Posted Tue Jan 28, 2014 at 11:30 AM PST by Brian Hoss
"Nintendo's intention is not to make Nintendo software available on smart devices."
Following Nintendo's recent admission of failed sales projections, heavy year over year losses, and need to address current sales trends, many websites were quick to publish a plan outlined by Japanese news publication, Nikkei. This plan saw Nintendo developing and releasing demo Nintendo titles for smartphones with the idea that a new generation would become familiar with Nintendo's iconic stable of IPs, and follow them to a Nintendo device.
Naturally, the quick leap of logic was that Nintendo was finally coming to non-Nintendo platforms and this move was the first step in an eventually transition to smartphone games. The general acceptance of this rumored and overstated plan flew in the face of a lifetime of Nintendo moving glacially and only in a proprietary direction.
Today, Nintendo issued a response to Engadget, which soundly denies the Nikkei report, "Nikkei's article contains information previously stated by [Nintendo president] Mr. [Satoru] Iwata during past press conferences, including statements which relate to Nintendo's willingness to make use of smart devices to promote our products. However, during such past announcements Mr. Iwata has also stated that Nintendo's intention is not to make Nintendo software available on smart devices and as such, we can confirm that there are no plans to offer minigames on smartphone devices."
Ultimately, Nintendo has already expressed a desire to further grow its Miiverse from just a presence on smartphones and PCs to a product that attracts new users to Nintendo products. For now, Nintendo is publically remaining resolute that going beyond that and in the direction of a software-only company is not the current plan.
Source: GamesIndusty International
Author: Brian Hoss
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