My Course of Action for Nintendo

 Connecting with Fans 

    If you have been flowing the previous blog posts, I think I have made it quite clear what my suggestion for a future plan of action for Nintendo would be. And that would be, taking more time and energy to connect with the fans, and community. 

    My reason for this is because Nintendo despite all they have done over the years to their fans, their fans are still loyal to them. Think about it, despite the forceful fan project shutdowns, event cancellations, or the copyright use, Nintendo's fanbase, their community is still willing to buy their products and support their business. That right there, says something. It says to me that it's about time for Nintendo to give back to the community that kept it alive through many hard times in the company's life, hard times as recent as less than a decade ago. 

    How can they give back to the community? By simply just supporting them and their creative and passionate endeavors. I'm talking, supporting the competitive smash scene, not taking down fan projects unless absolutely necessary, and allow people to play your games online for content without fear of a copyright strike. To be fair to Nintendo though, they have started on some of these, especially that last point, as now they only tend to strike down games that have been illegally modded, but still more can be done. For example, look at what other gaming companies have done, for example Mojang with Minecraft, or Epic Games with Fortnite. Both of these companies embraced their communities and have received tremendous growth because of it. May that be Mojang hiring modders to add more creatures into their games like horses to Minecraft, or Epic Games fully embracing the competitive e-sport community, and now holding several million-dollar Fortnite tournaments that attract several familiar and new faces to the game and brand.

    Personally, if any change were to be made right now, I would immediately call for the support of the competitive Super Smash Bros. scene. That scene has been fan funded and raised for two whole decades at this point, and many players and watchers of the game know that the potential for profit is there for both ends. Steps have been made and several e-sport organizations have reached out to create circuits in the past, most famously Red Bull, so the interest from third parties and sponsors is there. It has the potential to be a massive cash grab for both the players and Nintendo.

My thought process... 

     As I've been writing this blog, I've noticed that my suggestions for what Nintendo could do differently or how they could improve often stem from a virtue framework. I firmly believe that the responsibility lies with Nintendo as the primary actor to take positive steps towards becoming a more supportive company. This includes being more supportive towards their loyal fanbase, who have stood by them through thick and thin, as detailed throughout this blog. In my view, Nintendo embracing a virtue framework, where they gradually progress and orient themselves towards a more community-focused approach, would be the most advantageous compared to other frameworks. This approach prioritizes values like integrity, fairness, and empathy, which are crucial for fostering strong relationships with fans and ensuring the long-term success and sustainability of the company. Afterall, how much loyalty is left for some of these fans? You can only treat others poorly for so long without some sort of repercussion. Compared to other frameworks, the virtue framework is the only one that can truly bring the community and company together. If utilized properly it can be seen as character development in a way for Nintendo. A once frowned upon company who didn't care for their fans now fully supporting them. 

Another potential approach 

    I believe that Nintendo could also try and utilize a consequentialist framework, aka, a teleological approach, evaluating potential outcomes of its actions regarding copyright enforcement and community engagement. This includes assessing the impact of strict enforcement, considering factors such as legal risks, financial implications, and effects on fan engagement. However, Nintendo would also weigh the benefits of a more lenient approach, including fostering greater fan engagement and building stronger community relationships. By balancing short-term gains with long-term goals, Nintendo could strive to maximize overall utility or happiness, making decisions that prioritize the interests of fans, and shareholders. This approach would allow Nintendo to adapt its copyright enforcement practices to best serve the needs and preferences of its stakeholders, ultimately aiming to achieve the greatest net benefit for all involved parties. 

    Comparing the two offered approaches, the virtue framework prioritizes values and character development, while the consequentialist framework focuses on assessing outcomes and maximizing overall utility. The virtue ethics approach emphasizes the importance of treating fans with dignity and respect, viewing ethical behavior as an end in itself. Meanwhile, the consequentialist approach emphasizes the importance of considering the practical consequences of actions and making decisions based on their likely outcomes.

Sources Used:

THE DIRT ON NINTENDO AND COMPETITIVE SMASH (youtube.com)

Ethical Theory (uct.ac.za)