Satoru Iwata

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 9 Comments

This is the graph displayed in the last Financial Results Briefing, which shows the percentage of change found in the sell-through data of Nintendo 3DS hardware and software in each market for the third quarter of this fiscal year compared to the corresponding term of the previous year.

As you can see, except for Japan, where New Nintendo 3DS contributed to the full quarter, the hardware sales fell far short of the previous year in the U.S. and Europe where the new models were not available during the third quarter and in Australia, where they were launched in late November.

In the fourth quarter, you can see the launch of New Nintendo 3DS in the overseas markets boosted the sales of both hardware and software from one year prior and brought momentum to the platform once again.

On the other hand, the Japanese market was in between big titles and this resulted in a different outcome after having enjoyed five double-million sellers in the latter six months of the year 2014.

In the Japanese market, the cumulative sales of Nintendo 3DS hardware since its launch are about to reach 19 million units. Regarding the Nintendo 3DS software market, the situation remains promising not only because there have been numerous major-hit titles released since the latter half of last year, but also because we have high hopes for the many titles that are planned to be released this year by both Nintendo and other game software developers. On the other hand, regarding the Nintendo 3DS hardware, four years since its release, we are seeing a certain level of positive results by the release of New Nintendo 3DS, but we still have not been able to break free from the period beyond the popularization of the Nintendo 3DS in which the performance leveled off. I believe that the key to revitalizing the Nintendo 3DS business in Japan is by intensifying its appeal to even more generations of female consumers.

This year, we are planning to release titles that offer high potential to appeal to female consumers, and we would like to further strengthen our approach to reach a female audience covering wider generations.

Meanwhile, in the overseas markets, the Nintendo 3DS hardware has not spread to a level where it has reached its market potential. In other words, there is plenty of room for growth.

Since the release of New Nintendo 3DS in February this year, especially for the large-screened New Nintendo 3DS XL, stock in stores has continued to run low in the U.S. and Europe, which of course is a sign that the game platform has momentum.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 59 Comments

During Nintendo’s latest financial results briefing, CEO Satoru Iwata commented on what lies ahead for Wii U in terms of software. Iwata mentioned that, at last year’s E3, games were announced that make use of the GamePad such as Mario Maker. He also stated that there are more Wii U titles for this fiscal year that haven’t been announced yet.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 5 Comments

Nintendo made a major announcement in conjunction with the release of its most recent fiscal results today. For those that missed out on the news, the company revealed a new partnership with Universal Parks & Resorts for the first theme park attractions based on Nintendo’s various properties. Nintendo is remaining coy on specific details for the time being, but president Satoru Iwata shared a few words at a press conference held in Japan earlier today.

He said:

There have been many requests to build a theme park with Nintendo characters. (Realizing that) requires assistance and know-how, so there were discussions with Universal in order to find a good partner.

Iwata also stated: “We want to create an opportunity where [a theme park visitor] wants to try playing the game.”

Japanese outlet Asahi, who passed along Iwata’s quotes, also obtained a comment from Nintendo’s PR manager. He said: “It’s possible we’ll create attractions together in Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka.”

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 17 Comments

While announcing Nintendo’s latest financial results, president Satoru Iwata shared a brief update regarding the company’s mobile development plans.

Sankei reports that the producer of Mario Kart has been appointed to be in charge of mobile game development. “It should help you understand the level of commitment from Nintendo”, Iwata said.

A name isn’t specifically mentioned, but we assume the article is referring to Hideki Konno, who has been producing Mario Kart games since the DS entry. Konno was also the producer on Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7, and Mario Kart 8.

Sankei also mentions that today’s news shows how Nintendo intends to tackle mobile games with the same developers they use for console games.

Nintendo announced in March that it was teaming up with DeNA to create gaming apps for smartphone devices. The two sides are also working together a new membership service for Nintendo.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 14 Comments

A new Iwata Asks has gone live. Following the Xenoblade Chronicles 3D discussion last month, Nintendo’s latest discussion focuses on the spiritual sequel Xenoblade Chronicles X. Read it here.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata sits down with Genki Yokota, Koh Kojima, Kazuho Hyodo, Yuichiro Takeda, and Tetsuya Takahashi to talk all about the Wii U RPG. It’s a lengthy read, but it should be well worth checking out if you have interest in Xenoblade Chronicles X!

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Mobile, News, Switch | 1 Comment

Nintendo held a presentation with DeNA last week to announce a partnership between the two companies. Towards the end, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata and DeNA president Isao Moriyasu fielded questions from attendees. The entire Q&A is now live, and you can find it right here.

I won’t be breaking down the Q&A into various excerpts per usual, as we covered it quite a bit last week (in both video and summary form). There also isn’t a whole lot of information that we haven’t already covered. Still, it might be worth a read for some of you!

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 21 Comments

TIME has put up another round of quotes from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. There is plenty of additional mobile talk (such as how he isn’t a fan of the term “free-to-play”), but other topics were discussed as well. Iwata commented on the Wii U’s launch price, how Shigeru Miyamoto’s involvement with the New 3DS led to the inclusion of super-stable 3D, how the characters in Smash Bros. are technically toys, amiibo, and rumors about Netflix’s live-action Zelda series (which are apparently inaccurate).

We’ve rounded up Iwata’s comments below. If you’re interested in checking out TIME’s original report, head on over to this link.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 47 Comments

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata touched on the company’s new gaming system, NX, during an interview with Japanese publication Nikkei. He suggested that the company’s plan is to surprise gamers, as simply expanding upon existing hardware makes things “dull.”

Iwata’s full words:

“However, if you only expand upon existing hardware, it’s dull. In some shape or form, we’re always thinking about how we want to surprise players as well as our desire to change each person’s video gaming life.”

That’s all that was shared about NX. We’ll have to wait until next year for any concrete details!

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Mobile, News | 1 Comment

Nintendo and DeNA held a presentation earlier this week to announce a big partnership between the two companies, as the Big N is finally set to make a big splash in the mobile space with original games for smart devices. Towards the end of the event, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and DeNA CEO Isao Moriyasu fielded some questions from those in attendance.

Here’s a brief summary as to what was discussed:

– Iwata says “that each company will have to rely on their good strengths”
– The two discussed how Nintendo will make the games and DeNA will handle the back end
– Moriyasu added that Nintendo will make the games and DeNA will support them
– He also said that the role each company plays will vary by game depending on needs
– Iwata on why Nintendo decided to partner with DeNA: “The world of business is always changing. Therefore, Nintendo is always adjusting.”
– Moriyasu is positive that the mobile game business is only getting larger and larger
– He wondered how he could make business even bigger, and he believes partnering with Nintendo will do just that
– Iwata said that there is no relationship between DeNA and the Nintendo NX
– Again, Nintendo is not going to give up making games for dedicated Nintendo platforms
– Iwata said he is thinking about cross platform interaction between smart phones and dedicated Nintendo devices
– The systems will all connect somehow through Nintendo’s new membership program
– Iwata hinted at some interactivity between dedicated Nintendo consoles and smart phones
– Iwata said many mobile companies were “knocking on Nintendo’s door” and offered similar deals
– DeNA was chosen because the company had a “passion” to work with Nintendo that impressed Nintendo
– Iwata: “DeNA attacked Nintendo with a passion, so we were impressed by them.”

If you watched Nintendo and DeNA’s presentation earlier this week, then most of this should just be rehash. Nintendo will also be putting up an English transcript soon enough I’m sure, so hopefully you’ll be able to read the full Q&A in the near future.

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Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, New Nintendo 3DS, News, Videos | 3 Comments

A second article from TIME covers several Nintendo-related topics in addition to mobile gaming. President Satoru Iwata, Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime, and Shigeru Miyamoto participated in the discussion. We’ve rounded up all of the tidbits and quotes below.

On amiibo…

– Iwata started sketching out the amiibo idea while on a bullet train in late 2013
– Iwata got more and more excited as he mulled the concept
– He dashed off a four-page pitch to his engineers

“It was something I believed would be completely new for us.”

Reggie and Iwata on how pursuing smart devices helps Nintendo…

“We view it as that marriage of the software with the hardware that together creates a compelling experience.” – Reggie

“If we don’t take an approach that looks holistically at the form a video-game platform should take in the future, then we’re not able to sustain Nintendo 10 years down the road. We would like to create several hit titles by effectively leveraging the appeal of Nintendo IP.” – Iwata

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