Holiday games to rev up Nintendo 3DS
2011-09-13 11:43
Tokyo - Nintendo is readying an array of video games for the holidays in an aggressive attempt at catch-up for lost time from the sales delay of the 3DS portable machine last year.
Nintendo, which makes the Wii home console and Super Mario and Pokémon games, showed some of the gaming titles featuring glasses-free 3D technology at a packed Tokyo event hall on Tuesday.
The year-end holidays will be a key test for the 3DS portable. Game companies make up more than half their annual sales during those months.
Analysts say it cost the Japanese video game maker potential momentum when the 3DS was not ready for Christmas last year. It did not go on sale until February in Japan, and March in the US and Europe, forcing Nintendo to slash its profit forecasts by more than half.
Adding to the woes, the overall gaming business has hit the doldrums recently, as the initial momentum wore off from the Wii and DS handheld, both megahits from Kyoto-based Nintendo - partly because of a scarcity of hit game software, but also because of the advent of other mobile entertainment, such as cellphone gaming and social networking like Twitter.
Video footage
President Satoru Iwata showed video footage of games in the works, including the popular Super Mario series, that were for 3D playing without the special glasses usually required for 3-D TVs.
Iwata said the company was doing its utmost to offer a satisfying selection of games to play on 3DS.
He has always said machines never become a hit unless there are hit games people are going to want to play on them.
"We know the hurdle is high," he said. "We will do our utmost to make the 3DS as widespread as its predecessor DS machine."
Iwata noted the DS and Wii had proved popular with women - a characteristic he seemed to think was unique for Nintendo products, unlike offerings from rivals Sony with its PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable and Microsoft and its Xbox 360.
Pink console for women
But he said the 3DS had not been so far as popular with women. He said a pink-colour model was going on sale later this year in an effort to woo women.
It was perhaps telling of Nintendo's fading confidence in its in-house games that the climax of the demonstration was for a game by Capcom.
Capcom, a Japanese game developer also behind the Biohazard games, is readying a spectacular 3DS version of its popular Monster Hunter game.
Nintendo usually pushes its own games, but Iwata showered Capcom with praise as bringing out the best in 3D features.
Sony is scheduled to outline its strategy for portable gaming on Wednesday, ahead of the Tokyo Game Show in a suburb, opening to media on Thursday. Nintendo generally does not take part in the Tokyo Game Show.
- SAPA