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[Bishman]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3136826

With Nintendo's new DS handheld now on the market in North America, the company can turn its full attention to the hardware's upcoming Japanese release, set for December 2. Speaking to Nikkei Net, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently outlined some of the company's expectations for the new handheld's first month in Japan, as well as its plans for the coming year.
Iwata echoed reports of higher-than-expected orders for the DS in Japan, saying that retailers have placed orders for more than two million units of hardware. By expanding production to a third facility in China, Iwata said, Nintendo will be able to ship "a little more than one million units" by the end of December.

He avoided commenting directly on the imminent arrival of competition from Sony, however. "Since I haven't seen a real PSP, I can't say anything at all. Put simply, the intention of this company is not to fight over dividing up a limited market. It's time to expand the market with new ideas," Iwata said. He pointed to Nintendo's television advertising campaign for the DS in Japan, which attempted to create a feeling of newness and mystery surrounding the hardware, and was then balanced by the Touch!DS event campaign, which let the public get its hands on the DS and become familiar with it before committing to a purchase.

Asked about the possibility that the DS may cannibalize some of the market for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance SP handheld, Iwata pointed out that with recent price drops in North America, the SP is now nearly half the price of the DS. That's a comfortable margin for the SP to keep selling, he said.

Nikkei also had a brief comment from former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi, now a senior advisor to the company, regarding its recently-announced interest in expanding into the animation business in 2005. "If we can combine game software and animated movies, the creation of a new entertainment market is possible, which we think will contribute to Nintendo's continued growth," Yamauchi said.

Yamauchi added that the two screens and other hardware features of the DS were conceived with such a fusion in mind. Nintendo's already planning some crossover marketing between its movie spinoffs and the new handheld -- some theaters will beam data to players' copies of Pokemon Dash for the DS during next spring's new Pokemon animated movie -- but that may just be the tip of the cross-promotion iceberg.

 

[Redbeard]

It launched first in the US?

 

[Beezy]

It launched first in the US?

Please say that was sarcasm...

 

[Memles]

Please note: I serously doubt the Pokemon film will see a theatrical release in North America, so that will end up a Japanese thing.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

beaming shit to peoples DS' during the movie is a pretty crazy idea.

 

[Redbeard]

Please say that was sarcasm...

Err... no. I assumed it was already out in Japan.

 

[Mrbob]

Err... no. I assumed it was already out in Japan.

It launched in NA first so that Nintendo could take advantage of Black Friday.

 

[Mejilan]

US was the first territory to receive the NDS.

 

[Beezy]

Err... no. I assumed it was already out in Japan.

Sorry, I thought everyone who knew about DS knew that it was released in the U.S. first...

 

[GG-Duo]

i like the Touch DS campaign

along with the Made in Wario stuff, Nintendo has been on a roll lately

 

[Jonnyram]

Damn, so buying a movie ticket is no longer enough to open up pokemon goodies, I have to go watch the damned film now!? Bastards.

 

[snapty00]

Nintendo really needs to start a new company line or something. I could've predicted every statement Iwata made. :\ Hell, what Yamauchi said was far more interesting.

 

[cvxfreak]

Damn, so buying a movie ticket is no longer enough to open up pokemon goodies, I have to go watch the damned film now!? Bastards.

C'mon! With Jr. around it's not so bad.

 

[lexi]

Nintendo really needs to start a new company line or something. I could've predicted every statement Iwata made. :\ Hell, what Yamauchi said was far more interesting.

The chances are good that if Yamauchi still holds enough influence, there will be a spin-off company with a board, etc. devoted to animation.

 

[human5892]

Nintendo really needs to start a new company line or something. I could've predicted every statement Iwata made. :\ Hell, what Yamauchi said was far more interesting.

I don't have too much of a problem with Iwata, but I agree with you about Yamauchi's statements. I would love to hear him expand on that.

 

[cvxfreak]

Nintendo formed the Pokemon Company, so a separate company for animation sounds probable.

 

[DrGAKMAN]

I think one of the more interesting Nintendo DS games is that Gundam game where the story is unravling in animation on one screen while the other screen is for gameplay. To me, it sounds entertaining and emmersive. I think Nintendo & Bandai are going to get closer with even a possible absorbtion. Mr. Iwata has talked about how if Nintendo "buys" another company then it means little if that company's talent leaves. With Bandai (nothing against the developers there, but) it's different 'cos their interest in them isn't about talent, but more about content. Not only that, but Bandai also has their hand in animation and toys making the pairing even more attractive.

Nintendo needs to find more avenues for profit just in case, GBA is a freaking cash cow and so is PokeMon, but they can't count on that forever and I think it's wise they're looking to expand...Nintendo DS is *already* profitable not just 'cos of software royalties, but 'cos the system itself isn't being sold at a loss. With going into animation they also give the impression that they're not so small next to the "big boys" as they do more than games too...not only that it get's the Nintendo BRAND out there as well...which is good.

CGI Mario
Don Bluth Zelda
Anime Metroid