News: Would Nintendo do Free-to-Play on Smartphones? Page 1

Would Nintendo do Free-to-Play on Smartphones?

During an interview, Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata was asked whether Nintendo would consider free-to-play for smart devices.

With Nintendo now working on a range of games and applications for smart devices this year, there have been some questions raised whether the Japanese game giant would explore free-to-play models in these projects.

When asked in an interview with TIME, Iwata noted how, "or each title, we will discuss with DeNA and decide the most appropriate payment method."

He believes that both full-payment and free-to-start models could be adopted, but doesn't want to choose a method that "may hurt Nintendo's brand image on our IP," something that parents should feel "comfortably fleeing their children play with."

At the end of the day, Iwata believes that "it's even more important for us to consider how we can get as many people around the world as possible to play Nintendo smart device apps, rather than to consider which payment system will earn the most money."

Free-to-play or one-off payment, what do you think would work best for Nintendo titles?

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Luna Eriksson 18.03.2015#1

Is "pay-to-start" Iwata's own words? If so, I love it. It is so honest and direct towards the customers.

This really gives me hope that Nintendo actually will use this medium correctly and in the favor of the customers. Especially when he says that it is more important to get many to play over what makes the most money. Nintendo truly shows why they have been around in this industry so long right here. Long term thinking over all! Smilie

The difference between illusion and reality is vague to the one who suffers from the former and questionable for the one suffering form the later.

Nik (guest) 19.03.2015#2

No I would not play this simply because I don't want to encourage any one to making more freemium games. It's the cancer of the video game industry.

Luna Eriksson 19.03.2015#3

Nik (guest) said:
No I would not play this simply because I don't want to encourage any one to making more freemium games. It's the cancer of the video game industry.

Freemium can be either good or bad depending on some delicate variables. I have played some good freemium titles and some horribly bad ones. If a game makes sense and does the model well, why not?

The difference between illusion and reality is vague to the one who suffers from the former and questionable for the one suffering form the later.

Flynnie 19.03.2015#4

I don't like a game that gets impossibly hard to complete unless you purchase additional content, I agree with Nik this is the cancer of the industry.

Ive always been happy to slap down £40 for a Nintendo product just because of their reputation of quality, but I don't like how their new mobile venture may tarnish this!

WP-Final 19.03.2015#5

They will use the Pokemon Shuffle model which is similar to games like candy crush.

As long as it's not like Game of War. That shit should be illegal with how it preys on people with addictive personalities.

( Edited 19.03.2015 22:17 by Ifrit XXII )

Flynnie 20.03.2015#6

Sure that's how it starts off but then they will eventually get a little more greedier and greedier. I refuse to spend any money playing Pokemo Shuffle, it makes me wonder who does, but surely Nintendo would like more of their players spending money...so the next release will be a little harder (less coins, hearts and jewels or whatever).

It just makes sense sense as a business decision... (Not that I like it)