My thread was closed, so I'll put the content here:
There is a lot of talk (and confussion) about what was said exactly - but one thing that we know for sure, and that has been talked about for a long time is that Nintendo is working on a mobile "nintendo" app.
When it was first announced, most people here (and elsewhere) saw this as a small thing Nintendo did to silence their shareholders and be available on smart devices. With today announcement and the information that was given in the Q&A and press conference, I think this application is actually much more -
it might be the key to nintendo's future (and succes).
If you read the slides they (both Nintendo and DeNa) talked about the challenges of developing for mobile. Please read these first:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2015/150317/index.html
How I see this, but feel free to speculate in this thread - is that Nintendo en DeNa will try to become their own
platform owners within the mobile space.
This is what I envision the Nintendo App to be:
- You can use the app on mobile/pc/wiiU/3DS/NX.
- It includes miiverse, and promo about new content
- Connect using your NNID
- Includes promo about upcoming nintendo games.
No surprises here. BUT:
- You get nintendo coins every time you check into the app. It will be named differently, but that will be the idea.
- It's their hub for in-game coins/hearts/jewels etc for all the compatible Nintendo/DeNa games in their F2P environment
- there are bonus incentives for certain tasks / real world purchases.
For example:
- Buy & register Pokemon for NX, receive 500 coins nintendo coins that you can use in nintendo compatible apps.
- Scan in an Amiibo for the first time: 50 nintendo coins that you can use in nintendo compatible apps.
But also the other way around: Win 50 fights in F2P pokemon spinoff game X and get a special pokemon waiting for you in Pokemon for NX. Blizzard does this already for example, if you play Heartstones you can get extra items for WoW.
The real world purchases of software and hardware lead to bonus points/coins/items in the F2P apps for mobile. This also eliminates the big problem that children don't have credit cards. They won't need them - they just need to ask their parents for amiibo's for christmas so they can get advantages in their free F2P games on mobile.
If they can create a "hit" F2P title, they will not only receive the in-game purchases, but also as a benefit encourage people to buy more into the Nintendo eco system. They can even involve third parties (buy Yukai Watch - receive stuff) - and become the platform owner for this eco system on mobile devices.
That's why Iwata said this platform will be the key for their next "system" (codename NX) and what makes this such an important strategic alliance.
Some Iwata / DeNa quotes from today to support this:
I announced Nintendo’s management policy of “more actively utilizing Nintendo IP” and “taking advantage of smart devices” in our Corporate Management Policy Briefing back in January 2014. The endeavors that I am explaining now are in line with these management policies.
On the other hand, if we are to maximize the value of Nintendo IP while the competition to attract consumers’ attention is fierce, we must deliver the value of Nintendo IP in a stress-free fashion to our consumers around the world who are living in varying environments.
This is why Nintendo has decided to utilize smart devices aggressively.
We choose the most appropriate method to try to maximize the number of people who encounter Nintendo IP and, as a result, we will further expand the gaming population. This is our basic strategy.
Among the variety of different communication media, smart devices show outstanding strength when it comes to global use rate, contact frequency and total contact time even though each contact period is short.
I really had to thoroughly consider how we would be able to grow the business by maintaining and nurturing the value of Nintendo IP and what conditions would make that happen, because the value of content can easily be deflated in the digital world and, especially on smart devices, it is not easy to maintain content value since the lifespan tends to be very short as much content is released and then replaced so quickly. We are making these announcements today because we now have Nintendo’s answer to these questions.
Just looking at the fact that several applications that earn great profits are highly visible in the smart device game business, people in general appear to see it as an easy money market. The fact is, however, it is a highly competitive market and only a handful of content providers have been able to show enduring results. If Nintendo cannot make it to that handful of winners, it does not make sense for us to be engaged in the software business on smart devices.
TLDR;
Nintendo and DeNa will try to become a "platform owner" on mobile devices by creating a synergy between Nintendo IP, Nintendo hardware/software and F2P mobile games. Key to this is the announced Nintendo App for mobile.
