Nintendo Looking To Offer Affordable Smartphone-Style Games And Remakes Of Past Classics On 3DS

I think there should be more 3D Classics. They just ended that whole thing for some reason. A game like Ice Climber could really benefit from it, too. They could add a better control mode like they did for Kid Icarus.

Well, "Smartphone like games" from Nintendo themselfes are probably still leagues above the crap thats released on any phone store.
So yeah, why not
A Handheld is the perfect place to offer a few time wasters.

The "F-Zero" SNES stage in "Super Smash Bros for 3DS" made me dream of stereoscopic 3D SNES games... just think of the possibilities!

@Einherjar
I'm with you and it could be profitable for Nintendo. But still no one buys a 3ds for these low-cost games. People buy smartphones for smartphone features. The mobile games come as second.

Remakes! Remakes for everyone! Oh, and Smartphone-type games! Nintendo fans, rejoice!

Trials should be already available for all games, those made me purchase games like Dual Destinies.

The Nintendo 3D Classics series was so brief, why?

Full remakes like Metroid: Zero Mission or Kirby: Nightmare in Dream land would be very attractive.

Okay. I guess they could be fun little time wasters. As for remakes, some more 3D Classics would be nice.

More titles like Steel Diver: Sub Wars, great! The upcoming Pokemon Shuffle? Well, I have Link Battle already, but I hope they do not go overboard with some of the worst mechanics to come from Smartphone/F2P gaming.

Remakes of past classics? Depends what we're talking. F-Zero X 3D? All my yes. Super Mario 64 3D? Definitely. New Clu Clu Land? Eeeeh.

Box Boy looked so amazing in the Japanese Direct.I'd even go as far as saying that it was my favourite title of all the three presentations (NoE, NoA and NoJ) this year.
I also wouldn't mind seeing an actually good remake of Metroid 2 and 3D Classics versions of SMB3, Mega Man and loads of first- and third-party SNES games.

@Ketchupcat what is this "better control mode" you speak of? (sorry for the A Clockwork Orange joke - but seriously - what did they do to Kid Icarus?)

I love good revamps of old classics x

Pathetic right before the mention of trials came about.

So Nintendo games don't go mobile, it is the other way around.

And by trials do we mean demos? Timed access to full retail games as in Smash?

Finally, please localize Box Boy because it looks like one of those sleeper hits that go under so many people's radars. Which means I will love it.

bring all of Sega's Arcade back Catalogue to 3D Classics, add Sonic 2 and Streets of Rage 2 to that list

This is exactly what I didn't want to hear, it looks like the 3DS is basically going to end up being an expensive smartphone without the ability to phone/text people. Oh well, it was a good 4 year run with real games coming to the console.

@Grumblevolcano, Your point is valid. This could end up with a lot more "fake" games coming to the handheld. However, Sataru Iwata wants to EXPAND consumer choices. So there will still be the normal, high quality games that you expect from nintendo and other third-party companies, but with more small games. However you also will probably need to search for these games more, but if you stay updated than it won't be that bad.

Playing Metroid 2 at the moment and a remake of that à la Zero Mission would be most welcome.
All games should offer a demo, there's a couple of things on 3DS I've wasted money on and just didn't like (PIX3D), on the flip side of which I'm sure there's games I've not bought and would love.
Not sure about smartphone style games, I'm sure if Nintendo do them they'll be polished and enjoyable, but we don't want a 100 Crappy Bird clones flooding the eShop.

Super metroid remake. That's the only remake I want.

This is how they should resurrect the Game & Watch line. A lot of Smash players have no idea who he is, so use this idea, with simple, addictive, high-score chasing games featuring Mr. Game & Watch and everybody wins.

If by that he means 3D classics, I don't really have an interest in it. I'd like something along the lines of Zero Mission like the article stated.

Remakes of past classics, huh... It would be nice to see some more 3D Classics, from NES, SNES and GBA. I seriously don't get why Nintendo doesn't adopt for their Virtual Console the cross-buy between 3DS and WiiU policy. Also, it's dumb that I can't have GBA game on 3DS. Seriously, why put them JUST on the WiiU? Both it's better, especially if they did a cross-buy thing.

They can expand our 'consumer choice' by offering the regular-sized New 3DS in ALL markets - including North America.

There's already plenty of low-cost apps on the eshop. Introducing smartphone apps will merely dilute the quality level of the line-up. If Nintendo is looking to expand the user base with such a move, this is one way to do it. But if they're looking to expand their profit margin by doing this, it won't work.

They need to open NA to getting both sizes of the N3DS. People are more swayed by having the choice of hardware than they are by what software is available.

I'm tired of 'daddy nintendo' telling me what I do and don't want, without even asking me. They're clearly far out of touch.

I panicked when I saw the word smartphone in the title. However, these ideas are interesting. More variety of games and more demos can't be a bad thing.

So, Nintendo's plan is to offer less originality and more shallowness.

This is sure to move systems.

Straight back to GameStop so that the owners can get something else.

Let's hope "smartphone-style games" isn't actually a less controversial way of saying "free-to-play, expensive-to-actually-maintain-and-achieve-goals-or-complete-to-100%"

Not that interested in the mobile-inspired titles (although having the option available is nice for the 3DS, assuming the quality is there). They do have my attention regarding the cheap remakes, though.

They have plenty of great minigame compilations on their resume.

Why don't they slice those up in smaller bites and sell them at a couple dollars before deliberately going the way of the pocket farmer?

I left playing Mobile apps to play more substantial portable games on the 3DS. All of those endless runner/flappy bird games are just noise.

Well.. it all sounds very good. But maybe they should start rethink their VC strategy first? Why not make these games cheaper as well? I think they would sell a lot more then.

And why did they not publish GBA games for the VC on 3DS a long time ago? And DS games?
I would love to buy them on my 3DS. I have no interest in playing these games on my Wii U. On the Wii U i would rather have N64 and GameCube games.

Nintendo's VC strategy is a mess, and doesn't make sense at all. They should really focus there first, and listen to consumers and fans.

More stuff to choose from is never a bad thing.
Though I don't get why Nintendo won't just update the VC library more actively.
Those games are pretty much already made, you just need to add save-and-restore point support and the like. Plus they also have existing fanbases thanks to being as old as they are. Then again, maybe I'm just bitter that I can't play GBA titles on my 3DS.

Oughta be remaking Donkey Kong 64 since they seem bent on not putting it on Virtual Console.

I am a big Nintendo fan and regularly buy pretty much every game they churn out. I cant however understand why they don't just make their old VC titles available on IOS and Android....yes there are control challenges but if I can play GTA San Andreas I am sure I could play Metroid, Kid Icarus, Mario etc.

To put Nintendo into prespective.....Apple sold 74.5 Million I-Phones in a three month period to December 14...King...the folks behind Candry Crush, generated more revenue in 2014 that Nintendo.

I love my Wii U and my 3Ds but the Big N has to wake up, and selling old games for cheap on a 3DS isn't the way.

2017? That must mean that the 3DS and Wii U won't end so soon!

Let's get the classic games on the systems first through Virtual Console and worry about the remakes later. Since the launch of Wii U, their VC strategy has been idiotic at best.

Nintendo is starting preparing big games for next handheld.

Forget remakes and smartphone games, put GBA and/or SNES games on 3DS's Virtual Console!!

I am a huge fan of classic games. Any chance one of the games would be Pokemon Yellow? That'd be really cool if they did put Yellow on as a 3DS classic title.

I don't think more choice is a bad thing, but they should really focus on stuff they already have up and running, like the Virtual Console or the abandoned 3D Classics line (that Sega has taken up to great success).

It's a nice idea, but I don't think it'll benefit them much. I think people who play games on smartphones play them mainly because they're there. They have a smartphone, they're in the bus (or any waiting activity) and their smartphone gives them the chance to kill some of that boring waiting time. I personally can't see those same kinds of people going extra out of their way and getting a 3DS (which is probably pretty pricey in their minds, considering it only plays video games, unlike your typical smartphone) just for the fact that it can play smartphone-type games.

I read that as: Nintendo looking to offer 3DS games on smartphones O.o

Imagine a 3D remake of Super Metroid... That'd be beautiful

Don't care. Actually I do, I'm glad to hear we might see some classics reborn in 3D. I mean I don't care about the smaller titles. Has zero negative impact on me. As long as my normal games are on the platform, I don't care how many little games they wanna allow on the eShop. Knock yourselves out Nintendo.

I'll still be here, playing the games I've always played on Nintendo hardware.

Yeah by remasters I'm assuming more 3D classics. Though I definitely wouldn't say no to a Pikmin 3D Dual Pack.

More 3D classics sounds great. Please, Nintendo, launch your new loyalty program with some SNES 3DS VC, people will go crazy. Why would you colour the New 3DS buttons like that, if you are aware of the demand? Anyway, I will try them but I can't see these 'free-to-play' games doing particularly well.

@Christoff

Did you see the recent interview with Dan Adelman, former Nintendo indie guy? His analysis of the company basically outlines not only the reason they are so clearly behind the times, but reinforces the notion that Nintendo has no idea how to appeal to modern gamers or understand the modern form of this ever-changing industry.

Don't they already do this? VC and 3D classics are pretty cheap.

@Miyamotoo I predict the next Nintendo handheld console will be called the Nintendo Phone.

@BensonUii Well, thats the whole point of these things.
They are there to fill the gap.
They dont cost much to make, they arent expensive for the consumer and they act as a part time distraction inbetween major games.

They are not meant to sell system, nor are they meant to replace major releases.

I have no problem with it cause I know Nintendo will continue to produce high profile games in lieu of this. The way I see it, there would be a super cheap one button game like a "Super Mario Jump!" where Mario has to time jumping over (or on) various objects at varying heights, speeds, and patterns. And then as always, we'd still get the full-on next Mario adventure. I don't see that killing the latter's sales in any kind of way imo. As they say though, time will tell all.

Mario 64 3D please.

Hey look remakes of classic games. Im in!
@VanillaLake There was an article (if someone can find it plz.) saying that remaking a 3d classic isn't just adding a 3d layer and calling it a day. They had to remake the engine from scratch.
Maybe Nintendo would do something like this to make 3d classics easier? https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/12/m2_developed_a_virtual_sega_console_for_3d_sonic_the_hedgehog

REMAKE METAL GEAR 1 AND 2! Not Solid, the ones on NES that nobody played because they were terrible.

If Nintendo could strike up a deal for 2 exclusive 3DS/Wii U metal gear games with Konami it would sell like madness! Besides, I think Kojima owes Nintendo for including Snake in SSBB

As long as the company can get a steady revenue stream and maintain focus on creating quality titles, this makes business sense. I gave my son a 2DS and I'd rather him use that than give him a phone or tablet for these "smartphone-style" games. There are some of them like that in the eShop already, but would be nice to have more (and of higher quailty).

@rferrari24

Mario 64 3D? What the hell would be the point? Besides that it can be easily found for the N64, downloaded on the Wii and Wii U, and was remade once already for the DS. What would possibly be any different, aside from a slight visual change?

@Yorumi

I would greatly prefer that over a sea of throwaway phone-like games. Sounds like Nintendo is trying to do "quantity over quality," which is the exact opposite to what Nintendo fans have long claimed is their biggest asset (that Nintendo is a quality over quantity company).

@Captain_Toad Yes, I agree, the 3D classics ports were lazy ports with two or three layers. I only got the Kid Icarus 3D one because it was free and I realised that I wouldn't pay €6 for any of them. On the other hand, I loved Ocarina of Time 3D and I'll love Majora's Mask 3D.

As I said earlier, full remakes, like Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land was, would be very welcome!

@Yorumi Or they could keep on doing what they already do.
Meaning: Making the only major games that work out of the box.

But of course, id love to have more unfinished games on my systems. More games i can patch.

Remakes of their old games, i dont mind at all. But bringing in crappy smarthphone games and making them overpriced i hope they stay away from.

I can't see this working that well. Smartphones have smaller games because that market is looking for quick distractions and aren't really dedicated gamers, they just want quick entertainment options to keep them busy while they're on the go. That market probably isn't going to buy a 3DS.

@C-Olimar Make it rain, remakes!

Would Gunman Clive 2 count as a smartphone style game? Yeah I doubt it but that's the kind of game I want more of on the eshop. I'm tired of match-3 puzzle clones, bike trials, and hidden picture search games. In the past year, outside of Gunman Clive 2, the only eshop games I've bought are Phoenix Wright, VC games, and M2 Sega remakes.

Its a nice idea... but they will need to further change their development and submission processes.

Mobile games - no devkit, no dedicated hardware needed, no game classification rating needed, no e-manual required, no LotCheck approval.

That all costs thousands of dollars and weeks/months of work from a developer. Why bother for a "mobile" game on a small install base (compared to hundreds of millions for Android/iPhone) that "might" bring a few hundred $ of revenue.

If not careful, could turn into a rush to the bottom, which could turn future quality downloadable games from 3rd party on the 3ds into simple cheap cash grab apps. This could make the 3ds no different from the phone apps store if not regulated.

I've never doubted Nintendo's matters of quality, as a matter of fact I would hope this to be a good thing.
I want to see more new franchises. I want Nintendo to take those same leaps they did with Wiiware, because alot of Nintendo's Wiiware games were great, more experimental, at a lower cost. By the Wii U's launch, Nintendo held more expensive titles, with existing IPs. For example, the cheapest game Nintendo has ever made on Wii U is Pushmo World for $11 and excluding NES Remix, there are no Wii U DL games that are original titles. I understand that most of the Wii U audience grabs more retail games, but they really shouldn't exclude that segment. It needs more original small scale Wii U games. Less Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, more Fluidity type games.

Read: "Smartphone games",
Means: "Shovelware".

You're making the same mistake that you made with the Wii, Nintendo. Do NOT aim for that market again.

There are a lot of really good smart phone games but unfortunately we have to weed through a lot of garbage to find them. It would be nice to get these type of games on the 3DS.

I think this means two things
1. They will put out more virtual console games and most likely snes 3d classics maybe some n64 and gba ones
2.they might make a game like wii fit for 3ds or new 3ds also it would use the wii fit balance board and wii fit u pedometer as a game with dlc like a new exercise for 2.99 and the main game for 4.99 to 9.99
3. Have more smartphone games remade with mario like angry birds mario edition
4.we may have like a goggle play store on the 3ds as a update

@Shiryu and what about Bomberman Max Blue Champion? That was one of the best in GBC

@Barbiegurl777
f zero would be great along with super mario world or super mario 64 I would love for them to make some gamecube 3d remakes but that would be hard

@ditmark12 Hope Nintendo is listening.

As long as both the quantity and quality of regularly sized 3ds games isn't affected, I don't see how this could hurt!

Could "remaking classics" be related to those trademarks from last year?

http://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-picks-up-various-advance-trademarks-in-japan/

Just do more stuff like Rusty's Real Deal Baseball!

I remember talk about the scraped Metroid II DX for the Gameboy Color that never happened being brought up recently, it'd be nice to see that get an update.

Two words "Buy Kairosoft".

@BaffleBlend Play Kairosoft games.

Remakes of classics sounds interesting.
Their own 3D Classics line paled in comparison to the M2 Sega efforts... mostly due to title selection, but still, they weren't stellar.
So 3D versions of top tier NES and SNES titles would be most welcome.

Super Metroid.

upgrades 3DS hardware with New 3DS
Nintendo: Alright, time to go simpler with software!

@Shiryu Yes! No visual changes, just add stereoscopic 3D!

@TheLordAndrew "Pilotwings" would also be cool. Anything Mode 7 really!

3D Classics at a 4.99 price point is the way to go. Some other choices could be NES and SNES games, along with GBA and GBC games for 2.99-9.99 seems OK.

Still, I feel that they can add some other quality touch-based games, along the lines of Kirby's Fighters (but dumbed-down), for 1.99. (Kirby's Fighters is lot of game for 5.99!!).

There is something that we must factor in: we still have like 2 years left in the life of the 3DS and all (or almost all) Mario games are out.

We had 15 DS games of the Mario World (including Wario games, Yoshi games, the Princess Peach one, Kart, Party, a remake, NSMB, 3 on 3 Hoops, Mario vs Kong, 2RPG's).
We already have 11 3DS games (3d Land, Kart, Golf, NSMB2, Yoshi, Tennis, Mario vs Kong on the Move, Dream Team, Smash, Luigi's Mansion, Sticker Star). I don't think that we will see another Wario game nor a Princess Peach (or Daisy) game anytime soon. Maybe we'll get to see another 3D MArio game (Galaxy I , perhaps?), or another sport-based game (maybe bowling, baseball or a sport mix) and that's it.

The same with Pokemon: we had 19 DS Pokemon games compared to only 8 so far (including Trozei).

My point is what is Nintendo planning to fill the following 2 years with. More Steel Wars, a new RPG, Metroid (we could only hope!!) or another Kid Icarus (PLEASE!!) or even another Donkey Kong? What are your thoughts on this?

Do a service like Netflix where you pay a small fee and have an unlimited access to lots of content, in this case, an endless library of classic games ranging from NES to N64. That would basically kill emulation if executed properly. I prefer my NES/SNES/GBC VC titles over any emulator I had. Too bad there isn't enough games neither a wide selection of classics - many of them have never seen the daylight yet.

@Yorumi
Agreed. Still, the problem lies in Nintendo not doing enough for their fans and supporters. Case in point 1: In the last 3 years I've bought 6 3DSXL, one Wii U, about 50 3DS games and 20 Wii U games, but I still can't manage to buy most of what I want from Club Nintendo (this represents around 2,500 coins). What does it takes to gather enough coins to buy everything I want at Club Nintendo? Who knows!?
CIP 2: A more serious reward should be granted for Platinum Members, like they did in Europe. The ambassador 3DS was a very nice reward for EU fans but nada for US supporters.

The only glimpse of hope: Nintendo announcement that they will reward frequent buyers of their games.

@Quorthon: I too desire Super Mario 64 3D, recognizing that it was remade last gen. I found that unplayable, even on the 3DS, because it wasn't programmed with analogue controls, a neccesary part of that game.

Other remakes that I'd like/would make sense: Sunshine HD, F-Zero X 3D, or GX HD, Metroid 2 remake for 3DS. I know many see remakes as a waste, but I think it's a way to cherish all the classic software that N has produced over the years, bring them to the young 'uns who can't abide by b&w or N64 polygons, etc.

Good news.

Its always good for players to have many and GOOD games.
They can get more virtual console titles for 3ds.
Remeber gameboy color games which can be easily played?(not so but still?)
If its so easy why cant Nintendo give us more virtual console titles?
They gave 10 gameboy adavnce games in ambassador. So why not some more Nintendo?

I think this is been said last year about how they might develop a mini version of the game that has the full version on 3ds or somthing.

Why not make games like Sakura Samurai, Mario vs Donkey Kong and sell it on Iphone at 9.99 or 4.99 or whatever. Because if you own a 3ds and there is a cartridge slot then whats the point of downloading casual games when you can play Zelda: Majora mask on this device already.

id love to see pokemon bw 1&2 remade for 3ds whilst keeping to the orginal storylines

I have nothing against remakes (Majora's mask 3D is a nice remake) but I wouldn't like it if all the upcoming games would be remakes. Enough of the banking on past glories, Nintendo! I want a new 3DS Zelda, a new Metroid, etc.

Also: Smartphone-style games, with a Nintendo price-tag. That's what we need.....NOT!!