LogFAQs > #877657432

pringles448 posted...

This is not one of those Nintendo vs Sony vs Microsoft topics so please don't interpret it as such. I'm just honestly curious about what happened to the company. Back in the 80s after NES, Nintendo completely dominated and ruled the gaming world. They were more dominant in the video game industry than Wal-mart is when it comes to retailers.

The difference is that Nintendo wasn't anything like Wal-Mart in market capitalization. They were far and away the market leader on hardware and software... in the very narrow market of home consoles and basically nothing else. That's what tends to be forgotten - the video game industry today was nothing like it was back then, in size and scope. It wasn't bigger than Hollywood. It was an emerging market, almost a cottage industry. That's when Nintendo ruled the market.

I wouldn't even say that Nintendo so much fell as much as went from creating the conversation in a narrow market, to trying to survive in a hugely-expanded market with two companies that have the market capitalization comparable to entire countries. Basically Nintendo didn't fall behind, but the market completely changed once Sony entered it. It wasn't just Nintendo fending off small-time companies anymore. They were up against big business with a near-bottomless amount of money to throw down.