CE (rumor?) : Microsoft to buy Nintendo?

[Tailzo]

"Bill Gates, the big-boss behind Microsoft, told to a German magazine, WirtschaftsWoche, that he would like to make an offer for the company if Yamauchi, who is until today the largest shareholder of Nintendo, indicated willingness to sell his company."

Read on the rest of the rest of the news story (what I only dare to call a rumor myself, though.)

http://www.cube-europe.com/news.php?nid=6818

Is this fake news?

[BigBroMario]

I've heard stuff like this so many times I don't know what to believe, but I doubt Nintendo will sell to M$.

[Freak of Kane]

Nope, it's real:

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has told a German financial magazine that he remains interested in buying Nintendo, stating that "if Hiroshi Yamauchi phones me, I will pick up at once."

Gates told WirtschaftsWoche magazine that he would immediately make an offer for the company if Yamauchi, who remains the largest shareholder in the firm despite retiring from his position as president over two years ago, indicated willingness to sell.

However, his comments seem to be largely in the realms of wishful thinking, as Yamauchi retains a keen interest in the running of the company, which has been in his family for over a century, and is highly unlikely to consider a sale to the American software giant.

Indeed, Yamauchi rebuffed an offer from Microsoft only a few years ago, just after the firm decided to enter the console market with the Xbox. The final decision to develop its own console operation is believed to have been taken only after attempts to buy both Nintendo and Sega failed.

The fact that Gates is still keen on acquiring Nintendo can be seen as a statement of his respect for the Japanese company, which remains the most profitable business in the games industry, but is unlikely to lead to any business deal - with the two companies, whose US headquarters are only a stones throw away from each other in Redmond, Washington, set to continue battling for second place in the current generation of console hardware.SOURCE: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=pub&aid=3920

I hope no stupid rumours start because of this. It's only Billy saying he's still interested in buying out Nintendo. Why wouldn't he be? If the MS team had Nintendo (and vice versa) they'd be a force to be reckoned with. Please do not take this in the wrong way...Gates was just having a conversation with a magazine.*

*This post was sponsored by Nadia Fans Worldwide

[BigBroMario]

I like what this guy said over at CE:

Well I'm certainly not very keen to Microsoft. However, I see this as a big oportunity for Nintendo. Only with a condition. Total creativity control for Nintendo. Total decision making to Nintendo. If Microsoft only contributes to stablishing a good online model, providing technology partnerships, and being a BIG piggy safe, I would be okay.

HOWEVER, its microsoft we're talking about. They wouldnt just be there sitting nicely, they would try to take over all control and turn next nintendo machine into a household appliance.
--XabiB

I really hope M$ doesn't buy em though, and I really do not think it would happen.

[alegoicoe]

impossible, Nintendo already has a next gen system and now the DS, I dont think they need a merge with Microsoft, Nintendo is good the way they are right now, except the online thing, that i really dont care about.

[BigBroMario]

I think Nintendo needs an online plan, but they certainly don't need M$ to do it. What good can come out of this merger, this could potentialy ruin the way Nintendo develops games. It won't happen.

[Kaizoku_Kouji]

I agree, BBM. Nintendo have been in the game industry for over a hundred years (truthfully!). I seriously doubt they'll sell out to Microsuck.

[Link]

Read the article please, guys. It says that Nintendo is not willing to sell.

[COTTON]

Ya, of course Microsoft is willing/wants to buy Nintendo, but I seriously doubt that Nintendo will though. It'd surprise me if they did let MS own 'em.

[Rensa]

Yeah, this isn't saying anything - I wouldn't mind buying a silver car with an MP3 player in it either. But I can't. *cries*

[Cyberxion]

Hey guys, this is my first post on the forums.
I intended to post in the other thread related to this issue, but TheBigN dutifully ran it into the ground. Oh well.

At any rate, my opinion on this issue is that it would likely do more harm then good. At least as far as the die-hard Nintendo fans go.

I can't imagine that many of Nintendo's key developers wouldn't take being folded into Microsoft sitting down. They'd likely resign, leaving the impact of the purchase deflated.

Microsoft would aquire Nintendo in name only, and the spirit would dissapear along with those developers. After all, if Nintendo lost talent such as Miyamoto, Microsoft would loose much of the creative force behind Nintendo's greatest games.
And while they'd indeed still have claim to all of Nintendo's lucrative franchises, without that talent, they'd be nothing but soulless cash-in's developed by people who lack a true understanding and care for what makes the series' great.

I can't imagine the die-hard Nintendo fans standing for that, and I'd be willing to bet that many of them would simply drop out of gaming altogether, rather then being forced to stand by while thier favorite franchises are butchered.

So yeah, it'd be bad for them, and bad for the industry as well. You wouldn't have Nintendo driving creativity, and despite what some might believe, thier influence in the industry is greater then the sales of thier latest system would indicate. Even when they aren't leading in system sales, they're leading the industry in bold new directions. If they were folded into Microsoft, that leadership and creativity would dissapear.

Of course, that's a worse case scenario. For all I know the merger would go as smooth as butter, and Nintendo would be afforded bigger budgets to make thier ideas come to fruition, and we'd see an increase in the innovations they bring to gaming. So yeah, what do I know? :P

[EST323]

Look, in my opinion, the real reason the X-Box Fanboys want MS to buy Nintendo so badly is because they are desperate for some good games to play on their barren system.

You know it's true.

MS couldnt make a good game if it tried. Remember Bungie existed BEFORE MS purchased them. And IMO, Halo is one of like 6 good games on the X-Box.

LMAO @ X-Box fanboys

[Cyberxion]

Originally posted by EST323
Look, in my opinion, the real reason the X-Box Fanboys want MS to buy Nintendo so badly is because they are desperate for some good games to play on their barren system.

You know it's true.

MS couldnt make a good game if it tried. Remember Bungie existed BEFORE MS purchased them. And IMO, Halo is one of like 6 good games on the X-Box.

LMAO @ X-Box fanboys

I've just signed up an hour or so ago, and this is the third thread I've seen you spam that message with. Give it a rest, would you?

:rolleyes:

[Miggy-AMN]

Yes EST, stop it already as it is getting annoying.

[EST323]

The truth hurst doesnt it kid?

[Cyberxion]

Anyway man, I don't know what world you live on, but here on Earth, just because one says something and believes it to be truth, it doesn't suddenly become so. :P