Nintendo Everything

This week’s UK software sales are as follows:

Individual formats

LW		TW			Title	Format	Label	Publisher
–		1			TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION	PS4	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
1		2			FIFA 14	PS4	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
2		3			MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION	XB360	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
–		4			TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION	XB ONE	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
7		5			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	XB360	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
5		6			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	PS4	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3		7			KILLZONE: SHADOW FALL	PS4	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
4		8			FIFA 14	XB360	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
8		9			BATTLEFIELD 4	PS4	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
6		10			FIFA 14	XB ONE	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
19		11			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	PS3	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
11		12			LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	XB360	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
21		13			GRAN TURISMO 6	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
10		14			BATTLEFIELD 4	XB ONE	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
9		15			FIFA 14	PS3	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
16		16			GRAND THEFT AUTO V	XB360	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
12		17			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	PS4	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
14		18			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	XB ONE	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
18		19			FOOTBALL MANAGER 2014	PC	SEGA	SEGA
13		20			GRAND THEFT AUTO V	PS3	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
17		21			FORZA MOTORSPORT 5	XB ONE	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
15		22			BATTLEFIELD 4	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
23		23			NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS	PS4	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
24		24			LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	PS4	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
30		25			LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	PS3	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
22		26			DEAD RISING 3	XB ONE	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
20		27			MARIO PARTY: ISLAND TOUR	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
33		28			WWE 2K14	XB360	2K SPORTS	TAKE 2
27		29			KNACK	PS4	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
26		30			BATTLEFIELD 4	PS3	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
32		31			RYSE: SON OF ROME	XB ONE	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
25		32			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	XB360	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
34		33			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	XB ONE	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
37		34			THE LAST OF US	PS3	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
29		35			NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS	XB360	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
–		36			ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
35		37			ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	XB360	SEGA	SEGA
39		38			POKEMON Y	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–		39			POKEMON X	3DS	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–		40			TOMB RAIDER	XB360	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE

All formats

LW		TW			Title	Developer	Label	Publisher
–		1			TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION	CRYSTAL DYNAMICS	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
1		2			FIFA 14	EA CANADA	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
2		3			CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS	INFINITY WARD	ACTIVISION	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3		4			BATTLEFIELD 4	DIGITAL ILLUSIONS	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
4		5			LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
5		6			ASSASSIN’S CREED IV: BLACK FLAG	UBISOFT (MONTREAL)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
6		7			MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION	4J STUDIOS	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
8		8			GRAND THEFT AUTO V	ROCKSTAR NORTH	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
9		9			NEED FOR SPEED: RIVALS	GHOST GAMES	EA GAMES	ELECTRONIC ARTS
7		10			KILLZONE: SHADOW FALL	GUERRILLA GAMES	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
18		11			GRAN TURISMO 6	POLYPHONY DIGITAL	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
11		12			NBA 2K14	VISUAL CONCEPTS	2K SPORTS	TAKE 2
15		13			WWE 2K14	YUKE’S	2K SPORTS	TAKE 2
13		14			FOOTBALL MANAGER 2014	SPORTS INTERACTIVE	SEGA	SEGA
12		15			FORZA MOTORSPORT 5	TURN 10 STUDIOS	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
14		16			ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES	GEARBOX SOFTWARE	SEGA	SEGA
19		17			LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
24		18			DISNEY INFINITY	AVALANCHE SOFTWARE	DISNEY INFINITY	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
20		19			BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS	WB GAMES MONTREAL	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
10		20			DRAGON BALL Z: BATTLE OF Z	ARTDINK	NAMCO BANDAI GAMES	NAMCO BANDAI GAMES
21		21			DEAD RISING 3	CAPCOM VANCOUVER	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
26		22			SKYLANDERS SWAP FORCE	VICARIOUS VISIONS	SKYLANDERS	ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
29		23			TOMB RAIDER	CRYSTAL DYNAMICS	SQUARE ENIX	SQUARE ENIX EUROPE
16		24			JUST DANCE 2014	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
17		25			MARIO PARTY: ISLAND TOUR	ND CUBE	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
23		26			SAINTS ROW IV	DEEP SILVER VOLITION	DEEP SILVER	KOCH MEDIA
31		27			MADDEN NFL 25	EA TIBURON	EA SPORTS	ELECTRONIC ARTS
22		28			LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS	TRAVELLER’S TALES	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE	WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE
25		29			KNACK	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
27		30			RYSE: SON OF ROME	CRYTEK	MICROSOFT	MICROSOFT
30		31			THE LAST OF US	NAUGHTY DOG	SONY COMPUTER ENT.	SONY COMPUTER ENT.
28		32			MAX PAYNE 3	ROCKSTAR VANCOUVER	ROCKSTAR	TAKE 2
39		33			RAYMAN LEGENDS	UBISOFT (FRANCE)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT
38		34			ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF	NINTENDO	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
32		35			POKEMON Y	GAME FREAK	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
40		36			LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA	TRAVELLER’S TALES	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
33		37			POKEMON X	GAME FREAK	NINTENDO	NINTENDO
–		38			SONIC GENERATIONS	SONIC TEAM	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	SEGA
34		39			SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED	SUMO DIGITAL	XBOX 360 CLASSICS	SEGA
–		40			TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL: BLACKLIST	UBISOFT (TORONTO)	UBISOFT	UBISOFT

Source 1, Source 2

Capcom has interest in releasing Monster Hunter Frontier G outside of Japan.

Capcom’s Yoshinori Ono said during a recent developer interview published on the company’s website:

We do. The letter “G” in the title implies it’s compatible with a wide range of platforms, including PlayStation3, Wii U, Xbox 360, and PC. We’re also planning to extend this support to PlayStation Vita. The reason why we have increased our support for so many hardware platforms is because we have our sights set on distributing services for this game in the future outside Japan. We simply can’t release a game as it is, but need to adapt all the necessary services to the unique characteristics of each region. In preparation for that, we’ve broadened our scope and started launching individual titles across multiple hardware platforms.

Now, what does this mean exactly? Monster Hunter Frontier G could very well be heading into other regions of Asia. Naturally, we’re also hoping that the game is being considered for the west.

Source

The final topic tackled by Satoru Iwata during Nintendo’s investor briefing Q&A concerned its focus on producing both hardware and software.

At the end of the day, “pursuing an integrated hardware-software model in which we offer hardware as well as software provides us with more options in the video game industry in terms of surprising consumers.” Iwata reconfirmed that Nintendo will soon house a new building at its headquarters to allow for its hardware and software developers to work more closely developer, and Iwata hopes he will be able to “demonstrate more clearly the synergy effect that comes from developing both hardware and software.”

Read Iwata’s full comments below.

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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata discussed two important topics for Wii U and how they apply to Japan versus overseas territories last week.

When it comes to promotion for the system, Iwata explained that more resources were devoted to Wii U as opposed to 3DS because Monster Hunter 4 and Pokemon X/Y were able to carry the handheld to a certain extent. Because Nintendo was in a position to properly “focus our energy on communicating Wii U in the year-end sales season”, sales in Japan rose to roughly 100,000 units per week.

Overseas, Nintendo was looking “to boost Nintendo 3DS sales to an explosive level”. The company also needed to provide resources towards Wii U at the same time. “As a result, we were not able to fully focus on promoting either of them,” he admitted. Nintendo originally hoped to “achieve sold sales” for 3DS by the time Pokemon X/Y had arrived and then shift towards Wii U, but “this plan did not work and we had to spread our resources over two platforms.” Additionally, “neither of them achieved explosive sales, a point we need to deeply reflect on.”

On the topic of “consumers’ attention,” Iwata said “there is a difference between the overseas markets in which other companies launched new home consoles, and the Japanese market in which their launches have been held off until this year.”

He continued:

I believe not many consumers wavered between Wii U and those new consoles from other companies because I believe that our user demographics are different to a certain degree. We tried to create a buzz in the overseas markets with Wii U that would encourage many people to look for information about Wii U, making it easier to get our messages across, but this proved to be more difficult than we had expected. I truly need to reflect on the outcome of this year-end sales season, which, in my opinion, was the worst year-end sales season in the overseas markets since I became president, and I would like to bring them back on the right track as soon as possible.

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The 3DS sold quite well during the last few months of 2013, but it didn’t hit Nintendo’s expectations. Pokemon X/Y provided a solid boost to the system, so Nintendo was “confident about the ultimate sales volume for the end of the year,” according to president Satoru Iwata. In the end though, “sales did not grow as expected.”

Iwata, speaking during the Q&A portion of Nintendo’s investor briefing, mentioned that the 3DS didn’t find itself at the top of children’s wish lists. Given how the 3DS costs somewhere in the range of $150 – $200 for most, and other products are competing for consumers’ dollars for the holiday season, “you need to make sure that your product is at the top of children’s wish lists”.

Keeping all of this in mind, 3DS did show high growth in France for the year-end period. Iwata says Nintendo is currently “examining what was different about France, and we would like to apply our findings to other regions.”

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Even more comments from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata have come in regarding plans for character licensing. Chief among them is a statement from Iwata in which he mentioned, “I do not envisage a scenario in which we would license Mario out to another company to make a Mario video game.”

You can find Iwata’s complete remarks below.

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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata shared a few more words about the company’s upcoming Quality of Life plans during the Q&A portion of its investor briefing last week. Look for his comments below.

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We recently heard that Nintendo would be open to the possibility of mergers and acquisitions. The company just put up its investor Q&A in English, so we now have Satoru Iwata’s complete comments on the matter. You can find them (plus more talk of character licensing) below.

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