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[peanutbutterlatte]

Saying that, a Pokedex app wirelessly linked to your 3DS that you could actually just pull out would be pretty great.

iOS VC? Super Metroid with touch controls is a worse fate than death, and they can barely re release on their own systems as is. No thankyou.

 

[Codeblue]

Software is where they make the most money. It's where their greatest strength remains. Leveraging their properties on some of the biggest platforms on Earth can be a huge boon to profits if done properly.

It doesn't mean it has to be SUPER MARIO BROS. port to phones, but it can mean completely unique Mario games designed around the strengths of the iOS platform. And I can't imagine that wouldn't net a huge return for their investment.

One failure isn't a trend, they'd be crazy to give up any advantage their hardware has..

 

[SteveO1683]

Lol Nintendo can't even get their games out on the VC and people are expecting them to start releasing it on mobile?

Lol

Considering that most of their backlog can run on Android without much issue other than those pesky lawyers I don't see why this couldn't be a path to generate some quick cash for all parties.

 

[Off-Kilter]

Just leaving money on the table

 

[enzo_gt]

Took me a bit, found the thread.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=740455

When most of that hinges on the freak success that is the Wii, it's not really a reliable strategy IMO, especially with the direction they decided to go with the Wii U.

 

[Guinness]

Of course they won't. This week I have read some major BS news on generalist media, misunderstanding (on purpose?) Iwata's last talk about Nintendo on smartphones.

Companion apps are a first step in the right direction IMO. A proper Mario or Pokemon on smart devices would cannibalize the sales of the regular one on their 1st party hardware. It would be ok for a short term cash-flow, but terrible for the creativity and the mid-to-long term business.

 

[FO-totality]

A WarioWare Touched port/sequel would be smart, imo.

 

[Amir0x]

That is false, as proven by 3DS sales in Japan. Smartphones and portable consoles can coexist.

It's actually not at all false. You've clearly simply not read their latest report and do not have a true understanding about how the trends are looking everywhere. And remember, Nintendo is a global company. They cannot solely survive on Japan (even if trends weren't greatly down vs. last gen for them on handhelds, which remains true). That's part of their problem - they are not a good global company. They need to become one.

I agree a traditional platforming games wouldn't be ideal, but other franchises like Mario Party are actually pretty well suited to smartphones/tablets imo, being essentially a bunch of mini games already. They just have to make / use mini-games which are touch screen friedly, which shouldn't be hard. Do something like that, and put in game center support, maybe IAP for alternate boardsets or something, and it'd sell. Would it sell billions like Pokemon or something? Probably not... but it probably would sell more than not doing it. Would certainly appeal to younger audiences on tablets, and they wouldn't have a whole lot of competition either, it could help grow their marketshare a bit if they expand their reach more.

That's a good idea too!

Wario Ware as well would make a good option. A Chibi Robo game of some sort could be adapted well.

I think there's a lot of really fascinating options. But I do think they need to be willing to try something. At LEAST a test bed for the idea, because things are getting serious.

One failure isn't a trend, they'd be crazy to give up any advantage their hardware has..

I didn't say give it up. I said leverage their properties in a unique way for phones. Not "put Mario platformer on iOS."

I am genuinely surprised they make more money on hardware though. I thought software was the golden ticket for all the companies. Goes to show the type of profit margins that have traditionally driven Nintendo's consoles, though, unlike Sony's and Microsofts.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Just leaving money on the table

Sometimes dignity is part of the equation too, even in business.

 

[scitek]

Nintendo sort of kicked it off the the DS.

I'm talking about virtual controllers on touchscreens.

I don't think that Nintendo would benefit from releasing a controller for phones, either. I think they could possibly take the Wii U's GamePad idea even farther in the future and sell a tablet that features their first-party software. It could plug into TVs and also be completely portable, depending on whatever situation you're in. The only question would be are their IP strong enough to sell such a device to people?

 

[Osiris]

Still makes up like 80% (very rough guess) of the Japanese games industry, and still very profitable.

You ever hear of the warning given to executives the world over in "Successful Business 101" that states the one thing a business that seeks growth needs to avoid is "increasing it's marketshare in a decreasing market"?

That way pain and suffering lies.

 

[Principate]

When most of that hinges on the freak success that is the Wii, it's not really a reliable strategy IMO, especially with the direction they decided to go with the Wii U.

If the remove the wii u make a relatively cheap handheld with reasonable price software ($20), it would be far less risky and more profitable (at least short term) than going mobile.

 

[lupinko]

Mario doesn't make sense. But Pokemon....

I got back into Pokemon with XY after not playing since RBY, and I'm going to say no to that, also with Nintendo's catalog in general.

 

[-Eddman-]

I think Pokemon is the best franchise to start some kind of presence in the mobile market without releasing actual games.

Nintendo needs a Pokedex app with all the moves, sprites, animations, etc. Then you could have something to arrange your virtual pokemon bank boxes via phone, or trading without your 3DS.

That way you could charge for something useful that will promote your own hardware and software.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

Considering that most of their backlog can run on Android without much issue other than those pesky lawyers I don't see why this couldn't be a path to generate some quick cash for all parties.

Lol as if it's as simple as "pesky lawyers". Nintendo aren't happy with "Pretty good emulation" either, to be fair to them.

 

[TunaLover]

If they release even spin-off of the main games on other platforms, they will need reallocate development resources, I mean like many has said, the VC service is already bare bones, I wouldn't image it worse than it is, spreeding development resource to another platforms will only cause the game output for their own platforms to be worse.

 

[kick51]

they could at least have pseudo-game advertisement apps like a pokedex or Zelda timeline app.

 

[BibiMaghoo]

I don't see how putting Nintendo games on mobile wouldn't canabalize their handheld software and hardware sales.

By doing it the same way everyone else does.

1) Back catalogue games
2) Non-console games using console IP
3) Price like Square-Enix
4) Money shaped swimming pools, full of money, being rained on by money 24/7
5) Repeat.

This does not endanger their core business, and brings them in plenty of cash. The sale of software using their IP's is a no brainer, that can be utterly separate from their console business.

 

[Principate]

You ever hear of the warning given to executives the world over in "Successful Business 101" that states the one thing a business that seeks growth needs to avoid is "increasing it's marketshare in a decreasing market"?

That way pain and suffering lies.

3DS is also they're most expensive hardware and software.

There's still a lot of improvement in the format.

Just because pc's are shrinking in market share doesn't mean Microsoft should ditch pc's.

 

[SmokyDave]

Still makes up like 80% (very rough guess) of the Japanese games industry, and still very profitable.

80% including smartphones? I sincerely doubt that, given that the smartphone market is larger than the dedicated market in terms of revenue.

Very profitable? I doubt that too, given the state of their finances. Sure, it might all be the fault of the Wii U, but I'm not entirely convinced that's the case.

 

[ASIS]

3DS sales in Japan prove that the handheld market is shrinking, not the opposite. It was down YoY last year too, even with all the software they chucked at it.

This isn't only due to smartphones though. The competition increased, but Nintendo dropped the ball on a lot of key elements as well with the 3DS, most notably battery life and price point. So yeah, even though smartphones are having an impact. The performance of the 3DS is also a mistake on Nintendo's behalf.

 

[Somnid]

If they did then it'd pretty much have to be a endless runner/jumper. And then the question is why not just keep it 3DS exclusive and push your own hardware.

 

[Principate]

80% including smartphones? I sincerely doubt that, given that the smartphone market is larger than the dedicated market in terms of revenue.

Very profitable? I doubt that too, given the state of their finances. Sure, it might all be the fault of the Wii U, but I'm not entirely convinced that's the case.

Pretty sure Nintendo invested a lot of money (for whatever reason) is a large cause of their finances.

 

[Silvawuff]

I think Nintendo would be smart to use mobile platforms as a marketing tool for hardware purchases. Pokémon on mobile devices would be huge. There are so many ways for them to do this right without sacrificing the integrity of their consoles or hardware.

I think if they can get over their binary business thinking, they could become an amazing company again and offer gamers lots of options to throw money at them.

 

[LiveFromKyoto]

#1 selling against what? The two new consoles which have been out for two months, the dead vita and the 8 year old consoles?

The 3DS is moving less hardware and software than the DS did and has had its projections slashed every year. The mobile market is booming while the handheld market is shrinking.

This is kind of a meaningless criticism because everything in the history of gaming has sold less than the DS. And considering the insane sales of those consoles that have only "been out for two months" the fact that the 3DS still beat them shows that it's an incredibly robust business. Make no mistake, that thing is making money hand over fist.

Does the mobile games market exist? Yes. Does it get a piece of the pie? Yes. Does it mean that dedicated gaming portables have no place or are dead/dying? Obviously not.

 

[kizmah]

I've siad this in the other threads of doom but approriately priced Animal Crossing on mobile/tablet would sell (and work) like crazy.

 

[Village]

When most of that hinges on the freak success that is the Wii, it's not really a reliable strategy IMO, especially with the direction they decided to go with the Wii U.

I don't the wii was that much of a freak success.
I think that has more to do with 3 things

1) the wii had a hell of a lot less games in its ending period. If they would have kept up more support and convinced people to not turn in their console, maybe more people would be actively thinking about nintendo . Also more 3rd parties

2) Marketing /name, wasn't very good, wasn't a lot of it at first. And they named the console as if it was an add on to the first one

3) Not having any games when 1 and 2 are active things, isn't very good for sales.

Maybe if they wold have actually kept up 3rd party support, and got people to keep their consoles and to have nintendo stll in their had. Marketed it better and had a less dumb name, maybe. They could spun the wii success into the wii 2. BUT they didn't do any of those things and here we are. I don't think the wii u was freak success i think it could be replicated. But due to poor foresight and good ol' fashioned nintendo hubris. Replicating that if at all now, is going very very hard. When they could have just spin wii success into wii u success. Or wii 2 if they knew how to name consoles better.

 

[Off-Kilter]

Sometimes dignity is part of the equation too, even in business.

And sometimes you will need to swallow your pride and adopt new strategies when your company is in the red.

 

[peanutbutterlatte]

I've siad this in the other threads of doom but approriately priced Animal Crossing on mobile/tablet would sell (and work) like crazy.

And it won't happen. So.

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

Why Iwata? Why does the selling of mobile games software, have to be directly related to selling Nintendo hardware?

Do you not realise that you can do both, as separate business entities? That you can keep your Nintendo hardware and software business, but also sell software on mobile devices?

Whatswrongwithyou.gif.

Can you seriously not see what the issue is? People by nintendo hardware for nintendo games. They go together. If those IPs are elsewhere, it lowers the value proposition of their hardware.

They makes games as good as they do because the revenue from hardware allows them to. Giving up 30% of their revenue of games to apple and Google that they are now forced to sell for 10 bucks or less because of the app store market is not an immediately no duh solution.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

And sometimes you will need to swallow your pride and adopt new strategies when your company is in the red.

Decent chance they will, just not in this grotesque way.

 

[Amir0x]

This is kind of a meaningless criticism because everything in the history of gaming has sold less than the DS. And considering the insane sales of those consoles that have only "been out for two months" the fact that the 3DS still beat them shows that it's an incredibly robust business. Make no mistake, that thing is making money hand over fist.

Does the mobile games market exist? Yes. Does it get a piece of the pie? Yes. Does it mean that dedicated gaming portables have no place or are dead/dying? Obviously not.

I am not sure what you're trying to establish. The seriously negative trends for gaming dedicated handheld hardware are real, and even Nintendo acknowledges the difficulties now. Do you really think their next handheld hardware is not going to see yet further reduction in the dedicated gaming handheld hardware sector? What do you think is going to change these trends?

I am perfectly willing to be convinced, but i don't think anybody has made a compelling argument as to HOW they will change the trajectory otherwise. What gimmick can they make on their next handheld to momentarily stop this downward bleeding trend?

 

[Nibiru]

Just leaving money on the table

Hardly. Not only would they have to sell it for like 99c to compete but it would also tax sales on and of the 3ds. Not only that but overlay controls on phones are terrible and would especially suck and frustrate in a Mario game.

 

[Exterminieren]

I've siad this in the other threads of doom but approriately priced Animal Crossing on mobile/tablet would sell (and work) like crazy.

Crazy enough to make up for the fact that it's sold upwards of 6 million for $40 a pop on 3DS, with no license fees?

 

[SuicidalSteve]

tablets then

 

[Shard]

This news does not surprise me at all, not just for business reasons but there philosophical reasons Nintendo would be dragged onto mobile or third-party kicking and screaming. It isn't just about the money for Nintendo, this is about power, pride and control. Nintendo has been in it own driver seat and the center of its own ecosystem and they do not want to give that up ever.

 

[dream]

Sometimes dignity is part of the equation too, even in business.

There's no dignity in clinging to a business model that has rendered the company a laughing stock for consumers, investors, analysts, and popular media though.

I know people don't like the BlackBerry parallels, but man...

 

[perfectchaos007]

I get the impression Nintendo would rather fold than sell their franchises or allow them to be on a non-Nintendo platform. Who knows for sure...

I guess we did have Mario typing on PC. Thats all I can think of.

 

[Kouriozan]

Anyone expecting legacy games and franchises from Nintendo on smart phones is delusional.

True.
They want to protect their IP, even Next Level Games had todo list like "Luigi can't jump" and "Toad must be happy when he see Luigi" while making Luigi's Mansion 2.

 

[Sneds]

This is cyclical. Every 4-5 years the same people spout the same shit about Nintendo. What's interesting is they don't age. They grow up and their place taken by younger fans who grew up buying xbox and playstation because it was cooler during their teen days.

I grew up on Pokemon and Link's Awakening yet I can see that Nintendo need to adapt or die.

 

[axisofweevils]

I'm surprised people are shocked by this. Reggie said as much in December.

 

[Immaculate]

Yeah. The 3DS has peaked as well. It will sell less in 2014. Nintendo are in for the worst year ever unless they do some serious changes in 2014.

how would you know this? do you have Nintendo's release schedule plans for the coming years?

 

[H_Prestige]

This is kind of a meaningless criticism because everything in the history of gaming has sold less than the DS. And considering the insane sales of those consoles that have only "been out for two months" the fact that the 3DS still beat them shows that it's an incredibly robust business. Make no mistake, that thing is making money hand over fist.

Does the mobile games market exist? Yes. Does it get a piece of the pie? Yes. Does it mean that dedicated gaming portables have no place or are dead/dying? Obviously not.

It's making so much money that Nintendo just posted a $300 million loss.

 

[MonkeyMan29]

Fixed it for you.



Belong on a Nintendo handheld, I am not having Pokémon going on a crappy smartphone.

Crappy smartphone? Hardware that easily trumps the 3DS, two if not three times in cpu/gpu? Not for even counting RAM, screen resolution and screen size.

Sure. Crappy.

 

[Version 3.0]

Good. It would be a terrible move from every standpoint. Anyone who thinks it would help doesn't know what they're talking about, and the obsession with this topic is the most annoying and ignorant topic in videogame business these days. It'd be a short-term stock price hike, followed by a long-term collapse of their brand and income.

And the games would suffer, of course, not that anyone involved in this nonsense cares (probably not even Iwata).

It may not be clear what Nintendo should do, but it's very clear what they should not do, and this is it. They'd be better off doing nothing and just living off their fat until they go under in 20 years.

 

[Principate]

A sub $99 console starting price $10-20 games, Is what I believe Nintendo should do. Paid apps still do better on handhelds outside of a few exceptions (more risky), but still the case they should leverage this fact, make it easily portable from smartphones, and selling as a premium shartphone software machine

f2p is in many ways a lottery, and the reliability of the profitability is iffy at best plus it completely devalues your brand outside a few rare exceptions.

 

[onipex]

Nintendo always repeat these things.

It’s a topic that comes up all the time. It’s a debate that’s constantly had. We recognize that there are a lot of smartphones and tablets out there, and so what we’re doing is we’re being very smart in how we use these devices as marketing tools for our content.
We’re also doing a lot of experimentation of what I would call the little experiences you can have on your smartphone and tablet that will drive you back to your Nintendo hardware. It’s largely going to be much more marketing activity-oriented, but we’ve done little things where there’s some element of gameplay – a movement, a shaking, something like that.
We believe our games are best played and best enjoyed on our devices, and so the full game play will only be on Nintendo devices.

Nintendo has used the word experience to describe Mii games like in Nintendoland or something like face raiders in the past. Some of their mini game ideas would be good for mobile and I doubt a Mii maker and Mii games would be that harmful.

 

[McLovin]

They dont have to put Mario on smartphones. How about making a new ip and establishing game mechanics that work well on mobile. Nintendo has amazing talent. If they could make Mario Galaxy on what (lets be real here) was pretty much a GameCube, then just imagine what they could fo on an iPhone or Android. If it sells well then they can think about Mario.

 

[jelmerjt]

Mario doesn't make sense. But Pokemon....

Yup. Pokemon on iOS = $$$

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/...-rises-to-no-3-position-on-itunes-app-charts/

 

[Minsc]

I've siad this in the other threads of doom but approriately priced Animal Crossing on mobile/tablet would sell (and work) like crazy.

Castaway Paradise is looking better and better. It won't have the Animal Crossing name behind it, but it sure does seem to have everything else (and more, that map screenshot looks great)... of course the name is probably the most important part, if it were actually Animal Crossing it'd have the 5 million+ audience watching it, where this one is probably lucky to get 50,000, unless things all line up perfectly.