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

Nintendo shares jump on Super Mario app for iPhones

TOKYO - Nintendo shares surged more than five percent on Wednesday after the game giant said it would release a Super Mario app for iPhones next month.

The stock price rose as much as 5.5 percent to 26,215 yen before closing the morning session on the Tokyo Stock Exchange up 4.38 percent at 25,950 yen.

Shares in Nintendo, creator of the Pokemon franchise, have been on a tear since the July release of Pokemon Go -- making the company more valuable than Sony at one stage.

The stock has gained more than 50 percent this year on the phenomenal success of the mobile app for iOS and Android developed by San Francisco-based Niantic.

Kyoto-based Nintendo said it would release Super Mario Run worldwide for Apple's iPhone and iPad on December 15.

Customers can download it from the App Store for free to try some limited elements of the game.

An optional one-time payment, which will be $9.99 in the United States, grants unlimited access, the company said.

Neil Campling, an analyst at Northern Trust Capital Markets, hailed the company's approach of enticing gamers in the same way as other mobile game successes as "a great strategy".

"To set a low incentive and then a low total cost when engaged could set Nintendo on a differentiated path, which ultimately could be a game changer," Campling said.

Super Mario Run will also be introduced for Android-based devices at a later date.

Nintendo is also to release a new game console early next year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Nintendo sees transformation, but won't forget 'Mario'

LOS ANGELES -- Nintendo played to "Super Mario" fans on Tuesday while talking transformation as the Japanese video game giant strived to regain momentum.

"If there is a secret to the longevity of Nintendo franchises, it is transformation," Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said during a presentation streamed online before the show floor opened at an Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game extravaganza here.

"We never let them stand still."

 While console rivals Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were stars of theatrical E3 media events in Los Angeles a day earlier, Nintendo opted to go digital for the second year.

Xbox and PlayStation consoles from Microsoft and Sony, respectively, are known for immersive, action-packed games nearing film quality while Nintendo has built a devoted following for closely-protected franchises such as Mario and Legend of Zelda.

But the one-time industry titan has long been criticized for its refusal to license some of its iconic brands for use on mobile applications.

In a sign that Nintendo may be loosening its grip a bit, Fils-Aime announced a partnership with Activision to add "Donkey Kong" and "Bowser" characters to the video game publisher's successful Skylanders line-up.

Skylanders has been a hit with real-world figurines embedded with chips that synchronize them to arena-style platforms plugged into consoles, essentially letting youngsters carry about customized champions they can drop into on-screen games.

Donkey Kong and Bowser will have vehicles and be part of a Skylanders SuperChargers offering from Activision in September. The play pieces will also work as "amiibos" in compatible Nintendo games.

Super Mario turns 30

Nintendo also said it will mark the 30th anniversary of its iconic "Super Mario" franchise this year with the release in September of a game that will let people create their own levels for play.

The Japanese video game stalwart on Tuesday launched a LetsSuperMario.com website where lovers of the franchise can upload video tributes.

Fils-Amie said that Nintendo's transformation includes broadening out into theme parks, mobile devices, and even a new dedicated game platform about which it will reveal more next year.

At E3 this week, Nintendo will provide early looks at new installments to beloved franchises including Star Fox, Yoshi, Metroid, and Mario & Luigi.

Nintendo's offerings were tailored for Wii U and its 3DS handheld gaming devices that have lost luster as lifestyles turn to play on smartphones or tablets.

The Kyoto-based company hopes to offset weakening demand for its 3DS portable game system with plans to jump into the booming smartphone games market -- a long awaited departure from its consoles-only policy.

"A new source of revenue is expected from a gaming application for smart devices which will be released this year," Nintendo said after releasing earnings figures in May.

In March, Nintendo unveiled plans to buy a stake in Tokyo-based mobile gaming company DeNA as part of a deal to develop smartphone games based on Nintendo's host of popular characters.

Fils-Amie described Nintendo's E3 line-up as "familiar characters and franchises transformed in unexpected ways that can only be found on Nintendo systems.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com