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Nintendo Highlights Increase in Digital Wii U and 3DS eShop Sales

Download sales have been a strong focus in this week's financial results briefing from Nintendo, with figures earning a record in the last fiscal year.

Nintendo have been actively pursuing the download scene with an ever-growing number of physical retail releases also available in download/digital form on the eShop. Coupled with a number of highly-rated indie games on both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, it's proven to be working exceptionally well for Nintendo.

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Sales from April 2012 to March 2013, particularly in the second half, more than doubled compared to the period for the previous year.

Using Animal Crossing: New Leaf as an example, Iwata revealed that approximately a quarter of the total sales of the game released in Japan and South Korea came from the digital version - this includes the pre-installed software on the special edition Nintendo 3DS XL.

Nintendo have also started selling download versions as POS cards in stores, some even being stocked at convenience stores like 7-Eleven. Iwata feels that download/digital shopping shouldn't be "an enemy to retailers" and that 68% of download sales for New Leaf were purchased via traditional retailers.

The eShop is also playing host to Nintendo Direct videos, offering snapshots and news of the latest games. Interestingly Iwata confirmed that "it is not uncommon to find that approximately 60 to 70 percent of total views come from the Nintendo eShop."

Payment options are a hurdle for digital gaming, but Nintendo are considering using a public transport e-money card to possibly make payments for games on the eShop as well by using NFC functionality.

What do you think of Nintendo's digital performance so far - have you downloaded any full retail games on the eShop yet?

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Flynnie 25.04.2013#1

I don't get people that trust Nintendo's flimsy digital policy...compared with Apple, Microsoft and Sony they are just behind the times...furthermore the cost attached to digital games is disgraceful...its bizarre who would pay more for a digital game than the physical one.

I wonder how many people that downloaded the game would have purchased it physically (if downloading it were not an option)....

Mandown 26.04.2013#2

Flynnie said:
I don't get people that trust Nintendo's flimsy digital policy...compared with Apple, Microsoft and Sony they are just behind the times...furthermore the cost attached to digital games is disgraceful...its bizarre who would pay more for a digital game than the physical one.
I wonder how many people that downloaded the game would have purchased it physically (if downloading it were not an option)....

I'm just as perplexed as you are as to why people keep buying content on their services. When given an option, I imagine they don't buy software on eShop. Things will change as news of this filters out this year, it won't wash with parents:

… "I was wondering, should I lose or have my 3DS stolen, is there any way to retrieve the games that I've purchased on the eshop? I am curious about your policy on this, and especially when so many young kids play 3DS and could potentially lose them. I know on the iphone and PSP, you are tied to an account to which you can retrieve your games. How does it work for Nintendo? Should I be worried about buying my little nephew eshop points?

Nintendo of America customer service representative: Thank you for writing. I'll be happy to answer your questions regarding virtual content on the Nintendo 3DS. All virtual content downloaded on the Nintendo 3DS is tied to the system itself. As our warranty doesn't cover lost or stolen game cards and systems, if this were to happen regardless of your games being virtual or you owning the physical copies, they would not be covered for replacement. …"

( Edited 26.04.2013 09:31 by Linkyshinks )

Flynnie 27.04.2013#3

Linkyshinks said:
Flynnie said:
I don't get people that trust Nintendo's flimsy digital policy...compared with Apple, Microsoft and Sony they are just behind the times...furthermore the cost attached to digital games is disgraceful...its bizarre who would pay more for a digital game than the physical one.
I wonder how many people that downloaded the game would have purchased it physically (if downloading it were not an option)....
I'm just as perplexed as you are as to why people keep buying content on their services. When given an option, I imagine they don't buy software on eShop. Things will change as news of this filters out this year, it won't wash with parents:
… "I was wondering, should I lose or have my 3DS stolen, is there any way to retrieve the games that I've purchased on the eshop? I am curious about your policy on this, and especially when so many young kids play 3DS and could potentially lose them. I know on the iphone and PSP, you are tied to an account to which you can retrieve your games. How does it work for Nintendo? Should I be worried about buying my little nephew eshop points?

Nintendo of America customer service representative: Thank you for writing. I'll be happy to answer your questions regarding virtual content on the Nintendo 3DS. All virtual content downloaded on the Nintendo 3DS is tied to the system itself. As our warranty doesn't cover lost or stolen game cards and systems, if this were to happen regardless of your games being virtual or you owning the physical copies, they would not be covered for replacement. …"

Its just not user friendly! It's quite annoying, i am usually quite careful with my consoles and only the more recent consoles have ever broken on me (360/PS3) otherwise no other console ever has. But at least Microsoft covered the RROD (although forced) and the games and data can be tied elsewhere. Nintendo are so behind on this concept. The only reason i have VC games on my Wii is because i was given Wii points but i damn sure wouldnt buy them!

Edit this post:

[quote][b]Linkyshinks said:[/b]<br/>[quote][b]Flynnie said:[/b]<br/>I don't get people that trust Nintendo's flimsy digital policy...compared with Apple, Microsoft and Sony they are just behind the times...furthermore the cost attached to digital games is disgraceful...its bizarre who would pay more for a digital game than the physical one.

I wonder how many people that downloaded the game would have purchased it physically (if downloading it were not an option)....[/quote]

I'm just as perplexed as you are as to why people keep buying content on their services. When given an option, I imagine they don't buy software on eShop. Things will change as news of this filters out this year, it won't wash with parents:

[quote]… "I was wondering, should I lose or have my 3DS stolen, is there any way to retrieve the games that I've purchased on the eshop? I am curious about your policy on this, and especially when so many young kids play 3DS and could potentially lose them. I know on the iphone and PSP, you are tied to an account to which you can retrieve your games. How does it work for Nintendo? Should I be worried about buying my little nephew eshop points?

Nintendo of America customer service representative: Thank you for writing. I'll be happy to answer your questions regarding virtual content on the Nintendo 3DS. All virtual content downloaded on the Nintendo 3DS is tied to the system itself. As our warranty doesn't cover lost or stolen game cards and systems, if this were to happen regardless of your games being virtual or you owning the physical copies, they would not be covered for replacement. …"[/quote][/quote]

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