wraggster
February 27th, 2014, 23:16
A Hong Kong hedge fund manager is calling on Nintendo to begin developing and selling mobile games with microtransactions.
Oasis Management founder Seth Fischer also suggests the company adopt a free-to-play model with microtransactions.
"Nintendo needs to embrace this thematic change in consumer demand, behaviour and expectations to stay relevant," said Fischer, in a letter obtained by Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/nintendo-hedgefunds-idUSL3N0LV31S20140226).
http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3024/image_302447_460.jpg (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/viewer.php?id=302447&mode=article)"Just think of paying 99 cents just to get Mario to jump a little higher," Fischer writes in a letter to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.
"We believe Nintendo can create very profitable games based on in-game revenue models with the right development team. The same people who spent hours playing Super Mario, Donkey Kong and The Legend Of Zelda as children are now a demographic whose engagement on the smartphone is valued by the market at well over $100 billion."
Previously, Nintendo has resisted (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/318949/nintendo-absolutely-not-considering-making-mobile-games/) calls to release its games on mobile platforms, despite a number of analysts urging the corporation to make the switch.
In August, Nintendo chief executive Satoru Iwata told CVG that releasing games on mobiles would only represent a short-term fix (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/423036/iwata-nintendo-games-on-rival-platforms-would-only-be-a-short-term-fix/).
"If I was to take responsibility for the company for just the next one or two years, and if I was not concerned about the long-term future of Nintendo at all, it might make sense for us to provide our important franchises for other platforms, and then we might be able to gain some short-term profit," he said.
"However, I'm really responsible for the long-term future of Nintendo as well, so I would never think about providing our precious resources for other platforms at all."
Earlier in February, Iwata announced that Nintendo would be looking into making a smartphone app (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/447946/iwata-talks-engaging-smartphone-users-with-nintendo/) that would help promote the company's Wii U and 3DS titles.
"Nintendo would like to establish a firm channel on smart devices through which we can connect with consumers," he said.
"This channel will enable not only us but also third-party publishers to communicate all the fun content on Nintendo platforms to consumers. "
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/451317/nintendo-investor-wants-mobile-games-with-microtransactions/
Oasis Management founder Seth Fischer also suggests the company adopt a free-to-play model with microtransactions.
"Nintendo needs to embrace this thematic change in consumer demand, behaviour and expectations to stay relevant," said Fischer, in a letter obtained by Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/nintendo-hedgefunds-idUSL3N0LV31S20140226).
http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3024/image_302447_460.jpg (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/viewer.php?id=302447&mode=article)"Just think of paying 99 cents just to get Mario to jump a little higher," Fischer writes in a letter to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.
"We believe Nintendo can create very profitable games based on in-game revenue models with the right development team. The same people who spent hours playing Super Mario, Donkey Kong and The Legend Of Zelda as children are now a demographic whose engagement on the smartphone is valued by the market at well over $100 billion."
Previously, Nintendo has resisted (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/318949/nintendo-absolutely-not-considering-making-mobile-games/) calls to release its games on mobile platforms, despite a number of analysts urging the corporation to make the switch.
In August, Nintendo chief executive Satoru Iwata told CVG that releasing games on mobiles would only represent a short-term fix (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/423036/iwata-nintendo-games-on-rival-platforms-would-only-be-a-short-term-fix/).
"If I was to take responsibility for the company for just the next one or two years, and if I was not concerned about the long-term future of Nintendo at all, it might make sense for us to provide our important franchises for other platforms, and then we might be able to gain some short-term profit," he said.
"However, I'm really responsible for the long-term future of Nintendo as well, so I would never think about providing our precious resources for other platforms at all."
Earlier in February, Iwata announced that Nintendo would be looking into making a smartphone app (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/447946/iwata-talks-engaging-smartphone-users-with-nintendo/) that would help promote the company's Wii U and 3DS titles.
"Nintendo would like to establish a firm channel on smart devices through which we can connect with consumers," he said.
"This channel will enable not only us but also third-party publishers to communicate all the fun content on Nintendo platforms to consumers. "
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/451317/nintendo-investor-wants-mobile-games-with-microtransactions/