Topic: SquEnix Opens New Studio For Smartphone Gaming.

[Stogi]

Hmm...You maybe right, but I would be surprised if someone came into Verizon asking for a smartphone with all the best games. Sounds almost funny.

In terms of a phone, games seem like another notch in the features list. Like if someone was trying to sell you a phone, they would say "You can browse the internet, check your email, play music and watch movies, take pictures and video, and play games."

My point is again, no one buys a smartphone to play games, and until an incredible game comes out that makes even console and PC gamers jealous, they won't.

[NWR_insanolord]

I'll agree with that. I play lots of games on my iPhone, but that's only because I already have it for other reasons. I bought a 3DS just because of the games that will be made for it; I bought an iPhone to be a phone and a mobile internet device, and got the ability to play a few good games along with it.

[MegaByte]

The question is how long before there's enough convergence?

"You can browse the internet, check your email, play music and watch movies, take pictures and video, and play games."

People used to buy dedicated devices for all those other things listed too.
People have mentioned similar, but I'd argue that the convergence has already happened for casual games. Almost by definition, casual gamers are not looking for a game machine explicitly.

[Stogi]

That's what I asked awhile ago

This is interesting. Do you think there will be a point where Nintendo is forced into the phone market?

[MaryJane]

About an incredible game coming out; what if this new SquEnix studio produces that game? I mean a dedicated smartphone gaming development studio from a publisher that (while it has been slacking slightly recently imho) has delivered the best gaming experiences this side of Nintendo could possibly create this killer app, and its successors, that could force Nintendo into the phone market. I praise SquEnix because I am a lover of RPG's, but I think that their impact on the gaming scene is inarguable.

[Stogi]

Well that's up to SquareEnix, but I suspect their best games will still come out for consoles.

[Ian Sane]

I think Nintendo would be in over their heads if they ever tried making a phone.  They very specifically know games.  They also suck at anything that doesn't interest them.  If they made a phone it would lack all sorts of essential phone standards because Nintendo would do things some goofy new "Nintendo way".  That sort of approach just would not fly with phones.  People want something practical and flexible.  Think of all the really obvious stuff they goof up with videogame systems and imagine that with practical tools.  They would get creamed.

If there came a point where Nintendo would have to be "forced" to get into phones I would say that that would mean that handheld videogame systems are no longer marketable.  In that case I think it would make more sense for Nintendo to just abandon that section of the market outright, rather than go broke fighting a battle they can't compete with.  I think there will always be a market for dedicated videogame systems, it just might only be with consoles.  Consoles can co-exist with computers and other home electronics.  They don't fight for "pocket space".  So if that's all that's left that's what Nintendo should go with.

Only if dedicated videogame systems of any sort became obsolete would I think that Nintendo should branch out beyond videogames.  But even then they would probably do better as a third party developer.

Nintendo lives in a sheltered bubble world.  They wouldn't last ten seconds in any market outside that bubble.

[Stogi]

While I agree with most of what you said, you are forgetting one big thing: Nintendo is Japan's 2nd most valuable company with a fortune in the bank. There is no reason why they couldn't buy the experience needed.

Strong companies who continue to be successful don't wither and die, they adapt and evolve.

[NWR_insanolord]

If you look at what Square has done on the iPhone so far, you'll see that they're trying to split the difference between DS-3DS-PSP pricing and standard App Store pricing. They recently ported the DS remake of Final Fantasy III to the iPhone, and are selling it at $15. They've also announced a port of the PSP Final Fantasy Tactics remake, to be priced at $20.

[BlackNMild2k1]

If Nintendo ever decided to enter the phone market, I would hope that they team up with either Nokia or HTC when it comes to integrating the phone experience into a Nintendo handheld experience.

Electronic convergence is the game and Nintendo may be slow to adapt, but they aren't ignoring what needs to be done. When the time is right and the tech is cheap, they will make it happen. 5 years down the line 4G will be everywhere and an antennae will be pretty damn cheap. so a Super 3DSi 4Gs in 2016 that already has the wireless antennae, improved battery tech and AT&T compatible and/or CDMA compatible hardware for either phone plan might not be so crazy of an idea for Nintendo.


They make far too money in the handheld game to just step out without putting up a fight. The handheld game has been the main source of their bread and butter since 198X and I doubt they would just bow down and let Sony and Apple take their place just because they don't have experience in the phone market.

[oohhboy]

A games machine contains too many unique physical feature to fit on a a phone size device. While you can add a phone to a game player, it is much more difficult to do the opposite. Look at the size of the DS, or for some people who like the DSXL. It's 3 times the size of my Blackberry. "But oohhboy! all that extra mass would merge with the phone". True, but I don't take the DS everywhere in my pocket, it goes in the bag.

A dedicated machine allows for extras you cannot get away with as a phone. More heavy duty hardware that uses more power, dual screens, kid resistance, comfortable form factor for gameplay, superior controls and the ability to increase the size for larger people (DSXL). No need to entangle yourself with another phone plan you don't need. Offer far better price of entry without the threat of obsolesce in 1 to 2 years.

I never said there wouldn't be some level of convergence, but you can't physically fit in both feature sets without thinking back to 1980's brick phones. They will always have to contented with the fact that all a phone companies are always as each other throats to unify anything, even in their own lines.

Maybe in the far off future with opaque holographic displays, small self contained generators, quantum computers powerful enough to simulate a small universe in the palm of your hand. Or maybe we get an Eyephone. Who knows, but I don't expect to see the disappearance of a dedicated portable anytime soon. The technological singularity would have to arrive first.

[BlackNMild2k1]

This is for Sprint, but it looks like Kyocera has made a Dual Screened phone
http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/sprints-kyocera-echo-dual-screen-android-phone-announced-we-go/

I'm just saying.

If they really wanted to do it, they could make it happen.
Now is not the time though. Maybe in 4-6 years though.

Also don't forget the flexible OLED screen and further reduction of chip manufacturing.

Nintendo could take the existing 3DS design mixed with that Kyocera design and put phone components in there without changing the size much. That statement becomes that much more true 4-6yrs down the line.

[Stogi]

Battery life is problem though. No one wants to run out of battery life on their phone because of games and vice versa.

And this is where I notice our conversation has become cyclical.

[MegaByte]

A games machine contains too many unique physical feature to fit on a a phone size device. While you can add a phone to a game player, it is much more difficult to do the opposite. Look at the size of the DS, or for some people who like the DSXL. It's 3 times the size of my Blackberry. "But oohhboy! all that extra mass would merge with the phone". True, but I don't take the DS everywhere in my pocket, it goes in the bag.

And this is exactly why I didn't take my DS anywhere; it's too big and I don't want to carry extra junk around. There's no reason they couldn't pack everything into a machine less than double the size of, say a Moto Droid, other than increased cost.

A dedicated machine allows for extras you cannot get away with as a phone. More heavy duty hardware that uses more power, dual screens, kid resistance, comfortable form factor for gameplay, superior controls and the ability to increase the size for larger people (DSXL). No need to entangle yourself with another phone plan you don't need. Offer far better price of entry without the threat of obsolesce in 1 to 2 years.

The thing is, my Droid is way heavier duty than any recent Nintendo handheld. And the 3DS isn't even using the extra space they could have... the battery is still practically the size of a smartphone's and battery life is arguably worse, given the slower speed processor. There are different sized phones too, so I don't see how that factors in. The last point is certainly valid.

[MaryJane]

I could see their being a second touchscreen on the outside of the 3DS that is used only for calling. It would be protected by a flip cover (hearkening back to the time when flip phones were all the rage) and every 3DS would come with a Nintendo-character-shaped bluetooth headset. Through in the ability to video conference, and maybe it isn't so bad.

@BnM
It's more likely that Nintendo would team up with Kyocera than HTC or Nokia since Kyocera is a Japanese company, and who knows, maybe Kyocera is trying to entice Nintendo into a partnership as well as sell a unique phone with the Echo.

I also want to ask two questions;

1. What is the possibility that SquEnix can actually create this killer app that equalizes smartphone and Nintendo mobile gaming, and if so what could/would it be?

2. Would you buy a Nintendo phone that wasn't as feature rich (like if they decided to use their own OS and missed out on an established app store, or doesn't have direct TV out, etc.) because of it's 3DS capabilities?