Support NeoGAF

[jcm]

It's so weird to me that so many Nintendo fans think Nintendo will start producing shovelware if they make games on mobile. They're a really good developer and publisher. That doesn't suddenly go away if the target is a phone instead of a dedicated handheld.

I'm glad Iwata has finally come around to see the obvious step Nintendo needs to take. He had them headed in the direction to become a niche company, serving a shrinking market of fans. Their creative people deserve better than that.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Pokemon on mobile would probably help alleviate its rapidly aging (and therefore dying) fanbase.

What? Have you looked at sales of Pokemon games recently and the demographics of who buys them? The age of kids having nostalgia over Charizard and Machamp might be slowing down, but the age of nostalgia over newer Pokemon like Lucario and Greninja has just begun. Pokemon is anything but dying.

The Pokemon company rival Disney in how well they're able to manage their brand to be relevant, always.

 

[chicagocubsfan]

Oh boohoo. This is fanboyism at its worst.

Lol I'm anything but a Nintendo fanboy. Just would look weird. If this helps Nintendo make a lot of money and broaden their appeal then it's a great move for them.

 

[njean777]

While I do not care for mobile games much, I feel Nintendo will do it right.

 

[Platy]

Part of me is optimistic

Other part of me fears to the sound of the CD-i in the distance

 

[JoeM86]

What? Have you looked at sales of Pokemon games recently and the demographics of who buys them? The age of kids having nostalgia over Charizard and Machamp might be slowing down, but the age of nostalgia over newer Pokemon like Lucario and Greninja has just begun. Pokemon is anything but dying.

The Pokemon company rival Disney in how well they're able to manage their brand to be relevant, always.

Indeed. In 15 months, Pokémon games have generated around $1bn in revenue. The games are as popular as ever.

People are taking this "ORAS sold to less kids so Pokémon isn't appealing anymore" crap too far

 

[Game Guru]

As a Nintendo fan, how do I feel about Nintendo making mobile games? I suppose it had to happen sometime, but it seems like Nintendo understands that mobile is best used as a supplemental platform for promoting intellectual property and Nintendo has the biggest IPs in gaming. The fact that Nintendo clarifies that they are still making dedicated platforms with more meaty games despite making games for mobile that are designed to take advantage of the unique aspects of the platform shows their viewpoint of mobile as a platform for promoting IPs. Now, that isn't to say that Nintendo won't make good mobile games... After all, they are Nintendo who are great at making games in general and even when using stuff like DLC and microtransactions. If anyone could make a high-quality mobile game, Nintendo is certainly on the shortlist to do so. In any case, I hope Nintendo does well with their support of mobile, but I also understand that it isn't going to be drawing my interest away from their handhelds and consoles.

 

[neptunes]

Yea I guess you're right there's no precedent for it.

Let me just say I'm not really that negative about it more cautiously optimistic I genuinely hope it works out for them without replacing their core hardware business. IE it strengthens their brands and encourages sales of the dedicated platforms.

I wish people would stop referencing the CD-i, it's not even a remotely good comparison, at all.

 

[Yonafunu]

People really need to read the slides here. This is not a bad thing, and I say this as someone who didn't want Nintendo to have anything to do with mobile.

 

[entremet]

This will calm down shareholders for a bit.

 

[Avixph]

Nintendo games have been cloned since before I was born, yet Nintendo never seems to be threatened or dethroned. Probably because it's hard to replicate a Nintendo game's quality.

Hence the motivation for Nintendo to put out quality games on mobile.

But on the mobile clones do nothing but confuse potential consumers and possibly harm the brand of the original app.

 

[Basileus777]

lol at the idea this wont be on iOS. iOS is still much more lucrative in terms of revenue for games than Android (iPhone users more willing to spend money on apps than Android users). It is why to this day games still tend to come to iOS first before Android. There is no way Nintendo wouldn't release the titles on the most profitable of the two mobile platforms. So many dumb posts in this thread, its unreal. It's like this news caused fanboys to lose any grasp of reality they had.

A mobile strategy that ignores IOS, even if Japan focused, is folly. I don't think that's how this will go down.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Yea I guess you're right there's no precedent for it.

Let me just say I'm not really that negative about it more cautiously optimistic I genuinely hope it works out for them without replacing their core hardware business. IE it strengthens their brands and encourages sales of the dedicated platforms.

This isn't comparable at all to the CDi lol. The CDi was a bomb that was on its last legs. Funding was hilariously low and getting smaller and the CDi was never really built for games.

It's more comparable to Nintendo outsourcing their arcade games to Namco and Sega, unless you want to try and make an argument that mobiles are in the same situation the CDi was in when Nintendo had games made for that.

 

[Kriken]

Yes, but not in the foreseeable future. If you believe in a 3rd party Nintendo or ports of existing games on your experia you either didn´t read any of the news today, you have a dragon avatar or you are just trolling.

/dead

 

[PumpkinSpice]

Indeed. In 15 months, Pokémon games have generated around $1bn in revenue. The games are as popular as ever.

People are taking this "ORAS sold to less kids so Pokémon isn't appealing anymore" crap too far

It kinda worries me that by and large games aren't selling to kids. On PS4 or Xbox One there are hardly any games even available that are appropriate for kids.

I guess mobile games appeal to kids (because they're usually free?) but I don't think trying to hock freemium michael transactions at kids is very ethical.

 

[NeoGeoOwner]

This will calm down shareholders for a bit.

For now! But we need to see some products soon. This better not take 1 year to get going.

 

[Calamari41]

This sounds absolutely horrible, but mad props to those who called it. I absolutely couldn't see it happening, and I still don't think it's a good idea. But I want to see the company succeed, so I certainly hope that this venture makes them boatloads of cash while not causing their traditional output to suffer.

 

[marrec]

For now! But we need to see some products soon. This better not take 1 year to get going.

Well the presser does say "starting this fall" so I'm assuming we'll see something... in the fall.

 

[maquiladora]

For now! But we need to see some products soon. This better not take 1 year to get going.

Iwata said first tilte(s) should be this year.

 

[xamidoxhua]

 

[Gucci Messiah]

I guess mobile games appeal to kids (because they're usually free?) but I don't think trying to hock freemium michael transactions at kids is very ethical.

You sure are making a lot of assumptions about what Nintendo is going to do before we have even seen a game. Also, how about parents monitor what their kids plays? That seems pretty ethical to me.

 

[Gwanatu T]

Didn't realize things were this bad for Nintendo. :/

How is licensing out IPs a bad sign for a company? They are expanding in a territory they've needed to for years and actually doing it the right way. Original games designed SPECIFICALLY for mobile using Nintendo IPs is absolutely brilliant, and it doesn't take any development talent away from Nintendo either.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Please let Iwata Bane become a thing.

 

[Morfeo]

It's so weird to me that so many Nintendo fans think Nintendo will start producing shovelware if they make games on mobile. They're a really good developer and publisher. That doesn't suddenly go away if the target is a phone instead of a dedicated handheld.

I'm glad Iwata has finally come around to see the obvious step Nintendo needs to take. He had them headed in the direction to become a niche company, serving a shrinking market of fans. Their creative people deserve better than that.

The reason we believe this, is that the games Nintendo are good at making are very mechanic-driven and thus wont really play well on mobiles. They are a good developer for sure, but their options will be very limited there, basically forcing them in this direction.

 

[YuriLowell]

Oh boohoo. This is fanboyism at its worst.

Not really.

 

[PumpkinSpice]

You sure are making a lot of assumptions about what Nintendo is going to do before we have even seen a game. Also, how about parents monitor what their kids plays? That seems pretty ethical to me.

Did your parents monitor everything you did as a kid? Mine sure didn't. Most parents are busy and don't have time to micromanage everything their kids are doing.

I'm not even making assumptions about Nintendo right now, I'm talking about the current mobile landscape sans Nintendo.

 

[pinkurocket]

Nintendo fans getting upset over this are missing the bigger picture. :I

DeNA are a huge help in getting a modern account system set up. That alone should be something to get excited about. And you should know better than to assume Nintendo is going to go the cheap route that has become the norm with mobile gaming. If anyone, they are the ones that will find a balance. Nintendo are innovators, they won't follow the horde just like that.

 

[bomblord1]

I wish people would stop referencing the CD-i, it's not even a remotely good comparison, at all.

It seems like a good comparison to me. Both are partnerships with outside companies. both are about something that Nintendo was notoriously leaving out (one was CD based games now it's smartphone based games). Both have Nintendo getting new products out of it to reach a market they are behind on(one was CD add on now it's an account system) and both have the partnered company receiving license to use Nintendo IP's in return.

On the surface they are almost perfectly parallel.

Not that I actually think it's going to bomb as hard as the CD-i partnership because the way they are entering the market as well as the markets themselves are completely different but I'm staying cautious because of it.

 

[andymcc]

The reason we believe this, is that the games Nintendo are good at making are very mechanic-driven and thus wont really play well on mobiles. They are a good developer for sure, but their options will be very limited there, basically forcing them in this direction.

they are also good at crafting not so mechanically complicated games that appeal to to casuals as well.

they don't have a platform that these sorts of games flourish on any longer... now they will.

It seems like a good comparison to me. Both are partnerships with outside companies. both are about something that Nintendo was notoriously leaving out (one was CD based games now it's smartphone based games). Both have Nintendo getting new products out of it to reach a market they are behind on(one was CD add on now it's an account system) and both have the partnered company receiving license to use Nintendo IP's in return.

They are almost perfectly parallel.

the CDi has little install base and nintendo probably had little to no quality control on those games. nintendo owns a huge stake in this company, on the other hand. if there is a bad product, there will be blood.

 

[Morfeo]

Was stuff like this a success:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/knacks-quest/id727485111?mt=8

I guess this is the kind of stuff we can expect out of this right?

 

[maquiladora]

How is licensing out IPs a bad sign for a company? They are expanding in a territory they've needed to for years and actually doing it the right way. Original games designed SPECIFICALLY for mobile using Nintendo IPs is absolutely brilliant, and it doesn't take any development talent away from Nintendo either.

The press release specifically states that both Nintendo & DeNA will develop mobile games. The impression I got from the press conference answers was that DeNA will be mostly focused on the mobile infrastructure, services, backend etc. while Nintendo will focus on the game development.

 

[Hiltz]

I think this is one of the things the gaming press is going to misinterpret what Nintendo is actually going to do.

Didn't Iwata mention 1-2 years ago about Nintendo utilizing some form of non-full-fledged games and character licensing as a way to use as a marketing tool to help Nintendo 's video game business ? I like how the words "gaming application" is used instead of referring to it as a flat out mobile video game. I think its just going to be an interactive level of marketing tool software. Granted, we could still see more games like Pokemon Shuffle, but I don't think Nintendo is going to use its own developmental resources of its 1stp arty teams to do it.

 

[andymcc]

Was stuff like this a success:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/knacks-quest/id727485111?mt=8

I guess this is the kind of stuff we can expect out of this right?

probably not but it's fucking knack.

 

[Chaos17]

Nintendo going mobile for spinoffs games like Pokemon shuffle ?
I say "why not ?".

I hope they will kepp their words and not making F2P games.

 

[Tobor]

The reason we believe this, is that the games Nintendo are good at making are very mechanic-driven and thus wont really play well on mobiles. They are a good developer for sure, but their options will be very limited there, basically forcing them in this direction.

The worst argument of all. If Nintendo is as great a developer as we all think they are, then they will have no issue designing great games that take advantages of the strengths of mobile.

 

[bomblord1]

they are also good at crafting not so mechanically complicated games that appeal to to casuals as well.

they don't have a platform that these sorts of games flourish on any longer... now they will.



the CDi has little install base and nintendo probably had little to no quality control on those games. nintendo owns a huge stake in this company, on the other hand. if there is a bad product, there will be blood.

10% is a huge stake?

 

[andymcc]

10% is a huge stake?

yes.

The worst argument of all. If Nintendo is as great a developer as we all think they are, then they will have no issue designing great games that take advantages of the strengths of mobile.

i mean, they popularized touch screen play mechanics for video games lol

how is this not going to be something they're going to excel at?

 

[neptunes]

It seems like a good comparison to me. Both are partnerships with outside companies. both are about something that Nintendo was notoriously leaving out (one was CD based games now it's smartphone based games). Both have Nintendo getting new products out of it to reach a market they are behind on(one was CD add on now it's an account system) and both have the partnered company receiving license to use Nintendo IP's in return.

They are almost perfectly parallel.

The implications, scope, resources dedicated, and even time are not the same.

Not to mention the CD-I was ONE platform, this endeavor is coming to 3 (iOS/Android/PC) many of which are available to millions of consumers already.

The only thing similar is that both of them were partnerships, and both involved platforms not made from Nintendo. That's the extent of the similarities.

 

[numble]

Also, expect this shit to be Android-only. No way Nintendo teams up, even by association, with Apple or Microsoft.

A mobile strategy that ignores IOS, even if Japan focused, is folly. I don't think that's how this will go down.

 

[_Ryo_]

Since they're also talking about PC could a potential HD release of Pokken Tournament release through Steam?

That'd be... Nintendo would be buried in money, is all I'm saying.

 

[Finalow]

uh, not surprised at all.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

It seems like a good comparison to me. Both are partnerships with outside companies. both are about something that Nintendo was notoriously leaving out (one was CD based games now it's smartphone based games). Both have Nintendo getting new products out of it to reach a market they are behind on(one was CD add on now it's an account system) and both have the partnered company receiving license to use Nintendo IP's in return.

Not that I actually think it's going to bomb as hard as the CD-i partnership because the way they are entering the market as well as the markets themselves are completely different but I'm staying cautious because of it.

The CDi games were only finished because they had to be. Nintendo would have gotten out far earlier from that sinking ship had they not already gotten into a contract. Those games were horribly underfunded as well.

Unless you plan to frame this in a way that mobile is a sinking ship and owning 10% of a mobile company is underfunding, then this comparison isn't valid at all.

10% is a huge stake?

Yes

 

[Krauser Kat]

anyone who thinks this is not amazing, is too hardwired into gaming being the exact same thing it was when we grew up. Nintendo doesnt release terrible games touch or no touch. IF they want quality it will be quality. More nintendo is better nintendo.

 

[bomblord1]

yes.



i mean, they popularized touch screen play mechanics for video games lol

how is this not going to be something they're going to excel at?

I'm not a business major but I thought you had to own at least a controlling majority to have anything but a cursory say in the company. At best Nintendo should only be one of several reps on their investors board now.

 

[crazy monkey]

. AS long as i get my home console.

 

[The Giant]

Now moblie dev are gonna get the shits in trying to compete with nintendo games

 

[gigantor21]

What the hell? I wake up and see news about Nintendo formally entering the mobile space that isn't a joke?

Am I still asleep or what?

 

[JoeM86]

The reason I'm not overly happy with this is due to my feelings on mobile gaming. I just don't get it. The games seldom control well due to capacitive touch screen which is far from accurate and the games drain the battery like crazy. I need my phone to have battery but just 5 minutes on a game drains the battery 5 to 10%. It's insanity.

I'll never embrace mobile gaming until this is resolved. That's why I'm sad that my favourite developer is jumping on it. I'll seldom be able to properly play the games they provide because I need my phone not to be dead.

As long as it doesn't impact their core business on Wii U/3DS/NX, I'll be happy, though.

 

[infiniteloop]

Not looking forward to Reggie holding an iPhone in the E3 direct.

why?

The reason I'm not overly happy with this is due to my feelings on mobile gaming. I just don't get it. The games seldom control well due to capacitive touch screen which is far from accurate and the games drain the battery like crazy. I need my phone to have battery but just 5 minutes on a game drains the battery 5 to 10%. It's insanity.

I'll never embrace mobile gaming until this is resolved. That's why I'm sad that my favourite developer is jumping on it. I'll seldom be able to properly play the games they provide because I need my phone not to be dead.

How old's your phone? Also, tablets.

 

[Nintenyearold]

Hold me GAF ;_;