Nintendo announced today their intention to branch out to new platforms by making an alliance with DeNA (pronounced D-N-A), a well known smart phone and PC application platform based in Japan. There are not a lot of details however the press release covers Nintendo granting DeNA the rights to make games with Nintendo IP’s for smart devices.
Perhaps more interesting is that the press release also mentions a new membership service born from the Nintendo/DeNA partnership. No details were given as to what the membership entails and whether it has a cost, but it does mention that it will tie up different platforms together. These include mobile, Nintendo systems, and the PC, which might be an indication that DeNA will bring some of the Nintendo IP’s to the PC.
If there is something that concerns me in this press release is the following paragraph:
In order to create completely new game experiences for smart devices, all Nintendo IP will be eligible for development and exploration by the alliance. As these consumers enjoy the unique kind of gameplay found only with Nintendo, they will have the opportunity to explore even more premium experiences on Nintendo’s dedicated video game platforms. Information on upcoming games and availability will be forthcoming.
It seems that DeNA will develop their own titles, not launching any “main” Nintendo games on their platform. This makes sense, as Nintendo would not want to cannibalize their main market. Hopefully the promise to bring the Nintendo experience to mobile means a pricing structure closer to the one we are used to, and ” the opportunity to explore even more premium experiences on Nintendo’s dedicated video game platforms.” doesn’t mean we will see a mobile model moving into Nintendo platforms.
