So Nintendo didn't reveal many interesting games at E3 to prevent idea copying?

[CM30]

Well gee, thanks Microsoft/Sony! It's because of your stupid SmartGlass/PS Vita connectivity/copying the Wii U's core gimmick that Nintendo didn't show more interesting Wii U and 3DS games at E3!

No really, look at this quote from their financial report:

However, because we are now in the era when similar proposals can be made by the others just one year after we introduced a brand-new hardware system proposal, please understand that we really can’t say much about what else we are planning.

So in other words, because Microsoft/Sony copied their past ideas, Nintendo's only going to talk about/show games coming out within the next few months/year of E3. I guess if none of this happened, we'd be hearing about Retro Studios reviving some major series, Zelda Wii U, 3D Mario, etc by now...

Are they right to be paranoid?

 

[Super Leaf]

I think it's good to keep some of their ideas secret.
Sony copies almost everything they do, from the Wii Remote to Super Smash Bros

 

[R.O.B. 2.0]

Originality, what's that?!

It's almost like copying the ideas of another company instead of creating original content for your consumers is a bad thing...

 

[Audacity]

I dunno, I think they should have faith in their ability to create an original product that can succeed on its own merits, in spite of whatever imitations may arise. If they're getting it right, they don't have much to worry about with most of it, because copying only serves to reinforce who's setting the trends and doing the real innovating.

It's been my experience that those who are most paranoid and protective about others 'stealing their ideas' are usually the ones that have a very limited amount of originality in the first place.

 

[kunino-sagiri]

I dunno, I think they should have faith in their ability to create an original product that can succeed on its own merits, in spite of whatever imitations may arise. If they're getting it right, they don't have much to worry about with most of it, because copying only serves to reinforce who's setting the trends and doing the real innovating.

It doesn't really matter how successful the original is, though. The point is how successful the imitator is. The original designers put a lot of time and money into designing something, then someone else copies it, allowing them to just piggyback on the original's R & D costs. This means the imitator has a far larger profit margin.
No matter how successful or not the original is, it is still not fair that another company is profiting from the original creator's hard work and investment.

And based on past precedents, I believe Nintendo is wholly justified in their paranoia (not that they haven't always been very secretive. This just brings it to a whole new level).

 

[Audacity]

I dunno, I think they should have faith in their ability to create an original product that can succeed on its own merits, in spite of whatever imitations may arise. If they're getting it right, they don't have much to worry about with most of it, because copying only serves to reinforce who's setting the trends and doing the real innovating.

It doesn't really matter how successful the original is, though. The point is how successful the imitator is. The original designers put a lot of time and money into designing something, then someone else copies it, allowing them to just piggyback on the original's R & D costs. This means the imitator has a far larger profit margin.
No matter how successful or not the original is, it is still not fair that another company is profiting from the original creator's hard work and investment.

So long as there's still a market for originality, and a culture of innovation, it doesn't really bother me if imitations are successful. From Nintendo's point of view, I'd be more concerned about creating new products and concepts that are actually worth imitating. It's a healthy thing and a good sign if other companies think you have something worth ripping off.

I wouldn't even waste the brain energy involved in getting outraged and indignant about the unfairness of it. It's a far bigger advantage to be the creative driving force to the point where your competitors are so preoccupied with what you're up to that they're putting more resources into that than they are in generating their own innovations.

 

[Dantheman]

Nintendo will outshine everyone in the end.