Nintendo IPs come to smartphones...

[Xeogred]

Hate to see this happen, but that's just because I dislike mobile phone games in general. I suppose it might give 'em extra income to finally do a real Mario 64/Sunshine-style game. Or the extra money to take the hit on pikmin 4.

If Iwata is going to share more about the NX next year, then I guess we can expect it by 2017? If it's a unified console, and they can put everything into making it as excellent as it can be, maybe it'll hold a sort of "Dreamcast" role into the next-gen- an early graphical powerhouse.

The NX talk is kind of funny. A 2017 release doesn't seem entirely impossible, but I have to admit I'm of the camp that's really enjoyed the Wii U and would be kind of disappointed if it's short lived. On the other hand I definitely don't want another PS3/360 lifespan (for any console for that matter), but it's a shame the Wii U will probably always carry a mislead "failure" stigma behind it. It's probably my favorite Nintendo console since the SNES.

[dsheinem]

it's a shame the Wii U will probably always carry a mislead "failure" stigma behind it

But it is a failure from the perspective of sales. The quicker Nintendo kills the Wii U and gets out an actual PS4/X1 competitor, the better.

That said, there's nothing surprising about them working on a new console. I assume that Sony, MS, and Nintendo all start working on their next console right around the time that a new one launches. R&D takes time, and Nintendo has probably been working on this "NX" for several years.

[Exhuminator]

I assume that Sony, MS, and Nintendo all start working on their next console right around the time that a new one launches.

This is absolutely true and has been verified by all three companies multiple times in interviews over the years.

As for Nintendo's next console, I know Iwata has said cross play between their next console and their next handheld was a big factor. What this is probably going to mean is if you develop a game for their next console it will easily scale down for their next handheld, thus if you make a game for their next console you automatically make a game for their next handheld.

What I wish it meant is that Nintendo's next handheld is a portable console. You can play it on the go for portability, or hook it up to your HDTV via HDMI for console experience. It could support additional controllers wirelessly (as well as wireless internet). I doubt Nintendo will do this though because it would homogenize their separate console/handheld markets into one, putting their biggest eggs in the same basket.

[Jagosaurus]

Anyone thought of NFC in phones? Amibos are printing money & could now potentially be compatible with mobile titles.

Little to no money in hardware. Nintendo has owned the handheld scene since the gameboy. Now they're tapping into a handheld everyone already owns to make money off software... which is where the money is to begin with.

If they're quality titles, I have no issues. More cash flow in the door that'll allow them to keep making titles we know & love.

IMO they're diversifying their business model without getting outside their realm.

[Sarge]

I'm not freaking out. Yet. Honestly, I'm not. Stop looking at me like that, Exhuminator!

I always try to see things in a somewhat rosy manner for Nintendo. That probably makes me a fanboy. I can see why they're doing it, but I don't know if it will work or not. Whether this is a move for their stuff to fail so they can tell their shareholders, "see, this will never work!" or, more likely, tapping a segment of the market that they're starting to lose remains to be seen.

Seriously, think about it. Nintendo's always aimed for the tykes with their handhelds, but more and more parents aren't buying them Nintendo hardware, they're buying them iPods and tablets and whatnot. It's a huge, huge market. The kids that still love traditional games will still hopefully have that option with the 3DS successor, but mobile gaming could certainly bolster Nintendo's bottom line...

...provided they can keep quality up. I completely agree with Nintendo's steadfast focus on IP. They can't push crap out there and expect to not devalue their IP. Which tells me that this is a move to try to make it work, and they're not going to intentionally tank it, but if it does go wrong they'll retreat back to their usual modus operandi.

All that to say... I hope Ninty knows what they're doing.

[Gunstar Green]

This was an inevitable move for Nintendo and keeping in line with their usual history of being the last ones to the party.

Regardless of any personal love or hate for mobile games this is a bandwagon they should have jumped on a while ago.

[Blu]

My thoughts, after having a few days to think about it all:

[irixith]

Nintendo had to do this, it was either this or a shareholder revolt. Shareholders want a return on their investment, and don't give a hoot about gamers, console/handheld wars, or about the absurdity of mobile device gaming. They simply see the dollar signs, and Nintendo is trying to acquiesce in the best way possible without affecting their core business model. The biggest pro to the whole announcement is that the whole deal is outsourced, so Nintendo won't be committing resources. The biggest con to the whole announcement is that the whole deal is outsourced, so whether or not the games will have Nintendo Magic is up in the air.

[retrosportsgamer]

If you want an idea what a Nintendo smartphone game will look like - go no further than Pokémon Shuffle on the 3DS.

I don't play Pokémon games and they somehow got ME to put an hour into it.

One of those deals where you can pay to have more hearts, ala candy crush. Or you just come back later.