This recent New York Times article on Nintendo's Wii U raises a number of questions, not only for Nintendo, but the video game industry as a whole. But it also reminds me that the traditional media has always been sort of clueless when it comes to video games.
We all the game industry has a host of problems - rising hardware and software prices, staggering production costs, shrinking "hardcore" gamer demographic, recycled "franchise" sequels from 20 years ago, bankruptcies right and left. Does that mean smartphones and tablets are really going to conquer the world? I'm not so sure about that. If anything, I'm wondering just when the iOS backlash begins.
I don't see tablets and smartphones killing the traditional video games console. I can see the portable systems - Sony PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS - being disrupted and possibly worse. And goodness knows that Nintendo could make a wreck of the Wii U if they're not careful. But I think we're getting way ahead of ourselves, and listening to the wrong analysts for advice.
Let's not panic, people. Angry Birds is not the center of the universe, Nintendo is not going to die. The video game business will adapt and evolve, one way or another.
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