Third Place Is Fine By Nintendo

anaesthetica writes "The New Yorker writes that Nintendo is fine with third place. Between Sony and Microsoft both trying to build the most comprehensively next-generation console, and barely breaking even in their efforts [Zonk: Though that's changing for Microsoft], Nintendo has decided to go a different route. Wii doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it focuses on simple fun playing games — a strategy which turns out to be much better for Nintendo's bottom line and stock prices. From the article: 'A recent survey of the evidence on market share... found that companies that adopt what they call "competitor-oriented objectives" actually end up hurting their own profitability. In other words, the more a company focuses on beating its competitors, rather than on the bottom line, the worse it is likely to do.'"

i'm confused..

[LordEd]

It's really well suited for just one thing: playing games. But this turns out to be an asset.

Let me get this straight. You make a gaming system. This gaming system is well suited to play games. Why is this surprising?

I am going to surprise auto industry that is suitable for driving.

Re:rick romero?

[Osty]

in other news the sky has been discovered to be blue, and grass green. no news yet on the study to determine wetness of water

Where is this magical wonderland where you live? Where I'm at, the sky is gray, the grass is covered in a blanket of white, and water is frozen.

Re:Nintendo Knows The Wii Will Have A Short Life

[DaveV1.0]

So, over the next two years or so, Nintendo will develop a successor for the Wii, using technology that has been proven in the XBox and PS3. If they are REALLY smart, they will continue to research different ways to interact with the console.

I have an interesting idea for that, so if they want to contact me, I will be glad to make a deal with them.

Re:Nintendo Knows The Wii Will Have A Short Life

[drinkypoo]

If they are REALLY smart, they will continue to research different ways to interact with the console. I have an interesting idea for that, so if they want to contact me, I will be glad to make a deal with them.

I think Nintendo will probably leave teledildonics to other corporations.

Re:rick romero?

[LordSkippy]

Your conclusion that water isn't wet is correct. However, you are wrong about it making other things wet. What actually happens is that water absorbs other objects dryness, thus giving the appearance of making them wet.

Re:Nintendo Knows The Wii Will Have A Short Life

[SeaFox]

Pilotwings

Pilotwings for Wii?

They're going to need a longer cord between the two controller sections if I'f going to stetch my arms out like an airplane. (BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! Neeeeeeeuuuuuooooooorrrrrrrrrrraaaaaa!)

Re:I find that amusing

[pluther]

But Nintendo knows that profit is far more important than their place in the so called console wars.

So, what you're saying is that their business plan is something like:
1) First Place?
2) Second Place?
3) PROFIT!

Re:I find that amusing

[Anonymous Coward]

Likewise, except it's a whole brother at 14 and myself at 19. I've already purchased one, and AFAIK he's getting one for Christmas.

AWESOME! Mom and Dad are getting me a Wii for Christmas!

Re:The open source motto

[feepness]

Beating competitors is what Microsoft is all about. It's not "we'll have the best search engine," it's "we'll be better than Google". I guess we see the results: years of no browser updates, few significant OS updates and, now, a crappy music player...

Well, to be fair Microsoft's Music Player IS better than Google's.

Re:rick romero?

[Kehvarl]

Not at all, we spraypaint the grass on a regular basis.

Re:The open source motto

[a.d.trick]

Well, to be fair Microsoft's Music Player IS better than Google's.

I'm not so sure. I think I'd go for Google's. After all, it doesn't have any bugs.

Re:I find that amusing

[binarybum]

I'm not sure that's entirely correct. I bought a Wii and suddenly I'm missing some underpants - I suspect this must be part of Nintendo's market strategy somehow.