This year sees the Western launch of Level 5's Yo-Kai Watch, a game which has already proven itself to be a smash-hit in its native Japan. Nintendo is publishing the game in the West and there are hopes that it will turn into the kind of cash-cow that Pokémon has been for the firm.
Speaking to IGN, Nintendo of American boss Reggie Fils-Aime explained how deeply involved Nintendo has been with the genesis of this new brand:
Nintendo is quite involved. This is a game that literally sold millions in Japan, and it helped drive a lot of hardware especially with younger kids. So we view this as a very strategic title for us. The team at Level 5 is driving a lot of the localization. We're playing a bit of a consultation role, but we've had a lot of deep conversations around the need for the anime to be out in the marketplace, and to establish the importance of key partnerships in the toy space.
We believe this game could be a very strong hardware driver for us, especially with younger consumers. We think the pairing of this game, especially with our 2DS business, can be quite strong. And we're very excited about it coming this holiday.
A valid point was raised about the exclusivity of the franchise - something that many will wonder about, given that Level 5 has recently announced that Fantasy Life 2 will be skipping the 3DS in favour of smartphones. Is there any danger that Yo-Kai Watch could do the same in the long run? Reggie doesn't believe so:
The partnership is very strong with Level 5. I think the Level 5 team has seen how Nintendo creates the handhelds of choice, especially for younger consumers. I think for both companies there's a clear belief that this has the potential to be a strong, long-term relationship much like we've done with Pokemon.
Here's the reality: There's not a lot of five to seven year-olds walking around with smartphones. Even in the tablet space, mom and dad might hand over their tablet for short periods of time. But with this game, much like with any battle-trade-share type of game, the kid consumer is going to spend a lot of hours. The benefit of doing that on a dedicated device is very strong.
Do you think Yo-Kai Watch can be as big as Pokémon, or do you feel that it's a franchise that will only sell well in its homeland? Let us know by posting a comment.
[source uk.ign.com]
Comments 24
Nintendo.....please. Either buy Capcom or Level-5. Both are amazing! Well....I don't know about Capcom but Level-5 DAMN they sure are talented!
I'm a little skeptical about the game and TV series' viability in the West. At least Pokemon were based on either real animals or fantastical creature designs; the Yo-kai seem to be really, really Japanese.
I don't think it'll be as big as Pokemon. Even the really big series that have come after Pokemon aren't as big as Pokemon, but that aside, I really like Level 5 and can't wait to get this game.
I don't think it will be Pokemon big, but yeah, there's potentially for it to be very big all the same, especially if they try and give off that Pokemon vibe with their marketing. Of course, they'd have to actual market it it, instead of just sending it out to die like Nintendo Europe did with another Level 5 game in Inazuma Eleven.
Reggie is also crazy if he thinks 7 year olds aren't playing for extended periods on smart device. Pretty much everyone I know with a kid that age has either bought them a tablet of their own or passed down an old phone.
Luckily they already have a few games that are done and just need translating. That should take them to the end of the 3DS lifecycle, and they could even alternate between YW and mainline Pokemon releases.
I think in countries like France and Germany the anime will be quite big with kids, teenagers and some adults. In the U.S. and the UK I think it will be enjoyed more by children of a certain creed and will experience cult status by adolescents and some adults.
In the UK nowadays if you haven't finished your first Call of Duty campaign by age 6, your fellow students think you're sad and throw you in the bin. True fact.
Man, been waiting so long for this to release here
There is no way it will get even close to Pokemon level of sales but that doesn't mean it can't be a success in it's own right. I personally have been excited for this game to come out ever since seeing the japanese footage of the game and after that long of a wait I am definitely not going to let this one pass me by!
"There's not a lot of five to seven year-olds walking around with smartphones. " I don't know about that...
As big as Pokémon? Not sure, probably not. But it has serious potential to be big over here.
I'm looking forward to giving it a go though, even if I'm way above the age it's apparently aimed at? Nintendo usually puts a 'for all ages' label on this sort of game so hopefully it's not too kid orientated.
Either way I love some of the character designs on display here. That ghost at the back and the red cat thing at the front especially.
'There's not a lot of five to seven year-olds walking around with smartphones. Even in the tablet space, mom and dad might hand over their tablet for short periods of time.'
My six year old daughter has her own smartphone. She knows how to use one better than me! Half of her classmates have one too!!!
Oh, and Reggie... you're a tool!
@Artwark they might not want to be owned by someone else. They're doing pretty well for themselves and though they're mostly Nintendo now they do work with others. But if they are open to it, it would be a smart move for Nintendo I think. Especially with both looking at mobile.
I don't think that this will be as big as Pokemon in the west, but it might still do very well. The creature on the right with the long head and the unbrella one on the left both look awful, but the rest are looking great.
PFfft I second and third people laughing at "not a lot of 5 year olds with smartphones". I work at a school, and basically every kid has a smartphone. As much as I am a rabid 3DS and 2DS fanboy, my 3DS cost $200-
my $35 Android can play XCOM, the last Burnout game released on 360, and a game (NOVA?) that looks better than Halo 3.
On a friggin $35 phone. I don't have kids yet, but if i had kids and was low on money, you better believe they're all getting an Android vs their own PSVita or posssibly a 3DS.
I'd still get them 2DSs because I'm a fanboy, but still. Every kid has a smartphone!
Am I the only one who thinks kids at that age shouldn't have their own phone? Should I have ever kids, they won't get a phone until they are 12 or 13 and it will only be a smartphone, if they are no other options on the market anymore. It's bad enough that after just a few years even most adults are addicted to be online and connected all the time at the expense of social behaviour and interactions. Don't really want my kids to grow up that way.
@scamander No my kids won't be getting phones probably until they're old enough to drive. I just think it's ridiculous seeing kids that young with a phone. They don't need it.
"Here's the reality: There's not a lot of five to seven year-olds walking around with smartphones. Even in the tablet space, mom and dad might hand over their tablet for short periods of time."
Here's the reality: that time might be enough for them.
Nintendo, just try to buy Level 5.
@scamander
I got my first mobilephone when I was 14. Fun fact, I'm still using the same phone.
@manu0
The irony of reading your comment just after looking out my workplace window seeing a group of kids probably within that age range and two of them were using what looked like phones.
Just another cutesy anime game that resembles pokemon Can't Nintendo ever publish something that looks realistic and not for kids?
Reggie is correct. For that demographic dedicated handhelds make more sense.
I suspect the cartoon will be crucial if this is gonna be a success. The games good but Pokemon is light years ahead.
Lol Reggie, plenty of kids have smartphones and tablets at the age. But there's plenty with DS's too. All my best friend's nephews have 3DSes and I passed down my old DS to my niece. Still, I mostly see a lot of people my age (young adult) with handhelds but then that could just be because I normally hang with geeky crowds.
If you want the game to be as succesfulllllll as pokemon
Then you need to star to promote the game!
remember a game called Splatoon!!?
It was almos a yea of promoting and explaining the game and that game well... sold kind of .... not bad right? even if it was a totally new IP
This game has no chance of being Pokémon-level successful, the simple fact is that the era of children who would have interest in that style of game/anime is long gone. It will still likely be popular among certain groups of children, but the fact is COD/Halo/Battlefield and mobile games are more popular among children nowadays.
I always adore Level 5 games. Shame about Fantasy Life 2, though to be fair, that game doesn't look like a real sequel, so I don't think we'll miss much. Unfortunately, that also means no real Fantasy Life sequel for us and as a fan of it (and want to see it evolve as a franchise), I'm really disappointed with their decision.
However, the Yo-kai Watch looks pretty awesome and I'm glad it's coming here. I can't wait to get my hands on it. Hopefully, that will be a success and will assure Level 5 and Nintendo to bring us the sequel, also hope Level 5 keep supporting Nintendo hardware!
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