Pressure Group Makes Fresh Calls For Nintendo To Embrace Mobile Phones

Nintendo "going mobile" (as if the Gameboy never happened!) is not a winning strategy. I will only dilute brand value, kill off their own hardware and force them to hand over 30% of gross income to Apple Inc.

worst.idea.ever

There is a reason why Nintendo is a multi-million dollar corporation while these guys are making Facebook groups.

As many of the people on the site have said, this guy MUST not know what he's talking about.

Don't give this thought. The man(?) behind this states his reason for wanting Nintendo Games on a phone because be is 'embarassed' to play a DS in public.

The point of this 'article' is....? Other than to goad a community into mocking a guy that Nintendo was never going to take seriously, I mean?

@WhiteKnight

"News - A report of recent events."
...From Merriam Webster

From where I stand, this article has done its job quite well.

As For My Opinion: Yeah, I'm in agreement with this article. Despite whatever advantages Nintendo would gain from publishing its titles on mobile platforms, Nintendo would be shooting themselves in the foot and they would be losing control over the platforms they create games for. Being a part-time programmer, I can safely argue that something created from scratch is much easier to manage than something that was developed in large by other individuals/companies.

The Sun does its job quite well too.

I'll just carry on playing my 3DS in public, thanks.

Why would I want to buy a new machine every year. I fine with the same techology for over 6 years. I´ve had my current mobile phone for over 7 years. It has two colors, black and white. I´m so hardcore!

I think if they took a minute to consider why we buy Nintendo systems over the competition, they'd realise this was a foolish idea

These people need to get a life beyond their telephone. And the person saying this is someone who spends most of his free hours playing games.

lol I find it rather hilarious when people say Nintendos popularity is waning but they want their games so bad if you can afford a $800 iphone and waste hundreds of dollars on useless apps n games then surely you can get a 3DS as the XL only retails for $200. I doubt the small profit made by delivering such a privilege to the appstore would definitely not justify potential market suicide towards their hardware sales Nintendo is a business not something that can be shared around easily.

Hardware is a loss-leading business proposition. Even if you make profit per unit, there's still the support and R&D department, logistics and marketing. The money from hardware comes in licensing. This is why Sony, Apple and Microsoft are shifting their focuses from a hardware sell to content and services, as well as partnerships with content providers. That's where there is a margin significant enough to sustain a business. The games consoles themselves are about as profitable as printer hardware these days.

You want to debate this topic? Understand the games business first.

Stupid Facebook group. I made sure to go there and make fun of them. I'm sure my post was deleted. Nintendo is mobile... its called the 3DS, DS, Gameboy, etc.

Wait. A small team developing for mobile devices means the end of Nintendo consoles?

Why do I want to give a puppy to every last member in this group?

@WhiteKnight all of that is factored into the market price of a console anyway, just like almost every other kind of business. Hardware is only a loss-leading business proposition for manufacturers who subsidise the high cost of hardware to make the console more affordable with the sale of third-party software licenses until the hardware is available.

What this group fails to realise is that Nintendo also makes a significant amount of money from third party licenses, which would all go away if they stopped making hardware. Every game sold for the 3DS makes Nintendo money.
Secondly, this all boils down to another stupid argument about processing power. None of Nintendo's consoles are about that, they're all about the user experience. Most DS and 3DS games would not offer the same experience on a mobile device for patently apparent reasons.

This "pressure group" reeks of butthurt individuals who opted out of the latest handheld hardware in favour of a state of the art touch phone whose games offer a limited experience and almost no replay value. I'd be all in favour of bringing Virtual Console to Android or IOS as that wouldn't alter the experience (except for stupid touch controls), but I think it unlikely that Nintendo would want to share their profits with companies like Apple or Google.

This group has the right idea, and should be supported!
Doesn't everyone understand that handheld gaming console are not for gaming, but to be use as phones.
Get with the times people.

Nope. I think the mobile gamers will be perfectly fine with Mole Kart, Little Masters and 3D Cartoon Land Safari.

...But I think this ties into why mobile developers keep trying to claim that they have a lead on the 3DS, and why we've been seeing all those rip-offs. Nintendo's making a lot of money, so naturally third parties want in on it.

*facepalm

But seriously, the only thing I really would probably welcome on my Android from Nintendo that would make any lick of sense would be a Pokedex (as they removed the one I used to have from the Play Store). As I can't run the 3D Pokedex while playing Pokemon Black/White on the same 3DS.

@Damo: I think he wasn't referring the entire news posting, but to the penultimate paragraph, in which you expressed your own opinion on the matter. He's still wrong, though.

@McHaggis, @Damo: That's how i read Waltzy's comment as well, though i'm not in the mood to argue with him at the moment, so I won't pass comment on whether or not I think he's correct in his assessment :3

Nintendo and Apple will do a joint venture phone/handheld system by the year 2020, I've been saying it for years.

I like how I said that the money from hardware comes from licensing, and then I was corrected by someone telling me the money from hardware comes from licensing.

And @Damo I realise that this kind of article appeals to a lot of people on a Nintendo fan site, but people who buy The Sun don't buy it because they are not interested in its content, either.

You guys are better than this. You guys are one of the best gaming websites out there. No need to go get all tabloid on us in a grab for the lowest common denominator - IGN'll beat you at that game anyway. The NintendoLife I love is the NintendoLife that is a positive force in the gaming community.

How is CEOJumpMad's oozing sarcasm not blatantly evident? I have a very hard time understanding how anyone can take him at face value when his comments seriously scream exaggeration and hyperbole.

The 3DS is lacking good games, and it's poorly designed compared to the original DS/DSi. These are the main reasons for its decline, and these can be reversed by concentrating on better games like the DS had, and minor or major hardware alterations that fix problems like the mediocre build quality of the original 3DS models.

@Aviator #16 I doubt the main issue is with developing for mobile(though they'd most likely refuse to even do that), but this group is saying that Nintendo should give up in the handheld business(which they still make a killer out of, despite how often some try to ignore it).

On regular topic, as has been mentioned above, it would be interesting to see N come out with it's own smartphone/handheld game hybrid type thing, but it would seem like they'd just be giving in by developing for rival platforms.

I sincerely hope LavaTwillight was the one being sarcastic :-/

The home console market will probably die at some point. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. That said, I don't think that we're quite there yet, so I think Nintendo is fine keeping their console business going for now.

@WhiteKnight: what I corrected was your overly general statement that hardware is a loss-leading business and your following sentence that implies that the retail price of hardware doesn't take into account the R&D costs, logistics and marketing. My reply stated that this isn't always the case, but when it is then licensing is intended to make up for the loss.

This is the same for hardware in any business. A lot of R&D, logistics, marketing and after sales support goes into making other products, for instance, Televisions. These costs are covered by calculating a small percentage on top of the cost per unit × the number of units to be manufactured and shipped within a particular timescale, manually adjusting for what should be perceived as an acceptable price point to the average consumer (usually based on the brand).

Basically, I was saying that your argument "You want to debate this topic? Understand the games business first." implies that you understand the games business just fine but the statements you made in the previous paragraph contradict that. Whether hardware is profitable before 3rd party software licenses are considered is irrelevant to this topic, anyway.

While I admit I didn't word it especially well, my own comments are with regards to the prevailing attitude that in isolation the hardware business is worth keeping. It's not. Were it not for licenses and Nintendo's own software, the hardware side of Nintendo's business would be nothing - a tiny, if not bankrupted company. What I was getting at (very badly, reading back on it now, my apologies) is that the overall cost of hardware (including logistics, R & D etc) is typically a loss leading practice, because for most top hardware companies, it's rather unnecessary for the hardware division to turn an overall profit.

The value in hardware is the associated content and services. That's where competitive differentiation comes from, and that's where Nintendo's ability to even earn a worthwhile profit on its consoles comes from. If Nintendo didn't have content and services, all Nintendo could compete with in hardware is price, and as we've seen with the TV industry, commodity competition is not necessarily a healthy one right now. Especially for Japanese corporations that have higher working costs than their Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean counterparts.

The relevance of this to the topic at hand? The assumption that Nintendo's hardware business is crucial to its survival or profitability. It is, but not because of the actual sale of hardware - as some have inferred. The value in the hardware is from the licensing side of things. Even if Nintendo has costed to profit on Wii U hardware overall, it's not necessary in the slightest, and I am a little surprised that Nintendo didn't follow industry trend to loss-lead with the Wii U. I guess they're working on the basis that the third party support is strong and will remain so, even if they don't sell quite as many units as they would have by loss leading.

And I hope that is somewhat clearer. This has been a long day.

@shinpichu Well as long as they try to keep the appeal wider and focus on them being big entertainment centers, I don't think we're close at all really, for home consoles anyway.

Maybe handhelds eventually, unless they come up with their own smart device or something.

@WhiteKnight, kudos on the rebuttal. Yes, that's a much more appropriate description of your point of view, and even one that I agree with. It's possible Nintendo are making a loss on the Wii U hardware anyway, not much will be known until someone cracks it open and costs up the components; there's a lot of modern tech in it.

I dont know about you but I like that Mario Kart Phone!

Ok nevermind I finally read it and I dont like it!

Mobile games MUST DIE!!!

No. I wish people would pay attention to their sales and listen to what people want, which is for Nintendo not to make games for the mobile industry. They just don't get this. Mostly, Apple and Android want Nintendo to listen to them so that they can get even richer, except they don't get that their arguement is a joke. People don't want Mario on the iPhone.

They even have GAMES planned for this thing? Dude, you can't rule over Nintendo, and you never will. Nintendo doesn't need mobile devices, and mobile devices don't need Nintendo. They're fine.

And finally, the guy acts as if he looks like a child playing a 3DS. He needs to grow up, I will always play a Nintendo console wherever I want, whenever I want.

So they are basically forcing Nintendo to go mobile when the handheld market isn't enough. The 3DS is already a hot selling product, why would Nintendo ever go back to one screen when two screens already work for them just fine? These ppl just needs to move on in life, Nintendo is known for their quality products and games, not mobile craps like tablets and OS.

These groups shouldn't be given the time of day tbh...on the other hand, promoting groups seeking the removal of region lock and localisation of games like Earth Seeker is much more important

There's a slight similarity to Apple in that the hardware and software are one package (iPhone/iOS). The close link between hardware and software drives the gaming experience. Control over the hardware and firmware are important to Nintendo for various reasons, and while it may cost them more to do the hardware, it also gives them a certain liberty to decide what gets included in the device, instead of being at the mercy of another company's hardware and platform. So as others have said, I doubt they will toss that out anytime soon.

Innovation on the hardware enables games to be played in new ways (e.g. stereoscopic 3D, battle systems using dual screens), so the appeal comes from both the software (well-known franchises, other things like eShop and Swapnote) and how that hardware will deliver the experience. From the mockup, this group seems to be saying that attaching a control pad to an iPhone offers the same experience as a Nintendo handheld ... but it doesn't, for one reason previously mentioned.

As an aside, I would like to see more games come to the 3DS, though. People argue that iOS is just full of low-quality games, but there are well-known titles (FF III) as well as some small but cool indie games (e.g. Ramp Champ). Imho this is an area where the eShop especially could step up a bit. DS had a nice library so hopefully there will be more coming for a while yet.

Remember people, it's not like Nintendo is begging for money. Plus with all the Wii U sales they'll be just fine.

As the late Steve Jobs said,"If you're passionate about software, you need to make your own hardware." After claiming to never buying a portable gaming system again as all my gaming needs were being met by iOS, I still ended up buying a 3DS. Since my 3DS purchase, I've yet to spend a single dollar on the AppStore. Why!? With the exception of touch based puzzle games a la Bejeweled/PvsZ, gaming on the iOS is visually stunning but tedious to control. Example, try playing Tetris on iOS and try getting the same score that you'd normally get with a button based controller. Simply put, touch + gyroscoping controls alone do not equal great gaming experiences.

@Mahe
Yet I don't see a decline. Besides, 3DS already has plenty of great games, more than what you would find on appstore in terms of high quality.

@darkgamer001
Agreed.

MOBILE GAMES SUCK!
They will never out-do handheld games!

Hey Nintendo, please make some awful stuff for idiots!

@theblackdragon - You say that because you know him. I'd be surprised if you've never seen people on the internet saying things similar to him that were being completely serious - there are a lot of idiots out there.

That idea is horrible. I think they are just getting tired of the crap that makes up 99% of mobile games. They need to just play games on a real system and not a cell phone!

@Geonjaha: There's also a lot of people out there who get taken for idiots by other people when they're merely intending to get a quick chuckle out of others, or at least to have someone play along with them. Lighten up :/

Why would Nintendo get rid of its business advantage of having its own system with its own franchises and deals? Why would Nintendo blow away the fact they can make stuff on their own system, which they know best? Why would Nintendo through away complete control to make stuff for another company? Need I say more?

Operation Rainfall was barely enough to get get those games in NA (and as far as we know it had nothing to do to get The Last Story over in NA so that only leves Xenoblade). My point is if a big operation like that probably didn't work this wont.

Besides, this could very well just be a troll attempt.

I think it all boils down to the fact that these mobile "purists" or whatever, just want something good to play on their mobile devices. The reality is however, that mobile games just aren't that good, and these people won't come to terms with that. Nintendo shouldn't have to shoehorn their games onto cell phones, people should just buy a proper gaming platform for the games that they want, that's how it's always worked.

No, the day Nintendo merges with apple (my second favorite company BTW) is the day I stop gaming

If Nintendo goes mobile, they might as well shoot themselves in the foot.

Just give the 3ds Phone functions - Texts and calls and I'll sell my iPhone 5 quite happily

All they have to do is add calling and texting to the 3DS. I wonder though, would they team up with Verizon or AT&T?

Pressure Group, ever heard of Microsoft and Sony?! Go pressure them!!!

"...there is no way they can keep up with mobile phones rapid graphical and speed enhancements."
Yes, because everyone knows the iPhones graphics are WAY better than the 3DS's, and that they're faster too.

EDIT: They should do it. Just charge $1,000,000,000,000 per game. It's a great deal. (Whisper: Not really!)

not only did i find this kinda insulting but stupid its like saying the 3ds cant have any software upgrades... also why is nintendo the only one being pressured latetly i mean the rip off games and now this?

Calls Lord Jump Mad to play some 3DS

WITH MY 3DS FONE

3DS gives joy. Telephone gives stress.

Enough with Nintendo going mobile. The damn handheld consoles are already mobile. If you want to talk on your handheld go fish for a Sony Xperia Play or an Nokia N-Gage.

I can't take anyone seriously who uses "life savor" instead of "life saver".

When I'm drowning, I don't want to savor life... I want a personal flotation device!

Well, now we're on the topic, one of my old dreams as a Nintendo fan is playing a fun Mario game in my cellphone. I imagined something like that when i got my first mobile.
It's not harm for Nintendo to make a spin-off of the Mario franchise, even in 8 bits, and they would make a big profit from fans like me. And I don't see it as Nintendo losing its "prestige", I better think of it as Nintendo taking over new lands. But I'm just a radical dreamer.
Oh, and what a funny Mario phone! Nailed it!

Ppfff... Convenient that they failed to notice that not everyone can upgrade their damn phones every freakin' year. Not to mention that phones are probably more abused than that of a Nintendo handheld, and even so, a Nintendo handheld could take much more punishment than a phone.

We need systems that need upgrading less, not more frequently, seriously just update the 3DS via Nintendo network every so often for free rather buy the new iPhone infinity and have to buy the next iPhone double infinity S in 6 moths

I disagree. :-/ Nintendo should not put there games on phones. Unless nintendo makes a phone. I'm all for that.

Haha, whatever I'm just glad that I don't live in a world where that creepy phone/DS hybrid mutant exists.