Tag: Games Industry
News Head Teachers in the UK Issue Warning to Parents on 18-Rated Games Being Played by Children
Will contact police and social services
While video games have age ratings in a similar manner to films, they're often regarded loosely by many. Most that frequent video game stores have a tale to tell of a parent buying their young child the next Call of Duty or GTA release, seemingly oblivious to the fact there's an age rating at all. Sometimes...
News The Japanese Console Market Fell in 2013, With Revenues Behind the Mobile Gaming Sector
A 16% fall from 2012 to 2013
It's been a day of financial figures and reflections on Nintendo's latest results, yet a report emerging from Japan demonstrates that conventional gaming systems as a whole are under a heavy strain in the country. This should be no surprise to those that regularly follow the Media Create chart results, with sale numbers...
"We might be able to create new entertainment that dominates the industry"
If you enjoy debating the state of the video game industry with others, you've no doubt had a number of conversations focused on the kinds of games we're seeing in the medium. In some respects we're seeing rapid evolution, with multiple pay models, platforms and input devices...
"It’s critical for us to have kids grow into Nintendo content"
If there's one thing the editors, writers, and readers of Nintendo Life have in common, it's a love for the company that gives the site its name. For many, the love for Nintendo and its consistently engaging content began in childhood — a period of time that shapes much of what we...
System predicted to stay behind PS4 and Xbox One in generation sales
We're now well and truly into a fresh generation of home consoles, with Nintendo's 2012 Wii U release now joined by the late 2013 arrivals of PS4 and Xbox One. The previous Wii / PS3 / Xbox 360 era brought impressive sales all around, though a continually evolving market and...
News Critical Analysis of Wario Land 4 Now Available on Kindle, Discount Price Extended
Get analytical
Late last year we told you about an eBook called Game Design Companion: A Critical Analysis of Wario Land 4, which aims to take a thorough, academic approach to assess the popular Game Boy Advance title. It's stated aim is to step beyond the normal boundaries of games criticism and to drill down into significant detail. Author...
News Nintendo Looking Into "Little Experiences" on Smartphones and Tablets
"It’s largely going to be much more marketing activity-oriented"
When it comes to smartphone and tablet content Nintendo has been painstakingly clear on two points in recent times — it has no plans to release its full games on the platforms, but is looking at ways to utilise the enormous number of smart devices to promote its hardware and games...
News New eBook Will Analyse Wario Land 4 In Nearly 600 Exhaustive Pages
"A Critical Analysis of Wario Land 4 is unusual in its approach"
We suspect that a number of gamers, including some of us at Nintendo Life, hope to see video games become an increasingly respected medium in comparison to veteran forms such as the book, film and TV. Even compared to the latter two gaming is a young art form, and due to a variety of...
News The Financial Post Thinks Wii U And 3DS Could Be The "Best Bets" This Christmas
At last, some positive mainstream reporting
There's a lot of Nintendo-related doom and gloom floating around at the moment — some of which we feel it is our duty to report — but today we've got a little bit of positive news. The Financial Post has stated what we knew all along: Nintendo's two systems are the best option for prospective buyers...
Talking Point Nintendo's Resilience Against Wii U Criticism Emphasizes Its Longevity
As the critics attack, Satoru Iwata simply looks ahead
It's been, overall, a tough couple of weeks for the Wii U's image in the online land of gaming enthusiasts. The focused attention of many outlets is, unsurprisingly and quite correctly, on the upcoming launches of the PS4 and the Xbox One, with Super Mario 3D World just about grabbing some...
Feature Why Nintendo Isn't Popular in Poland
Rob Burgess explains how a country with 40 million people has been missed
Earlier this year we posted an article based on a Nintendo fan's blog, which explained how difficult it was to buy a Wii U in Poland, a large European country. Rob Burgess, the author of that blog, has since written a follow up article in which he explains in a little more...
Poll Is Nintendo's Wii U Advertising and Marketing Doing Enough?
It's safe to say the 3DS messaging is doing fine
It's a common refrain for critics of Nintendo to state that it doesn't do marketing well. Some may see adverts featuring celebrities or colourful trailers of smiling children and despair, as there's often a sense that in targeting families and young gamers with much of its advertising the company has...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Passes 6 Million Copies Sold Milestone
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sucks up some impressive sales, too
Nintendo has released new life-to-date global sales figures for its first-party 3DS software library, all of which show that the little 3D-enabled system is attracting a lot of people's attention. At the top of the list is Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a game which has already amassed a...
Talking Point Nintendo's Ambitious Sales Targets Require Runaway Holiday Success
As the latest financial reports show, the time is now
Every three months we gain an insight into Nintendo's fortunes, with details on finances and sales information for different regions around the world. When it comes to solid numbers for hardware and software sales, the quarterly financial results reported by the Kyoto-based company can tell us...
News Nintendo Financial Reports Bring Minor Profit, 3DS Success and More Wii U Struggles
PAL regions a key weak point in Wii U hardware sales
Earlier this year Nintendo revealed its Q1 financial results, in which it was able to report a net profit despite operating losses — value of the Yen and the mysteries of accounting allowed for a positive overall result. The trends largely continue with today's Q2 results (which also include the...
News Reggie Fils-Aime Talks Mobile Strategy for Nintendo
Probably not quite what you think
Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Amie has been making the rounds since his recent hijacking of Twitter, landing today with the editors at CNET to discuss Nintendo’s approach towards mobile devices. Don’t worry; this is still far from talking about Nintendo ditching its hardware and working for iOS...
News Pokémon Developers: Paid DLC Could "Ruin The Worldview" of The Franchise
Kalos does not accept your worthless paper currency
With the popularity, collectibility, and - let’s face it - addictibility of the Pokémon franchise, the specter of micro-transactions for special critters and bonuses seems to loom more menacingly as mobile gaming grows. But according to Pokémon art director Ken Sugimori in a 4Gamer interview...
News IDC Expects Console Sales To Rise This Year
Console channel downloads also expected to exceed those of PC
The number of game console bundles shipped worldwide in 2013 will be slightly higher than the 2012 total of approximately 33 million bundles, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation. Console sales have been sliding since 2009 but the research company claims this...
News Ubisoft Quebec Planning Major Expansion of Workforce
The home of some Assassin's Creed work, among others
While some major publishers and developers have found life difficult in recent years, Ubisoft is a corporation — like EA and Activision — that seemingly continues to expand. With a number of powerful brands across multiple genres and platforms, we continue to see plenty of Ubisoft games, of...
Talking Point The Steam Gaming Machines Are An Unconventional Challenge to the Wii U
Sony and Microsoft aren't the only competitors
When considering the challenges and competitors that the Wii U faces in the months and years to come, it's becoming an increasingly cluttered and tricky space to manoeuvre. Much the same was said during the early days of the 3DS, as its struggles saw it stacked up against smartphones and tablets; at one...
News EA Executive: Shigeru Miyamoto is 'Falling Down on the Job'
Says consoles' demands are making consumers turn to mobile
Lately, it seems Nintendo has received its fair share of disparaging remarks from EA representatives, along with unflattering comparisons to Apple. And now today, at D.I.C.E. Europe, came the one-two combo of an EA executive unflatteringly comparing Nintendo to Apple. EA Chief Creative...
News Nintendo Treehouse Staff Reveal The Process Behind Choosing Which Games To Localise
They're a secretive bunch
The famous Nintendo Treehouse is situated deep in Nintendo of America's headquarters and is responsible for a lot of things, including bringing the company’s games from Japan to North America. Shrouded in a mist of secrecy, the team that climbs up to the Treehouse every day are often devising complex marketing...
News Capcom Expects A Significant Decline in Packaged Games Come 2017
Will be focusing more on digital
Capcom has predicted a significant fall in its packaged game sales come 2017, but believes other areas of its business will help make up for the drop in revenue. In its annual report the Japanese giant revealed it shipped 14 million units overall in the 12 months ending 31st March 2013, with North America being its...
Talking Point With Calls for Nintendo to Follow the Crowd, It Faces a Dilemma
Sony's Vita TV joins the noise of huge releases and lots of consoles
It's been a busy week of opinions on Nintendo, the Wii U and the 3DS. Whether you agree with some, disagree or are simply baffled by it all, it seems that games industry figures are only too happy to queue up and say what Nintendo should be doing to remain a key player in the...
News Over 61% of Q2 Game Sales in the U.S. Were From Download Products
That'll be why Nintendo's pushing the eShop platforms, then
It's been reiterated enough times that, despite the desire of many to maintain physical retail collections of games, the rise of download platforms and products nevertheless continues to gain momentum. While Nintendo weighs in with the eShop platforms on Wii U and 3DS, there's also...
News HackYourConsole.com Goes Offline and Closes Pre-Orders
Nintendo opened legal proceedings earlier this month
On 7th August Nintendo announced that it was opening legal proceedings against HackYourConsole.com, a subject that unsurprisingly caused plenty of debate and disagreement within the Nintendo Life community. The site had sold R4 cards and offered mods to Nintendo hardware for a good amount of time,...
News Gamescom and GDC Europe Hit Record Attendance Levels
Cologne confirmed as the location for 2014
In the past couple of weeks there's been plenty going on in Cologne, Germany, with GDC (Game Developers Conference) and Gamescom attracting industry professionals and fans from around the world. Both events hit new heights in terms of attendances, too, leading the organisers to declare the same host city...
News n-Space Not Currently Working On New Projects For Nintendo Consoles
"There's just very low demand right now"
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry, CEO of developing company n-Space, Dan O'Leary, announced that the company has no titles in development for Nintendo consoles for the first time in "probably 10 years". The company has earned a reputation as a specialist in the handheld market in particular, but work...
News Katsura Hashino: "Many Announcements" Set For 25th Anniversary of Atlus
Looking forward despite parent company problems
It's been a tough summer for Atlus, as it's had to absorb its share of pressure over its parent company's financial difficulties. As we've reported previously, Atlus' owner Index has begun the process of selling its operations following its slide into an equivalent of bankruptcy; rumoured potential...
News Nintendo's Digital Sales Revenue Continues Upward Trend With 3DS and Wii U
Still room for improvement
In recent months, whenever Nintendo's financial figures and sales have been making the news, a common thread has been an emphasis on the continuing growth of the company's digital revenues. What began with encouraging but flawed platforms on the Wii and DSi has progressed to more rounded, impressive offerings with the Wii...
News Nintendo Opens Legal Proceedings Against HackYourConsole.com
Continuing the fight against piracy
The Wii U and 3DS have so far maintained robust security, against flashcards and illegal modding, in comparison to the DS family of systems and the Wii. Both of the last-gen systems were easily cracked, and to date both current systems have stayed secure, which is perhaps particularly impressive in the case of the...
News SEGA Reportedly Interested in Acquiring Atlus' Parent Company
Around 20 companies are looking to bid
In June Atlus' Parent Company, Index Holdings announced it had unfortunately fallen into some financial difficulties and entered what is known as "civil rehabilitation proceedings" in Japan - essentially bankruptcy - in order to resolve its debt problems. The company reportedly stated it would be willing to...
News Capcom Confirms 37.3% Drop in Profits in Second Quarter of 2013
Lack of new releases sees profits tumble
Capcom has confirmed its profits took a big hit in the second quarter of 2013, largely down to the low amount of new releases. The company recorded net sales of 17.4 billion yen for the three months to 30th June ($178.7 million/ £117.5 million/ €134.2 million), down 6.2 percent compared to the second...
News SEGA Reveals Jump in Profits in Q2 Results
Boxed sales witness a slowdown, while digital performs well
SEGA has released its financial results for the second quarter of 2013, revealing a massive 408 percent leap in profits. The company recorded a 12.9 billion yen ($131.8 million/ £87 million/ €99.4 million ) profit between 1st April and 30th June, compared to the 2.5 billion yen ($25.8...
News Oddworld Founder Would Work With Satoru Iwata "In A Second"
Lorne Lanning admires Nintendo's President greatly
Oddworld Inhabitants has a couple of games heading to the Wii U eShop. During E3 the developer - which has turned its attentions to more indie games in recent times - announced it would be releasing Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee New 'n' Tasty, a Playstation classic, and Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD,...
News Nintendo Stock Hits Its Highest Point in Two Years
3DS sales, new games thought to fuel rise
The stock market can be a fickle creature, rising and falling on investors’ whims, but for today at least Nintendo has a high mark to celebrate. According to Bloomberg, Nintendo jumped four percent in Tokyo trading to close the day at 14,050 yen, the highest closing price since July 2011. Speculators are...
News European Development Support For Nintendo Systems Lags Behind Rivals
Smartphones and tablets are the biggest priorities
In just over a month Cologne, Germany will host Game Developers Conference Europe (GDC) — 19th to 21st August — before Gamescom kicks off shortly afterwards from 21st to 25th August. After being a no-show at the latter event last year Nintendo has confirmed its attendance this time around, while...
News 3DS UK Success in 2013 Offset by Abysmal Wii U Figures
A lot of ground to make up
As we're now into July — and melting in a heat wave to suit the time of year — sales data has emerged for UK video game sales in the first six months of the year. Gamasutra has broken down the key data as published in MCV magazine, and from Nintendo's perspective it's a tale of two platforms on very different...
News Level-5 Wants To Make Another Professor Layton Title
The series may not be over just yet
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies is the last game in the prequel trilogy and is heading to European shores this year, while North Americans will get their puzzle fix in 2014. It's been out in Japan since February and is largely seen as the last ever Professor Layton title, although that may not necessarily...
News Nintendo Will Attend GDC Europe For The First Time
Two special sessions have been scheduled in
Game Developers Conference Europe will be held this August in Cologne, Germany - just before Gamescom starts in the very same city - and Nintendo has announced it will be attending the event. This will be the very first time Nintendo has made an appearance at GDC Europe and the company has added two...
News Capcom's Christian Svensson Departs As Part Of Staff Reorganisation
Senior Vice President is among the casualties
Capcom has started its staff reorganisation programme in its US operations, which has resulted in the loss of several employees including Senior Vice President Christian Svensson. Svensson, who has been with the company for eight years, announced his departure on his personal Facebook page earlier...
News Toki Tori Creator Tells of Missed Angry Birds Opportunity
"In retrospect, it has been my worst decision ever."
Videogames, like all other media, can be a fickle business. Highly anticipated titles can flop while relatively unknown works suddenly surge into extreme popularity. And on either side of these rises and falls, you’ll likely find people with regrets one way or the other. Martijn Reuvers,...
News Pachter: Without Third Party Support Nintendo Fans May End Up Buying A Second Console
If Ubisoft drops support "you can stick a fork in Wii U"
Nintendo is currently struggling to gain third party support for Wii U, due to the console's relatively low install base. Electronic Arts is the most high profile publisher to announce it is pulling support and at this moment in time has no games in the works for Wii U. In order to rectify...
News Reggie: Publishers Should Create Great Games To Stem The Impact Of Used Game Sales
"The replayability of our content is super strong"
One of the biggest talking points at E3 this year has been used games and how publishers and developers are trying to stop them from putting a dent in their profits. Of course, when buying a used game all of the proceeds are given to the retailer. Several strategies have been conjured up over the...
News Warren Spector: Underestimate Nintendo "At Your Peril"
Industry veteran is weighing up his options
The Wii U has been navigating stormy seas since its launch late last year but with new games on the horizon Nintendo will hope its new system begins to pick up some solid momentum. One industry veteran who has always been enthusiastic about Nintendo is Warren Spector - the man behind such titles as Deus...
News Former Rockstar Producer Considers the Challenges Facing Home Consoles
Believes that gaming needs to push itself artistically
The games industry is undoubtedly in flux, with Nintendo putting in motion plans to boost the sales performance of the Wii U, while Sony and Microsoft prepare for the challenge of releasing their own systems. When you consider the rise of alternative gaming platforms, such as the phenomenally...
News GungHo Online Entertainment's Market Cap Surpasses Nintendo's
Puzzle & Dragons owner sees a huge rise in its share price
The mobile gaming market is certainly on the rise as more and more people start to adopt devices such as tablets and smartphones. No longer do you need to have a dedicated gaming console to enjoy games as you can now find them within various app stores. Naturally, the quality may not...
News Dylan Cuthbert of Q-Games - Nintendo and Wii U Need a "New Super IP"
"They always come up with something"
It's only natural that, when asked about the current state of affairs in the games industry, developers are at some point drawn to discuss Nintendo and, often, the Wii U. Dylan Cuthbert, President of Q-Games, gave his brief view on what he feels is imperative to the system in an interview with Siliconera,...
News Warren Spector: "I've Personally Saved Hyrule Many, Many Times"
Believes video games can tell stories like no other medium
Warren Spector is well known for developing stories within games. He believes the gaming medium is perfect for expanding plots and offering players choices that have an impact on their overall experience. Speaking at the UC Santa Cruz's Inventing the Future of Games convention - which was...
News Creator of The Sims, Will Wright, Shares His Admiration for Shigeru Miyamoto
Next project will aim to "intersect your reality"
Will Wright is a well known and highly respected figure in the video game industry, credited as the creator of The Sims, while many will also be familiar with his work on the early SimCity games; he also co-founded that series' development studio, Maxis. Appearing at the Game Horizon conference in...