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Nikkei says Nintendo about to unveil its approach to mobile development [Update]

Developing real games for ios even minigames will kill the 3ds in the west unless they create a new brand but then what's the point. I feel like a spectacular failure is incoming. The demo idea is a terrible one as well.
 
I think you are using that more as a excuse for their inability to listen to their audience and the market than arguing it as a logical fallacy. The Wii was already in a kind of bad position when they revealed the WiiU. Investors were already calling for them to consider the mobile market and many people here said that the WiiU looked unapealling even when they liked the WiiU.

Many of Nintendo problems are structural ones that they had since the N64/GC era and they refuse to address in a significant way.
Yeah the wii was. But again, development on the Wii U had started many years earlier. By that point they had probably invested considerably high amounts of time and money on the wii u, to the point where it would've been worse to scrap it entirely even if they knew it wouldn't do too well. Not to mention that the investor pressure meant they wouldn't have time to make an alternative even if scrapping it was viable
 

rpmurphy

Member
Developing real games for ios even minigames will kill the 3ds in the west unless they create a ne w brand but then what's yhe point. I feel like a spectacular failure is incoming
"You have to sacrifice a healthy product in order to save a bad one," said no businessman, ever.
 

Riki

Member
Demos will likely not be playable demos. In depth trailers maybe. But not playable.
And the minigames will likely be unrelated.
 

Alebrije

Member
I think is a wise movement since most of its core users are kids that in this moment are playing on mobile devices games like Minecraft , Angry Birds , Plants Vs Zombies and even that Cookie smasher game. But I do not think they will deliver just demos or short experiences since a full Mario 64 port can be done easily for tables.

Introducing its game line to mobile market will bring those kids or users in general to their hardware businness ( WiiU / 3ds / 2ds)
 

KoopaTheCasual

Junior Member
Question: Why is everyone assuming this must be the entirety of Nintendo's new business strategy going forward as opposed to a small part htat is getting attention because of the whole mobile obsession?
You expect GAF to not overreact? You must be new here.

Yea, this will be a small portion of their business, and until Iwata, Miyamoto, and the entire upper management of Nintendo is replaced, it will stay small. I think this could potentially be a good thing. Feeding minigames to the enormous smart phone market will help keep Nintendo and their IPs relevant and household names, without sacrificing too many resources. This will simultaneously keep investors placated. We've said time and time again that Nintendo's problem is their inability to appeal to the youth of today, and how most of their current audience grew up with Nintendo and feel bound to them. Today, Nintendo is failing to raise more of these generations, with competition from the likes of Minecraft (and Angry Birds, etc.). Measures like these seem smart, if they are dead set on appealing to children.

I also think they should seriously approach Disney about getting Nintendo themed parks in Disneyland, to keep their major mascots relevant to children.
 

Gannd

Banned
Probably in better position than the WiiU. Specially since casuals (as Smartphones players) are not their intended core market.

We're not talking about the Wii U. 160 million core gamers didn't buy the Xbox 360 and PS3. If the Xbox One and PS4 sell over 90 million in 5 years that will be a big success. That's 90 million combined BTW.
 
I think is a wise movement since most of its core users are kids that in this moment are playing on mobile devices games like Minecraft , Angry Birds , Plants Vs Zombies and even that Cookie smasher game. But I do not think they will deliver just demos or short experiences since a full Mario 64 port can be done easily for tables.

Introducing its game line to mobile market will bring those kids or users in general to their hardware businness ( WiiU / 3ds / 2ds)

It most certainly won't. People need to realize that people are satisfied with mobile and are not dying to blow hundreds on a dedicated system
 
Yeah the wii was. But again, development on the Wii U had started many years earlier. By that point they had probably invested considerably high amounts of time and money on the wii u, to the point where it would've been worse to scrap it entirely even if they knew it wouldn't do too well. Not to mention that the investor pressure meant they wouldn't have time to make an alternative even if scrapping it was viable

Again, that sounds like apologism to me. They could have change somethings as audience reactions were not exactly the best. or "overwhelming positive" as Iwata tried to mention one time.
 
All they need on mobile is Miiverse and eshop.

Demos seem like the wrong way to go. Let people play a demo of something they can't get on that device? That sounds very backwards and confusing, which is why I can see them doing it. Even then, I don't think this is what they were talking about. They'll probably release some minigames if anything.
 
I also think they should seriously approach Disney about getting Nintendo themed parks in Disneyland, to keep their major mascots relevant to children.
I think that would require Disney acquiring Nintendo first, which would not surprise me considering they've absorbed everything else that had a major impact in my childhood, what's one more company?

Obviously that isn't going to happen
 

ZAMtendo

Obliterating everything that's not your friend
I will ditch my iPhone for this. I have been saying it for the past few years, Nintendo NEEDS to go mobile!
 

orioto

Good Art™
If all this noise is for a simple promotion app fro Nintendo on ios in the end.. that'll be ridiculous.

You know what. That would be exactly like if they released for the first time an internet site, with trailers etc.. And people where all "OMG mario on pc omg!!!!" This is just the obvious and normal way for any brand to market itself now..
 

Gannd

Banned
All they need on mobile is Miiverse and eshop.

Demos seem like the wrong way to go. Let people play a demo of something they can't get on that device? That sounds very backwards and confusing, which is why I can see them doing it.

Can you have an eShop app on iOS without giving Apple a cut? I don't think you can. I think that's one of the big reasons why I cannot purchase or rent things on my Amazon Instant Video app. I don't think Nintendo or their partners are going to want to give Apple a 30% cut into their business to have an app there. I do want a native Miiverse app and a Nintendo "Direct" app that would have trailers, interviews, contests, and things like that. I want Nintendo to give it another go in the console space and I'm fine living in a world of traditional portables that have a relatively smaller but healthy business around them. A game like Bravely Default cannot happen in the current mobile space and I don't think a game like Super Mario 3D Land (ignoring the 3D effects) will ever be playable on a touch device.
 
We're not talking about the Wii U. 160 million core gamers didn't buy the Xbox 360 and PS3. If the Xbox One and PS4 sell over 90 million in 5 years that will be a big success. That's 90 million combined BTW.

This is not a Nintendo thread? 160 million of what? And what is your argument with that numbers?
 
I will ditch my iPhone for this. I have been saying it for the past few years, Nintendo NEEDS to go mobile!

They don't, and they aren't. At most they will be releasing some companion apps.

Can you have an eShop app on iOS without giving Apple a cut? I don't think you can. I think that's one of the big reasons why I cannot purchase or rent things on my Amazon Instant Video app. I don't think Nintendo or their partners are going to want to give Apple a 30% cut into their business to have an app there. I do want a native Miiverse app and a Nintendo "Direct" app that would have trailers, interviews, contests, and things like that. I want Nintendo to give it another go in the console space and I'm fine living in a world of traditional portables that have a relatively smaller but healthy business around them. A game like Bravely Default cannot happen in the current mobile space and I don't think a game like Super Mario 3D Land (ignoring the 3D effects) will ever be playable on a touch device.

Why are people even thinking that this will replace their portables or home consoles? They are not dropping out of anything, all they just want a presence in the mobile market. Which means some little companion apps, like Miiverse.

I'm not sure how eshop would work royalty wise with apple, but being able to buy games on the go and have your Wii U download them in the background would be convenient.

If all this noise is for a simple promotion app fro Nintendo on ios in the end.. that'll be ridiculous.

Of course it will be. People love to jump to conclusions, especially with Nintendo.
 

Stumpokapow

listen to the mad man
RE: New details from the gibbo tweet;

I think increasing licensing efforts is a good model, but ultimately not the kind of thing that sort of changes how a company does overall. Rather, it's a bonus or value add. If the underlying product that you license withers, most of the time your licensees are going to feel demand shrink and that's negatively going to impact you. But definitely something Nintendo should do, given that Minecraft made... what, $100,000,000 in licensed goods last year? Angry Birds the same or more? Kids can't get enough of this stuff.

Focusing more on emerging markets is a great idea. They are an integral part of SCE's business plan (not just the traditional BRI, but also EMEA countries more generally) and I think Nintendo misses out on a lot of easy sales by not putting in efforts in those regions. I still think you'll have a product demand issue; smartphones (especially low end Androids) are quite popular in developing markets and the software model of cheaper up-front costs does better to compete with apathy and piracy culture. Low hardware price is obviously pivotal, but software pricing and positioning and ease of purchasing is also really important.

Can you have an eShop app on iOS without giving Apple a cut?

Apple sends mixed messages about in-app purchasing on iOS without giving them a cut. Things like Kindle--buying content directly for consumption on the device--are definitely not allowed. On the other hand, things like pizza ordering applications are allowed without giving Apple a cut.
 
Again, that sounds like apologism to me. They could have change somethings as audience reactions were not exactly the best. or "overwhelming positive" as Iwata tried to mention one time.
How exactly? By the time of the reveal, they had pretty much a near finished product on their hands. And as you yourself mentioned, investors were up in arms demanding them to release a new console quickly. So please, do tell me what quick, affordable fixes could've been implemented by the time the console was revealed to the public? Upping the power significantly is pretty much out of the question, and doing stuff such as removing the gamepad completely would've meant a ton of money down the drain not only on hardware, but also on the software they had that revolved around it (which did exist back then). ANd what if whatever they changed it to didn't excite people either? By the time the wii u had gotten a bad response, damage control was the only option. It was already too late to just make something new. GAME CONSOLES CAN'T BE DEVELOPED OVER NIGHT. ANd don't bring up the xbox one drm issue because that was a software fix and not a hardware one. And even then, that had to be fixed via a day one update
 

Gannd

Banned
This is not a Nintendo thread? 160 million of what? And what is your argument with that numbers?

Can you read? 160 million core gamers. That's the roughly combined sales of the PS3 and Xbox 360. You don't think the rise of mobile is going to hurt Sony and Microsoft because that's not their audience. You're wrong.
 
How exactly? By the time of the reveal, they had pretty much a near finished product on their hands.

Two years before realese. Yeah, they take time and all that... but Dev comments are implying that some stuff was not ready BY LAUNCH.

Can you read? 160 million core gamers. That's the roughly combined sales of the PS3 and Xbox 360. You don't think the rise of mobile is going to hurt Sony and Microsoft because that's not their audience. You're wrong.

You are the one missing information in your post. 160 million of core gamer of what? Smartphones, Wii, past generations?
 

Alebrije

Member
It most certainly won't. People need to realize that people are satisfied with mobile and are not dying to blow hundreds on a dedicated system

They are satisfied but human being trends to ask for more once it reachs a level of satisfaction , mobile /tablet market does not has the same tools as conosoles in order to deliver more deep experiencies ( not only in story but athmosphere , art , graphical effecs , control interface, etc). I know not all moblie users will move to consoles but a certain part will do.
 

Mithos

Member
Adverts and demos for games that can't be unlocked on the platform they are being played on?

Oh my, they are going to get crucified by mobile gamers on the Google Play store, they are merciless for 1-starring any app which even slightly inconveniences them or tries to sell to them.

Nintendo is about to get a reality dose about the mobile ecosystem, and not the type they are expecting.

Merciless.

Like I said before I read/heard etc etc that this is something Apple will not allow, you can't make a game, relese teh demo on iOS and only the full game/app on onther platform, the full game has to be released on iOS also.
So like alot of others have stated, advertisments videos, actual playable demos (in its real sence) I can't see it happening/working.

If your an iOS developer, correct me if thats changed/I'm wrong.
 
They are satisfied but human being trends to ask for more once it reachs a level of satisfaction , mobile /tablet market does not has the same tools as conosoles in order to deliver more deep experiencies ( not only in story but athmosphere , art , graphical effecs , control interface, etc). I know not all moblie users will move to consoles but a certain part will do.

Nintendo said the same thing about Casual games to more complex experiencies when the Wii was blooming.
 
Two years before realese. Yeah, they take time and all that... but Dev comments are implying that some stuff was not ready BY LAUNCH.

You realize this makes my point stronger, not weaker. What you're saying suggests that Nintendo didn't have enough time to completely finish a product that they had already put enough work into to show it to the public, and probably were forced to rush out the console by investors. So please explain to me how they could have used that time to make major changes to the system and still release it on time? And how they could do so without forcing not only themselves, but also any third party developer currently giving the console a shot to throw away a large sum of money they had spent developing things based on the known plan?
 

Riki

Member
RE: New details from the gibbo tweet;

I think increasing licensing efforts is a good model, but ultimately not the kind of thing that sort of changes how a company does overall. Rather, it's a bonus or value add. If the underlying product that you license withers, most of the time your licensees are going to feel demand shrink and that's negatively going to impact you. But definitely something Nintendo should do, given that Minecraft made... what, $100,000,000 in licensed goods last year? Angry Birds the same or more? Kids can't get enough of this stuff.

Focusing more on emerging markets is a great idea. They are an integral part of SCE's business plan (not just the traditional BRI, but also EMEA countries more generally) and I think Nintendo misses out on a lot of easy sales by not putting in efforts in those regions. I still think you'll have a product demand issue; smartphones (especially low end Androids) are quite popular in developing markets and the software model of cheaper up-front costs does better to compete with apathy and piracy culture. Low hardware price is obviously pivotal, but software pricing and positioning and ease of purchasing is also really important.



Apple sends mixed messages about in-app purchasing on iOS without giving them a cut. Things like Kindle--buying content directly for consumption on the device--are definitely not allowed. On the other hand, things like pizza ordering applications are allowed without giving Apple a cut.

Give me a Hylian Foam Shield and Foam Master Sword to hang on my wall, Nintendo. Please.
Also, Metroid figurines.
 

Gannd

Banned
They are satisfied but human being trends to ask for more once it reachs a level of satisfaction , mobile /tablet market does not has the same tools as conosoles in order to deliver more deep experiencies ( not only in story but athmosphere , art , graphical effecs , control interface, etc). I know not all moblie users will move to consoles but a certain part will do.

I really think you're wrong here. I really think this comic strip from Penny Arcade works for both portables and the consoles:
i-GgW57X4-L.jpg



And for consoles, I can spend $400 or $500 on a console or I can buy an iPad Air that plays games, movies, music, and does a whole lot more. For the casual audience that drove the PSX, PS2, and Wii to be the successes that they were, that's good enough for them. They don't find value in gaming the way core gamers do. Herd mentality is a thing. If their friends are on mobile playing games, that's where they will want to be.
 
My perfect imaginary Nintendo demo would be simply called "Mario Playground". In said app, you would control 3D Mario in a single mini-open world stage. No timer. No enemies. No deaths. Just obstacles and a few physical playthings for Mario to run, jump, and bounce off of. A slide to go down, a few pools to swim in, a few trees to climb, maybe a large mountain with some platforms to traverse. A few "secret" areas. Imagine the first playable stage of Mario 64 with no shines.

All this with 60fps, classic Mario 64 controls.

Charge $4.99, with .99 for Luigi/Peach/Toad add-ons. End every play session with a "continue Mario's adventures in Super Mario (insert whatever Mario game is coming out next)."

Print money.
 
You realize this makes my point stronger, not weaker. What you're saying suggests that Nintendo didn't have enough time to completely finish a product that they had already put enough work into to show it to the public, and probably were forced to rush out the console by investors. So please explain to me how they could have used that time to make major changes to the system and still release it on time? And how they could do so without forcing not only themselves, but also any third party developer currently giving the console a shot to throw away a large sum of money they had spent developing things based on the known plan?

You realize that dev tools were in a bad state enough to make the developers not bothering aftear realease? Or that it was even below current standards of other consoles? Or that investor always asked Iwata about his online plans and the devs mentioned they didn't even bother to research PSN/XboxLive?
 

Guevara

Member
This comic is good because you can read it both ways:

1. A $40 3DS game is worth more than 40 $.99 games, because so many of them are "fucking garbage".
2. But for real though, $40 on the app store gets you a shit load of pretty good games.
 

Road

Member
Hmm, more info coming from Nikkei? Or just the same article?


Same article.

Another info that is not in the OP (maybe it has been mentioned in the thread): Nintendo plans to make the downloadable games of 3DS and Wii U games purchasable through smartphones to further increase sales of these versions since they have higher margins.
 
\

And for consoles, I can spend $400 or $500 on a console or I can buy an iPad Air that plays games, movies, music, and does a whole lot more. For the casual audience that drove the PSX, PS2, and Wii to be the successes that they were, that's good enough for them. They don't find value in gaming the way core gamers do. Herd mentality is a thing. If their friends are on mobile playing games, that's where they will want to be.

The Wii and the WiiU were the only modern consoles that can't play music or films. Something that every single media user were complaining about and they did not correct.
 

dose

Member
course you can.
I think he could be right.

Also, point 4 here...
http://venturebeat.com/2013/02/08/9...e-apps-get-rejected-from-the-apple-app-store/
9 surprising reasons mobile apps get rejected from the Apple app store

4. Do not mention other supported platforms
This rule is not unique to Apple – none of the curated app marketplaces like it when apps mention rival platforms by name. So if your app is also available on Windows or Android, advertise that on your Web site, not in the app or the app store description.
 
You realize that dev tools were in a bad state enough to make the developers not bothering aftear realease? Or that it was even below current standards of other consoles? Or that investor always asked Iwata about his online plans and the devs mentioned they didn't even bother to research PSN/XboxLive?

Nowhere am I saying that Nintendo made no bad or stupid decisions. WHat I'm arguing is that things that seem obvious after the fact often don't when you're actually working on a project. Again, you're looking at everything through the power of hindsight. But you still haven't given any suggestions on how Nintendo could have "easily" fixed things from the time between lackluster reception and launch.
 

Scum

Junior Member
This. I mean, look at what Iwata said days ago. He didn't just talk about mobile, but he talked about many other things, especially how the premium model wasn't working as well as in the past anymore AND the business restructure: these two should make people think that mobile apps shouldn't be the only action taken by NCL.

Mpl90, pls. You're spoiling the fun.
 
Nowhere am I saying that Nintendo made no bad or stupid decisions. WHat I'm arguing is that things that seem obvious after the fact often don't when you're actually working on a project. Again, you're looking at everything through the power of hindsight. But you still haven't given any suggestions on how Nintendo could have "easily" fixed things from the time between lackluster reception and launch.

Well, for one they could have researched their competitors about HD development, Internet Services and changes in their management infraestructure. Three things that were called out and still are.
 

Sandfox

Member
Same article.

Another info that is not in the OP (maybe it has been mentioned in the thread): Nintendo plans to make the downloadable games of 3DS and Wii U games purchasable through smartphones to further increase sales of these versions since they have higher margins.

That could be a part of whatever app(s) they come out with.
 
Same article.

Another info that is not in the OP (maybe it has been mentioned in the thread): Nintendo plans to make the downloadable games of 3DS and Wii U games purchasable through smartphones to further increase sales of these versions since they have higher margins.

Didn't they announce that that was in the works a year ago? Maybe even back in 2012?
 
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