Keeping it accessible

Nintendo confirmed yesterday that Fire Emblem is one of the next titles it is bringing to mobile phones. Speaking in the Financial Results Briefing, president Tatsumi Kimishima outlined why Fire Emblem was selected, and what form the final game will take.

Kimishima confirmed that Fire Emblem is now seen as a major franchise for Nintendo - a sign of how far it has come in a short space of time - and he also explained that while the mobile version will be more accessible than its console forerunners, it will still provide a "fully engaging experience":

As I mentioned before, the latest title, Fire Emblem Fates, is selling well in America and has found a wide audience outside of Japan as well. We have also released many spin-off titles and related products, and this has become a major IP for Nintendo, both in name and in substance.

We are currently developing an application for smart devices based on Fire Emblem. We expect that many consumers will experience Fire Emblem for the first time on their smart device, so this application will offer a more accessible style of gameplay compared to the titles for dedicated video game systems. At the same time, we still aim to provide a fully engaging experience as a role-playing simulation game.

Can Nintendo possibly transfer the feel of a Fire Emblem title to smartphones? What concessions do you think the company will have to make to ensure the title is successful on such devices? Let us know by posting a comment.

[source nintendo.co.jp]