Nintendo promises "new genres" for 3DS
Satoru Iwata tells investors that software equivalent to Wii Fit and Brain Training due next fiscal year
Nintendo is working on "new genres of software" for the 3DS to be launched over the next fiscal year.
Speaking to investors following its disappointing half-year results, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata compared the new range of software to Brain Training and Wii Fit - products that performed consistently over long periods while inspiring strong hardware sales.
"Aiming for the next fiscal year, we are also working on new genres of software that may attract people who are not particularly interested in video games," he said.
"In order to under our gaming population expansion strategy, we are planning to launch several new software titles in the next fiscal year."
Iwata began the presentation by admitting that he felt "greatly accountable" for the company's financial results falling below guidance, and for lowering its forecast for the full year. However, measures taken in the first half of the 2011, particularly the 3DS price-cut, will soon start to show returns.
"As for our Nintendo 3DS, the hardware markdown has resulted in a huge loss in this fiscal year. However, as we are going ahead with gradual cost-cutting efforts, from a profit standpoint, improvements are expected to be made in the next fiscal year."
"The present result of the markdown is just an improvement of sales pace of the hardware. After the upcoming November, however, anticipated titles for Nintendo 3DS will be continually released, which we hope will bring a big boost in the year-end sales season."
The 3DS is nearing a "certain sales point" where word-of-mouth will drive sales. Iwata expects this "favourable word-of-mouth cycle" to begin after the looming holiday period. "We can expect the Nintendo 3DS to enter into the phase where relevant information shall be communicated even to people who usually do not proactively seek video game information."
Iwata also described a number of new features for the Nintendo eShop in the next 3DS firmware update: developers will now be able to add content to their games after launch, game demos will be available for the first time, and users will be able to download content with the 3DS in Sleep mode.
Iwata also revealed that the eShop would be made available on the Web so it can be accessed via PCs and smartphones.
Kind of strange hearing this when both games are on alternative platforms that already have a strong enough base to just go out and get those.
Want Brain training? - Get an original DS
Want Wii Fit? - Get a Wii
It says compared to, not "is the same as". Whether it works or not, I don't think he is suggesting the new genre is "what we did 4 years ago", more that he is hoping it will have a similar effect.
I think Nintendo should focus on making new genres of games that suit Nintendo's already established fanbase and make as much money of software by focusing of the games that they do best.
If they expect to do another casual revolution like they did with the Wii and the DS, especilly now that the Apple iPhone and iPad games as well as the Facebook gaming market have already stolen the audience that Nintendo worked so hard to get. I think Nintendo should be careful or at least make another different genre of game that can only be played on the 3DS and not on the online market formats.
That is the only way that Nintendo could ever win back the casual crowd.
They lost allot of the otaku market for abandoning the RPGs during the N64 era, I hope that they don't make that same mistake twice.
The lack of RPG's on the N64 had much to do with Square and Enix having issues with Nintendo's insistence on using cartridge medium over optical. But the DS didn't have that problem and I'm don't expect the 3DS to either. Just keep in mind that expecting a lot of big RPG's early in a consoles life is asking too much.