Microsoft tried to buy Nintendo

Gamer · 04-28-2002, 06:23 PM

I found this at Gamers.com, haha, turnes out Microsoft was trying to buy out Nintendo this winter. Heres the article. and heres the link if you want it. gamers.com

Following last month's rather shocking revelation that Microsoft had originally tapped Sega to develop the Xbox, it's now been revealed that at one point Microsoft was dealing with Nintendo too. In fact, Microsoft was all but set to outright buy the company.
According to a new book called Opening the Xbox: Inside Microsoft's Plan to Unleash an Entertainment Revolution, Microsoft was at one point all set to plunk down 25 billion for the Japanese game giant. As the book describes, Nintendo's U.S. president Minoru Arakawa wasn't sure what to think when Microsoft made the offer. "I was surprised," Arakawa admitted. "We didn't need the money. I thought it was a joke."

Nontheless, Arakawa and Nintendo of America took the offer seriously and brought discussions to its corporate office in Japan. "Some Nintendo executives seemed interested and the meetings went on through the winter," the book describes. "The parties met six or seven times. Microsoft wanted Nintendo to drop its GameCube console and get behind the Xbox. But Hiroshi Yamauchi, the aging CEO and Nintendo, didn't like the idea. By January 2000, the talks were over."

The two companies parted ways and wished each other luck. "Our ability to remain independent was unquestioned due to our financial status," Nintendo of America executive vice president stated in the book. "And it became clear that our objectives and their objectives were not the same."

So while Microsoft discussions with Sega and Nintendo ultimately both broke down, the games industry sure would be a different place had they led to something. To read more about Microsoft's attempts to partner with both Sega and Nintendo, check out the book.

The_Dunadan · 04-28-2002, 06:42 PM

Ric · 04-28-2002, 07:07 PM

Trying to eliminate what they consider(ed) their main competetor perhaps. (You disagree with that statement???? It will be different this time, you'll see.)

It's understandable that Hiroshi Yamauchi didnt want to go ahead with the idea. Nintendo is his 'family business' started in the late 1800's by uum... his grandfather I believe... mabey his father... anyway whatever.

Hmm wonder what would have happened if this idea ever became a reality???

The X - Cube
The Game - Box.

Mushlafa · 04-28-2002, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ric
Trying to eliminate what they consider(ed) their main competetor perhaps.

Well i think that Sony would be the main competition but I dont think eaven Microsoft wouldnt be able to shell out enough billions to buy sony out. Sony is a really big company.

Or maybe im wrong....

Bond · 04-28-2002, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mushlafa

Well i think that Sony would be the main competition but I dont think eaven Microsoft wouldnt be able to shell out enough billions to buy sony out. Sony is a really big company.

Or maybe im wrong....

Bill Gate's net worth is worth slightly more then Sony itself.

And if you do remember at one point Sony tried to partner with Nintendo and it was a 99.9% sure deal until one day.

Gamer · 04-28-2002, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bond

And if you do remember at one point Sony tried to partner with Nintendo and it was a 99.9% sure deal until one day.

Hmm, and to think...we would be living in harmonous joy, dancing circles around x-box right now...or to think...xbox may not have even been created:eek: ...

Its all good.

Joeiss · 04-28-2002, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bond
And if you do remember at one point Sony tried to partner with Nintendo and it was a 99.9% sure deal until one day.

Why did Sony and Nintendo split up? I don't think I ever heard the reasons...

The_Dunadan · 04-28-2002, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss

Why did Sony and Nintendo split up? I don't think I ever heard the reasons...

nintendo backed down, i forget why. i don't think they had faith in going to cd or something.

Bond · 04-28-2002, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeiss

Why did Sony and Nintendo split up? I don't think I ever heard the reasons...

Nintendo withdrew one day before it was to be made public. No official reason was ever given.

fingersman · 04-28-2002, 09:22 PM

I heard different, I heard Sony tried to pull a fast one, or Sony did something that Nintendo on Nintendo and Nintendo cancelled the deal or something like that .....I think there is/was an article on it at Gamespot not sure.

Gamer · 04-29-2002, 01:08 AM

I read in EGM that originally both companies were working together on a system ironically called "playstation". All was going well, but then, one day before it was going to be public, Nintendo said they didnt want to go through with it, they didnt like the CD thing or something. So the two split up and became rivals...or so they want us to think...

GameMaster · 04-29-2002, 02:37 AM

It's kind of dissappointing to learn how far Nintendo was into selling themselves out...

Why do I even continue to play their games let alone support them?

I guess Pokémon keeps my faith alive

Angrist · 04-29-2002, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gamer
I found this at Gamers.com, haha, turnes out Microsoft was trying to buy out Nintendo this winter.

Not this winter, but 2 years ago!

thatmariolover · 04-29-2002, 10:15 AM

The Nintendo Playstation was going to be a peripheral for the SNES that improved graphics, sound, and also had a CD system in it to allow for more expansive games.

What happened isn't for sure. But the rumor is that Sony's lawyers had come up with a way for Sony to not only make money off of the peripheral, but off of every game published on it. Nintendo didn't like the latter, so they decided to partner with Phillips and work on the CD-i. Sony got pissed, finished up the few games they were working on for the SNES, and started working on their own system.

TheGame · 04-29-2002, 12:55 PM

*thinks*

One console would have had both Nintendo's and Microsoft's line up (to date) combined.

Soo.... in other words all Nintendo fans were f*cked out of getting Halo, GTA3, and Silent Hill, and all Microsoft fans were f*cked out of getting SSB:M, Rouge Leader, and WWF WMx8.

I think if this deal would have went down:

1) I would be a much happier gamer (one less system to buy)

2) Sony's ass would have been in trouble!

talk of this brings a tear to my eye.