"Indeed Nintendo has largely sidestepped the graphics arms race that has bedeviled both its hardware and software competitors, instead focusing on what Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi affectionately termed "withered technology": Using well-established technology and focusing on making something fun instead. That strategy has also allowed Nintendo to avoid the high costs and constant retraining that are hamstringing its competitors."
"The Japanese game developer embraced "the principle of finding a playful way to design things that aren't necessarily at the cutting-edge," explains MacDonald, who currently writes about gaming for The Guardian. "That's been a part of Nintendo's philosophy since before it was even making video games." The Japanese company has what MacDonald deems a "slightly conservative" approach, ensuring that it maintains healthy profit margins and builds up large reserves of cash."
Nintendo houses iconic characters and a long-tenured workforce of developers who often grew up influenced by its games. The company largely sidesteps the industry graphics arms race, favoring Game Boy designer Gunpei Yokoi's 'withered technology' approach: using well-established hardware and prioritizing fun. That strategy reduces development costs and the need for constant retraining. The company embraces designing playfully rather than chasing cutting-edge specs, maintains a slightly conservative business approach, preserves healthy profit margins, and builds large cash reserves because it recognizes its next product might not be a hit. Nintendo released the Switch 2 earlier this year; some commentators griped it was more powerful and more expensive than its predecessor.
Read at Fortune
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]