February2017
News Fire Emblem Heroes Microtransaction Prices and Early Impressions Emerge
Summon some credit
Fire Emblem Heroes is just hours away from release on iOS and Android, the latest Nintendo / DeNA effort to arrive on smart devices. This one has had significant development input from Intelligent Systems, of course, the studio that has discovered a formula for sales success with its 3DS entries in the series. Unlike Super Mario...
January2017
Reminder Nintendo Wants You to Vote for Your Fire Emblem Heroes
Don't be Aversa to change
During its Fire Emblem Direct last week Nintendo lifted the lid on Fire Emblem Heroes, its mobile spin on a series that's enjoyed a significant revival on the 3DS. On the one hand it looks rather promising, while on the other the microtransactions and how they tie to building up your group could either be fair or, well,...
News Fire Emblem Heroes Revealed for Mobile, Arrives on 2nd February
Update - now confirmed for iOS on the same day
Update: Since the Direct broadcast, it's been confirmed that the game will also be out on iOS on 2nd February, following a statement it was 'coming soon' in the stream. Evidently Apple stepped up to approve the date, which is great news for iPhone / iPad owners. Original Article: The bulk of...
Talking Point What We Hope to See in the Fire Emblem Nintendo Direct
Switch and mobile to the fore
If early year intentions can be taken as an indication of Nintendo's eagerness to have a big year, then so far things bode well. Despite the various positives and negatives around the Nintendo Switch and its launch offerings, Nintendo did at least go wholeheartedly into presenting it. The live event from Tokyo was...
December2016
News Nintendo and DeNA Shares Tumble as Investors Show Super Mario Run Revenue Fears
Terribly premature, but that's investors for you
It's time for another episode of 'Investors do the Darndest Things!', in which Nintendo's share value swings up and down as strange movements happen in the financial market. It's right up there with death and taxes as an inevitable part of existence. Super Mario Run arrived on 15th December at about...
News Catch Up With an Apple Super Mario Run Event Featuring Shigeru Miyamoto
If you have iTunes, that is
Whether it's a mutual desire to benefit each other or whether a formal timed exclusivity deal was agreed, what's clear is that Apple has been keen to heavily promote Super Mario Run. Over the past month or so the app has enjoyed the benefit of tweets from the App Store's official account, strong placement on the store...
Preview Running Wild in Super Mario Run
Born to run?
Considering the fact that the Super Mario series started out as a precision platformer, it seems mad to think that this formula could translate into a mobile app with only a single input. As such we picked up the game with few expectations and a healthy dose of scepticism, but thankfully our fears were allayed. Super Mario Run has...
News App Annie Outlines Super Mario Run's Chances of Being a Major Global Hit
The odds are good, basically
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...
November2016
News Super Mario Run Jumps Onto iOS on 15th December, Priced $9.99 for Full Unlock
"The wait is almost over", says Bowser
We've known since its reveal that Super Mario Run would arrive on iOS devices in December, but now Nintendo has finally given some more concrete information. First of all, the release date on Apple devices will be 15th December, and the initial roll-out will be substantial - across 151 countries and regions...
News The New Miitomo Update is Now Live
A much-needed shot in the arm
During the Financial Investors Briefing a few weeks ago, Nintendo revealed that a big update was coming to Miitomo which, among other new features, would be adding in the ability to send out personal messages to friends. The update has just gone live for Android and iOS, and has brought a whole wealth of new features to...
October2016
News DeNA Closes US Subsidiary as Focus Shifts to Nintendo Partnership
Super Mario Run and more on the agenda
DeNA is a company familiar to those that follow Nintendo closely, courtesy of the corporate partnership between the companies and DeNA's role in handling back-end services and networks for the big N. Primarily brought in for its expertise in mobile and networks, DeNA's imprint can be found in Miitomo and - very...
September2016
Phones are the "first place that kids are encountering games"
With Super Mario Run now announced for a December release on iOS, plenty of talk has been on its potential success, the boost to Nintendo profits and similar numbers-based areas of conversation. For Nintendo these are clearly considerations, though for Shigeru Miyamoto the interest is in...
News Nintendo And DeNA Experience Share Price Jumps In Light Of Super Mario Run Announcement
18 and 21 percent respectively
Yesterday, Nintendo caused quite a stir by confirming Super Mario Run for iOS devices at Apple's yearly conference. Unsurprisingly, the news triggered Nintendo's share price to leap sharply, rising as high as 18 percent before settling down to a still-remarkable 11 percent at the end of the trading day. DeNA - the...
Sure, we'll ask about Pokémon GO on Apple Watch, too
As another indication - not that it was needed - that the Nintendo name still has broad appeal and brand power, Apple gave up an early chunk of its 'Special Event' to introduce Shigeru Miyamoto and Bill Trinen - they unveiled Super Mario Run. A left-to-right runner in which you tap to make the...
News Super Mario Run Release Prompts Delay to Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem Mobile Games
Still due before 31st March 2017
In all of the hubbub around Super Mario Run being announced at Apple's event, Nintendo has pushed its anticipated Autumn / Fall apps - Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing - back. They're still due before 31st March 2017, but will come after the December iOS release of Super Mario Run. Super Mario Run represents the...
Video Check Out Some Official Footage of Super Mario Run
Mario on tap
Earlier today Shigeru Miyamoto made a star appearance at Apple's major event, with able assistance from Bill Trinen, and revealed Super Mario Run. Coming to iOS in December - Apple gets the first bite (sorry) - it's a runner with the big pitch that you can play with just one hand. Be careful with those marketing slogans Nintendo, the...
July2016
Reminder Super Mario-Themed Miitomo T-Shirts Now Available on My Nintendo
Free and otherwise
With its major update this week that introduced a new way to use Candy to earn game tickets, Miitomo is getting a bit of a push by Nintendo in order to try and lure back some users. The latest set of outfits to be won or bought in the app are snappy Super Mario t-shirts, and some of them are up for grabs on My Nintendo. In...
News Miitomo Update to Version 1.4.0 Lets You Use That Annoying Candy To Win Game Tickets
Perhaps it's time to revisit the weird world of Miitomo
Nintendo and DeNA will have been learning a lot of lessons from both the successes and mis-steps of Miitomo, the quirky social app that started fast but burnt out rather rapidly. It's had frequent updates that have sped it up and improved the user interface - which plenty will have missed - but...
News European Miitomo Users Make the Correct Choice as Bowser T-Shirt Heads to My Nintendo
The only choice
Miitomo, Nintendo's sort-of social app, is still getting frequent updates and new outfits. The next set is all about Super Mario, with a mix of outfits to buy or win in Miitomo Drop - you can see the whole range of tasty virtual apparel in our original article on the topic. In addition Nintendo has been giving social media fans in...
News Super Mario Apparel is Set to Appear in Miitomo Next Week
Well, it's about time
With all the positive press that's been surrounding Pokémon GO lately, it's easy to forget that Nintendo's first smartphone app, Miitomo, is still going strong. Though it seems that Miitomo's popularity plateaued rather quickly following its release, Nintendo certainly can't be faulted for abandoning the app, as it's received...
May2016
News SurveyMonkey Intelligence Breaks Down the Declining Usage of Miitomo
When download numbers aren't enough
Miitomo has been out for a little while now, by the standards of this connected 'what's hot today' era, and as a result attention is focused on its long term performance. It's been pleasing to report on successes such as millions of downloads, but we're moving onto a stage where issues like engagement are more...
News Smartphone Animal Crossing And Fire Emblem Will Both Be Free-To-Play
Tom Nook will be pleased
Despite claims that Nintendo will aim to avoid the "freemium" route for its smartphone releases, it has been confirmed by the Wall Street Journal that the forthcoming Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem titles will both be free to download and will be supported by in-g
News There's a New Miitomo Update Coming Soon
Finally, new ways to add friends
Miitomo has been out for a little over a month now, and has been quite a success as Nintendo's first smart device app. While it isn't strictly considered a "game", the social aspects of it are quirky and engaging, but there's always been one glaring flaw: adding friends. The app has been strangely strict on this...
News Nintendo Wants Mobile to be a "Pillar of Profit"
Kimishima-san clarifies Shigeru Miyamoto's role with smart device games
Over a year on from Nintendo and DeNA formalising a partnership we've had one app to kickstart Nintendo's smart device output - Miitomo. Big news from the recent financial reports and briefings, however, confirmed that we'll have Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games on our...
April2016
Talking Point Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem Could Provide Nintendo's Mobile Breakthrough With Fans
Targeting Nintendo gamers of various types
Following Nintendo's financial reports and Tatsumi Kimishima's President's Presentation this week, a relatively clear picture has emerged of what will be the core areas of focus for Nintendo for the rest of 2016. Mobile and the 3DS (and perhaps amiibo) are likely to be at the forefront in terms of major...
