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Revolution Paradigm Shift (TM) Update featuring S. Iwata

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Rhindle

Member
Japan's Nintendo to launch online game service for portable game platform

06.07.2005, 04:37 AM

TOKYO (AFX) - Nintendo Co Ltd said it will launch before the end of this year a full online game service for its Nintendo DS portable game consoles, as it seeks to maintain its competitive edge over Sony Corp.

Relatively few people who buy online game titles actually play online, so Nintendo said it will set up some 1,000 access points to allow Nintendo DS users to access its online service for free.

In addition, the world's largest maker of portable game consoles, said it will not levy any fixed charges for playing its online games.

'With these measures, we aim to get more than 90 pct of the people who buy online game titles actually playing online,' Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told a press conference.

Nintendo will make two online game titles available before the end of this year for the forthcoming launch of its online service.

'We have also received support from 25 software makers for our new service,' Iwata said.

Nintendo launched late last year its Nintendo DS portable game console and it had achieved accumulated sales of 52.7 mln units by the end of March. The company sold 10.49 mln units of game software for Nintendo DS in the year to March.

Its arch rival, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, the game unit of Sony Corp, has broken into the portable game market, which had long been dominated by Nintendo, by launching PlayStation Portable (PSP) consoles last December.

Sony Computer had shipped 2.97 mln PSP units by the end of March, and 5.70 mln units of game software for PSP.

But Sony Computer Entertainment has yet to come up with any firm plans for an online service.

Iwata said his firm also plans to launch worldwide a miniature version of its Gameboy portable game consoles, dubbed Gameboy Micro, in the autumn here.

Iwata said that before the end of this year his company will announce details, including the launch date, of Revolution, its next-generation home-use, stand-alone game console.

Nintendo has recently been struggling in the stand-alone game segment, where it faces stiffer competition from the PlayStation 2 of Sony Computer Entertainment and the Xbox of Micrsoft Corp.

But Iwata was confident about regaining share in the stand-alone market.

'The old formula for success -- the combination of high-specification game consoles and advanced graphics -- is no longer working,' Iwata said.

'And with the launch of Revolution, we will make a major paradigm shift in the game industry,' he said.
 
Hm, only two online Nintendo games by the end of 2005 then... Mario Kart and Animal Crossing... So definitely no online in Famicom Wars DS. For shame. :/
 
Hmmm... imagine a library of every multiplayer game ever created for nintendo consoles, on DS, online, one DS = one controller port. It could be done. :)
 
Drexon said:
Hmmm... imagine a library of every multiplayer game ever created for nintendo consoles, on DS, online, one DS = one controller port. It could be done. :)
Click to expand...

DS = Revolution's controller.
 
I see more of the same info. I sure hope that these 1000 access points doesn't mean you can only get online using a nintendo brand connector of some sort.

If you do, it better be USB so I can use it at school or something.
 
yeah, there haven't even been 52 million sofware sales...

also, 10 million software sales for March doesn't make sense, they don't even have a million seller in any terriritry LTD...
 
Spencerr said:
I see more of the same info. I sure hope that these 1000 access points doesn't mean you can only get online using a nintendo brand connector of some sort.

If you do, it better be USB so I can use it at school or something.
Click to expand...
Ummmm.... It's Wifi? So no connector?
 
Nintendo does a Sony

“We have shipped 52.7million consoles, although only 5.27million are in circulation, the rest are hiding for you to find like a big easter egg hunt”
 
as much as I'd love to play online multiplayer versions of old SNES and N64 games.....its hardly a revolution is it?

oh, and

'The old formula for success -- the combination of high-specification game consoles and advanced graphics -- is no longer working for us ,' Iwata said.
Click to expand...

fixed
 
They said it about the DS and its worked.
So why not the home console.
If they can sell to the non gamer, surely Nintendo win
 
ThongyDonk said:
They said it about the DS and its worked.
So why not the home console.
If they can sell to the non gamer, surely Nintendo win
Click to expand...

It didn't work because it was something different, it worked because they fucking own the market.

as much as I'd love to play online multiplayer versions of old SNES and N64 games.....its hardly a revolution is it?
Click to expand...

Was that actually confirmed?
 
Its attracting new non gamers so I’m afraid it is working.
People are buying the DS with a non game for the first time, and a LARGE percentage of ladies are buying it. Indutries change from time to time, it just takes someone to start it
 
ThongyDonk said:
Its attracting new non gamers so I’m afraid it is working.
People are buying the DS with a non game for the first time, and a LARGE percentage of ladies are buying it. Indutries change from time to time, it just takes someone to start it
Click to expand...

The only somewhat successful way to find out if it's attracting nongamers is to hold a survey asking all DS owners who never owned a handheld before, and who never owned a video game system before, with a list of why for both.
 
Rhindle said:
Nintendo launched late last year its Nintendo DS portable game console and it had achieved accumulated sales of 52.7 mln units by the end of March. The company sold 10.49 mln units of game software for Nintendo DS in the year to March.
Click to expand...

Sony Computer had shipped 2.97 mln PSP units by the end of March, and 5.70 mln units of game software for PSP.
Click to expand...

Nintendo DS outsells PSP by a factor of nearly 18! 5 times as many DS units sold as software! Nintendo DS ahead of Xbox worldwide! You heard it first at Forbes PR.
 
Nintendo said it will set up some 1,000 access points to allow Nintendo DS users to access its online service for free.
Click to expand...
I wonder if one will be in my town. With over 100k people and 4 colleges we should get one, but you never know. If there is one it'll probably be the place to hang out if you have a DS, otherwise it's my home WiFi or the local Panera.
 
Hyoushi said:
Hm, only two online Nintendo games by the end of 2005 then... Mario Kart and Animal Crossing... So definitely no online in Famicom Wars DS. For shame. :/
Click to expand...

Yeah, that really does stink. I remembered them saying around GDC that almost any wireless multiplayer DS game could be pretty easily converted to an online game, but then even the Metroid Prime: Hunters people recently said that they'd have to rebuild a lot of the game to take advantage of the online.

Jump Super Stars, Advance Wars DS, several promising titles with online-friendly multiplayer that Nintendo's blatantly saying, "Nope, you already know which two are going to have it for the year. Sorry!"

But if it's so much extra work to add, is it true that there's going to be an online mode for the US version of DS Bomberman, like I read in another thread, and if so, how are _they_ doing the conversion so quickly and easily when the Japanese version didn't have it?

Very confusing.
 
AniHawk said:
The only somewhat successful way to find out if it's attracting nongamers is to hold a survey asking all DS owners who never owned a handheld before, and who never owned a video game system before, with a list of why for both.
Click to expand...
According to Nintendo, 40% of all people who bought Nintendogs in Japan are ladies... :)
 
Rolling out 1000 access points seems like a fairly inexpensive way of both advertising the network and extending its reach. If they pick the right locations, even if the overall cost of each access point (including installation, advertising, splitting a of Net access fees with location owner) is $1000, it could be quite a bargain.
 
'The old formula for success -- the combination of high-specification game consoles and advanced graphics -- is no longer working,' Iwata said. 'And with the launch of Revolution, we will make a major paradigm shift in the game industry,'
Click to expand...
Strong words. You can tell PIMPHAND has taught him, but he still hasn't yet learned to audaciously mock the competetors.
 
Iwata is repeating the same old PR phrases for nearly two years now.

The old formula for success blablabla... is no longer working blablabla.... And with the launch of Revolution, we will make a major paradigm shift in the game industry blablabla...

I can't stand it any longer. Show the damn Revolution please and stop talking about paradigm shift and the old formula :-(
 
The old formula for success -- the combination of catering to consumer demands and following industry trends -- is no longer working,' Iwata said. 'And with the launch of Revolution, we will make a major paradigm shift in the game industry by making whatever the fuck we want and the gamers will like it,
Click to expand...
.
 
solarplexus said:
I can't stand it any longer. Show the damn Revolution please and stop talking about paradigm shift and the old formula :-(
Click to expand...
they showed the revolution at this year's E3. did you miss it?
 
S. Iwata said:
The old formula for success -- the combination of high-specification game consoles and advanced graphics -- is no longer working,' Iwata said.
Click to expand...

Thast's why they have features like Media Center control, Blu Ray DVD playback, robust online support... Who the fuck does he think he is kidding?
 
In addition, the world's largest maker of portable game consoles, said it will not levy any fixed charges for playing its online games.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping stuff like this will kill off the subscription based model of a certain other console maker.
 
Rhindle said:
*snip*

'The old formula for success -- the combination of high-specification game consoles and advanced graphics -- is no longer working for Nintendo,' Iwata said.
Click to expand...

He forgot that part. I think Ken-san would have some PS2 numbers to toss Iwata's way upon request.

*edit* damn mrclaw!
 
GhaleonEB said:
He forgot that part. I think Ken-san would have some PS2 numbers to toss Iwata's way upon request.
Click to expand...

PS2 has all the big titles so it'll obviously sell.
the console with THE games on will sell.
See DS Vs PSP console with the games sells
 
I will give Iwata a chance to prove what he is babbling about. But if the Rev is a failure, then he is done.
 
ThongyDonk said:
PS2 has all the big titles so it'll obviously sell.
the console with THE games on will sell.
See DS Vs PSP console with the games sells
Click to expand...

Exactly. So the model works as long as you have the software to back it up. Gimicks alone won't do it.
 
GhaleonEB said:
Exactly. So the model works as long as you have the software to back it up. Gimicks alone won't do it.
Click to expand...

yes so it has nothing to do with the Blu_ray/DVD etc. It is who gets the games people want. Which i suppose helps having attractive hardware!!
so i'll shut up, but its software that sells.
But it has to come early as possible not frigin last year on sale Nintendo (Zelda)
 
shantyman said:
Thast's why they have features like Media Center control, Blu Ray DVD playback, robust online support... Who the fuck does he think he is kidding?
Click to expand...
Couldn't say it any better. His attitude is hardly surprising, though. At the beginning of this year, Iwata was still saying that "customers do not want online games" just to pull a 180° with the DS online strategy. His stance about industry trends cannot longer be trusted.
 
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