Nintendo president Satoru Iwata: Social gamers like the DS too

According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, there is nothing to fear of social gamers. In fact, FarmVille players and their ilk actually are more likely to use a Nintendo DS than those who don't, the head of Nintendo said in a Tokyo press briefing last week. Wired reports that Iwata responded to several hard-hitting questions like the emergence of tablet computers, the Wii's weakness and, most importantly for us, Facebook games.

    I can not say that no one said, 'I recently stopped playing Nintendo DS because I am now playing games on my smartphone,' but statistically, there was no significant difference. On the other hand, we found out that people who play paid social games have a higher Nintendo DS use rate. This was a significant difference. Isn't this the opposite of your impression? Therefore, I think that the people who play paid social games are people who like games. And as a result, they have a higher overall use rate.

This was Iwata's response to a question concerning his opinion of how social games have affected Nintendo. According to him, the effect is not what most would expect, in fact social gamers are more likely to play a DS than those who don't play social games. While he doesn't provide any hard data, this lines up with his previous statement to worried investors, citing an infographic and all. Regardless of whether this is truly the case, Nintendo would be smart to meet the growing social/casual gamer audience at least halfway in the future.

[Image Credit: Nintendo Fuse]

Do you think Nintendo is right in its approach to social and casual gaming? Would Nintendo do better to embrace the two genres or compete with them directly?

Nintendo announces Wii U home console, coming in 2012 [Updated]

This just might change things. Nintendo announced during its E3 2011 keynote address that its Project Cafe is known as the Wii U, a successor to the original Wii headed to stores in 2012. The console features a 6.2-inch touch pad controller that can stream game content between itself and the console, play games on its own, offer video chat and more.

The Wii U will be backwards-compatible with the original Wii games and controllers, and the company displayed multiplayer scenarios where players would use both the Wii remote and Wii U touch pad.Pricing and an exact release date have not been provided, but Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said during his address that the Wii U was not designed to be a portable console to replace the Nintendo 3DS.

The system looks to appeal to fans of Nintendo and touchscreen gaming from devices like the iPhone and iPad, but several hardcore-skewed games have been announced as well from franchises like Assassin's Creed, Ninja Gaiden, Ghost Recon, Tekken and more. In other words, the Nintendo Wii U is looking to be a game console not just for casual players, but for everyone. E3 is still young, and more details (like more about the actual console) from Nintendo are sure to come, so stay tuned.

[Image Credit: Reuters]

Do you think Nintendo will remain on top in the casual games scene with Wii U? Will the Wii U win over hardcore gamers too?

Super Mario 3D, Mario Kart et al popping out of Nintendo 3DS this year

Super Mario will finally soon make your Nintendo 3DS pop. Sure, the 3DS released this past March, but now's the time to get those games out. Nintendo announced several upcoming games for its new 3DS handheld console at its E3 keynote address in Los Angeles including the first original, 3D (in both regards) Mario game aptly titled Super Mario 3D. The company gave an extremely vague release window of "before this year is over," which more than likely means a holiday release.

In addition to jumping out your stereoscopic 3D screen, Mario will drive, glide and swim out of it in Mario Kart 3D, which Nintendo announced will land this fall. Judging from the trailer played during the keynote, players will customize their own karts, drive underwater and glide in the air across all new and re-purposed tracks. The original Starfox 64 and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time have also been reiterated in 3D with new modes and enhanced graphics. The former will soar this September, while the latter will plunge into 3DS next week, June 16.

Pokemon fans will love the free Pokedex 3D, which will be available on the 3DS eShop within a few days. The mini game will use the handheld's augmented reality capabilities to display every Pokemon including 16 new ones, and share Pokemon with friends through its StreetPass and SpotPass functions. The Nintendo 3DS, combined with the Wii U, are looking to spearhead the idea of "games for everyone" and be number one in nearly all markets. But there's always those dastardly Facebook games.

[Image Credit: Eurogamer]

What do you think of what Nintendo has shown so far at this year's E3? Do you think the company has a chance at reigning in even more casual and hardcore gamers than before?

Facebook has more gamers than Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo combined?

Social games have no doubt garnered more players in such a short amount of time than any gaming platform to date. But, if you look at the amount of consoles shipped and sold by all three major manufacturers, Beard's claim appears to fall a bit short. That is, unless Beard is talking online gamers. Then Facebook just might have the big three beat, to which Beard said, "These aren't games with friends sprinkled on top; it's more about social interactions with gaming on top."