known Halo modders will be making a mode similar to Helldivers.

https://gamerant.com/halo-i...

MIDGETonSTILTS1787d ago

Without procedurally generated levels, they’ll face the same problem as Destiny: fighting the same enemies in the exact same arenas does get repetitive eventually.

Helldivers succeeds as a GaaS because of its unusually well implemented use of procedural level creation. That, paired with its fun enemies to kill, makes it a GaaS with a long lifespan.

darthv7288d ago

There is a pretty good chance that those with XB also have PS, but not the other way around.

shinoff218387d ago

I do. Always get an xbox just varies on when during that Gen

cooperdnizzle87d ago (Edited 87d ago )

What kind of Jedi mind tricks do you have to come up with to get through your day?

What is the point of always having to lie or make shit up just to win? It's like cheating to win how can you feel like you accomplished something?

FinalFantasyFanatic87d ago

I haven't bought an Xbox since the 360 days, just stuck with PC and PS, sometimes Nintendo.

Show all comments (118)
GaboonViper640d ago

I am a huge Zelda fan and love them all, but for me Ocarina Of Time is the greatest and my second all time favourite game after Final Fantasy VII.

LoveSpuds639d ago (Edited 639d ago )

You sir, have good taste in games :)

I also love all of the Zelda games but I adore Windwaker (Specifically the HD version on WiiU) most of all. It is a close run thing with Breath of the Wild though.

Special mention to Cadence of Hyrule too, what an awesome spin off title that was!

GaboonViper639d ago

Cheers Spuds, yep i love Windwaker too, beautiful artstyle, and i loved sailing and finding all the secrets out there.

blackbeld639d ago

Agreed. For me top 3 of all time is.

1. ocarina of time
2. Final fantasy Vll
3. MGS1

GaboonViper639d ago

Brilliant top 3, would love a MGS1 remake that has been rumoured.

LoveSpuds639d ago

Yup, hard to argue with that top 3 squire, some quality games right there!

-Foxtrot640d ago

Oh gee can't imagine what Number 1 is

....

A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker etc is better than Breath of the Wild.

lockedongamer1640d ago

I respectfully disagree, but they're all great games.

porkChop640d ago

I think it really depends on what you're looking for. If you want a traditional Zelda game then OoT or WW would be better to you. But if you want a Zelda game that really leans into adventure and exploration, and if you want intelligent systems/logic, BotW would be the better game.

I enjoy both. I understand why some people aren't fond of it but for me it was a breath of fresh air that I really needed. I'd become so burnt out on unimaginative games and BotW sort of made me appreciate games again, as weird as that may sound.

godofboobees639d ago

Those are not traditional Zelda games

Crows90639d ago

Right...so let's pretend ocarina of time didnt have exploration, secret dungeons and other secrets. Complex boss mechanics and exploration rewards. At least a traditional Zelda has dungeons.

porkChop639d ago

What point are you attempting to make? At no point did I say that OoT didn't have any of that. However, the level of exploration and sense of adventure are vastly different between OoT and BotW.

Brazz639d ago

Breath of the Wild is overrated as shot, Wind waker is much better.

P_Bomb640d ago

I’m a Link to the Past guy.

MadLad639d ago

Majora's Mask still holds as my favorite to this day, despite being the black sheep of the series.

pietro1212639d ago

I love them all, but Wind Walker, Link to the Past and Minish Cap are my favorites

John_McClane639d ago

Link to the Past was so, so good! Those chickens though! 🤣

Show all comments (31)
170°

Could Xbox Game Pass really hit '100 million' subscribers? Here are some thoughts.

Wedbush games industry analyst Michael Pachter weighs in.

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
darthv72648d ago

Oh... well if Patcher weighs in then it has to be a resounding:

NO

Jin_Sakai648d ago

Regardless it’s going to skyrocket when Activision Blizzard games hit Game Pass.

Lightning77647d ago

But to a 100 million? Absolutely not I can realistically see 5 to 6 million within the year.

Pachter gets paid for making terrible predictions. Must be nice lmao.

Jin_Sakai647d ago

Yea that’s unrealistic. Still the subscriber count is going to increase significantly when Activision/Blizzard games hit the service.

garryxcs647d ago

"skyrocket", that's highly doubtful you're not accounting for the fact that the majority of those people who are will download those games on gp already have gp.

shinoff2183646d ago

I feel they will increase but there are people out there like me for instance that didnt really care for the games they made. Especially cod eh pass. Skyrocket though seems to be overstated.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 646d ago
neutralgamer1992646d ago (Edited 646d ago )

It won't hit 100 million unless Ms cam produce high quality exclusives and release one every month

Better question is at what price point and subscription number will it become profitable for Ms because the more profit it makes the more resources Ms will allocate to make it grow

Recurring subscriptions is what most companies with services want. Believe it or not the reason so many of these companies want us to turn on the automatic payment is because they know a lot of people forget to turn it off. It's like gym membership they know only 40% of the people will use it while other 60% will keep paying in hopes of going one day

darthv72

Also you made a comment in the other story I forgot to reply to you but why are you paying $45 to renew when you can pay $26-28

There are always deals

darthv72646d ago

This was the first time it renewed for 45, i will get other deals before it does it again.

mooreneco21647d ago (Edited 647d ago )

Reality of the subscriber business model is regardless of the medium, and as Netflix is currently experiencing, they all have a user base ceiling. Is game pass good value, sure, but will it convert non-gamers into Xbox gamers, nope! Brand awareness and deals only reach so far and ultimately a gamer with the money to subscribe is most likely already a gamer.

roadkillers647d ago

Nintendo has the ability to turn non-gamers into gamers. The only game that has this ability in Microsoft’s arsenal is Minecraft.

Godmars290647d ago (Edited 647d ago )

No. Not even Nintendo can "magically" convert non-gamers. Sure as eff such can't be done by the likes of Uncharted or Halo. The best you're going to get is someone who wants to watch for the graphics and action, but sur as eff isn't paying upwards to a publisher desired $100+ per single game + DLC/MT much less a recurring sub.

And it the Bobby Koticks of the industry that need that drilled into their heads, not us.

shinoff2183646d ago

Nintendo had the wii that brought non gamers. Thats it. Switch isnt bring in non gamers unless your talking about kids having their first system. My kids all have ps4s but we always have bought the newest nintendo console. Mainly for their first party games.

Also i dont feel like minecraft is gonna bring in non gamers. I just dont understand the comment.

myfathersbastard646d ago

Most adult gamers I know still see switch as a “kids” console and don’t own one. I only personally know 2 other adults who use one. So no, Nintendo doesn’t turn non gamers into gamers. They have issues just being seen as a worthwhile system currently with the new generation out.

0hMyGandhi647d ago

I was a gamer, and gamed alot. Haven't lately, and got GamePass about 6 months ago, and I friggin love it. Love seeing some smaller indie games that I can play comfortably without worrying about sinking hundreds of hours into like I did when I was younger.

So yes, "non-gamers" will see incredible appeal in gamepass. So far, GamePass reminds me a bit of the good ol' Xbox Live Arcade days, and that's never a bad thing.

shinoff2183646d ago

Havent lately but you were a gamer. How long is lately. You already admitted you were a gamer so you are not a non gamer even if you took a small break.

0hMyGandhi646d ago

"Lately" is probably a 10-12 year break.

647d ago Replies(1)
purple101647d ago

How many xbone consoles did they sell last gen. Approx 50mill.

That's then the max they could hope to have in subscribers.

If there lucky. Very very lucky. As half Their fans jumped ship I rekon.

Lightning77647d ago

Which means there gonna have over 50 million subscribers. Sony fanboys have a knack for saying MS won't do X, Y, Z only for them to do X, Y, Z. You'd think you'd learn by now.

Zhipp647d ago

Gamepass is also on PC and streaming. Also Series X|S is outselling Xbox one so clearly they didn't lose half their fans.

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