A 3DS version of Donkey Kong Country Returns wasn’t something that Nintendo had always planned. Interestingly, the idea came about when Monster Games conducted an experiment following the completion of the Wii game.

Nintendo’s Hiro Yamada revealed to ONM:

Actually, we hadn’t planned for this from the beginning. We felt that the DKCR graphics matched well with 3DS, but the hardware specs were very different. Because of this, we spoke with Retro who also said that it would be difficult to do a straight port. The truth is, it all started when Monster Games ran it as an experiment after DKCR was completed.

Iwata talks about the struggle of budgeting HD games, selling full priced titles

Posted on 11 years ago by Austin(@NE_Austin) in General Gaming, General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

This is something that has becoming a huge worry for me regarding Nintendo lately. In recent months it has become increasingly apparent that the Big N vastly underestimated how much more work has to go into HD games compared to what they did on Wii, and as a result we’ve seen their game budgets going up, their games getting delayed, and consequently their Wii U console not selling. It’s somewhat troublesome, but what does Nintendo’s CEO and President have to say about the situation?

“These days it is becoming increasingly challenging to determine the minimum development resources required for customer satisfaction. The point I am trying to get across is that currently it is more challenging to sell packaged software for around $50-$60. It is true that it is becoming increasingly challenging to meet the expectations of consumers who are willing to pay $50-$60 for a game, and it is difficult to break even unless a huge number of units is sold all over the world, so it cannot be denied that software development is becoming more challenging.”

“Among such packaged software, however, the sales of popular games are much larger than in the past. Therefore, if we create more hit games, the software development business can still be very profitable. All games break even if they sell millions of copies worldwide, so we will continue to do our best to develop games which have high sales potential.”

– Nintendo President Satoru Iwata

Sometimes I wish Nintendo would just go back to make games with N64-level tech scaled up to HD instead of worrying about all of this modern mumbo jumbo. The concept that all games have to sell millions and millions of copies to break even is quite troubling, but hopefully Nintendo will continue to develop low-budget games like Sin and Punishment and Punch Out!! alongside the big titles.

Via Gamespot

EarthBound creator: new series installment “impossible”

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories | 0 comments

EarthBound is kind of seeing a renaissance. Earlier this month, Nintendo announced that it would finally be re-releasing the game overseas through the Wii U Virtual Console after it originally launched close to two decades ago.

Let’s say EarthBound was a huge success on the eShop. Perhaps then a new entry would be possible, knowing that the series still has a big following worldwide.

Not so fast. EarthBound/Mother creator Shigesato Itoi, when asked about the possibility of a new installment, responded with just one word: “Impossible.”

Surely Nintendo can’t keep EarthBound/Mother dormant forever, right? Maybe one day we’ll see a complete revival, much in the same way that Kid Icarus came back after a 20-year hiatus.

Source, Via 1, Via 2

Iwata on delay of Wii U games, says dev teams were understaffed to meet launch needs

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

A common topic came up continuously during the Q&A session of Nintendo’s recent financial results briefing: Wii U game delays.

Iwata first commented specifically about games that will finally release starting with Pikmin 3. Its arrival will mark the start of new and significant first-party software releases for Wii U. However, Iwata explained that delays of first-party titles was necessary, otherwise “The brand of a franchise would be completely degraded without customer satisfaction.”

Iwata discusses recent downturn in video game industry

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories | 0 comments

The video game industry has been in the slump over the past couple of years, Satoru Iwata has acknowledged. Some say that the US has specifically seen a downturn. Why is this so?

Iwata did offer two possible reasons during Nintendo’s most-recent financial results briefing Q&A.

First, Iwata commented on consumers’ “higher psychological hurdle to paying a certain sum of money for software.”

Iwata talks a bit about what overseas operations will change now that he has direct control

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories | 0 comments

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s global president, is now the CEO of Nintendo of America. What will that mean for business operations overseas?

Speaking during Nintendo’s latest financial results briefing Q&A, Iwata provided some insight into the situation. There are plans to increase communications “with those working for our overseas subsidiaries” in order “to make their marketing strategies and tactics more aligned with the management decisions at the headquarters.” Iwata will additionally inform such employees “about the products under development on a more timely basis so that they can take advantage of the sales potential of such products in their business territories.”

I decided to refer to our plan to place our overseas operations under my direct control here because, in evaluating the notice regarding changes of directors, I thought that you might wonder who will replace the retiring general manager of the International Division and who will supervise our business in the U.S. after Mr. Kimishima, current chairperson and CEO of Nintendo of America Inc., comes back to Japan to replace Mr. Mori as a managing director.
I already communicate very frequently with those working for our overseas subsidiaries, but I will try to intensify the communications with them to make their marketing strategies and tactics more aligned with the management decisions at the headquarters. I will also inform them about the products under development on a more timely basis so that they can take advantage of the sales potential of such products in their business territories.

Source

Nintendo’s Yamada on Retro Studios project: “I hope to introduce it to you in the not so distant future”

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

Nintendo’s Hiro Yamada is currently supervising Monster Games on the development of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. However, he’s also in the know when it comes to Retro Studios’ new game for Wii U.

Fans want to know: what the heck is the Metroid Prime creator working on? Yamada wouldn’t divulge any details when asked by ONM, but did tease that he hopes to “introduce it to you in the not so distant future.”

“I wonder what kind of game it is? I hope to introduce it to you in the not so distant future.”

Nintendo won’t be holding a press conference at this year’s E3, but the publisher still intends to show games at the show. Perhaps Retro’s new project will be one of them?

Source

Iwata on rising digital sales, digital models such as free-to-play, more

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, 3DS eShop, General Nintendo, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

More and more consumers are purchasing digital content – even in Japan. A good chunk of Animal Crossing: New Leaf’s sales came from the eShop, and there are a fair amount of 3DS owners who have opted to purchase the downloadable version of Tomodachi Collection.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata recently commented on the rise of digital sales during the Q&A session of the company’s latest financial results briefing. He confirmed to attendees that Animal Crossing’s digital sales in Japan stand at 10%, while Tomodachi Collection’s digital sales have come in at 10% thus far.

Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures set for Nintendo platforms

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Podcast Stories, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

Most of you have probably heard about the Angry Video Game Nerd before. In his popular web series, James Rolfe blasts games from the past.

A brand new video game based on AVGN was announced earlier this month for PC. Today, it was revealed through the title’s official Facebook page that a release is also planned for “Nintendo consoles”.

The word “consoles” seems to imply that Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures will be heading to the Wii U eShop as well as the 3DS eShop.

FreakZone Games is working on Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures. It incorporates action, platforming, and shooting gameplay, and takes inspiration from the likes of Mega Man and Castlevania.

Source, Via

Kamiya: Wonderful 101 more about fun than game length, hopes people play it over and over

Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments

Looking for a 20 hour gaming experience on Wii U? Then you may not be too interested in The Wonderful 101.

Based on a recent tweet from director Hideki Kamiya, the Wii U title will be more about entertainment rather than length.

If u hate to finish a game the next day u buy it, u better not play TW101. I focus on how it is fun, not how long it lasts till the ending.
— ???? Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) April 27, 2013

Kamiya followed up his remark with a related fan question. When asked if The Wonderful is meant to be played a few times like Devil May Cry, he said: “I hope you enjoy it like that.”

I hope you enjoy it like that. RT @asmodeus77: So is TW101 meant to be played over and over like DMC?
— ???? Hideki Kamiya (@PG_kamiya) April 27, 2013

Source