"Nintendo Confirms It Will Make Apps (And Maybe Games) For Phones"

[TopWargamer]

http://kotaku.com/nintendo-confirms-it-will-make-stuff-and-maybe-games-1512052047?utm_campaign=Socialflow_Kotaku_Facebook&utm_source=Kotaku_Facebook&utm_medium=Socialflow

 

At a business presentation in Tokyo today, President Satoru Iwata has announced Nintendo's first real step towards smartphone development, talking about an app that could showcase "the value of our entertainment offerings, thus encouraging more people to participate in Nintendo platforms."

 

Here is the actual statement from Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata:

I have not given any restrictions to the development team, even not ruling out the possibility of making games or using our game characters. However, if you report that we will release Mario on smart devices, it would be a completely misleading statement.

 

Ok, so it was a 'kind of' confirmed thing, then Nintendo outright denied it, and now they're all like, "Ya, we're doing this."

 

So, by 'apps', I'm assuming they mean companion apps for the Wiiu and 3DS, maybe? I dunno, just throwing stuff out there. As for this whole, "We may make games for smartphones." thing, I think that they are making games (or demos or whatever) for smartphones, but I just don't think they're quite ready to confirm that yet.

 

Either way, this is a very interesting move on Nintendo's part, and to all of you nay sayers who said that Nintendo wouldn't put their stuff on other platforms, to you I say: hah. Even if all they do are companion apps or game demos for WiiU and 3DS exclusive games, that still is SOMETHING to help bring people into their consoles and games.

 

Thoughts on this?

 

If you wish to view the entirety of Iwata's take on smartphone development, go here: http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130/03.html

Or click on the spoiler tab to view the entire thing.

 

I have often heard the opinion from many that Nintendo should release its first-party content on smart devices. The rationale behind such a suggestion, in my view, is that it would be illogical not to expand our business on smart devices given that they have outsold dedicated video game systems by a large margin.

 

Many people say that releasing Nintendo's software assets for smart devices would expand our business. However, we believe that we cannot show our strength as an integrated hardware-software business in this field, and therefore it would difficult to continue the same scale of business in the medium- to long term.

 

Therefore, we would like to, instead of directly expanding our business on smart devices, focus on achieving greater ties with our consumers on smart devices and expanding our platform business.

However, creating stronger ties with consumers would require them to engage with our offers frequently. As we know that this is not an easy task to achieve,

 

We will use a small, select team of developers to achieve it. Also, we recognize that attracting consumers' attention among the myriads of mobile applications is not easy, and as I said before, we feel that simply releasing our games just as they are on smart devices would not provide the best entertainment for smart devices, so we are not going to take any approach of this nature. Having said that, however, in the current environment surrounding smart devices, we feel that we will not be able to gain the support of many consumers unless we are able to provide something truly valuable that is unique to Nintendo. Accordingly, I have not given any restrictions to the development team, even not ruling out the possibility of making games or using our game characters. However, if you report that we will release Mario on smart devices, it would be a completely misleading statement. It is our intention to release some application on smart devices this year that is capable of attracting consumer attention and communicating the value of our entertainment offerings, so I would encourage you to see how our approach yields results.

 

Also, there is one more thing that I would like to mention about utilizing smart devices. With respect to services previously released on dedicated video game systems that are, however, capable of improving usability and consumer experience when they are implemented on smart devices, we will try to actively shift their focus to smart devices. This is to say that we will no longer spend an equal amount of resources toward providing the same service both on and off device, but will instead concentrate on the one that has greater purpose as well as room for improvement.

 

The environment in which our users can download paid software is one example of where we should aim to make more off-device improvements than on-device ones..

[MatheusSanzo]

Isn't it contradictory (the games part) to their previous statement?

[cjeffcoatjr]

This is old news

[TopWargamer]

Isn't it contradictory (the games part) to their previous statement?

I honestly can't recall their previous statement at the moment, but one thing is for sure: They're definitely considering it, and that's all that matters at this point.

[TopWargamer]

This is old news

It was originally kind of confirmed, then it was flat out denied, and they're actually confirming it, therefore, new news.

[Benjamin G]

I think it's hilarious that Iwata said they weren't making enough games for children

[BeyondSmash]

I think it's hilarious that Iwata said they weren't making enough games for children

It was actually mistranslated and meant the exact opposite though...

[Yoinkerman]

Half-life 3 CONFIRMED.

[Kamina]

It was actually mistranslated and meant the exact opposite though...

Better be. I started to suspect that Iwata had Alzheimer's disease. 

[CatCloud]

I'm 100% cool with Nintendo games on smartphone, There is just PISS right now and we could use something that is actualy a game, not some Facebook crap on the phone.

Ok a bit extreme there but 90% of the game are rather stupid... Like all those pet saloon makeup crap... Jeez!!

[jukki]

Pokemon MMO on my iphone?

Nintendo plz. Make it happen!

[mgsstar]

This is great! Would be great if they released a super smash bro game on mobile and be able to connect to different devices to play together.

[NInety]

I'm 100% cool with Nintendo games on smartphone, There is just PISS right now and we could use something that is actualy a game, not some Facebook crap on the phone.

Ok a bit extreme there but 90% of the game are rather stupid... Like all those pet saloon makeup crap... Jeez!!

Those are 3rd party devs.... Nintendo makes good games like Mario and Animal Crossing...

[gill2k]

ANGRY GOOMBAS on Android and iOS confirmed!!!

[CatCloud]

Ok so i went and got myself a 3DS. however i cant find the game.
Edit: Oh......i think this is North America Only....mother fuckers.