What's Next for Nintendo

Whilst the news of Nintendo bosses taking a price cut and the ability to create Virtual Console DS games have been rocking the gaming world's news cycle this week, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has revealed some interesting tidbits in an interview with business website Nikkei.

Because the site mainly asks about the business end - that being their main interest after all - Iwata explains that this is a minor bump for good ol' Ninty.  After all, they are stinking rich.

Without savings, we could not have recovered from a single failure in game systems. Even now, we can afford many options because of our robust financial standing.

- Satoru Iwata, CEO, Nintendo

He also says something we find very interesting - in a worrying way.  

We are considering M&As as an option.  For this reason, we'll step up share buybacks.

- Satoru Iwata, CEO, Nintendo

Now, not everyone can pretend to have a business degree like I do,   So let me break it down - M&A is a business term for Mergers & Acquisitions.  Nintendo repurchasing their shares would make them more expensive in the event of a takeover.

So, is Samsung trying to buy Nintendo?  Does Hitachi want to put Mario on televisions?  Is Fujitsu tired of being listed third?

Idle speculation, of course - but they are considering a merger and making themselves more expensive.  They are also looking into using mobile devices to get people interested in Nintendo games - though explicitly say they will not make games for others.  They have been talking a lot about the NFC (Near Field Communication) technology in the Wii U though.  A feature that (non-Apple) smartphones are equipped with.  Although their UK website still mentions WAP as how mobiles connect to the internet...

In the notes from the quarterly meeting, on the Nintendo.jp website, though hard to get through even with Google's translation, there is mention of reducing the price of games.  The example they use is that if a friend plays a game with a friend, they could get a discount when they also purchase the game.

Nintendo also plan on not trying to enter the 'wearable' market - such as Google Glass and Oculus Rift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They plan on following their strategy of making things everyone can use - like the Wii or DS.  There is mention of a project for 'Non-wearable' starting in April 2015 - so we will have to wait and see.

However, the plan could just be to create an app that accesses the Nintendo Store.  After all:

We'll offer discounts to steady, regular customers. 

- Satoru Iwata, CEO, Nintendo

Iwata has seen how Tesco is doing and gotten ideas.  Nintendo Club Cards - the next step.