Mon, May 10, 2010 | 09:39 BST
Iwata: DS in need of “big hit title”
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has said an investors meeting that a “big hit title” is needed to combat dwindling sales of DS hardware in Europe.
Speaking at the meeting, he said that Wii is also lacking of big titles, despite having Super Mario Galaxy 2 releasing next month and Metroid: Other M in Q3 this year in the region.
“In the U.S., Xbox360 has been keeping the lead over PS3 this year, he said. “In Europe, on the other hand, while Xbox360 was showing the decline, PS3 has shown increase since the fall of 2009. It appears that the benefit of third party publishers’ big multiplatform titles has been mainly contributing to PS3.
“On the other hand, the sales of Nintendo DS hardware in Europe are showing a year-on-year decrease, unlike the United States market,” While Wii has been embracing big hit titles since the latter half of 2009, not many strong titles to significantly drive hardware sales have been launched for Nintendo DS for a while.”
He further adds: “So, we recognize that we are coming to the stage where we need to offer a hit title that can gain social phenomena and catch our customers’ attentions.”
So there you have it. Get cracking on a new Zelda DS title, Nintendo.
Thanks, Edge.
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Posted in: DS, Nintendo
Tags: Satoru Iwata
19 comments
#1
Dannybuoy
10/05/10, 9:48 am
Just Dance it is then!
#2
Rudderless
10/05/10, 9:53 am
Given that the last Zelda title was launched six months ago to pretty huge shrugging of shoulders at retail, I’d say a new Zelda is the last thing they’d be looking at. Similarly, it’s hardly capable of ‘gaining social phenomena’.
Something like a PAL version of (Japan uber-hit) Friend Collection might do the trick, although from what I hear that’s going to be near-impossible to localise effectively and will likely remain in the East.
#3
Blerk
10/05/10, 9:53 am
The kids and the missus were playing Just Dance yesterday. They fucking love it! I didn’t play because I was too shy. I might wait until they’ve gone to bed.
#4
Bulk Slash
10/05/10, 10:08 am
I thought the reason there haven’t been any big DS titles recently is because they’re concentrating all internal dev teams on the 3DS.
I remember both the GameBoy Colour and the GameBoy Advance were suddenly devoid of new titles from Nintendo about a year before their replacements arrived. If Nintendo do have any “big hit” titles up their sleeves, they’ll be released on 3DS.
#5
Anders
10/05/10, 10:09 am
Martinet was talking about a new Mario-title that wasn’t Super Mario Galaxy 2 or New Super Mario Bros. Wii a while back. A new DS-title, perhaps?
#6
ninjanutta
10/05/10, 10:23 am
nintendo has had its day again im afraid,the buzz has worn off and all the curious non gamers already own one.Its sonys time now and theres no stopping that train with 3d on the horizon etc.im no fanboy i own x360 and ps3 and my son has wii and ds but its plain to see,im glad though as ps3 deserves it,i do love my 360 still though
#7
Benjo1981
10/05/10, 10:24 am
@6
Seeing as you count 3D as being Sony’s trump card, have you considered that Nintendo have the 3DS?
#8
Anders
10/05/10, 10:29 am
@6 Sony and everyone else are kidding themselves if they believe that 3D will be the answer to their prayers.
#9
ninjanutta
10/05/10, 10:32 am
i dont consider it as sonys trump card,its just what will keep the momentem going,havent you seen anything about the bravia 3d tvs?Avatar will look like shit on a 3ds dont you agree?not just games you see,look at all the films that are 3d now,cant play bluray 3d on a ds,ps3 will have an update that allows that,i wasnt trying to cause a fanboy war anyway,im a bit too old for that shit mate
#10
Benjo1981
10/05/10, 10:38 am
@9
I didn’t think you were trying to cause a war, I was merely suggesting that 3D might not be the sustaining force for Sony that you think it will be.
Possibly in the movie industry (although even that I doubt), but not in games.
#11
Blerk
10/05/10, 10:41 am
If 3D’s going to have any impact whatsoever in the under-the-telly market it’ll be next generation, not this generation. The 3DS stands a better chance than the PS3 at getting it off the ground sooner, if only because you don’t need to buy a new telly to experience it.
#12
Erthazus
10/05/10, 10:42 am
@8 Actually 3D is a real answer. Nvidia 3D Vision started few years ago and it is very successfull.
3D is going to be a standard in the future thats for 100%. Soon every PC monitor will have a function with 3D.
I played Batman: Arkham Asylum in 3D on PC and it was an amazing experience. Absolutely different experience.
This generation 3D won’t be successfull because of a TV price, but later it’s going to be a success if Sony will do it right. sony started doing this, because they are started to sell Sony TV’s with 3D, so it was a right decision for them.
#13
Erthazus
10/05/10, 10:46 am
@11 Blerk, you don’t understand a little bit why Sony is doing it now. You are absolutely right about Success in the next generation.
Sony just started to push 3D games because their 3D TV’s are in the horizon. They want to sell 3D TV’s.
PS3 3D impact is on their TV’s and thats important stuff for them.
#14
Blerk
10/05/10, 10:47 am
Oh, I know why they’re doing it. I just don’t think it’ll catch on any time soon.
#15
Bulk Slash
10/05/10, 11:21 am
I don’t think the 3DS and 3D TV will be comparable. With 3D TV it’s all about providing a more immersive experience through having a large 3D image in front of your eyes.
I suspect the 3DS will use 3D for clever puzzles and unique game styles that you couldn’t previously do with the DS. Of course I could be wrong, most Virtual Boy games didn’t do anything clever with the 3D technology!
#16
manamana
10/05/10, 11:21 am
After all nintendo recognized the european market. Not to long ago, they (and Sony also btw.) didn’t give a shit what’s happening outside of japan …
#17
ruckus
10/05/10, 11:24 am
For people into home cinema etc. it’s no doubt created a tech hard on. For the majority, it’s all a bit meh.
#18
Tonka
10/05/10, 11:26 am
Wait what!? Software driving hardware? No no no Iwata you RETARD! It’s the other way around, EVERYONE knows this.
#19
Boris Fett
10/05/10, 1:57 pm
So what? Pokemon isn’t a big hit franchise anymore?