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Nintendo Turns to Smart Devices

by Kimberly Keller - January 29, 2014, 11:22 pm EST
Total comments: 11 Source: Nintendo, Wall Street Journal, http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/01/29/live-ninten..., http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/events/140130...

Iwata believes expansion will bring new customers to consoles.

Nintendo will use smart devices to bring new customers to their consoles according to President Satoru Iwata. The service will start later this year.

First-party Nintendo titles will not be released, but rather smart devices will be used to "make connections with customers." Iwata believes that by conveying "the charm of entertainment for Nintendo platforms" through smart devices, customers will be drawn to the consoles and the Nintendo brand, while connections with current Nintendo users will be strengthened.

Iwata was keen to point out that Nintendo is not interested in simply expanding the business to smart devices, as they "cannot show our strength as an integrated hardware-software business in this field," which would hurt business in the long term.

Nintendo will attempt to create a smart device experience that is engaging and used frequently. A small development team will be selected to create a "truly valuable [experience] that is unique to Nintendo." The development team will have no restrictions and will be able to use Nintendo games and characters in their application.

Iwata also explained the need to recognize the influence of such devices and the success that third-party smart device apps, such as Angry Birds and Puzzle and Dragons, had on the 3DS. An increasing number of companies that previously designed games solely for smart devices have approached Nintendo with offers to expand titles to the 3DS.

Once a smart device connection with consumers is solid, Nintendo will push to use smart devices to distribute information and "content distribution infrastructure."

Marketing will also change to reflect the new direction toward smart devices and will strive to be interactive and fun.

Talkback

yoshi1001January 30, 2014

I have no idea what this means. Maybe it means ancillary things like the Pokedex app will show up on devices, but overall I'm just confused.

CericJanuary 30, 2014

I think its a good bet that a Miiverse app, Nintendo Direct App, and maybe some guide like companion apps wills come from this.  The Miiverse app will allow you to view and possibly post on Miiverse but, will only let you post and go into certain segments if you have a NNID tied to a Nintendo Device.

I would not be overly surprised if we see a parental monitoring App.

SorenJanuary 30, 2014

If i can buy eShop games from my phone and have them downloading on my Wii U and ready to play when I get home I will be so happy.

Ian SaneJanuary 30, 2014

Probably a kneejerk reaction from a company that has no idea what they're doing.  At least they're smart enough to not kill the 3DS.  I figure this will be done with typical Nintendo weirdness and will accomplish little.

BlkPaladinJanuary 30, 2014

I'm thinking it will probally be simular to the Nintendo Channel on the Wii, creating one app for that and to connect MiiVerse and do the remote title buying that Nintendo losely promised near the launch.

AVJanuary 30, 2014

this is a totally incoherent idea and seems like a random knee jerk reaction without any merit,
It will probably frustrate and anger people more than bring anybody in.









BlackNMild2k1January 30, 2014

Iwata having no restrictions on ideas for using smart devices is good, that doesn't mean he will allow them to just do whatever the want, but for now it encourages the flow of ideas, which is exactly what they need.

I bet this amounts to nothing more and a Nintendo app/widget that houses Miiverse, Mii Maker, Direct Videos and the eShop initially. and then later expand to more things like maybe street passes, VC games and demos. It will be used to push wallpapers, and other Nintendo themed add-ons for your phone.

AdrockJanuary 30, 2014

This is pretty much what Iwata mentioned at the end of October 2012. Nintendo probably felt compelled to lift the veil a little in light of recent struggles.

AVJanuary 30, 2014

Maybe nintendo will have android/ios game have same release date or similar release date for games?


I really don't see why a large portion of the games can't easily be transfered and sold to e-shop. I know some use multi-touch but most of that can be tweaked to use buttons/control input. Games that are a-sync would work great with ' spot pass ' .


when draw something was big a few years ago I didn't understand why a 3ds version (even without 3d) was not avaible right after, I'm fairly confident 3DS can handle a vast majority if not all iOS/Android games.

Counting out them making games for smart phones, there are essentially 4 different app types they can make:


Miiverse
e-shop
Complementary apps for Nintendo games (Pokedex, etc)
apps that only act as a glorified advertisement for Nintendo consoles/games.



Additionally, I call bullshit on the continual claim that they "cannot show our strength as an integrated hardware-software business in this field,".  Just be honest and say that it isn't in your business strategy to release Nintendo games on non-Nintendo hard ware and be done with it.

BlackNMild2k1January 30, 2014

Quote from: AV

when draw something was big a few years ago I didn't understand why a 3ds version (even without 3d) was not avaible right after, I'm fairly confident 3DS can handle a vast majority if not all iOS/Android games.

My guess is because whatever Draw Something was selling for (freeware?) on the mobile scene was going to seem much more appealing than the $9.99 minimum price tag that would follow it to the 3DS.

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