Nintendo Is “Experimenting” With Bringing Games To IOS

Nintendo has been finding themselves between a rock and a hard place in recent years when it comes to handheld gaming versus mobile gaming, as is Sony with their PS Vita.

While the DS, 2DS and 3DS are great devices and are enjoying great sales, it could always be better. Smartphones and tablets have been taking potential profits away from their portable consoles little by little over the past few years.

The belief by many is simple, who wants to carry an additional device dedicated to gaming when our phones have everything we need already? Well I guess it really depends on the type of consumer/gamer you are and where you are going. If it’s a quick commute, maybe a quick round of Angry Birds, Candy Crush or my favorite Nimble Quest is enough but most gamers do not consider these types of games as true deep playing games along the lines of, lets say a Zelda or Mario Kart for 3DS on the go are.

To remedy (somewhat) this problem, Nintendo is looking at various experimental ways they can add their brand on mobile devices but, and here is the tricky part..not take sales away from their own devices. A catch 22.

In a recent interview, Reginald “Reggie” Fils-Aime, president/chief operating officer of Nintendo of America, suggested a shift in Nintendo’s current strategy. Fils-Aime explained that while the ultimate goal will be to draw gamers to Nintendo hardware, the company is aware of the need for expansion. “We recognize that there are a lot of smartphones and tablets out there, and so what we’re doing is we’re being very smart in how we use these devices as marketing tools for our content.” He went on to say, “We’re also doing a lot of experimentation of what I would call the little experiences you can have on your smartphone and tablet that will drive you back to your Nintendo hardware.”

Fils-Aime was also quick to point out “We believe our games are best played and best enjoyed on our devices,” so it’s unlikely that Donkey Kong 3D and Mario Kart 8 will be available in full mode on a future iOS.

Many consumers and analysts are suggesting that Nintendo get out all together from the console market and focus on the great games they make just as Sega has done. But as John Brownlee a writer for Cult of Mac suggests and I tend to agree:

“Many people will wonder why Nintendo doesn’t just give-up, and just start releasing games for iOS, but that’s too cynical. Nintendo is, in many ways, Japan’s Apple, tightly integrating hardware and software to create a magical experience. Telling them to just give up on hardware is like telling Apple to start licensing iOS to competitors and stop making iPhones. But Nintendo does need to be smarter about what a gaming console even looks like in a world saturated with smartphones, and it looks like they have finally started.”

Marvel Creativity Studio Stylus

With Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. tearing up the airwaves and a new Thor movie headed to theaters early next month, what better time to unleash a comic book-themed stylus for drawing on the iPad?

Disney Consumer Products and Marvel Entertainment have announced the launch of Marvel Creativity Studio Stylus and a companion app for the iPad, which allows kids to draw and even animate their favorite comic book superheroes.

Priced at $34.99, the Marvel Creativity Studio Stylus is available at retailers everywhere, while a deluxe version sold at Apple.com and Apple retail stores includes a limited edition zippered carrying case. Both versions include unlimited access to all content and future updates, and the Marvel Creativity Studio app for iPad is available free from the App Store.

Created by eKids, the app allows users to learn how to draw, color and animate a wide range of Marvel superheroes and villains from the company’s latest animated adventures: Avengers Assemble, The Ultimate Spider-Man and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

“Leveraging the comic drawing history of the Marvel brand with the innovation that eKids brings to the table — or in this case, tablet — this product delivers a fun experience with endless play value,” said Josh Silverman, executive vice president of global franchise licensing and commercialization at Disney Consumer Products.

The Marvel Creativity Studio Stylus also works with the free Disney Creativity Studio app, which features beloved Disney and Pixar characters, also available from the App Store.

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