About a month ago, Nintendo held an investor's meeting where details were finally revealed around the highly anticipated Nintendo rewards program and Nintendo's first smartphone game from the DeNA partnership. Opinions on the smartphone app, Miitomo, were admittedly divided, though the new 'My Nintendo' account system seemed to be received positively.
Reggie Fils-Aime recently sat down with TIME to talk more about the near future for Nintendo. He mentioned how developing for smartphones is not as easy as it's made out to be, and that the company is dedicated to putting out software that's designed specifically for smart device platforms, rather than just porting over existing games.
Unfortunately there's a simplistic mentality out there, that 'Make a Mario game for smart devices' is a recipe for printing money. And it's not. It just simply is not. It's that Kyoto craftsmanship mentality that says whatever we're going to do, it needs to be a wonderful experience for consumers.
In this way, what I would say in terms of our mobile apps is that we will absolutely continue our traditional maxim of developing software that matches the hardware. We have looked at the limitations of software design on mobile platforms, and worked within those parameters. If there's a 3DS game that requires the full manipulation of joysticks and multiple buttons, that game clearly can't be exactly replicated on a touch-screen mobile device. Our strategy is not to port games developed for our dedicated systems to smart devices as they are–we have to develop new software experiences that give people the opportunity to interact with Nintendo IP and that matches the play style and control of smart devices.
He also touched on the My Nintendo account system, stating that the program is significantly more ambitious than Club Nintendo and that it will encompass virtually everything that's possibly Nintendo related and reward users for their interactions.
Meaning playing a smart device app from Nintendo, it recognizes that you've done that and you'll be rewarded for that activity. Purchase games for our dedicated game systems, My Nintendo will know, you'll be rewarded for that activity. Play games, watch videos, conceptually go to Universal Studios, the thought process is that this is a more robust and sticky way for you as a consumer to interact with all things Nintendo, for it to be tracked, and then for you to be rewarded for all that activity. Given that much larger vision, the mechanics of the program needed to be completely rethought and redone. And that's why we sunsetted Club Nintendo to create this new program.
For more information, check out the full interview here.
What do you think? Are you looking forward to the My Nintendo account? What are your thoughts on Mittomo? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source time.com]
Comments 52
Focusing on entirerly different experiences that he will have no part in creating. I'll bet his salary is massive despite the fact he does so little for Nintendo.
Mitch did you know your last name means bird in Dutch?
Just don't do free to play stuff all the time...
@Superryanworld
I'm sure he does a lot for Nintendo, he is the COO. It's unbelievable the amount of work it takes to work in that level of management, there is a lot more to running a company like Nintendo than making video games.
Nintendo needs to state whether or not Nintendo products purchased/hours played in between the two reward systems will count for the new one, because my family has already spent a lot of money on Nintendo stuff during that period.
Reggie looks like he means biz... or going to jail
@Mijzelffan Dandy! Birds are pretty cool.
"a 3DS game that requires the full manipulation of joysticks and multiple buttons, that game clearly can't be exactly replicated on a touch-screen mobile device."
That is for sure. Good to know they understand that. I'm all for alternative experiences on smart phone from them.
I'm really excited for the My Nintendo account! I've been a devoted Nintendo gamer since my first video game (Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt); and I got a lot of amazing games on the Virtual Console for free from Club Nintendo. I know I'll definitely be buying a lot of games next year: Zelda Wii U, Star Fox Zero, and whatever I didn't get this year (Xenoblade Chronicles X and maybe Mario Maker; I'll see at Christmas).
@Sample_Text Al I'm sure they will...or at least I hope they will.
Couldn't care for Miitomo. My Nintendo does sound intersting though. I do hope Nintendo will make ACTUAL mobile games, not just toss like Miitomo.
Miitomo is exactly what we wanted , More wii style shovelpoop .
Reggie don't make me throw barrels!!!
"Sticky"?
I told myself that I was not going to get any Nintendo games—in fact, there are no games at all on my phone. I want to interact with the world, after all. Having Facebook app and internet access is bad enough.
However... with Miitomo, I think there's an exception. I think the idea is quite interesting. I... do find it odd to cater to shy people. I'm hardly the most outgoing person there, but I do believe interaction with others is important. Part of me wonders how much this will hinder interaction rather than actually implement.
Needless to say, I'm quite excited.
developing software that matches the hardware - this is what I love about Nintendo. They really do that every time.
My question is: when will anywhere but Japan get the new service? Particularly US since that's where I am and would love to sign up for it.
A date would be dandy...
@lacaras4 That's kinda my point. NOA doesn't create the hardware & software. In fact, they don't make video games period. I'm not saying the top guys have it easy at NOA, but do they work nearly as hard as their NOJ counterpart's?
I seriously doubt it.
Sorry, Reggie. I'm too busy having my soul being stared into by you to understand what you're saying.
Nintendo seems to be the only game developer who understands the limitations of mobile devices as a gaming platform.
@PlywoodStick I read the article. I also understood everything Reggie touched on.
@Superryanworld lol um what? Considering that he works for Nintendo, you can be 100% confident that he is both underpaid and overworked. I'm sorry, but this is just a thoughtless comment.
@Mijzelffan means the same in German...
@Superryanworld "That's kinda my point. NOA doesn't create the hardware & software. In fact, they don't make video games period."
Again, what are you even saying? The very fact that Reggie is the top executive at the largest arm of a multi-billion dollar company means that he has an immense capacity for work and is likely among the busiest members of Nintendo's staff. It also means that he has an enormous amount of sway over what products should make it to American consumers. I promise you that if Nintendo hq were getting negative feedback from Nintendo of America on a product before it launches, they would revise it.
And just because Reggie's not "creating games and hardware," that doesn't mean that he's "doing very little" for the company. Why would a business-side executive be designing products anyway? It's not even remotely in his job description. Nor is it in the description of thousands of other jobs at Nintendo. Not everyone who works at a video game company works in development. And with a company the size of Nintendo, there are probably just as many non-development jobs as there are development jobs. Your logic requires that none of those people do anything of significance for the company, and it's just not true.
I just hate mobile gaming. I think it destroys the gaming console community.
Nintendo already have two systems, three if you count the gamepad, adding another must impact on the existing ones.
It would be good to play a few Nintendo games on our smartphone, but while I'm playing smartphone games I'm not playing 3ds games.
Nintendo should get its core gaming business right first before it expands, otherwise it will be the juggler trying to keep to many balls in the air.
@Superryanworld what do you know about what he does? Probably nothing!
@Dr_Corndog I know right. Nearly every developer that ports their games on phones run terribly! What's the logic of porting Dragon Quest 8 on Phone if the game itself is too powerful to run on phone?
Looking forward to My Nintendo launching here; hopefully it will be soon as I've put off purchasing Xenoblade Chronicles X so that it can be my first reward!
I think they should have left Club Nintendo intact until they were ready to cut over. There have been a lot of games that have come out since then that we could have gotten rewards for and registered.
Software should match the hardware. So simple, but so many game companies don't understand this. Hence: terrible ports everywhere.
new experiences? considering that all latin america import US games, why the hell wont u add subtitles to Xenoblade Chronicles X?? I almost sold two friends into buying a wii u for that but they backed up when I told them no spanish subs.. Ohh considering that the european version has them... Its like NoA and NoE are enemies... give me that as a new experience.. btw..did´t bother to read the entire article..
@Superryanworld
It's NCL not NOJ. Don't want to be a smartass, just saying.
@Rob_mc_1 I think from a business it's a good idea to wean consumers off of a service before implementing a new one. Plus by totally removing Club Nintendo it's easier for them to start a new one rather than carry over data from the old one.
@Megumi I'd rather be rewarded for downloading free-to-play games on my phone to then be able to buy a game I'd like in console.
@sandman89 @True @CHET_SWINGLINE
Ok you guys got me. I don't know jack crap about how a giant corporation works. I've had dealings with Nintendo of America in the past and it was the worst customer service experience of my life.
I'll leave you guys to praising Nintendo no matter what. Peace out.
"Unfortunately there's a simplistic mentality out there, that 'Make a Mario game for smart devices' is a recipe for printing money. And it's not."
Well, I guess that explains Pokemon Go then.
Sorry Reggie, but this whole "crafting experiences" thing rings hollow with games such as amiibo festival and mario tennis.
@Superryanworld I wasn't praising Nintendo. I guess "irrational nonsense" is just your thing.
@Superryanworld They weren't praising Nintendo though. They were just saying that your arguement made no sense.
Which is why Fire Emblem as it is NOW is 100% perfect for mobile. Ever since they rebooted/Resetti'd/whatever the series with Shadow Dragon, the gameplay has been ultra simplistic with absolutely no depth whatsoever. It's perfect for mobile as it is right now since it's very beginner friendly with the same pick up and play gameplay that made the first, second, and third games on Famicom and Super Famicom so successful. Heck the DS ganes showed that touchscreen controls can work. Actually there's a mobile game called Phantom of the Kill which looks to be a very good free to play clone of Awakening (minus the pair up system...I think). They even used the same font as Awakening for their logo. So yeah, of all their franchises, I can see Fire Emblem AS IT IS NOW being the easiest to put on mobile with comparatively minimal effort.
I don't know where Nintendo gets the idea that gamers want a rewards program.
Sony doesn't even offer a PS rewards program and charges $50 a year for online gaming that doesn't even match XBL in features and quality.
Yet Sony outselling them.
Hell even Microsoft doesn't even have a real rewards program either.
If anything this new rewards program is going to give NX a bad stigma in the eyes of gamers just like Club Nintendo did.
The Big Success smartphone gaming in 2016 is pokemon GO and Actually Next Game new Contra game developed by konami and exclusive for IOS/ANDROID,i read some news that "2016" is gonna fantastic gaming among console and pc,not only mobile devices,also legendary game will be remastered.
@Mijzelffan Do I sense another hardcore Muppet fan, or do you know that word for another reason (like simply knowing Dutch)?
@Indonesian_Users
You don't know that.
Pokemon Go could bomb or not sustain users.
Mobile market has a few major players who control all the profits and micro transactions.
Though with 2015 being the first year of full smartphone sales decline, that is very worrying for the mobile marketing.
@Arlo I'm Dutch lol
@Mijzelffan Haha, I only know it because Matt Vogel is the new guy who does Big Bird. XD
@Trapleton it didn't. I'm just a angry fan. I bought a new 3ds at launch. It had a defective sd card. I spent four months sending my unit back to NOA hq and the repair team said they couldn't find the problem. I even had a manager ask me to stop calling them after the Fifth time I sent it back in. It took my buddy who's a tech guy to figure out the problem and not NOA. It's like the repair team was not familiar with the tech they sell. The communication between departments was horrible as I had to keep explaining the same issues over and over again and the company just kept sending me a new 3ds unit with the same defective ad card in tow. What am I supposed to believe? That NOA is being run efficiently with good communication? I'm done with all this anyway.
Happy gaming everyone!
@Superryanworld Yeah, not trying to dog on you or anything, but this story also made no sense. If the problem was the sd card, I find it incredibly far-fetched that the techs at Nintendo couldn't uncover that, but your friend could. Also, sd cards start at like $5, so that's not a major issue anyway.
@CHET_SWINGLINE I'm not making any of this up. I have all the paperwork from each time I sent the unit in. Seven times total. And I should've just bought a new sd card? I shouldn't expect the company to honor their product that was still under warranty?
@Superryanworld That's not the part I'm taking issue with. I just find it hard to believe that professional techs using sophisticated diagnostic equipment wouldn't be able to detect a problem with the sd card, but your friend somehow was. In fact, swapping out sd cards probably would have been one of the first things they'd do if you described the problem correctly, and they wouldn't even need to diagnose the problem. Sorry, just sounds like an incomplete story to me.
I was told checking the sd card was part of the repair process, so I thought the same thing. It is hard to believe. I'm not questioning that. I wouldn't be so angry towards NOA if it wasn't true. I'm not lying to get attention. This is not an incomplete story. I've been a faithful Nintendo supporter for a very long time and this one single event completely changed my opinion about the company. I've been called out before on my comments. When I'm wrong I'll admit it. When someone helps explain why I'm being ignorant on a certain topic I listen. Just don't sit here and call me a liar.
@CHET_SWINGLINE Forgot to include your user name in the post above.
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