AppleInsider Staff
Video game giant Nintendo on Tuesday announced its classic characters, as well as some new faces, will make their way to "smart devices" through a partnership with mobile app developer DeNA.
Still in its early stages, the partnership will see Nintendo's intellectual property jump from first-party consoles to mobile devices, where it can reach a much broader audience. All of Nintendo's IP are eligible for inclusion in future app development, the companies said in a statement.
Instead of simply porting over existing console games, the venture will see Nintendo and DeNA develop new titles made specifically for mobile, ensuring a high-quality user experience. The move is likely to create a groundswell of support from gamers who have waited years for official Nintendo software to land on their smartphones and tablets.
In addition to mobile games, a new multi-platform online membership service planned for launch in fall 2015 will let users play games across mobile devices, PC and Nintendo consoles, such as the portable 3DS and Wii U. Pricing and details have not yet been announced.
Information on upcoming game titles and platform availability will be revealed at a later date.
As part of the deal, the two Japanese firms agreed to buy into each other for $181 million. Nintendo's stake in DeNA will amount to 10 percent of the firm's outstanding shares, while DeNA will take 1.24 percent of Nintendo.
Console makers Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony have seen a tumultuous few years after Apple's iPhone, iPad and iOS App Store ushered in the era of bite-sized mobile gaming. With developers focused on iOS , Android and others, the Big Three have been largely relegated to the living room, save for Nintendo's 3DS lineup.
Despite success with its own portable hardware, Nintendo is in a particularly precarious position as its latest Wii U console continues to suffer tepid sales. Today's announcement represents an avenue of much needed growth for the storied gaming firm.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
47 Comments
Nintendo, please bring your games to the ipad.
This is something worthy of a notification alert. I've been waiting for this news for a while now, by so much because I want to play the games (I will) but because of the change this means.
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/185272/nintendo-to-take-games-and-ip-mobile-with-dena-partnership#post_2693328"]Instead of simply porting over existing console games, the venture will see Nintendo and DeNA develop new titles made specifically for mobile, ensuring a high-quality user experience. In addition to mobile games, a new multi-platform online membership service planned for launch in fall 2015 will let users play games across mobile devices, PC and Nintendo consoles, such as the portable 3DS and Wii U. Pricing and details have not yet been announced.[/quote] The multi-platform idea sounds better but titles made especially for mobile are generally poor. They design the games for limited interaction. Eidos/Square did this with Deus Ex: http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deus-ex-the-fall They could have easily ported over Human Revolution: http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deus-ex-human-revolution Nintendo will want to protect their hardware sales, which make up 60% of their revenue so they won't port those platform exclusives over. Their venture into mobile will be a way to protect those sales while adding software sales from other platforms but it's the games on their own hardware that people want such as: [VIDEO]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DueE8vJXpo8[/VIDEO] The control scheme should be easy enough for games like that on mobile. It's just tap right/left on each side of the display to go back or forward and then have special buttons in a corner for jump/fire. I wish Apple made a touch controller with some shoulder buttons though. It could have force touch, which apparently feels just like pressing buttons: http://www.cnet.com/news/hands-on-with-apples-force-touch-trackpad/
Be interesting to see some of the fruits of these labors
Nintendo will want to protect their hardware sales, which make up 60% of their revenue so they won't port those platform exclusives over. Their venture into mobile will be a way to protect those sales while adding software sales from other platforms but it's the games on their own hardware that people want such as:
I hope you are right. When games first started coming out for the iPhone I was on board. My original DS started collecting dust. Unfortunately the limitations (tactile controls, game depth, game quality, etc.) I soon stopped gaming on the iPhone and never returned to the DS. A fews years have passed since and we recently purchased a 2DS for my son. I have to admit I'm having a ton of fun and even purchased a few games for myself for after he goes to bed. I couldn't imagine playing anything from the Zelda series on an iPhone. I think I'd give up mobile gaming again if this means the end of Nintendo mobile hardware.