After watching Nintendo’s success as of late I came to a realization; Nintendo is becoming the new Apple. Ten reasons why I think so after the jump.

1. Both companies biggest competitor is Microsoft
2. Each of them had been a much bigger player and innovator in their space only to languish into insignificance, and are now stronger then ever
3. They have a reputation for must-have gadgets that are as much coveted for their tech chic as their technology (iPhone/iPod and the Nintendo DS Lite)

   

4. Both companies focus on a lot on first–party accessories for their products
5. They each have a history of developing a platform where only first-party products do very well
6. They will launch competing products to major partners products (Apeture/Final Cut Pro/Shake vs Adobe, iWork vs MS Office, Wii Music vs Guitar Hero/Rock Band)
7. Both will keep partners in the dark on upcoming changes to key products until the general public finds out (Wii Motion Plus, No Carbon for Adobe #4)
8. Both stocks are trading at stratospheric levels (>300% increase over 3-years)
9. Both will sell you a product (iPhone 1.0, Wii, DS) and then sell you another product that rectifies the glaring shortcomings of the first one and act like it is innovation (iPhone 3G, Wii MotionPlus, DS Lite)
10. And the most important aspect of all, both CEOs like turtle necks (apparently)