Following Nintendo's big announcement in March that it would partner with DeNA to bring popular Nintendo IP to new games on smart devices, there was much speculation about how exactly this enthralling venture would unfold.
Now Japanese news outlet Sankei is reporting that Nintendo's latest financial results have shed some light on who exactly is in charge of the company's mobile development.
President Satoru Iwata reportedly revealed the producer of the Mario Kart series has been appointed to call the shots in Nintendo's mobile division, explaining it is proof of the company's commitment to the smart device market:
It should help you understand the level of commitment from Nintendo
Despite the source failing to mention the actual name of this key figure, it's likely Iwata-san is referring to Hideki Konno who has been responsible for producing Mario Kart titles since the 2005 entry, Mario Kart DS.
Konno has also been the producer of Mario Kart Wii, Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS, and most recently, Mario Kart 8, on the Wii U. Echoing Iwata, Sankei explains this is a sign of Nintendo's commitment to mobile gaming, with the house of Mario using the same developers it uses to create console games.
Let us know in the comments what you about Nintendo appointing important figures within the company to work on smart devices and create mobile games and applications.
Thanks to Benson for the tip!
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 23
I'm glad they have someone big in charge of making mobile games. If Nintendo want their mobile games to sell, then they need their games to be great.
I'm glad, that they seem to be commited to their Ideas, but they really should have just created a new studio for this .....
Streching out your resources if fine to a degree, but I think, that Nintendo is at a point where they need more manpower behind every one of their platforms....
Slippery slope...
@arronishere even going from Aliens Colonial Marines to mobile would be a step down
the mobile market is the poster boy for all that's wrong in gaming nowadays from microtransactions to an over saturation of cheap knock off games, it's like the early 80's all over again
That's why there are few games this year for 3DS and Wii U... All going mobile now. Told you so.
I actually thought they will put Wario and Tingle in the mobile division.
On the bright side, Mario Kart Mobile will definitely be better than the Angry Birds kart game!
@FullbringIchigo Hopefully Nintendo brings some change to that. There are some good quality games on mobile, Monument Valley for example, I was genuinely impressed with that game.
@Octane true there is some good but they are so hard to find in the sea of c*** that makes up 90% of the mobile gaming market
@FullbringIchigo Agreed, but that's more than likely due to the sheer size and ignorance of the audience. Because even the worst games get downloaded enough times to make a profit, which allows them to continue developing cheap shovelware.
@Josaku Making a new studio would just be a waste of time and money, They did the right thing by partnering with Dena instead because they know how games in mobile work.
@Nintendian That is something I hope they don't do. Racing games on Mobile are horrible to control and feel unnatural.
they have overestimated those who play mobile games.
I think just Pokemon shuffle would already win them the market. Mario Kart is already legend. Konno san probably felt he got demoted.
Being appointed head of mobile production from Mario Kart producer is not promotion or demotion. You basically change your job description entirely. It is a different job within the organisation.
What comes to "mobile is full of poopitypoopoop", well that is your opinion as a person who likes certain type of games on certain types of gaming devices. There are plenty of people who enjoy their two minutes of whatever they downloaded from the net. I play mobile games regularly myself as I commute and don't always fancy reading a book. Also because for example Tapped out is really a fun game to tamper with.
Besides 80's and early 90's brought us some of the best games of all time. They had innovation, excitement and experimentation never rivalled since, until the mobile market where you don't have to feed millions of dollars into game design to try out your brainstorming.
Great to see that they are serious with making great mobile games.
Exciting times indeed.
@Artwark
Animal Crossing and Tomadachi Life works better on Mobile than 3DS, these are games you play for a few mins at a time.
I'm not so sure a Mario Kart game would fit well with mobile so I doubt we'll see that. Also, I doubt they'd work on another Mario Kart without Hideki Konno so does this mean the team is going to work on DLC until then?
Also, ever since Mario Kart DS, there's been a Mario Kart every 3 years which would mean the next game will be 2017 (which is when the first mobile game lineup is set to end and when the NX is most likely going to launch).
With his experience maybe he'll be able to bring some fun, creative new ideas to the mobile game world.
Not sure if i should be excited or worried.
@Nintendian True, but hopefully it won't take him away from more MK8 DLC and MK9. Providing they are separate teams that he is heading I don't really see a problem, but I'd hate to see these console platforms take a big hit in development for a mobile game. At the same time though, I'm curious to see what they will develop, whether Mario Kart or something smaller, and how much it will cost. They obviously won't be making a $1-$5 MK8 port on a mobile platform.
@Nico07 Nintendo can make a MK8 on mobile and make it FREE!
BUT you only can play as Luigi with a lousy Kart, that means you will lose online. Pay $1 for each kart and $1 for each character and a few dollars for extra tracks and DLC. In the end to get everything will cost you over $100.
That's what Wario would've done.
@arronishere yes yes yes! I hope Nintendo is successful, but I'm not liking all this change
@arronishere Yes, but shh.
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