What if Apple to buy Nintendo?
Saturday, June 10, 2006 11:41:51 PM
According to a message posted at Slashdot.org, CNET is running an article on its gossip column, Crave Talkabout the possibility of Nintendo takeover or partnership with Apple. It was started with the history of gaming in the Apple universe. Not a great one, that is. Apparently Apple once launched a game console called Pippin. Okay, at this point I'm already alarmed at the fact that I have never even heard about the mentioned console. Could such a product even exist? It's existance might just prove as elusive as the rest of the Hobbit community. Well, the article moves on to discuss about its current gaming situation, still not a fantastic one but here's the surprise. According to CNET's sister company, GameSpot, Apple is setting up a super secret game division.
This brings us to Apple - Nintendo comparison. Both brand boasts zealotous supporters, both are incredibly innovative and creative in their own field, and considered as a specialist. Apple in music and multimedia, and Nintendo in video games. The style of their products have recently converge up to the point where CNET says that 'the Nintendo DS Lite practically looks like Jonathan Ive built it'. Although the design style might just be a coincidence, nevertheless the thought of the two companies going together hand in had will produce what could be the Next Next Generation console and handheld device (iPod DS?).
We've already seen the advancement of both Microsoft XBOX and Sony PS towards what could be argued as a gaming PC. Sony PS3 is said to run Linux and boast multimedia capability to play music, dvd, etc. If Apple decided to compete in this front, Nintendo's expertise and philosophy could well be what they are looking for.
One more interesting point of discussion is how feasible is the idea of an iPod DS? imagine that you can use your DS to listen to music and play video. Then add iTunes combined with DS wifi capability to sell games online. This may sound nothing like Nintendo's philosophy of providing fun and affordable game console (game, game, game). However the trend seems to suggest that it is the way to go. And for one, I'm going against the naysayers and hope that this rumour will have at least some degree of truth.
This brings us to Apple - Nintendo comparison. Both brand boasts zealotous supporters, both are incredibly innovative and creative in their own field, and considered as a specialist. Apple in music and multimedia, and Nintendo in video games. The style of their products have recently converge up to the point where CNET says that 'the Nintendo DS Lite practically looks like Jonathan Ive built it'. Although the design style might just be a coincidence, nevertheless the thought of the two companies going together hand in had will produce what could be the Next Next Generation console and handheld device (iPod DS?).
We've already seen the advancement of both Microsoft XBOX and Sony PS towards what could be argued as a gaming PC. Sony PS3 is said to run Linux and boast multimedia capability to play music, dvd, etc. If Apple decided to compete in this front, Nintendo's expertise and philosophy could well be what they are looking for.
One more interesting point of discussion is how feasible is the idea of an iPod DS? imagine that you can use your DS to listen to music and play video. Then add iTunes combined with DS wifi capability to sell games online. This may sound nothing like Nintendo's philosophy of providing fun and affordable game console (game, game, game). However the trend seems to suggest that it is the way to go. And for one, I'm going against the naysayers and hope that this rumour will have at least some degree of truth.





