Satoru Iwata’s thoughts on 2015 and the future, Wii U sales, and smartphones
Posted on 10 years ago by Kirara Koneko(@KiraraKoneko) in General Nintendo, News | 31 Comments
The following is a series of questions asked of Satoru Iwata in an interview with Nikkei:
Q: Nintendo in January downgraded its forecast group operating profit for fiscal 2014 to 20 billion yen ($165 million), half its original prediction. What is your latest outlook?
A: The improved 3DS (a hand-held game device with 3-D graphics) did not debut in the U.S. and Europe until after the start of the year, which meant demand did not increase as quickly as we expected. That does not mean that 3DS business itself has significantly declined.
The revised estimate already takes advertising factors including expenses for the new 3DS models into consideration. We do not expect our results to slide much further.
Q: Why have sales of the Wii U remained flat?
A: I believe the Wii U business still has considerable room for growth, as a number of software titles that are compatible with the console are slated for release in 2015.
The way Japanese gamers enjoy video games is different from their counterparts in the West. More and more Japanese gamers play on smartphones and 3DS hand-held devices. On the other hand, a majority of gamers in Europe and the U.S. still connect their consoles to TVs and play them on a bigger screen. In the global video game market, game titles for consoles are still dominant, and that market is much larger.
Q: What are you doing to shore up your console business?
A: Newer consoles are equipped with a function to process micropayments using Suica electronic money cards [in Japan]. Our service that allows people to purchase games online using those cards is popular.
It is also possible to turn smartphone games from other software makers into 3DS-compatible games and offer them for relatively low prices. We intend to pursue a variety of options. Only those products and services that receive strong support from customers will survive.
Q: The market for smartphone games continues to expand. What are your plans for this category?
A: In the past, I have opposed making smartphone and tablet versions of Nintendo titles. Prices for content aimed at smartphones and tablets are falling quickly. I am still wary of the category. We intend to develop products that will allow customers to identify with Nintendo products and make people pay attention to Nintendo games.
For example, some Nintendo game consoles incorporate Mii, which creates a digital avatar to represent players. It would be fun for players to use their Mii characters as icons on social media. We are currently developing an application that will allow users to do that. The app will be announced around the time our full-year results are released.
Q: What is Nintendo’s outlook for the next fiscal year and later?
A: We foresee improved performance for the next fiscal year, so long as we are not adversely affected by foreign exchange fluctuations. I have been saying we hope to achieve a profit suitable for Nintendo as early as fiscal 2016. My understanding is that an operating profit of 100 billion yen is the level the market and shareholders expect of us.
More: interview, Nikkei, Satoru Iwata
Arceus to be the advance booking distribution for upcoming Pokemon movie in Japan
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News | 2 Comments
This month’s CoroCoro has started to leak. In the magazine, it’s revealed that those who pre-book tickets for the movie “The Archdjinni of the Rings – Hoopa” in Japan can participate in a distribution for Arceus. The Pokemon knows the moves Judgment, Blast Burn, Hydro Cannon and Earth Power. Additionally, it comes with the item Silk Scarf.
Arceus will be obtainable by pre-booking tickets between March 7 and July 17. It’s redeemable between June 20 and August 31.
We have a small tidbit about the movie itself as well. There will plenty of legendary Pokemon, including Lugia, Palkia, Giratina, Dialga, Kyurem and Arceus.
By pre-booking, you’ll also receive another legendary Pokemon out of these six revealed for the movie, though the specific six you get one of are not known at the moment.
That’s not all from CoroCoro. It’s also revealed that the Shiny Rayquaza will be distributed through the magazine, and it can be obtained even if players nabbed the one at the World Hobby Fair. Specific details will be announced sometime in the future.
Sakurai talks a bit about virtual reality
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments
The latest issue of Famitsu has another column from Masahiro Sakurai. Rather than writing about Smash Bros., he chose to focus on another topic: virtual reality.
Sakurai discusses the scene of virtual reality in quite broad terms, like dizziness and the reluctance to wear goggles. He himseslf received an Oculus Rift DK2, and says that you can test many sample software from the Oculus website.
“It is very enjoyable,” he wrote. “Amazing! Everything that comes into view, the game world. The feeling is really different compared to a usual game.”
Sakurai also says in his piece:
VR goggles are like a TV, so it should be up to developers to freely decide what content is projected. At the same time, however, developers should properly consider how to overcome dizziness and negative factors. If games and 3D worlds are just blindly turned into VR, the future looks slim.
More: Famitsu, Masahiro Sakurai
Super Mario amiibo series can be pre-ordered at Best Buy
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 1 Comment
Best Buy is now taking pre-orders for the Super Mario amiibo series. Toad, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, and Yoshi figures can be reserved here. There’s no telling how long they will be in stock for, sadly!
Dying Light also has a Zelda Easter egg (Master Sword)
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 13 Comments
Dying Light’s Nintendo-related Easter eggs don’t stop at Mario. GameSpot has also spotted a Zelda reference in the game – specifically for the Master Sword. That might be the end of the Nintendo goodies!
More: Dying Light, The Legend of Zelda
Update: Also at GameStop – Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Peach amiibo available for $10 each at Best Buy
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 4 Comments
Update: The figures are going for the same price at GameStop.
Three amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. series are down to $10 each over at Best Buy. Those figures are Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Peach. I’m not sure how long this “sale” will last – perhaps until stock is depleted.
You might have a tough time finding the Shulk amiibo in GameStop stores
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 18 Comments
Shulk could end up as one of the rarest – if not the rarest amiibo. The fact that it’s GameStop-exclusive in the U.S. already means that the figure will be tough to find. And outside of pre-orders, it’s sounding like the retailer won’t have much stock.
Destructoid contacted 15 GameStop locations today and was told that they “only have the stock for pre-orders, and don’t know when any additional orders will come in.” That’s on top of a source who informed the site that there will be zero extra stock on-hand.
If you did reserve a Shulk amiibo, there is good news. Some consumers have received texts from GameStop informing them that he’ll be ready for pickup in-store starting tomorrow. Try checking with your local store in the morning if you haven’t heard anything yet!
Several amiibo in stock at GameStop, including Toon Link, Sheik, and more
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 3 Comments
A bunch of amiibo are currently in stock at GameStop. The lineup includes Toon Link, Sheik, Fox, and figures from the Super Mario series. You can find the full set here.
More: Amiibo
Nintendo not commenting on rumored live-action Zelda show from Netflix
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 8 Comments
Well, this is certainly not a surprise! Nintendo is not responding to the Wall Street Journal’s report regarding Netflix’s live-action The Legend of Zelda show. Nintendo said: “We will not comment on the rumors or speculations.”
More: Netflix, The Legend of Zelda
Playtonic working on Banjo Kazooie spiritual successor, interested in Wii U
Posted on 10 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Wii U eShop | 18 Comments
Update 2: Name update: the game is going by the tentative name “Project Ukulele”. Additionally, reader Noble Wrot tried adjusting the levels and contrasts of the image below to bring out the forms of the shadowy figures. We might be looking at a bird and some kind of reptile!
Update: Teaser site open here. The team is entirely comprised of those who were formerly from Rare. We also have this piece of art:
This month’s issue of EDGE contains an interview with Playtonic. The studio’s first game will be a spiritual successor to Banjo Kazooie, and the team seems to have quite a bit of interest in the Wii U.
As stated in the magazine:
“There’s a history of working with Nintendo so we’d naturally love to see our game on a Nintendo platform. If people tell us to make Wii U our target console platform then we’ve got the flexibility to do that.”
Playtonic has funding, but the company would like to team up with a publisher if the two sides were interesting in working together. The plan is to first release this game on Steam Early Access, followed by consoles.
