Huge news to come out of Nintendo’s Corporate Management Policy Briefing/Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing that was held in Japan earlier today. Here’s the overview:
Wii U
- Individual User Accounts
- Console will launch in the four main regions by the end of the year
- Near Field Communication, a function incorporated into the controller, allows for radio communication in close proximity
- Will use Nintendo Network, which is basically expanded WiFi Connection
- Looking at digital distribution of titles on both 3DS and Wii U, no time frame
- More details to be revealed at E3
Nintendo 3DS
- 2D Side-scrolling Mario game in the works
- Nintendo first-party DLC on the way
- Looking at digital distribution of titles on both 3DS and Wii U, no time frame
- Sees consumers seeing the appeal of applications such as SwapNote, more so than 3D functionality
More information that isn’t available on Nintendo’s website as provided by David Gibson via Twitter:
- Iwata feels responsible for three quarters of having to revise the forecasts down
- This year will be the worst financially, may break even on 3DS hardware of first quarter of the fiscal year beginning 3/13
- 200 titles in development for 3DS
- 60% of 3DS users have connected to the internet
- More news via the internet will be coming in the future
- Looking at not cannibalizing retail sales for digital
- Shouldn’t have areas of slim to none releases, thinking of using DLC to fill in the gaps
- Miyamoto allocating time to chat with young developers instead of retiring
- Iwata says the Wired interview is still wrong and that the message is that Miyamoto’s retirement is always a consideration
- Wii U isn’t just about the graphics, though for some titles that will be important such as Zelda
- Looking at Asia for placing products
This is exciting
It is!