Super Mario Run is out soon on iOS (15th December), and is Nintendo's biggest mobile release to date - Pokémon GO, remember, isn't a Nintendo game. The moment Nintendo announced its partnership with DeNA in early 2015 most people will have said "there'll be a Mario runner", and they will have been right; nevertheless this title does include three modes and online features, so some thought has gone into it.
With a free-to-start download and a flat $9.99 to unlock the full game, it'll be interesting to see how download figures line up against purchases. App Annie, the mobile analytics resource, has published an interesting article on the app's prospects based upon its pre-launch reception and marketing; it seems Nintendo's been making some smart moves.
One criticism of the launch has been the timed exclusivity on iOS, and though Nintendo is unlikely to talk about it, the likelihood is that favours (and probably money) changed hands as Apple chased being first with Mario on Mobile. App Annie highlights the reveal at an Apple press event as an important moment, and there've been follow-up backslapping publicity moves since. With the app launching in 151 countries (a massive day one roll-out) the article also shows how Super Mario Run has had almost unprecedented promotion and visibility on the App Store. Not only have the day-one notification sign-ups been a new feature on the App Store, but Nintendo's platformer has had store placements and banners typically reserved for the biggest apps when they launch; all of this well ahead of its release.
The article's worth a read - it praises Nintendo's marketing, the quality of the official website, store page and so on. It also points out that the price tag could make a lot of sense in the context of the game's launch (right in time for the Holidays) and purchasing trends in the Far East, in particular. One cautionary note revolves around the online features, which will surely be under strain when the title rolls out around the world and users rush to try it out.
While not particularly interesting for Android users, Apple device owners will soon have a chance to play the first Mario game on Mobile; it'll be interesting to see whether it takes off.
[source appannie.com]
Comments 61
Good? How about 100% certain it will be a hit for Nintendo. It's Mario on mobile.
I'm sure the investors are excited about this game. Or unknowing of it, because investors are ignorant.
There's a better chance of Nintendo actually providing ample stock of the NES Mini than there is a chance Mario Run will be a failure.
In numbers terms, first thing has a 1% chance of happening, 2nd thing has a 0.5% of happening.
Android user......
A step closer to being a third party.
We just need Mario kart on all platforms.
Since there aren't any other major holiday offerings from Nintendo this is sure to be a hit.
Seems to me that this move might just encourage nintendo's fans to make the "switch" away from consoles to mobile. Here's hoping this isn't a huge misstep.
@UK-Nintendo never!
@UK-Nintendo Thanks for the Monday morning chortle.
@invictus4000 Same here, but the launch will still be interesting to watch.
That's all based on marketing, not the game itself, so is no way of actually gauging how successful it will actually be.
And I doubt any money was involved in the timed exclusivity... iOS is just a quicker platform to develop for... a smaller range of models running the operating system makes it far easier for them to get a stable build running on the operating system, and takes far less time to bug test... and after announcing that they'd be releasing more smartphone games by the end of the year, Nintendo had to develop this fairly quickly.
It's got Mario in it. I'm betting that is a sure thing as a money maker.
I doubt it will be much anything until Nintendo releases it on Android so people can play the game.
I hope it does well but I've absolutely no interest in it. €10 for a smart phone game is madness but then Nintendo specialise in madness.
@UK-Nintendo Gross. Let's hope not. Sega went third party, and look how they fared...
@UK-Nintendo
Sorry, NEVER !
Nintendo history was one of the longest. I don't want Nintendo become 3rd party for Sony or Microsoft who has founded after Nintendo. Nintendo must Fight back. Go, NINTENDO !
It's a Mario game and a mobile game. It'll be terrible.
I mean it'll sell well, but it'll be a bad game.
EDIT: Honestly, I don't care if Nintendo go third party, stay first party, or go bankrupt. My love for them is currently at the lowest it's ever been.
@Anti-Matter go Nintendo go. But your okay it's on Apple devices. Next android devices. Go Nintendo.
Next on sissy customers platform / PC master race go Nintendo go fly ye fool
@UK-Nintendo
I'm okay if I can't play on Android version but I can support Nintendo on other machines (3DS, Wii U, Switch, etc)
Switch is the last chance for Nintendo. Maybe the ultimate weapon. I don't want Nintendo failed again. I don't want to play or even buy Nintendo games on Sony or Microsoft, my biggest Nefarious Nemesis. It will completely despair my heart, like I lost my beloved people. And also....raise my revenge against those 2 Nefarious companies. Sorry for my comments.
@Anti-Matter don't apologise. I'm a big Nintendo collector but your love of Nintendo is next level. Congrats
@UK-Nintendo
We need Mario Kart Go!! With 18 (at least) characters that aren't metal or babies!
@SniffitisWhiffit let's start a crowd funder
Of course this game will be a success. Will it hit Pokemon Go levels of insanity? Probably not, but it will be a success. I'm going to download it for sure, and I'll probably end up buying the full game.
What's with the salty people here? It's just a game. A game Nintendo themselves didn't even create.
Can I get free $10 iTunes card please:(
@Ignatius Maybe the casuals who can't tell Sony from Nintendo will, but I doubt actual Nintendo fans will. I'm sure most people can tell the difference between a quality Nintendo console/handheld game and some cheap mobile game. I can't imagine this will help Switch sales overall, though. Who knows, though. Maybe it will, because little kids will learn that Nintendo exists again. Plus, kids these days are horrendously greedy, so if they like this game, they'd want a Switch as well.
@UK-Nintendo No, we don't need that
@KirbyTheVampire Worth to clarify that the 'mobile game' condition doesn't automatically make it cheap and/or bad.
@KirbyTheVampire I'm not concerned about Nintendo losing their core fanbase, but they need to recover a large portion of their former audience if they want to find success in the next generation and beyond. Watering down their product or showing "casuals" that they can get "Nintendo" experiences without buying Nintendo hardware might hurt their overall numbers.
For years I've heard people say the only reason they buy Nintendo is to play their games... now they won't have to (for some experiences at least).
How laggy are the touch screens compared to dedicated button inputs? I don't even own a "smart" device, but if I got one, it would be an Android.
@Billsama Maybe not, but I still couldn't envision myself sitting there and playing Super Mario Run for hours. Mobile games are improving, but they're still a long way away from being at the stage where I'd be willing to buy them.
Free to Download, hmm, I like that. The app purchases shouldn't be needed.
@UK-Nintendo That's never going to happen. And individuals like yourself who believe it will actually happen are delusional. Nintendo would rather go out of business than go third party.
@Lucina yea I think your right. Nintendo would just drop everything and move on like the Wii u.
@RainbowGazelle Your love for them was practically non existant if your previous comments are anything to go by. You won't fool anyone into thinking you were some loyal fan of Nintendo when you say half the crap you do. Here's what I find interesting about individuals like yourself. You say crap like "Nintendo has changed" and what not. Here's a reality check for you. Nintendo has not changed, you have. Nintendo has been the same since its inception. I've been playing Nintendo since 1994 and I can assure you that they have not changed in the quality of their games nor many of the core beliefs they hold.
And guess what? Super Mario Run will be fun for millions of others, whether you like it or not. Your bias and your dogmatic way of thinking will not get in the way of that.
@UK-Nintendo The Wii U lasted 4 years, which is more than enough for a console lifecycle, especially one that has sold not very well at all. Nintendo gave the Wii U a generous chance at hanging on, and they could have easily abandoned it two years ago, but they didn't. That's more than what can be said of what Sega did the past. Ninrendo is a company and a business first and foremost. Sometimes they need to do drastic things in order to succeed in other ways, such as putting their entire focus on the Switch.
I'm honestly baffled as to why you comment on here if you despise Nintendo so much. Same can be said of many other users on this website. It's become less of a Nintendo fan website and more of a Nintendo hate website. Pretty disgusting if you ask me. Just shows how fickle and childish gaming fan bases can be.
@Lucina I guess this is a Nintendo fan site. We are not allowed to criticise only accept.
I love Nintendo. They brilliant. I love my Nintendo. Wii u is the best console this generation. Are you happy now.
I'm a Nintendo fan but also a gaming fan. I don't work for Nintendo and I have that right to disagree. Being a fan doesn't mean automatically accepting everything
@invictus4000 I just switched from my Nexus 6 back to an iPhone 5S, or else I'd be limited to playing on my wife's phone. It's supposed to hit Android sooner rather than later from what I'm seeing around Reddit though.
I hope this does well.... just not so well that it drives Nintendo away from consoles altogether!
Hopefully Mario has the same effect as Pokemon Go did. It will be curious to see how it is received.
@UK-Nintendo I don't accept everything, but most of the things people complain about are utterly asinine and not worth getting riled up about. I have a life outside video games and I don't want half of my time spent complaining about them. It's a giant waste of time and it literally accomplishes nothing. It just makes you more bitter. Some things are worth fighting and complaining over. Video games should never be one of them. I want to have fun, not worry about a companies future or how they don't do this and that. If I dislike what a company is doing, I move on to something else that will suit my needs, not whine about it on the internet like a petulant little child. There's nothing mature about whining and complaining about video games, especially when the only thing you can do is vote with your dollar or simply move on. I find it absolutely insane that so many individuals, like yourself, expend an enormous amount of time and energy complaining and whining when you could be doing something else, like actually playing video games or doing something with your life. Instead, I don't find constructive criticism and talk about said video games but I do find plenty of whining and not much else. It's pathetic. No wonder people don't treat video games and gamers seriously. Most of our time is spent complaining about the very games we play and the companies that make them.
Gamers are some of the most entitled, privileged individuals I have EVER had the displeasure of meeting. Bunch of grown men and women complaining about freaking video games like it's an attack to their very being. So juvenile. So pointless. I thought video games were meant to be a distraction from reality and an escape. It appears even video games aren't immune to the petty natures of humanity.
I don't even know why I bother honestly. You know what, screw it all. I'm moving on from this cancerous website and it's users. Nothing but negativity and soulless individuals clinging to a past long forgotten. I've tried to bring reason, logic and some common sense to this website, but it seems it's fallen on deaf ears by the arrogant, ignorant and those who delight in negativity. It's sad really. I should have left a long time ago and taken my own advice. Better late than never I suppose.
Enjoy being consumed by your hatred over something so truly insignificant. It's downright pathetic that so many of you filled with such volitle, negative emotions over a video game company and the games it creates. No wonder Nintendo treats its fans like kids cause most of them act as such.
@UK-Nintendo
Its fine to disagree with Nintendo, to think their hardware is crap and not wanting to buy it. Its fine. But if I decide to not get the hardware, I accept not getting the software and move on, because both things are tied. Not playing exclusives isn't the end of the world.
I don't want Nintendo to go third party because the available evidence (AKA Sega) proves their quality took a nosedive and they keep churning out Sonic, while the rest of the IPs are dead.
I don't have a PS or Xbox, I don't have plans to buy one. Am I missing good exclusives? Yes. It is enough to whine about them going third party? No.
So, if current Nintendo doesn't satisfy you, which is valid, just ignore them, you'll be less bitter.
@Lucina I'm sorry if I upset you. Heck it's only a Internet forum. Don't let things upset you.
This would be a day one purchase for me if they released it on android, shame...
@Lucina such great comments, it's nice to see. Loved nintendo since 1989. Owned every console since the nes. The Wii U is/was amazing and probably one of nintendos finest consoles for 1st party titles. Cannot wait for switch and the next 5 years
@RainbowGazelle
Yet you still bothered to show up to a website titled NINTENDO LIFE and even bothered commenting. WHY?
I'm really looking forward to this release. Nintendo's is well behind in mobile gaming and needs to catch up. Everyone else has their franchises on mobile & elsewhere and it's about time Nintendo joined the modern, 21st century realities of gaming.
If it's good, I won't have any hesitation paying a measly $10 for it, day one.
@Lucina
RIGHT ON! However, don't let haters drive you away from what you love. Live YOUR life, and don't change that due to a bunch of know nothing complainers.
@Lucina
I understand exactly what your saying. Don't let them get you down. This site has gone downhill.
@Lucina My go-to response to wanton flaming and hating is blunt facts whenever they're called for, otherwise stay out of opinion discussions to save time and energy. If you must must counter someone, try asking politely if they're willing to listen or not.
Opinions don't hurt. They shouldn't hurt. Because I y'am what I y'am and know that others aren't. And if someone is too secretly jealous of others finding enjoyment where they don't, like with 3DS Mario Maker or Star Fox Zero, it's their problem.
@UK-Nintendo Sorry but please don't ever apologise to Lucina.
@Lucina you've opened my eyes to dark, honest reality. Thank you.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I think I upset him/her. It seems like I'm not allowed to make any negative comments about Nintendo. I'm a fan too and a long time one too. As well as being a collector of all consoles and games I do feel as I have some right.
This is a Internet forum.
I know this may be a minor complaint, but Super Mario Run will launch in exactly 150 countries on December 15. The 151st country Nintendo listed is South Korea, which they have noted will not have the app until early 2017. Nintendo Account and My Nintendo does not even officially support South Korea yet!
@Lucina
"It just makes you more bitter."
Um, have you ever read any of your own posts?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE That you believe Lucina or anyone else deserves to have all civility withheld from them speaks volumes about you.
@Lucina
Remember the Golden Rule!
@UK-Nintendo
Eh, everyone does mobile now. Sony has first party games on mobile, and so does Microsoft.
So either all 3 are a step closer to going 3rd party... or maybe it just doesn't mean squat to begin with
@JaxonH it doesn't mean squat.
Run Mario, run... sounds familiar somehow.
@Agent721 In the vain hope there'll be some good news and Nintendo will go back to being a company I love again.
@Lucina I really was a loyal fan.
Sorry; my comment here wasn't particularly helpful or insightful. I just feel that since Iwata sadly passed away, the new head has been changing the company into a greedy, money-grabbing business in many small ways. Many people feel the need to vocalise their distaste because they are so passionate about a company they love. But you're right, we shouldn't get so worked up about computer games.
@UK-Nintendo
Yes, let's.
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