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

deleted

Member
I can see it working, if they integrate the advertisments into the upcoming Miiverse app.

If everybody can make an account there and if you can use the stamps you earn in games outside of the app (facebook, twitter, whatever), I could see the appeal for a lot of people.
 

Salih

Member
I feel like I remember Nikkei making a claim about Nintendo's business before that ended up completely wrong. Does anyone know their track record?

they leaked that the WiiU will have a tablet controller and some early details about the 3DS prior to its announcement.

Nikkei is legit.
 
Id love to see mario on my android but think about it, what are these games suppose to cost? Plus I dont think its as easy as porting over the nes/snes library. Nintendo charges 40 bucks for full games on their 3ds, are they going to cut a full mario game into 40 pieces for a dollar a piece? Games will have to be developed with mobile devices and the mobile audience in mind. So that will take some extra development and thought.i dont know whatll come out of this, but whatever it is, its not going to be the mario/zelda people have in mind.
 

Lucifon

Junior Member
I hope they don't go too far with this. The internet moaners over the past year saying they should go to mobile don't know how to run a business, and to appease those would be a bad move. Also the mobile gaming boom has dramatically died down, chucking a touch control mario on phones and telling me to go buy the full game after I finish playing it is not going to sell me on anything.

Nintendo's problem has been marketing and branding, not the quality of their system or first party lineup (you only need to look at how their titles review).
 

Robin64

Member
I'd be up for some minigame style games on the iPhone (think the touch based games from Mario 64 DS or the Pokemon games on Global Link) that are fun in and of themselves but that also offer bonuses that can be transferred to a larger game on the consoles. This is the key. Tell people they have X amount of goodies waiting to be claimed on Mario Galaxy 3 or Pokemon Z and they might make the jump. Might.
 

Piccoro

Member
Guys, Nintendo already announced this months ago:

Nintendo-Network-ID.02_071112.jpg


It's just Nintendo Network / Miiverse access through smartphones and tablets.
Nikkei is full of it, and you all know it. Typical shitty journalism hype...
 

AzaK

Member
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.
It would have to be free to get non-owners of Nintendo platforms to even bother.
 

HeySeuss

Member
I'd buy the shit out of a Mario runner game like Jungle Run. Or a Pikmin tower defense game. Maybe a Links Crossbow game too. Brain Age would work well. Wii Fit would be perfect. Wario Ware.

There would be some good applications that could revitalize their brand. But sadly we'll prolly get a Wii Party and a Nintendo Direct app that will be constantly buffering and videos of games that never get updated.

The possibilities are endless but I don't have much faith in Nintendo following through.
 
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.

Hell, I'd pay for that, but I agree with above post, to really get anything out of this they'd have to make it free. Add-ons could be paid though.
 

Robin64

Member
There would be some good applications that could revitalize their brand. But sadly we'll prolly get a Wii Party and a Nintendo Direct app that will be constantly buffering and videos of games that never get updated.

Nintendo already have a video app up on iOS in the form of Pokémon TV and the quality is good and does not buffer constantly. I'm not worried on that front based on this.
 

ksamedi

Member
I can see Nintendo being the first to go a digital only route in the handheld and console space. They have to work hard on their online system, though. But I think they can figure it out and make cheap and smaller hardware by doing so. If they succeed in attracting lots of indies and basically opening up their platforms like Apple and Android for App/game development then I can see them reaching good profitability in a couple of years. I think if they make the software purchasing easy and implement different payment methods they can sell a lot of software from byte sized snacks to big premium software releases. They really need variaty at this point.
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Guys, Nintendo already announced this months ago:

Nintendo-Network-ID.02_071112.jpg


It's just Nintendo Network / Miiverse access through smartphones and tablets.
Nikkei is full of it, and you all know it. Typical shitty journalism hype...

But that's already out. At least through a web app (which is also oriented for mobile and makes an app icon when bookmarked).

If the news was just the existing Miiverse access with dedicated iOS/Android apps (a trivial addition), that isn't news.
 

ash_ag

Member
Guys, Nintendo already announced this months ago:

Nintendo-Network-ID.02_071112.jpg


It's just Nintendo Network / Miiverse access through smartphones and tablets.
Nikkei is full of it, and you all know it. Typical shitty journalism hype...

It's "just" what? Do you assume Nintendo was talking about mobile games back then, or are you saying Nikkei is lying and this is simply about a Miiverse app?

For the record, I'm not sure if Nintendo was talking about Miiverse mobile in any other form than its current. My experience with it has been excellent, and I don't see what a native code app would offer that the web one doesn't already.

All they need to do is add a few HTML lines so that it can run in a sandboxed environment -- effectively work like a normal app. Chrome's/Safari's Add to Home screen feature is pretty rich, even ensuring a smooth offline transition/experience.

Edit:
 

Piccoro

Member
It's "just" what? Do you assume Nintendo was talking about mobile games back then, or are you saying Nikkei is lying and this is simply about a Miiverse app?

For the record, I'm not sure if Nintendo was talking about Miiverse mobile in any other form than its current. My experience with it has been excellent, and I don't see what a native code app would offer that the web one doesn't already.

All they need to do is add a few HTML lines so that it can run in a sandboxed environment -- effectively work like a normal app. Chrome's/Safari's Add to Home screen feature is pretty rich, even ensuring a smooth offline transition/experience.

Edit:

That is exactly what I'm saying. We'll see in a few days.
That install to home screen app is cool! It does really look like Miiverse is a native app.
 

Taker666

Member
Why do people keep saying this? Nintendo has zero experience in that industry. They would be crushed.

Yeah..but if they can release a slimmer/more stylish 3DS with basic phone tech built-in (for calls/texting) why not? It's not like adding the tech would cost the earth...probably an extra $10.
 

drspeedy

Member
Yeah..but if they can release a slimmer/more stylish 3DS with basic phone tech built-in (for calls/texting) why not? It's not like adding the tech would cost the earth...probably an extra $10.


But who's the target market for it? Even if it was cheap/subsidized, who would buy one and how big of an audience is that?


Plus I think the OS alone would take years for Nintendo to get right. We're not talking just an extra chip glued into a 3DS... There's a lot needed to make this idea even plausible.
 

BGBW

Maturity, bitches.
Seriously I saw an app on the Play Store which was basically a bunch of links to SNES ROMs. It even had the cheek to charge for it. Can one flag apps?
 

Gannd

Banned
Yeah..but if they can release a slimmer/more stylish 3DS with basic phone tech built-in (for calls/texting) why not? It's not like adding the tech would cost the earth...probably an extra $10.

The costs of that are high and who is going to sell it? They need carrier deals for the US. It isn't an easy thing to do. it's a stupid thing to do.
 

Grizzo

Member
The only game is see working for that kind of platform is Wario Ware, mainly because they already explored the "micro-games using touch screen" with Wario Ware Touched! ten years ago (has it already been that long ? oh my...).

But they're more than welcome to surprise me if they have some tricks up their sleeve.
 

BGBW

Maturity, bitches.
Wario Ware predicted smart phone gaming before it was even a thing. Even the in game universe's most popular game that everyone wants to copy features a red bird.
 
On a touch screen based device?

Did you play Mario 64 on the DS? That had the benefit of buttons but the movement was no substitute for an analogue stick.

Fixed that sentence for you. No thanks.


The entire point is that you're trying to pitch games to people who don't care about dpads or joysticks. Like, at all. This kind of initiative isn't aimed at people already invested in Nintendo's products. Our opinions on the software doesn't matter. If they make a mobile app/game and it only sells to existing 3Ds owners, they haven't expanded their userbase, just spread it thinner.

If you can't release anything with touch controls you may as well not even bother.
 
Possibly stop all those pirate/plagiarist games that plague the app stores on ios and android.

What exactly do you mean by pirate/plagiarist games? I've seen the occasional game slip through with Nintendo assets (I have a Mario game on my iPhone), but they aren't exactly common and Apple, at least, is pretty good about getting rid of them in a timely manner.
Is the problem a lot worse on Android? I have a Nexus 7, but I don't use it much for gaming, so I'm not sure if it's different on Android.

Or are you referring to knockoffs in vein of something like Oceanhorn?
 

BGBW

Maturity, bitches.
If you can't release anything with touch controls you may as well not even bother.

Releasing things with touch controls is easy, you design around them. Forcing a game to work with touch controls, especially a game that has already proven to not work that well with them, is what people don't like.

If this venture is meant to tell potential consumers Nintendo makes great games and you can get them on their systems, why would you give them a substandard experience to try and convince them with?
 
I hate Smartphones. I don't get why Nintendo aren't bothering to use the 3DS more?
I hope something other than effing Smartphones/iPads come out this.
 

watershed

Banned
I hate Smartphones. I don't get why Nintendo aren't bothering to use the 3DS more?
I hope something other than effing Smartphones/iPads come out this.

What does "use the 3ds more" mean? Its one of their two primary systems and currently their only successful one.

Nintendo has problems that the 3ds' success cannot compensate for.
 
No. It means more licensed stuff. They aren't losing money to YouTubers. They are losing money by not having their brands on stuff people buy.

So, the plan is to whore out Mario harder?

If this is accurate, I'm expecting stock prices to hit the basement when they announce it. Might be a good time to buy in if you've got confidence in Nintendo making a rebound.
 
Releasing things with touch controls is easy, you design around them. Forcing a game to work with touch controls, especially a game that has already proven to not work that well with them, is what people don't like.

If this venture is meant to tell potential consumers Nintendo makes great games and you can get them on their systems, why would you give them a substandard experience to try and convince them with?

Virtual pads, buttons, and joysticks have come a long way. You should see what the guys at GestureWorks are doing.

And you're begging the question - the assumption that smart phone users view touch as substandard is inherently flawed. There are millions upon millions who simply don't know any better. That's who Nintendo is targeting.
 

Gannd

Banned
So, the plan is to whore out Mario harder?

If this is accurate, I'm expecting stock prices to hit the basement when they announce it. Might be a good time to buy in if you've got confidence in Nintendo making a rebound.

I don't think Mario is whored out at all. He's a kids icon. Kids like toys, plushes, clothing and stuff with their favorite toy icons.
 
The only game is see working for that kind of platform is Wario Ware, mainly because they already explored the "micro-games using touch screen" with Wario Ware Touched! ten years ago (has it already been that long ? oh my...).

But they're more than welcome to surprise me if they have some tricks up their sleeve.

WarioWare on a smartphone? Not sure if want... but I see what you're getting at.
 

watershed

Banned
How long before Nintendo makes an infinite runner 2d Mario game? That seems to be one of the most popular game genres on mobile. It's crazy how many variants on that core gameplay there are on ios, and seemingly millions of people playing them.
 

sörine

Banned
The only game is see working for that kind of platform is Wario Ware, mainly because they already explored the "micro-games using touch screen" with Wario Ware Touched! ten years ago (has it already been that long ? oh my...).

But they're more than welcome to surprise me if they have some tricks up their sleeve.
Nintendo has other segmented touch based games that could be adapted like Brain Training, Electroplankton, Clubhouse Games or Rhythm Heaven. Other more singular focused titles like Nintendogs, Cooking Guide, Art Academy or Picross could be adapted too with healthy dlc schemes in place.

I feel like if Nintendo dips into mobile then their Touch Generations fare makes the easiest and most logical choice to start. The market for this stuff already moved to smartphones and tablets for the most part anyway, so unlike with Mario or Zelda Nintendo wouldn't be potentially cannibalizing their own platforms off the bat.
 

Gannd

Banned
Virtual pads, buttons, and joysticks have come a long way. You should see what the guys at GestureWorks are doing.

And you're begging the question - the assumption that smart phone users view touch as substandard is inherently flawed. There are millions upon millions who simply don't know any better. That's who Nintendo is targeting.

I don't think that's who Nintendo is targeting. And there are millions that think those controls are not as good as physical controls. Super Mario 3D World wouldn't be as good with touch screen based controls. It just wouldn't. The market wouldn't support it anyway. I don't want Nintendo getting into the predatory free 2 play business. I am fundamentally opposed to having game designers trying to build in hooks into their game to get people to shell in cash to play. I'd much rather them build a game and sell it to me, complete, for a reasonable price. I think Nintendo needs to have a lot more variety in their pricing.

Mobile isn't the solution. It will harm the company. The money isn't there to support a company the size of Nintendo. It's bad for gamers as well.


I find it really fascinating that a lot of people think that Nintendo should go to mobile but Sony and Microsoft shouldn't. Mobile came to dinner for Nintendo early. After its done it is coming for Sony and Microsoft. Most gamers just haven't realized it yet and the games writers are too daft to think about the market as a whole. They do very well with repeating simplistic narratives. They can understand that. The market has fundamentally changed. Mobile has changed the market. Nintendo is the first man over the wall but Sony and Microsoft are next. We need to be prepared for how much smaller the market is going to be this generation. we're not going to have Sony and Microsoft selling 80 million consoles a piece. It's not going to happen.
 

Gannd

Banned
How long before Nintendo makes an infinite runner 2d Mario game? That seems to be one of the most popular game genres on mobile. It's crazy how many variants on that core gameplay there are on ios, and seemingly millions of people playing them.


I really hope not. The games aren't very good and are simplistic without the depth of a Mario title. Don't lower Mario to that level. And, I don't believe it would drive anymore business to the core Mario titles. Hasn't worked for Rayman.
 

narton

Member
Too bad it looks like we're not getting a Nintendo Direct. They usually announce it 24 hours to the minute. And the last winter direct was at 9am New York time. You think they'd announce something before the day of the meeting, which with time differences I believe happens around 8 or 9pm eastern time on Wednesday night.

Nintendo really needs to reassure people after all this bad news that's hitting the mainstream. It's gonna make their sales worse if they don't.
 
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