Iwata on Nintendo’s new membership service, decision to replace Club Nintendo
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 15 Comments
For many years, Nintendo used Club Nintendo as its primary membership service. That’s finally coming to an end this year, and DeNA is being brought in to come up with something brand new.
During last week’s financial results briefing, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata offered up a lengthy explanation as to why the company is finally doing away with Club Nintendo. Read on below to check out what was shared.
So far, Nintendo has built its official website, started the Club Nintendo membership service, made its dedicated video game systems network compatible, started Miiverse and has constructed other online services one at a time. When we constructed each one of them, we were trying to create a certain solution to achieve a certain goal or to address to a certain issue. In other words, we did not have an overall vision as to what the final and comprehensive format should be like and, as a result, we cannot say each of these services was connected to one another in an ideal way. Also, when we were designing them, we did not have the idea of building a bridge between smart devices and dedicated video game systems and, at least five years ago, we could not foresee that smart devices would have increased in significance to be the dominant window through which consumers connect with one another and society. When we look at Nintendo’s current network services from this perspective and others, they look like patchwork. They are not ideally designed for user convenience, and when we try to improve one, we have to modify not only the portion directly related to that service but also other seemingly unrelated components, so it cannot be done easily. In other words, we have many ideas that we would like to realize but we have not been able to execute them as smoothly as we had hoped.
More: DeNA, Satoru Iwata, top
Iwata’s full comments on NX, what Nintendo isn’t showing at E3 2015
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, General Nintendo, News, Switch, Wii U | 20 Comments
Unofficial translations came up over the past few days regarding what Nintendo has in store for its new system codenamed “NX”. Nintendo has now put up a translation of its own, which has a slightly fuller response.
Of course, CEO Satoru Iwata made sure to withhold major information, but he did say that it’s not intended to be “a simple ‘replacement’ for Nintendo 3DS or Wii U.” Nintendo is also “taking into consideration various factors, including the playing environments that differ by country.”
Head past the break for Iwata’s full comments on NX, plus what Nintendo won’t be showing at E3 (posted on the site previously).
More: Satoru Iwata, top
Iwata on how Nintendo chooses partners, more on the Universal deal
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments
Over the past few months, Nintendo has announced a couple of key partnerships. The company has teamed up with DeNA for smart device games and a membership service, and Universal for theme park attractions.
So how does Nintendo go about choosing partners anyway? President Satoru Iwata shared a lengthy explanation, which you can find below. Iwata also touches more on how the Universal deal came together.
More: Satoru Iwata, top
LEGO Jurassic World out on June 12, new trailer, pre-order bonuses
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
LEGO Jurassic World is launching on June 12, Warner Bros. Interactive announced today.
The publisher has also confirmed a few pre-orders bonuses for the game. Those are as follows:
– GameStop – LEGO Dino Trap Mini Playset
– Target – Dr. Wu Minifigure
– Walmart – $10 Movie Cash Certificate
View a new trailer for LEGO Jurassic World below.
Source: Warner Bros. Interactive PR
Iwata on Nintendo’s monetization approach to smart device games, still working on Mii app
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Mobile, News | 0 comments
One topic stemming from the Q&A portion of Nintendo’s latest financial results briefing concerns how the company will monetize its smart phone games. President Satoru Iwata offered some insight last week, and while he didn’t provide any specifics, he did discuss what the strategy is moving forward.
Iwata indicated that Nintendo is looking at the key term “wide and small” as opposed to “narrow and large”. He explained that the strategy is how to obtain “a small amount of money from a wide range of consumers.”
In his response, Iwata also mentioned that Nintendo is still working on its smart device app using Mii characters that has long been teased.
Read up on Iwata’s full comments below.
More: Satoru Iwata, top
Iwata on generating “Nintendo-like profits”, smart device business, preparing initiatives/changes for dedicated games business
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Mobile, News | 1 Comment
Returning to “Nintendo-like profits” is something that often tends to be discussed at the Big N’s financial results briefings. The general thought is that by reaching that mark, Nintendo would be bringing in an operating income of over 100 billion yen.
One investor asked about reaching “Nintendo-like profits” during the Q&A portion of the company’s financial results meeting last week after it was announced that Nintendo’s operating income target for this fiscal year is 50 billion yen. Check out what president Satoru Iwata had to say below. In addition to discussing “Nintendo-like profits”, Iwata also commented on what’s in store for the smart device business, and teased preparing initiatives/changes for the dedicated games business “to make changes to some of the elements that are currently not working so well.”
Firstly, we base our thinking regarding profits for the next fiscal year on generating those that can be seen as typical of Nintendo, just as you mentioned. As investors should determine “Nintendo-like profits,” I believe it is inappropriate for me to explain in public what level of profit this should be. However, many assess that generating an annual operating income of 100 billion yen can be considered a “Nintendo-like profit structure.” As such assessments have been made, we will structure our plans for the next fiscal year to reach such a level. For the fiscal year that just ended in March 2015, we positioned it to be the year to balance revenue and expenses, and we managed to accomplish this. We set our financial forecasts taking into consideration the steps we should take this fiscal year if we are to aim for “Nintendo-like profits” in the next fiscal year.
More: Satoru Iwata, top
Fullblox out now on the European 3DS eShop
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News | 0 comments
Nintendo has unexpectedly launched Fullblox on the European 3DS eShop. You may recall that the game saw a surprising announcement and release in Japan earlier this week. At this time, Fullblox is not available in North America.
Fullblox, a puzzle experience, can be downloaded from the European 3DS eShop for free. It comes with seven introductory puzzles, and players can purchase four additional DLC pack.
It’s possible to purchase the four DLC packs individually for the following prices:
– Mallo’s Playtime Plaza (£4.49): 100 progressively challenging levels that introduce the basics of the game.
– Poppy’s Sculpture Square (£2.69): 50 puzzle levels shaped like animals and objects.
– Corin’s Fortress of Fun (£2.69): 50 levels featuring new gizmo obstacles and enemies.
– Papa Blox’s NES Expo (£2.69): A treat for retro fans that features 50 levels based on classic NES characters.
Nintendo is also offering the following bundles:
– Bundle featuring all four DLC packs, £8.99
– Bundle of three DLC packs after Mallo’s Playtime Plaza has already been purchased, £6.29
– Bundle of any three DLC packs after already purchasing one of the following: Poppy’s Sculpture Square, Papa Blox’s NES Expo or Corin’s Fortress of Fun, £8.09
Check out the official trailer and announcement for Fullblox below.
More: Europe, Fullblox, Intelligent Systems, top
Nintendo Download (5/14/15, North America) – Nihilumbra, Ultratron, 3D Thunder Blade, New Super Mario Bros., more
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Wii U eShop | 5 Comments
This week’s North American Nintendo Downloads are as follows:
Wii U Download
Nihilumbra – $7.99
Ultratron – $8.99
Funk of Titans – $8.99
Wii U Virtual Console
New Super Mario Bros. – $9.99 (note: final price; was originally listed for $7.99 on Nintendo’s website)
Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue – $7.99
Mega Man Battle Network 3 White – $7.99
3DS Download
3D Thunder Blade – $5.99
Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains – $39.99
3DS Themes
Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains (free with digital game purchase)
Pushmo: Mallo & Friends
SEGA 3D Classics Fantasy Zone
SEGA 3D Classics Space Harrier
eShop Sales
Wii U/3DS
– Capcom sale! Check out great deals on select Capcom games in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U beginning at 9 a.m. PT on May 14 until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 28. Visit http://www.nintendo.com/eshop/offers for more details.
Wii U
– Wooden Sen’Sey is 70 percent off (reduced from $9.99 to $2.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 21.
– Midnight and Toon Tanks from Petite Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 28.
– Arrow Time U is 25 percent off (reduced from $1.99 to $1.49) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 28.
– GetClose: A game for RIVALS is 33 percent off (reduced from $2.99 to $1.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 28.
3DS
– Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers and other games from ATLUS are on sale beginning at 9 a.m. PT on May 18 until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 25.
– Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic, Cooking Mama 5: Bon Appétit! and Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends from – Majesco are on sale beginning at 9 a.m. PT on May 18 until 8:59 a.m. PT on May 25.
– Big Hero 6 Battle in the Bay is 33 percent off (reduced from $29.99 to $19.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on June 15.
Price Reductions
Wii U
– Snake Den has been reduced to $1.25 (from $3.99).
3DS
– Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger and Vacation Adventures: Park Ranger 2 from Filematch Ltd. are reduced to $4.99 beginning at 9 a.m. PT on May 15.
Source: Nintendo PR
More: Nintendo Download, top, Virtual Console
Nintendo finally confirms the Mario – Silver Edition amiibo, out May 29
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 1 Comment
Following a number of leaks, Nintendo has finally confirmed the Mario – Silver Edition amiibo. The figure is launching in North America on May 29 as expected for $12.99. Mario – Silver Edition amiibo will be sold at all stores.
Nintendo noted in its announcement today that this latest figure “will have the same functionality and work with all games that are compatible with Mario amiibo.”
Source: Nintendo PR
Nintendo assisted with Xenoblade Chronicles X’s online functionality
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 9 Comments
Xenoblade Chronicles X was a huge undertaking for Monolith Soft. Not only is the game quite a bit bigger than the original title on Wii, but this was also the studio’s first time working with HD development.
Xenoblade Chronicles X executive director Tetsuya Takahashi spoke about some of the challenges in making the project in this week’s issue of Famitsu. On the topic of having trouble creating a map five times the size of the original Xenoblade Chronicles in addition to numerous quests and equipment, Takahashi said:
As the volume was large, the most troublesome thing was debugging (laughs). As this was our first HD title, it was decided from the start that we won’t use cutting edge technology. When I considered what is the strength of Monolith Soft, I came to the conclusion it’s the ability to neatly put together huge volume.
