Nintendo Explains Why It Chose 'Animal Crossing' and 'Fire Emblem' as Next Smartphone Games

[Planey28]

1: OS X is made for PCs

2: OS X is free and doesn't "sell"

3: There is nothing special about Nintendo hardware which makes it better for playing overly simplistic Nintendo games. The fact they are making iOS and Android games proves that.

Nintendo's main draws were, they had a console not called Atari, and they had a bunch of lovable characters.

When was the last time you heard these words spoken un ironically:

"Wow, that Nintendo console is really amazing"

OS X is not made for PCs.
OS X is not free. It is included in the cost of each Mac.

They are making iOS and Android titles as there is a large market available to them for creating unique tie-in games that they can use to sell their main IP.

Wii U aside, their hardware still sells fairly well and so does their software as a result so I don't know why everyone on this website seems to think they know much better and it's as easy as 'slam Mario Kart 8 on iOS and that's Nintendo's future'.

 

[GFLPraxis]

1: OS X is made for PCs

2: OS X is free and doesn't "sell"

3: There is nothing special about Nintendo hardware which makes it better for playing overly simplistic Nintendo games. The fact they are making iOS and Android games proves that.

Nintendo's main draws were, they had a console not called Atari, and they had a bunch of lovable characters.

When was the last time you heard these words spoken un ironically:

"Wow, that Nintendo console is really amazing"

Nintendo actually was known for great hardware prior to the Wii. The GameCube launched at $199, and massively outperformed the $299 PS2 and only slightly underperformed the $299 XBox. The N64 also outperformed the PS1 in CPU and graphics, but PS1 had better storage and so used a lot of cutscenes and higher quality music to give an impression of high production values. The SNES and Genesis were similar as well.

 

[madsci954]

I think I'm annoyed that 1) there are people who believe that Nintendo should place their main IP on mobile (dude, they have to sell their portable console line too you know! not to mention you can't play games like that without a controller!) 2) there are people who believe that Nintendo making games for cell phone means that they are ruined and there will never be a non-f2w game on a home console, and 3) that there are people who say that Nintendo and Apple should cooperate. Are you joking?! Nintendo and Apple are like the total opposite! Nintendo produces cheap, mid-quality and weak hardware to prioritise entertainment exclusively and Apple produces expensive, excellent-quality, and high-tech hardware exclusively for, how should I call it, "computer things".

I was with you until point 3. I've been a Nintendo fanboy long before an Apple fanboy and I see a lot of similarities between the two.

From my perspective, they both
- are very protective of their IPs
- make decisions based on what they feel is best for the consumer
- can be stubborn with the above
- make hardware lower spec compared to the competition but still well built
- excellent customer service
- at their peaks, their first party software was second to none
- lost their inspiring CEOs too soon
- have a lot to learn about online services

And you want to talk about "cheap, mid-quality" consoles? I think my attached photo speaks for itself.

I took that photo on Feb 28, 2016. I recently found my copy of Pokémon Blue, purchased shortly after it launched in the US in September 1998. Last time I played it was at least 10 years ago, probably closer to 15. I'm playing it on my Game Boy I got for Christmas in 1989. And it worked without any tinkering, just put in fresh batteries and I was off.

I've owned every Nintendo console, minus the Virtual Boy, and every one of them is well built and they still work to this day.

So I don't know about you, but I would not call Nintendo's consoles "cheap, mid-quality."

 

[TechZeke]

They are not going to water down their most valuable IP anytime soon.

They don't need to dumb or water anything down. Make an Official Nintendo controller attachment and make a real Mario game for iPhone. It'd sell faster than hotcakes.

People need to stop with mobile gaming hate BS. There's no excuse and we all Mario would look amazing on an iPhone or iPad's retina display.

 

[TurboPGT!]

Nintendo explains...how they are more interested in bankruptcy than anything else.

 

[OutSpoken]

I've obviously been out of the Nintendo gaming loop for a while - never heard of Fire Emblem before now. But then if it's an RPG that'll probably explain why, as I absolutely loathe RPG games and tend to stay away from them. So wake me when Nintendo bring out an arcade/action or puzzle game.

 

[Blakjack]

I'd pay 10 bucks a piece for a Mario cart 64 like game and original Mario. I'd pay 20 bucks for original Mario ported for AppleTv 4

 

[GeneralChang]

All right, Nintendo, all right. I'm paying attention now.

 

[Aurizen]

I look forward to playing these games... How long before we're actually able to play them? 3-6 months I think Animal Crossing could be really good.

 

[petsounds]

MR people completely understand why Apple believes a top to bottom environment produces a better experience but lambast Nintendo for doing the same. Apple and Nintendo have surprisingly similar corporate cultures. (And they both struggle with online services!)

I think Apple and Nintendo are fairly similar in terms of their business philosophy (innovation, controlling the platform, focusing on user sat., sweating the details), but probably very different in corporate culture. Nintendo is still an extremely old-school Japanese company and operates internally very differently than Apple. I do think Apple buying Nintendo could be very beneficial for both companies though.

 

[Michael Goff]

Nintendo-

Get out of the hardware business and just put your software out on all platforms.

Get over this obsession to make "revolutionary" hardware.

You'll make more money.

That has worked wonders for Sega, right?

 

[DoctorKrabs]

"Omg, Apple it's very easy. Make OS X for PCs and you get instant money. It will sell like crazy."

I always find it funny how MR people completely understand why Apple believes a top to bottom environment produces a better experience but lambast Nintendo for doing the same. Apple and Nintendo have surprisingly similar corporate cultures. (And they both struggle with online services!)

It actually is fine to criticize Nintendo for it because it's the reason that they were failing financially for 4 years. Maybe if Apple was suddenly selling only 10% the number of what they did 10 years ago and not profiting, we'd criticize them for something like that.

 

[garirry]

I was with you until point 3. I've been a Nintendo fanboy long before an Apple fanboy and I see a lot of similarities between the two.

From my perspective, they both
- are very protective of their IPs
- make decisions based on what they feel is best for the consumer
- can be stubborn with the above
- make hardware lower spec compared to the competition but still well built
- excellent customer service
- at their peaks, their first party software was second to none
- lost their inspiring CEOs too soon
- have a lot to learn about online services

And you want to talk about "cheap, mid-quality" consoles? I think my attached photo speaks for itself.

I took that photo on Feb 28, 2016. I recently found my copy of Pokémon Blue, purchased shortly after it launched in the US in September 1998. Last time I played it was at least 10 years ago, probably closer to 15. I'm playing it on my Game Boy I got for Christmas in 1989. And it worked without any tinkering, just put in fresh batteries and I was off.

I've owned every Nintendo console, minus the Virtual Boy, and every one of them is well built and they still work to this day.

So I don't know about you, but I would not call Nintendo's consoles "cheap, mid-quality."

Sorry, I meant to say something different entirely.

Nintendo produces very, very solid products, yes, but usually the materials used are not very impressive. The Wii U is a pretty standard build with glossy plastic, the 3DS, although, has a good build quality, is pretty average in terms of hardware. Apple produces small and eye-appealing products, which includes high-quality materials like aluminium, with solidity as a sacrifice. Their specs, are, although not as high as other companies, are still very high.

You have a point, they do have similar situations, but I still think they're too different, so I still doubt that Nintendo and Apple could cooperate somehow.

 

[Michael Goff]

It actually is fine to criticize Nintendo for it because it's the reason that they were failing financially for 4 years. Maybe if Apple was suddenly selling only 10% the number of what they did 10 years ago and not profiting, we'd criticize them for something like that.

But giving the advice of giving up hardware to focus on software is just plain bad advice.

 

[31 Flavas]

Nintendo-

Get out of the hardware business and just put your software out on all platforms.

Get over this obsession to make "revolutionary" hardware.

You'll make more money.

I'd say it's far more likely that either Sony or Microsoft, instead, will be the ones to drop out of the hardware business. Microsoft damaged its brand trying to force the Kinect and always on DRM, as well as, attempting to kill used game sales. Three years in and they've so far made not even 1/4th the sales of the 360. Sony is already financially struggling on its own and certainly did no itself no favors spending billions on the PS3 "cell" processor and the $600 PS3. Didn't even sell half as many PS3 as PS2. They've recaptured the sales lead this generation with the PS4, but are on track to undersell even the PS3.

If you ask me, Microsoft and Sony are the ones who need to get over trying to make "revolutionary" hardware. They've both tried and only managed to knife themselves and disenfranchise gamers.

 

[tmanto02]

Can Apple please takeover Nintendo? Then we can finally have proper games on our iPhones. My guess is the payback time is a few months and there is a high potential for portable game console hardware cooperation. But who am I lol.

This - Nintendo would be a great buy!

 

[MacHead84]

Nintendo doesn't understand

 

[Pman17]

Fire Emblem makes absolute sense for iOS as Free to play. It's turn based so I imagine a turn base game with friends like Words with Friends. Animal Crossing can be a social thing as well visiting Facebook friends houses.

 

[Michael Goff]

Fire Emblem makes absolute sense for iOS as Free to play. It's turn based so I imagine a turn base game with friends like Words with Friends. Animal Crossing can be a social thing as well visiting Facebook friends houses.

That's hilarious.

 

[BeefCake 15]

Nintendo is simply hedging their bet by slowly testing the waters of mobile gaming. They're holding 1st rate IP back to 1. Avoid cannibalizing their hardware sales. 2. Gauging their reception in the mobile space and testing to see what consumers want. I imagine they'll intro several different categories to see what gets the best reception. 3. Most importantly, they are building anticipation. The first releases are there to whet the appetite for the big titles.

Their hardware is going through Jurassic Park extinction, have you seen the WiiU?

"Omg, Apple it's very easy. Make OS X for PCs and you get instant money. It will sell like crazy."

I always find it funny how MR people completely understand why Apple believes a top to bottom environment produces a better experience but lambast Nintendo for doing the same. Apple and Nintendo have surprisingly similar corporate cultures. (And they both struggle with online services!)

No they don't have the same culture, Nintendo is notorious for top dog strong arming the company (Satoru Iwata). He recently passed away and the new person in charge looks like their easing through different pilot testing. Great to see them keep an open mind.

Nintendo actually was known for great hardware prior to the Wii. The GameCube launched at $199, and massively outperformed the $299 PS2 and only slightly underperformed the $299 XBox. The N64 also outperformed the PS1 in CPU and graphics, but PS1 had better storage and so used a lot of cutscenes and higher quality music to give an impression of high production values. The SNES and Genesis were similar as well.

You're 100% correct, unfortunately they were massacred in the console wars and are now only relevant because our Nintendo loved characters still bring back nostalgia. Consoles in general are dying out and gaming quality is the biggest thing that will keep companies alive in the future.

 

[69Mustang]

Their hardware is going through Jurassic Park extinction, have you seen the WiiU?

Yup, I have seen the WiiU. I also know they are preparing to launch the NX. If the new console is going to be a success then it's going to depend on first rate IP. They're not going to want to cannibalize the potential sales with their 1st rate IP on mobile. That was what I was referring to when I mentioned console cannibalization. Not the WiiU. The WiiU was DOA.

 

[nhannomad]

I wonder which Fire Emblem will make it debut on iOS. Shadow Dragon?
I personally prefer Seisen no Keifu, now if they remake it, it will sell like hot cake (Thracia 776 also).

 

[Michael Goff]

I wonder which Fire Emblem will make it debut on iOS. Shadow Dragon?
I personally prefer Seisen no Keifu, now if they remake it, it will sell like hot cake (Thracia 776 also).

It will be a FE made for iOS, not an old one.

 

[countryside]

I am really excited for an Animal Crossing for iOS, and what could make it better is an Apple TV version of it that syncs to the iPhone. Additionally, I think a Mario Cart on the Apple TV would be amazing.