Photo: Courtesy of www.supernintendouniverse.com
One of the greatest collaborations to ever happen is about to flourish. On March 17th, a press conference was held in Toyko, where Nintendo enterprises announced they’re partnering with DeNa to move their global phenomena onto smartphones. The Japanese companies are revolutionizing the gaming industry, while the convergence marks a new age for gamers. No longer bound by the constraints of importability from Wii’s and other gaming consoles, this collaboration will allow smartphone users alike to game on the go.
Launching in 2016, the companies stated in their press release that, “only new original games optimized for smart device functionality will be created, rather than porting games created specifically for the Wii U home console or the Nintendo 3DS portable system.” Gamers can still escape into the gaming realm with their beloved characters such as Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Pikachu, but within entirely new games. The games will be available in the form of apps and users will able to create an online membership service to access and purchase the apps via their smartphones and tablets.
The debate whether Nintendo would ever move onto smartphones has undergone much deliberation. The gaming industry has embraced the world of web-based technology, making this a huge advancement for the international corporation. However, Nintendo has been determined to stay true to its gaming console success in the process. The President of Nintendo Co., Satoru Iwata, said at today’s press conference that the company is developing a new console, code-named ‘NX’ while it’s still in the works. No other details were released, but the company is hopeful for it’s debut in 2016.
The development plan would be executed by Nintendo by creating new games, while DeNA will manages the mobile technicalities. The first game created will feature Nintendo’s iconic mascot, Mario, which is set to release in the autumn. Marking massive strides in the gaming community, gamers can now play new games wherever they are. Whether it’s defeating Bowser in his castle or becoming the best Pokemon trainer, Nintendo’s game changing press conference announcement will transform the virtual world as we know it.
-By Yasmine Rimawi
