Rumor: Nintendo tried to buy the rights to Harry Potter

[XtremelyBaneful]

When the company heard the Potter license was for sale, Nintendo reportedly halted development on Ridge Racer 64, Bionic Commando, and Crystalis to quickly prototype Potter games for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and GameCube

Other companies bidding for the IP included Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros, with WB obtaining the rights in the end. Unseen64's source said Rowling turned down Nintendo in favor of its competitors because they were able to cover TV and film, as well as gaming. IGN Logo

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02...ames?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook

 

[Matt Mortem]

Meh. Not a huge loss on Nintendo's part.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Er, not getting the rights for one of the hugest and most profitable new franchises in the 21st century is kind of a big loss. Potter-mania was as big as something can get, having exclusive rights to the franchise for your game systems could've been huge. Especially if they could've gotten the rights for as cheap as WB (1 million pounds!? That's, I think, like less than 3 million American dollars, that was a steal for the amount of money they've probably made on video games alone).

Of course, I understand why Rowling didn't sell, if they were apparently wanting the entire franchise rights. Selling to a company that has fingers in a variety of medias is a much smarter move. Considering her views on comics, I'm kind of surprised she was even entertaining an offer from an exclusively video game centric company.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

If anyone could crack the MMO potential of Harry Potter, they will make billions.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Nintendo would have just made games about Harry Potter. They wouldn't have gotten in on all that movie money.

 

[Tron Bonne]

Yeah, but the video games were really successful too, they could've made a very successful franchise out that. I'm sure they probably would've been able to be more creative with it, too, then just doing straight adaptations of the films. That could've legitimately been a system seller really. Potter-mania was legit.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Yeah. As you guys have said, Potter was better off without Nintendo.