The new Nintendo 3DS System will be released next year.
The president of Nintendo, Reggie Fils-Aime, set out to bruise Apple in a recent interview with Forbes this week. Though acknowledging the American portable media giants are a significant near-term threat to his multi-million gaming industry, he described Apple’s library of games as a mere “welcome distraction.”
His brushing comment was likely intended to sweep aside the fact Nintendo had failed to meet their target and release a new toy in time for Christmas. With Apple having introduced a whole line of upgraded PMP’s (portable media players) together with the iPad and Apple TV, Fils-Aime has every right to feel threatened.
Though Nintendo have been the mighty force in the gaming industry since the turn of the Millenium, the last time they released a new gaming device was the Wii in 2006. Yet despite their lack of new technology sales continue to boom with over 20 million Nintendo devices finding new homes in 2009.
But in the world of technology, four years is a long time with device-hungry consumers eager to experience the latest advances. For Nintendo, 2010 should have seen the release of the new handheld 3DS, but missed goals mean that won’t be on the market until February 2011.
Thus Fils-Aime was ultimately left with plugging his current crop of gaming devices to help boost sales ahead of the holiday season. And subsequently he attempted to downgrade the quality of games available on the iPod, iPad and iPhone, claiming Nintendo’s more in-depth games have the ability to “consume.” That he confessed to spending 150 hours playing Dragon Quest seems testament to this.
In fairness, when it comes to gaming Nintendo arguably have the edge, but Apple’s surge into the gaming market is certainly creating a stir. Already there is an estimated 40 million iOS game users in the US alone. And earlier this year, Steve Jobs proudly declared the iPod Touch is “the number one portable game player in the world.”
With the social media networking Game Centre and a new Games Editor available in the App store, Apple is confident they can compete with the likes of Nintendo, not forgetting Sony and Microsoft. If that is the case then we could be heading for some serious competition in the handheld gaming world. Hold on to your consoles and enjoy the ride.
|
Similar / Related Articles:
|
