Nintendo launches new Switch game console

TOKYO - Nintendo's Switch console goes on sale Friday in a global launch seen as key for the Japanese videogame giant to reverse flagging sales and compete with Sony's top-selling PlayStation 4.

The $299 unit, which works both at home and on-the-go, blends the Super Mario maker's history in the console business with its fledgling mobile gaming strategy, which got a big brand win after Pokemon Go's success last summer.

Kyoto-based Nintendo is aiming to sell more than two million Switch consoles in its first month.

Strong demand for the new unit would help Nintendo close the book on poor sales of its last console, Wii U -- the disappointing follow-up to the smash hit Wii, which sold over 100 million units worldwide after its launch a decade ago.

Switch has a removable screen that lets players dock it at home and also use it on the go like a tablet with detachable controllers -- called Joy-Con -- on both sides.

The idea is to give gamers a more immersive experience with realistic physical sensations matched to what is happening on-screen.

A remote control feature means players can take their eyes off the screen to face off, punching the air in a boxing game or getting into a gun duel.

In past years, Nintendo has scored hits with traditional home consoles, such as the Nintendo 64 or GameCube, and portable devices likes GameBoy and the DS handheld.

"Switch is probably one of the most important consoles for Nintendo in the past decades," said Serkan Toto, a Tokyo-based games industry consultant.

"(It's) the first time where Nintendo basically combines portable games and home console games into one device, into one platform."

But trying to score a win in two different markets is risky, Toto added.

"Some people could say that Nintendo is trying to kill two birds with one stone and that it could actually land in the middle and not really catch any of the target groups," he said.

Investors have been underwhelmed so far. Nintendo shares are down about 15 percent from October, when the firm gave gamers a sneak peak of its newest console.

While it has dipped a toe into the mobile gaming market, the Nintendo also needs to keep up with console maker rivals Microsoft and Sony, which has racked up huge sales of the latest PlayStation -- it has sold more than 53 million units globally since its debut in late 2013.

mis/pb/fa

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nintendo reboots with new portable Switch game console

TOKYO - Nintendo will unveil its new portable Switch games console Friday as it looks to offset disappointing Wii U sales and go head to head with rival Sony's hugely popular PlayStation 4.

The hybrid console -- it can be played at home and on the go -- comes as Nintendo dips its toe into the mobile gaming market after scoring a big win for its brand this summer with the success of Pokemon Go.

But Switch got off to an inauspicious start in October when a sneak peak at the console left gamers and analysts underwhelmed and with many unanswered questions.

Nintendo's Tokyo-listed stock dived after it released a three-minute video about the product on its YouTube channel.

But the firm is expected to release more details on Friday, including the price, when it shows off the console to media at an event scheduled to start around 1 p.m. (0400 GMT) in Tokyo.

A briefing in New York will follow later in the day with the unit set to go on sale in March.

The device has a removable screen that lets players dock it at home and also use it on the go like a tablet computer with detachable controllers on both sides. It uses cartridges rather than discs.

Switch will be crucial for Nintendo which needs a hit product to offset the flagging fortunes of the Wii U and its handheld 3DS device, as rival Sony racks up huge sales of the PS4 -- it has sold over 50 million units globally since its debut in late 2013.

In November, Sony started selling the $400 PS4 Pro, which promises even sharper graphics than earlier versions.

After struggling to fix its weak finances, Nintendo abandoned a long-held consoles-only policy and entered the smartphone game market last year.

In March, the Super Mario maker released "Miitomo" -- a free-to-play and interactive game -- as it tries to compete in an industry that has increasingly gone online.

This summer it scored another hit with the Pokemon Go app released in July, but the impact on Nintendo's profits will be limited.

The company is the creator of the Pokemon franchise but does not own the licence for the game, which was developed and distributed by US-based Niantic, a spinoff of Google.

Last month, Nintendo released the Super Mario Run game for iPhones, which topped download charts and drew more than 40 million downloads globally in the first four days after its release, according to the company.

But analysts warned its popularity could be hampered by a relatively high $10 price tag for access to the full game, since many online offerings are free.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Nintendo to release Super Mario Run in mobile game test

TOKYO - Nintendo will on Thursday release Super Mario Run, its first iPhone game and a key test of its foray into mobile gaming, hot on the heels of the Pokemon Go craze.

The game will start selling in 151 countries and regions later Thursday and will become available on Android-based devices at a later date.

The highly anticipated release comes after the Kyoto-based Wii console maker refused for years to move into smartphone gaming or license its characters for online play.

But, as it struggled to repair its finances, the firm changed course and announced last year it was teaming up with Japanese mobile specialist DeNA to develop games for smartphones and tablets based on its host of popular characters.

In March, Nintendo released its first mobile game "Miitomo" -- a free-to-play and interactive game that allows users to create avatars.

Then the Pokemon Go game -- based on Nintendo characters -- exploded into the public consciousness, being downloaded more than half a billion times.

But it was only partly Nintendo's creation -- the game is owned by San Francisco-based Niantic -- and it's had little impact on the firm's bottom line.

Super Mario Run, based on Nintendo's iconic Italian plumber, is the firm's most important move so far into mobile gaming.

Randy Nelson, head of mobile insights at US-based industry analyst group Sensor Tower, said it was likely to be a hit in the first month or so.

"We have no doubt that first month downloads of Super Mario Run will be historic -- likely much greater than Pokemon Go -- thanks to months of prominent featuring by Apple, extensive media coverage, and more," he wrote in a blog.

But a nearly $10 price tag to buy the full version could scare away some potential customers, Pokemon Go is free, and Android users won't be able to buy it until a later date.

"It's not like it will be Pokemon Go of 500 million downloads in two months," Macquarie Securities analyst David Gibson told Bloomberg News, instead estimating about 200 million downloads by the end of March.

"Nostalgic Nintendo players will almost certainly spend. But what matters is if the marginal customer says this is good, yeah, I’ll spend the money."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pokemon Go helps teen with autism make friends

Video game Pokémon Go might be doing more for people than helping them get off the couch.

That's as a 17-year old autism patient said the hit virtual reality game is helping him feel more comfortable with socializing.

William Harmon said he doesn't have many friends because he doesn't know how to start a conversation, but he now finds it easier to make friends--thanks to Pikachu and friends who appear via augmented reality.

But an expert emphasized that parental or professional help is still needed to help autistic patients develop social skills.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pentagon clamps down on Pokemon Go

The Pentagon doesn't like Pikachu.

In the latest bizarre news surrounding the global phenomenon that is Pokemon Go, US Defense Department officials on Friday said employees should not download the game onto their government-issued smartphones.

"You can imagine a number of reasons [why] that wouldn't necessarily be a prudent thing to do," Pentagon deputy press secretary Gordon Trowbridge told reporters.

"Aside from any security concerns, I think taxpayers would appreciate government phones being used for government business."

Pokemon Go is an augmented reality app through which users hunt fictional digitized animal characters like the furry yellow Pikachu, which have been scattered around the world, often in unlikely locations.

The game has become a global craze, with crowds of players dashing to locations to try to snag characters.

Several military installations have warned troops about the possible perils of playing Pokemon Go on bases, including near runways.

Trowbridge jokingly said he could not definitively confirm reports a Pokemon "gym" -- a virtual battle arena -- has been placed in the courtyard in the middle of the vast Pentagon building.

"Last I heard, there was still a gym in center courtyard. I'm not a player myself so I will defer to others," Trowbridge said.

"I can confirm it," quipped Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Start catching 'em all! Pokemon GO now in PH

MANILA - The wait is over. The mobile game Pokemon GO is now out on Google and iOS for Filipino players.

The announcement was made on the Pokemon GO official Facebook page on Saturday. The Philippines is among the next 15 countries across Asia and Oceania where the game is being rolled out.

Other countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.

The augmented reality game was already rolled out in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. To date, it has garnered more than 50 million downloads.

Pokemon GO is developed by US-based firm Niantic, Inc.

One of the first places where one can find a Pokemon is at the CCP.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Clash of Clans, other games may generate USD7B by 2019

Southeast Asia's mobile gaming revenues are expected to grow six-fold to over USD 7 billion in the next five years thanks to smartphones and high-speed Internet access, an industry report said Tuesday.

Revenues only crossed the $1.0 billion mark in 2014 but are expected to rise at a compounded annual growth rate of 48 percent until 2019, making Southeast Asia the fastest-growing region for the industry, business consultancy Frost & Sullivan said.

The growth is being "driven by the rapid increase of broadband users, usage of smart devices and social media," it said in a press statement.

Southeast Asia's more prosperous economies such as Singapore and Malaysia largely account for the bulk of current mobile gaming revenues, but other countries are quickly expanding, the statement added.

"This is changing quickly, however, as markets like Thailand are now over 50 percent smartphone markets and Indonesia and Vietnam are also rising rapidly," the statement said.

"By 2019, we believe that smartphone usage will become mainstream in the region."

However, one major impediment to the industry's growth in Southeast Asia is the difficulty in making payments online.

"As a region, credit card penetration is extremely low," it said, noting that the credit card penetration rate is less than 10 percent in all countries surveyed excluding Singapore and Malaysia.

"This makes purchasing virtual goods extremely difficult for most gamers in the region," it said.

"Clash of the Clans", made by Finland-based company Supercell, is the favourite mobile game in Southeast Asia, mirroring the global trend, the consultancy said.

But Chinese and Korean games are also popular, the report said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Swing Copters: More frustrating than Flappy Bird

MANILA - Swing Copters, the much-anticipated new game from Flappy Bird creator Dong Nguyen, is now available for download.

Much like its predecessor, the free-to-play app again dares you to navigate your way through a series of obstacles, while trying to score as many points as you can.

But rather than guiding a tiny bird sideways, you are now tasked to help a little brown sprite avoid a bunch of swinging hammers blocking its upward flight.

The bug-eyed thing, with a propeller for a hat, moves side-to-side automatically and you will need to tap on the screen to quickly change its direction.

The game is far more quick-paced and frustrating than Flappy Bird, but I personally think it is less addicting, as well. (My high score currently stands at 2)

One factor is the difficulty -- which is now extremely harder thanks to those addition of animated obstacles.

It might turn a lot of casual gamers -- those who play the game just to pass the time -- off the game, but the decision to tone the down the addictive quality may be intentional from Nguyen.

He earlier admitted that the reason he pulled Flappy Bird off app stores, despite reportedly earning him more than $50,000 in ad revenue, was because it was "too addictive."

As of writing, 'Swing Copters' currently sits in the top five most downloaded free app on the local iTunes Store.

It has already spawned quite a cult following on Twitter, with several players posting their high scores. Currently, the number stands at 82.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Flappy Bird' creator to return with new game

MANILA - Mobile game developer Dong Nguyen has announced on Twitter that he is working on a new game to help people forget about his smash hit, "Flappy Bird."

The attached screenshot, which has been retweeted more than 1,600 times on the micro-blogging site, shows helmeted characters running through a gap in between two vertically aligned buildings.

In an interview with CNBC, Nguyen described the game as a "man jumping from one building to another."


Nguyen's latest announcement came days after he said that he plans to put "Flappy Bird" back in the App Store in August, albeit a "less addicting' version with multiplayer options.

According to Nguyen, the reason why he removed the game in the first place was because of the attention he has been receiving since the game's shot to fame.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Local game developer partners with Cherry Mobile

MANILA -- In its aim to develop more games for the local market, third-party game developer Anino Games recently announced that it will be releasing this month Cherry Dots for Android phones.

In a press briefing held in its Makati office, Anino Games chief executive Neil Dagondon said the company has formed a partnership with mobile phone maker Cherry Mobile to distribute the game to the local market. The game will be pre-installed on Cherry mobile phones.

“We are excited to have Cherry Mobile as a partner. With their support, we will be able to promote Filipino-made games to the local market,” said Dagondon.

Dagondon said Anino Games decided to pattern the latest project after Puzzle Dots to accommodate Cherry Mobile’s wide portfolio of Android devices with different processing power and memory sizes.

Puzzle Dots, developed by Anino Games, won the Best Mobile Game in the Philippine Game Development Awards 2013.

In order to entice a bigger number of Filipino gamers, Dagondon said Anino Games customized the game to include social features such as leaderboards and integrated Globe Telecom’s purchasing API so players can buy in-game currency without need of a credit card. Meanwhile, payment integration for Smart Communication subscribers will be available in future releases.

The game also has a version for the iPhone and iPad named Sago Express, a puzzle game that challenges the player to eliminate as many sago patterns from the board. With every successful find, a player can gain extra time to keep on searching, and coins to help a gamer a purchase power-ups to help him or her advance their score.

Dagondon said Cherry Dots and Sago Express will be available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store this month.

Some of the other games developed by Anino Games include Delicious 9: Emily’s Honeymoon Cruise, Manila Rush, Through Andrea’s Eyes, Grave Mania: Pandemic Pandemonium, Robot Bop and Fossil Finder.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why Candy Crush maker's shares fizzled in market debut

Shares in King Digital Entertainment Plc fell as much as 16 percent in their Wednesday debut, underscoring investor concern about the company's reliance on "Candy Crush Saga" and dampening hopes that its coming-out party could revive investor interest in the mobile gaming industry.

Mobile game industry executives had looked to London-based King's IPO, the largest by a gaming company since Zynga Inc went public in 2011, to help sweep aside skepticism over a notoriously fickle, volatile market.

But King's shares fell to a low of $18.90 in afternoon trade from their IPO price of $22.50, which valued the company at about $6 billion.

Since Twitter's market debut in November, King's IPO was the largest U.S. tech IPO and the second-worst performing after textbook rental and academic service company Chegg Inc, which plummeted 23 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The company offers over 180 games but its two-year-old "Candy Crush Saga" game, in which users move candies to line up at least three of the same color, accounted for over three-quarters of King's revenue for the last three months of 2013.

"Once you have a hit, it's hard to make a string of hits. How many bands were the Beatles?" Roger Kay, analyst at research firm Endpoint Technologies Associates said. "Also, there've been a lot of high priced IPOs and mergers and acquisitions (of late) and when valuations get frothy, investors get disappointed when returns don't measure up to expectations."

Candy Crush, a free game, is now a household name and has been downloaded more than 500 million times since its launch on mobile devices. Using the "freemium" model, King makes money by selling players extra lives and other add-ons.

King's dismal debut dragged down other gaming stocks on Wednesday. Zynga shares fell over 4 percent, while smaller player Glu Mobile slipped 4.5 percent.

When Zynga debuted in 2011 with about the same valuation as King, its stock ended down 5 percent on opening day.

"FarmVille" maker Zynga's market value has since shrunk to just over $4 billion, falling victim to concerns about the danger of investing in companies that rely heavily on a hit game.

"This was mispriced," Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia said of the King debut. "There are a lot of IPOs in the pipeline so investors are not starving ... and are being picky. Today's action also says investors are not going to ignore fundamentals."

King's shares closed down about 16 percent at $19.00 on Wednesday. JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and BofA Merrill Lynch were the lead underwriters for the offering.

There are some signs new titles from King's portfolio may be gaining traction. Analysts have pointed out that "Farm Heroes Saga" has seen momentum since its January mobile launch.

The title has since landed on the list of top 10 highest-grossing apps on Apple's iOS platform, but whether the game will prove to be a money-making title in coming months remains to be seen.

LONG-TERM RUN

Despite its first-day fizzle, the company's real test will be to convince investors that it can build a sustainable business.

"To us it's not about today but (a run) over the course of years and executing our plans," Hope Cochran, King's chief financial officer, said in an interview. "Having a stable group of global franchises is really what we’re focused on."

King sold 15.5 million shares of the 22.2 million offered, with the rest coming from stakeholders including private equity firm Apax Partners, which remains the biggest shareholder. King raised about $500 million in its IPO.

In February, King said an average 144 million daily active users played its games more than 1.4 billion times per day.

Unlike companies like Twitter that went public last year with no profits on their balance sheet, King has been profitable since 2005.

"Candy Crush," which was first launched on Facebook in April 2012, was released on Apple devices in November that year and on Android devices a month later.

The spectacular popularity of "Candy Crush" helped King generate revenue of $602 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, up from $22 million in the first quarter of 2012.

The stock's less-than-impressive debut will be noted by youthful rivals such as San Francisco-based Kabam and Kixeye, known for strategy games like "Kingdoms of Camelot" and "War Commander", which are looking to make market listings or secure new financing.

King has no debt and generated positive cash flow from operations for each of the last nine years. It posted profit before tax of $714.3 million in 2013.

Apax will retain a 44.2 percent stake in the company, if underwriters fully exercise their option to buy shares.

Chief executive Riccardo Zacconi, who has led King since co-founding the company in Sweden in 2003, will hold a 9.5 percent stake.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com