What's the Future of Nintendo?

I read a lot of gaming stuff Online. I have to to keep up the systems I like and to make sure I keep informed about the games that are coming out. I really hate it when I buy a game cause it looks cool and find out it sucks... Grrr.

Anyway, in my travels Online., I've seen many people talking about what Nintendo is doing wrong. A basic breakdown is as such:

Nintendo didn't get into the CD/DVD Rom market soon enough, what with them bailing on Sony during the development of a SNES CD peripheral (which lead to the PlayStation anyway... oops!)

Nintendo takes too long to develop systems, and more so games, and when they do release games, they don't release enough of them.

Nintendo's antiquated censorship rules keep makers from releasing the game people want...

It's all really drivel. In my mind, while Nintendo could release more game faster, about the only major problem going for them is the 3rd party issues. I mean, part of the issue is that because of the censorship rules, most game makers can't release all the games they make on Nintendo. I agree.

When you see how many copies a game like GTA3 sells, to not allow that caliber of game on your system is stupidity... But then, there is a flip side to it.

Could you really see Mario flipping off the screen, or gunning down a bunch of toadstool people? No... well you could, but not in a real game. Nintendo sits on an interesting line. They have a caliber of games no one else can really touch. Their games, while appealing to younger kids, are appealing to all ages. I can understand the stand point Nintendo takes, when you consider how many copies a cute game like Mario or Zelda sells.

But, they are alienating fans and game companies. They are too stringent in their rules, and too controlled on their release dates (yes I know I called it drivel above... shut up). When you consider that for every 2 games Nintendo puts out, other companies have 3, or 4... or 6, you have to wonder what's up with the Big N. I mean, trying to direct your users to 2 games is silly, cause if the consumer doesn't like either game, they'll get one from a different company... and likely on a different system all together, where they can load their MP3s into it, or take it Online.

Game companies like to develop for a system where they have freedom to do as they like. Now, this can lead to shit heaps like BMXXX (which is actually on GC now too). Maybe .intendo is trying to avoid games like these... but that still should stop them from at least releasing powerhouse games like GTA3 (for which the very notion has actually been scoffed at by the big guys at N). Apparently .intendo is too good for a little visceral excitement.

Some of you may be wondering what my real stance is, since I will say everything that comes to mind, and rarely get to the point... tis a skill of mine. Let me boil it down for you.

Since I was 8, I've had every .intendo game system released, although not always as soon as they were released. In my eyes the pinnacle of gaming is still the SNES. Nothing has ever beaten it for sheer volume of library, and quality of games. I do have PSX though, and enjoy the games on it as well. I'll be one of those people that buys every system eventually just cause I like to game.

But, what game system of the current generation do I own? Game Cube. And the why is because I like the library of core games .intendo develops. I don't buy games every month (at least, not new ones), and I like to shop around on games before I decide. By and large, the game I want has always been a Nintendo hosted one. It's numbers, it's quality... it's, yes, loyalty. In the past .intendo hasn't lead me astray, and for my money, if they get their butt in gear and figure out a real way to lure consumers (not GBA link up to a GC, which while neat, isn't the most portable thing for a portable system) I'll be buying them as long as the company is around.