Cisco Eyeing Tivo/Nintendo for Buyout?

We've already covered Cisco's push into the home electronics market, but CNet is reporting that they may be planning even bigger purchases to come. The article speculates that Cisco may be planning on purchasing Tivo or Nintendo to add to their growing portfolio of companies. From the article: " Another possible acquisition candidate for Cisco is Nintendo, the No. 3 game console maker in the U.S. A stretch? Not really. Microsoft, which is emerging as a key competitor to Cisco in the home entertainment market, is already in this market with the Xbox 360. Gaming has already proved to be a strong application for broadband, so it makes sense that Cisco would want to own a game device to help drive more traffic on its network. With its popular GameBoy product, Nintendo would also provide Cisco an entree into the mobile-handheld market." Some commentary at GameDailyBiz, which finds it unlikely that Nintendo would sell to Cisco.

Changes to TiVo if bought by Cisco

[raitchison]

So if Cisco were to buy TiVo what would be the result? Here are some possibilities:
1. Mandatory Jazz music soundtrack while in Menus and while fast forwarding.
2. Higher cost (everything is worth more with a Cisco label on it).
3. Different TiVo features will now be ala-carte, pay extra for HMF (again), pay extra for IR Blaster funcionality.
4. The only networking configurations that will be supported is if EVERY piece networking & voice component in your house is a Cisco product, your'e on your own if you have a D-Link or SMC broadband router or a Motorla set top box.

Re:Cisco to buy Nintendo?

[AKAImBatman]

Amusing, but the real question is: Who's writing this CRAP?

Many a-company has tried to purchase Nintendo. The answer has always been "No". While Nintendo may be third in the American console market, this soundly ignores the presence of the Nintendo DS as well as Nintendo's strength in Japan. Not to mention that Nintendo is the only company that is profitable as just a game company. The other players are running on ultra-tight margins (Microsoft loses money) while Nintendo sits back and enjoys a stogie.

This has got to be some of the worst rumor-mill crud that Slashdot has ever reported. I'd complain about CNet reporting it, but we lost them a LONG time ago.

Network?

[Call Me Black Cloud]

Cisco would want to own a game device to help drive more traffic on its network.

What network is that? I thought they made hardware. Wouldn't the traffic be carried by the DSL or cable providers?

I truly hope not

[rAiNsT0rm]

Seriously, I could not imagine a worse scenario. Nintendo is the only game company left who places fun, gameplay, and design over advertising, hype, and corporate greed. The gaming industry is dying slowly and turning into a mini-hollywood and the pervasiveness of ad's in games and lack of innovation in favor of sequels and making the biggest grab for money and power does nothing to further gaming.

Nintendo stays true to its roots, and wavers for no one or no money. They have a quirky business set-up but it works, to turn that into a carbon copy American corporation would ruin everything that makes Nintendo Nintendo. I would be deeply saddened to hear news of Cisco purchasing Nintendo, and I can only hope that the Revolution is a great success and sale of the company would be out of the question. That would be the darkest day in gaming of all time.

Please no, not nintendo!

[monopole]

It would be just like Palm and 3COM, elagant and beatuful designs crushed under a layers and layers of clueless management and indecision strangling innovation until the design is irrelavant.

Why don't they buy SEGA instead. We can finally get ehternet adaptors for our dreamcasts!

This makes no sense...

[Xepherys2]

First of all, how is Cisco competing with anyone in the home entertainment market? Because of Sci-Atlanta and Linksys? Yes, you can play games on the internet via a Linksys router, and watch cable TV via a cable box. These do not make you a player in the home entertainment industry. In fact, Sci-At has been making cable boxes for DECADES, and I never search out their brand over someone elses. Does anyone even CARE who makes a cable box?

As for the purchase of Nintendo... I say fat chance. Aside from the fact that Nintendo is no small company (in Japan, they are still QUITE large) with a LOT of IP to purchase in the deal, I believe the cultural background of Nintendo would prevent them from selling to such a company... or really selling at all unless they were in dire straights.

Honestly, the whole article doesn't really seem to have much base in reality. Can anyone enlighten me if I missed out on something really big?

Re:Network?

[sucker_muts]

Wouldn't the traffic be carried by the DSL or cable providers?

Certainly.

And when they start to get much more traffic (I presume online gaming with those newest games does need some bandwith), they definately need to start updating their switches/routers. Which Cisco sells.

A no-brainer actually...

Re:Cisco to buy Nintendo?

[Jozer99]

If I said I was going to purchase Nintendo, would you write a slashdot story about me? I didn't think so, because I couldn't buy Nintendo. Neither could Cisco.