Nintendo New Mobile Games: Shuns Mario & Opts For 'Animal Crossing,' 'Fire Emblem' Instead? [VIDEO]
Nintendo has recently announced that its latest efforts into breaching the mobile gaming market would include the release of two of the firm's popular titles, Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing.
Though the two titles are undoubted hits among the firm's massive game lineup, many fans were left wondering why the gaming giant did not opt to release a mobile version of one of the company's most iconic titles instead, such as Super Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda. After all, the sheer mass market appeal of Mario or Zelda alone is almost an assurance that the firm would make a significant profit in the mobile market.
Regardless of this assurance, however, Nintendo opted for Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem. During the firm's latest earnings report, Nintendo's current president Tatsumi Kimishima explained that the decision to select Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem is a strategic move for the company as it enters the mobile gaming market.
"We chose 'Animal Crossing' and 'Fire Emblem' as titles to follow 'Miitomo' from the viewpoint of increasing the diverse types of consumers interested in Nintendo, and widening opportunities for gameplay," Kimishima said.
"The 'Animal Crossing' series has been played by a wide range of consumers including children and women. I think there is a good chance that those consumers would enjoy this."
The president further explained that the Fire Emblem mobile release is designed to attract the company's "diehard fans." Thus, releasing Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem would enable Nintendo to attract two types of gamers - those who are new to games and those who are already immersed in the firm's gaming world.
"We selected two titles of different categories and IP to reach as many consumers as possible," Kimishima elaborated.
With Nintendo's statement, many fans are speculating that another reason behind the absence of Mario or Donkey Kong in the firm's mobile release lineup is the fact that those games are the flagship titles of the company. Thus, there is a high likelihood that Mario and Zelda would see a new release once the firm unveils its next-generation console, the upcoming Nintendo NX.
For now, at least, gamers would soon be able to enjoy Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem on their mobile devices.
