Nintendo Plans to Launch Two or Three Mobile Games A Year

[MacRumors]

Nintendo announced on Wednesday that it plans to launch two or three mobile games every year, a day after the Japanese company made a one-third cut to its full-year operating profit outlook (via Reuters).

Yesterday, Nintendo was able to report its first quarterly profit in a year as its mobile games division started to generate revenue, but it wasn't enough for disappointed investors who had hoped profit from games like Super Mario Run would have grown fast enough to offset falling earnings in Nintendo's console business. Shares of Nintendo Co Ltd dropped more than 4 percent on Wednesday following the news.

Launched in December, Super Mario Run helped third-quarter revenue from mobile gaming and related merchandise reach around 7 billion yen ($61.7 million). So far downloads have hit around 78 million, although Nintendo admitted less than 10 percent of users paid the one-off $9.99 fee to unlock all of the game's features. Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima said it would be taking steps to make the game last longer for people who had paid as well as those had yet to do so.

"We are taking a number of steps to ensure that Super Mario Run can be enjoyed for a long time, both by those who have already made the full purchase and by those who have downloaded the application but not yet made the purchase. We are also taking steps in-game to raise the ratio of purchases among consumers downloading the application for the first time."

Putting its plans into action, Nintendo yesterday rolled out an update to Super Mario Run that includes a collection of feature additions and bug fixes, along with a new "Easy Mode".

Nintendo's next title, the tactical role-playing game Fire Emblem Heroes, launches on iOS tomorrow, and is a radical departure from Super Mario Run, not least because it will be a free-to-pay title, favoring micro transactions and in-game currency over a one-off unlock payment. However, like Super Mario Run, Heroes will require players to have a persistent internet connection in order to play.

Nintendo's other planned mobile game is a currently untitled iOS version of Animal Crossing, which is expected to launch in the next fiscal year, so anytime between April 2017 and March 2018.

Article Link: Nintendo Plans to Launch Two or Three Mobile Games A Year

 

[Speedy Dingo]

Nintendo needs to make a freemium version where you only get 3 lives every 8 hours and for $1.99 you can buy a 3-pack of lives. The best value pack is 25 lives for $99.99. This is the norm with free games on the App Store right? Much better than $9.99 for a once-only payment with unlimited lives.

 

[Daws001]

Dear Nintendo,

Please give up on your Fisher-Price quality hardware and just focus on games. See how successful Pokemon and Mario are on iOS? There's your answer.

Sincerely,

Daws001

 

[jonnysods]

Goldeneye!!

 

[veeco3110]

Goldeneye!!

AND MARIO KART!!! We should be CEO of Nintendo. We just made them a billion... next order of business please...

 

[Juicy Box]

Nintendo needs to make a freemium version where you only get 3 lives every 8 hours and for $1.99 you can buy a 3-pack of lives. The best value pack is 25 lives for $99.99. This is the norm with free games on the App Store right? Much better than $9.99 for a once-only payment with unlimited lives.

Assuming you are being sarcastic, I agree with you. Some many games I try in the App Store either have the scenario you described or a currency based system which becomes a ridiculous grind to earn, and makes it extremely hard to continue playing without buying currency.

I used to play two popular games a lot, but stopped because of the repetitive grind for currency, Real Racing 3 and Sniper.

I was happy that Nintendo had a flat price to for their Mario Run game. I was unhappy that there was not an ATV4 version though.

 

[Centris 650]

I'll pay $10 for productivity apps and such but not a game. I'll pay a couple of dollars for a solid game or put up with ads for a good game. Maybe they aren't targeting the casual gamer?

 

[5105973]

Dear Nintendo,

Please give up on your Fisher-Price quality hardware and just focus on games. See how successful Pokemon and Mario are on iOS? There's your answer.

Sincerely,

Daws001

Hey! I love my 3DS XL!

 

[Juicy Box]

Dear Nintendo,

Please give up on your Fisher-Price quality hardware and just focus on games. See how successful Pokemon and Mario are on iOS? There's your answer.

Goldeneye!!

AND MARIO KART!!! We should be CEO of Nintendo. We just made them a billion... next order of business please...

I said this on the forum a few months ago, but I have a great idea for Nintendo and Apple that would make lots of money.

With the popularity of the Nintendo Classic Edition, there is obviously a market for retro gaming. If Nintendo would make an App of the tvOS that was like a virtual console from the Wii and Wii U, and sell games individually by IAP, I am sure people would purchase an ATV4 just for this.

 

[TurboPGT!]

I won't support Nintendo any longer after the embarrassment that is Mario Run. I take serious issue with their bastardization of their classic title.

 

[CaryMacGuy]

I want to see a port of the original Super Mario Bros from NES...I am pretty sure I am not alone.

 

[Speedy Dingo]

Assuming you are being sarcastic...

I was, sorry. But if I sounded genuine, that's because I was channeling my inner casual App Store player who would rather fork out possible hundreds of $$ to beat a game than pay a one time fee. Case in point, Fire Emblems in-game currency;

Paying $12.99 for healing orbs is so much better than a 1-time fee to unlock a full game.

Dear Nintendo,

Please give up on your Fisher-Price quality hardware and just focus on games. See how successful Pokemon and Mario are on iOS? There's your answer.

Sincerely,

Daws001

Actually no. Mario Run has 78 million downloads with less than 10% of players willing to pay for the full game. Pokémon Go was a success but IAP revenue would need to be split between 4 companies - Nintendo, game freak, niantic & Apple.
We'll have to see how Fire Emblem does with the freemium mechanic App Store players love...
I'm sure we'll just see more people whinging that they want Nintendo's full games for free with no IAP. Just go buy their console and enjoy games the way they're meant to be enjoyed - with a proper controller and no IAP.

 

[Junior117]

Hey! I love my 3DS XL!

Some people love to hate. Ignore them.

 

[JM]

At quick glance, the logo looks like "Freemblem Heroes".

 

[Speedy Dingo]

I won't support Nintendo any longer after the embarrassment that is Mario Run. I take serious issue with their bastardization of their classic title.

So they let you sample the game and I'm guessing you liked the levels you got to play? Then you're upset Nintendo wants to gouge money out of you for their hard work for the full game?
$10 is nothing in the scheme of Mario game prices on 3DS or Wii U. Mario Run is shorter than traditional Mario games, but it still packs lots of levels, challenge and replayability. I don't think Nintendo bastardised anything - people just expect everything on the App Store to be free or 99¢...

 

[TurboPGT!]

So they let you sample the game and I'm guessing you liked the levels you got to play? Then you're upset Nintendo wants to gouge money out of you for their hard work for the full game?
$10 is nothing in the scheme of Mario game prices on 3DS or Wii U. Mario Run is shorter than traditional Mario games, but it still packs lots of levels, challenge and replayability. I don't think Nintendo bastardised anything - people just expect everything on the App Store to be free or 99¢...

Um, what?

Unlike most people I'm happy to pay $10 or more for a game. Not for this game though. Gameplay is a joke and an insult to the Mario title.

 

[AngusW]

I don't mind the shift into IAP for games like Fire Emblem. It could make for a good mechanic and also bring some new people into the series. Now as far as two games a year, that sounds cool. I'm just hoping to get a Legend Zelda title. Figure you set it up with both in game currency for the things you need to get, but if you want to buy extra Heart Containers (beyond those earned in dungeons) you have to buy them maybe? Just throwing an idea out there.

 

[Kaibelf]

I won't support Nintendo any longer after the embarrassment that is Mario Run. I take serious issue with their bastardization of their classic title.

Cool story. See you next time when you are discussing your thoughts on their next game you ended up buying.

 

[Blakjack]

I want to see a port of the original Super Mario Bros from NES...I am pretty sure I am not alone.

I've been waiting on that game since Apple created the App Store. It's long overdue

 

[5105973]

I said this on the forum a few months ago, but I have a great idea for Nintendo and Apple that would make lots of money.

With the popularity of the Nintendo Classic Edition, there is obviously a market for retro gaming. If Nintendo would make an App of the tvOS that was like a virtual console from the Wii and Wii U, and sell games individually by IAP, I am sure people would purchase an ATV4 just for this.

I do like classic gaming. I have kept ALL of my gaming systems going back to the early 90's and my husband has his from the 80's. But what a pain to try and set them all up now to play the few games we could afford when we were young and much poorer. So I really like your idea.

 

[TechZeke]

Hey! I love my 3DS XL!

I've been tempted to buy a 3DS because as much as I hate to admit it - Nintendo games are fun. However, I'd much rather play Mario on my iPhone's or an iPad's Retina display with an official Nintendo controller attachment. Even Nintendo understands this, because the switch is just a Nintendo nvidia Shield tablet with controller attachments.

I just simply haven't been able to pull the trigger on spending $200 for another device to carry around just to play Nintendo games even though I want to play Nintendo games quite badly.

 

[AngusW]

I've been tempted to buy a 3DS because as much as I hate to admit it - Nintendo games are fun. However, I'd much rather play Mario on my iPhone's or an iPad's Retina display with an official Nintendo controller attachment. Even Nintendo understands this, because the switch is just a Nintendo nvidia Shield tablet with controller attachments.

I just simply haven't been able to pull the trigger on spending $200 for another device to carry around just to play Nintendo games even though I want to play Nintendo games quite badly.

There's only one things to say to that...

"C'mon.... c'mon"

 

[kkamann]

Wake me up when Zelda OoT is in the App Store.

 

[GoldenJoe]

So, basically what they are doing now with their consoles?

 

[5105973]

I've been tempted to buy a 3DS because as much as I hate to admit it - Nintendo games are fun. However, I'd much rather play Mario on my iPhone's or an iPad's Retina display with an official Nintendo controller attachment. Even Nintendo understands this, because the switch is just a Nintendo nvidia Shield tablet with controller attachments.

I just simply haven't been able to pull the trigger on spending $200 for another device to carry around just to play Nintendo games even though I want to play Nintendo games quite badly.

I like the stereo sound on my 3DS XL and occasionally like the 3D effect screen, though the kids, hubby and I can't tolerate looking at it for an extended period of time. But it's really fun for some scenes in some games.

I just like having a device that's dedicated to gaming because sometimes I need my phone and its battery capacity free for other things.

I do like gaming on my phones, too. I've got some hidden objects games going on my Samsung phones as well as VR gaming.

What I haven't done in years, and that I miss, is console gaming. Buying a handyman special, a surprise late in life pregnancy, and another house move kind of killed off console gaming for us. We ended up going to PC gaming for awhile and other hobbies.

I'd love to play so many console games that are out but my left hand was mangled and had to be rebuilt a few years ago and I've got repetitive stress problems in my right hand. I don't have the necessary speed on the controller like I used to.