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Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with Nintendo (updated: video embedded)
After a long week of CES craziness, we're ready to get our game face on for some serious talk about the business of fun as we meet up with Cindy Gordon, VP of corporate affairs for Nintendo of America. Join us at 3:30PM ET. Update: Interview video now embedded.
Zelda Flipnote animations, made by the Nintendo of America staff
What better way for the Nintendo of America staff to show its love for Zelda's 25th anniversary than to make art on the DS itself? Here's a quick roundup of some cute NoA creations for Flipnote Studio, posted to YouTube by a fan from the Nintendo Channel.
Reggie Fils-Aime doesn't think much of Zynga, but he's intrigued by free-to-play gaming
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime is notorious for his ability to say very little with a whole lot of words, but he doesn't bother mincing words when it comes to his feelings on social gaming giant Zynga. Speaking to the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital blog, Fils-Aime answers a question regarding his thoughts on Zynga's recent IPO by saying, "What's the share price? It will be interesting when it breaks below $9." In case it isn't clear, that's the executive way of saying, "Your IPO ain't shit." He continues by inferring that Zynga's creating the same titles over and over, presumably referring to the company's many "Ville" games, though he seems more than okay with his own company doing as much with its recent release of the seventh Mario Kart title. As for the free-to-play business model, however, Fils-Aime is less pessimistic. While he says, "I would argue Facebook is a platform ... I wouldn't expect to see our franchises on other platforms [that aren't owned by Nintendo]," he admits that Nintendo will "certainly" be experimenting with "other forms of monetization." When we'll see that pricing experimentation remains to be seen, however, as Fils-Aime only reveals vaguely that said price "experimentation" is currently taking place across Nintendo's various internal studios. [Image credit: 'nateog']
3DS to beat out original DS' first year sales, land killing blow during holiday season
First 3DS sales were great, then not so much, and now things seem to be evening out somewhere around "normal." According to numbers released by Nintendo, the fledgling handheld is poised to break the original DS' first year sales numbers -- closing out its 8th month with 1.65 million units sold, or roughly 69 percent of its predecessor's 2.37 million first year sales. Noting that half of the old DS' year one sales were made during the holiday season, Nintendo is confident the 3DS will surpass its predecessor's numbers before hitting the one year mark. We'll let you make your own predictions -- Nintendo's press release is after the break, if you want to compare notes.
Caption Contest: Real-life Super Mario party searches for Princess Peach
Mamma Mia -- it's 'a me whole lot of Marios! If we were you, Bowser, we'd return Her Majesty to Mushroom Kingdom at once. Okay, okay... in actuality, the above was merely Nintendo hyping the upcoming US release of its psychedelic-consuming plumber's first 3DS title, Super Mario 3D Land. So there's no need to worry folks, Ms. Peach is safe -- at least until you get your grubby paws on the game come November 13th, that is. Darren: "Mario has sabotaged the Beastie Boys' redux of Sabotage." Terrence: "Occupy Mushroom Kingdom." Joe: "Will the real Super Mario please jump up?" Mat: "Someone got the infinite lives cheat massively, massively wrong." Sean: "The Mario family reunion took a turn for the awkward when Luigi realized he was the only attendee out of uniform." Tim: "It's 'a me... your worst nightmare." Richard Lai: "I ate the wrong mushroom." Jon: "After defeating multiple Agent Smiths, Neo finds that he advances to level 2 in the Matrix..." Brian: "Moments later, the mob located a pet store, went to town on the turtle tank and escaped safely through the toilet." Myriam: "Where's Waldo?" Zach Honig: "Darn it, Myriam... you took mine!" Billy: "The first rule of Project Mayhem is..." Brad: "This would've made that lousy Super Mario Bros. movie a whole lot better." Amar: "King Hippo + $2 Taco Night = this" Richard Lawler: "And not a single flying Cape Feather was given that day." Josh Fruhlinger: "Another Sunday in Williamsburg, Brooklyn."
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has fully orchestrated soundtrack
Put down your recently sharpened number two pencil and that crisp piece of parchment, there's no need for strongly worded letters. Unlike The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Link's final adventure on Nintendo Wii will have an entirely orchestrated soundtrack. Nintendo of America confirmed as much to me this morning during a brief play session with the upcoming sky-bound Hyrulian romp, Skyward Sword. It's not as though the news is entirely unexpected, however -- Nintendo production head Shigeru Miyamoto hinted at the possibility earlier this year during E3, when he told attendees of his developer roundtable, "I don't think we could do what we did with Mario Galaxy 2 and not try to match that with Zelda." And hey, considering that Nintendo brought out a full orchestra just for its E3 presser, we're glad that the company would deem its big upcoming Wii title worthy as well.
Nintendo marketing exec says GameCube games coming to WiiWare
Nintendo Director of Entertainment and Trend Marketing Amber McCollom either outed a major feature of Nintendo's next home console unexpectedly, or she misspoke during an E3 interview. Speaking with Nintendo Gal on the subject of GameCube games not being playable on the upcoming Wii U, McCollom said, "GameCube discs will not be compatible with Wii U, but a number of the games that were playable on GameCube can be downloaded from WiiWare." Oh, really? During E3, Nintendo admitted that the Wii U would not be able to run GameCube discs like the Wii could, but never said a peep regarding downloadable versions of GameCube games coming to Wii U. It looks like Wii U owners will get a chance to thoroughly employ that variety of storage options at their disposal. Though McCollom's statement sounds pretty definitive, we remain skeptical, especially given Nintendo's track record with occasionally reneging on hardware/feature claims (how's that Wii DVD playback and USB storage coming along?). We've reached out to Nintendo for confirmation and details, and will update this post if we hear back. Update: When asked directly to clarify whether the Wii U would offer downloadable GameCube content, Nintendo got back to us with this statement: "To clarify the capabilities of the Wii U system: As correctly stated, Wii U will not play Nintendo GameCube discs, however Nintendo has not made any announcements regarding downloadable content."
Nintendo finally sells millionth 3DS unit in Japan, lives in the shadow of older brother
A million in (Japanese) sales is a far cry from failure, but even big daddy Satoru Iwata admits the 3DS isn't quite living up to expectations. Nintendo's tenderfoot handheld finally hit the mark after 13 weeks, a snail's pace when compared to the original dual-screen wunderkind, which reportedly made the grade in a mere four. The 3DS' predecessors will undoubtedly forgive it for being a late bloomer, it's the competition it ought to worry about; the PSP sold its first million in about seven weeks. The 3DS could still plow its way to the top -- but with the PlayStation Vita looming large on the horizon, and the fledgling handheld having already lost a round the PSV's predecessor, Nintendo could be in for a rough ride.
Nintendo admits its Wii U highlight reel was spiced up with PS3 and Xbox 360 footage
Nintendo's E3 2011 keynote yesterday gave the world its first official look at the all-new Wii U hardware plus (we thought) a glimpse at the graphical capabilities of its next console. As it turns out, the impressive list of upcoming games for the 2012-bound console was just that, a list, with the visuals we saw on screen coming from PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of said titles. Nintendo of America chief Reggie Fils-Aime has confirmed that to be the case in an interview with GameTrailers, where he also points out that the eventual Wii U games will look at least as good as their PS3 / 360 counterparts. Which is why, in his eyes, it's okay to show us those games being played on the competition's (current-gen) hardware. He does remind us that the Wii U will be delivering graphics at a 1080p resolution, and points to the garden tech demo that also graced E3 as an indicator of what can be done with Nintendo's next console. That's all well and good, but maybe tell us in advance next time, Reggie?
Scott Moffitt joins Nintendo of America as EVP of Sales and Marketing
Nintendo of America has brought in Scott Moffitt as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. For those of you not intimately familiar with Nintendo's corporate structure (those of you who, say, didn't have to do research for a post you're writing right now) that's the "Cammie Dunaway" role -- also the job held by Reggie Fils-Aime before he became president of NOA. That means we'll likely see Moffitt on stage at E3 this year. Moffitt, like the others, comes from outside of the game industry, having worked at Pepsico and then Henkel Consumer Goods (home of brands like Dial and Right Guard). We have no idea what that means for his ability to push Kirby games.
Nintendo 3DS clocks up 400,000 US sales in opening week, nearly matches month-long total for DS
Now we're talking. After Nintendo slyly told us that the 3DS set a day-one US sales record for its handheld division, it has now been more forthright and actually disclosed some cold hard numbers. 400,000 3DS units were shifted in the month of March, says Nintendo of America chief Reggie Fils-Aime, which amounts to just one working week's worth of sales when you consider the portable console launched on March 27th. That was still enough time for it to threaten the DS' overall March tally of 460,000, however, and extrapolated over a full 30 days would total a whopping 2.4 million transactions. Of course, sales rarely sustain such a roaring pace after launch, but Reggie foresees good things for the 3DS with a marquee Legend of Zelda game, the launch of the E-Shop, and Netflix integration all coming over the summer. So the future's bright, we just wish it didn't have to be turquoise.
Nintendo of America patent shows off unreleased motorcycle game concept
Every night, before we loose ourselves from the moorings of the conscious world, we say a short prayer that a game developer will realize the potential in a relaunch of Sega's arcade almost-classic, Harley Davidson & LA Riders. Our wishes haven't been granted yet, but a recently uncovered patent (.pdf) shows that Nintendo of America came awfully close to creating something similar to Sega's Easy Rider-esque masterpiece. The patent depicts a motorcycle (and/or Jetski) racing game controlled using the Wii Balance Board and Wiimote. Twisting and turning the remote accelerates and turns the bike, while leaning on the Balance Board allows the player to take sharper turns. It's unclear whether the game depicted is still in development, but we'll keep our fingers crossed regardless. Hey, it beats buying and riding an actual motorcycle, you know. Those things are like, super dangerous.
Reggie: Nintendo not interested in 'the garage developer,' still likes indies (just don't mention the garage)
At the tail end of Satoru Iwata's GDC keynote, the Nintendo prez took an unlikely turn asking if "maintaining high value games" was a top priority. After comparing the Wii and DS software libraries to those of the Xbox 360 and PS3 (Nintendo has more games!), Iwata inexplicably suggested that "the big app sites" had too many games. For Nintendo, it's about managing consumers' pricing expectations; in a world of $3 Super Monkey Balls, it's hard to sell a $40 copy of Super Monkey Ball 3DS. "We want consumers to see value in the software, whatever that appropriate value is," Nintendo of America prez Reggie Fils-Aime told Gamasutra. "And we want to see that value maintained over time." When asked if the Big N was reaching out to app store devs to bring their $1 games to the presumably more lucrative plains of the Nintendo portable savanna, Fils-Aime said that Nintendo is "absolutely reaching out to the independent developer," but he made a distinction. "Where we've drawn the line is we are not looking to do business today with the garage developer," Fils-Aime said. "In our view, that's not a business we want to pursue." Fils-Aime suggested that these so-called "hobbyist" developers are akin to amateur musicians in the music industry and ... Wait, is that really the example you want to go with, Nintendo? The same music industry pummeled by its unwillingness to embrace alternative methods of pricing and distribution? That one?
Nintendo of America recruits new VP of corporate affairs, who used to run on Dunkin
Sure, in an hour, you may be wildly F5-ing our Nintendo GDC keynote liveblog. But you know who's going to be paying even closer attention? Cynthia Gordon, who begins her tenure as Nintendo of America's new VP of corporate affairs on March 14. In addition to preparing for the upcoming North American 3DS launch, she'll be responsible for handling any new products that are announcemented today at GDC. (For her sake -- and ours -- let's hope that doesn't include a surprise We Dare localization). Gordon fills the void left by Denise Kaigler's departure and brings her experience managing various family-friendly consumer brands, including Dunkin Donuts and Universal Orlando Resort. She most recently served as SVP of 360 Public Relations, a video game-oriented agency that features the parent-friendly "MomSquad." She was also once director of the Chrysler account at GolinHarris, Nintendo of America's current PR firm.
Nintendo won't be exhibiting at CES 2011 after all, will conduct meetings behind closed doors
Wait, put the cork back in the champagne, Nintendo isn't making its triumphant return to CES after all. The Consumer Electronics Association has just blasted out a new press release, presumably with a face red with embarrassment, to correct its erroneous note that Nintendo will be an exhibitor at the 2011 tech showcase. As it turns out, Satoru Iwata's crew have booked some meeting rooms during the show -- to discuss what, we don't know -- which somewhere along the line was misinterpreted to mean that the company will be exhibiting its wares. It won't. We'll be there anyway, this just means we'll have to be a little craftier about extracting our information. [Thanks, Curtis]
Nintendo patent application describes a grocery list app, takes the DS shopping
If your pocket or purse makes room for a smartphone there's a good chance you've started managing your shopping lists digitally. Nintendo, however, is trying to make an ever-greater case for taking your DS with you instead, and if instant trading of content with strangers isn't enough incentive, maybe tracking groceries is. Nintendo of America has applied for a patent describing an "in-store wireless shopping network using hand-held devices." Those devices are, of course, game systems, and the images with the patent app all show a DS being used to track needed quantities of such exciting items as milk, eggs, and salsa. The picture below gives an idea of what the interface might look like, talking to a database of items and their locations to give shoppers an idea of where to find things in the store. Net result? Planning your route becomes a thrilling strategy game -- or at least keeps you from getting lost in the supermarket, ensuring you can continue to shop happily.
Black Nintendo Wii bundle to include MotionPlus, Wii Sports Resort; available May 9
Nintendo of America has finally announced the availability of a new colored Wii for North America. First spotted in a leaked GameStop ad, new Nintendo Wii bundles -- available in black or white -- will include a Wii MotionPlus and Wii Sports Resort. This is essentially the same bundle that has been available in Europe since late last year. The enhanced bundles will be available at retail stores beginning May 9th for the same price as the current Wii package: $199.99. While it may not be the price drop some have been waiting for, Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime thinks the new bundle adds even more "value." In a press release, he stated: "By including even more of our top-quality hardware and software in the basic Wii system package, we're extending that commitment to entertainment and value. Now more than ever, consumers can count on Nintendo to deliver inclusive fun and advanced motion controls at a mass-market price."
Analyst: Nintendo pressured by Japanese media into early 3DS reveal
M2 Research analyst Billy Pidgeon claims that the Japanese press were "all over" the upcoming 3DS before Nintendo revealed it, forcing an announcement out of the company's headquarters in Japan. In a recent CNBC report, Pidgeon alleges that the media in Japan had "talked with suppliers there and Nintendo just wanted to get out ahead by breaking the news to prevent a leak." This comes in response to the oddly-timed reveal of Nintendo's next handheld device, less than a week before the fourth iteration of its Nintendo DS was set to land on retail shelves. "Does it clash with the DSi XL? Yes it does," Pidgeon says. He goes on to claim that (even though stock prices for Nintendo jumped following the 3DS announcement), "the corporate parent in Japan may not be acting in the best interest of Nintendo of America." Alright, so, while we're not convinced that those looking to buy a brand new handheld from Nintendo are necessarily the same crowd snatching up a DSi XL, it's also probably not in Nintendo of America's best interests to have console announcements thrust upon it suddenly by the Japanese parent corp. Either way -- if it is true -- good on you Japanese press! [Via Gamasutra]
Nintendo's Dunaway says DS has 'room to grow' in US market
[Business Wire] Nintendo of America VP Cammie Dunaway thinks the Nintendo DS is going to keep on getting bigger in America. (And no, not just literally.) Speaking with VentureBeat, the executive highlighted the tremendous success of the Nintendo handheld. "We had our best year ever, selling 11.2 million units. That has never been done by any game platform ever." Yet, in spite of its success, Dunaway believes there's still a lot more to be done with the US market. Dunaway notes that -- in terms of market penetration -- "in Japan, one in two consumers has a DS." But in America? "It is one in four. So we have room to grow." Essentially, if Japan is the benchmark for America, Nintendo must sell twice as many DS systems as it already has. If there's one thing we've learned not to doubt this generation, it's Nintendo's ability to sell systems and make money. In January, the company was able to sell over 400,000 units in America -- and that figure is likely to grow with the introduction of the DSi XL in March. Perhaps we need to add even more money to this already-overused JPG. [Via Edge]
Nintendo Wii has lion's share of female console gamers
Nintendo's been doing a bit of digging and it turns out it's already won the console wars. If we're only talking about the ladies, that is. A whopping 80% of American female primary gamers (the person who primarily uses the console rather than the occasional dabblers) do their thing on the Wii, which we see as a clear indication to the graphics-obsessed Xbox 360 and PS3 developers that women prefer their games to be fun to play, rather than just look at. Maybe if we also stopped dressing female characters in swimsuits, they'd find non-Wii games relatable too -- that's just a guess though, probably wrong.
