Based on a magazine picture that comes from this week’s Famitsu, it seems like the highly anticipated title Ninokuni will no longer be a DS-exclusive, as a PS3 version is in the works as well. There are no signs at this point that the game will be canceled on Nintendo’s portable, so Level-5 is most likely developing two versions of the game. We’ll probably hear more about the DS edition later this week when a Ninokuni press conference is held. If interested, you can read more about the PS3 news here.
“We look at what we do well. We look at what we don’t do so well. The things we don’t do so well we commit ourselves to fixing and making improvements. I would put our digital business in that second category. We are looking hard at our digital business and saying, ‘You know what? We can do better.’ And we will do better. It will not look like what our competitors are doing. But we will have more content, have it be more easily discoverable. We will make it engaging and a much bigger piece of our overall business.” – Reggie Fils-Aime
“It is certainly something we’re looking at. Our current approach is a device-based approach. The content is tied to a particular device. Until we move to a different type of an approach like an account based approach you’re not going to be able to transfer the content. We are looking at how best to bring that to life. The step function change we want to see is going to need to be on a new device, like the 3DS.” – Reggie Fils-Aime
A single account for online content is basically what fans have been clamoring for. That would make things much easier and the possibility of transferring downloads between systems could become a simple process.
Just a heads up – Nintendo has confirmed that BS Fire Emblem: Record of Akeneia Wars will be included in Hero of Light and Shadow.
Thanks to Thomas N and Robert for the tip!
Reggie on competing technologies…
“You know, candidly, my personal reaction to what our competitors are doing is meaningless. In the end, the consumer is going to vote with their time, and the consumer is going to vote with their wallets and pocketbooks as to which products and experiences are the most compelling. From that standpoint we’re confident that the consumer will continue to choose Nintendo not only from a home console standpoint but also from a handheld standpoint. In terms of what’s providing the most compelling experiences, the best value in terms of what you get for what you pay, and certainly the multiple lines around our booth would seem to suggest that that should be true.”
Reggie on any interest in 3D console gaming…
“You know, the reason we focused on 3D in a handheld is because, first, we could control the experience, meaning the screen is part of the device. We provide a way for the consumer to individually tune into that experience with the depth slider on the side. And for us that’s the best way to bring a 3D experience to the consumer today. In the future, when there are set standards for 3D television sets, when the prices for those sets come down to reasonable levels, certainly there may be a 3D experience in the home, but then the last hurdle will always be the glasses. And you know $125, $150 a pop, which is what they’re running today, for a family of four on top of everything else, that’s a huge commitment. So, there are a lot of open questions in our view as to whether 3D in the home is going to be the same type of “wow” that 3D in the hand is.”
Thanks to jcr for the tip!
“It’s quite recent, in general. As we explained, it’s very important to us that we have their support and all the Nintendo teams have been dedicated to our partners and spend the time with them. What is important is the surprise effect that the 3D can give on the screen, it was one of the best tools to convince publishers to work as soon as possible with the hardware. They wanted to get hold of it immediately.” – European managing director of marketing and PR Laurent Fisher
It seems like a lot of third-parties were able to accomplish an awful lot in a short time span. I just hope that a number of announced titles will be finished for the 3DS’ launch.
“Technologically speaking, a variety of different things are possible with the 3DS, for example, 3-D video chat.” – Satoru Iwata
“We have just introduced the new ‘Legend of Zelda’ to be launched in 2011, which shows that we are not in a hurry to launch the next generation of home console.” – Satoru Iwata
The source of this information also mentioned that Iwata hinted that a 3DS launch date and price might be coming soon. Additionally, Nintendo may have additional features that will be announced in the near future.
