Support NeoGAF

[Chmpocalypse]

All those years that so many gaffers spent vehemently denying any possibility of Nintendo having anything to do with mobile.




fake edit: i see the next step of denial has already started. people are already downplaying the fuck out of this. lol

Right?

"Nintendo would never tarnish their sterling catalog by offering it to the casual masses on phones!!!!!!!!!"
,
"This is a great idea, I never said otherwise, lalala"

 

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Or Fire Emblem. Or Advance Wars. Or Metroid Prime/Pokemon Pinball. Or... do I really need to go on?

Those games could work with touch-only controls. I may not prefer it but they would work fine. The problem is that Nintendo uses those types of games to fill out their release schedule and make their own hardware sustainable. It also makes their library well-rounded with games from all genres. I think the fear is that those games will succeed on mobile, making ports for their dedicated hardware pointless, and perhaps the smaller library of games and lack of focus on their own hardware will eventually spell it's demise. What then happens to the types of games that aren't suited for mobile? The ones that NEED buttons? I don't think carrying around a controller is an acceptable response, since not wanting to carry something extra around is the whole argument against dedicated portables in the first place.

For those who are upset, it's kind of like being an only child who is suddenly told that their parents are expecting a new baby. They don't see themselves as mobile gamers so, like the child, in their view, this new baby can only divert attention and resources away from them. It may turn out that Nintendo still loves them as much as ever, but at this moment, it feels like something is coming that will take their love away.

 

[Mavromatis]

Since many phones and tablets are equipped with NFC nowadays will we see Amiibos on mobile devices?

 

[DragonSworne]

Those games could work with touch-only controls. I may not prefer it but they would work fine. The problem is that Nintendo uses those types of games to fill out their release schedule and make their own hardware sustainable. It also makes their library well-rounded with games from all genres. I think the fear is that those games will succeed on mobile, making ports for their dedicated hardware pointless, and perhaps the smaller library of games and lack of focus on their own hardware will eventually spell it's demise. What then happens to the types of games that aren't suited for mobile? The ones that NEED buttons? I don't think carrying around a controller is an acceptable response, since not wanting to carry something extra around is the whole argument against dedicated portables in the first place.

For those who are upset, it's kind of like being an only child who is suddenly told that their parents are expecting a new baby. They don't see themselves as mobile gamers so, like the child, in their view, this new baby can only divert attention and resources away from them. It may turn out that Nintendo still loves them as much as ever, but at this moment, it feels like something is coming that will take their love away.

These games will most likely be cross platform.

 

[Game Guru]

how many mobile players would make the jump to console though? 1%? The mobile market seems more casual to me, games to play while waiting for the bus/train, on a plane, etc.

These people go home and then do other things, they don't game because they aren't gamers.. nothing wrong with that, that's just how they do it... but Nintendo thinks that these people will magically want to grab a console? and the only reason they haven't thus far is "not being exposed to nintendo ip"

wtf?

RIP Nintendo.

Well, Nintendo hopes they will grab their devices for a meatier experiences, but even if they don't, Nintendo probably will be happy with making oodles of that microtransaction money from making mobile games for mobile devices. The thing is that Nintendo isn't putting all its eggs into the mobile basket like other companies would because they understand the value of diversity and that mobile is an entirely different platform from handheld or console. Everything about their plan to utilize mobile seems like a well-thought out strategy in regards to the platform.

Nintendo will make a few F2P games based on their largest franchises and if the money doesn't roll in and Nintendo doesn't become a large player, they will drop mobile. Nintendo is probably looking to use mobile to help fund their dedicated hardware efforts since mobile games are relatively cheap to make and if a company gets a big hit, they will make a shit-ton of money from it.

 

[Chmpocalypse]

Mobile "gaming" is a cancer. Sure, there are some bright spots, but for every HitmanGO there are a dozen shit games or money grubbing PAYorWAIT apps that shouldn't even be called games.

This is a dark fucking day for gaming, although I hate to admit, a good one for Nintendo investors.

You know, Nintendo isn't the only company making great games.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Gung Ho (maker of puzzle dragons) is making a ton of money from P&D (91% of their profits) and they're still doing their old core business (they still release Vita games). Going into mobile doesn't mean they have to get rid of their old business at all.

I didn't say get rid of it, I said deemphasize it. Remember, I'm speaking specifically of the decline from last generation to this one, and the very real likelihood it will decline further. If your business is shrinking, do you continue to do the same things? I would hope not. Similarly, you do not continue to make the same type or number of games. Use the resources more productively. Some of those resources certainly stay where they are, as there's still some money to be made, but some resources go to mobile, if they can be transitioned. Some go to possibly other things -- or out the door.

 

[Astral Dog]

No. Regardless, we're in different times and can't expect Nintendo to catch lightning in a bottle again.

I wonder what this means for stuff like Youkai Watch. Will people like Capcom and Level 5 start porting their games to mobile, I wonder.

Yes, Japanese third party support is a reason to worry, but in a way that how much they keep supporting Nintendo handhelds, that was inevitable, however, and Nintendo cant keep them by themselves, thats why they are doing this...

hopefully third parties still support the NX, if its a decent platform with a healthy business model, its going to be difficult, but some interesting games could be made, for fans of 3DS/traditional handhelds

 

[Ushojax]

Yup, doing Wario Ware, Brain Age, and Animal Crossing would be perfect, it would print money like nobodies business.

Most of the other Nintendo lineup would SUCK with touch screen without gameplay modifications.

How fully featured would a mobile Animal Crossing be? Would it cost $50?

Nintendo is not going to release any mobile software that compromises the value of their premium offerings. When it comes to franchise titles it will be bite-size games and companion apps like Animal Crossing Plaza, Pokemon Shuffle etc.

They'll probably try some new F2P IPs in the vein of Sub Wars and Real Deal Baseball too.

 

[Weng]

As long as they still release dedicated hardware with as much software as on Wii U and 3DS and at the same quality I don't care about any of this.

 

[WonderRade]

Those games could work with touch-only controls. I may not prefer it but they would work fine. The problem is that Nintendo uses those types of games to fill out their release schedule and make their own hardware sustainable. It also makes their library well-rounded with games from all genres. I think the fear is that those games will succeed on mobile, making ports for their dedicated hardware pointless, and perhaps the smaller library of games and lack of focus on their own hardware will eventually spell it's demise. What then happens to the types of games that aren't suited for mobile? The ones that NEED buttons? I don't think carrying around a controller is an acceptable response, since not wanting to carry something extra around is the whole argument against dedicated portables in the first place.

For those who are upset, it's kind of like being an only child who is suddenly told that their parents are expecting a new baby. They don't see themselves as mobile gamers so, like the child, in their view, this new baby can only divert attention and resources away from them. It may turn out that Nintendo still loves them as much as ever, but at this moment, it feels like something is coming that will take their love away.

While true, I think your first point is the key here.

Unless nintendo is cautious about this, it is really going to pull nintendo to two different poles. AAA releases and smaller mobile friendly games. Games that would be a middle of the road just wont garner that much appeal, people will either wish it was more focused for mobile or expanded into AAA.

Games like Custom Robo, Advance Wars, certain kirby spin-offs, Chibi robo etc... have a hard time fitting in with the two dogmas without completely abandoning the other

 

[Steve Youngblood]

Those games could work with touch-only controls. I may not prefer it but they would work fine. The problem is that Nintendo uses those types of games to fill out their release schedule and make their own hardware sustainable. It also makes their library well-rounded with games from all genres. I think the fear is that those games will succeed on mobile, making ports for their dedicated hardware pointless, and perhaps the smaller library of games and lack of focus on their own hardware will eventually spell it's demise. What then happens to the types of games that aren't suited for mobile? The ones that NEED buttons? I don't think carrying around a controller is an acceptable response, since not wanting to carry something extra around is the whole argument against dedicated portables in the first place.

Right. I just feel like sometimes the mobile business model and the differences in UI between touch screens and controllers are used interchangeably based on the convenience of the point. I think it's important to be clear. In some instances, it seems as though people point specifically at Mario platformers as the de facto archetype of Nintendo game design to insist that the kinds of games Nintendo makes can't work on mobile. And I'm just left scratching my head because that's clearly not all they make. No, I wouldn't want to play New Super Mario iOS or Super Smash Bros. iOS necessarily, but there are plenty of games that'd play just fine.

Now, would it be wise to make Fire Emblem iOS when the next game can achieve decent sales on the 3DS at $39.99 a pop? Perhaps not. But for something like Advance Wars which is dead at the moment, I think it would play just fine with touch controls. And that's just ONE example. There's plenty of stuff Nintendo makes that would PLAY fine on a touch screen phone or tablet, even if we're not in complete agreement about whether or not it makes sense from a business perspective.

 

[USC-fan]

Really a great move. Software is by far the strongest part of the company. Really I feel the hardware holds back the software.

Hope this is the first step in partnering with outside companies.

 

[Hcoregamer00]

How fully featured would a mobile Animal Crossing be? Would it cost $50?

Nintendo is not going to release any mobile software that compromises the value of their premium offerings. When it comes to franchise titles it will be bite-size games and companion apps like Animal Crossing Plaza, Pokemon Shuffle etc.

They'll probably try some new F2P IPs in the vein of Sub Wars and Real Deal Baseball too.

It depends on whether they can share assets with the Animal Crossing on the next Nintendo portable console.

They could easily make a "true" Animal Crossing for the future portable console, and then use the same assets for mobile and have it be more focused on socializing, city building, mini games, even *gasp* make a full game that is more in line with the older games to make it less daunting for newbies.

 

[M3d10n]

Nintendo also has something that every mobile publisher developer would kill for: physical retail presence. That makes user acquisition easier and cheaper and allows the company to capitalize on seasonal gifting dates like Christmas, Easter, etc. Rovio is one of the few mobile companies that attained physical presence: their games market their toys and their toys market their games and they earn money on both.

A well-done synergy between Nintendo's console platform and their mobile games can very well generate a win-win situation, enabling them to exploit their retail presence to lower acquisition costs for their mobile games while using their hardware and accessories to increase revenue.

So the days where Nintendo games don't have disgusting microtransactions and ripoff DLCs are finally over hu?

Did you miss Pokemon Shuffle?

 

[Greenzxy]

No, I wouldn't want to play New Super Mario iOS or Super Smash Bros. iOS necessarily, but there are plenty of games that'd play just fine.

I could see Super smash bros IOS working very well actually if it had a control scheme similar to Street Fighter Volt. People like to bitch about touchscreen controls on fighters, but they work good for me.

 

[M3d10n]

I would love to be a fly at SuperCell's or King.com's meeting rooms right now. I imagine they are at least a bit concerned.

 

[Oersted]

With Amiibo implementation Nintendo could make truckloads.

 

[Oregano]

Right. I just feel like sometimes the mobile business model and the differences in UI between touch screens and controllers are used interchangeably based on the convenience of the point. I think it's important to be clear. In some instances, it seems as though people point specifically at Mario platformers as the de facto archetype of Nintendo game design to insist that the kinds of games Nintendo makes can't work on mobile. And I'm just left scratching my head because that's clearly not all they make. No, I wouldn't want to play New Super Mario iOS or Super Smash Bros. iOS necessarily, but there are plenty of games that'd play just fine.

Now, would it be wise to make Fire Emblem iOS when the next game can achieve decent sales on the 3DS at $39.99 a pop? Perhaps not. But for something like Advance Wars which is dead at the moment, I think it would play just fine with touch controls. And that's just ONE example. There's plenty of stuff Nintendo makes that would PLAY fine on a touch screen phone or tablet, even if we're not in complete agreement about whether or not it makes sense from a business perspective.

I did address Fire Emblem separately as an example of gameplay that could work but it would probably require much lower production values. I think that obviously drains some appeal from the franchise considering how important those production values were to Awakening's success.

 

[ffdgh]

Part of me is excited to see new things they can do

Part of me is filled with dread that it could be a thing that doesn't work out for them and puts them in a worse position.

Not quite sure how things could possibly get any worse than they are now lol.

 

[Hcoregamer00]

I did address Fire Emblem separately as an example of gameplay that could work but it would probably require much lower production values. I think that obviously drains some appeal from the franchise considering how important those production values were to Awakening's success.

Lower production values don't hurt games like chain chronicles or puzzle and dragons.

It won't hurt Fire Emblem on mobile. What would hurt FE more is if they take out relationships and custom avatars.

 

[RM8]

I would love to be a fly at SuperCell's or King.com's meeting rooms right now. I imagine they are at least a bit concerned.

I'd love being proven wrong, but I don't think Nintendo's stuff will be even remotely close to the success achieved by those mobile giants.
---

About Fire Emblem on mobile: They're likely aiming for the casual-est of the casual crowd, I doubt they're touching niche series. I can see mostly Mario and Pokémon themed games, really.

 

[Rodney McKay]

How fully featured would a mobile Animal Crossing be? Would it cost $50?

I don't see why a mobile Animal Crossing couldn't be as fully featured as those released on any other platform it has released on.

And they won't need to charge $40-50 for a mobile Animal Crossing. Because the amount of people with phones is so much bigger than the amount of people with a 3DS and/or Wii U they'll be able to make more profit with a lower pricepoint and multiple times the number of sales.

Since they are a bigger game company it wouldn't surprise me if they priced it in the upper boundaries for mobile games ($10-20), but including optional microtransactions (buy furniture with real money or something like that) would be a goldmine for them and if they aren't intrusive they wouldn't alienate the existing fanbase.

I doubt many big franchises will make it over to mobile since Nintendo needs them to sell their own consoles, but if a game isn't necessarily a system seller and they'd stand to make more on a mobile version in the long run then I don't see why they wouldn't.

 

[AyaisMUsikWhore]

So.... What does this mean? Does this mean first parties will now launch mobile as well or are we getting bite sized side quest for the bigger games that will still be delegated to the 3DS and Wii U.

 

[Oersted]

snip

AC 3DS sold hardware. A lot.

So.... What does this mean? Does this mean first parties will now launch mobile as well or are we getting bite sized side quest for the bigger games that will still be delegated to the 3DS and Wii U.

Nintendo will develop games with DeNa, using Nintendo IPs, as in characters, music etc. Expect different games from the mainentries and no ports. For an idea, look at what DeNa did with Disney

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/03/reaction_dena_and_its_games_with_disney

 

[AdventureRacing]

I'm curious if they will use the Pokemon IP at all. It's possibly the franchise most suited to mobile phones and the one with BY FAR the biggest potential for success. It's also their most important Franchise in handheld so it would be a risk.

 

[James Scott]

Iwata mentioned that they hope to be very successful in the mobile market with several hits so i don't think it's going to be small companion aps

So.... What does this mean? Does this mean first parties will now launch mobile as well or are we getting bite sized side quest for the bigger games that will still be delegated to the 3DS and Wii U.

They will be different games. Nintendo won't port their console offerings to mobile, but make something catcatored to that market/hardware

 

[dinosaur_hunter2]

Well, that's unexpected.

Nintendo will surely earn a lot of money. Most of mobile games are crap and Nintendo is, in my humble opinion, one of the best (if not the best) developers out there. Their level of polish and care to their games is almost surreal. This will probably start a small revolution on the mobile market, raising the bar of games being sold there.

My only concern here is if Nintendo's shareholders start telling Iwata to shift resources from the console development teams to the mobile teams. As a person that absolutely hates playing on mobile devices, I don't want to see Nintendo going full mobile. It would be a very sad day to me if it happened.

Also, the console/PC market needs Nintendo and Nintendo games. Competition is always good and Nintendo still makes games that no other developer does. And that's not only because of their IPs, but mostly because of their expertise.

I never thought I'd see that day. Holy shit.

 

[Oregano]

Lower production values don't hurt games like chain chronicles or puzzle and dragons.

It won't hurt Fire Emblem on mobile. What would hurt FE more is if they take out relationships and custom avatars.

But they are IPs built for mobile. Would you be happy if Chain Chronicles was Valkyria Chronicles 4?

 

[ScepticMatt]

It has begun. Seems like a great move. Also dat salt from those who dislike mobile

So generally I feel this is a slam dunk for both parties.

I agree. Nintendo desperately needed a good online system.

 

[Pociask]

Why the hell am I in this list? I didn't say "They'd never do it, they'd never make money." The OP said he didn't understand the reasoning, then specifically talked about how he understood their reasoning, but didn't think it was right.
.

I made the list too - despite having advocated for Nintendo having a mobile presence many times in the past. I guess I should eat crow for making an it's a twist joke?

Glad to see Nintendo finally making a proactive move, although if their droughts were long already supporting two platforms, I am skeptical of their ability to support four (QoL, mobile, console, handheld).

 

[Falcs]

Oh no....
Fucking hell, here we go...

Some day soon.. Zelda with fucking microtransations.... mark my words. It will happen.
I hate what mobile gaming has done to my favorite hobby.

 

[Nevadatan]

why i get this idea that NX will be a flip phone?

 

[Chindogg]

They get investors off their backs about mobile, create completely new games while continuing their traditional consoles and handhelds while having an experienced partner in creating online accounts and infrastructure.

This really isn't bad for Nintendo at all. They're not leaving traditional consoles and aren't placing their console games on phones. It's added revenue to supplement their own vision.

why i get this idea that NX will be a flip phone?

For what seems to be the 50th time: Iwata stated that it's not a phone. It's a dedicated gaming console.

 

[billy beane]

Oh shit what if we get Picross 3D on iPhone?

 

[Converse]

I did not expect to feel as okay about this announcement as I do. Iwata seems to be leading the company with a thoughtful approach, the focus remains on creating good games, and DeNA's experience has the potential to improve some of Nintendo's weak areas. Plus, the "NX" hints lead us potentially closer to a unified platform, which is something I'd really embrace.

So the "Nintendo goes mobile" headline has occurred. And by all accounts, it seems like good news. Row your boat, Nintendo.

 

[Vena]

Same here, I will eat crow.

I haven't stated it in this forum, but I was vehemently against it. But when I started thinking about it more, I am actually happy about this since it means Nintendo can still survive if the home and portable console fail.

It also means that the next DS might be a beast so that they can share assets with the newest IOS/Android tablets and smartphones. That to me has my mouth salivating with it's potential.

FE really has no place on mobile as it wouldn't be able to have the production values and scope that made it popular to begin with on a mobile device. FE can sell a million+ of copies at 39.99$ on the 3DS, the mobile version would have to sell orders of magnitude more at a lower price to match that and whatever DLC the 3DS platform also would provide and sell. (There's a lot of hardware design limitations in mobile that you're overlooking when it comes to games support/development that will greatly limit what Nintendo could realistically offer if they wanted to make a full-fledged experience... which they wouldn't for various self-defeating reasons.)

But dead franchises? Advanced Wars? Those can find their way to mobile as they don't have any expectations tied to them, or a minor FE spin-off mini-game? Those make a lot more sense on mobile as exposure mechanisms for the franchises

 

[TheJoRu]

I am eagerly awaiting GAF thread titles with "Nintendo Announces a new F-Zero!..."

Then click on thread

"On mobile"

Damn.

Though, to be serious, would it even make sense to leverage Nintendo IP's whose presence on the dedicated gaming platforms is so small? Sure, liking a F-Zero mobile game does help build the image of Nintendo as a company that produces high-quality games; but mostly as a consumer you'll think (or at least Nintendo wants you to think): "Hey, can I find more and better F-Zero games on their consoles?", but (disregarding old VC-games easily obtainable through other means) until there's a new big F-Zero the answer is "no".

 

[Seventy70]

Right?

"Nintendo would never tarnish their sterling catalog by offering it to the casual masses on phones!!!!!!!!!"
,
"This is a great idea, I never said otherwise, lalala"

Now....
"I bet other mobile developers are shaking with fear right now. Nintendo will show them who's boss!"

Before...
"Nintendo would never devalue their IPs, guys. Just shut up."

Personally, I'm excited about this. Nintendo games for me are usually only pick up and play occasionally for about 10 minutes at a time. They have more in common with mobile games than people think.

 

[TheSlySoul]

why i get this idea that NX will be a flip phone?

I can see that if it is like a horizontal flip phone.

 

[Refreshment.01]

Would love a thread with quotes from some of the more rabid followers stumping the foot on the floor and yelling this shouldn't and wouldn't happen ever. XD

 

[Yarbskoo]

So what are the chances of an EBA revival that doesn't involve tons of microtransactions?

 

[Crayolan]

why i get this idea that NX will be a flip phone?

Because you didn't read the thread in which it's stated that it's not a phone.

 

[Lunar15]

On the bright side, can't wait for Angry Fairies, a game where you launch Navi into a wall.

 

[astrogamer]

You know with this, it makes a bunch more sense why the Development Administration & Support Division was just made last year in the restructure

 

[Sydle]

I love how, given DeNa's motivation to increase their value rapidly, there's a high probability Nintendo will have more of their IP on PC and smart phones than Microsoft who is claiming they give a shit about PC gamers.

 

[yamaneko]

Sony can create an Android Run Time in your systems and make some troubles for nintendo...

 

[Nevadatan]

For what seems to be the 50th time: Iwata stated that it's not a phone. It's a dedicated gaming console.

didnt Iwata said like a year ago that mobile games were a no-no for Nintendo?

also as i said before in this thread, DeNA deal and stuff is mostly for japanese market right? where most phones have hardware keyboards.

 

[Ansatz]

Yeah I'm definitely out. I'll still play retro games and whatever actual games Nintendo still releases but from this point I'll stop following the industry, have fun ppl.

 

[RM8]

didnt Iwata said like a year ago that mobile games were a no-no for Nintendo?

also as i said before in this thread, DeNA deal and stuff is mostly for japanese market right? where most phones have hardware keyboards.

iPhones don't have keyboards

Also, no, this is not a phone. Please quote me on this, I'm willing to eat crow.